Show notes:
In the first segment, our panelists discuss the South Carolina House Bill 3105; introduced in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2021. The bill proposed to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws. This new section would expand the definition of a “religious organization” as “an organization, including a corporation, association, or society, that is organized and operated primarily for religious purposes and that is operated, supervised, or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization, including a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship.” The purpose of this definition was to provide clarity and protection for religious organizations in certain legal contexts, such as zoning regulations or discrimination claims.
In the second segment of the show, our focus turns to the case Sisters of Life v. Bassett. The Sisters of Life are a Catholic religious community who devote themselves to the love of God by professing vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The Sisters also take a vow to protect the sacredness of human life, which they live out by providing compassionate and free help to pregnant women in need. But recently, the state of New York passed a law that targets pregnancy centers for intrusive disclosure requirements, demanding that they provide the government with sensitive information about their supporters, their training, and even about individual women who seek their help. The Sisters of Life wrote to the Commissioner of Health asking for assurance that the government will not use the law to interfere in the Sisters’ ministry or force them to hand over their internal religious documents.
In the final segment, Tell Me Something I Don’t Know, each panelist quickly shares interesting pieces of information related to religious freedom.
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About the Show: Faith & Politics is a show dedicated to discussing issues surrounding the intersection of Church, State and politics and the examination of whether you are allowing your faith to shape your politics or your politics starting to shape your faith. What do you do when God and government come face to face?
Panelists: Bettina Krause, Editor of Liberty Magazine; Carmela Monk-Crawford, Editor of Message Magazine; Melissa Reid, Washington Liaison for the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Jennifer Woods, General Counsel and Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Lake Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
About Us: North American Division Public Affairs & Religious Liberty (PARL) is a ministry dedicated to proclaiming and defending the God-given gift of religious freedom which is integral to our identity as Seventh-day Adventist Christians. Learn more about PARL at www.religiousliberty.info.
Panelists
Bettina Krause
Carmela Monk Crawford
Melissa Reid
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