Ep. 498: World Vision Prevails, Seminaries Should Examine Faculty Screening Process, and Trust in Churches Rebounds…Slightly

On today’s program, World Vision prevails in court after it was sued for discrimination. The ruling protects the ministry’s right to hire based on its religious beliefs. We’ll have details. And, a seminary professor accused of sexual misconduct resigned from Concordia Seminary, and is now hired by an independent seminary…raising questions about what background and reference checks seminaries conduct in its hiring process. Plus, a new study shows that Americans’ trust in the church is rebounding—slightly—after dropping to an all-time low in recent years. We’ll take a look. But first, a pro-life clinic in Colorado has been cleared by the court to continue offering abortion pill reversal treatments. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Makella Knowles, Christin Fejervary, Aaron Earls—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: And I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden this week, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, World Vision prevails in court after it was sued for discrimination. The ruling protects the ministry’s right to hire based on its religious beliefs. We’ll have details. And, a seminary professor accused of sexual misconduct resigned from Concordia Seminary, and is now hired by an independent seminary…raising questions about what background and reference checks seminaries conduct in its hiring process. Plus, a new study shows that Americans’ trust in the church is rebounding—slightly—after dropping to an all-time low in recent years. We’ll take a look. Christina: But first, a pro-life clinic in Colorado has been cleared by the court to continue offering abortion pill reversal treatments. Warren: Two years ago, Colorado enacted a law making it illegal for doctors and nurses to help women who had changed their mind after taking chemical abortion pills. The law threatened professional discipline for practitioners who use progesterone to reverse the abortion attempt and try to save the baby’s life. Christina: A Catholic pro-life clinic called Bella Health and Wellness challenged the law in federal court. Warren: That’s right. In October 2023, Bella Health won a temporary injunction blocking the law from applying to them—but earlier this month, the court made it permanent. Christina: Becket Fund Senior Counsel Rebekah Ricketts told MinistryWatch that during the course of the legal proceedings—so, the last two years or so—16 babies’ lives have been saved. Warren: She also said this case is the first court decision in the country to recognize the religious protection for doctors and nurses administering progesterone for abortion pill reversal. Christina: You said the court blocked the bill for Bella Health specifically…will this not apply to other pro-life groups? Warren: That’s a good question. The injunction is technically limited to Bella Health and Wellness because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting injunctions…but Ricketts told us that, practically, it would still apply to any religiously-motivated practitioners in Colorado who want to administer progesterone for abortion pill reversal, Ricketts said. Ricketts also hopes the judge’s reasoning and decision will guide other courts around the country who might encounter the same issue. Cases involving abortion pill reversal are currently pending in California and New York. Christina: In our next story, another ministry prevails in court. Warren: