In 2021, almost 60 percent of female high school students experienced “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.” One in four “fantasized a possible suicide plan,” according to a recent CDC report. In her latest op-ed published in Newsweek today, Penny Nance, Concerned Women for America’s CEO and President, says this should be a wake-up call, especially in light of the tragic shooting in Nashville, that we must address this mental health crisis.
After 30 years of outstanding service as a leader for Concerned Women for America (CWA), with the last 17 years serving as CWA of Texas State Director, Ann Hettinger is retiring. Words cannot express the love and appreciation we have for Ann. Personally speaking, Ann has been a mentor in the faith and in my own leadership growth within CWA. We are grateful that Ann will continue to serve in an advisory role and wear the title of State Director Emerita.
I am very pleased to introduce to you Jana Long, who will be stepping into the role of CWA’s new Texas State Director. Jana joined the CWA of Texas leadership team in 2021 as a Prayer/Action Chapter Leader and, with a core group of women, started the Prayer/Action Chapter in Dallas.
Jana was born, raised, and continues to live in Dallas with her husband of 41 years, Larry. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington and spent 20 years in commercial real estate in the areas of development, accounting, and property management. Jana co-founded a wellness business, Ultimate Health Matters, where she developed wellness programs for small to mid-size businesses and their locations around Texas and other surrounding states. After 15 years in the health and wellness industry, Jana joined Larry in their interim lending business.
A word from Jana:
“I am grateful for the mentorship of Ann Hettinger and all she has done to move the needle in Texas on the issues of life, family, religious freedom, and so much more. It’s a privilege to follow in her footsteps. I love the grassroots efforts of CWA and am excited to move into the State Director role to influence and impact important policy issues and to grow CWA’s Prayer/Action Chapter presence across the big state of Texas.”
Tanya Ditty
Vice President of Field Operations
Email or call your State Representative using our Action Center and ask them to protect children from pornography in North Dakota by supporting SB 2360. Now is the time to act and make a difference!
Please Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of children. We pray those in authority protect children from evil influences. May our lawmakers have the courage to stand for righteousness.
Thank you!
Linda Thorson
State Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2023
Contact: Linda Thorson
(701) 331-9792
Concerned Women for America of North Dakota
Disappointed the Temporary Injunction Continues
Bismarck, North Dakota – Concerned Women for America (CWA) of North Dakota is saddened for the lives of the unborn who will continue to go unprotected after the decision of the North Dakota Supreme Court not to lift a temporary injunction preventing an abortion ban from taking effect in the state.
Linda Thorson, Concerned Women for America of North Dakota State Director, had this to say about the Court’s decision: “We are deeply saddened the North Dakota Supreme Court Justices did not lift the injunction placed against the trigger ban. However, we are also profoundly grateful for the efforts of state lawmakers who continue to work during this legislative session to protect the health and life of all mothers and children. As the lawsuit against the trigger ban moves forward, we are hopeful district court officials will honor state laws written to protect life.”
##
Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) is the legislation and advocacy arm of Concerned Women for America. Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with a rich 40-year history of helping our members across the country bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy.
There are few things harder to hear than a woman sharing her experience of being sexually assaulted or raped. Where there is room to be grateful that we live in the United States where women can call for help and for justice to be restored, the horrors of sexual assault still exist and need to be properly addressed. In fact, one out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Women make up the largest percentage of rape victims, as nine out of every ten victims are female.
Yet despite these abysmal statistics, the Washington, D.C., City Council thought it was a good idea to reduce the maximum penalty of rape in D.C. from life in prison without patrol to a measly 24 years. The D.C. City Council passed their revised criminal code last November that went on to be vetoed by Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser. This is not to paint Mayor Bowser as a conservative crusader but proves just how radical this revised criminal code is. Despite Mayor Bowser’s veto, which should have given space for her City Council to reevaluate the measure, the City Council overrode her veto with a 12-1 vote. The one no vote was cast by Democrat Trayon White whose ward is riddled with crime.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Georgia) was approached by a concerned D.C. resident, Denise Krepp. Krepp, a Democrat, is a neighborhood commissioner who has actively been raising the alarm on this dangerous effort. Because Congress has the constitutional duty to govern Washington, D.C., Rep. Clyde decided to lead the effort against the D.C. legislation. Krepp shared that she has seen firsthand how crime has increased over the past couple of years in the city, like how an armed carjacking happened outside of her house that left her and her neighbors fearful. Another motivator for Krepp is the rape penalties that would have been severely reduced under this legislation. In a recent Fox News interview, she shared that rapists should be serving their sentences and not be released early from prison. It is important we remember that jail time is not only for a criminal to reflect on their crime, but to protect law-abiding citizens from their crimes, like rape.
The morning that Rep. Clyde’s resolution was to be voted on, horrifically, a female member of Congress, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota), was attacked by a homeless man in her apartment building. Thankfully Rep. Craig was able to escape and suffered little injury. Understandably, she went on to vote in favor of Rep. Clyde’s disapproval of the D.C. revised criminal code. Although, we never wish these attacks on anybody, this is a reality of living in the city and it undoubtedly convinced Democrat members to vote for Rep. Clyde’s resolution. Unfortunately, 173 Democrats still voted against Rep. Clyde’s effort of disapproval. See if your member of Congress voted against the disapproval of D.C.’s revised criminal code here.
In Romans 13 we know that God has ordained government to “bear the sword” to ensure that evil is punished and righteousness is rewarded. However, it seems that there has been a recent movement of people calling for the government to avoid righteous punishment. This only ever hurts those who are law abiding citizens and specifically those who are the most vulnerable, women and children.
Last week, Speaker Kevin McCarthy held an enrollment ceremony for Rep. Clyde’s legislation nullifying the D.C. revised criminal code that the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee’s Government Relations team was able to attend. View the ceremony here. Sexual exploitation is one of Concerned Women for America’s core issues. We commend Rep. Andrew Clyde for leading this effort and thank all the Members who saw just how radical and dangerous this revised criminal code could have been.
With the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent rule change authorizing retail pharmacies to sell abortion drugs with a prescription, Walgreens and CVS were quick to announce that they would plan to sell the dangerous chemical abortion regimen to the public.
However, after nearly two dozen Republican Attorneys General contacted Walgreens and CVS threatening legal action, Walgreens has indicated it will NOT dispense the dangerous regimen or plan to ship it in 20 states. Following this decision, abortion activists have launched their own boycotts against Walgreens.
While we applaud Walgreens for deciding not to pursue distributing the abortion pill in various states, we encourage them to make this the case in every state. We call on both CVS and Walgreens to function as pharmacies by prioritizing health and providing medications that sustain and strengthen life at all stages, NOT by jeopardizing women and killing the children in their wombs.
Like these Republican Attorneys General, we encourage YOU to make your voice heard and urge these top retail pharmacies to abstain from selling the abortion pill in general.
Tell CVS TODAY that as long as they decide to operate as abortion facilities, you cannot and will not choose to do business with them.
If you are a resident of one of the states in which Walgreens will NOT be distributing the abortion pill (AK, UT, MT, ND, SD, IA, MO, OK, TX, LA, AR, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, KY, IN, OH, WV) we encourage you to thank them. Even if you are not a resident of one of these states, we encourage you to urge them to abstain from dispensing it in general.
The Daily Signal reported on a 2022 Heritage Foundation study that “saw an increase in suicides in ages 12 to 23 in states that allow minors access to puberty blockers and other gender-reassignment procedures without parental consent.”(1) According to The Gender Mapping Project, there are over 200 transgender clinics in North America, including Pennsylvania, compared to just a handful in 2010. No long-term scientific research exists to support the safety or efficacy of sex reassignment in children.
Transgender medical treatment on children is a growing industry. It is nothing short of child abuse. The drive to normalize medical treatment and surgery for children facing cultural pressure, school curriculum, and confusion to affirm “gender identity” is out of control.
Here are several things you can do:
For such a time as this,
Dilonna M. Coran
State Director
CWA of Pennsylvania
(1) https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/06/13/study-connects-jump-in-youth-suicide-with-transgender-treatments-lack-of-parental-consent/
Louisianians: Let’s Pray to Make a Difference
“The fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16
Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Louisiana invites you to join us Friday, March 31, at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge to pray for our state legislators, our governor, and our state as we near the beginning of the 2023 legislative session.
Here are the details:
Date: Friday, March 31
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Louisiana State Capitol – 900 N Third Street, Baton Rouge LA
We will gather outside on the State Capitol steps.
Please pray: “Our Heavenly Father, grant the legislators and our governor wisdom and clarity as they make their decisions throughout the 2023 legislative session.”
I hope you will join us!
Laura Huber
State Director
Just when we thought the legislative session was over, we found it necessary to look at the bills still awaiting the Governor’s signature and urge her to veto one bill in particular.
SB1 is sponsored by Sen. Erin Tobin (R-District 21) and Rep. Ernie Otten (R-District 6). SB1 passed in the House and the Senate. It now awaits the Governor’s signature, which could occur any day. So, your immediate action is required.
We want Gov. Noem to veto SB1!
Call Gov. Kriste Noem at 605 773-3212. Ask her to veto SB1. Leave your name and your town.
The real March Madness is the NCAA allowing men to compete in women’s sports as Concerned Women for America (CWA) Senior Advisor, Doreen Denny, writes in her latest op-ed published on FOX.com. As Charlie Baker, the former Republican Governor of Massachusetts takes over as President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, CWA have joined with other women’s organizations and female athletes to demand a policy that protects female athletes from having their scholarships, trophies and dignity taken by men.
Your voice is needed! Obscene material has been found in at least 40 locations in K-12 grade schools and children’s sections of public libraries across North Dakota. It is reprehensible to have sexually explicit content accessible to children.
SB 2360, a good bill that passed in the State Senate, will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 14. The bill protects minors by prohibiting the promotion of obscenity, objectionable materials, and obscene performance.
You can read my letter in the Fargo Forum , which provides more reasons SB 2360 is needed. Letter: We are grateful for lawmakers working to make libraries safe places for children – InForum | Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo news, weather and sports
SB 2360 needs to pass. Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for material that is harmful to children. Also, allowing children to view sexually explicit material is sexual abuse as defined under the North Dakota Department of Human Services, Mandated Reporters.
Please Take Action:
Contact members of the House Judiciary Committee to ask for their support of SB 2360. Ask them to vote a “Do Pass” on SB 2360. The committee members are listed below my signature. If you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota, please let them know.
Send your own message or use the suggested message here:
Subject Line of email: Please vote “Yes” on SB 2360
Dear Representative _________,
Please vote to protect children. Obscene material does not belong in children’s sections of public libraries or K-12 grade school libraries.
Sincerely,
Your name and town
Be sure to forward this email to family and friends! Every email message and every phone call are counted!
Please Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of children. We pray those in authority protect children from evil influences. May our lawmakers have the courage to stand for righteousness.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 127:3
Linda Thorson
State Director
Members of the North Dakota House Education Committee
In her latest op-ed published in The Washington Examiner, Concerned Women for America Senior Advisor Doreen Denny exposes the lies being told to young girls that if they are dissatisfied with their bodies, they should become a boy. “We’re learning firsthand that the safety and dignity of youth, especially girls, identifying as the opposite sex is not the priority of the Biden Administration nor medical advocacy groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and Big Pharma.” The piece reveals the procedures witnessed by a whistleblower at a “gender-affirming clinic” who called it “morally and medically appalling.”
On March 13, 2023, Young Women for America Ambassador Noelle Fitchett testified in front of the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee Hearing on SB 15, a bill that would prohibit biological males from competing in female college athletics.
From competing in soccer and dance in high school, as well as having three younger brothers, Noelle can attest to the biological differences between males and females. Because of their strength and athletic capacity, it is unjust to have biological males compete against and alongside biological females. Noelle says, “Allowing men in women’s sports is an outrage and a betrayal of women’s rights. This is discrimination toward women in the 21st century. This is an attack on the progress we have made as a society, an attack on science, on women, and who God created us to be.”
You can read Noelle’s statement in full here. You can watch testimony below.
Noelle cares about keeping female sports for females only because she believes God made man and woman distinctly and differently. She sees the placing of males in female sports as deliberately ignoring what a woman really is, as well as the end of female athletics and therefore, the end to opportunities for so many women in America.
On Thursday, March 16, the bill passed out of the committee. We are thankful for the current Texas law that protects girls’ sports by ensuring biological males cannot compete on female teams in K-12 education, and we anticipate the day this bill lands on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk so that women are protected at every level of athletics in the state of Texas.
Picture caption: YWA Ambassador Noelle Fitchett is on the left, and Texas Values’ Director of Government Relations Mary Castle is on the right.
The recent spontaneous outpouring of spiritual renewal at Asbury University sparked a glimmer of hope for our country. As we observe this holiest time of the year for Christians, with Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter approaching, we should pray for the potential of a single flame. Should the Holy Spirit bring revival beyond the borders of Kentucky, it could be the fire that reverses dismal trends and returns our nation to God.
Frank Yamada, the executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, observes that what happened at Asbury University seems counterintuitive to the trends of the past decade. Indeed, Pew Research Center’s religious landscape study shows a steady and declining percentage of Americans by generational group who indicate the importance of religion in one’s life as very or somewhat important. The youngest showing the least interest.
But, as Yamada sees it, students participating in the Asbury revival seemed motivated by a deeper longing that could fan out by example: “People are looking for signs of hope, looking for signs of being connected to each other rather than being divided from each other,” he said. “There are a lot of social factors that could point to this being a meaningful moment.”
It is in this moment that it is more important than ever to reinforce public displays of faith on our campuses, in our neighborhoods, and in the public square as a reminder of the hope that we have in a God who loves us and gave His life for us.
Over the past year, many parents have been awakened to destructive concepts their children are being taught in public schools – that you can “choose your gender,” that the country was founded on racism, that killing your baby in the womb is better than subjecting your child to the fatalism of climate change, that there is no absolute truth or objective reality; it’s all based on “my truth” and my feelings.
While we thought our schools were teaching children to read and write, they instead are promoting an ideology teaching values that are contrary to the Word of God. Drag queen storytimes have replaced drug-free school events. Make no mistake; there are people who have an agenda for our children, and they are not ashamed of their gospel.
And their agenda is relentless; it has captured the media, big tech, and the culture who all reinforce the same messages children learn in school. Our children may go to church one hour a week but are subjected to other influences the other 167.
The Left makes no apologies for their beliefs; they wear it as a badge of honor and seek to indoctrinate the culture through every institution.
Every June, Americans see rainbow flags everywhere to honor Gay Pride Month. Schools hold Pride assemblies, companies change their logo on their websites, government buildings and our U.S. embassies fly the flag, people wear rainbow t-shirts, and the flag is flown over houses all over the country.
Where is our Christian pride? Pride in our faith?
Why aren’t Christians as adamant about letting the world know about the most important thing in their lives?
Concerned Women for America has declared April as “Faith Month” to plant the flag of truth in the public square. We are calling on all people of faith to display their faith on their homes, at their desks, on their cars. April is the time we observe Holy Week, Passover, and Easter and the perfect opportunity to fly the flag of your faith over your home. There is a Christian flag, a Jewish flag, and other symbols that can make our faith known to others.
We are also calling on legislators to recognize April as Faith Month. If seventy percent of the American people claim religious affiliation, surely our elected bodies could recognize a month to honor their history and heritage.
Presidents have done it. All U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Joe Biden, have acknowledged America’s faith and our many blessings from God. The country’s founding documents and laws are based on moral principles that come from the Bible.
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus encouraged His followers to “[L]et your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Let us fan the flames of revival in our communities this year. By making our faith known to others, flying the flag of our faith, we are committed to following those words.
Penny Nance
CEO and Presdent
The truth will set you free! Vanity Fair reporter Caleb Ecarma in a recent article “How the Right is Turning Political Paranoia into ‘Parents’ Rights’” skews and takes out of context comments made by Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, to the reporter directly and on a panel discussion at CPAC. We want to set the record straight and give everyone the full context of the questions and answers.
Mr. Ecarma: What most concerns you about the current American education system and cultural climate as it pertains to children?
Penny Nance: Our children are falling behind in basic educational skills, especially in math and science. Fundamentals are being replaced by some teachers and administrators in favor of gender theory, sex education, critical race theory, and Marxist ideology.
Mr. Ecarma: You and your co-panelists yesterday discussed the lack of humanity and dignity within the schools shaping the next generation of Americans. As a former K-12 homeschooler myself, I’ve been hearing more and more stories from parents looking to raise their children in a similar fashion. Do you think that more conservative parents should consider homeschooling right now, even if just as a stop-gap measure while conservative advocates like yourself work to change schools?
Penny Nance: Parents are desperate for their children to receive a quality education, but they are also appalled to learn that radical ideologues are callously overstepping their authority by undermining parents’ ability to protect their children. Any adult, even a teacher or school administrator who says, “don’t tell your parents” is not looking after a child’s best interest.
We support what parents want which is educational opportunities tailored to each child’s individual needs. CWA is very enthusiastic about Education Savings Accounts that have been passed in ten states with more looking at this option for parents to use their tax dollars to choose the school that best fits the needs of their child.
Although homeschooling is a good option for some families, it’s not a possible alternative for others. As a working mom, my children attended private Christian school but it’s expensive and I grieve that it’s out of reach for many other families. My friend. whose child struggles due to special needs, literally moved in order for her child to attend a public school district that was better able to serve her child. Open enrollment would allow parents to choose from any school in their area.
Our point is that families should be able to choose from a range of options: public, private, Jewish Day school, Christian, STEM charter school, home tutors, or homeschooling. No child should be trapped in a substandard school due to their zip code. My friend, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, says, “The new redline is the zip codes that trap poor children in failing schools.” Parents are most able to determine what’s best for their children. The money should follow the child instead of being controlled by government bureaucracies that don’t know that child. When parents are able to choose, eventually the failing schools will either rise to meet the challenge or close and be replaced by better options.
Mr. Ecarma: On the stage yesterday, you mentioned that the old gods, Baal and Moloch, are being revived in America. Do you believe this is a literal manifestation––that these religions are on the rise again and that people shaping the culture serve them––or something else?
Penny Nance: I was referencing a recent piece written by Naomi Wolf. I am quite sure the people working to expose small children to graphic, sexually explicit material don’t think they are serving a pagan god or that they are damaging children, but this new culture is a cult or replacement religion where they find acceptance and belonging.
Unfortunately, the Christian Church has not been there for them. As C.S. Lewis said there is a God shaped vacuum in every person, and that vacuum will be filled by something. Tim Keller wrote a book called “Counterfeit Gods” that talks about how as humans we can’t help but replace God with our own version: money, fame, power, sex, drugs, alcohol.
But for some it is less obvious. I believe that “gender warriors” have found their new religion, but it’s not new; it’s actually old. Gnosticism, which was fought by the early Christians, believed that the body and spirit were completely separate. Christianity says that you are to worship God, body, mind, and spirit (I Corinthians 6:19-20). Add to the mix that shockingly Satanism, although rare, is becoming more openly practiced. Satanists insist abortion is part of worship. The Old Testament Canaanites sacrificed their children to Baal. How is this different? Purposefully grooming a child, breaking down their innate sense of modesty and working to introduce confusion and chaos into their little minds is abusive. The smug community of educators who feel powerful by pulling one over on parents serve darkness whether they know it or not.
Mr. Ecarma: It is often said that the Reagan revolution began at PTA meetings and school boards. Do you believe a similar nationwide movement is taking place right now? And can you detail some of the work you’re doing to change what is being taught in American schools?
Penny Nance: The new freedom revolution began during Covid lockdowns at kitchen tables as parents witnessed both the lack of basic education being taught and in its place, children being served up gender ideology, critical race theory, and Marxist philosophy. Maybe some parents are okay with teachers suggesting that their elementary school child should consider with which of 72 genders they identify and conspiring to keep parents in the dark. Those parents are welcome to keep the status quo. But most parents want the ability to choose wisely for their children whom they love more than life itself. We are urging moms to be aware of what is being taught to their children, women to run for school board, and most importantly, to speak up and advocate for educational freedom. We are working in every state to break the education monopoly by passing laws that create the ability for the money to follow the child.
Mr. Ecarma: If a Republican candidate wins the next presidential election, what would you like to see them change in regard to schools and parental rights once they are in power?
Penny Nance: Education is primarily a state and local issue, but to the extent that the federal government is involved, it needs to return jurisdiction of the schools to parents and incentivize schools to better accomplish their mission. I speak to teachers regularly who are deeply dissatisfied with the status quo. Educational reform is to the benefit of hardworking teachers as well as families.
Pro-abortion groups recently sent a letter calling on United Nations (UN) officials to take action in response to America’s “violation of its obligations under international human rights law” for not having a constitutional right to abortion. Protections for the unborn, according to signatories, are a “human rights crisis.” This letter is a reminder that defense of national sovereignty is vital in a landscape where international bodies are being lobbied and used to push a pro-abortion agenda. No international organization should have authority over our country in any area, much less in mandating policies that destroy lives.
Unfortunately, there is already a bias within the UN against protections for the unborn. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called the outcome in the U.S. Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned the question of abortion policy to the people, “a huge blow to women’s human rights and gender equality.” At that time, the UN women’s rights committee “reiterated its call for States parties to remove punitive measures for women who undergo abortion and to legalize abortion – at least in cases of rape, incest, threats to the life or health of the pregnant woman, and in the case of severe [fetal] impairment.”
The UN touts Bachelet and the committee as “rights experts.” Yet the so-called “experts” seem to have their heads in the sand about what both sides are really saying about the abortion debate.
There are no punitive measures—certainly not criminal measures—against women who obtain an abortion in the United States. Our President and CEO, Penny Nance, has only spoken with truth and love about women who have suffered abortion, most recently in front of a nationally broadcast audience at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC). And pro-life groups, including Concerned Women for America, universally call for protections for the unborn who fall outside of the listed exceptions. Those unborn lives are the vast majority of children killed in abortions.
On the other hand, as the letter evidences, many on the pro-abortion side want abortion under any circumstance. The dignity and worth of the unborn child is totally irrelevant. Girls and women indisputably suffer from criminal attacks and maladies like post-partum depression. But abortion access is demanded in every circumstance, and the suffering that results from abortion is unacknowledged.
One might wonder why the UN takes the positions it does when America foots most of the bill. In 2020, America contributed over 11 billion dollars to the UN. It seems like the UN’s priorities and America’s priorities are so often at odds. Bizarrely, most if not all of the signatories are from America. It seems to boil down to a desire to take the easy route of appealing to an unaccountable international body rather than do the hard work of changing fellow Americans’ hearts and minds. It is a call for policy by fiat and no consent from the governed.
Sadly, the U.S. is responsible for its own pressure on foreign governments to support anti-life, anti-family, and anti-woman policies. At a Summit for Democracy, the Biden Administration explicitly linked so-called LGBTQI+ “rights” to democracy, and President Biden called for the elimination of the filibuster in order to pass a law to practically undo the outcome in Dobbs. The U.S. Department of State’s annual human rights report includes sections on sexual orientation/gender identity mandates and abortion access. The U.S. Agency for International Development has recommended training for educators funded to teach in foreign countries “to model the use of inclusive language (i.e., names, pronouns, descriptors)” with information about “diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.” The U.S. State Department awarded one of its “International Women for Courage Awards” to a male.
At a panel event this week for International Women’s Day, German Ambassador Emily Haber was asked to speak about differences in pay between men and women of Germany. She was asked if she observed any policies in Germany that America should apply. She explained,
“There’s a conversation to be had about [fair pay]. But I wouldn’t give any advice or wouldn’t, as I said before, lecture anyone. We all come from our specific vantage points, experiences, societal and political traditions. Whatever we do will have to fit into it. As we pursue the same objectives . . . we’ll have to have the conversation on how best to do it. There is not one single panacea to move ahead.”
This is a refreshing perspective for issues that are debatable, like economic policy. How much more must we forbear on exporting to other countries ideas that undebatably lead to harm and destruction. But as the letter shows, and as we have seen from the Biden Administration, not everyone is on the same page.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
March for Life in California
Concerned Women for America (CWA) of California was honored to host prayer and worship at the California March for Life in Sacramento on the steps of the State Capitol. The thrill of gathering with thousands of pro-lifers ranging from families, high school and college students, organizations, attorneys, pastors, Assembly Members, and State Senators was a testament to God’s providence in California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (Democrat) signed more than a dozen pro-abortion laws last year and many more such bills have been proposed this legislative session. Amid this darkness, having a blessed gathering of more than 1,000 people, praying, worshiping, and braving the rain and hail to stand for the protection of life in the womb was an awesome display of God’s presence in California.
I encourage you to continue in the work God has begun in you to protect and promote Biblical values. We have freedom to assemble. We have freedom to pray in the public square. We have freedom to worship. We have freedom to be a voice for the voiceless and speak truth to power. The Bible says in Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Members of CWA of California answered the call.
Thank you for praying and supporting our work in California. Thank you for your faithfulness.
On Monday, March 6, our Young Women for America (YWA) Rutherford County, Tennessee, chapter president Hannah Faulkner hosted a Culture of Life Banquet to highlight pro-life organizations, hear from pro-life speaker Victoria Robinson, and participate in a special offering for Portico, a local pregnancy center. More than seventy-five people, of all ages, were in attendance.
Nicole Herschberger from Turning Point USA Faith, Joshua Rosales with Latinos for Tennessee, and Tammy Burrow with Portico all shared ways to get involved locally with the pro-life movement.
At this event, I was able to share about the mission of YWA and Concerned Women for America (CWA) with a focus on what we do on the sanctity of life issue. I shared a video that beautifully portrays CWA’s fight for life throughout the decades. It was an honor to share with people about CWA’s heart for the unborn, and it was encouraging to see so many people spend their evening learning about how they can be involved and be a voice for the voiceless.
As Hannah said when she opened the night, “We as Christians in this nation have a duty, and that duty is to take a stand for life. It may be uncomfortable, but we must continue to fight and make our voices heard.”
Springfield Prayer/Action Chapter
Book: Feisty & Feminine – A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women
Do you want to become more passionate about the important issues of our time and more confident in yourself as a thoughtful conservative woman? Then we invite you to attend the Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Missouri‘s Springfield Prayer/Action Chapter March meeting, where we will explore the book Feisty & Feminine – A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women by Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America. We will highlight some of the key women in business and politics and address a score of women-centric issues.
Now more than ever, there is a need for thoughtful, compelling, conservative, and credible women to boldly affirm their support for conservative principles rooted in a biblical worldview.
Details:
Date: Saturday, March 18
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: The Baked Bean, 1860 N. Commerce Road, Nixa, MO (formerly the Walkabout Coffee Shop). Please arrive early if you would like to order coffee and a pastry.
Contact: For additional information, contact CWA of Missouri Springfield Prayer/Action Chapter Leader Tracy Dougan at 417-766-2281 or [email protected].
We hope you will attend.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
Psalms 127:3
The Daily Signal reported on a 2022 Heritage Foundation study that “saw an increase in suicides in ages 12 to 23 in states that allow minors access to puberty blockers and other gender-reassignment procedures without parental consent.” According to The Gender Mapping Project, there are over 200 transgender clinics in North America, including Colorado, compared to just a handful in 2010. No long-term scientific research exists to support the safety or efficacy of sex reassignment in children.
Transgender medical treatment on children is a growing industry. It is nothing short of child abuse. The drive to normalize medical treatment and surgery for children facing cultural pressure, school curriculum, and confusion to affirm “gender identity” is out of control.
Here are several things you can do:
Educate yourself by reading Concerned Women for America’s resource, Protecting Vulnerable Children from Medical Harm. You can find more information on CWA’s efforts to protect vulnerable children here.
Pray for parents and children being misinformed about gender dysphoria and harmful medications and irreversible surgical treatments. Use CWA’s prayer points to pray for those who are struggling with gender dysphoria.
Take action! This year’s Detransition Awareness Day on March 12, 2023, is an opportunity to educate others on the truth about gender ideology, how it is infecting the minds of youth, and how institutions are peddling this deception. Consider engaging in Detransition Awareness Day events.
Thank you for your prayer and action.
Karen Pennington
State Director
