Chemical Abortion Accountability Act

This post is reprinted with permission from Americans United for Life (AUL), Policy Counsel Emily Hoegler, Regent Law 2024:

Today, nearly two of every three abortions in the U.S. occur through the “abortion pill”—a two-drug regimen beginning with mifepristone, which starves the developing embryo by blocking access to essential nutrients, followed by misoprostol, which causes the pregnant woman’s body to expel the deceased embryo. As a result of actions by the Obama and Biden administrations, the abortion pill (also known as RU-486 or by its principal brand name, Mifeprex) is being used to circumvent state laws designed to protect women and girls from dangerous abortions. Individuals in pro-abortion states and countries overseas are making pills available through social media and other sources then shipping them through the mail. The ease and anonymity of mail-order abortions overrides commonsense regulations including in-person medical oversight, raising serious safety concerns.    The abortion pill carries heightened medical risks for women. The largest-known study of the abortion pill found that 10.9% of women who undergo chemical abortions experience severe complications—including hemorrhaging, infection, or sepsis—within 45 days. Abortions performed through the pill have a four times higher complication rate than surgical abortions, one in five women who take the abortion pill will experience significant enough bleeding to require medical attention, and as many as eight percent of women will require surgical completion of their abortion. Alarmingly, the risk of serious complications from the abortion pill is 22 times higher than the FDA warning label on the abortion pill bottle suggests, meaning that women who take the abortion pill are not properly informed of its risks.   Yet, women often have little to no recourse when they are injured by chemical abortion. Though some states allow for civil remedies following an unlawful abortion, they often fail to explicitly address harm caused by the abortion pill. It is necessary to include this provision in the law to ensure that all women who are harmed by the abortion pill have access to, at minimum, a civil remedy.   The Chemical Abortion Accountability Act closes this gap by explicitly establishing standing for a civil cause of action against any person who prescribes, dispenses, distributes, sells, or otherwise facilitates the provision of abortion-inducing drugs that cause harm to a woman. Those eligible to file a claim include the woman who underwent the chemical abortion, her close family members, the unborn child’s father (except in cases involving rape or other criminal acts), and others harmed—excluding anyone who facilitated the abortion. Available remedies under the bill include injunctive relief, monetary damages for physical or emotional harm, and legal costs and attorney's fees.   A woman can never truly be made whole from the harms of chemical abortion, but states should enact the Chemical Abortion Accountability Act to ensure women and families harmed by abortion pills have a clear legal avenue to pursue justice and restitution. For Life, Emily Hoegler, J.D. Policy Counsel Americans United for Life P.S. Take action today to protect women from the dangers of the abortion pill. Join our Stop Harming Women Campaign and make your voice heard. With just a few clicks, you can send a powerful message to Congress, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., urging them to protect women from the abortion pill.

Aim for Heaven

 

This guest post is reprinted by permission from the C. S. Lewis Institute President, Joel Woodruff:

Fear Not, Acknowledge Jesus and Aim for Heaven by Dr. Joel Woodruff, President   On FaceTime, I saw tears stream down the young Christian college student’s face as she realized that an assassin’s bullet had struck down the life of the husband, father of two small children and fellow follower of Jesus Christ, Charlie Kirk. In response to the hate, violence and horror of this pre-meditated murder broadcast for the world to see, she had turned to Psalm 46, which begins, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (NIV)his was also the passage which Charlie’s wife, Erika, had posted on her social media page hours before this tragedy occurred.   By meditating on God’s Word, this young student found some peace, but there were still some deep lingering questions as she and I wondered aloud, “As a Christian, how can we make any sense at all, out of this evil act?” As we reflected and prayed about this, I was reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 10: 28-32,   “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell… Fear not… So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (ESV)   Prior to Charlie’s death, I had heard a variety of opinions about his political views. So, rather than listening to the bias and hyperbole of the pundits, I decided to watch for myself some of his interactions with college students on YouTube. To the many whom Charlie inspired and even some of his critics, he was viewed as a man who tried to treat people with respect regardless of their ideological differences and valued freedom of speech and religion in society. A welcome approach in a vitriolic political climate.   But more importantly, he was fearless and winsome in sharing his faith in Jesus Christ and freely used the Bible to bear upon the issues he was addressing. Was he perfect, or did I agree with everything he said? No. But we’re all in the same boat as Paul the apostle so clearly stated, “All have fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Yet, it was clear that Charlie had put his trust in the saving work of Jesus on the cross for his salvation. His passion for Christ and the Scriptures had become preeminent, over and above politics or any other issue on this earth.   C.S. Lewis wrote in his classic, Mere Christianity, the following, which reflects Jesus’ words in Matthew,              “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in:’ aim at earth and you will get neither.”   As the college student, my daughter, and I wrapped up our conversation, we concluded that in the midst of a fallen, chaotic and confusing world, Psalm 46 and Jesus’ admonition in Matthew 10 provide the comfort, strength and hope we must depend upon and return to regularly. We wrapped up by praying for Charlie’s wife, Erika, his two children; asked for help in forgiving the killer and praying that he would turn to God’s mercy as did the thief on the cross; and praying that God would take what was meant for harm and redeem it in the ways that only God can do. We also prayed that we might fear not, acknowledge Jesus and aim for heaven.  Our Mission In the legacy of C.S. Lewis, we develop wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ who articulate, defend, share, and live their faith in personal and public life.

C.S. Lewis Institute | 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 301 | Springfield, VA 22151 US

A Turning Point: Charlie Kirk

 

 

Millions of lives have been forever changed by Charlie’s bold faith and willingness to speak with anyone on any topic.                                           By Jared Vallorani      (reprinted from the Center for Christian Thought & Action)

 

On September 10, 2025, we lost one of the greatest Christian evangelists of the last century. No, I’m not talking about John MacArthur or James Dobson, who both passed away recently and were also giants of the faith. I’m talking about Charlie Kirk. Tragically and horrifically, Charlie Kirk was assassinated Wednesday morning at Utah Valley University’s campus during the American Comeback kickoff tour. Charlie leaves behind his wife Erika and two children, ages 1 and 3. Charlie was only 31 years old. Most people think of Charlie and his work with the MAGA movement and his efforts to help get Donald Trump elected, but more than anything, Charlie loved Jesus and loved telling people about the truth of God’s Word. Much of the revival we’re seeing among young people is a direct result of the work Charlie Kirk accomplished over the past four years, particularly through his efforts on college campuses, his social media content, his podcast, as well as the Student Action Summit and America Fest held each year. Millions of lives have been touched and forever changed by Charlie’s bold faith and willingness to speak with and debate anyone on any topic. Many of those discussions centered around the Christian faith and doctrine. Read more here.

Thank you for praying for the family of Charlie Kirk.

What is the Christian response to transgenderism?

 

 (reprinted from the C.S. Lewis Institute @cslewisinstitute.org) 

When it comes to the topic of transgenderism, the popular perception is that political progressives of all stripes are affirming, while Christians and those with more traditional views oppose it. Christians in particular are frequently labeled “transphobic,” the assumption being that their views are motivated by hate, rather than a commitment to the well-being of their neighbor. However, Christians are far from alone in their concerns about the transgender movement. Many self-described secular voices also have serious reservations about the aims of transgenderism. Consequently, the first portion of this article will feature exclusively secular arguments against transgenderism. I will then conclude by grounding human sexuality in biblical anthropology.

The Challenge of Science

First, we need to introduce some important distinctions, beginning with science. The claim that human sexuality is binary (male or female exclusively) is rooted in human biology, giving us a classification that is a matter of basic anatomy. True, there are some exceptions in morphology, hormonal expression, or genetic makeup, but these cases are rare, and they represent a departure from a normative biological makeup. This is why we refer to them as the exception rather than the rule.

Although few pro-trans advocates would dispute basic human anatomy, they generally make a sharp distinction between gender and biology. Biology may be fixed, but gender, so the argument goes, is a feeling or perception that one possesses of their male/female identity. The term for the dissociation between one’s feelings and one’s biological sex is known as gender dysphoria. The radical claim of pro-trans advocates is that one’s perception of male/ femaleness, which is fluid and subjective, can become a biological reality through the instrumental application of medical science. In this sense, the sexual reassignment process, which includes everything from hormone infusions, plastic surgery, and radical invasive surgical procedures, is an attempt to rewrite the biological script.

While some may feel a profound disconnect between their feelings and their biological sex, the scientific facts represent a stark challenge. Consider one major factor: biological maleness and femaleness of any being across species is not merely chromosomal, but gamete based. If you’re an egg producer, you’re female. If you’re a sperm producer, you’re male. Since we don’t have combinations of eggs and sperm, sex in mammals is binary. There are no male and female combinations. While this may occur in certain types of worms, snails, and other invertebrates, it’s not exhibited in mammals. So biological sexuality is not something that can be rescripted. Whether you are a secular person, Buddhist, Mormon, or Christian, the science still applies. If you support science, the notion that sexuality is fluid and malleable collapses.

Secular Opposition to Transgenderism

It may come as a surprise that many of the most vocal critics of transgenderism include medical professionals, journalists, whistleblowers, and the LGB community. None of these are necessarily Christian. Rather, they represent a spectrum of cultural and political views. Take Jamie Reed, for example. Jamie is married to a trans man and identifies as a queer woman. She describes herself as politically to the left of Bernie Sanders. In 2018, she became the case manager for The Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The logic of this program was that if you could treat children before they went through puberty and really took on masculine or feminine traits, it would ensure a smoother transition; they would be happier as adults.

However, in early 2023 Reed became a whistleblower because she came to recognize the physical and psychological harm of transitioning minors who couldn’t possibly grasp the radical and irreversible repercussions of such a procedure. She has been speaking against the transitioning of minors for several years and even started her own website, LGB Courage Coalition, which until recently was tagged LGBT Courage Coalition. They have dropped the T because they no longer want to align with it.

Another vocal critic of this movement is Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, a news organization that seeks to be an unbiased alternative to mainstream media. The Free Press has been vocal about the harms coming to minors who are being transitioned instead of being treated for mental health problems. Once again, the typical narrative that pits transgenderism exclusively against Christians and other religious-minded people doesn’t hold water here. Weiss is a secular person and a married lesbian, hardly a poster-child for traditionalism. And the book that exposed the full harms of transitioning of minors, Irreversible Damage, is by Abigail Shrier, a self-described progressive Jew.

The Christian View of Sex and Gender

The Christian stance that biology trumps any gender feeling isn’t rooted in hate, but clarity. Consider these timely words from Genesis 1:27:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (NIV)

Interestingly, in this passage the word create or bara in Hebrew means to shape or form. That is a physical description of our sex. In other words, what makes us male or female is grounded in a material substance. We are shaped or formed male and female. We are physically different from each other and those differences are not limited solely to what we see externally, but they go all the way down to our gametes. The immutable characteristics cannot be changed by any amount of testosterone or estrogen supplements. When God gives us passages like this in the Bible, they are meant to bring clarity if we ever find ourselves confused.

My hope with this article has been to offer greater clarity on a highly contested topic and to bolster courage for speaking into it with the right balance of conviction and compassion. The challenge for those of us who follow Jesus is to remember what it is like to live without the clarity of mind that is given through a relationship with God. What seems obvious to Christians may be so only because they are viewing things from this side of the salvation experience. If we can stop momentarily to think of who we would be apart from God’s transforming work in our lives, we can move away from fear, anger, and confusion and toward a firm and compassionate response.

Youth Crime Crisis in DC

Much attention is being given to the crime crisis in our nation's capital.  One of the must substantial contributors to this crisis is crime by adolescents. 

We have researched how D.C. used to handle its problem with youthful non-violent offenders - with Teen Courts.  Teen Courts, an alternative justice system for first-time juvenile offenders, were significantly productive in D.C. in particular. We discovered not only how they work, but why they are so effective in our article entitled Empowering Love and Respect for Child Offenders Through Therapeutic Jurisprudence: The Teen Courts Example, published in Volume 4 of Sociology and Anthropology at pages 212-221 back in 2016. Sadly the D.C. City Council cut the funding for Teen Courts in 2016. 

I began this research as part of a global project with scholars from around the world meeting in Israel in 2013.  You can download and review that work at Teen Courts: Empowerment through Child Participation, a chapter in International Perspectives and EmpiricalFindings on Child Participation (Tali Gal and Benedetta Duramy Eds.), published by Oxford University Press in 2015. 

The option of Teen Courts for non-violent juvenile offenders is still being used in various venues across the nation because these courts have an excellent track record of halting the crime pipeline for troubled kids, all while creating opportunities for youthful offenders to be empowered with meaningful restitution, and the chance to turn away from crime to a productive life. 

Family breakdown is a major reason for the youth crime crisis in D.C., but youth and family restoration can happen in a Teen Court.

Protecting your Family from Misinformation Regarding Gender Care

 

Has your child been confronted by doctors, teachers, counselors, or therapists with gender questioning?  Did this happen in your absence? Were you made aware of the risks of treatment for gender dysphoria?

This month the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a public inquiry to collect data from consumers about their exposure to misinformation about the benefits of "affirming care” for minors, and to assess any harms caused by deceptive trade practices.

The FTC’s request for information builds off a July workshop where doctors, medical ethicists, whistleblowers, detransitioners, and parents of detransitioners spoke about their experiences with what is known as affirming care, and how medical practitioners may be deceiving patients.

In particular, the FTC is interested in potential violations of Sections 5 and 12 of the FTC Act, which would include instances where doctors or organizations failed to disclose material risks, or made unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of “gender-affirming care.”

If your family has been confronted with this problem, you have the opportunity to make your concerns know.  The FTC has set up a comment forum for the next 60 days where you can submit comments.

Alerting the FTC about any deceptive practices can be a beginning to restored protections for families.  For more information see the research of the Manhattan Institute on this important issue.

You never want to leave your child alone with a health care professional. Even if your absence is requested, you should not leave, and you should ask for a list of whatever questions they intended to ask your child. Reporting this then to the proper oversight authorities is critical.

Parents are the best protectors of their children regarding gender care.