Second Appeal Court Blocks Mandate, Disaster Relief Preparation & Pastor Mistaken for Santa Claus

A second federal appeals court has blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to require doctors and hospitals to perform gender-transition procedures, as well as abortions, over their objections.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Dec. 9 a permanent injunction that barred enforcement of a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that has become known as the “transgender mandate.” A three-judge panel of the appeals court, which is based in St. Louis, unanimously affirmed a North Dakota federal judge’s decision that the Catholic entities that challenged the regulation were entitled to protection under a federal law that guarantees free exercise of religion.

In August, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans unanimously endorsed a permanent injunction against the HHS rule issued by a federal judge in Texas. The Biden administration declined to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court by the 90-day deadline in late November.

Religious liberty advocates hailed the Eighth Circuit’s opinion.
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Larry Reedy has experienced worse storm systems than the one currently passing through the country. But like the members of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, located in the town called the “Icebox of the Nation,” he knows that is no reason to not be prepared.

Reedy lives in Ely, Minn., about 100 miles from International Falls. A retired police officer and business owner, he serves at Pleasant Hill as a volunteer interim pastor.

Ben Seamans, Disaster Relief director for the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention, also said that such weather requires preparation as well as patience.

Seamans and Reedy said it was important to also check in on shut-ins, senior adults and single parents prior to bad weather’s arrival. Benevolence ministries and deacons need to be ready.
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It’s not uncommon for Craig Waters to experience a case of mistaken identity.

Children routinely walk up to the pastor and tug on his pants, committed to getting an audience with him if only for a minute. To be fair, Waters’ white hair and beard, considerable girth and jolly nature have a lot to do with it. It’s almost like kids can sense that a Santa suit hangs in his closet.

Waters, pastor of Sunrise Baptist Church in Casper, has dressed up as Santa Claus for at least 20 years. He says he enjoys the opportunity to hear children’s Christmas wish, but he treasures the opportunity to give to share with them that the most important gift of Christmas is the baby in the manger as God shares his mercy and forgiveness with humanity through Jesus Christ.

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