Doe v. Catholic Relief Services, Doors Opening for David Pollack & ‘The Blind’ Movie

The Maryland Supreme Court has ruled 4-3 that a Catholic employer was lawful in denying health benefits to the spouse of a gay married employee because such unions violate church doctrine.

In John Doe v. Catholic Relief Services, Maryland’s high court reversed a lower court ruling in favor of Doe, who worked at the CRS as a data analyst. According to court documents, Doe’s spouse was initially covered as a dependent by the company’s health insurance, in error, when Doe was hired in June 2016. The coverage was discontinued 16 months later, when CRS told Doe the company did not provide spousal benefits to employees in same-sex unions.
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This college football season is unlike any other in David Pollack’s life. For as long as he can remember, the sport dominated his Saturdays in ways most people haven’t experienced.

First it was as a star defensive end for Georgia in a college career that brought three-time All-SEC and three-time All-American honors. That led to being a first-round draft pick for the Cincinnati Bengals.

On the second play of his second game in his second NFL season, though, Pollack made a hit and for the first time in his career couldn’t get up.

He had fractured the C-6 vertebrae, doctors told him, a broken neck. Pollack went through rehabilitation, but ultimately retired before the 2008 season.

That fall, his second college football career began as a commentator. In 2009 he joined ESPN’s college football coverage, a professional relationship that ended this year amid widespread layoffs at the sports media giant.

In BP sports’ podcast The Gospel and the Gridiron, Pollack talks about the role his faith plays through his football days and every other day. Find The Gospel and the Gridiron at all major podcast platforms.
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Good News for Today is sponsored by The Voice of the Martyrs

Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.
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From 2012-2017, the reality TV series “Duck Dynasty” told many stories of the Robertson family and their duck-call and decoy business. “The Blind,” coming to theaters Sept. 28, tells the story of Phil Robertson’s life before he became a Christian.

Robertson’s narrative is down to earth: He grew up in extreme poverty; his mother had mental health issues; his father often had to leave home to work. As a child, Robertson frequently was the head of the family.

The duck calls for which he later became famous were a byproduct from hunting simply to feed his siblings, starting at about 7 years old.

His story of redemption is a winding road that leads through drug abuse, drinking problems and verbal and physical abusive.

Yet, God never walked away from Phil Robertson, as the movie shares Robertson’s amazing story of redemption.
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