The 3 - January 25, 2026

January is observed as Sanctity of Human Life Month, and the annual March for Life in Washington, DC occurs during that month, around the time of the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that was overturned 3-1/2 years ago, Roe vs. Wade, which is January 22, 1973.  This year, the March was held on Friday, January 23 and featured a live message from Vice-President Vance and a video message from President Trump.

LifeNews.com published an article on significant pro-life developments during the week of the March for Life. It cited comments from National Right to Life President Carol Tobias, who, referring to remarks by Trump and Vance, said: “These remarks weren’t just symbolic...They were matched by concrete actions this week that demonstrate real leadership in protecting life, conscience rights, and taxpayers from being forced to subsidize abortion.”  

The piece listed "significant actions announced this week:"

And, The Daily Signal reported, "President Donald Trump’s Small Business Administration is reviewing whether Planned Parenthood affiliates illegally received $88 million in loans during the COVID-19 pandemic..."  It quotes SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, who stated: “At the height of the pandemic, affiliates of Planned Parenthood took $88 million in taxpayer dollars to fund their abortion-on-demand agenda—and the Biden administration made sure they got nearly every cent forgiven, even after the first Trump administration protested,” She added: "Six years later, the Trump SBA holds the same conviction: Planned Parenthood Federation of America was never eligible to receive a dime in pandemic-era relief from taxpayers.”

Both the states of Louisiana and Texas have passed legislation that would require public schools to post the 10 Commandments.  These laws have been challenged in court and the full 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last week.  Federal courts have ruled against these laws, according to the website of First Liberty Institute, which stated:

In 2024, Louisiana enacted a law requiring Ten Commandments displays in schools and colleges that receive public funding. First Liberty played a role in helping this become law in the Bayou State. However, it was partially struck down last June.

In 2025, Texas’ governor signed a similar law. First Liberty also supported and testified in favor of the measure in the Lone Star State. But a federal judge issued an injunction preventing its implementation in select school districts.

First Liberty had reported that a three-judge panel had struck down Louisiana's law last June.  It said in the most recent article that, "The cases were consolidated and were heard en banc this week, before all 17 active judges on the 5th Circuit."

Family Research Council reported that its President Tony Perkins would be on hand for the oral arguments; FRC had filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, in which it said: "Displaying the Ten Commandments in schools is constitutional because it does not coerce participation in a formal religious exercise. Under the original public meaning of the Establishment Clause, the relevant question in cases like this is whether the government has coerced individuals by force of law to participate in or otherwise support a formal religious exercise. A passive display of the Ten Commandments in a schoolroom is not a formal religious exercise. And the possibility that students might see the display and be bothered is not coercion by force of law. Neither element of the relevant establishment hallmark exists here, and Louisiana's law is therefore easily constitutional." 

Activists who have protested the presence of federal law enforcement in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in accordance with the government's immigration policy took their rude protest into an unlikely place just over a week ago: a local church.  CBN.com reported that some 30 protestors, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, invaded Cities Church in St. Paul during a worship service.  The article stated:

According to Fox 9, the group went to the church, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, to confront a man named David Easterwood. He is one of the pastors at the church, but also allegedly an active field officer director for ICE in Minnesota.

Public records reveal that Easterwood is listed as a defendant in a January 12 lawsuit filed by the state of Minnesota to stop ICE operations that led to the confrontation between Good and ICE agents, the Union-Bulletin reports.
 
In a Facebook post, protestors said they went to the church to demand justice for Renee Good and "inform the congregation of what they described as their pastor's double-mindedness when it comes to the word of God and not loving thy neighbor with his work as a field director for ICE."

Attorney Nekima Levy-Armstrong made this baseless charge on Lemon's livestream: "This cannot be a house of God while harboring someone directing ICE agents to wreak havoc on our community..."  The CBN article noted: "the church's lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, said the disruptive display was 'shameful.'"  It said that the pastor said to Don Lemon: "We have asked them to leave, and they have obviously not left," adding, "This is unacceptable. This is shameful. It is shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship."

CBN related:

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Andrew Walker called the disruption "utterly despicable."

"There is no constitutional right to protest a private religious assembly," he wrote on X. "What Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have unleashed in their regime of disorder and lawlessness is shameful. God bless Cities Church."

National Religious Broadcasters President and CEO Troy Miller is quoted as saying, "These protesters didn't just interrupt a service, they desecrated a sacred sanctuary, frightened families, harassed innocent believers, and directly challenged our constitutional right to worship without fear or coercion. Targeting a church over a pastor's bi-vocational role is bigotry and a blatant attack on religious liberty. The American church must rise up, unite, and fight back to defend our God-given rights."

On Thursday, The Christian Post published a story that three people had been arrested in the incident, including Nekima Levy-Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly. The article said, "A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota refused to sign a complaint charging Lemon, according to CBS News.  

The Christian Post article included an X post from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who wrote: "Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States - there is no first amendment right to obstruct someone from practicing their religion."