3Stories - February 16, 2026

I have been following developments concerning the Religious Liberty Commission established by an Executive Order of President Trump last year.  Its four meetings, prior to last Monday, were reportedly informative meetings and allowed people to share their own experience with having religious liberty denied in the U.S.

But, the latest meeting was different.  The Washington Times reported:

Ms. Prejean Boller, Miss California USA 2009 and a Miss USA 2009 runner-up, faced backlash and calls for her to resign after she wore a Palestinian flag pin, defended podcaster Candace Owens’ anti-Israel remarks, and called on other commissioners to condemn Israel’s actions against Gaza.

The article quoted from Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO and Chief Counsel for First Liberty Institute and a Commission member, who said that Boller's "attempt to hijack the Commission meeting … was intended to promote an antisemitic agenda, and that was disgusting.”  For her part, Boller stated on social media Tuesday, "Can you even imagine this? A Religious Liberty Commission prepared to fire a commissioner for her Catholic faith?...If that happens, it proves their mission was never religious liberty, but a Zionist agenda. I refuse to resign.”

Commission Chair Dan Patrick the Lt. Governor of Texas, announced that Prejean Boller had been removed from the commission, to which she responded that only President Trump could remove her.  She has been criticized not only for inflammatory comments against Israel, described as antisemitic, but for misrepresenting Catholic teaching.  Apparently, she has not been a Catholic for very long.  It certainly is a sad development in a committee that was formed to prepare a report for the President on the state of religious liberty in America.

In Colorado, public and private schools are elibible to receive taxpayer funds, but a group of private Catholic schools have been excluded from the program.  As a USA Today article found at the MSN.com website notes: 

Colorado’s preschool program − created to provide free, early education throughout the state − is open to both public and private schools.

Participating schools must meet set criteria for teacher qualifications, classroom size and other standards. Schools must also follow nondiscrimination rules, which include providing “eligible children an equal opportunity to enroll and receive preschool services regardless of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, lack of housing, income level, or disability, as such characteristics and circumstances apply to the child or the child’s family.”

The Archdiocese of Denver, which oversees 36 preschools, asks its schools not to admit a student if the family disagrees with the Catholic Church’s teachings on “biological sex and marriage.”

A federal appeals court ruled against the Catholic schools, and the Archdiocese has acquited a powerful ally in its lawsuit against the state, the U.S. Department of Justice.  The article stated: "The department argues that Catholic preschools participating in the state’s tuition-free preschool program should be able to serve only families who support the church’s teachings on sexuality and gender because the state allows preschools to have admissions preferences for nonreligious reasons."  So the DOJ has submitted a brief, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the 10th Circuit's decision.  

Even though the annual presentation of the Super Bowl has a number of elements, such as advertisers' commercials launched for the occasion, and this year, a halftime show that was criticized for being inappropriate, which yielded on online alternative show to counter the anticipated messaging, there was a football game that as played - Seattle defeated New England.  And, players expressed the role of the Christian faith in the lives of players.

Sports Spectrum stated, "While covering Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area, Sports Spectrum talked to numerous players and coaches on the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, as well as other NFL players on Media Row, all of whom shared about their faith in Christ."  Some of the quotes included:

“We’re in here spreading the Word, knowing that that’s bigger than football.”

“The only thing that can truly fulfill us is Jesus Christ.”

“If I don’t have those daily spiritual disciplines, then it can all fall apart pretty quick.”

On the winning side, in a Sports Spectrum article, Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald is quoted as saying: "My faith has really grown over the last couple years. That’s what I lean on. That’s where your strength comes from,” adding, “Recently I have so much gratitude, and then ultimately strength, that you feel like God has put you in a position to lead these people.   Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak, recently named head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, related how he bought Bibles for each player and coach on Seattle's team.  And, Assistant Head Coach Leslie Frazier commended that gesture and spoke of how faith in Christ had worked to bond the team together.

On the other side,  New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is quoted by Sports Spectrum: “Knowing that [God’s Word is] bigger than football has been such a thing for me to lean on and take my thoughts away from football and know that this is my purpose and this is why I’m here on this stage today...” He added,  “Being able to shine a light on others and get them to follow Jesus Christ is what I’m here for and what God put me here to do.”

Sports Spectrum also reported on the shared faith of running backs Rhamonde Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.  Stevenson said, "...TreVeyon Henderson, he’s been getting me deeper and deeper into [faith],” adding, “I love that and I appreciate him for that. I’ve always been a faith-driven guy but he’s just put it on the forefront a little bit more. So I think it’s played a great role.”  The article also says: "Stevenson often mentions God and his father when he posts on social media. 'AGTG' (all glory to God) and 'RIP Pops' are included in just about every post.  The article also says:

“I was having hardships this year and I would just go, pray to God for the good times, the bad times, and He always finds a way. His way is the best way and Jesus is love,” Stevenson said.

Henderson is quoted as saying: "Something that I always try to remind guys is like, at the end of the day, football is just what we do,” adding, “What truly matters is who we are in Jesus Christ. Sometimes in this game it’s not going to go our way; we hope the Super Bowl may go our way, but what if it doesn’t?