Dr. Duke Pesta
Host of Dr. Duke Show at Freedom Project
Katie Petrick
Katie Petrick is a millennial, but do not ask her to use Snapchat or take a selfie. Yes, she will spend hours at the local coffee shop or working out, but she also participates in her local community and cares about the health of the American republic. Having grown up in the farm fields of Wisconsin, she values a hard day’s work.
Katie has earned baccalaureate degrees in political science, communication, and secondary education; a master’s degree at Northern Illinois University, and has taught undergraduate courses in American government. Before joining Freedom Project, Katie served as editor of a weekly newspaper, gaining insight into local education and politics.
Dr Duke Show hosts, Duke Pesta and Katie Petrick of Freedom Project join us today for some almost unbelievable education updates. You’re not going to believe what is actually happening on college campuses and in public school classrooms in America. Some in the LGBTQ community are now openly admitting their goal is to “groom young children.” Their agenda has moved on from diversity to inclusion. We discuss what they mean by “inclusion.”
We look at recent news stories showing how government-run education is repressing Christian thought and expression, while at the same time promoting progressive ideology, moral relativism, sexual experimentation and confusion, and abortion on demand.
We also explain the good news from Friday that a judge struck down the city of De Pere, Wisconsin’s extremely broad, non-discrimination ordinance. Judge William Atkinsion upheld our challenge and struck down the ordinance calling it unconstitutional, ruling in favor of Christian ministries and religious freedom.
So praise God! Our legal challenge to the City of De Pere’s “non-discrimination” ordinance was successful.
Effects of Wisconsin Court Ruling on “Non-discrimination” ordinance: December 14, 2018
The Court strongly reiterated that Wisconsin Law provides strong protections from a church or non-profit religious organization being considered a “place of public accommodation”. This was a crucial ruling for several reasons:
- If the DePere ordinance had been upheld, it could have forced churches and non-profit religious organizations to hire individuals whose practices directly oppose our deeply held religious beliefs.
- Churches and religious organizations could have been subject to fines for any written communication that reiterated the Bible’s clear teachings on sexuality, gender or other clear biblical doctrines. As pointed out in the court hearing, this might have included sermon notes and messages shared on church websites and social media.
- It could have required churches and non-profit religious organizations to allow their facilities to be used for groups that oppose the teachings, beliefs and lifestyles taught in the Bible.
- It could have forced churches to provide every service to any citizen regardless of their belief system or lifestyle. It could have forced churches to perform homosexual, transgender or Atheist marriage services.
- It could have forced this radio station to hire people living a lifestyle contrary to biblical teaching, and forced us to promote events on-air of organizations that stand directly opposed to the teachings of the Bible.
- Perhaps we would have eventually been forced to broadcast other music than Christian music – promoting secular messages that are not only unbiblical, but the opposite of glorifying God and encouraging people’s faith.
- One cannot discount the danger of allowing government in any fashion to break down the constitutional wall of protection churches have been granted against the intrusion of government. It is the most dangerous of slippery slopes toward government mandated religion.
The Pacific Justice Institute, who graciously represented the five Christian Churches and Q90 FM, felt this was perhaps the most blatant attack on religious freedom they had ever encountered. The City’s proposed ordinance would have opened a dangerous door to government intrusion into the activities and teachings of churches and religious non-profit organizations. It clearly would have led to legal discrimination against Christians.
Press Release from Pacific Justice Institute: Christmas Comes Early for Churches as Court Strikes Down Restrictive Ordinance