By Marjorie Jeffrey (@MarjorieJeffrey)

This week started off on a note of hope, but we’ll save the good news ‘til the end.

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Most of our readers have probably heard about the war on abortion going on in Texas. Yes, those hateful pro-lifers are trying to restrict abortion rights even further, by moving the last possible date at which a pregnant woman can get an abortion from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, which is just before the generally-accepted point of viability.

Via Emily Zanotti:

If that seems straightforward, even pro-science to you, you’re not alone: if a kid can survive outside the womb, than it’s kind of hard to make the argument that they are an inhuman parasite. But, whatever. This is abortion legislation, so the rules are made up and the points don’t matter. What matters is, we’re all like, ten Texas legislators away from starring in our own post-apocalyptic Margaret Atwood novel, where us poor folk are chained to beds and forced to have children against our will. Never mind that by the time the Texas deadline rolls around you’re more than four months pregnant, you’re an idiot who simply can’t make up her puny female mind about being a parent, and need to have available a procedure that most of the world (except Canada!) views as barbaric.

At any rate, it’s been fun to watch. (And who can forget pro-abortion activists shouting “Hail Satan!” in an attempt to drown out pro-lifers singing “Amazing Grace”?)

But a brave young man named Ben Sherman (a University of Texas undergraduate and Think Progress intern) came out in support of late-term abortion and lower health standards for abortion clinics with an op-ed entitled “Bro-Choice: How #HB2 Hurts Texas Men Who Like Women”. (Isn’t that homophobic? What about men who don’t want to have meaningless sex with women, but still advocate for their ability to kill their young?)

My favorite part:

Your sex life is at stake. Can you think of anything that kills the vibe faster than a woman fearing a back-alley abortion? Making abortion essentially inaccessible in Texas will add an anxiety to sex that will drastically undercut its joys. And don’t be surprised if casual sex outside of relationships becomes far more difficult to come by.

Read the whole thing here. And in case any of you want to try to give the young man the benefit of the doubt by believing that his statements must have been satirical, read his follow-up article here.

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Are you ready for a new reality show about the fabulous lives of Los Angeles pastors who are changing the world with their Ferraris, Rolexes, security details, and prosperity theology megachurches? Life is really hard for them, especially when it comes to their relationships with their girlfriends and the mothers of their children. (And doubtless for the children themselves, who don’t appear in the trailer for the show.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml8bQDnnkKk&w=560&h=315]
The show is coming to you courtesy of Oxygen. The channel describes the new series as follows:

“Preachers of L.A. gives a candid and revealing look at six boldly different and world renowned mega-pastors in Southern California, who are willing to share diverse aspects of their lives, from their work in the community and with their parishioners to the very large and sometimes provocative lives they lead away from the pulpit.”

It’s about time there was a television show to highlight the daily lives of men of God and their baby mamas.

(h/t First Things)

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There was a ray of hope this week for those who believe that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.

Many of you who are active on Facebook may have seen and/or shared this status on Monday:

URGENT!!!! Chance to Save a Life! Please share ASAP with your friends:

“There is a couple in another state who have contacted an adoption agency looking for a family to adopt their Downs Syndrome unborn baby. If a couple has not been found by today they plan to abort the baby.

If you are interested in adopting this baby please contact Fr. Vander Woude IMMEDIATELY.
We are asking all to pray for this baby and the wisdom that this couple realize the importance of human life and do not abort this beautiful gift from God.

To contact Fr. VW call the office at Holy Trinity Parish (Gainesville, VA) after 9:30 or e-mail him immediately at
pastor@holytrinityparish.net. Please re-post.”

Well, that day, Father Vander Woude and the parish office at Holy Trinity received over 900 emails and hundreds of phone calls from all over the world, offering to adopt the baby. Three couples have been submitted to the adoption agency, and there seem to be plenty of backups if those fall through.

So much for those pro-life activists who don’t care what happens to babies after they’re born.

It’s an incredible story, which you can read more about at the Washington Times. God be praised!

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From all of us here at the IRD, to all of you out there, have a great weekend. See you in the pews!