- Well welcome to the 700 Club.
The next presidential election
is more than a year and a half away,
and one issue is already emerging
as a potentially huge factor, abortion.
- The parties are diggingin deeper on their positions
with Democrats expandingthe right to an abortion,
while Republicans are tryingto protect the unborn.
And the courts are involved as well.
George Thomas has the story.
- Late Thursday in what was
a significant test of the Supreme Court's
newly strengthened Conservative majority,
the justices ruled five tofour to temporarily block
a Louisiana abortion lawfrom taking effect today.
Chief Justice John Robertsjoined the four Liberal justices
to prevent a law that wouldrequire abortion doctors
to have admitting privilegesat nearby hospitals.
(applauding and cheering)
The ruling comes afterDemocrats in New York
shocked millions ofAmericans by passing a law
that makes abortion legal,even up to the point of birth.
The state's governorhailing it as the most
aggressive women's rightachievement in the nation.
- This administrationdefies American evolution.
We're supposed to be moving forward,
we're supposed to be advancing,
we're supposed to live and learn,
we're supposed to be growing.
- [George] Democrats in Virginia tried
to pass a similar law, but failed.
The New Mexico house has passed a bill
that would make abortion legal throughout
all nine months of a pregnancyif Roe v. Wade is overturned.
If the state senate passes it
the Democratic governorsays she'll sign it.
In Vermont lawmakersthere want to pass a bill
that critics say would make abortion
an absolute right for any reason.
It's all part of an aggressive campaign
by abortion advocates andgroups like NARAL and others
who want to significantlyexpand access to abortion
in states where Democrats won last fall.
President Trump and GOPlawmakers are pushing back.
- To defend the dignity of every person,
I am asking Congress to pass legislation
to prohibit the lateterm abortion of children
who can feel pain in the mother's womb.
- [George] While Trump's call for a ban
on late term abortions isunlikely to happen in Congress,
Republican legislators inseveral states like Florida,
Kentucky, Ohio, SouthCarolina, and Tennessee
are campaigning for tougheranti-abortion measures
like the Heartbeat Lawthat would ban abortions
after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Meanwhile House Republicanswant legislation
that would require mandatory medical care
for late term abortions where the fetus
is alive outside the mother's womb.
- I wanna ask mothers across this country
to join with us to makesure that we don't see
our maternity wards turnedinto killing fields.
- [George] And whileDemocrats in more states
try to introduce far-reachingabortion rights bills,
polls show the public isagainst such measures.
While 60% of Americans believe abortion
should be legal in the firstthree months of pregnancy,
only 28% support abortionin the second trimester,
and that number plummets to just 13%
for abortions during the third trimester.
George Thomas, CBN News.
- I would submit the debateis no longer about abortion,
it's about infanticide.
When you look and say,okay, mothers in labor,
she's fully dilated and nowis the time for an abortion?
That's not an abortion, that'skilling a full term child.
It's amazing to me that ourcountry has gotten to this level
and that people would stand and applaud
that kind of law coming into being
where you have that kind of permission.
And the commentary onwhat happened in Virginia,
yes, the bill was defeated,but it's absolutely astounding
that you would have a physician say
a baby could be born andthen could be legally killed.
That is absolutely shocking.
Well, we get to vote on it and that vote
is coming up pretty quick.
In other news, members of both parties
put aside their politicaldifferences Thursday
to come together on somethingthat unites them, prayer.
John Jessup has that story from
our CBN News Bureau in Washington.
John.
- That's right, Gordon,and the powerful images
are still circulating on social media
after thousands of faithleaders and lawmakers
from around the world metright here in Washington
for the annual National Prayer Breakfast.
Abigail Robertson brings us a look
at this rare moment of unity.
- Political leaders inWashington put politics aside
for a morning to taketime to pray together.
- Give him the insight that he needs,
give him joy in the task,
and use him for Your kingdom's sake
and for our nation and world's sake.
- [Abigail] In a powerfulmoment Republican Senator,
James Lankford, and Democrat, Chris Coons,
held hands wit the President and prayed.
- We ask that Your wisdom,Your blessing, and Your peace
would be upon him and hisfamily as they service.
- [Abigail] A traditionthey lead each week
in their bipartisan Senate prayer group.
- It's fascinating tome the number of times
that I'll have someone come up to me
when I'm back home inOklahoma and will say,
okay, I saw such and such personon TV, they drive me crazy.
And I'll often smile and go,
"Yeah, we stop and praytogether every week."
And very often the response is, "Really?
"You pray with that person?"
- [Abigail] The leaders intentionally
steered clear of politics for this event.
- We could focus on dozensof different divisive things.
Instead we're focus on what, I believe,
has united Americans from thevery founding of this country,
which is a belief in God and abelief that this is a country
with a Creator and witha common sense of purpose
that we can best find through prayer.
- [Abigail] PresidentTrump opened his remarks
telling the audiencefull of religious leaders
he stands with them.
- I will never let you down.
- [Abigail] Reminding them of his stance
on religious freedom.
- My administration hastaken historic action
to protect religious liberty.
(applauding)
- [Abigail] And pledging to fight
for faith-based adoption agencies,
which have been under attack due to
their biblical beliefs about marriage.
- My administration is working to ensure
that faith-based adoptionagencies are able to help
vulnerable children findtheir forever families
while following their deeply held beliefs.
- President Trump is the12th president to speak
at the annual breakfastsince Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Reporting from Washington,Abigail Robertson, CBN News.
- Thanks, Abigail.
Well Israel and the world lost a champion
of Jewish/Christian relations this week.
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder of
the International Fellowshipof Christians and Jews
was laid to rest Thursday.
CBN's John Waggie brings usthat story from Jerusalem.
- [John] Hundreds came to pay tribute
to the man known as theultimate bridge builder.
Mourners included U.S.Ambassador, David Friedman,
and former Jerusalem mayor, Nir Barkat.
- He was a man whounderstood the true hardships
and challenges that exist for us,
and the distress in the state of Israel,
and how to open the hearts of millions
of donors around the world.
- [John] Rabbi Eckstein started
the International Fellowshipof Christians and Jews in 1983.
Since then it's raised more than
one and half billion dollarsto help Jews in Israel,
the former Soviet Union, Latin America,
and more than 58 other countries.
- I think from the very beginning,
I remember when my brotherwent out to Chicago
for the march in Skokie as the first start
of anti-Semitism in adifferent way in America.
And the partners he found werethe Evangelical Christians.
- [John] Eckstein's daughter, Yael,
carries on the family legacy as
the Global Executive Vice President.
- One specific gift, Abba, which is
the greatest gift I received from you,
it's the commitment to hold family
over everything else in the world.
- [John] Eckstein's youngerbrother, Beryl, told CBN News
that the more he saw his brother's work,
the more he understood and loved it.
- Wherever Yechiel went it was a bond,
especially with Pat Robertson,
who was such an influenceon Yechiel's life
and I think Yechiel was on his.
That love, that sharedmission, was something
that I and my whole family cherish.
- [John] Eckstein pursued three goals;
build bridges between Christians and Jews,
deepen Christian understanding
of the Jewish roots of their faith,
and develop a practical way to help
the Jewish people and Israel.
Rabbi Eckstein is survivedby his wife, Joelle,
three daughters, and eight grandchildren.
- The memory I always haveof my brother is him praying
and whenever I was weak,
he was always there to hold my hands.
- [John] John Waggie, CBN News, Jerusalem.
- A man who's left behind aprofound and lasting impact.
Gordon.
- Well the world has lost a great man.
He was definitely aprinciple bridge builder
between the Evangelical community,
and the Christian community.
Dear friend of mine, dearfried of my father's.
We mourn his passing andwe wish his family comfort,
comfort in their time of grief.
