The biggest faith and and culture story of the week comes out of Ohio, as voters there dealt a major blow Tuesday to pro-lifers by enshrining abortion rights in the state’s constitution. The passage of Issue 1 is yet another victory for the pro-choice movement after the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last year returned abortion laws to the states.

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“The measure says the state ‘shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against’ individuals seeking abortions, contraception, and other reproductive-related medical services,” The Washington Times’ Valerie Richardson writes.

Read more about the full scope of the referendum’s passage here.

Dems dominate in Virginia

In Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the Republican Party were also dealt stunning losses Tuesday when they failed to perform at the ballot box. There, too, the issue of abortion was top-of-mind for voters and presumably played a role in the election results.

“Democrats successfully defended their slim majority in the state Senate and flipped control of the House of Delegates,” The Times’ Seth McLaughlin writes. “Democrats emerged victorious in competitive races for Senate and House seats in Northern Virginia, the Richmond suburbs and Hampton Roads, where their candidates ran against Mr. Youngkin’s embrace of a proposed 15-week abortion ban that included exceptions for cases of rape, incest and the life of the mother. Virginia limits abortion to 26 weeks gestation.”

Antisemitism drives Schumer to push for religious security funds 

Amid rising antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer is pushing for $1.22 billion in new spending to bolster security for American houses of worship. According to Mr. Schumer, there is currently a “crisis” that requires intervention to temper “increased danger” and chaos aimed at religious bodies.

“The proposal would boost funds available to synagogues, churches, mosques, schools, Sikh gurdwaras and faith-based community centers, such as Jewish community centers, through grants provided by the Nonprofit Security Grant Program,” Mr. Kellner writes.

Learn more about the “unprecedented” proposal here.

Christian photographer’s religious freedom win

In other Virginia-related news, Times reporter Mark A. Kellner covered the case surrounding Christian photographer Bob Updegrove, who sued the state in 2020 over amendments made to the Virginia Human Rights Act — changes that “mandated nondiscrimination based on ‘sexual orientation’ or ‘gender identity.’”

Attorney General Jason Miyares, a conservative Republican, said a recent Supreme Court victory in the 303 Creative case means the government cannot “compel people like Mr. Updegrove to speak contrary to their conscience,” meaning the photographer cannot be forced to provide services for same-sex weddings. Read more about the photographer’s win.

Texas dad’s abortion battle

Reproductive matters are also dominating headlines in Texas, where a father is suing the Biden administration. According to The Washington Times’ Alex Swoyer, Alexander Deanda is “arguing the Health and Human Service’s Title X of the Public Health Service Act runs afoul of his constitutional rights as a parent because it does not order consent from parents before minors are given reproductive health care treatment — including contraceptives.”

And here’s why Ms. Swoyer reports a federal appeals court could be posed to back the dad’s contentions that the policy barring medical providers from notifying parents when young women seek reproductive healthcare is improper.

Churches told to address systemic racism

A panel of Christian theologians called on Christian churches to acknowledge their role in systemic racism and teach that bigotry goes beyond personal sin to unite Americans on racial issues.

At a lively discussion at the National Press Club in Washington this week, “Jonathan Tran, Sarah Coakley and Vincent Lloyd argued that many Christians fail to recognize social injustice against minorities because they assume only individual and malicious actions count as racism,” writes The Times’ Sean Salai.

Read more about their stance here.

Pope says transgender people can be baptized

Pope Francis has said that transgender people can be baptized in the Catholic Church.

They also can serve as godparents and witnesses at weddings, according to an Oct. 31 letter the pope sent to a Brazilian bishop.

“The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit who has a ministry for LGBTQ individuals, said on X that the new document marks ‘an historic step forward in the church’s relationship with transgender persons,’” Mr. Kellner writes.

Read more here.

Listen: Lee Strobel explores whether God is real

Bestselling author Lee Strobel tackles one of life’s most pressing questions, providing fascinating evidence for biblical truth. Mr. Strobel joins Billy Hallowell on the “Higher Ground” podcast to explore why he believes the facts back the existence of a loving God. Listen here.

‘Jesus’ film’s massive milestone

“Jesus,” a decades-old movie that continues to change lives around the globe, is celebrating being translated into its 2,100th language, with the Jesus Film Project, the group behind the film, pledging to use artificial intelligence to add 200 more languages by 2025.

“The AI applications that we’re looking at when it comes to translation are in step with the Bible translation community organizations such as Wycliffe Bible Translators and others,” Josh Newell, executive director of the Jesus Film Project, told Mr. Kellner.

Find out more about the impact of the “Jesus” film here.

Watch: Abe Lincoln’s Thanksgiving tradition

Have you ever wondered why a turkey is pardoned on Thanksgiving? Discover the true story behind the tradition and how President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Tad, inspired a legacy of mercy and forgiveness.

Author and journalist Raymond Arroyo talks about his new book “The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln” and the impact a son had on a father during a time of war and division.

In our opinion

Hollywood star offers atonement. Mr. Hallowell explores how actor and former “Saturday Night Live” comedian Rob Schneider recently offered atonement for his past seemingly gruff and harsh politicking — a rare moment of pause, introspection and apologies in a culture that values the exact opposite.

“The irony is that the man who has sparked so many laughs through slapstick and chucklehead comedy ended up delivering one of the most essential and poignant lessons for such a time as this — a missive every American should ponder in the throes of a chaotic societal schema,” Mr Hallowell writes.

Who chooses who? Everett Piper ponders a fascinating question in his “Ask Dr. E” column: Does God choose us, or do we choose God? “The Bible is very clear about both predestination and free will,” he writes. “And faithful Christians dare not disregard either side of this orthodox coin.”

Don’t get complacent. The Rev. Samuel Rodriquez explores the darkness seen during the Holocaust to warn of the “consequences of complacency.” Drawing on the past, Mr. Rodriguez calls on people to take a firm stance against Hamas’ horrors.

“As we reflect on the atrocities committed during that time, in light of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, it is crucial to address the role of Christian communities in Germany and issue a clarion call to the global Christian community to rise against all forms of antisemitism,” he writes.