CU's Landmark Case Thursday In New York!
Over 4.6 million views on Facebook of Former Transgender man, Edward Byrd singing "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus" in the United States Capitol. October 30, 2019. Edward formerly identified as Remi and those surrounding him are also Former GLBTQ people living transformed lives for Jesus including two Pulse Night Club massacre survivors! Please pray that biblical beliefs are not discriminated against on social media.
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, New York, N.Y.
Thursday, December 10, 10 A.M. EST (7 A.M. Pacific)
Watch LIVE: https://ww2.ca2.uscourts.gov/Court.html
There is no doubt that the contentious 2020 election and coronavirus coverage dominated headline cycles for much of this year. Another frequent player in media coverage included the ongoing debate over the role of social media tech giants and bias against conservative thought.
Church United has not been exempt in being discriminated against.
On Thursday, we will be presenting oral arguments in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging a decision by video content provider, Vimeo to shutter our account because it took exception to five of 89 videos we posted on the site. Vimeo alleged the five videos—sharing stories about men and women who left homosexuality through a deeply seated faith in Jesus Christ—violated its terms of service.
In shutting down and deleting our account, the video company also failed to consider the fact that none of our videos discriminates against or speaks negatively about the LGBT community. Perhaps the most egregious aspect of the case is that Vimeo, was not content to block just those five videos. Instead, it opted to discriminate against Church United by shutting down access to our entire library of videos, which feature pastors and content on a wide range of topics.
“Social media is a part of our everyday lives—we use it not just for keeping up with our friends and family, but for keeping up with current events,” our legal firm, Advocates for Faith & Freedom, said in a recent news release. “That is why it is troubling that social media platforms are becoming increasingly hostile towards Judeo-Christian views, without any consequences or accountability.”
Earlier this year, a federal court in New York agreed with Vimeo, saying the company is a “private video-sharing service operator (and) not a state actor such that its actions implicate the California’s free speech clause."
We could face an uphill battle as two of the three judges hearing the case were appointed by Democrats: Rosemary Pooler, a Clinton appointee, and Susan Carney, who was tapped by Obama. The final judge on the panel, Richard Wesley, was appointed by George W. Bush. Even so, we are confident in the merits of our case and in the power of your prayers!
Our court case is just another example of how liberal social media companies are routinely censoring dialogue that doesn’t fit with their progressive worldview. The issue has become so widespread, Capitol Hill lawmakers have held numerous hearings this year as a possible precursor to amending a portion of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, particularly Section 230.
Conservatives, and many Democrats, believe Section 230 has given social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube wide latitude to police content willy-nilly—under the guise of free speech. President Trump has been a strong defender of eliminating Section 230 and has ordered the Department of Justice to investigate the Internet companies. U.S. Sen. Joshua Hawley (Missouri) has also been a strong advocate as he sounds the alarm of malice and censorship toward conservative, Christian, biblical content.
As we await the appellate ruling, Church United remains committed—and focused— on helping pastors and their churches. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has seriously impacted churches and how they respond to community. Because of our commitment to these spiritual leaders and their flocks, we have learned to adapt on the fly. We’ve helped congregations secure federal loans and Personal Protective Equipment, hosted video conference calls to help pastors work through the maze of state and local COVID-19 restrictions, and supported lawsuits challenging church closures.
Our Declaration of Essentiality, in partnership with Tyler & Bursch, garnered the signatures of more than 1,500 California pastors (over 20,000 signers) and drew national attention. As a result, pastors of regional influence across the country are joining Church United as our networks are growing in Colorado, Texas, Kentucky, Idaho, Indiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Louisiana and Arizona!
Will you help us as we continue to fight policies that limit expression of our religious freedoms, especially in an era of widespread abuses of religious freedom and thought? In addition to fighting this important legal battle, our committed donors also enable us to expand our vital pastor’s network as we work to shine the light of Jesus in an increasingly secular—and hostile—society.
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