8.12.25 Religious protections at work, detainment at Alligator Alcatraz, and maternity care in rural America

Summary

Summary of "The World and Everything In It" Podcast Episode (August 12, 2025)

Title: Religious protections at work, detainment at Alligator Alcatraz, and maternity care in rural America
Host/Author: WORLD Radio
Release Date: August 12, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of “The World and Everything In It,” WORLD Radio delves into three pivotal issues shaping contemporary society: the evolving landscape of religious protections in the workplace, the controversial detainment practices at Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz facility, and the looming crisis in maternity care within rural America. Through in-depth reporting, expert interviews, and poignant narratives, the episode offers listeners a comprehensive overview of these pressing topics.

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Religious Protections at Work

World Vision’s Employment Practices

The episode opens with a significant legal victory for a Christian charity, World Vision, which successfully defended its decision to terminate an employee engaged in a same-sex relationship. Mary Reichardt introduces the case:

Mary Reichardt [00:05]: "A Christian charity won a lawsuit by a former employee fired over her same sex relationship."

World Vision contends that the termination was rooted in religious beliefs rather than sexual orientation discrimination. This stance underscores the ongoing tension between religious liberty and anti-discrimination laws in the workplace.

The Kluge Case: Music Teacher and Pronoun Use

Attorney Steve West provides a detailed analysis of two landmark cases impacting religious freedom and free speech:

Steve West [08:17]: "Kluge taught music at Brownsburg Community School in Indiana. The school required teachers to use students' preferred names and pronouns even when they didn't match the student's sex."

Kluge sought a religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act but ultimately resigned after the school insisted on strict compliance with their pronoun policy. Despite initial setbacks, recent appellate court decisions suggest a favorable outcome for Kluge, potentially setting a precedent for similar future cases.

Legal Implications and Court Decisions

Steve West elaborates on the broader legal landscape:

Steve West [13:18]: "There's currently a debate of whether that exemption exempts religious organizations just from hiring on the basis of religion or if it applies to those other things as well."

The discussion highlights the robust nature of the ministerial exception, which grants religious organizations significant autonomy in hiring practices. However, debates continue regarding the scope of this exception, especially concerning non-religious roles within such organizations.

Notable Quotes

• Rachel Morrison [12:04]: "Religious organizations are able to choose who is going to serve in these key roles at their religious organizations."

• Steve West [13:51]: "It's a clear win for religious organizations... it's vital for faith-based groups to maintain their mission integrity."

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Detainment at Alligator Alcatraz

Introduction to Alligator Alcatraz

Transitioning to immigration issues, the podcast examines the conditions and legal concerns surrounding Alligator Alcatraz, a newly established detention facility in Florida’s Everglades:

Benjamin Eicher [15:07]: "Almanza became an inmate at Alligator Alcatraz, a detention facility in Florida's Everglades region."

Gonzalo Almanza’s Case

Gonzalo Almanza, a lawful permanent resident, finds himself detained without clear deportation orders or due process:

Nick Eicher [16:14]: "He has a right to at least a bond hearing."

Despite holding an active residency card, Almanza remains in detention without the necessary legal proceedings, raising significant concerns about the facility’s adherence to due process:

Anna Weiser [16:02]: "She hasn't even been able to meet with Almanza... they haven't been able to talk."

Legal Due Process Concerns

Jenny Murray of the National Immigration Forum voices apprehensions about the lack of transparency and due process at Alligator Alcatraz:

Jenny Murray: "The government is not uniformly following due process."

The facility’s opaque operations make it challenging to ascertain the frequency and extent of due process violations, exacerbating fears of arbitrary detentions.

Broader Implications on Immigration Enforcement

Governor Ron DeSantis defends the facility’s use for individuals with deportation orders, though critics argue many detainees lack proper legal grounds for removal:

Hans von Spakowski [18:17]: "If you're an alien who illegally entered... you shouldn't be surprised if you are then removed from the United States."

This segment elucidates the broader implications of expedited removals and the potential erosion of legal safeguards for immigrants.

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Maternity Care in Rural America

Retirement of Dr. Stephen Mills

The episode poignantly covers the retirement of Dr. Stephen Mills, a 67-year-old OB-GYN in Brookhaven, Mississippi, highlighting the imminent shortage of maternity care providers in rural areas:

Stephen Mills [22:19]: "I'm going to miss relationships. I'll miss that patient-doctor relationship. But it's the right time for me."

After dedicating 38 years to his practice and delivering over 4,000 babies, Dr. Mills steps down, emphasizing the personal toll and the critical need for successors.

Shortage of OB-GYNs in Rural Areas

Dr. Mills’ retirement is emblematic of a national trend where nearly half of America’s doctors are nearing retirement, with a significant portion in obstetrics facing immediate gaps:

Kent Covington [21:33]: "One specialty is feeling the pinch especially hard."

Impact on Patient Care and Community

The scarcity of OB-GYNs in rural communities like Brookhaven jeopardizes the quality and accessibility of maternity care:

Stephen Mills [23:07]: "The Lord numbers our days, and I could be doing great now and then a year from now be sick."

Patients face challenges such as inconsistent care, reliance on contract doctors, and diminished patient-doctor relationships, adversely affecting maternal and infant health outcomes.

Future of Maternity Care in Rural Communities

Dr. Mills foresees a transformation in how maternity care is delivered, with a shift towards more fragmented and less personalized services:

Stephen Mills [26:03]: "It makes me a little sad because once again, I don't know that the relationship between OB-GYN and patient is going to be quite as close as it has been in the last 30 years."

This impending shift underscores the urgent need for policies and initiatives to attract and retain healthcare professionals in underserved rural areas.

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Additional News Highlights

Beyond the primary topics, the episode touches on several other significant events:

• Federal Takeover of D.C. Police: President Trump’s declaration of a public safety emergency led to the Justice Department assuming control over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police ([Josh Schumacher, 01:01]).

• Shooting Incident in Austin, Texas: A gunman with a mental health history killed three people outside a Target store before being apprehended ([Josh Schumacher, 02:07]).

• Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza: Over two dozen Palestinians were killed, with internal condemnations of Hamas intensifying despite global criticism of Israel’s actions ([Josh Schumacher, 04:30]).

• Texas Congressional Map Standoff: Ongoing political impasse as Democratic lawmakers obstruct redistricting efforts, resulting in civil arrest warrants and financial penalties ([Kent Covington, 05:13]).

• Milwaukee Flooding: Historic rainfall led to severe flooding, displacing residents and causing significant infrastructure damage ([Stephen Mills, 06:39]).

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Conclusion

This episode of “The World and Everything In It” provides a multifaceted exploration of critical issues affecting society today. From the intricate balance between religious freedoms and workplace anti-discrimination policies, to the contentious practices within immigration detention facilities, and the alarming shortage of maternity care providers in rural communities, WORLD Radio delivers insightful and comprehensive reporting. By highlighting personal stories, legal battles, and systemic challenges, the podcast not only informs but also inspires listeners to engage thoughtfully with these pivotal topics.

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For more insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit WORLD Radio and subscribe to their free weekly newsletter, "Liberties," curated by attorney Steve West.

Transcript

[Mary Reichardt]

Good morning. A Christian charity won a lawsuit by a former employee fired over her same sex relationship.

[Nick Eicher]

The customer service representative in this case said she was discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. World Vision said no, we made our decision based on our religious beliefs.

[Kent Covington]

We'll talk about that case and more later. A retiring physician says younger doctors just see the profession differently.

[Stephen Mills]

The first question we get asked is, do I have to work on the weekend or do I have to work at night? Which from our generation we just assumed that came with the territory.

[Mary Reichardt]

It's Tuesday, the 12th of August. This is the world and everything in it from listeners supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Mary Reichardt]

Now the news. Here's Kent Covington.

[Josh Schumacher]

The federal government has assumed control over Washington, D.C. s Metropolitan Police. President Trump declared a public safety emergency in the District of Columbia on Monday and announced that the Justice Department would take the lead in policing the District.

[Stephen Mills]

For now, our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people. And we're not going to let it happen anymore.

[Steve West]

We're not going to take it.

[Josh Schumacher]

But D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters.

[Nick Eicher]

I believe that the President's view of D.C. is shaped by his Covid era experience during his first term. And it is true that those were more challenging times related to some issues.

[Josh Schumacher]

But DC's Democratic Attorney General says violent crime in the district reached historic 30 year lows last year and is down again this year. President Trump, though, says he doesn't buy those numbers and that crime in the nation's capital is still rampant. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the head of the DEA will take the lead.

[Nick Eicher]

Terry Cole is going to be supervising.

[Mary Reichardt]

The Metro Police Department. Gatti Siralta, our U.S. marshal is going.

[Nick Eicher]

To be supervising command and control.

[Josh Schumacher]

Under a 1973 statute, the president can take control of D.C. s police for 48 hours without telling Congress. After notifying lawmakers in writing, he can then extend control for 30 days and after that he can renew that authority if Congress signs off on it. Trump said he is also deploying the National Guard to help re establish law and order in the nation's capital. Police in Austin, Texas, say a gunman killed three people outside of a Target store on Monday. Police Chief Lisa Davis described the suspect as a 32 year old man with a, quote, mental health history. She said the suspect, after opening fire in the parking lot, stole a car from the scene, took that car wrecked.

[Mary Reichardt]

That car then hijacked another car.

[Nick Eicher]

He was then found by Austin PD in South Austin, where he was taken into custody after a tasing, authorities said.

[Josh Schumacher]

Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene and a third died at a local hospital. More than two dozen Palestinians were reportedly killed in two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City yesterday. Some Palestinians, though, aimed their anger at Hamas. Video footage heard here shows a grieving man carrying the body of a child and screaming at hamas, you've killed our children. Hamas, you've killed our children. Another man seated near the bodies of children could reportedly be heard calling on God to punish Hamas. Condemnation of the terror group within the Gaza Strip is growing louder even as many world leaders have directed their ire at Israel over civilian suffering. Also yesterday, hundreds turned out for the funerals of a number of Al Jazeera journalists killed in Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said one of the men was the leader of a Hamas cell and says it has the rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records to prove it. Al Jazeera denies the allegations. A federal judge has refused to make public the secret grand jury testimony from the case of Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, World's Benjamin Eicher reports.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Federal Judge Paul Engelmeier in Manhattan said Monday that releasing the materials would undermine the confidentiality that is essential to grand jury proceedings. The judge also said the materials offered virtually no new information beyond what has already been revealed. And and he suggested the government's motivation for requesting the unsealing was a, quote, diversion aimed not at full disclosure, but at the illusion of such a jury in 2021 found that Ghislaine Maxwell helped Jeffrey Epstein recruit, groom and abuse underage girls. Maxwell is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence for sex trafficking and related crimes. For World I'm Benjamin Eich, A political.

[Josh Schumacher]

Standoff over a new congressional map in Texas continues with no end in sight. Many Democratic state lawmakers remain camped out in blue states to deny the Texas House the two thirds attendance threshold needed for a quorum. That means the House cannot vote on a new Republican drawn redistricting map, Texas Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Monday.

[Kent Covington]

You can go to another city, another state, even another time zone, but you cannot escape your responsibility to the people of Texas.

[Stephen Mills]

Eventually, you will be here.

[Josh Schumacher]

Texas governor Greg Abbott has issued civil arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers, and Burroughs says those Democrats will be held financially liable for the cost of trying to track them down. They're also facing $500 a day fines, but one of those Democrats, Mihaila Plisa told reporters in Chicago.

[Mary Reichardt]

Any consequences that comes to us being here, we will gladly take.

[Josh Schumacher]

Governor Abbott has also threatened to remove those lawmakers from office, though Democrats claim he lacks that authority. The newly drawn map could give the GOP five more Republican leaning districts in Texas. The Milwaukee area is drying out after historic weekend rainfall. More than 14 inches reportedly fell in less than 24 hours in one area, pushing rivers beyond their banks and cutting power to thousands. One suburban Milwaukee resident described to WISN TV how floodwaters overtook his car.

[Stephen Mills]

I got out the car, climbed on top of the car, first of all, I got out the car and slipped under into the water, but I climbed back up. That's how I busted my knuckles and everything.

[Josh Schumacher]

National Weather Service says four rivers in the Milwaukee area hit record high levels as of Monday. There were no fatalities reported. About 2,000 homes remained without power and and there was more rain in the forecast, though nothing like the weekend deluge. I'm Kent Covington, and straight ahead, a conversation with world's Steve west on a couple of freedom of conscience cases, plus changing policies meant to protect religious freedom of federal employees. This is the WORLD and everything in it.

[Mary Reichardt]

It's Tuesday, the 12th of August. This is World Radio, and we're so glad you've joined us today. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Nick Eicher. First up on the World and Everything in it, two court wins with big implications for religious liberty and free speech. One involves a music teacher who refused students preferred pronouns. The other, the Christian relief ministry World Vision, defending its right to hire only those who share its beliefs. Joining us now is Steve west, an attorney who writes about religious liberty for world.

[Mary Reichardt]

Good morning, Steve.

[Steve West]

Good morning, Mary.

[Mary Reichardt]

Well, we've talked about the Clooge case before. Can you just give us a quick refresher?

[Steve West]

Sure. Kluge taught music at Brownsburg Community School in Indiana. The school required teachers to use students preferred names and pronouns even when they didn't match the student's sex. So Cluj asked for a religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights act, which prohibits workplace discrimination.

[Mary Reichardt]

And I understand he did try to find some middle ground.

[Steve West]

Yes, he did. He agreed to use students last names just like a coach would. That way he could avoid using pronouns altogether.

[Mary Reichardt]

And then how did the school respond to that?

[Steve West]

Well, at first the school allowed it, but a few complaints came in and then the school told them to either follow the policy to the letter or or face the consequences. So the school gave him an Ultimatum, Comply, resign or be fired. So he resigned in June 2018 after four years at the school.

[Mary Reichardt]

All right, and then he sued the next year, Correct?

[Steve West]

Right. He lost at the trial court. And then he appealed to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021, which sent the case back after the Supreme Court's Groff vs. DeJoy decision. That ruling raised the standard for when employers can deny religious accommodations. They have to prove the requested accommodation would cause a significant, significant hardship. But the trial court again sided with the school. So Cluj appealed a second time in July 2024, arguing the school cannot show his requested accommodation caused it undue hardship.

[Mary Reichardt]

So what happens now?

[Steve West]

Well, the appeals court just revived the case and sent it back to the trial court, sent it to a jury. It did signal that the accommodation request likely didn't cause undue hardship. But the jury will decide two things. Whether using last names only or hurt students emotionally, and whether Cluj sincerely holds his beliefs. Courts usually give wide latitude on sincerity, and the burden on employers is pretty high at this point. So I think he has a good shot at win.

[Mary Reichardt]

And that really does matter, because courts tend to be less protective of high school teachers rights than of college professors when it comes to, say, pronoun use with minors who are ostensibly more impressionable because they're younger. Although that can be argued both ways.

[Steve West]

Right.

[Mary Reichardt]

All right, well, let's talk about the World Vision case. Now, that has been going on for more than four years.

[Steve West]

It sure has. Just like the Kluge case. So World Vision requires all its employers to agree to a statement of faith and follow biblical standards of conduct. Many faith based groups have similar requirements. Here, a woman named Aubrey McMahon applied in late 2020 for a remote donor services position, but she was married to another woman, pregnant via a sperm donor, and active in LGBTQ causes. A few days after offering her the job, McMahon asked about leave for her baby's upcoming birth. And so World Vision withdrew the offer, saying she didn't comply with its conduct policy that bars sexual relationships outside marriage between one man and one woman.

[Mary Reichardt]

And so McMahon sued for discrimination, too, didn't she?

[Steve West]

She sure did. This case is bounced around in the court system, but the latest ruling says that World Vision's action is protected by the ministerial. Except that's the First Amendment doctrine that gives religious institutions broad autonomy over hiring and firing for positions with vital religious duties.

[Mary Reichardt]

Well, I hear room for argument in that phrase. Vital religious duties. I mean, a pastor or a theology teacher fits that. And now a customer service rep who interacts directly with donors fits under that. But what about, say, accountants or secretaries or janitors?

[Steve West]

The court avoided answering that. It said hiring for non religious roles would still be subject to non discrimination laws. But some lawyers argue there's a broader religious autonomy principle that protects a faith based organization's right to require all employees to share its beliefs. Here's lawyer Rachel Morrison, who filed a brief on behalf of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

[Nick Eicher]

Religious organizations are able to choose who is going to serve in these key roles at their religious organizations, but also the restraint on courts and the government from being able to come in and tell a religious organization, no, you have to keep this person employed at your organization. This person is the person who has to be your mouthpiece.

[Mary Reichardt]

So she's saying a Christian organization can require all employees to be practicing Christians.

[Steve West]

That's right. And that makes sense. No faith group should be forced to hire or retain an employee who actively opposes its mission.

[Mary Reichardt]

But the court did not address that broader autonomy argument or Title VII's religious exemption.

[Steve West]

Correct. And that's likely because the ministerial exception is more settled law and courts are comfortable with it. But Becky Dumbermuth of First Liberty Institute filed a brief emphasizing that Title vii, that's the workplace discrimination law, already has a religious exemption. It lets religious organizations hire based on religion. Even though Title VII bars discrimination based on race, age, sex, national origin, and after the Supreme Court's Bostock decision, sexual orientation and gender identity.

[Nick Eicher]

There's currently a debate of whether that exemption exempts religious organizations just from hiring on the basis of religion or if it applies to those other things as well. I mean, the customer service representative in this case said she was discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. World Vision said no, we made our decision based on our religious beliefs.

[Mary Reichardt]

So the bottom line is the ministerial exception is strong law. But broader claims of religious autonomy or exemption. Title VII are still being contested.

[Steve West]

That's right. And we'll just have to see if this case gets appealed to the full Court of Appeals or to the U.S. supreme Court. But for now, it's a clear win for religious organizations. You know, the broader point is that it's vital for faith based groups to maintain their mission integrity. That makes for a healthier, richer cultural life, no matter whether you share their beliefs or not. That's really a win for everyone.

[Mary Reichardt]

Steve west writes about religious liberties for world. You can read his [e-mail] and subscribe to his free weekly newsletter newsletter called Liberties. Steve, always good to have you on. Thanks so much.

[Steve West]

My pleasure, Mary.

[Kent Covington]

Coming up next, on the world and everything in it. Alligator Alcatraz as the Trump administration puts into use state run detention centers for those about to be deported. Are the rights of the detainees being respected and what exactly are those rights? World's Josh Schumacher reports.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Gonzalo Almanza is a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

[Nick Eicher]

His parents won a lottery in Cuba, so they came here April 1st of 2000. Gonzalo was six years old.

[Benjamin Eicher]

That's Ashley Valdez. She's Almanza's longtime girlfriend and the mother of his child.

[Nick Eicher]

His card is still active and he was in the process of renewal. He was within timeframe, but in July.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Almanza became an inmate at Alligator Alcatraz, a detention facility in Florida's Everglades region. Like California's infamous Alcatraz prison in San Francisco, the Florida facility is billed as a place impossible to escape from. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. And one of the reasons why this.

[Daniel Ser]

Was a sensible spot is because you.

[Stephen Mills]

Have this Runway that's right here. You go a couple thousand feet and they can be on a plane and out of here.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Governor DeSantis has said every single inmate at the facility has deportation orders. But Almanza doesn't fit that bill. Almanza does have criminal convictions for theft and racketeering, and those convictions could make him eligible for deportation, but not without going through a certain process. Anna Weiser is Almanza's lawyer.

[Nick Eicher]

Yes, he can be placed in removal proceedings, but he has to be given proper notice, right? The judge has to oversee his case. He has a right to at least a bond hearing.

[Benjamin Eicher]

But none of those things have happened.

[Nick Eicher]

We're yet to receive any type of charging document. The government hasn't provided any type of reason why he's being held.

[Benjamin Eicher]

So far, Weiser hasn't even been able to meet with Almanza. She went to Alligator Alcatraz and was turned away after being told she couldn't meet with her client. She has been able to speak with him on the phone, but only on a recorded phone line. As such, they haven't been able to talk. Case strategy Almanza's case embodies a larger set of concerns about Alligator Alcatraz and other facilities like it. Jenny Murray is president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. She says the government is not uniformly following due process.

[Nick Eicher]

We know it's not across the board being observed. We do know that because we are. We do have people saying my client was removed. I was on their case and I would have been notified if it had been adjudicated.

[Benjamin Eicher]

But Murray says it's hard to tell how often that's happening because information about Alligator Alcatraz has been scant.

[Nick Eicher]

So we know anecdotally that it's happening. But being able to exhaustively answer, you know, how many people are not getting access to due process and all of those things, it's very hard for our community right now because we don't have the same access as we would have in previous administrations.

[Benjamin Eicher]

In a recent press briefing, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis explained that hundreds of illegal immigrants had been on flights out of his state and out of the country. I asked the Department of Homeland Security whether all those people had orders of removal issued by an immigration judge. In response, deputy secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, Fire up the deportation planes. According to the law, many illegal immigrants are automatically deportable if a judge or other immigration authority issues deportation orders or if they illegally crossed into the United States in the past two years. Hans von Spakowski is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

[Stephen Mills]

If you're an alien who illegally entered.

[Daniel Ser]

The United States and have no right to be in the United States, you shouldn't be surprised if you are then removed from the United States.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Not all illegal immigrants are automatically deportable, though people who overstay their visas and legal immigrants who commit crimes are typically entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge before they are deported. That includes immigrants like Gonzalo. Almanza. Murray with the National Immigration Forum does acknowledge that the government has broad authority to deport illegal immigrants, especially in light of recent executive orders. But she says deportations also need to be done in a manner that follows.

[Nick Eicher]

The rules to live in a country that is lawful and that we know every individual is protected sort of under the rule of law. We are nervous to see any erosion of due process as the administration really seeks to expand expedited removal.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Reporting for World, I'm Josh Schumacher.

[Josh Schumacher]

Additional support comes from Dort University where pre med students gain knowledge through undergraduate research and hone skills through hands on simulations. Dort. Edu from Water's Edge Kingdom Investments personal investments that build churches 5.05% APY on a three month term watersedge.com invest and from Covenant College. Rigorous academics grounded in Reformed theology lived out in Christ centered community. Covenant. Edu World.

[Mary Reichardt]

You know that look every little kid understands the mom look. Well it turns out this is not confined to humans. We have a 13 pound pygmy hippo calf. The name's Mars. At Tanganyika Wildlife park in Kansas earlier this summer, the keepers did what they could to try leading the pool. Happy pygmy calf to nap time. But to little avail. We're out here on a mission to get the hippo inside. Nope. This is a job for Mom. She steps to the edge, gives the look, and pool time is over. Junior hops out and falls in line as though mama had just used first, middle, and last names. Turns out the mom stare works in all species. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Tuesday, August 12th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichardt.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Coming next on the World and everything in it, who will care for tomorrow's patients? Nearly half of America's doctors are 55 or older. A third of those are set to reach retirement age within five years.

[Mary Reichardt]

One specialty is feeling the pinch especially hard. And Gynecology World senior writer Kim Henderson reports.

[Kim Henderson]

It's Monday morning. A mowing crew is out early blowing off a parking lot. It's for patients at the only ob GYN practice in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

[Stephen Mills]

Good morning.

[Daniel Ser]

Good morning.

[Stephen Mills]

How are you?

[Mary Reichardt]

I'm doing okay. How are you?

[Stephen Mills]

Good.

[Kim Henderson]

That's Stephen Mills. It's a big week for the doctor at age 67, he's retiring after 38 years at this practice. He's delivered more than 4,000 babies. But Mills says it's the right time for him to step away, especially after battling a malignant tumor in his leg.

[Stephen Mills]

I'm doing fine. All my scans are clear. But the Lord numbers our days, and I could be doing great now and then a year from now be sick.

[Kim Henderson]

Mills wants to spend more time with his wife and their 15 grandchildren.

[Mary Reichardt]

She's here for her follow up.

[Stephen Mills]

Okay. Yes.

[Kim Henderson]

I asked Mills why he, as a young resident chose obstetrics. Gynecology. His top reason? Relationships.

[Stephen Mills]

You're part of the family because you deliver someone's baby and everybody remembers who delivered what baby and you have that relationship for many times, 30, 35 years.

[Kim Henderson]

Mills also liked being a surgeon.

[Stephen Mills]

I like surgery that you can fix things. Most gynecology surgery you do and it's. It fixes the problem, and I like that.

[Kim Henderson]

Mill's work gave him an opportunity to live out his faith, too.

[Stephen Mills]

Particularly obstetrics was wonderful 90% of the time, but that other 10% was incredibly heartbreaking and delivering difficult news. And being with families during tough times also was an opportunity for ministries. We actually have two waiting rooms. This is primary waiting room in the a secondary wedding room.

[Kim Henderson]

Mill's practice is busy and putting a firm retirement date on the calendar has been harder than he thought. His group can't seem to recruit new doctors.

[Stephen Mills]

The first question we get asked is, you know, do I have to work on the weekend or do I have to work at night? Which from our generation that we just assume that came with the territory. I think that the new generation of docs, most of them are really looking at, you know, what kind of lifestyle am I going to have?

[Kim Henderson]

Mills admits being on call is hard on a family. His two youngest daughters once told their mother they thought their daddy lived at the hospital. But being in small town practice has its perks.

[Stephen Mills]

I could slip out of the office, or I could slip out of the hospital and go to a soccer game or go to a kindergarten program and then go right back to the hospital.

[Kim Henderson]

Mills and his partners are also good at slipping between their office and the labor and delivery suite at the hospital.

[Stephen Mills]

And I go through this door and we go across the street. When we built this clinic in 1988, the proximity to the hospital was important to us. We didn't realize how important it was. I would say this is probably. Well, when I was playing football in college, I could throw the ball about 50 yards, 60 yards. So I would think it's about 60 yards.

[Kim Henderson]

Mills made the walk countless times.

[Stephen Mills]

Sometimes running, sometimes in street clothes, sometimes in scrubs. It just.

[Kim Henderson]

The obs also had a sort of secret entrance to the hospital.

[Stephen Mills]

A lot of times the patients would think we would just appear out of nowhere, but we actually had a back stairwell. We'd come up.

[Kim Henderson]

The practice has grown through the years and has about 24 employees.

[Stephen Mills]

So this is our waiting room. It's been expanded since we first got here.

[Kim Henderson]

There are four doctors, but three are retirement age and have dropped their OB roll. That leaves only one doctor to deliver babies. They've had to contract OB's from other places.

[Stephen Mills]

We do our due diligence and we. And we, we check them out and make sure they have good credentials, that they're good doctors. But nevertheless, when our patients show up over there, you know, Dr. Smith they've never seen before.

[Kim Henderson]

And it's not just their practice. There's a national shortage of OB GYNs. Mills predicts big change.

[Stephen Mills]

We're going to have nighttime doctors and daytime doctors, and we're going to have docs that what we call locum tenems or contract doctors that take the nights and weekends.

[Kim Henderson]

Mills expects the quality of medicine to be fine, but he is concerned it's.

[Stephen Mills]

Going to be different. And I guess the public at large will acclimate to that. So. But it will definitely be different. It makes me a little sad because once again, I don't know that the relationship between OBGYN and patient is going to be quite as close as has been in the last 30 years.

[Kim Henderson]

And that's the element, the people element that has him feeling sentimental about retiring. But Mills looks forward to spending more time with his family and maybe some medical mission trips are in his future too.

[Stephen Mills]

We've been to Kenya a couple of times, we've been to Honduras a couple of times. We're just praying about and asking God for some direction as far as all that. And we're excited about the next chapter. It is bittersweet. I'm going to miss relationships. I'll miss that patient doctor relationship. But it's the right time for me. I don't have any doubts.

[Kim Henderson]

Reporting for World I'm Kim henderson in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

[Kent Covington]

Today is Tuesday, August 12th. Good morning, this is the World and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichardt]

And I'm Mary Reichard, World Opinions contributor. Daniel Ser on new federal guidelines meant to protect religious freedoms at work.

[Daniel Ser]

Imagine a Veterans affairs doctor praying with a patient or a government worker posting a flyer about a church event on an informal employee to employee informational bulletin board. Many try to argue that these actions are unconstitutional. They are not. Not even close. New guidance from the lead human resources agency of the federal government is explicitly protecting the rights of government workers to engage in these activities, though always with the caveat that they must be done in a way that respects the wishes of the other party to the conversation. The new memorandum from the Office of Personnel Management, or opm, provides a robust view of federal employees religious liberties in the workplace and could have sweeping influence. The United States government is the largest employer in the United states, with almost 2.4 million employees. Like any employer, the government has a basic role to regulate its workspaces and buildings, whether office cubicles or military barracks. The OPM memorandum is another building block in the Trump administration's continued effort to protect religious freedom. The Constitution's First Amendment protects free speech and the free exercise of religion for all Americans. But the U.S. supreme Court has recognized that these clauses operate differently for government employees than everyday citizens. For instance, the government as employer can search an employee's workplace desk or locker for, say, contraband drugs, even if it would need a judicial warrant to search the same person's home. Two years ago, the Supreme Court affirmed the right of public high school football coach Joe Kennedy to pray publicly after a game the case put front and center the previously ambiguous balance between the employee's conscience rights and the employer's interest in an efficient workplace. The Biden administration pressed its own agenda on the federal workforce, using the Transgender Day of visibility in 2023 to announce guidelines for transgender employees. In fact, the Biden administration's commitment to DEI ran rampant throughout the various agencies and departments of the government, reaching its apex In a 2021 executive order entitled Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce, followed by an all agency implementation strategy led by opm. Thankfully, all that has since been repealed by President Trump. Perhaps predictably, now, secularist advocates are already screaming about the Trump OPM's new guidance on religious practices in the workplace workplace, claiming they are fundamentalist, outrageous and, you guessed it, Christian nationalist overreach. I think most Americans will view these clarifications as what they are common sense, and the OPM action may even be required by law. In the wake of the U.S. supreme Court's recent decision in Grof vs. DeJoy. That case reaffirmed that the federal civil rights law in Title VII provides meaningful protections for religious employees in public and private workplaces nationwide. We can hope that state and local governments and private employers will follow the OPM's new guidance for their own workplaces. In 2017, then US Attorney General Jeff Sessions noted in a legal memorandum that federal standards provide useful guidance to private employers about ways in which religious observance and practice can reasonably be accommodated in the workplace. General Sessions wrote that memorandum reflecting on guidelines issued by the Clinton administration in 1997 in the wake of the bipartisan adoption of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Those guidelines also provided strong religious liberty protection in the federal workplace. The new Trump guidelines expand, reinforce and clarify the Clinton standards. But the fact that the Clinton administration could issue good guidance on such a subject recalls a bygone era, one when broad religious liberty protections had substantial bipartisan support. The battle over same sex marriage has largely destroyed that bipartisan consensus. We must hope it may yet come back. I'm Daniel sir.

[Kent Covington]

Tomorrow. Hunter Baker is back for Washington Wednesday, and we'll have an update for you on Billboard. Chris As Australia continues to try to curb online debate. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichardt]

And I'm Mary Reichard. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. When Jesus was born, the Bible records that suddenly there is there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. Go now in grace and peace.