June 22 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— CPD must do better job of recruiting, hold more frequent exams to counter tidal wave of retirements, mayor says. Law enforcement is ‘not viewed in the most positive light,’ the mayor said. ‘It won’t change, and it won’t get better if we don’t have diverse people in our neighborhoods who look like the people in the neighborhoods they are sworn to serve and protect.’ – Fran Spielman
(DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2021/6/21/22543901/chicago-police-cpd-retirements-recruitment-academy-entrance-exam-lightfoot
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use Juneteenth to promote hatred against Republicans.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/6/21/22544189/after-juneteenth-the-continuing-struggle-for-equality-jesse-jackson

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— CPS laying off 443 teachers and support staff. CTU vows to fight cuts. – KAREN ANN CULLOTTA
(DIERSEN: GAO did not unionized until 2007. During the mid-1990s, Republicans cut GAO’s budget dramatically. The Democrats who ran GAO used those cuts to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $102,188) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $120,755) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $142,041) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $172,500) by age 40. Extremely few GAO employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-cps-layoffs-2021-teachers-staff-20210622-vkvqnbwqbfbdbhkve7cvamuhvu-story.html

JOURNAL COURIER
— Jersey County floats idea of leaving Illinois, becoming part of Missouri – Rochelle Eiselt
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Jersey-floats-idea-of-leaving-Illinois-becoming-16264190.php

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote LGBTQ. For your school district, what goals do the Democrats have for turning grade school, middle school, and high school students into LGBTQers – 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50+%?
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/healthcare/2021/06/22/pekin-trans-woman-guides-others-through-transitioning/7718406002/

KPVI
— Former Gov. Bruce Rauner agrees to settle robocall lawsuit for $1 million – SARAH MANSUR
https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/former-gov-bruce-rauner-agrees-to-settle-robocall-lawsuit-for-1-million/article_812bbfb6-0ded-5cf4-8be6-a6a89496a5f4.html

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: How soon, if not already, will Democrats officially a) call for prostitution to be legalized and b) call for universities, colleges, high schools, middle schools, grade schools, etc. to offer courses, diplomas, and degrees in prostitution?
https://www.nprillinois.org/statehouse/2021-06-18/lawmakers-approve-proposal-to-allow-sex-workers-to-expunge-past-felony-prostitution-convictions

ILLINOIS NEWS TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote LGBTQ. For your school district, what goals do the Democrats have for turning grade school, middle school, and high school students into LGBTQers – 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50+%?
https://illinoisnewstoday.com/peoria-public-school-adds-lgbtq-history-to-curriculum-starting-this-fall/261995/
https://illinoisnewstoday.com/sesame-street-introduces-two-gay-dads-during-pride-month-2/261452/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— The Illinois Republican Party feted RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel at the venerable Sangamo Club in Springfield on Monday for a fundraiser with Reps. Rodney Davis and Darin LaHood. The big applause of the event came when McDaniel took a “Fire Pritzker” bumper sticker and told a staffer to make sure to get one for her office. Also spotted: Republican gubernatorial candidate Gary Rabine, Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, and state Reps. Mike Murphy and Dan Caulkins. . .Republican Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (47th) has donated $150,000 to her campaign fund, according to the State Board of Elections. That doesn’t exceed the contribution caps since those limits don’t start until 12 months before an election. And since the 2022 primary is June 28, she’s all clear with the big gift. – SHIA KAPOS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2021/06/22/fired-up-dems-await-fec-rule-with-end-of-school-pink-slips-rauner-settles-robocall-suit-for-1m-493329

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Opponents of culturally responsive teaching hit setback – Zeta Cross
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/opponents-of-culturally-responsive-teaching-hit-setback/article_2e0fddfa-d2c5-11eb-b640-87b879d2410a.html

WIREPOINTS
— Chicago Tribune’s Eric Zorn Is The Latest Target Of Post-Truth Journalism – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/chicago-tribunes-eric-zorn-is-the-latest-target-of-post-truth-journalism-wirepooints/

WILLIAM J KELLY
— Blame Mayor Lightfoot for Chicago’s racist health crisis
https://www.williamjkelly.org/news/citizen-kelly-live-premiere-blame-mayor-lightfoot-for-chicagos-racist-health-crisis

CAPITOL FAX
— Thousands of veterans won’t be left out of Illinois vaccine lottery program after all
(DIERSEN: One would expect that Democrats would want only those who are members of protected groups to be eligible.)
https://capitolfax.com/2021/06/22/thousands-of-veterans-wont-be-left-out-of-illinois-vaccine-lottery-program-after-all/

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Chicago Dyke March Flier Shows Woman in ACAB Undies Burning Israeli and American Flags – Debra Heine
https://amgreatness.com/2021/06/21/chicago-dyke-march-flier-shows-woman-in-acab-undies-burning-israeli-and-american-flags/

DAILY SIGNAL
— As Rebellion Against Critical Race Theory Grows, Left Turns to Denial, Dismissal – Jarrett Stepman
https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/06/21/as-rebellion-against-critical-race-theory-grows-left-turns-to-denial-dismissal

FEDERALIST
— Why Is Republican-Run Indiana Letting Tax Dollars Fund Critical Race Theory? Multiple Indiana government agencies are involved in the conference pushing critical race theory, including state-funded universities. Nearly all state Republican leaders refused to comment. – Gabe Kaminsky
https://thefederalist.com/2021/06/22/why-is-republican-run-indiana-letting-tax-dollars-fund-critical-race-theory/

TOWNHALL
— Education Department Opens Pandora’s Box for Anti-Straight Discrimination – Adam Kissel
(DIERSEN: Since 2000, those who promote LGBTQ, their operatives, and their dupes have worked the hardest against me. I should write a book about the biggest LGBTQ-promoters in the following since 2000: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Wheaton Park District, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican and who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on those who promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, CRT, 1619, BLM, LGBTQ, reparations, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination. I would focus on those who destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover-up their wrongdoing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money. I would focus on those who succeeded in stopping Republicans from helping sponsor Wheaton’s 2021 Independence Day Parade and Fireworks.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/adamkissel/2021/06/22/education-department-opens-pandoras-box-for-antistraight-discrimination-n2591336

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Wisconsin lawmakers pass bills banning gender-confused males from competing with women and girls – Raymond Wolfe
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/wisconsin-lawmakers-pass-bills-banning-gender-confused-males-from-competing-with-women-and-girls

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Washington Post Video Urges White People to ‘Get Together, Specifically around Race’ – ISAAC SCHORR & BRITTANY BERNSTEIN
(DIERSEN: Democrats have declared a Second Civil War on Republicans. Democrats see the following as being their soldiers in their army: minorities, females, poor people, rich people, younger people, LGBTQers, those who have health problems, those who are in America illegally, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, RINOs, moderates, liberals, non-Christians, non-Protestants, non-Italian Americans, non-German Americans, those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, criminals, drinkers, gamblers, stoners, and those who are anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-traditional marriage/family, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/washington-post-video-urges-white-people-to-get-together-specifically-around-race/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Biden’s VA secretary announces US taxpayers will foot bill for vets’ gender reassignment surgery – Tom Tillison
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2021/06/21/bidens-va-secretary-announces-us-taxpayers-will-foot-bill-for-vets-gender-reassignment-surgery-1091885/

EPOCH TIMES
— Woke Ideology Mimics Precursors to Totalitarian Slaughter, Experts Say – PETR SVAB
https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_morningbrief/woke-ideology-mimics-precursors-to-totalitarian-slaughter-experts-say_3865035.html
— Don’t Defund the Police. Defund the Military! – Roger L. Simon
https://www.theepochtimes.com/dont-defund-the-police-defund-the-military_3867874.html
— Chapman University to Host Separate ‘Cultural Graduation Celebrations’ – GQ PAN
https://www.theepochtimes.com/chapman-university-to-host-separate-cultural-graduation-celebrations_3867596.html

THE HILL
— Rittenhouse defense fund says it’s raised nearly half a million dollars ahead of trial – MYCHAEL SCHNELL
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/559458-rittenhouse-defense-fund-says-its-raised-nearly-half-a-million
— Banning ideas in schools isn’t enough — parents must be active citizens – JENNIFER STEFANO
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/558968-banning-ideas-in-schools-isnt-enough-parents-must-be-active-citizens

MSNBC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use critical race theory to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/critical-race-theory-explained-as-not-marxist-or-racist-by-its-leading-scholar-kimberle-crenshaw-115226693996

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: When It Comes to Big City Elections, Republicans Are in the Wilderness. The party’s growing irrelevance in urban and suburban areas comes at a considerable cost, sidelining conservatives in centers of innovation and economic might. – Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/21/us/politics/republicans-cities-elections-new-york.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Can polarization be a good thing? – Paul Waldman
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about the biggest polarizers in the following since 2000: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Wheaton Park District, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican and who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on those who promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, CRT, 1619, BLM, LGBTQ, reparations, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination. I would focus on those who destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover-up their wrongdoing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money. I would focus on those who succeeded in stopping Republicans from helping sponsor Wheaton’s 2021 Independence Day Parade and Fireworks.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/11/can-polarization-be-good-thing-just-look-2021s-big-gubernatorial-races/

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— The Democratic Party’s new rifts: In New York City and America – ESTER FUCHS
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, to be a Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Independent, or RINO is to be anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-traditional marriage/family, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-nycs-americas-new-democratic-rifts-20210622-dovdte5ojbhqhgnv6m6hdcekk4-story.html

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
— Philly’s 2021 LGBTQ ‘Pride lite’ festival canceled as group dissolves after backlash. The group had run the Philly Pride Parade for 28 years. – Oona Goodin-Smith
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, LGBTQ-promoters make it clear that they hate Republicans. Of course, LGBTQ-promoters in DuPage County are beyond overjoyed that Wheaton a) stopped DuPage Republicans from helping sponsor Wheaton’s 2021 Independence Day Parade and Fireworks, b) stopped the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums from marching in the parade, and c) apparently stopped the Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South bands from marching in the parade. I should write a book about the aforesaid.)
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-pride-presents-disbanded-20210621.html

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
— Pride welcomes everyone – except LGBTQ cops – Kevin Fisher-Paulson
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, LGBTQ-promoters make it clear that they hate Republicans. Of course, LGBTQ-promoters in DuPage County are beyond overjoyed that Wheaton a) stopped DuPage Republicans from helping sponsor Wheaton’s 2021 Independence Day Parade and Fireworks, b) stopped the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums from marching in the parade, and c) apparently stopped the Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South bands from marching in the parade. I should write a book about the aforesaid.)
https://www.sfchronicle.com/culture/article/Pride-welcomes-everyone-except-LGBTQ-cops-16263951.php
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There’s no parade this year, and even if there were, my uniform wouldn’t be invited. Back in September, the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration Committee announced that they were prohibiting uniformed San Francisco Police Department officers at the event. New York, Vancouver and Denver followed suit. You can be proud of yourself, but not your badge.)

USA TODAY
— Is banning Trump from Facebook a First Amendment issue? Clarence Thomas, other conservatives say it is – Chelsey Cox
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/2021/06/20/facebook-banning-donald-trump-first-amendment-issue-some-gop/5065835001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, to send your child to a public school is to make your child anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-traditional marriage/family, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/06/22/local-schools-teach-race-fight-racism-no-politicians-needed/7743934002/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, a) Democrats promote LGBTQ and b) LGBTQ-promoters promote hatred against Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/06/15/the-queer-bible-essays-lgbtq-heroes-praised/7639674002/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/06/18/lgbtq-people-color-discrimination-more-common-harmful/7708135002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote LGBTQ. For your school district, what goals do the Democrats have for turning grade school, middle school, and high school students into LGBTQers – 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50+%?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/carl-nassib-active-nfl-player-gay-11624318008
— Publicly traded companies with headquarters in California could be fined $300,000 if they fail to include at least one woman on their boards. – Theo Francis
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about the tremendous ever-increasing pressure from Democrats and from RINOs on leaders of the following to give preference to those who are Trump-haters, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, moderate, liberal, non-Christian, non-Protestant, non-Italian American, non-German American, and/or those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Wheaton Park District, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. To give preference to members of one group is to discriminate against member of another group. To give preference to those who are members of the aforesaid grouips is to discriminate against those who are: non-Trump haters, White, male, older, heterosexual, conservative, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/appeals-court-revives-challenge-to-california-law-mandating-women-board-members-11624317002

COLUMBUS DISPATCH
— FROM THE ARTICLE: “We are in a moment of time where we can call to dig deeper, and to really do some of the work of healing some of the sins of our forefathers.”
(DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Democrats demand that Republicans put in writing the sins of their forefathers? According to Democrats, if you are a Republican, your forefathers’ biggest sin was immigrating to America and the earlier that they immigrated, the bigger the sin. When did your ancestors immigrate? Mine immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s from what is now Germany. In their defense, they always stayed in northeast Illinois.)
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/06/15/columbus-juneteenth-celebrations-offer-reflection-growth-after-losses/7593823002/

WKYC
— Rep. Jim Jordan questions Microsoft about company’s ‘bias against conservatives’ as Congress considers antitrust legislation. “Big Tech, including Microsoft, Inc., is out to get conservatives.” – Dave DeNatale
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/politics/jim-jordan-targets-microsoft-for-company-bias-against-conservatives-congress-considers-antitrust-legislation/95-42cdb331-7693-4dc9-b9be-16a54b6593e2

WIBX 950
— 4th of July Celebration Back On, Fireworks Will Fill The Night
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, LGBTQ-promoters make it clear that they hate Republicans. Of course, LGBTQ-promoters in DuPage County are beyond overjoyed that Wheaton a) stopped DuPage Republicans from helping sponsor Wheaton’s 2021 Independence Day Parade and Fireworks, b) stopped the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums from marching in the parade, and c) apparently stopped the Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South bands from marching in the parade. I should write a book about the aforesaid.)
https://wibx950.com/4th-of-july-celebration-back-on-fireworks-will-fill-the-night-sky-in-utica/

COLLEGIAN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, to send your child to a public school is to make your child anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-traditional marriage/family, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.collegian.psu.edu/opinion/columnists/juneteenth-critical-race-theory-and-doing-the-right-thing-column/article_6ac9cd12-d2ef-11eb-b190-57db5a2f8a33.html

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
— Taxes and the rich: America’s history of favoritism and crackdowns – Laurent Belsie
(DIERSEN: Virtually none of my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates took job-related graduate courses. They were beyond furious that I took and deducted job-related graduate a) business courses at Loyola 1972-1976, b) accounting courses at DePaul 1976-1980, and c) finance courses at IIT 1992-1997. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were renters were beyond furious that I bought real estate and deducted mortgage interest and real estate taxes.)
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2021/0621/Taxes-and-the-rich-America-s-history-of-favoritism-and-crackdowns

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
— What’s Really Behind the Plight of Newspapers? – Lee Wolverton
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, newspapers a) act like they are arms of the Democrat, Libertarian, and/or Green parties and b) focus on destroying Republican activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, organizations, major donors, political consultants, fundraisers, campaign managers, campaign staff members, campaign volunteers, etc. For opposition research, I pay lots of money for hardcopy and website subscriptions to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, Crain’s Chicago Business, Naperville Sun, Wheaton Leader, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, etc.)
https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/whats-really-behind-the-plight-of-newspapers,196034

WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Socialists promote CRT and 1619.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/06/22/crit-j22.html

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.