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The new year opens with big events here at Family Research Council:
For the Nation: “State of the Family” address by FRC President Tony Perkins - webcast January 11
While the state of the union waxes and wanes with changes in government leadership, the American family has always been the backbone that makes this country strong. Strong families make a strong America. Family Research Council is in a unique position to examine the state of the family in our nation. From the group’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., FRC President Tony Perkins will deliver a 30-minute State of the Family address on January 11, 2016 at 7:00 PM EST. Perkins will examine how the family is doing in the areas of religious freedom, life, and marriage. In attendance at the event will be families and individuals who have been uniquely affected by the erosion of religious liberty. Register to watch here.
For Churches: “Free to Believe” - webcast January 16
In a world where two out of every three people live in regions lacking religious liberty, America is still one of the brightest lights on freedom's shore. But that light has dimmed of late, as the current administration continues to diminish religious liberty. On January 16, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST, FRC is helping to reignite the flame on National Religious Freedom Day during a special Saturday broadcast event. This is an excellent opportunity to gather a group of leaders interested in joining or forming a Culture Impact Team in your church. Saturday's broadcast will be an inspiring, practical, hands on event that will give you the tools need you to impact the culture in your community and beyond. Register to watch here.
For Pro-Life Advocates: “ProLifeCon” – webcast January 22
On January 22, 2016, pro-life internet activists will gather at Family Research Council headquarters for ProLifeCon, the premier conference for the online pro-life community. As Americans grow increasingly aware of the abortion industry's agenda, we believe 2016 is a Year for Hope. At our 11th annual event we will be joined by such friends as U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Ryan Bomberger of The Radiance Foundation, Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, Alliance Defending Freedom’s Alison Howard, and the Center for Medical Progress’s David Daleiden. Activists, policy experts, and legislators will be on hand to discuss the issues impacting the pro-life movement, and to share practical ways to make a difference for life on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and your online platform of choice. Register to watch here.
All of these events can be viewed at no charge. We hope you will join us as we begin 2016 strong for faith, family, and freedom.
Sincerely,
Rob Schwarzwalder
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council
P.S. Don’t miss the Marriage and Religion Research Institute’s “Family Findings,” a unique weekly summary of research on marriage, the family, and human sexuality. Subscription – just like the SoCon Review – is free!
Religious Liberty
“Free to Believe” –
- If You Want to Fight Islamophobia then Deal with Christianophobia – George Yancey, The Stream
- Kindred Spirits: How One Family Is Relying on Faith and Each Other in the Face of Government Persecution – Chris Potts, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)
- Phoenix-area community college should teach free speech, not shut it down – Alliance Defending Freedom
- Harvard Doctor Lost Hospital Privileges for Speaking the Truth – Liberty Counsel
- Liberty Institute Files Federal EEOC Complaint Against Bremerton School District on Behalf of Coach Joe Kennedy – Liberty Institute
- Can States Protect LGBT Rights Without Compromising Religious Freedom?, Emma Green, The Atlantic
International Religious freedom-
- The forgotten Christians who faced persecution in 2015 - Carey Lodge, Christian Today
- Christians are genocide victims, too - Robert P. George, Mary Ann Glendon and Katrina Lantos Swett, Philadelphia Enquirer
- Genocide: “A Problem From Hell” - Harry G. Hutchison, American Center for Law and Justice
Military Religious Freedom
- Air Force Academy will allow cadet prayer on football field – Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner
- Texas Attorney General Paxton joins amicus brief in military religious liberty case – Brandi Grissom, Dallas Morning News
- Hundreds Find Healing, Renewal at Military Chaplain Retreat - Kellie Van Gilder, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Religious Liberty in the public square –
- Bad News for Religious Liberty: Court Rules Christian School Has to Hire Married Gay Man – David French, National Review
- Harvard-affiliated hospital dumps Christian doctor because he won’t celebrate gay sex – Grant Wishard, The College Fix
- Religious Liberty in 2015: A Year in Review – Andrew Walker, Canon and Culture
- Scalia dismisses concept of religious neutrality in speech – Rebecca Santana, Associated Press
- Social Justice and the Evangelical Church Today - Jordan Ballor, Acton Institute
- Poll: Americans place a higher priority on religious freedom of Christians than for other faith groups – Rachel Zoll and Emily Swanson, Associated Press
Life
Abortion
- Congress sends Obamacare repeal to president's desk, Brianna Ehley, Politico
- Networks Censor Planned Parenthood Disposing Aborted Babies in Landfills, Katie Yoder, Newsbusters.org
- Laws Affecting Reproductive Health and Rights: 2015 State Policy Review, Guttmacher Institute
- Surrogate carrying triplets sues to stop forced abortion- Carl Campanile, NY Post
- Video: "PROFIT" - Planned Parenthood's Illicit Moneymaking From Baby Body Parts- Center for Medical Progress
- Video: How to Get Rid Of The Body - Abortion Problems- Students for Life video, Center for Medical Progress footage
- Planned Parenthood Attempts to Blame-Shift Onto Pregnancy Centers - Catherine Glenn Foster, The Federalist
- A Message for China's Policy-Makers: Love Doesn't Stop at Two – Matt Reynolds, Christianity Today
Adoption
- Couple Goes from No Children to 6 in Just One Year! - Melissa Willets, Parenting Magazine
- 'Duck Dynasty's' Korie and Willie Robertson Adopting 13-Year-Old Boy! – Jessilyn Justice, Charisma News
Healthcare conscience
- Pro-Life California Pregnancy Centers Must Provide Abortion Information or Face Fines,Lauretta Brown, CNS News
- Little Sisters to Highest Court: Protect Our Ministry – Becket Fund
- Pharmacists to Supreme Court: Protect our religious conscience – Melinda Skea, Becket Fund
Family
Human Sexuality (Homosexual/ gender issues)
- LGBT Activists Slam Caitlyn Jenner as a ‘Republican Hypocrite’, Dylan Gwinn, Newsbusters.org
- Anglican church could split over homosexuality – Jonathan Peter, Daily Mail (United Kingdom)
Human Trafficking
- Prison Time for Men Who Attempted to Buy Sex Slaves – Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Retired MLB pitcher fighting human trafficking and poverty – Lee Warren, Christian Examiner
Marriage
- Mapping America 136: Ever Forced to Have Intercourse – Marriage and Religion Research Institute
- Higher-Order Marriage: Progressive Myths & Christianity's Deeper Revolution, David J. Theroux, Touchstone
- The Vanishing Point of Marriage - Andrew J. Peach, Touchstone
- 2015 clarified the right to gay marriage. It opened a world of questions for religious objectors – Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post
Pornography
- Hundreds of Nude Photos Jolt Colorado School, Kassondra Cloos and Julie Turkewitz, New York Times
- U.S. Catholic Bishops Statement on Pornography, National Center on Sexual Exploitation
- Pornography: Our Greatest Ongoing Spiritual Threat, Fr. C. John McCloskey, The Catholic Thing
- The Sexual Revolution’ Gave Us ‘the Rape Culture’- Judith Gelernter Reisman and Marcy E. McAlister, Breitbart
- Six Reasons to Cut Porn Out of Your Life for Good in 2016 – Haley Halverson, National Center on Sexual Exploitation
- Pornography: A public health crisis - Mayling Simpson and Paul Hebert, Steamboat Today
- 6 Reasons to Cut Porn Out of Your Life for Good in 2016, End Sexual Exploitation
FRC Publications
Op-eds
- Making Sure Christ Is the Essence of Christmas – Ken Blackwell, Patriot Post
- How Polls Manipulate Voters, No Matter What – Mandi Ancalle, The Federalist
- Texas Group Grossly Exaggerates Number of Self-Induced Abortions to Undermine Pro-Life Cause – Arina Grossu, The Stream
- What Are We Made For? – Dan Hart, The Stream
- Christians forgive murderers even after mass shootings – Rob Schwarzwalder, Religion News Service
- “The Protest Season” is Becoming an Assault on Religious Freedom on Campus – Rob Schwarzwalder, The Stream
- The Real War on Christmas – Rob Schwarzwalder, News Democrat Leader (Russellville, Kentucky)
- What Christians Do About Persecution – Travis Weber, Real Clear Religion
- Will Christians in the Middle East Be Officially Recognized as Victims of Genocide? – Travis Weber, The Stream
Policy publications (booklets, Issue Analyses, Issue Briefs)
- The Real Planned Parenthood: Leading the Culture of Death (2016 Edition)
- Daddy's Girl: How Fatherlessness Impacts Early Sexual Activity, Teen Pregnancy, and Sexual Abuse – Rob Schwarzwalder and Natasha Tax
- Report: Straightforward Analysis on Funding of the “Big Left” – Rob Schwarzwalder, Josh Denton, and Natasha Tax