Dear Friends,
In last week’s message, I discussed the growing problem of hostility to Christianity that many Americans have faced over the last 15 years and continue to face now, despite living in a free democracy.
It’s important to remember that this problem is by no means limited to the U.S.—other freedom-loving countries are also showing disturbing anti-Christian trends. In a recent survey conducted in the U.K., it was revealed that an astonishing 93 percent of Christians “believe that their faith is being marginalized in British society today.” The results were published by Premier Christian Communications, after 12,000 “ordinary Christians” took part in the survey. Commenting on the survey results, Premier CEO Peter Kerridge said that “it is ‘clear’ that the U.K. does not have the ‘liberal accepting society’ that it believes it does ‘if we don't tolerate and accept everyone, including Christians.’” In just the past year in the U.K., a Christian nurse was fired for speaking about her faith and praying for patients, two Christians were convicted of disorderly conduct and fined for preaching on the streets, and numerous Christian schools were given downgraded statuses by the leading education watchdog group for their teachings on homosexuality and other religions.
FRC will continue to fight for the freedoms of all believers to live out their faith freely in the public square, with the hope that Christians of all nationalities will also fight for their rights. Christ’s words will forever be our guide: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Thank you for your prayers and for your continued support of FRC and the family.
Sincerely,
Dan Hart
Managing Editor for Publications
Family Research Council
FRC Articles
It’s Time to Clean Up Our Elections – Ken Blackwell
Doctors Across The World Are Fighting To Treat Charlie Gard. Will The UK Let Them? – Arina Grossu
Where Are The Decent Liberals? – Ken Blackwell
The Serpents are Surfacing – Ken Blackwell
Movie Review: “Alison’s Choice” – Lauren Hand
Those with Gender Dysphoria Can Find Healing – Peter Sprigg
No Fear: Coach Kennedy’s Steadfast Faith – Emma Gibney
Release Charlie Gard – Arina Grossu
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
Has a Civil Rights Stalwart Lost Its Way? – Ben Schreckinger, Politico Magazine
Cakes and Consciences: The Case of Jack Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop – Nathanael Blake, Public Discourse
The Urgency of Restoring the Biblical Values of America’s Founders – Arthur Goldberg, Public Discourse
Passion for Equality – Mark Movsesian, First Things
The Pelvic Left Attacks an Innocent Woman – Austin Ruse, Crisis
The Media’s Use of This ‘Hate Group’ Label Puts Conservatives’ Safety at Risk – Katrina Trinko, The Daily Signal
Religious Freedom Advocates Fire Back After ‘Hate Group’ Smear Over Jeff Sessions Speech – Fred Lucas, The Daily Signal
International Religious Freedom
93 Percent of UK Christians Feel Their Faith Is Marginalized, Survey Says – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Orthodox Jewish girls school faces closure for refusing to teach children about homosexuality – Brandon Morse, TheBlaze
The New Totalitarian Laws of Canada – John Paul Meenan, Crisis
Chinese Nobel Prize winner dies in prison, first since the Nazi regime – ChinaAid
Military Religious Freedom
US Army Tells Female Soldiers to 'Accept' Having Naked Men in Their Showers – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
‘Work Hard, Pray Hard’: Retired General Reveals the True Path to Inner Peace – Erik Rosales, CBN News
Life
Abortion
Video: Stephanie Gray: "Abortion: From Controversy to Civility" – Talks at Google
Stunning images from inside the womb show that human life begins at fertilization – Becky Yeh, Live Action News
Oregon poised to make abortion free – Samantha Gobba, WORLD
Abortion Fanatics Don’t Want Choice, They Want Fewer Babies – Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist
Bioethics
Parental and Governmental Authority in Medical Decisions: The Tragic Case of Charlie Gard – Melissa Moschella, Public Discourse
Je Suis Charlie, Once More – R.R. Reno, First Things
Basic Bioethics: How to illuminate the Christian perspective – Joe Carter, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Obamacare
Needed pro-life protections in potential healthcare legislation – Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Obamacare Is Causing Insurers To Delay Surgeries Patients Need – Richard Menger, The Federalist
Bringing Senate Conservatives and Moderates Together on Health-Care Reform – Michael F. Cannon, National Review
Family
Economics/Education
How to Find Hope in the Humanless Economy – Kevin Brown and Steven McMullen, Christianity Today
Here’s How Anti-Conservative Academic Discrimination Works – David French, National Review
Jobs Report Stronger Than Expected, but More Must Be Done to Boost the Economy – Timothy Doescher, The Daily Signal
Here’s Why So Many Republicans View America’s Colleges And Universities Negatively – Gracy Olmstead, The Federalist
Is California anti-family? – Joel Kotkin, Orange County Register
Think Tank: Reconsider Caring For Your Kids Because Money Matters Most – Gracy Olmstead, The Federalist
Marriage
5 Long-Time Married Couples Share Their Secrets to a Happy Marriage – Jenna Jonaitis, Verily
Married People Have More Sex – Nathan Yau, Flowingdata
Premarital counseling can decrease divorce rates, psychologist says – Laren Hanson, The Daily Universe
Michigan couple, both 99, celebrates 80th wedding anniversary – Eliza Murphy, Good Morning America
The 4 Crises Every Marriage Must Make It Through – Paul Carter, The Gospel Coalition
The Adult Children of Divorce Find Their Voice – Leila Miller, Family Studies
Faith/Character/Culture
Why Is God So Hidden? – J. Warner Wallace, BreakPoint
Can Ethnicity Become a Straitjacket? – Mike Tong, Desiring God
Don’t be Uncle Rico: A moral snatched from Napoleon Dynamite – Tod Worner, Aleteia
Hospitality Is Not Just for Home – Bethany Jenkins, The Gospel Coalition
What Makes Humans So Special? – Matt Nelson, Word On Fire
Want to Lead a Happier Life? Be More Generous, Study Says – Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post
Human Sexuality
Symptoms, Causes and Loving Those with Same-Sex Attraction – Carrie Gress, National Catholic Register
Doctors Admit They Don’t Know Which Kids Should Gender Transition But Do It To Them Anyway – Walt Heyer, The Federalist
Husband, Lift Up Your Eyes – John Piper, Desiring God
Pediatrician: ‘Transgender’ ideology has created widespread child abuse – Michelle A. Cretella, LifeSiteNews
Increase in extramarital sex leading to new STD epidemic – Fr. Mark Hodges, LifeSiteNews
Most Teens Aren’t Having Sex, and They Deserve More Support for That Choice – Alysse ElHage, Family Studies
Oral sex spreading unstoppable bacteria – James Gallagher, BBC News
At issue: The push for gender inclusivity in toys – Chris Woodward, OneNewsNow
Human Trafficking
3 things to know about the human trafficking report – Travis Wussow, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Backpage has always claimed it doesn’t control sex-related ads. New documents show otherwise. – Tom Jackman and Jonathan O'Connell, The Washington Post
Pornography
What Porn Did To Their Lives – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Seven Promises to Pray Against Porn – J.A. Medders, Desiring God
Kay Warren: ‘I Struggled With Porn Fascination’ – Nancy Flory, The Stream
