Op-Eds

Counterfeit Drugs Jeopardize Ohio's Safety, Security, and Economy
published in Plain Dealer-Cleveland,OH
December 8, 2023 - Ken Blackwell

Ohio is facing numerous crises at home and abroad, including an unsecure U.S. border, an epidemic of fentanyl overdoses, economic instability, and growing national security threats from China. As someone who has had been fortunate enough to serve as a diplomat, Ohio mayor, and in various other roles across the federal and state governments, I have had the unique vantage point to see how these different problems can sometimes tie together.

Genesis 1-11: Essential for a Biblical Worldview
December 6, 2023 - Terry Mortenson

In his excellent new book, An Introduction to Worldview, David Closson, FRC's director of the Center for Biblical Worldview, highlights George Barna's recent research on the church in America. It reveals that only 21 percent of evangelical Christians and only 37 percent of pastors have a truly biblical worldview. In response, Barna proposed seven cornerstones of a biblical worldview. Those cornerstones are indeed essential for a truly (i.e., fully) biblical world view. But I submit for your consideration that we must have an eighth: The literal history in Genesis 1-11 (i.e., a literal, six-day creation only a little more than 6000 years ago and a global flood at the time of Noah) is foundational, either directly or indirectly, to every doctrine in the rest of the Bible.

Is It Hopeless For America? Is There Time For A Spiritual Revival And To Disciple Our Children?
published in Washington Times
November 22, 2023 - George Barna

America is facing many challenges these days: crushing national debt, gender confusion, LGBTQ rights, illegal immigration, human trafficking, government overreach, institutional distrust, and so much more. Deeper scrutiny of these challenges reveals that they are inevitably due to bad decision-making, which is a result of reliance upon bad worldviews.

Dispatches From Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenian Christians Flee Another Genocide
published in Religion Unplugged
September 26, 2023 - Lela Gilbert

In recent months, good news has been hard to come by in our troubled world. While we try to stay focused on the seemingly endless Ukraine-Russian conflict, our attention was suddenly distracted by a deadly earthquake in Morocco, soon followed by tragic news from Libya, where devastating floods cost some 10,000 lives.

An Act of Political Evasion
published in World
September 14, 2023 - Joseph Backholm

Michigan's conversion therapy ban is a solution in search of a problem

Rising Anti-Christian Sentiment Finds Its Way to Finland
published in Newsmax
August 31, 2023 - Congressman Chip Roy and Tony Perkins

Finland seems eager to send the West spiraling back into a new and real Dark Age of anti-Christian discrimination after putting Paivi Rasanen back on trial for simply articulating a Christian perspective on marriage and sexuality. The Helsinki District Court previously dismissed the charges against Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola on March 30, 2022, but the state prosecutor filed an appeal, reopening the charges. This aptly nicknamed "Bible Trial" highlights the precipitous and damning decline of free speech and religious liberty across what was once known as the "free world."

Ohio's Constitution Is Far Too Easy To Amend
published in USA Today
July 16, 2023 - Ken Blackwell

The U.S. Constitution, carefully crafted for durability, has allowed our nation to flourish for the past 245 years. In large measure, that's due to the fact that it's not easy to amend. One of the weaknesses of Ohio's constitution, on the other hand, is that currently it is far too easy to amend.

303 Creative Is a Big Win for Religious Liberty at the Supreme Court
published in The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
June 30, 2023 - David Closson

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its much-anticipated decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis, a free speech case with implications for religious liberty. In a 6-3 landmark decision, the Court held that the government may not compel Americans to express messages they do not believe.

Woke Corporations Are Attacking American Values
published in Townhall.com
June 7, 2023 - Ken Blackwell

Corporations are attacking American values and, in doing so, are hurting their bottom lines. Can corporate leaders be this clueless or does the agenda trump their duties to shareholders and customers?

Tuberville Is Right To Hold The Line Against The Pentagon's Taxpayer-Funded Abortions
published in The Federalist
May 16, 2023 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin and James Jay Carafano

America's military is facing a major recruiting crisis and growing threats from China and other belligerents. Yet the Biden administration is pushing taxpayer-funded abortions, among other woke agenda items, that are rightfully fueling fears that a politicized Pentagon won't be able to defend our country.

"Almost Sin" is Absolutely Wrong
published in World
March 22, 2023 - David Closson

President Joe Biden's commitment to the moral revolution has never been in doubt. As a candidate and now as president, Joe Biden has championed every imaginable cause of the LGBT movement. From lobbying for legislation like the Equality Act and Respect for Marriage Act to nominating outspoken activists such as Rachel Levine to influential positions in the government, the president, at every turn, has aggressively and energetically supported the objectives of LGBT activists.

Which Way, Anglicans? Global South Responds to Church of England Blessing Same-Sex Marriages
published in The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
February 22, 2023 - David Closson

On Monday, twelve Anglican archbishops published a remarkable letter officially denouncing the Church of England and the leadership of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The context of this growing rift in one of the world's largest Christian denominations is the recent meeting of the Church of England's General Synod and the decision to allow priests to bless same-sex marriages and civil partnerships. The archbishops' rebuke is the first time such a large group of churches has rejected the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Fighting An Online Epidemic
published in World
February 20, 2023 - Joseph Backholm

A Louisiana law requiring identification before accessing pornography websites is such an obviously good idea that it is surprising no one has done it before now.

When The World Calls Christians "Fascist"
published in World
February 16, 2023 - Joseph Backholm

The Super Bowl is the most watched event in America each year and has become a national holiday as much as it is a football game. In the same way that Christmas is now synonymous with trees and stockings, the Super Bowl wouldn't be the Super Bowl without lots of food and people arguing about commercials and whether the halftime show is satanic.

Roe at 50: Reflections and the Road Ahead
published in Christ Over All
January 2, 2023 - David Closson

January 2023 marks 50 years since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that a "right" to abortion was protected by an implied "right to privacy" in the U.S. Constitution. As they have since 1973, hundreds of thousands of pro-life supporters will mark the anniversary of the Court's decision by participating in the annual March for Life on January 20 in Washington, D.C. Of course, this year will be different, as marchers celebrate the overturning of Roe and the myriad of new pro-life laws now in effect throughout the country.

Iran's Courageous Christians Join the Revolution
published in Newsweek
December 8, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

The first tremor of distress rippled across Iran on Sept. 16, 2022, after the tragic death of a beautiful young woman-Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini. Twitter watchers first saw a photo of Mahsa, unconscious and on life-support, the victim of a vicious beating by Iran's "religious morality" police. They had arrested and violently assaulted her for not wearing her hijab properly-some of her hair had been exposed. She quickly died of a massive brain injury.

A Win For The Status Quo
published in World
November 10, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

The midterm election was not a red wave or tsunami, but it may have been a sign. Republicans shouldn't be too disappointed in the results of the midterms since they are likely to control the House and still have a chance at a Senate majority as well. Still, it was not what they had hoped for nor what Democrats had feared. Democrats seem satisfied that, regardless of what happens in the yet-to-be-decided races, democracy will not truly end this year.

Policies Have Consequences, Mr. President
published in World
October 21, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

President Biden recently announced that he would pardon all those who faced federal convictions for simple marijuana possession, and he further announced that he would release anyone who was in prison simply for that offense.

The Injustice of the Equity Agenda
published in World
October 18, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Vice President Kamala Harris raised eyebrows at the Democratic Leadership Committee's Women's Leadership Forum when she described the way hurricane relief should be distributed: "It is our lowest-income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions," Harris said. "We have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality, but we also need to fight for equity."

An Excuse to Discriminate?
published in World
October 7, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

In a nation filled with strange new developments, one of the most alarming is the belief that a primary purpose of the Constitution is to protect us from "discrimination." In September, the Washington Post ran an op-ed with the headline "When did religious freedom become an excuse to discriminate?" The article laments that, "in the name of religion, businesses assert a right to refuse to hire LGBTQ people, public school teachers a right to misgender students and others a right to discriminate against terminally ill patients exploring end of life options."

Women, Christians and Their Powerful Resistance to Iran's Fanatical Regime
published in Newsweek
September 30, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

On a mid-September afternoon, the world was introduced on Twitter to a beautiful 22-year-old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini. She first appeared in hospital photographs, comatose and connected to life-support equipment, with bleeding visible in her right ear. Before long, earlier and happier photos of Mahsa were also posted, notably with her dark hair mostly covered but partially revealed.

Motherless or fatherless, on purpose
published in World
September 19, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

California Congressman Adam Schiff has introduced legislation purporting to help people struggling with infertility, but this proposed solution creates a much more serious problem. Approximately 12 percent of married women have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy, which creates emotional, physical, and even financial stress. While government can do little for the emotional stress, the U.S. government has long provided tax-deductions for infertility related expenses.

No Respect for Religious Liberty
published in World
September 9, 2022 - David Closson

On Tuesday, it was reported that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., might force a vote on the redefinition of marriage by attaching the so-called Respect for Marriage Act to a funding bill that must be passed if the government is to avoid a shutdown. If the Respect for Marriage Act, which passed the House in July, becomes law, it would cement same-sex marriage as federal policy, threaten religious liberty, and almost inevitably expand the definition of marriage beyond what was handed down in the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision.

Is Abortion an Election Game-Changer?
published in World
August 26, 2022 - David Closson

For months, the prevailing political wisdom was that President Joe Biden's Democratic Party was headed for a shellacking in the November midterm elections. Prognosticators across the ideological spectrum predicted gains for Republicans in key races all across the country. However, with the midterms just over two months away, there is increasing chatter that the re-emergence of abortion in the national conversation following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to reverse Roe v. Wade has bolstered the political fortunes of Democrats. The Democrats are counting on it.

Threats to Weaponize the IRS Will Not Deter the Family Research Council
published in Washington Times
August 18, 2022 - Tony Perkins

Family Research Council's stated purpose is to "advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview." In recent years, with God's help and the work of committed partners, we have won some key victories to that end.

A Transgender Power Play in California
published in World
August 8, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

A bill being debated in the California legislature is a cocktail of political disasters. Combining separate debates over parental rights and emergency powers, it creates one of the most direct assaults on parental rights in American history.

The Respect for Marriage Act is a Disaster for Religious Liberty
published in World
July 28, 2022 - David Closson

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the so-called Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that would officially repeal the bipartisan Defense of Marriage Act and enshrine into federal law a radical redefinition of marriage. Forty-seven Republicans joined Democrats in passing the bill, leading to speculation that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer might be able to find enough Republican votes to pass the legislation in the upper chamber.

Politics and the Strange Providence of God
published in World
July 11, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, it felt like the beginning of the end for many conservative causes. The court was already moving left. Obergefell, the case in which liberal justices invented a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, was still fresh in our memory. Chief Justice John Roberts, the most recent Republican nominee to the court, was unreliable, and Justice Anthony Kennedy, the moderate on the bench, had become a reliable vote for the sexual revolution. Justice Scalia's death seemed likely to make the situation worse. After all, President Barack Obama was in the final year of his term and was poised to replace one of the court's most reliable conservatives with someone decidedly not conservative.

Why Are Drag Queens Everywhere?
published in World
June 23, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

In a world filled with strange developments, perhaps one of the strangest is America's new fascination with connecting kids with drag queens. Evidently, like turkey at Thanksgiving, it just isn't Pride Month if there aren't any men dressed like women twerking in front of children.

Surging Violence Against Nigeria's Christians Demands White House Action
published in Religion Unplugged
June 10, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

On Pentecost Sunday in Owo, Nigeria, a horrifying massacre took place. "Streaks of blood on the floors and walls, sandals abandoned in a desperate rush to escape, a well-thumbed Bible lying among shards of glass," Reuters reported on June 6. "Those were some of the disturbing sights inside St. Francis Catholic Church in the Nigerian town...after unknown assailants attacked the congregation with guns and explosives during Sunday mass, killing and injuring dozens of people."

Are they now the Tampa Bay Gay Pride Rays?
published in World
June 10, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

It's Pride Month again, which means everybody will be asked to show their fidelity to the gods of the sexual revolution. Those who fail will be thrown into the Twittery fiery furnace.

Biden must support police officers instead of undermining them
published in Fox News
June 3, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

When it comes to police reform, President Joe Biden is now caught in a trap of his own making. In an attempt to appease the radical base of his party before the midterm elections, the president recently signed an executive order that would establish a national registry of officers who've been discharged for misconduct and restrict the transfer of certain kinds of equipment to law enforcement agencies.

Why is Nigeria No Longer a 'Country of Particular Concern'?
published in Newsweek
May 25, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

The recent horrifying death of Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a Nigerian college student, focused international attention on Nigeria's Christians and their persistent abuse by radical Islamists. Thanks to social media, reports and videos of Deborah's vicious beating and burning in Sokoto were widely circulated for several days.

Refusing to Let the Law Tell Lies
published in World
May 20, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

There's been much discussion in recent years about what it means to be "conservative." The state of Oklahoma recently gave us an example of what it means to govern conservatively, and that begins by refusing to let the law tell lies.

Fighting over the assets in our cultural divorce
published in World
May 11, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

or weeks, the nation debated over whether teachers in Florida should be allowed to talk to young children about sex. It turns out that many adults see it as a matter of human dignity. As a result, when the Florida legislature passed a law prohibiting lessons about sex and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, some teachers in the state said they would quit. One such educator, Nicolette Solomon, told NBC News, "Nobody would be able to know, which then puts me in the closet, and I'm there seven hours a day, if not more, five days a week. I wouldn't be able to be who I am."

USCIRF: America's Watchdog On International Religious Freedom Presents Its 2022 Report
published in Religion Unplugged
April 27, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

On April 25, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) launched its Annual Report describing events in 2021- a detailed document focusing on more than two dozen countries that are engaging in or tolerating religious freedom violations. Their report also offers suggestions and recommendations, while providing information regarding 15 specific prisoners of conscience, for whom USCIRF Commissioners have personally advocated.

Zelensky's Use of Social Media Is Tipping the Scales Towards Democracy
published in Townhall.com
April 23, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

Right now, the fight for control of Ukraine is taking place in the skies above Kyiv and in the streets of Mariupol. However while the conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the sky and on the land has ground to a stalemate, Vladimir Putin and his virtual war machine dedicated to sowing disinformation are decidedly losing the information war.

Even the Democrats Are Feeling Nostalgic About Trump
published in Townhall.com
April 22, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

President Joe Biden is desperate to skirt the blame for his own economic blunders -- but finding a convincing scapegoat is proving to be an arduous task.

Vladimir Putin Must be Tried for War Crimes
published in Newsweek
April 8, 2022 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin and Lela Gilbert

Indisputable evidence of Russian war crimes has stunned the world as gruesome scenes continue to be exposed in Bucha, Ukraine-a town near Kyiv. The sprawled remains of more than a dozen civilians, abandoned along a road, have been clearly photographed. An elderly woman was found beheaded. One group of nine, all in civilian clothes, were scattered around a site that residents said Russian troops used as a base. "We have already buried 280 people in mass graves," said Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk. "These people were shot, killed, in the back of the head."

Nigeria's Christians Face Increasing Violence Day after Day
published in Providence Journal
April 1, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

In today's unsettled world, breathless headlines turn our eyes from one dangerous site to another-from Russia to Ukraine, from North Korea to China. And we hardly have time to focus on hotspots that flash, flare, and fade in the Middle East.

Putin the war criminal: It's time to investigate his brutality
published in Washington Times
March 31, 2022 - Chris Smith and Tony Perkins

The sign is written in Russian. It contains one word: "Children." It was painted on both of the parking lots surrounding a theater in Mariupol, Ukraine, to safeguard the hundreds of people, including scores of children, sheltering inside it. But it didn't stop Russian planes from bombing the theater, trapping those seeking safety under tons of bricks and cement.

Florida bill shows how good policy makes for good politics
published in World
March 31, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

Should children in kindergarten through third grade receive lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity? After a bizarre national debate, the state of Florida says no. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed the bill into law, said in a statement, "Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old."

Stranger Danger: Protect Vulnerable Voters from Fraud
published in Townhall.com
March 29, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

"Stranger Danger." This phrase is used by parents to warn their children about predators. In this election year, it is also an appropriate warning for vulnerable citizens who could be targeted by activists who will try to suppress or steal their votes.

US Determination of Burma's Rohingya Genocide Is Better Late Than Never
published in Providence Journal
March 27, 2022 - Arielle Del Turco

"Kill all you see, whether children or adults." That was the instruction one Burmese soldier recalled receiving from his superior as the Burmese military destroyed approximately 20 villages, dumping the bodies of their victims in mass graves. It's a grotesque scene that was replicated across Burma's Rakhine State during a massive 2017 campaign against the Rohingya people, an ethnic and religious minority in Burma. Last week, the United States government officially recognized this atrocity for what it was-genocide.

Did Maternity Leave Get Too Expensive for Citigroup?
published in Townhall.com
March 24, 2022 - Mary Szoch

In a 2022 statement to stockholders, the investment banking firm Citigroup stated, "We believe all parents deserve time to adjust to parenthood and bond with the newest member of their family." Citigroup said that this belief had led them to expand their paid parental leave policy in 2020 to guarantee 16 weeks of paid maternity leave or four weeks of paid parental leave.

Progressives Seem Willing to Erase Women. Are We Going to Let Them?
published in The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
March 24, 2022 - David Closson

According to the NCAA, Lia Thomas is a national champion. After touching the wall first at the conclusion of the 500-yard freestyle, Thomas's win was heralded by ESPN, The New York Times, and CNN as historic. And it's true. Thomas' championship-clinching swim at last week's NCAA women's national championship meet capped off a record-breaking season in which the University of Pennsylvania swimmer set multiple pool, school, and league records.

While Ukrainian Violence Dominates The News, The Silent Slaughter Of Nigerian Christians Continues
published in Religion Unplugged
March 24, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

For weeks, a shocked world has been transfixed by Russia's murderous invasion of Ukraine. The killing and maiming of innocents by the thousands - unarmed women, children and the elderly - has been stunning. Resourceful Ukrainian soldiers have demonstrated enormous courage. And nation after nation has responded with rage, reprimands, armament, financial sanctions and threats of further recourse. Few members of the international community have remained unmoved.

It's Not Too Late to Revoke Dangerous Concessions to Iran
published in Townhall.com
March 23, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

It was reported this week that negotiations aimed at restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal were "back on track" in Vienna following a brief pause that resulted from Russia's sudden imposition of new demands related to the sanctions on its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow asked that the United States provide guarantees that those sanctions no interfere with Russian-Iranian trade or security agreements. It is not clear exactly how the issue was resolved so quickly, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed to have received the relevant guarantees, and thus fueled further speculation that Western participants in the Vienna talks are readily handing out concessions to their adversaries.

Will Finland side with religious freedom?
published in The Hill
March 23, 2022 - Frank Wolf and Arielle Del Turco

A decision in a high-profile European religious freedom case is expected to be handed down by month's end. Finnish Parliament member Päivi Räsänen is charged with three counts of "ethnic agitation" under a hate speech law in the criminal code for articulating a Christian understanding of marriage and sexuality in a tweet, a radio show, and a 20-year-old pamphlet. At stake in this important case is not only freedom of speech but also the freedom to believe and express fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. So, even if Finland chooses not to side with religious freedom in this case, we must do so.

Abortion Advocates are Resorting to Orwellian Language Games
published in Newsweek
March 22, 2022 - Ingrid Skop and Mary Szoch

As their radical policy regime comes under threat at the Supreme Court, abortion supporters now want to change the terms of discussion. In the name of avoiding "bias," they've begun to play Orwellian language games, instead of working to make things better for America's women and children.

Congress should partner with local and faith-based groups for aid
published in Fox News
March 20, 2022 - A.J. Nolte and Arielle Del Turco

While Russia continues to attack civilian areas and fire projectiles at residential areas in Ukraine, it has sparked the largest humanitarian disaster in Europe since World War II. It's already estimated that one million Ukrainians have fled the country, with more on the way.

Is America really getting gayer?
published in World
March 16, 2022 - Joseph Backholm

Americans are identifying as LGBT at higher rates than ever before. At least that's what a recent poll claims. According to Gallup, the number of those who say they are something other than what God designed them to be has risen to 7.1 percent, a more than 100 percent increase from 10 years ago, when Gallup first began asking the question, and a 26 percent increase from just last year.

Press works overtime to smear parents
published in Washington Times
March 15, 2022 - Tony Perkins and Meg Kilgannon

Why would a major, international news service attempt to smear peaceful parents by linking their attendance at school board meetings to a few anonymous threats by crackpots? Take, for example, the recent Reuters investigation posted and reposted on February 15. Breathless coverage is offered under a screaming headline: School boards get death threats amid rage over race, gender, mask policies. The investigation was reposted with a corrected headline, adding "amid rage" for context.

Rescue International Women's Day from its Communist roots
published in The Washington Examiner
March 8, 2022 - Joy Stockbauer

There is nothing new under the sun - especially when it comes to communism. As Russia, a country historically steeped in Communist influence, has set the world on edge by violently invading Ukraine, it is high time for the United States to purge the evil influence of communism wherever it may be found.

Clarence and Ginni Thomas embody integrity in public service
published in The Christian Post
March 7, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

The militant Left is attacking the principled public service of Justice Clarence Thomas again; this time by targeting his wife Ginni in a malicious attempt to delegitimize Supreme Court decisions that are faithful to the original meaning of the Constitution.

Student loan moratorium exposes Biden's hypocrisy
published in The Washington Examiner
March 3, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

Most people are ready to return to normalcy, but the pandemic has given Washington bureaucrats a chance to extend their reach. They won't relinquish that power without a fight.

The Precarious Circumstances of Iran's Christians
published in Newsweek
February 23, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

The Islamic Republic of Iran never seems to disappear from headlines, while its misdeeds persist-often out of sight and out of mind. A primary example is the regime's ceaseless abuse of religious minorities-Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrians, Baha'is, atheists and Christians, and even at times government recognized Assyrian and Armenian churches. These abuses are often hidden from view. Yet the highly respected Open Doors World Watch List consistently places Iran among the world's top 10 persecutors of Christians.

War on religious freedom: We must stand up for Finnish Christians facing trial for their faith
published in Fox News
February 16, 2022 - Tony Perkins

While most Americans were still asleep Monday morning, Finnish member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola entered a courtroom in Helsinki, Finland. They are on trial for their faith in court proceedings that began three weeks ago, concluding an almost three-year-long campaign of legal harassment from the Finnish government. They and the prosecution made their final arguments Tuesday.

No One Benefits From Highly Inaccurate Prenatal Tests More Than Planned Parenthood
published in The Federalist
February 1, 2022 - Mary Szoch and Joy Stockbauer

On the day of this year's March for Life, congressional Republicans sent a letter to Acting U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock. Prompted by a recent New York Times exposé reporting that prenatal genetic screening tests are incorrect 85 percent of the time, the letter asks Woodcock whether the FDA will be taking any steps to regulate these prenatal screenings in light of the concerningly high rate of false positives.

Black History as American History
published in Townhall.com
February 1, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

Today, Americans of all stripes are constantly bombarded with an insidious propaganda campaign against our shared history. From Critical Race Theory to ripping down historical statues, our national story is being rewritten as irredeemably sinful. These efforts have taken a particularly racialized characteristic by implying that Black history is somehow distinct from, or in opposition to, "American history" itself, rather than an integral part of it.

DeSantis is right: A state election crimes agency will make elections more secure
published in The Washington Examiner
February 1, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

The Left and their liberal media allies love to point to the low number of election crimes prosecuted as proof that there is little to no voter fraud. They claim these low figures prove we have secure elections and that we do not need election integrity reforms.

Politico Rejects Candid Grade of Joe Biden's First Year
published in Breitbart
January 27, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

Politico reached out to me for a conservative perspective on Joe Biden's first year in office, but when I hit their favored president too hard, they proved yet again that the establishment media continue to cover for this failed president as shills for Democrats and the far left.

Three Things the New Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Should Prioritize
published in Providence Journal
January 27, 2022 - Arielle Del Turco

Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain spoke at the launch of Open Doors' World Watch List report last week. Last month, the Senate confirmed Hussain in an 85-5 vote. He is assuming office at a time when government restrictions on religion across the globe remain at a peak, according to the Pew Research Center. During his confirmation hearing, Hussain noted, "A staggering 80 percent of people worldwide live in environments with high or severe restrictions on religious freedom." The challenges are great, but so are the opportunities.

Truth about abortion: Everyone knows it's a baby
published in The Washington Examiner
January 25, 2022 - Katherine Beck Johnson

When moving homes recently, I had a conversation with the mover that cut through a lot of what passes for sophisticated discourse about abortion. He asked me what I did for a living, and I said I was a lawyer who focuses on pro-life policy. He was confused and asked what that entails. I told him I work to make abortion illegal.

Biden: It's Not Who Can Vote, But Who Gets to Count the Vote
published in Townhall.com
January 20, 2022 - Ken Blackwell and Lori Roman

It is a shocking statement that could easily be attributed to a third world dictator. When asked about election legislation this week, the president of the United States of America stated, "It's not who can vote, but who gets to count the vote. Who counts the vote-that's what this is about."

President Biden's One Major Success In His First Year: Turning America Into an Abortion Haven
published in Townhall.com
January 19, 2022 - Connor Semelsberger

During his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised to implement a national plan to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. As the calendar turns to 2022, the highly-transmissible Omicron variant is resulting in the highest daily case rates yet. When examining the actions from President Biden's first year in office, it would seem that his administration has focused less on concrete solutions to tackle COVID-19 and more on promoting abortion in unprecedented ways.

Religious Liberty No Longer an American Priority
published in The Epoch Times
January 19, 2022 - Tony Perkins

The Declaration of Independence is America's charter. It's the foundation on which our republic rests, which is why its most critical assertion remains relevant to every American.

Against transgender opponents, women are vying for silver
published in The Washington Examiner
January 18, 2022 - Mary Szoch

As a former Division I women's basketball player, I am no stranger to playing against men. My high school team wanted to win a state championship, so we trained against boys. In college, I wanted to walk on at Notre Dame, so I practiced against men. After three years of watching from the stands, I made the team. Once on the team, our coach, Muffet McGraw, wanted to win a national championship, so we played against "the practice squad."

African Christians Face Deadly Violence in 2022
published in Newsweek
January 14, 2022 - Lela Gilbert

As cheerful greetings of "Happy New Year" fade across the world, life gradually settles back into "the new normal." And alongside various concerns about yet another pandemic season, new issues emerge. For those of us who follow international religious freedom, the plight of Christian believers-the most widely targeted faith group in the world-comes back into focus.

Biden's Appointments Speak to an Extremist Agenda
published in Townhall.com
January 11, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

Ken Blackwell is Senior Fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance at Family Research Council. This article appeared on Townhall.com on January 11, 2022. He was packaged to ... (more)

The Freedom to Cheat Act: The Radical Left's Latest Attempt to Undermine Our Democracy
published in Breitbart
January 11, 2022 - Ken Blackwell

Democrats in Congress are unable to move forward on their massive spending bill because of bipartisan opposition. Polling showed President Biden's Big Government Socialism Bill was wildly unpopular with the American people. That is no surprise when you consider it did not address any of the significant issues facing American families today like sky-high gas prices, rising food costs, spikes in violent crime, and a shortage of products because of a failing supply chain.

BLM Bites The Hands That Feed It This Christmas!
published in Townhall.com
December 22, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

When Martin Luther King Jr., envisioned an America of equality in human dignity, he certainly didn't anticipate racial lines being drawn around one of our country's most sacred holidays. Sadly, that's where we find ourselves today.

The courage of Barronelle Stutzman
published in World
December 14, 2021 - Joseph Backholm

Nearly a decade ago, a florist from rural Washington State turned her world upside down by respectfully refusing to use her creative talents in the service of a same-sex wedding. Thanks to a recent settlement, Mrs. Stutzman no longer faces the threat of losing her home or retirement, but before we let her return to the peace and quiet she has always deserved, we should make sure we understand what happened.

Mobile Health Apps Need a Security Check-Up
published in Townhall.com
December 9, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

The age of mask and vaccine mandates has sparked important conversations about what employers, businesses and our government can ask about our personal health decisions. These discussions often reveal widespread misconceptions about who is responsible for keeping that information confidential and secure. Clarity on this issue is of utmost importance for consumers, especially with the rise of smartphone apps hungry for health data.

One Biden Vax Mandate Down, 3 to Go
published in Breitbart
November 30, 2021 - Ken Blackwell and Lori Roman

A federal judge has struck down one of President Joe Biden's four COVID vaccine mandates, ruling that it violates federal law to force healthcare providers to fire doctors and nurses who object to the vaccination. One mandate down, three to go.

Most Countries Do Not Allow Abortion Through All 9 Months. Dobbs Can Give US Chance to Join Rest of World.
published in The Daily Signal
November 30, 2021 - Mary Szoch and Joy Stockbauer

Only six nations in the world allow abortion on demand through nine months of pregnancy. Among those six are countries guilty of placing religious minorities in concentration camps, starving their own people, imprisoning political opponents, and offering people with disabilities an option for assisted suicide but not for care-and, the United States.

The Supreme Court Case that Could Overturn Roe v. Wade
published in The Gospel Coalition
November 29, 2021 - David Closson and Tessa Longbons

On December 1, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, a case that has the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion on demand in America. In the lead-up to the case, abortion will once again be in the national spotlight, and when the court announces its decision sometime next year, it will generate massive media attention.

Trial of a Mass Murderer Has the Men Running Iran on Edge
published in American Thinker
November 28, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

During a rendezvous at the United Nations General Assembly, the Iranian regime's foreign minister lodged a formal complaint with his Swedish counterpart about the trial of Hamid Noury, a former Iranian official, in Stockholm. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Sweden's Ann Linde that all the documents provided to the court are "fabricated." A month prior, a spokesman for the regime's Foreign Ministry had warned, "We will naturally use all our diplomatic means to obtain and enforce Hamid Noury's rights."

International Christian Persecution: Remembering the Mistreated
published in NRB
November 2, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

Today's America is facing moral and political divisions that especially challenge our Christian communities. During these times of increasing uncertainty, we need to be aware of dangers that could affect our families and the future our faith.

Let's take them at their word
published in World
November 1, 2021 - Joseph Backholm

It is time for parents to believe what the architects and central planners of American public education are telling us.

China Aids and Abets North Korea's Abuse of Christians
published in The National Interest
November 1, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

"If you tell them that you went to a church and believed in Jesus, they would not stop at just beating you." These are the words of North Korean defector Lee Kang In, quoted in a report released last week by UK-based human rights group Korea Future. The report adds substantial evidence to what the world already knows-North Korea is not just a national security threat; it is the world's worst violator of human rights.

A Hate Group Grows on Campus
published in Townhall.com
October 29, 2021 - Yaakov Menken and Lela Gilbert

On Tuesday, the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law publicly demanded the University of Massachusetts address an antisemitic incident that the university has tried to keep under wraps since June. Per the Brandeis Center, a reporter was "accosted, spat at, shoved and called a Nazi and a pig solely based upon his perceived identity as a Zionist." The culprits were local affiliates of a group familiar to anyone studying antisemitism on campus: Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

No woman should have to get an abortion to keep her job
published in The Washington Examiner
October 28, 2021 - Mary Szoch

At a community meeting last week, D.C. Assistant Police Chief Chanel Dickerson revealed that as a pregnant 18-year-old police cadet in the late 1980s, she was told to have an abortion or face termination from the program. The next day, another police officer, 24-year veteran Karen Arikpo, disclosed that she, too, had an abortion to save her job.

America Must Reject COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
published in Breitbart
October 21, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

The American people must never lose sight of what makes our country great as we march toward victory in our ongoing efforts to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. We must defeat this enemy while being true to our highest values, upholding the religious liberty and civil rights of our fellow citizens by rejecting vaccine mandates.

The Existential Threat of CRT: State-Sponsored Racism
published in Townhall.com
October 21, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Small victories are still victories, and worth celebrating. So, as we - all Americans - come to realize just how much critical race theory has come to permeate our discourse and our dialogues, we are fighting back. We are reclaiming that most self-evident of truths- all men are created equal.

A Chinese House Church Is Under Threat, and the United States Can Help
published in The National Interest
October 16, 2021 - Bob Fu and Arielle Del Turco

On October 5 and 6, eight Chinese house church Christians were denied asylum in South Korea. One was Pan Yongguang, a beleaguered pastor who had fled increasing government harassment, raids, and interrogations in China.

Pelosi and Biden Give Human Life a One-Two Punch
published in Townhall.com
September 24, 2021 - Connor Semelsberger

Last Friday afternoon, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra quietly announced a new set of actions in response to the implementation of Texas' Heartbeat Act, a pro-life law the U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed to go into effect while further litigation plays out.

Giving a Platform to Ebrahim Raisi Is a Dark Stain on the UN
published in Townhall.com
September 23, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

This week, the Iranian theocracy's president, Ebrahim Raisi, gave a brazen virtual "speech" at the United Nations General Assembly. His barefaced lies and shameless claims once again raised the question, why is the UN allowing a madman and a mass murderer to take over the international podium? Which world leader is truly willing and ready to shake Raisi's blood-drenched hands?

Drafting women is Congress's latest woke idea for the military
published in The Washington Examiner
September 20, 2021 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin and Mary Beth Waddell

The Biden administration's disastrous retreat from Afghanistan has raised fresh concerns about this administration's military leadership. Amid the chaos and mere hours before 13 U.S. service members were killed in a bomb attack at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Army's top enlisted general was tweeting about diversity and quotas in celebration of "Women's Equality Day."

The Taliban Ends Women's Sports in Afghanistan
published in The National Interest
September 13, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

Women's sports will no longer exist in Afghanistan under the Taliban's regime, according to the deputy head of the Taliban's cultural commission. Ahmadullah Wasiq told an Australian reporter that it was "not necessary" that women play cricket or other sports. "In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this," he said. For the women who blazed the trail that led to the development of women's sports that did not previously exist in Afghanistan, the announcement confirmed their fears about Taliban rule.

Why Religion And Radical Islam Are Essential To Understanding The Taliban
published in Religion Unplugged
September 10, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

Across America today, intense arguments and quarrels that flared up during the urgent removal of all American forces from Afghanistan - abruptly announced by President Joe Biden on Aug. 16 - are still roiling. The angry uproar increased when retrospectives began to appear as Sept. 11 approached. This included poignant reminders that al-Qaida, under Osama bin Laden's direction, orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. It is well known that al-Qaida remains a Taliban ally today.

In God We Trust. Government-Not So Much!
published in Breitbart
September 9, 2021 - Ken Blackwell and Lori Roman

Those who relish the unyielding power of the state over the individual have had a good year. Lockdowns by tyrannical governors and state and local bureaucrats, along with expansive authority seized out of thin air by the CDC and other arms of the federal government, have made America almost unrecognizable as a bastion of freedom.

Dems make it impossible for Sen. Manchin to support H.R. 4
published in WV News
September 8, 2021 - Ken Blackwell and Ken Cuccinelli

In June, just days before the U.S. Senate was to vote on Democrats' federal takeover of elections deceptively named the 'For the People Act,' West Virginia's Senator Joe Manchin drew a red line in the sand.

Why Is The US Government Blocking Refugee Flights From Afghanistan?
published in Religion Unplugged
September 3, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

The question is being raised everywhere - in daily emails, WhatsApp messages or texts from people on the ground in Afghanistan. "Why are our efforts being blocked?" is repeatedly voiced by NGOs, philanthropists and everyone else who is trying to help thousands of would-be Afghan refugees. Why are these refugees becoming refuseniks?

Obeying Politicians Is Not the Same as Obeying the Law
published in Townhall.com
September 3, 2021 - Joseph Backholm

During the height of the COVID-19 lockdown controversy, Grace Community Church in Southern California, led by John MacArthur, got a lot of attention because they defied Governor Gavin Newsom's order to stop having church.

Is Religious Freedom a Matter a National Security?
published in International Christian Concern
August 31, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

As thousands of desperate Afghans hope to make their way onto airplanes headed anywhere outside the country, millions more are devastated to see their country revert to strict Sharia law brutally enforced by the Taliban. This feeling of devastation isn't limited to the Afghan people. For Americans, especially those who care about religious freedom, the Taliban takeover is heartbreaking.

The Country Where "Missionary" Is a Curse Word
published in Providence Journal
August 30, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

This month the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a new report that documents religious freedom violations occurring in North Korea. Based on interviews with North Korean survivors, witnesses, and even perpetrators of religious freedom violations, the report concludes that "the denial of religious freedom is absolute" in the hermit kingdom. This brutal reality must inform the Biden administration's foreign policy approach to North Korea.

We Should Celebrate How Far We Have Come From 1965
August 27, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

This past Tuesday, on a straight party-line vote, Congress passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act or H.R. 4. This bill is a blatant power grab and an attempt to federalize our elections. It's also an effort to make states unable to defend safeguards like voter ID in court.

America Failed Afghanistan. Now It Must Stand By Taiwan.
August 26, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco and Bob Fu

Watching the unfolding tragedy and pain has caused American allies and enemies to wonder where the United States stands regarding other longstanding U.S. commitments. After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, can America be trusted to keep any of its promises?

Big Tech's Assault On Patent Rights!
published in Townhall.com
August 22, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Big Tech has become one of the major areas of concern for conservatives. Whether it's bias against conservatives, using their platforms to advance liberal policies, or turning a blind eye to the actions of hostile regimes like China, conservatives are united in their anger at these companies. That anger goes beyond conservatives as well.

The sobering religious freedom lesson of Afghanistan
published in Washington Times
August 20, 2021 - Tony Perkins and Travis Weber

Fifteen years ago, the Family Research Council advocated for Abdul Rahman, an Afghan Muslim man who had converted to Christianity and was being persecuted. Even in the face of a new Constitution, supported by the U.S. and purported to protect religious freedom, the Islamist headwinds blew strongly enough that Rahman's safety was only ensured by the intervention of the international community, who at the time had been helping to rebuild Afghanistan. At that time, we had critiqued the Bush administration for failing to stand up for people like Mr. Rahman and called for pressure on the U.S.-backed Afghan government to ensure his protection. Eventually, Mr. Rahman was shuttled to Italy, not without much effort by his international defenders (he certainly lacked them within his own country).

Patent Law Holds the Bipartisan Key to Fighting Big Tech
published in CNSNews.com
August 20, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Big Tech has become one of the major areas of concern for conservatives. Whether it's because of these companies' bias against conservatives, using their platforms to advance liberal policies, or turning a blind eye to the actions of hostile regimes like China, conservatives are united in their anger at Big Tech. That anger goes beyond conservatives, as well.

Afghan Christians Are Facing A Taliban Reign Of Terror
published in Religion Unplugged
August 20, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

After days of increasing disbelief, America watched on Aug. 16 as President Joe Biden officially abandoned Afghanistan. We listened to his awkward speech as he publicly dismissed a 20-year American investment in blood and treasure while putting at risk untold thousands of Afghan lives.

Election Integrity Reform Is Key to Preventing A Socialist Takeover of America
published in Townhall.com
August 15, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Big Tech has become one of the major areas of concern for conservatives. Whether it's bias against conservatives, using their platforms to advance liberal policies, or turning a blind eye to the actions of hostile regimes like China, conservatives are united in their anger at these companies. That anger goes beyond conservatives as well.

Stopping Election Integrity Reform a Key to Socialist Takeover
published in Breitbart
August 13, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

How much can lack of election integrity cost you? It's $3 trillion and rising, and it's all that stands between you and the socialist takeover of America. Unsecure elections are the gateway to socialism.

Democracy Depends on Transparency
published in CNSNews.com
August 11, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

It's becoming increasingly clear that we need to thoroughly examine what happened during the 2020 elections and take steps to make sure it can't happen again.

Republicans Must Not Save the Biden Administration from the Ashbin of History
published in Townhall.com
August 9, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Big Tech has become one of the major areas of concern for conservatives. Whether it's bias against conservatives, using their platforms to advance liberal policies, or turning a blind eye to the actions of hostile regimes like China, conservatives are united in their anger at these companies. That anger goes beyond conservatives as well.

Republicans Will Own Inflation from Infrastructure Trap
published in Breitbart
August 8, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Seventeen Senate Republicans seem determined to save President Joe Biden from his disastrous policies by backing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) infrastructure bill, reducing the GOP's ability to go after the inflation caused by Democrats' runaway spending when it hits everyday Americans' weekly budgets, as it is sure to do.

Back to School Is Different This Year
published in CNSNews.com
August 6, 2021 - Joseph Backholm and Meg Kilgannon

It's back to school season. Like every year, children are excited about new teachers, new experiences, new clothes, and maybe even some new friends. But for many families, back-to-school is not business as usual this year. In many cases, the temporary changes to education brought on by COVID-19 have become permanent.

Kim Jong Un's War On K-Pop Is A Sign Of North Korea's True Weakness
published in The Federalist
August 5, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is a constant fixture in world news. Yet, this summer he has been making the news for something unexpected - his crackdown on youth culture. Recent decades have seen elements of South Korean culture seeping through the Chinese border via the black market. And according to Kim Jong Un, South Korean slang and fashion borrowed from K-pop and K-dramas harm "the new generation's ideological mind-set." The regimes' reaction to harmless South Korean terms exposes a weakness that the free world should exploit.

Transgender weightlifters and twerking lesbians: 'Wokeification' of the Tokyo Olympics
published in The Christian Post
August 3, 2021 - Owen Strachan

An international firestorm broke out last week surrounding Simone Biles. Biles landed in the news not for winning medals, per her custom, but for dropping out. Biles cited "mental health" as the reason for leaving her team in the middle of the women's gymnastics competition. All sorts of conversation ensued.

Iran Attempting To Manipulate Trial Of Henchman
published in CNSNews.com
July 29, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

On Aug. 5, the new Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, will be inaugurated. Raisi was a member of the infamous Death Commission in Tehran in 1988.

The West Cannot Ignore Violence Against Nigerian Christians
published in Newsweek
July 20, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

Last week in Washington D.C., a young Nigerian woman named Joy Bishara described the horrifying moment in 2014 when she and 275 other Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram.

The Dems Spend $25M To Reject Bipartisanship
published in Townhall.com
July 14, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

It doesn't cost anything to engage in dialogue with one's political opponents. The Democrats, however, would rather spend millions of donor dollars on a partisan crusade.

If you love America, are you really a 'white Christian nationalist?'
published in The Christian Post
July 9, 2021 - Owen Strachan

These days, the younger generation is encouraged to despise their American birthright. According to this worldview, the United States was a force for oppression in centuries past, and racism, baked into the very structure of the republic, constitutes the true narrative of the American people. And what is this worldview's solution to our country's alleged ills? To tear down the existing order, cleanse it of its sins, and reeducate the youth such that they become activists against democracy, free speech, and free thought.

Supreme Court Turned the Tide in Election Integrity War
published in Breitbart
July 8, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Election integrity recently won a pivotal battle against an attempt by Democrats to hijack the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) for partisan reasons. They failed when the Supreme Court in Brnovich v. DNC laid a foundation to restore Americans' confidence in their elections so that everywhere in this nation it can be easy to vote, but hard to cheat.

CCP Celebrates 100 Years of Persecution
July 1, 2021 - Bob Fu and Arielle Del Turco

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and even state-approved churches are being compelled by the government to celebrate the centennial of the atheistic, totalitarian regime. Unfortunately for the Chinese people-and especially for religious believers-China's economic advancements and increased global prominence have been stained by religious persecution and political oppression at the hands of the CCP.

With the End of Apple Daily, Hong Kong's Freedoms Take Another Blow
published in Providence Journal
June 30, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

Hong Kong's well-known pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily was forced to run its final edition on June 24 after authorities used the new national security law to freeze the company's assets without a court order. It is yet another sign that the light of the city's freedom is flickering out. The free expression of ideas that support democracy from outlets like Apple Daily would only be considered a national security threat to a totalitarian government that fears the truth. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Chinese government is.

International Community Must End Iran's Culture of Impunity for Its Leaders
published in CNSNews.com
June 28, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

With a mass murderer, Ebrahim Raisi, planted as the Iranian regime's next president, the international community should both hear the regime's message as well as send its own. Needless to say, the outcome of an undemocratic election is not inherently remarkable, not to mention that the president is completely subservient to the supreme leader, who wields ultimate power in Iran.

The Left's Next Move Is Even Worse than H.R. 1
published in Townhall.com
June 24, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

This week, the Democrats' bill to federalize our elections, S.1, failed in the U.S. Senate. Thanks to the filibuster, the bill fell short of its needed sixty-vote threshold.

Biden must help fleeing Chinese Christians
published in The Washington Examiner
June 22, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

In 2019, a small Chinese house church's congregation fled together to South Korea in search of relief from the persecution they had endured at the hands of the Chinese government. Sadly, the South Korean government has rejected the group's asylum bids, and the once-successful Chinese Christians are relegated to working on farms as they appeal the decisions.

The New York Times' Ironic Coverage of the 'Woke' ACLU
published in Townhall.com
June 16, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

With a stunning lack of self-awareness, The New York Times recently published an extraordinary piece about the modern Americans Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Persecuted Iranian Christian Mary Mohammadi Votes for Truth in Her Homeland
published in CBN News
June 14, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

Presidential elections in prominent countries tend to reverberate across the world. And the results sometimes echo in op-eds and interviews long after the results are announced. Certainly, the U.S. presidential election in November 2020 still remains a hot topic for discussion in some circles, and it may be so for a very long time.

Don't Mistake China's Three-Child Policy For Liberalization
published in Newsweek
June 4, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco and Mary Szoch

Following decades of forced abortions and sterilizations carried out under Beijing's infamous one-child policy, and five years of a two-child policy, Chinese couples are now allowed to have three children. But this should not be confused with a move toward liberalization. The Chinese state will do whatever suits its goals, disregarding the dignity and basic human rights of its people. For now, the government wants more future workers, so childbearing is a priority.

Three Reasons Congress Should Embrace International Religious Freedom
published in International Christian Concern
May 31, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

The release of the State Department's annual International Religious Freedom Report this month confirmed the dire situation of many religious believers around the world. The evidence of widespread suffering is a call to action for world leaders, and the U.S. Congress should take note. Although the executive branch is ultimately in charge of U.S. foreign policy, members of Congress nevertheless have an influential role to play.

Democrats Pull Hat Trick With Dishonest Voting Rights Bill
published in Breitbart
May 26, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Democrats are pushing another federal takeover of elections with the so-called John Lewis Voting Right Advancement Act. This one is a power grab forcing states to get permission from the Democrat-controlled federal government before implementing election integrity measures like voter ID and other constitutional safeguards.

Iran's Deadly Grip Reaches Into Africa
published in Newsweek
May 21, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

The latest news reports are focused on the explosive results of Iran's investment in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas-a divisive and distressing confrontation to be sure. But while all eyes are on the Middle East, Iran has not been idle elsewhere. Its persistent and growing influence in Africa has flown under the radar for many observers.

Maricopa County Officials Need to Remember They Are 'Public Servants'
published in Townhall.com
May 19, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (MBS) should have left the snark on the playground. Their churlish, childish response to reasonable questions from Arizona State Senate President Karen Fann is unbecoming of elected officials. Their constituents deserve better.

Senate Democrats Closer to Power Grab with S. 1 Committee Vote
published in Breitbart
May 11, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Senate Democrats are cramming a federal takeover of elections through a key vote on the Corrupt Politicians Act this week, part of their plan with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to transform America into a permanent one-party socialist nation.

The Corrupt Politicians Act Is a Step Backwards for America
published in Townhall.com
May 10, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

A high priority for the radical left is a national takeover of our elections. They want the bureaucrats in D.C. running our elections. This is what S.1 or The Corrupt Politicians Act is all about-another big government power grab.

Population Isn't All That China Loses with Its One-Child Policy
published in National Review Online
May 7, 2021 - Mary Szoch and Arielle Del Turco

When the Financial Times reported that China is set to announce its first population decline since the famine that accompanied Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward, Chinese authorities rushed to dispel the report. After decades of coercive implementation of its one-child policy, which was intended to limit population growth, now the government does not want to admit population decline.

Why International Religious Freedom Is Important to the Work of USAID
published in International Christian Concern
May 5, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

In his first few months in office, President Biden's administration has either canceled or put on hold some of the religious freedom programs conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This is deeply unfortunate. The Biden administration must solidify the promotion of international religious freedom in its development projects. Doing so will serve the mission of USAID, which is to "promote and demonstrate democratic values abroad, and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world."

South Korea Should Expand Free Speech on the Peninsula, Not Reduce It
published in Providence Journal
May 4, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco

A South Korean law that threatens human rights activists with fines of nearly $27,000 or up to three years in prison has prompted international concern about the status of free speech in South Korea and the future of human rights advocacy. Passed in December by South Korea's parliament, the law bans civilians from floating balloons with informational leaflets and sending bottles with rice and USBs over water.

I Wish President Biden was as 'Liberal' as My Grandmother
published in Newsweek
April 26, 2021 - Mary Szoch

In a 1974 interview with the Washingtonian, 31-year-old Senator Joe Biden quipped, in reference to Roe v. Wade, "when it comes to issues like abortion...I'm about as liberal as your grandmother. I don't like the Supreme Court decision on abortion." In 1974, Senator Biden was indeed about as "liberal" as my grandmother-in fact, he and my grandmother had a lot in common.

How low will Democrats go on pushing Jim Crow narrative?
published in Washington Times
April 26, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Many on the left claim that voting integrity measures, such as voter ID, are throwbacks to the Jim Crow era. Since Jim Crow laws were enacted by Southern Democrats to force racial segregation and block economic and political power among Black Americans, Democrats should know their current claims are preposterous. As the old saying goes, "they have a lot of nerve."

Goodbye Election Day
published in Townhall.com
April 20, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

A notorious bill moving through Congress - H.R. 1 - contains a swarm of bad ideas. But little noticed is a provision that makes Election Day obsolete. We've lost so many unifying cultural events that bring Americans together, it is no surprise that H.R.1 not only would start the election weeks earlier but also prolong the election well after Election Day.

American Dollars Should Have No Part In China's Forced Sterilizations
published in The Federalist
April 19, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco and Connor Semelsberger

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, recently introduced a bill to prohibit funding for the United Nations Population Fund. American funding for the UNFPA has long been controversial due to the organization's link to coercive abortion and sterilization, especially in China. America's recent genocide determination against China over its forced sterilizations of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang makes the effort to cut U.S. funding with the UNFPA even more urgent.

When the Patient Becomes the Physician
published in Townhall.com
April 13, 2021 - Mary Szoch

The Biden administration has abandoned women by supporting the removal of the Food and Drug Administration requirements surrounding the distribution of the mifepristone abortion regimen. Based on extreme lobbying efforts of the pro-abortion movement on this issue, Americans might conclude these regulations-the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies, otherwise known as the REMS-were overly protective and put into place by the pro-life Trump administration; however, that is not the case.

Beyond Election Integrity: American Exceptionalism in Crosshairs of Radical Left
published in Breitbart
April 12, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Democrats' Corrupt Politicians Act pending in the Senate is a frontal assault on our Constitution's federalist recipe for freedom which has served our nation well for centuries, putting Congress in complete control of its own elections. The American people must oppose the Radical Left's hostile takeover of our right to vote, and with it the death of American Exceptionalism.

Flattered to Be on China's Sanctions List
published in Wall Street Journal
April 11, 2021 - Tony Perkins and Gayle Manchin

The Chinese Communist Party recently imposed sanctions against us for our work on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. It's part of a desperate attempt to silence international scrutiny of Beijing's abysmal human-rights record, particularly its genocidal policies against the Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang and its persecution of other religious minorities.

Equality Act Assails Religious Freedom
published in Decision Magazine
April 9, 2021 - Tony Perkins and David Closson

In late February, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the so-called "Equality Act" (H.R. 5), one of the most anti-life, anti-family and anti-faith bills in American history. The legislation passed by a vote of 224-206, with only three Republicans supporting it. As of press time, the bill had moved to the Democrat-controlled Senate, and President Joe Biden had urged Congress to pass the measure in concert with many of the executive actions he has already taken unilaterally.

A Biblical Rebuke of the Equality Act
published in The Falkirk Center
April 8, 2021 - David Closson

The biblical worldview teaches that all people are made in God's image and possess inherent value and dignity. Furthermore, Christians are told to do justice (Micah 6:8), love our neighbor (Mark 12:31), and reject partiality (James 2:1). Therefore, Christians should oppose unjust discrimination. But does that mean Christians should support the Equality Act?

Claiming state voting reforms are racist is ridiculous. I should know: Ken Blackwell
published in USA Today
April 8, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Outrage from Democrats, corporations and Major League Baseball about voter identification requirements and Georgia's "Election Integrity Act of 2021" feels like leftovers reheated for the third time. Whenever Republicans propose commonsense voter ID measures to help safeguard our elections, liberals react by shouting that it is voter suppression and Jim Crow 2.0.

Corporate Wokesters Betray Shareholders' Trust by Bashing Election Integrity Laws
published in Breitbart
April 4, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Corporate titans tripping over themselves to be "woke" by condemning election integrity laws like Georgia's SB 202 are failing in their duty to focus on running their companies profitably, ironically instead pushing an agenda that other nations show destroys private business under one-party socialist rule.

Media companies bill is bait and switch to strangle conservative outlets
published in American Thinker
March 24, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JPCA) is a bait-and-switch attempt that claims to help conservative news sources but would instead purge them from the marketplace of ideas. Congress should reject it for the freedom-killer it is.

The Left's Hoodwinking of America
published in Townhall.com
March 23, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

No greater hoodwinking of America has ever been proposed than through a dangerous and deceitful piece of current federal legislation that will create a one-party rule.

When will the World Respond to Jihadi Violence in Africa?
published in Newsweek
March 17, 2021 - Lela Gilbert

Africa has long been a dream destination for intrepid globe trotters. Generations of adventurous souls have embarked on safaris, explored vast savannas and photographed exotic wildlife. Colorful cultural traditions and ethnic foods have added to the continent's allure. Nowadays, however, international reports are casting worrisome shadows across Africa, especially for those of us who focus on international religious freedom.

Let Little Girls Dream of National Championships
published in Newsweek
March 17, 2021 - Mary Szoch

In second grade, my teacher, Sister Rose, had each student create a poster of our favorite things and career aspirations. My favorite subject-math; my favorite color-blue-green; my dream-to play basketball in the NBA.

Defeat H.R. 1 Now, Deal with Supreme Court Disappointments Later
published in Breitbart
March 5, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Elections have been center-stage for two weeks, starting with the Supreme Court's abdicating its duty to resolve serious problems with our elections, to former President Donald Trump's CPAC speech, to the House's passing H.R. 1 on a party-line vote. Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett disappointed the nation, but Republicans must unite to stop the illegal problems of 2020 from permanently becoming legal, which will happen if H.R. 1 passes the Senate.

Is the Equality Act Biden's dragonnade?
published in The Christian Post
February 25, 2021 - Joseph Backholm

Unity has been an early theme of President Biden's term. However, one of his early legislative priorities is the Equality Act, one of the most divisive pieces of legislation ever seriously debated.

Trump Judges and the Equality Act
published in Townhall.com
February 23, 2021 - Joseph Backholm

On Thursday, the House of Representatives will vote on the Equality Act, reminding evangelicals and Catholics who voted for Trump why their gamble was worth it.

The 'Equality Act' Would Create a Religious 'Separate But Equal'
published in CNSNews.com
February 20, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Last year, we heard a lot about peaceful protests that, in reality, were not peaceful. This year, we are going to hear a lot about the Equality Act that, in reality, creates inequality. If the past is any indication, proponents of the Equality Act, which is set for a Thursday vote in the House of Representatives, will shamefully attempt to usurp the civil rights movement's history and legacy as they do.

Biden Seeks to Boost Planned Parenthood Funding to New Levels
published in Townhall.com
February 16, 2021 - Connor Semelsberger

After observing the first few weeks of the Biden administration, the CEO of American's largest abortion chain Planned Parenthood says she is "over the moon" about the Biden/Harris administration's "vision" for expanding abortion. And it's easy to see why.

Impeachment Manager Rep. Jamie Raskin Wrong on 1st Amendment and Trump Speech
published in Breitbart
February 11, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is dead wrong when he says that former President Donald Trump can be impeached for political speech that is protected by the First Amendment, and it speaks volumes about this unconstitutional sham of a Senate impeachment trial.

Election Integrity: The Case For Trump's Acquittal
published in CNSNews.com
February 9, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

Today marks the beginning of former President Donald J. Trump's unconstitutional impeachment trial. Without his appearance, the media will not be able to concoct an excuse not to cover his lawyers' presentations on the constitutional and statutory violations that cast a shadow on how the November 2020 election was conducted.

What Trump Must Do in His Senate Impeachment Trial
published in Breitbart
February 4, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

We are less than a week away from a congressional event that will be a pivotal moment on our nation's history as a constitutional republic, and former President Donald Trump should use this unconstitutional impeachment trial to force a national conversation on democratic principles and election integrity.

What It Means that Leahy-Not Roberts, Not Harris-Will Run Trump's Senate Trial
published in Breitbart
February 1, 2021 - Ken Blackwell

The fact that Democrat Sen. Pat Leahy - not Chief Justice John Roberts or Vice President Kamala Harris - will preside over former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial should draw bipartisan condemnation as an assault on the very same democracy and U.S. Constitution that Democrats claim to be vindicating through that trial - and that Democrats know they're headed to a political setback.

Biden's Transgender Military Order Is Based On Politics, Not Facts
published in The Federalist
February 1, 2021 - Peter Sprigg

Among the flurry of executive orders President Joe Biden signed during his first week in office was one declaring that "gender identity should not be a bar to military service." Of course, both males and females have long been able to serve. What Biden means is that "transgender" people - those who psychologically identify with the opposite sex - should be allowed to serve, and to serve as their preferred sex.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day: We must confront today's antisemitism
published in The Christian Post
January 27, 2021 - Arielle Del Turco and Chris Gacek

On this day 76 years ago, Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp where Nazi forces murdered more than 1.1 million people, the vast majority of them Jews. Greeted by starving prisoners rejoicing at their arrival, piles of corpses, and unthinkable living conditions, unknowing Soviet troops were horrified by what they saw. As more became known about its extermination center (Auschwitz-Birkenau), Auschwitz came to represent what may be the greatest anti-humanitarian crime in history: the systematic effort to destroy the Jewish people wherever they could be found on the globe.

Should extreme pro-abortionist Xavier Becerra be in charge of America's health care?
published in Washington Times
January 23, 2021 - Tony Perkins

Most Americans are familiar with such federal departments as Defense and Treasury. Their names indicate what they do. Fewer know much about the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). But they should. The size and scope of HHS is vast, which is why the person leading it is so important.

Biden must follow through on the State Department's China genocide declaration
published in The Washington Examiner
January 21, 2021 - Travis Weber and Arielle Del Turco

On his last full day in office, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally declared that China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity through its campaign of repression against Uighur Muslims. Pompeo's declaration is the strongest rebuke from any government of China's atrocities in Xinjiang, and one that is sure to affect how the incoming Biden administration interacts with China.

Religious Freedom Day: Recovering our first freedom after a rough 2020
published in The Christian Post
January 16, 2021 - David Closson

For nearly three decades, the United States has observed January 16 as Religious Freedom Day. America's "First Freedom" has historically enjoyed near-universal and bipartisan support. Nevertheless, contemporary challenges to religious freedom do exist.

My Miscarriage and Roe v. Wade
published in Newsweek
January 15, 2021 - Mary Szoch

Five months ago, I had a miscarriage. It was, and still is, devastating. Like most women who have never experienced a miscarriage before, I had never envisioned what it would be like to lose a baby. Although I had always known having a miscarriage must be difficult, I could never have imagined the heartbreak, the overwhelming number of questions or the memory of the exact moment my little one left this world for the next.

The World Should Have No Place for Blasphemy Laws
published in CBN News
December 27, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

Government restrictions on religion around the world have reached the highest point in the past 11 years, as revealed in the Pew Research Center's annual report on religious freedom released last week. A global trend of government policies impeding individuals' peaceful expression of their faith is disturbing, and it ought to motivate advocates of free speech and religious freedom to action.

Biden's HHS nomination sign of admin's likely extreme abortion course
published in The Christian Post
December 15, 2020 - David Closson

Since the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden has reiterated his desire to unify the country. "I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify; who doesn't see red states and blue states, [who] only sees the United States," Biden promised after the election.

What Does Joe Biden's HHS Nominee Have to Do with the Senate Run-Offs in Georgia?
published in Townhall.com
December 14, 2020 - Joseph Backholm

To those who cares about faith, family, and freedom, Joe Biden's announcement that he will nominate Xavier Becerra to be his head of the Department of Health and Human Services should set off alarms. Here are three things you need to know about this nomination.

Religious Freedom Index Underscores Importance of Faith In American Life
published in Townhall.com
December 4, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Americans cherish religious freedom. And the COVID-19 crisis has reminded people of faith, especially how much they value this critical First Amendment right. For me, a Christian, the past eight months of lockdowns have underscored the importance of in-person worship or, rather, the importance of fellowship in nurturing one's spiritual life.

When Churches Should Defy COVID-19 Restrictions
published in The Falkirk Center
December 2, 2020 - David Closson

In response to an upward surge in COVID-19 cases this fall, state and local governments are issuing new mandates intended to mitigate the spread of the virus. However, some of these well-intentioned mandates unfairly target houses of worship and infringe on the religious liberty of millions of Americans. Because some state and local governments have treated churches and other houses of worship unequally during the pandemic, it begs the question:

Walter Williams - A Warrior For Liberty!
published in CNSNews.com
December 2, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Patriot. Friend. Teacher. Student. Husband. Father. Legendary thinker. Christ follower. On this day of profound mourning for Professor Walter E. Williams, it is difficult to summarize the life and legacy of my friend with only a few words.

A Reminder: State Legislators Have Constitutional Power Over Elections
published in The American Spectator
November 27, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Principles critical to the foundational freedom of this nation and its citizens must be preserved and vigorously defended regardless of who takes the presidential oath every four years. With our "three-layer cake" of government responsibilities at the federal, state, and local levels, America's unique shared governance is defined by the U.S. Constitution. After this election and its nearly endless allegations of vote fraud, no role is more important than state legislators, who hold sole power to determine election policy and procedure.

The Greatest Electoral Heist in American History
published in Breitbart
November 21, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

The pieces are finally coming together, and they reveal a masterpiece of electoral larceny involving Big Tech oligarchs, activists, and government officials who prioritize partisanship over patriotism.

The Trump Administration's Laudable 'Tough on China' Legacy
published in The Daily Signal
November 16, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

Even as chaos and litigation over the presidential election persist, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has not skipped a beat in his effort to counter the Chinese government and its human rights abuses.

Multiple Beheadings in Mozambique: Is the World Indifferent?
published in Providence Journal
November 16, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

On November 10, Al Jazeera posted a breathtaking headline: "ISIS-linked attackers behead 50 people in northern Mozambique."The subhead was equally horrifying: "Witnesses say the assailants herded victims onto a football pitch in the village of Muatide where the killings were carried out."

The pro-life electoral victories show wide appeal across America
published in The Christian Post
November 14, 2020 - Connor Semelsberger

The convoluted 2020 election did make one thing clear: pro-life issues are winning in America. Pro-life candidates have outperformed their pro-abortion opponents in several battleground states, and pro-life women in particular garnered a significant amount of support from voters in the 2020 elections.

Pro-Life Women Won Big on Election Night
published in CNSNews.com
November 12, 2020 - Mary Beth Waddell

Come January, the U.S. House of Representatives will have at least 25 Republican women, all of whom have demonstrated or pledge strong support for the sanctity of human life.

Why the Left Lost the Election Even if Biden Wins the White House
published in Townhall.com
November 11, 2020 - Joseph Backholm

Even as people spilled into the streets of Washington D.C. over the weekend to celebrate the proclaimed defeat of President Trump, political insiders on the Left were feeling a bit unsatisfied. This was supposed to be their year. All the stars had aligned for that big blue wave to usher in their wildest progressive dreams.

Standing With France, and Free Speech, After Terror Attack
published in Real Clear Politics
November 1, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

On Thursday morning, a man armed with a knife entered the largest church in Nice, France and brutally stabbed three people to death. The incident has shaken France, and the government officially raised its terrorism threat warning to the maximum level. Tensions have been high since an Islamist refugee beheaded a schoolteacher earlier this month and Muslim countries criticized the French government for its attempts to deal with Islamist terrorism.

China To Christians: We're Rewriting The Bible, And You'll Use It Or Else
published in The Federalist
October 26, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

When a Chinese Christian, Chen Yu, was caught boldly selling religious publications not authorized by the government, his punishment was a seven-year prison sentence and an approximately $30,000 USD fine, handed down by a court last month.

The Political Games Proxy Advisors Play With Workers Retirement Security
published in Townhall.com
October 19, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Over the next several weeks, the Department of Labor will begin to sift through the public comments on their recently proposed rule "Fiduciary Duties Regarding Proxy Voting and Shareholder Rights," seeking the best course of action to ensure that pension beneficiaries across this country receive the benefits they deserve. This rule reaffirms the fiduciary obligations that ERISA-backed pension fund managers owe to their beneficiaries, and puts forward much needed reforms in a proxy advisory industry that for too long has neglected to serve the best interest of pensioners.

No quicker way to destroy America's fabric than to pack the Supreme Court
published in American Thinker
October 13, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are redefining the words "court packing" in a manner worthy of George Orwell's 1984, ironically previewing how a packed (i.e., expanded) Supreme Court would redefine the Constitution's words, abolishing our democratic republic.

Should Christians Really Support ACB?
published in Western Journal
October 12, 2020 - David Closson

On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee began confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. A few weeks ago, President Donald Trump nominated Judge Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. At her nomination, President Trump described Barrett as one of the "nation's most brilliant and gifted legal minds" and praised her "unyielding loyalty to the Constitution."

Abolish the Debate Commission If No In-person Debates
published in Breitbart
October 9, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

The Commission on Presidential Debates will become irreversibly illegitimate unless it reverses course on in-person debates, which alone can force Joe Biden to answer the single most important question in this election: Whether Biden would pack to the Supreme Court with additional seats, forever transforming our Constitution's three-branch form of government into a two-branch system.

Trump's health care plan: More to look forward to
published in American Thinker
October 8, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Two weeks ago, I was in a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence to talk about some of the issues facing our great nation. Our discussion ranged from the Supreme Court nomination to the COVID-19 pandemic and included an outline of the America First Health Plan, President Trump's plan for the future of our health care system. I have to say, I was impressed with the Trump administration's approach to health care, and I think Ohioans have a lot more to look forward to when it comes to improving our access to quality care.

A health care opening for Mike Pence tonight
published in The Christian Post
October 7, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Shortly after President Donald J. Trump announced plans to have Judge Amy Coney Barrett succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, Democrats took to the airwaves attacking the president's pick. For a full week before her nomination, Democrats attacked her faith and her family but have apparently moved on to attacking her based on the assumption she'd favor repealing Obamacare.

The religious war over the Supreme Court
published in The Christian Post
September 29, 2020 - Joseph Backholm

Even before President Trump formally announced Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, she was already taking fire on religious grounds. Virtually every description of her starts with the fact that she is a "devout Catholic." Even worse, it seems she has been part of a group called People of Praise. Since they can't imagine joining a group called that, they have no choice but to conclude its dangerous and scary. So obviously she's unqualified to be on the Supreme Court.

Why There's Nothing Unprecedented about what the Republicans (or Democrats) are Doing
published in Townhall.com
September 27, 2020 - Joseph Backholm

President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court not only ads another wrinkle into an already unusual election cycle, but renews the debate over the appropriateness of the deliberation. Lindsey Graham was against confirming Supreme Court nominees before an election before he was for it. On the other hand, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Barack Obama were in favor of it before they were against it.

Politics: How Involved Should Christians Be?
published in Decision Magazine
September 21, 2020 - David Closson

Do Christians have a moral or Biblical obligation to participate in government? Is there a distinctively Christian way to engage in the political process? Do Christians have a duty to vote, and if so, what principles should inform them as they cast their ballots?

The 2020 Election: A Clear Distinction on Abortion
published in The Public Discourse
September 20, 2020 - David Closson

While both presidential candidates have changed their views on abortion over the past decades, their actions in recent years clarify the direction that they would likely take while in office. President Trump has maintained a consistent pro-life record in office that affects the regulations of various executive agencies and American leadership on the world stage. On the other hand, former Vice President Biden has moved to support his party's current position of actively promoting federal funding for the abortion industry and cementing abortion as a constitutional right.

West Africa: Praying for a Miracle
published in Juicy Ecumenism
September 3, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

"One evening in late June, gunmen stormed a village in northern Burkina Faso," the Washington Post reported, "and ordered people who had been chatting outside to lie down. Then the armed strangers checked everyone's necks, searching for jewelry. They found four men wearing crucifixes - Christians. They executed them..."

What the rioters really want
published in The Washington Examiner
August 25, 2020 - Tony Perkins

George Washington was so essential to the founding of our country that historians have called him "the indispensable man." His courage, leadership, and deep convictions about freedom, honor, and self-government sustained a revolution that seemed on the verge of failure more often than not.

Pakistan's Religious Discrimination Harms Young Girls the Most
published in Providence Journal
August 24, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

A 14-year-old Christian girl was driven to tears in a Pakistani courtroom this month when a judge ruled that she must return to the Muslim man who kidnapped her. Maira Shahbaz shares the traumatic saga of many young Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan who are kidnapped and forcefully converted to Islam and married to their abductors.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
published in Townhall.com
August 21, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

President Donald J. Trump has delivered on his promise to make concrete, measurable accomplishments in the creation of opportunities for, and empowering improvements in, the quality of life of black Americans.

What it Means if Kamala Harris is a "Pragmatic Moderate"
published in Townhall.com
August 18, 2020 - Joseph Backholm

When Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris to be his running mate, the New York Times referred to Harris as a "pragmatic moderate" and ABC News personality George Stephanopoulos said, "Kamala Harris comes from the middle of the road, moderate wing of the Democratic Party."

Make an atrocity determination about China's treatment of Uighurs
published in The Washington Examiner
August 17, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

When Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Liu Xiaoming was recently asked to explain footage from the Xinjiang region showing hundreds of restrained, blindfolded men waiting to be loaded onto a train, he awkwardly evaded the question. The reality is that these men were being transferred through China's network of internment camps, where an estimated 1 to 3 million Uighur Muslims are currently detained due to their ethnic and religious identity.

China Helps North Korea Treat Women In Unspeakably Horrific Ways
published in The Federalist
August 17, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

A recent United Nations human rights report exposes the horrors experienced by women brave or desperate enough to flee North Korea. Most North Korean defectors pass through or remain in China, a country whose government is responsible for many human rights violations of its own. But as trying as life is in China, there is a worse fate to be had - being caught by authorities and extradited to North Korea.

Stop The Lip Service On Uyghur Forced Labor
July 30, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

A13-ton shipment of hair weaves and other products was seized earlier this month by federal agents over allegations that the individuals making them were suffering human rights abuses. Authorities believe the products consist of human hair taken from detainees held in China's now-infamous internment camps in Xinjiang. This is just the latest evidence that points to a growing forced labor problem in China-a trend that should concern American businesses, consumers, and politicians alike.

BLM's Popularity Is a Politically-Motivated Myth
published in CNSNews.com
July 29, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

The supposed popularity of "Black Lives Matter, Inc." is a complete fantasy - willfully repeated ad nauseam by the left and the media - that is distorting public discourse around the wave of radicalism that has ravaged our cities this summer.

Are Christians Forbidden to Eat Blood?
published in The Gospel Coalition
July 28, 2020 - David Closson

"Would you like your steak well done, medium, or rare?" For many, a rare steak is a favorite dish, reserved for special occasions or relished after a long week at work. Yet the inclusion in Acts 15:29 of "abstain from . . . blood and what has been strangled"-among a list of forbidden practices for Gentile believers-may give some pause. The passage raises a host of historical, hermeneutical, and moral questions. Are these prohibitions permanent for all Christians? If the prohibition is permanent, how do we reconcile it with Romans 14, where Paul tells his readers not to judge one another by what they eat? These are questions that deserve careful consideration.

Cancel Culture's Dual Meaning Is a War for America's Soul
published in The American Spectator
July 26, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

"Cancel culture" is a double entendre of the dangerous kind. It is not just about canceling individuals or entities who offend leftist activists and their myopic group of minions; it is about fundamentally canceling America.

Memo to Congress: Everyone Benefits From Health Care Price Transparency
published in The Stream
July 21, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Carbery Campbell taught in Spain this spring and unfortunately contracted the coronavirus while traveling back to Florida. She did the right thing and got tested at her local hospital. Thankfully, Carbery beat the coronavirus but was punished with a bill of $6,545 for simple tests and a few hours spent in a waiting room. The lack of price transparency in our health-care system leads to unexpected bills like the one Carbery received.

'Cancel Culture' and the Historical Illiteracy That Fuels It
published in Real Clear Politics
July 21, 2020 - David Closson

Amid the debate over America's monuments, a new poll reveals that an overwhelming majority of voters disapprove of the removal of historic statues perceived by some as offensive. The poll, which equally surveyed registered Democrats and Republicans, showed that 74% of respondents agree with President Trump that monuments should not be removed.

3 Ways The United States Can Still Support Hong Kong's Freedom
published in The Federalist
July 20, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

In a strong show of support for the pro-democracy movement, more than 600,000 people voted in the Hong Kong opposition's unofficial primary elections. Now, Beijing has declared the primaries illegal and accused voters of violating its sweeping new national security law.

The Fight Over Hagia Sophia is About More Than a Building
July 20, 2020 -

One of the architectural wonders of the world, the Hagia Sophia cathedral was conquered once before. It was converted into a mosque by its Ottoman conquerors; minarets were added, and its ancient Byzantine mosaics were whitewashed. More recently, it has functioned as a museum for decades. Now, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decreed that the historic Hagia Sophia church should be reverted into a mosque once again.

Erdogan And His Quest For Hagia Sophia
published in Religion Unplugged
July 17, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

In recent days, much has been written about Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan's decision to convert the ancient Christian church Hagia Sophia-the Church of the Holy Wisdom-into a mosque.

Stimulate job growth, not the printing press, in next COVID relief package
published in American Thinker
July 14, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

U.S. Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and the rest of the U.S. Senate are working on a new COVID relief bill the Legislative Branch will consider in July. This raises the question: what should the new plan look like?

Black Lives Don't Matter To Black Lives Matter
published in The Daily Caller
July 7, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Black Lives Matter doesn't really care about saving or improving black lives - just look at the wave of violence that took dozens of black lives - including three children - over the Independence Day weekend, with hardly a murmur of protest from BLM leaders.

Erdogan's agenda: Neo-Ottoman ambition or pan-Islamist zeal?
published in The Jerusalem Post
June 28, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

Turkish aggression in at least five countries has been headlined in international news reports just this month, June 2020. These accounts focus on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's latest intrusions into Israel, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Greece.

In These Troubled Times, Where are the Men?
published in CBN News
June 19, 2020 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

On May 25, 2020, I watched the beginning of a great American tragedy. As the nation began to open up after the long COVID-19 lock-down a horrifying incident involving a rogue cop took the life of a 46-year-old African-American man named George Floyd. Three other officers watched and did nothing. And chaos erupted nationwide.

Justice Gorsuch botched Bostock v. Clayton County ruling on homosexual and transgender 'rights'
published in Washington Times
June 19, 2020 - Tony Perkins

On Monday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch issued the Roe v. Wade of religious liberty. Just as that ruling upended scores of state ordinances and laws concerning abortion based on a "right" that can be found nowhere in the U.S. Constitution, in the same way the court's decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, has redefined words to suit a political agenda. An agenda that would impose extreme ideas about human sexuality throughout our society. There's no way to put a spin on this.

Democrats Have Failed the Black Community for Too Long
published in Breitbart
June 19, 2020 - Ken Blackwell and Bernard Kerik

In recent weeks, Americans have watched radical leftist anarchists and Antifa thugs engage in extreme violence and murder that will haunt many people for the rest of their lives.

Religious persecution is engulfing the world
published in The Christian Post
June 18, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

Believers in many countries face severe challenges, according to the State Department's annual Report on International Religious Freedom, released last week.

Families and Charitable Organizations, The Foundation of American Society
published in NRB
June 15, 2020 - Connor Semelsberger

Churches and other charitable organizations have been on the front lines of the coronavirus response. A few examples are Samaritan's Purse building a field hospital in New York City's Central Park and churches hosting food drives and conducting coronavirus testing. One Alabama church tested 1,000 people in two days! Despite the active role these nonprofits have taken in meeting the health and economic needs of our country, they still rely on donations-at a time when many Americans face financial hardship due to job loss, limited working hours, or increased medical costs. Such hardships may lead to a decline in charitable donations. Thankfully, some leaders on Capitol Hill are championing the important role churches and charitable organizations play in helping local communities.

In Defense of Law and Order
published in Townhall.com
June 13, 2020 - Joshua Arnold

It has been a bad few weeks for law enforcement in America. In late May, Americans were appalled by a video showing a white police officer kneeling for several minutes on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, until he died. Two autopsies confirmed that Floyd died from asphyxiation.

Gender and Sexuality in the 2020 Election
published in The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
June 10, 2020 - David Closson

As the world seeks a sense of normalcy following the coronavirus outbreak, Americans are once again turning their attention to the 2020 election. In November, voters will elect a new Congress and weigh in on dozens of state amendments and referendums. Thirty-five U.S. Senate seats, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, and ten gubernatorial races are on the ballot. Additionally, eighty-six of the nation's ninety-nine state legislative chambers are holding elections. But most importantly, voters will decide whether President Donald J. Trump has earned a second term, or whether former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, will become the next president.

'Black Lives Matter' Around The World, Including In Nigeria Amid Rising Violence
published in Religion Unplugged
June 9, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

For good reason, there has been a national outcry about the brutal death of George Floyd, a black man who died under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis. The video of Floyd's struggle for life continues to shock and horrify viewers. Anyone with a sense of human decency is appalled by his story and by all racially motivated law enforcement injustices.

Race, Justice and Religious Liberty In the World
published in Townhall.com
June 8, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

As an African American who has held elected office at the state and local level, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, I believe a full and frank discussion on issues of race and injustice is important.

D-Day at 76
published in The Washington Examiner
June 6, 2020 - David Closson

Seventy-six years ago, with the outcome of World War II hanging in the balance, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history. On June 6, 1944, under the direction of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, approximately 160,000 soldiers landed along a 50-mile stretch of fortified coast in northwestern France. After a day of fierce fighting, the Allies secured a hard-fought victory and a foothold in Europe. The battle proved to be a turning point in the war

Ex-Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell: Leaders in our cities have a duty to do this
published in Fox News
June 2, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Cities across the country are in ruin, and the fear that took root when stay-at-home orders went into effect is being compounded by violent protesters who've abandoned reason and justice in the wake of George Floyd's wanton death allegedly at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

Mob violence and police brutality result from a morally bankrupt America
published in Washington Times
June 1, 2020 - Tony Perkins

Police brutality and mob violence spring from the same fountain. The disturbing video of a veteran police officer kneeling on the neck of a subdued suspect and, thereafter, the spreading wave of violence and looting in the name of George Floyd are painful. Yet these things are not surprising.

Witnessing the growing rise of antisemitism in the US as a non Jew
published in The Jerusalem Post
May 23, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

During the wonderful decade I lived in Jerusalem I received an education that no university could have possibly provided. To this day, I'm still amazed by the many living lessons of Israel's remarkable history, its worldclass accomplishments, and its vibrant joie de vivre.

India Is A U.S. Ally While Persecuting Christians
published in Religion Unplugged
May 21, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

India is one of the world's most enticing tourist destinations, offering photogenic locales and an enticing and vibrant culture. Today, however, the sub-continent's teeming population has been assaulted by COVID-19, stifling tourism and most recently hosting more confirmed coronavirus cases than the total reported by China- about 90,000.

Here's How the Abortion Industry Should Be Remembered for Handling the Pandemic
published in Townhall.com
May 13, 2020 - Katherine Beck Johnson

The ACLU is suing to block Arkansas's order requiring any person seeking an elective surgery to test negative for COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to the procedure. This commonsense rule applies across the board to all elective procedures, but abortion centers do not want to abide by the same health and safety standards as all others in the medical profession.

Why Are Catholics Turning on the Little Sisters?
May 11, 2020 - Connor Semelsberger

Today, the Little Sisters of the Poor were back at the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping finally to bring their eight-year legal battle to an end. While several of the justices seemed inclined to side with the Trump administration's expanded religious exemptions to the contraceptive mandate, I've been surprised to see much of the opposition to the Little Sisters and other religious entities who adhere to the teachings of the Church coming from some of my fellow Catholics. This odd trend raises troubling questions about the November election: how many Catholics will vote for or against Catholic politicians whose policies contradict our faith?

Our Culture Needs Marriage, Because It Needs Mothers
published in The Stream
May 10, 2020 - Cathy Ruse

"Far more people appear to suffer alone," according to an article on The Washington Post. A tragic consequence of the coronavirus pandemic? Yes, to be sure, but this quote comes from a story filed in 2006 about a study on social isolation.

A Mother's Day Prayer for a Nigerian Miracle
published in Real Clear Religion
May 8, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

For most of us, Mother's Day marks an annual occasion for celebrating the blessings of family. While celebrations will be different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, most of us can still look forward to a family video chat, surprise bouquets and gifts, and the promise of hugs and kisses for mom and grandma once the world returns to normal.

America, Not China, Must Achieve 5G Leadership
published in CNSNews.com
May 7, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

As we have faced the COVID-19 crisis over these last several weeks, one thing that has become crystal clear is the importance of fast and reliable Internet connections.

This National Day of Prayer, Ask God to Bless America During the Pandemic
published in National Review
May 7, 2020 - David Closson

For 68 years, on the first Thursday in May, Americans have observed the National Day of Prayer. As the country continues to grapple with the fallout of the coronavirus and faces an uncertain road to recovery, it has never been more appropriate to pray for the health and well-being of our nation.

National Day of Prayer: Remembering Those Suffering Worldwide for Their Faith
published in American Thinker
May 7, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco and Lela Gilbert

As we mark yet another National Day of Prayer, our freedoms here at home remind us of the need to pray for those who lack them around the world. In the United States, we can offer a prayer of thanks that religious freedom is not yet obliterated and faith is not yet coerced. As we acknowledge our blessings and lift our supplications to our Creator, this is an opportune moment to look outside ourselves and beyond our borders to pray for the needs of others - including those being persecuted for their faith around the world.

Judge Justin Walker: A Warrior for Religious Liberty
published in Real Clear Politics
May 6, 2020 - Marjorie Dannenfelser and Tony Perkins

In early July 2018, as the national debate was raging over who would fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court, a law professor named Justin Walker penned a column for National Review. The column was about one prospect who was then sitting on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Religious liberty means COVID-19 restrictions cannot target churchgoers
published in Religion News Service
May 5, 2020 - Tony Perkins

Fellowship is to Christianity as air is to the body. It is not just a social nicety, something secondary or even frivolous. Followers of Christ are called to a shared life in their Lord in spiritual community. Not to be in communion with others is to see your spiritual life begin to atrophy.

Religious Freedom: A Consistent Priority for the Trump Administration
published in Townhall.com
May 4, 2020 - David Closson and Mary Beth Waddell

After eight years of government hostility to religion under the Obama administration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order which has turned out to be a stunning victory for religious freedom. Signed three years ago today, the Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (EO) has routed the secularist regime and ushered in a restoration of religious freedom protections for all Americans.

DHS and DOJ uphold religious freedom during COVID-19 crisis
published in Washington Times
May 1, 2020 - Tony Perkins

The COVID-19 crisis has taken a huge toll on all Americans, and not only in terms of physical health. The grieving families of those lost to the illness. The psychological toll of being housebound for weeks on end. The health care workers who daily are exposed to a life-threatening disease. The elderly who are prevented from seeing loved ones.

USCIRF is Right to Call Out India's Religious Freedom Violations
published in Townhall.com
April 30, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

This week the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that India be designated a "Country of Particular Concern"-a recommendation reserved for the world's worst religious freedom violators. In its 2020 annual report, USCIRF found, "[t]he national government allowed violence against minorities and their houses of worship to continue with impunity," and government actors engaged in "incitement to violence." Despite repeated denials by Indian officials, identifying India among the world's worst violators of religious freedom is entirely justified. After bloody, religiously-motivated riots shook New Delhi just last month, and Indian authorities stood aside or even took part in the violence against Indian Muslims, it is increasingly clear that religious freedom is on the decline in India.

What's Next for North Korea's Christians?
published in Real Clear Religion
April 27, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

When mysterious reports surfaced last week that the health of North Korea's young dictator Kim Jong Un was in question following cardiovascular surgery, media outlets were quick to speculate about the future of the regime. If Kim were to die-particularly without a successor-the implications would be significant. In such a scenario, what would become of North Korea's Christians?

Is the World Ignoring a Christian Genocide in Nigeria?
published in Providence Journal
April 21, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

How much do Westerners know about Nigeria? Do we recognize it as Africa's largest nation? Are we aware of its considerable economic importance? Are Western Christians alert to the dangers faced by our fellow believers in Nigeria?

Coronavirus, Turkish attacks threaten Kurds, Christians in northeast Syria
published in The Jerusalem Post
April 14, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

On April 2, an urgent appeal was sent to the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO). It was signed by Bassam Said Ishak, co-chief of the US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and two colleagues, pleading for test kits to detect coronavirus infections in war-torn northeastern Syria.

Easter faith: God in the midst of coronavirus pandemic
published in The Christian Post
April 12, 2020 - Peter Sprigg

Where is God in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic? Believers may ask this question in pain and in grief for those suffering. Unbelievers may ask the same question in scorn and cynicism.

This Easter, Christians Worldwide Are Fighting Not Just COVID-19 But Persecution Too
published in Religion Unplugged
April 12, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco and Lela Gilbert

Just a year ago on Easter Sunday 2019, at precisely 8:45 a.m., the clock on St. Anthony's Shrine in Columbo, Sri Lanka stopped keeping time. A terrorist's bomb struck the church at that precise moment, one of six jihadi attacks targeting Christian worshippers across the city. Reports were grim:

China Keeps Suppressing Religion While Squelching Truth About COVID-19
published in The Daily Signal
April 8, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco and Travis Weber

China now reports close to zero new cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan, the one-time epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak. This latest claim follows a string of other positive reports, leading many to extol China's drastic containment measures and hold it up as an example of a country successfully fighting the coronavirus.

How churches can serve during COVID-19 crisis by working 'outside the box'
published in Washington Times
April 6, 2020 - Tony Perkins

After assembling a state-wide conference call with pastors, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts explained he needed their help. "Government can do a lot of things, but what it can't do is show love and compassion," he told me recently. And one way to do that at such a time as this is to respect the social distancing requested of churches to halt the spread of a dangerous virus.

China's people of faith: Canaries in Xi Jinping's coal mine
April 2, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

Call it COVID-19. Or novel coronavirus. Or the now-politically incorrect term "Chinese flu." But thanks to the virus's unrivaled global threat, all eyes are now fixed on China and its Communist administration. The world is watching how President Xi Jinping behaves, what he seeks, and what is hidden behind his regime's fiercely protected public face.

Trump Is Working To 'Flatten the curve' Of Economic Slowdown
published in Townhall.com
March 31, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's early and aggressive response to the coronavirus pandemic helped Ohio minimize the damage from a public health perspective. Similarly, President Trump is preparing the entire country for a rapid post-COVID economic resurgence, even while he works to provide state and local leaders the resources they need to fight the virus.

What American Christians can learn from the Chinese church in coronavirus crisis
published in The Christian Post
March 29, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco and Lela Gilbert

Rarely are Christians in the United States confronted with the kinds of challenges faced by believers around the world whose governments regularly persecute the faithful. Yet, both are now facing the coronavirus. Churches around the world - even those in places where persecution abounds - have been forced to adapt to this unexpected and unnerving external pressure, meeting in new and creative ways in the era of social distancing. As churches across America begin to wrestle with new challenges, we can be inspired by the church in China, which has managed be a light to their society during the coronavirus despite continuous pressure from their own government.

Iran's Imprisoned Christians Face Yet Another Danger: COVID-19
published in Religion Unplugged
March 26, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

"The new coronavirus kills one person every 10 minutes in Iran," according to Kianush Jahanpur, Iran's health ministry spokesman tweeted. "Based on our information, every 10 minutes one person dies from the coronavirus and some 50 people become infected with the virus every hour in Iran." On Tuesday, March 24, the death toll in the Middle East's worst-affected country climbed to 1,934. More than 24,811 Iranians are currently infected.

Coronavirus, Iran, and the Persecuted Church
published in Townhall.com
March 20, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

For the first time in the lives of many American Christians, routine was interrupted as church services were canceled across the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Many churches chose to broadcast online instead. Some churches are getting creative and organizing "drive-in" worship services. Rarely are Christians in the West faced with external pressures that affect our weekly public worship gatherings. This inconvenience-and the fear that surrounds it-may give us a glimpse into what many Christians around the world face as they are forced to worship in hiding, and as their worship services are curtailed due to intense external pressure.

China's Abuses Against Uighurs Not Going Away: Here's How You Can Help
published in Religion Unplugged
March 17, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

A troubling report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) was released on Mar. 13, 2020. It accused the People's Republic of China of using Uighur Muslims (alternatively spelled Uyghur) for what amounts to slave labor in China's massive textile manufacturing industry.

The power of prayer to deal with coronavirus anxiety
published in USA Today
March 12, 2020 - Tony Perkins

The 24/7 coverage of the coronavirus on cable news spreads even more quickly than the virus itself, leading many to wonder if we're facing a plague of perhaps Biblical proportions. In almost real-time, the world is giving the tally of confirmed cases globally, as well as the casualties. And as 22 nations have closed schools, including in the U.S., the United Nations is reporting that some 290 million children are home from school, giving parents a daily reminder of the fears of infection.

A Purim lesson at the White House
published in The Jerusalem Post
March 10, 2020 - Lela Gilbert

The first venue that comes to mind when Purim celebrations are being organized is not likely to be the White House.

Wave Of Violence Should Prompt U.S. To Urge Religious Freedom In India
published in The Federalist
March 6, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco

Deadly inter-religious violence has flooded into Delhi in recent days, leaving more than 30 people dead. U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Anurima Bhargava stated, "reports are mounting that the Delhi police have not intervened in violent attacks against Muslims, and the government is failing in its duty to protect its citizens."

Let the states protect women
published in The Washington Examiner
March 4, 2020 - Katherine Beck Johnson

Can Louisiana require abortionists to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital? This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo, to answer this question.

Supreme Court should put a stop to the abortion industry getting a free pass
published in Washington Times
March 3, 2020 - Mike Johnson and Tony Perkins

More than 10,000 women walk through the doors of Louisiana's abortion clinics every year - and any one of them could face life-threatening complications. Unfortunately for these women, their abortion providers can't admit them to a hospital if their abortion goes wrong.

New Sanctions Turn the Screws on Venezuela's Maduro
published in The Stream
February 27, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Vladimir Putin relishes using Russia's political and economic power to destabilize and disrupt nations. One example of such activity is in Venezuela, where Russia has been propping up Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro through billions in loans and buying oil with the Russian company Rosneft.

Why We Need the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
published in Townhall.com
February 25, 2020 - Patrina Mosley

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has decided to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act up for consideration in the Senate; meanwhile, over 80 times in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has blocked efforts to bring up for a vote this bill that will simply require life-saving medical care to be given to infants who survive abortion.

Don't forget Justice Clarence Thomas in Black History Month celebrations
published in USA Today
February 18, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Black History Month should be a celebration of African Americans who have helped transform our nation. Sadly, that is not the case. To be included in the Black History Month celebration, one must be a "progressive" or, at the very least, not conservative. No doubt that is why Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the most influential black men in America, is routinely ignored, even marginalized instead of celebrated as a man who has played a decisive role in American history as well as black history; and serves as an inspiration to the African American community.

The Equal Rights Amendment Is a Fraud Using Women as the Prop
published in Townhall.com
February 10, 2020 - Patrina Mosley

The House Judiciary Committee recently marked up H.J.Res.79, and will soon get a floor vote. This joint resolution seeks to remove the congressional deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. When Congress originally passed the ERA, they put a deadline in place for states to ratify it. The ERA failed to win ratification in enough states before the deadline passed and is thus legally dead, but this stale effort is back to enshrine abortion-on-demand at the expense of hard-won protections for women.

Pakistan religious discrimination is enabling human trafficking
published in The Washington Examiner
February 3, 2020 - Arielle Del Turco and Travis Weber

At 24 years old, Samia Yousaf was forced into marriage. She was promised an escape from poverty in Pakistan, but her new Chinese husband abused her, denied her food, and eventually separated her from her own baby.

The Plague of Morally Toxic Public Schools
published in Decision Magazine
February 1, 2020 - Cathy Ruse

What would happen if a child were to spend most of his waking hours, during most of his formative years, in an institution bent on persuading him to adopt certain fundamental beliefs?

Abortion And Sex-Trafficking Are Undeniably Linked Abuses Against Women
published in The Federalist
January 31, 2020 - Patrina Mosley

January is both Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Sanctity of Human Life Month. These issues have more in common than people may realize. Across numerous global studies of sex-trafficking survivors, abortion is a consistent part of the story. Both abortion and sex-trafficking are businesses that exploit women, sometimes in tandem as organizations such as Planned Parenthood enable the abuse for profit. And both are an affront to human dignity.

Remembering the Holocaust Amid Rising Anti-Semitism
published in The Daily Signal
January 27, 2020 - David Closson and Arielle Del Turco

Today, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the world remembers the 6 million European Jews murdered by the Nazis during World War II and renews its commitment to ensure the tragedies of the Holocaust are never repeated.

Marching for Lives
January 24, 2020 - David Closson

Today in our nation's capital, hundreds of thousands of people will mark the 47th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion by participating in the 47th annual March for Life. The pro-life movement has been gaining momentum in recent years, driven by increased pro-life sentiment nationwide. Two days ago, a new Marist poll indicated that 65 percent of Americans are likely to vote for a candidate who supports significant restrictions on abortion. Notably, 47 percent of respondents who identify as "pro-choice" support restrictions on abortion (compared to 98 percent who identify as "pro-life"). The Marist poll also revealed that 76 percent of Americans (including 61 percent of Democrats) oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion overseas.

Don't be fooled by liberal dark money influence
published in American Thinker
January 14, 2020 - Ken Blackwell

Hypocrisy in politics is typical, but every so often, it reaches a new low. Such is the case with a recent political ad attacking dark money's influence in politics - an ad funded by dark money. The group Future Majority did exactly that as part of their 2018 efforts to elect Democrats to Congress. Now groups like Future Majority are focused on denying President Trump re-election in 2020.

Dean Baquet, mainstream media deserve Trump's ire!
published in The Christian Post
December 3, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

The self-pity of liberal journalists is proof that President Trump is winning his fight against Fake News by exposing the rampant media bias against his administration.

The secret ingredient to a healthy, happy Thanksgiving
published in Washington Times
November 26, 2019 - Tony Perkins

The secret ingredient to a truly healthy and happy Thanksgiving isn't found on the menu. Modern research has confirmed what the Pilgrims knew and practiced: Deliberate thankfulness in even the most difficult and challenging circumstances leads to greater happiness, better health, enhanced relationships and better resilience. It's a discipline that looks past hardship toward hope and a future.

Liberty in the Things of God (Book Review)
November 19, 2019 - David Closson

A widely-held paradigm in Western intellectual history is that religious freedom originated with enlightened intellectuals during the seventeenth century. By this telling, philosophers fatigued by Europe's never-ending wars of religion introduced new concepts about toleration and religious freedom which helped usher in the modern age. It was only as institutional religion weakened and religious beliefs diversified that the state saw liberty of conscience as a right worth protecting. Christian theology is usually seen as an unhelpful impediment to the emergence of today's liberal consensus on religious freedom, if it is considered at all.

Why Christians must care about the international persecuted church
published in The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
November 18, 2019 - David Closson and Arielle Del Turco

Around the world, Christians increasingly face harassment, arbitrary imprisonment, and even death because of their faith. An independent review in the U.K. found this summer that Christians were on the receiving end of 80% of religiously motivated discrimination around the world. Open Doors USA estimates that 245 million Christians currently face persecution for their faith. Despite the severity of this problem, the American church has not always given this issue the attention it deserves.

Free Speech Triumphs at the University of Michigan
published in Townhall.com
November 7, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

In a victory for free speech on college campuses, Speech First, a nonprofit focused on defending the exercise of First Amendment rights, has agreed to a settlement with the University of Michigan that protects students' free-speech rights and resolves the issues prompting the lawsuit.

Say a prayer for the most persecuted
published in The Christian Post
November 3, 2019 - Arielle Del Turco and Travis Weber

"North Korea is the one country where people, the moment they are born, have no freedom." Ji Hyeon-a was born there; she should know. Ji suffered for being a Christian because the North Korean regime is determined to eradicate the Christian faith. North Korea is the single most dangerous place in the world to be Christian, according to Open Doors' World Watch List. Christians should pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters in North Korea every day, but especially on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, November 3.

Tony Perkins: Pray and act for persecuted Christians worldwide - here's why
published in Fox News
November 3, 2019 - Tony Perkins

In light of the imprisonment, torture and death of Kayla Mueller, who was a victim of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the ISIS terrorist who ended his life when faced with capture in a U.S. mission named for Kayla, the timing of an almost sacred, annual remembrance is almost painful.

BLACKWELL, BOYKIN: Real Consequences If Russia And China Supplant US In Venezuela
published in The Daily Caller
November 3, 2019 - Ken Blackwell and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

Imagine the world's largest supply of recoverable oil falling into the hands of Russia and China. And with that, a fleet of warships docked on the coast of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, positioned to threaten the American national security. If America eventually surrenders its influence in Venezuela, this scenario could become reality.

HHS Rule Protects Faith-Based Adoption Agencies to Celebrate National Adoption Month
published in Townhall.com
November 2, 2019 - Mary Beth Waddell

The Trump administration's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) kicked off the first day of November's National Adoption Month by proposing a rule change that will provide much needed relief to the over 440,000 children in foster care. By eliminating burdensome and restrictive requirements placed on faith-based providers in the final days of the Obama Administration, President Trump is ensuring that faith-based adoption and foster care agencies will be able to once again focus on helping children in need, not using their resources to fight government attempts to shut them down. With this change, children will have the maximum number of diverse placement agencies working on their behalf. This is good policy that will serve the well-being of children and families around our country.

School Board Sex Politics With Students in Fairfax County
published in The Stream
October 30, 2019 - Cathy Ruse

I live in Fairfax County, which is the 10th largest public-school district in the nation. But I never focused on our public schools. My kids go to Catholic schools, and that was the center of our universe. I never focused, that is, until I heard that the Fairfax County School Board voted to let boys into the girls' bathrooms.

The Democrats' Misguided War on Faith
October 28, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

Though the evidence is mounting that the strategy is ineffective and unpopular, the Democratic Party seems generally committed to making it clear that people of faith are not welcome in their vision of America.

Will Christians become outcasts at public universities?
published in The Christian Post
October 4, 2019 - Penny Nance and Cathy Ruse

We are Christian women, mothers of college students and college-bound children, who have serious concerns about how the "gender fluidity" movement has taken root at public schools and universities.

Religious liberty is in the Bible
published in The Christian Post
October 3, 2019 - David Closson

At his third visit to the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump impressed upon world leaders the importance of religious freedom, a topic rarely discussed at the U. N. Specifically, the president noted that "80 percent of the world's population lives in countries where religious liberty is in significant danger or even completely outlawed." (He focused extensively on China and Iran). He promised "Americans will never tire in our effort to defend and promote freedom of worship and religion."

Religious Tax Exemption Good for Society, Church and State
published in Inside Sources
September 30, 2019 - David Closson

Only two days after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, New York Times columnist Mark Oppenheimer called for the removal of tax-exempt status for churches that refuse to endorse court-created same-sex marriage.

The Human Dignity of Klopfer's Victims
published in Townhall.com
September 27, 2019 - David Closson and Lauren Kaylor

The abortion industry's utter disdain for human dignity is on grotesque display in the bizarre legacy of Ulrich Klopfer. A week after the longtime, disgraced abortionist died, his family discovered 2,246 medically preserved fetuses on his property in Illinois. Klopfer, an infamous abortionist in Indiana, performed tens of thousands of abortions over the course of 40 years before his medical license was suspended in 2016.

Four Ways President Trump Can Make Religious Freedom Great Again at the UN
published in Townhall.com
September 17, 2019 - Arielle Del Turco and Travis Weber

This September, President Trump will once again address world leaders at the annual United Nations General Assembly. The president has previously used the opportunity to call out foreign heads of state for human rights abuses, although not explicitly on religious freedom.

Pinch Yourself: New York City Walks Back LGBT Counseling Gag Rule
published in The Stream
September 14, 2019 - Cathy Ruse

The LGBT movement has asked for the repeal of its favorite new law in New York City. In a public statement on Thursday, the Speaker of the City Council agreed. Why? Because free speech matters. And elections have consequences.

Former LGBT marchers shows need for religious freedom in counseling
published in The Christian Post
September 14, 2019 - Matt Carpenter and David Closson

Today, former homosexuals and transgender individuals will gather for a Freedom March in Orlando, Florida to tell their stories of finding freedom in Christ. To a nation engulfed in the sexual revolution, their stories are both inspirational and counter-cultural.

America can't outsource teaching values and keep producing patriots
published in Washington Times
September 12, 2019 - Tony Perkins

With the approach of Patriot Day on the 9/11 anniversary, we are reminded of the dangerous and volatile world in which we live. We are also thinking of the incredible sacrifice and service of the men and women in our military and in the ranks of first responders who have answered the call to defend America against terrorists.

Abortion proponents' attack on faith community: Why the religious bigotry?
published in The Christian Post
September 6, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

Buried deep in a recent Buzzfeed News story targeting the well-respected Catholic fraternity Knights of Columbus for allegedly padding its insurable-membership roster is the real issue eating away at the left-leaning "news" organization: that the charity in recent years has given millions of dollars away in support of pro-life causes.

Unplanned movie also reveals the violence of the abortion pill
published in The Washington Examiner
September 4, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

The PureFlix film Unplanned just became Amazon's bestselling DVD, even while it is playing in theaters in Canada and Australia. Despite rejection by the Hollywood establishment, censored advertising, and an R rating, this faith-based movie has grossed almost $19 million since its March release.

Abortion Industry Profits Trample Women's Interests in Sacramento
published in Townhall.com
August 30, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

By now, you'd think the abortion industry would be out of ideas that endanger women. And yet, they are pushing Senate Bill 24 in the California legislature, which would require student health centers (SHCs) in California's 34 public universities to dispense abortion pills for free. This bill is so radical that then Democratic Governor Jerry Brown vetoed it last year.

Tony Perkins: Solution to gun violence isn't what you think, says former police officer
published in Fox News
August 25, 2019 - Tony Perkins

Increasingly, few if any genuinely safe places exist as a refuge from armed, angry, addicted young men pumped up on violent video games and suffering from the absence of a moral core. Schools, churches, shopping centers, businesses, and almost every place people gather have become targets for deranged individuals who are set on perpetrating evil and in possession of lethal weapons. At what point will we have the courage to acknowledge that our nation has a problem?

Big business virtue signaling is bombing with consumers
published in The Washington Examiner
August 2, 2019 - Joshua Arnold

Business credibility is in the tank. Results of a recent Pew Research survey depict a society-wide erosion of trust - especially for business leaders and elected officials. Only 46% of adults categorized as "medium trusters" (respondents were divided into low, medium, and high "trusters") had "a great deal" or "fair amount of confidence" that business leaders would "act in the best interests of the public." For a group that wants to sell to everyone, these poll numbers are a disaster.

Opinion: President Trump has delivered for African Americans
published in Cincinnati Enquirer
August 1, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

As President Trump returns to Cincinnati today, he brings with him an impressive record of accomplishment. Not only has the president delivered results for Americans across the board, he has done so specifically for the African American community.

Tony Perkins: Does the Bible's warning about debt apply to the government?
published in Fox News
July 29, 2019 - Tony Perkins

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Those were the words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount, as he taught a lesson about how to value the things of heaven and the things of this world. How does that admonition apply if you're talking about a treasure that is borrowed? And does this only apply to people or should governments pay attention?

Polyamory is for Pre-Teens in Public Schools. Oh, Really?
published in The Stream
July 15, 2019 - Cathy Ruse

The world recently learned that the American Psychological Association promotes "polyamory," "swinging," and "relationship anarchy." Their experts say it's healthy and ethical. They're crazy.

Congress Aims to Address China's Atrocities against Religious Minorities
published in National Review
July 12, 2019 - Arielle Del Turco

China is harvesting human organs from political prisoners, according to the independent China Tribunal, which has determined "beyond reasonable doubt" that crimes against humanity have been committed against Uyghurs and Falun Gong, two of the country's religious minorities. The world has known of China's religious-freedom abuses for decades but done little.

The US is speaking out on religious persecution, and the world is taking notice
published in The Washington Examiner
July 12, 2019 - Arielle Del Turco

Government representatives, advocates, and religious leaders of all faiths from around the globe descended on Washington, D.C., to attend this week's State Department's second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. Last year, the event encouraged international leaders to reaffirm their commitment to promote the fundamental human right of religious liberty.

Adulterers: The New Protected Sexual Minority
published in The Stream
July 10, 2019 - Cathy Ruse

Just when you thought the American Psychological Association couldn't get any more psychologically unbalanced, along comes their next task force. It's for what they call "consensual non-monogamy."

Symposium: American Legion lays the groundwork for the downfall of Lemon
published in SCOTUSblog
June 21, 2019 - Travis Weber

The Supreme Court's decision in American Legion v. American Humanist Association no doubt broadly pleased conservative constitutionalists who thought the Peace Cross should remain standing under the First Amendment. It likely irked those, such as the challengers to the constitutionality of this memorial, who believe the establishment clause should eliminate much religious expression and symbolism (often Christian) from the public square. The real significance of the decision and many opinions in the case, however, is that they put Lemon v. Kurtzman on the ropes and lay the groundwork for its test to be felled in the future - perhaps sooner than we think.

Why Christians must support religious freedom for everyone
published in Religion News Service
June 19, 2019 - Tony Perkins

The fundamental human right of religious freedom is under attack around the globe today like never before. While this disturbing trend should concern everyone, it should be particularly alarming for Christians, because a Christian worldview requires us to care about religious freedom - including the religious freedom of others.

Why Do Democrats Have a Secret List of Supreme Court Nominees?
published in American Thinker
June 18, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

If hypocrisy equals people, Democrats in Washington are China. The latest example of such bold duplicity by the Democratic Party is the secret "A-list" of potential Supreme Court (SCOTUS) judges Democrats refuse to reveal while they turn blue on Capitol Hill screaming for more transparency from the Trump administration.

Trans Activists: We're Normal, But You Must Pay To Fix Us
published in The Federalist
June 14, 2019 - Peter Sprigg

One of the first major successes of the "gay liberation" movement in the United States was the American Psychiatric Association's (APA's) 1973 decision to remove homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the "DSM"). Early activists in the movement knew they would never persuade the public that they were normal as long as doctors said they were sick. The fact that the decision was more political than scientific complicates the history, but the goal was clear.

Will California Turn Dorm Rooms into Abortion Rooms?
June 11, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

While other states get national headlines for abortion limits, a radical proposal to expand abortion in California is quietly advancing. California's proposed mandate to transform educational institutions into abortion facilities has passed out of the Senate (SB 24) and now heads to the Assembly. This abortion mandate would force all 34 of California's public universities to dispense the abortion pill from student health centers (SHCs). Serious concerns go unaddressed in the measure, indicating it may have been rushed through to appease special interest groups.

In a Post-Abortion America, the Pro-Life Movement Must Prepare to Change Attitudes toward Adoption
published in National Review Online
June 7, 2019 - Dan Hart

With the end of Roe now in sight, we must prepare more urgently for a future America where adoption is seen as both the lawful option and the loving one. This is a thrilling and encouraging moment for the pro-life movement in the U.S., as American society shifts further away from abortion in both its attitudes and policies. Last month, Alabama governor Kay Ivey signed into law the strongest pro-life measure in America, and Louisiana and Missouri recently enacted their strongest-ever pro-life laws, bringing to seven the total number of states that have this year banned abortion after six weeks' gestation.

Is sexual orientation determined at birth? No.
published in Newsday-NY
May 25, 2019 - Peter Sprigg

The theory that people are "born gay" has been used to argue that sexual orientation is similar to race - that "gay is the new black." Based largely on this premise, the proposed "Equality Act," which is currently under consideration in Congress, would treat sexual orientation exactly like race under federal civil rights laws. But is it true that sexual orientation is determined at (or before) birth?

The inequality of the Equality Act
published in Washington Times
May 15, 2019 - Mary Beth Waddell

The In-Equality Act, unfortunately, isn't about equality at all. Rather, it's about government-imposed ideology and unfairness. When discussing her agenda for this Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "if there is some collateral damage for some others who do not share our view so be it."

Democratic state legislators surprise on life
published in The Christian Post
May 13, 2019 - Matt Carpenter

Democrats and their abortion industry allies have shown in 2019 how absolutely they have devoted themselves to their abortion agenda. They have pushed into overdrive their efforts to expand the right to an abortion in law. They even oppose requiring health care professionals to provide infants born alive after surviving a botched abortion with the same care as any other infant at the same stage of development.

What Happens to a Child Born-alive? The Media Won't Tell Us.
published in Townhall.com
May 10, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

President Trump is taking heat for comments he made at a Wisconsin rally where he described what happens to a child after she is born alive following a failed abortion, saying, "The baby is born. The mother meets with the doctor, they take care of the baby, they wrap the baby beautifully, and then the doctor and the mother determine whether or not they will execute the baby. I don't think so. It's incredible."

The left's hate campaigns against Trump nominees
published in The Christian Post
May 2, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

These are tough times if you are a big-government, economic liberal. Since President Trump has taken office, unemployment rates have remained below 4%, hiring among African Americans are at their highest levels in decades, our energy and manufacturing sectors are booming, and employers are scrambling to fill millions of job vacancies by offering competitive salaries.

There's no evidence at all that the Equality Act will help the economy
published in The Washington Examiner
April 30, 2019 - Peter Sprigg

A free-market economy-the freedom of willing employers and willing employees, willing vendors and willing customers, to contract with each other-has made our country prosperous. There is a role for government in the economy, but government intervention to dictate how American businesses operate should require the most compelling justification.

The Sexual Revolution and sex abuse scandals: A Protestant take on Pope Benedict's letter
published in The Christian Post
April 29, 2019 - David Closson

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI recently surprised church observers by weighing in on the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal. In an almost 6,000-word article published in Germany, Benedict argued that clerical sexual abuse could be traced to the moral transformation that transpired during the sexual revolution of the 1960s. The rejection of biblical morality and absolute truth, Benedict said, has led to the "dissolution of the Christian concept of morality."

California Bill Would Turn College Health Centers Into Abortion Clinics
published in The Daily Signal
April 26, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

The California state Senate Education Committee recently approved Senate Bill 24, known as the "College Student Right to Access Act." The bill would add a new chapter to state education code to require student health care clinics at all 34 California public colleges and universities to "offer abortion by medication techniques"-aka "the abortion pill"-starting on Jan. 1, 2023.

Carson fights discrimination on Facebook, Democrats flack for Big Tech
published in The Christian Post
April 23, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under the direction of Dr. Ben Carson, is taking aggressive legal action against social media platforms for enabling online housing discrimination. Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing flawed legislation that would only increase the power and influence of their Big Tech allies.

Acknowledging political reality in the Middle East
published in Washington Times
April 15, 2019 - Tony Perkins

President Trump's recent announcement that the United States would "fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights" is an acknowledgement of political reality that will strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship, provide greater security and stability in the region and further cement support among the president's evangelical base. Recognizing Israel's sovereignty over this land is yet another bold policy step that sets the Trump administration apart.

Tony Perkins: Pompeo's faith is not a liability - it's an asset
published in Fox News
April 5, 2019 - Tony Perkins

In the latest example of the Left's growing hostility toward Christianity and public displays of faith, the New York Times published a "news analysis" piece over the weekend questioning the extent to which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's Christian faith is influencing American diplomacy, particularly the Trump administration's dealings with Israel.

LGBT 'equality' laws lose their foundation: Evidence shows sexual orientation can change
published in The Christian Post
April 5, 2019 - Peter Sprigg

In 2008, the Advocate, the leading LGBT news magazine in the U.S., ran a cover that starkly declared, in all capital letters, "GAY IS THE NEW BLACK." It was a dramatic illustration of an assertion (explicit or implicit) that has been at the heart of the LGBT rights movement-the idea that "sexual orientation" is "immutable," or incapable of change.

U.S. foreign policy promotes real global health
published in Washington Times
April 3, 2019 - Tony Perkins

The United States is once again taking the lead on true "family planning," and that doesn't include aborting unwanted children - especially with taxpayer money. From the start, the Trump administration has worked to build a wall between taxpayers and abortion-on-demand.

Shall we finally end birth day abortions?
published in The Hill
March 28, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

The discharge petition for the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act will be filed by Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) during that day's first vote series. Members of the House will be confronted with this question: Do we let babies who survive abortions lie there and die, or do we provide life-saving care to them?

Opinion: 'Gender X' wages war on reality
March 25, 2019 - Peter Sprigg

Does New York City allow residents to have "gender-neutral" birth certificates? The idea seems so absurd that the question was posed to Snopes - the website best known for debunking various urban legends. In this case, however, the claim - that "New Yorkers can select a gender-neutral option on their birth certificates" - received a rating of "True."

Can a New Establishment Clause Jurisprudence Succeed in Protecting Religious Minorities Where Lemon Has Failed?
March 21, 2019 - Alexandra McPhee

Samantha Elauf was the face of the 2015 United States Supreme Court decision EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch,[1] which vindicated her right under Title VII to be free from religious discrimination in hiring because of her faith-based decision to wear a headscarf. In 1990, the Supreme Court decided that the Free Exercise Clause does not require exemptions from generally applicable laws in Employment Division v. Smith;[2] this decision, which denied Alfred Smith the right to use a controlled substance in a religious ceremony, resulted in the bipartisan passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect religious actions like Smith's at the national level. More than a century earlier, in 1860, Rabbi Morris Raphall was the first rabbi to deliver a prayer opening Congress' legislative session. "[P]iously bedecked in a white tallit and a large velvet skullcap," he invoked the blessing of "Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob," thanked God for "establish[ing] a Commonwealth after a model of . . . the tribes of Israel, in their best and purest days," and gave a traditional blessing in Hebrew.[3] What do a Muslim millennial teenage girl, a middle-aged Klamath Native American man, and a nineteenth century rabbi have in common? They each exemplify the accommodation and acceptance of religious minorities in America under the law and in our nation's history.

OPINION: LET'S CELEBRATE THE 'LOVE CHROMOSOME' ON WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
published in The Daily Caller
March 21, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

For the last eight years, world calendars have set aside March 21 to acknowledge that those with disabilities matter and are valuable members of society. World Down Syndrome Day reminds us that disabled does not mean disposable. Disabled may just mean a less comfortable life. Discomfort does not prevent a person from living a full and rewarding life. Plus, this life is not all there is.

Biden, Pence and the Left's 'Decency' Standard
published in Real Clear Politics
March 13, 2019 - David Closson

A controversy surrounding the surreal question of whether Vice President Mike Pence is "a decent guy" signals the next round of liberal culture shaming that has the potential to galvanize those who make up President Trump's often castigated supporters. Consider that if the "deplorables" from 2016 become the "indecents" in 2020, not only will Democratic political ambitions suffer, the nation's decorum and ability to have rational debate will devolve to a new low.

BLACKWELL: IT'S MORNING AGAIN FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN AMERICA
published in The Daily Caller
March 7, 2019 - Ken Blackwell

The past two weeks have seen good news for Americans who care about their religious liberty, as strong statements came from the Supreme Court and the state of Colorado in defense of the First Amendment's guarantees of religious expression.

Consumers Beware: PayPal has weaponized financial system with its ties to SPLC
published in Fox News
March 6, 2019 - Tony Perkins

Free markets, whether they be economic markets or the marketplace of ideas, represent American ideals. The free exchange of ideas communicates that for the most part, all are welcome to share their unique points of view - until recently. Certain American freedoms seem to be approaching "endangered species" status as big, powerful interests increasingly choose to manipulate their platforms to control speech.

Should the Peace Cross even be before the Supreme Court?
published in The Washington Examiner
March 5, 2019 - Alexandra McPhee

If your loved one died in service to their country, how would you honor their memory? In Bladensburg, Md., a committee that included Gold Star mothers and veterans wanted to remember their fallen of World War I with a monument in the shape of a cross.

Are walls 'an immorality?' Not according to the Bible
published in The Christian Post
March 4, 2019 - Chris Gacek

We Americans now disagree over the construction of a border wall to be placed between the United States and Mexico. In the first week of her Speakership, Nancy Pelosi declared that such a wall would be "an immorality." She does not appear to be alone in that assessment. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) compared such a wall to the Berlin Wall while calling it a "moral abomination."

Northam's Real Offense to African-Americans
published in Townhall.com
February 19, 2019 - Patrina Mosley

Raise your hand if you're a white Democrat who has NOT worn blackface. I'm sure that's a question that went through a lot of people's minds after both the Virginia Governor and the state attorney general admitted to wearing racist costumes in the past.

A Christian War Memorial in No Way Violates the Establishment Clause
published in National Review
February 15, 2019 - Alexandra McPhee

Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument from advocates for and against the preservation of a World War I-era veterans memorial, the Peace Cross, in Bladensburg, Md. The crux of the case, American Legion v. American Humanist Association, is the question whether a two-county commission offends the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution by maintaining the cross-shaped memorial.

What a Title IX Proposal Means for Religious Liberty
February 12, 2019 - Alexandra McPhee

Faith-based educational institutions might see a welcome change in federal regulations on the horizon. This week, the U.S. Department of Education concluded its public comment period for a proposed rule that would make several changes to federal regulations regarding the law known as Title IX, which prohibits sex-based exclusion from, denial of benefits by, or discrimination by any education program or activity receiving public assistance. As Family Research Council argues in its formal comment supporting the proposed rule, at least one recommended change means good things for faith-based universities' religious freedom rights.

When Free Exercise Comes at a Price
January 24, 2019 - Alexandra McPhee

This day and week mark the 233rd anniversary of Virginia's act for religious freedom, in which members of the 1786 General Assembly declared that "our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions any more than our opinions in physics or geometry." Can we still say the same today?

Targeting of Karen Pence is wake-up call to all Christians
published in The Christian Post
January 21, 2019 - Travis Weber

Vice President Pence's wife Karen has come under withering attack in recent days from many in the media. From this "reporting," one might think she has transgressed some obvious social boundary of a civilized society. In reality, the big "scoop" is that this Christian wife and mother, whose Christian beliefs are important to her, is teaching at a Christian school, which being Christian, holds to Christian beliefs about marriage.

On Religious Freedom Day, consider life in countries without it
published in The Washington Examiner
January 16, 2019 - Travis Weber

Our annual Jan. 16 celebration of Religious Freedom Day, commemorating the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom 233 years ago, reminds us of the roots of cultural acceptance necessary for religious freedom to truly flourish in any society. While modeled in the formation of the U.S., religious freedom is not exclusively an American idea, but a human right for all people. Halfway around the world, the saga of Asia Bibi's blasphemy case in Pakistan is not yet over, but it is already highlighting the cultural deficit of religious freedom in that country for the world to see. More unexpectedly, this case is exposing the religious freedom rot in other nations through their inability to respond effectively to the crisis.

Religious Freedom Day
published in National Review
January 16, 2019 - David Closson

Since 1993, the president has formally recognized January 16th as Religious Freedom Day. The day marks the anniversary of the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which cut formal ties between the Church of England and the state of Virginia.

Protecting America's national home
published in Washington Times
January 10, 2019 - Tony Perkins

Immigration has been ingrained in the American consciousness from our earliest days, as many people left foreign lands to make a new life here. While President Trump did not invent the concept of making America great, his call for protecting that greatness stands in sharp contrast to those who see nothing special in our nation at all. But when you consider that so many have come together to make this place their home, a wall with a door that opens to those we want in not only makes sense, its purpose is clear.

Family Research Council: Congress Must Repeal Its Tax on Churches and Charities
January 8, 2019 - Travis Weber and David Closson

Last year, the GOP in Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law the Tax and Jobs Act, one of their signature legislative accomplishments. The Jobs Act generally reduced the tax rates for businesses and individuals, and included a number of pro-family provisions. As a result, Americans paid less in taxes this year, workers received raises and bonuses, and the economy has roared.

All I want for Christmas is a Supreme Court victory for public Christmas displays, crosses
published in USA Today
December 25, 2018 - Alexandra McPhee

This time of year, public officials utter a collective groan as the steady stream of complaints about Christmas-themed events and displays spread their usual holiday mischief. In recent years, cities have been slapped with legal letters for displays of the nativity, like in Dover, Ravenna and Streetsboro, Ohio, and in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. A recent letter claimed that it was because the nativity would "confer endorsement and preference for one religion over others," and thus violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Will We Abandon Syria's Christians?
published in The Stream
December 21, 2018 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin and Travis Weber

President Trump's recent announcement that he will withdraw U.S. military forces from Northern Syria aims to fulfill a campaign promise that he will defeat ISIS and bring home our troops. Yet it stands to put Syria's Christian community - who have been a target of ISIS - in mortal danger.

Obamacare 2019: Fewer options and more funding of abortion
published in The Washington Examiner
December 13, 2018 - Patrina Mosley and Chuck Donovan

As Americans plan their holiday purchases, many are also considering their healthcare options on the Obamacare exchange. The 2019 enrollment period started on November 1 and runs through December 15 in most states. For the fifth year in a row, Family Research Council and the Charlotte Lozier Institute have joined forces to bring transparency to Obamacare by providing consumers with information about which plans on the 2019 exchanges cover elective abortion.

Avoiding anti-religious decision-making
published in Washington Times
December 9, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

As we approach the New Year and an incoming Congress, it bears noting that in the past five years there have been several major legal victories supporting armed services personnel prosecuted for acting consistently with their religious beliefs about marriage. Going forward, military commanders must study these cases involving uniformed believers fighting to live out their faith.

New York and Planned Parenthood, a eugenic match made in Heaven
published in The Christian Post
December 6, 2018 - Patrina Mosley

The eyes of the nation widened with shock when New York announced that its new abortion law - the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) - would allow a baby to be aborted up until the day of birth. This "progress" as New York sees it doesn't even recognize a human being as a person until he or she is out of the womb!

Season for Giving to Religious Groups
published in Inside Sources
December 6, 2018 - David Closson

It's Christmas time. And according to the National Retail Federation, Americans are on pace to spend a record amount of money on holiday gifts this year, $465 billion or an average or $700 a person. But as Americans spend billions of dollars on toys and goodies for one another, they are also expected to donate a record amount to charity this year, surpassing the previous record of $410.02 billion given to charitable organizations in 2017.

For Christians, Voting Is Not an Option. It Is a Divine Calling.
published in The Christian Post
November 28, 2018 - Patrina Mosley and David Closson

The midterm elections has Christians in churches throughout America once again considering what their faith teaches about cultural and political engagement, and how their beliefs should influence how they vote.

National Adoption Month Launches with Assault on Faith-based Adoption
published in Townhall.com
November 27, 2018 - Mary Beth Waddell

While millions of American were voting, Philadelphia foster parents were in court fighting the government's attempt to shut down Catholic Charities adoption and foster care services because it is faith-based. Nearly half of all Catholic Charities adoptions nationally are for special needs children, so their permanent closure would be especially devastating. It was a somber launch to National Adoption Month for children seeking families.

Is the Republican Senate Ready to Advance Pro-Life Policy?
published in The Christian Post
November 27, 2018 - Patrina Mosley

While midterm voters provided America with a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, an expanded Republican victory in the Senate is a mandate for the solid pro-life policies we have been seeing from President Trump and congressional leadership over the past two years.

Post-Midterm optimism for religious freedom
published in American Thinker
November 27, 2018 - Alexandra McPhee

Religious freedom and pro-life advocates will doubtless spend the next two years checking the radical left's agenda as it unfolds in the Democrat-controlled House. But we can still be encouraged by keeping the Senate. In doing so, we keep the momentum behind the confirmation of constitutionally conservative judges who will restore our religious freedom rights.

Trump's Foreign Policy Reset
published in Washington Times
November 26, 2018 - Tony Perkins

The release of Pastor Andrew Brunson and his return home to the United States was an answer to the prayers of millions and the result of an administration that has reset our foreign policy by fearlessly engaging on issues that other administrations only talked about addressing.

Pastor Brunson's Release: A View From the Courtroom
published in The Christian Post
November 26, 2018 - Travis Weber

Perhaps no international religious freedom case has gotten more attention in the United States in recent years than that of imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who Turkey detained for over two years on politically motivated charges of espionage and terrorism. Labeled as a hated American spy, Pastor Brunson's case attracted even more attention within that country, most of it not welcome. I was visibly reminded of this as I drove past the armed troops stationed along the road leading to the detention center near Aliaga, Turkey, upon which I descended with others to monitor the latest hearing in the case against him as part of my work on religious freedom.

Why Evangelicals Will Vote (It's Not What You Think)
November 26, 2018 - Tony Perkins

When the stunned political class woke up to a world in which Donald Trump was president, plans began almost immediately over what they would do when they held power again. Even civility and basic human decency could wait until left-leaning leaders gained control of the country, opined Hillary Clinton. This culture clash was on full display during the confirmation process of now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh, but those saying that the Supreme Court controversy is the lever motivating the electorate in the midterms are missing the bigger picture.

Evangelicals Power Republicans to Senate Victories
published in The Stream
November 14, 2018 - David Closson

Results in a handful of House races are still being counted. The Democrats returned to power in the House. And the GOP expanded its power in the Senate. The GOP holds in the Ohio, Florida, and Iowa governor races also loom large for 2020.

Voters Say 'Full Steam Ahead' on Judges
published in The Daily Caller
November 9, 2018 - Travis Weber and Alexandra McPhee

The midterm results are in, and while much media attention is focused on the House switching to Democratic control, Republicans have not only held but gained ground in the Senate.

The Kavanaugh Circus Shows The Supreme Court's Political Power Is Out of Control
published in The Federalist
October 3, 2018 - Travis Weber

If there is anything our country has learned from the hype, drama, and antics surrounding Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing, it is that the Supreme Court is far too important in our nation's political system. The high price we pay for politicizing the confirmation process includes not only destroyed trust in our system of government or the decorum of the Senate, but also the totally unnecessary emotional toll on families like those of Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford.

Is this cross too Christian? Only the Supreme Court can save these war monuments
published in The Washington Examiner
October 1, 2018 - Alexandra McPhee

Very soon, the Supreme Court could announce its decision to hear an appeal over whether the 40-foot "Peace Cross" - as it is known by locals in Bladensburg, Md. - is too tall and too Christian for a government to own and maintain in accordance with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Trump: Expected to Advance Religious Liberty at the UN
published in American Thinker
September 20, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

Every year, without fail, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for religious freedom. Persecution of religious minorities is rampant and deeply ingrained in government institutions, and Christians are high on the list of those at risk, especially Christians who have converted from Islam.

Kavanaugh Soars Over Keystone Kop Democrats
published in Townhall.com
September 7, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

It was worthy of a Saturday Night Live skit, but Lorne Michaels probably would've turned it down. SNL has leaned heavily left since Donald Trump's election, and the show's creator and executive producer would've understood the humor in how clueless Senate Democrats came across during Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing - but he probably wouldn't bring himself to showcase how awful they really looked.

What to Expect From the Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing
published in The Stream
September 3, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

Spoiler alert: it's easy to predict much of what will happen this week during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. That's because Democrats showed their hands almost immediately after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the Court, when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took to the Senate floor to motivate his left-wing base.

Equal Accountability Needed for All Firms Listed on U.S. Exchanges
published in Townhall.com
July 27, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

In 2001, Enron, then one of the most admired companies in the United States, collapsed in scandal and bankruptcy. Questions began emerging a year earlier regarding the energy giant's accounting practices after investors, analysts, and reporters became concerned by Enron's massive amount of debt. In the years following, details came to light about the lengths to which Enron's leadership went to cover up losses and maintain an artificially high stock price. When the dust had finally settled, 20 people were convicted of crimes for their actions, Enron's stock was worthless, and thousands lost their pensions. Arthur Andersen, previously a "Big Five" accounting firm, surrendered its CPA license and 85,000 of its employees no longer had jobs.

Why It's Impossible To Support Both #MeToo And Planned Parenthood Without Being A Big Hypocrite
published in The Federalist
July 19, 2018 - Patrina Mosley

A wave of celebrities is leading the charge to expose sexual abuse in the entertainment industry and support those who bravely come forward with their stories - and rightly so. The industry is apparently riddled with it, and no one should suffer abuse. Yet some of the the same celebrities claiming to advance the #MeToo movement also use their platforms to support Planned Parenthood, which has been shown to be a useful tool for sex traffickers and rapists.

Forcing faith-based agencies out of the system is a disservice to women
published in The Hill
July 15, 2018 - Mary Beth Waddell

The House Appropriations Committee marked-up the fiscal 19 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Rep. Robert Aderholt's (R-Ala.) amendment to protect faith-based child welfare providers from government discrimination passed 29-23.

Why This Supreme Court Nominee Matters
published in The Stream
July 14, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

Candidate Donald Trump had many Republican critics. Some voted for him only out of concern for judges. With the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, he repaid their confidence in full.

On Trump's pick of Kavanaugh, conservatives should trust but verify
published in The Washington Examiner
July 11, 2018 - Tony Perkins

President Trump kept another promise when he nominated Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to fill the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Trump's supporters will appreciate that Kavanaugh's name was on a list of candidates from which he pledged to draw his nominees.

Keep kids with parents at border - and remember how we got here
published in Religion News Service
June 28, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Last week during the height of the media's fixation on the United States' southwestern border, some accused the evangelical leaders who advise President Trump, of whom I'm one, of staying silent about children being separated from their parents. While this is not a new problem, the media's attention has brought it to the forefront of public discussion, and I have been a part of that discussion.

Dallas Mayor Fights Church Over Billboard Stating 'America Is a Christian Nation'
published in The Daily Signal
June 21, 2018 - Tony Perkins

In Texas, you can advertise adult shops-it's church promotion they find offensive. That's the unbelievable predicament First Baptist Dallas finds itself in after it tried to buy a billboard for upcoming sermon topics. What's offensive about a message on the Christian heritage of America? Plenty, according to the Dallas mayor.

Christians can influence the world without being influenced
published in Fox News
June 17, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Recently there was an effort to rescind the invitation for Vice President Mike Pence to speak at this year's gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) held in Dallas. About two-thirds of those present and voting overwhelmingly defeated the effort, according to reports from the parliamentarian. The vice president came and gave a well-received message that underscored the unique and essential role of pastors in America.

Fairfax County Votes to Tell Boys They Might be Girls
published in The Stream
June 15, 2018 - Cathy Ruse

The final vote was a foregone conclusion. No one thought deeply ideological Fairfax County (VA) School Board would vote any other way than 10-1 for what is among the most radical sex-ed curriculum in the country.

Why Fred Fleitz is the right man for the deputy at National Security Council
published in Washington Times
June 13, 2018 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

Recently, President Trump and National Security Adviser John Bolton selected Fred Fleitz to be Mr. Bolton's deputy at the National Security Council. Fred is the right man for this critical job, especially given the ongoing negotiations with Kim Jong-un of North Korea. Fred is one of the most experienced analysts in the U.S. and a true patriot who understands and supports the president's agenda.

Why There's an Increased Interest in Homeschooling
published in The Daily Signal
June 1, 2018 - Tony Perkins

There's a lot to dislike about many public schools-and right now, student safety is at the top of the list. "After a gunman opened fire on students in Parkland, Florida," a new Washington Times feature explains, "the phones started ringing at the Texas Home School Coalition, and they haven't stopped yet."

Flocking to Tend to Our Nation's Spiritual Needs
published in Inside Sources
May 24, 2018 - Travis Weber

In July 1950, during the Battle of Taejon early in the Korean War, enemy forces cut off and trapped a number of wounded U.S. troops who could no longer move across the difficult terrain. One Army chaplain, Herman Felhoelter, provided physical and spiritual care even as North Korean soldiers approached. After ordering the medic assisting him to flee, the chaplain continued to minister to the wounded up until the moment he was shot along with his men.

The Crisis of Porn
published in The Daily Signal
May 22, 2018 - Tony Perkins

If you're ambivalent about the crisis of pornography in America, The New York Times can change that. Almost instantly. The paper jolted an entire nation into caring with its jarring February exposé, "What Teenagers Are Learning from Online Porn" (warning: extremely graphic). If their stories don't shock, repulse, sober, and motivate you, nothing will.

Planned Parenthood's tax dollar gravy train just got derailed
published in The Hill
May 22, 2018 - Cathy Ruse

Americans owe a debt of gratitude to President Trump and the good people in his administration. After nearly 50 years, the law marking a bright line between "family planning" and abortion will finally be respected.

Trump, Republicans Changing Lower Courts for the Better
published in The Daily Signal
May 17, 2018 - Tony Perkins

If all Donald Trump did with these four years was balance the courts, his presidency would still be a success. Lucky for us, he's got his sights set on a lot more than that-and a pile of accomplishments to prove it.

A Young Mom Is Far From Only Victim of Abortionist Robert Rho
published in The Daily Signal
May 14, 2018 - Tony Perkins

For Robert Rho, destroying tiny lives was all in a day's work. He performed so many abortions, more than 40,000, that one more death probably seemed insignificant-until 2016, when that death was one of his 30-year-old patients.

How Homeschoolers Defeated California's Push to Take Power From Parents
published in The Daily Signal
April 30, 2018 - Tony Perkins

They came by the hundreds, one newspaper said-"perhaps thousands." Some traveled hours, others waited hours, all for the opportunity to protest one of the most outrageous homeschooling bills ever introduced: California's AB 2756.

Parents Stand Up for Children in Sex Ed Sit Out
published in The Daily Signal
April 25, 2018 - Cathy Ruse

Parents across the country pulled their children out of public schools on Monday for the "Sex Ed Sit Out"-a grassroots awakening of frustrated parents who are sick of the sexualization of children in their taxpayer-funded schools.

Pompeo Is Ready to Lead
published in Real Clear Defense
April 20, 2018 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

Mike Pompeo has the leadership, experience, instincts, and training to be successful as the next Secretary of State. In fact, he is the most prepared and capable nominee for Secretary of State since Colin Powell. The State Department is desperate for a leader who has a vision for taking the Department in the right direction. After eight years of abysmal leadership from Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, the world has become a more dangerous place. North Korea and Iran now have nuclear weapons, Russia has crossed many red lines including their attempts to impact U.S. elections, and China increases every day as an economic and military threat to this nation. This is all due in no small measure to failed leadership at the Department of State. Furthermore, Secretary Tillerson failed to provide a clear vision and strong leadership during his tenure, but Mike Pompeo is poised and experienced, ready to lead and represent America on the world stage.

More Sex Ed and Even More Stalinism at the Local School Board
published in The Stream
April 20, 2018 - Cathy Ruse

The craziness continued at the recent meeting of the Fairfax County sex-ed advisory committee. That's the group responsible for creating over 80 hours of sex-ed for every public-school child.

1 Comment on Conservative Article Costs Iowan Government Appointment
published in The Daily Signal
April 20, 2018 - Tony Perkins

You don't have to be a Trump nominee to face the Christian inquisition. Just ask Iowa conservatives. The bad blood that's turned the hearings of Mike Pompeo, Russell Vought, and Amy Barrett into anti-faith slugfests seems to be spilling over into state politics, too. And at least one military wife is out of a job because of it.

American Pastor Back Behind Bars in Turkey
published in The Daily Signal
April 19, 2018 - Tony Perkins

They may not have had any evidence against American pastor Andrew Brunson, but that didn't stop Turkish officials from holding a 13-hour hearing. For the North Carolina father, who's spent the last 500 days in jail, it was another grueling chapter in the persecution of an innocent man.

Pompeo: A Proven Leader for the State Department
published in The Stream
April 19, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

When the news broke on Tuesday night that CIA Director Mike Pompeo had met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, I was not surprised. Pompeo had long ago established his importance to this administration and his understanding of geopolitics. Pompeo's skills are precisely why the president nominated him to be the next Secretary of State. It's absurd that Democrats are reluctant to confirm him.

Students Partake in National Walkout for the Unborn
published in The Daily Signal
April 11, 2018 - Patrina Mosley

America's most pro-life generation is at it again. Pro-life students across the country partook in a planned school walkout on Wednesday morning.

Dems in a panic as a major Planned Parenthood funding source is at risk
published in The Washington Examiner
April 6, 2018 - Kelly Marcum

Congressional Democrats are in a panic over Title X, the federal government's family planning program. That's because even though the recent omnibus spending bill once again allotted $286.479 million to fund the program, Republicans in Congress held the line on ensuring the Department of Health and Human Services has flexibility to change regulations governing how it is spent.

Citizenship Matters
published in The Stream
March 26, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

Ken Blackwell The left hates President Donald Trump for many reasons. One of the most important is because he really believes in America first. He doesn't just say it. He bases his policies on that principle.

As Science Advances, the Pro-Life Movement Grows
published in CNSNews.com
March 20, 2018 - Patrina Mosley

"For all the progress since 1973, I just know in my heart of hearts that this will be the generation that restores life in America." These inspiring words were spoken by our very own Vice President Mike Pence at a pro-life luncheon held on February 27th.

Supreme Court should spare pro-lifers from compelled pro-abortion speech
published in The Washington Examiner
March 20, 2018 - Cathy Ruse

Today, the Supreme Court hears its second case this term on compelled speech in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra. In December, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission addressed a similar free speech question.

Supreme Court should spare pro-lifers from compelled pro-abortion speech
published in The Washington Examiner
March 20, 2018 - Cathy Ruse and Patrina Mosley

Today, the Supreme Court hears its second case this term on compelled speech in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra. In December, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission addressed a similar free speech question.

If ESPN Continues to Pick Sides, So Will Fans
published in CNSNews.com
March 16, 2018 - Tony Perkins

While college teams vie for basketball's biggest prize, it looks like ESPN is trying to do some rebounding of its own. After more than two years of bleeding profits, the Disney-owned network wants to prove that it can do better. Pitching politics instead of baseball has been a costly decision for the company, which has been a financial drag on parent company Disney for the last several months. Left without viewers (or options), ESPN decided to downsize, laying off at least 100 staffers to try and make up some of the company's losses.

Dems refuse to recognize Trump's first-rate federal court picks
published in The Hill
March 15, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

While viral videos may capture attention, they do not paint an accurate picture of those whom the president has chosen for the federal bench. President Donald Trump's nominees to the federal judiciary are among the most qualified in recent memory.

Planned Parenthood Rakes in Taxpayer Dollars
published in The Daily Signal
March 12, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Breaking the law doesn't help your chances for earning federal dollars-but apparently, it doesn't hurt them either. If there's one thing Planned Parenthood's learned over the last few years, it's that crime does pay. A lot, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Country Music Spurns Mike Huckabee Over Marriage Views, Betraying Countless Fans
published in The Daily Signal
March 5, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Through all of the cultural ups and downs, country music has always been a place conservatives felt welcome. While so many other celebrities started picking up activist causes and shaming fans who held Christian beliefs, Americans could always count on Nashville to stay true to their values (or at least tolerate them).

Billy Graham's Legacy - Faith Looming Large in Public Life
published in Inside Sources
February 27, 2018 - Travis Weber

Much has already been said in tribute to Billy Graham, the renowned preacher and public evangelist who recently passed away at the age of 99. Much more is still likely to be said. In the midst of all this, we should not forget that among the many aspects of his legacy is the very fact that he chose to make his faith a public faith, proclaiming it clearly, boldly and visibly. This was a hallmark of his rallies and how he lived, and America was better off for it.

Billy Graham -- faithful to the end and still leading us behind him
published in The Hill
February 25, 2018 - Tony Perkins

There will be thousands of words used to describe Billy Graham, but there was only one that he cared about: faithful. Asked what he would want the first line of his obituary to say, the greying pastor saidsimply, "That I loved God with all mind, heart, and soul."

Despite Leftist Outcry, Americans Don't Want Federally Funded Pornographic Sex Ed
published in The Federalist
February 20, 2018 - Kelly Marcum

The Trump administration is bringing back sexual risk avoidance, or abstinence-based, education, and many on the Left are not happy. When the administration's 2018 budget proposed cutting former President Obama's ineffective and expensive Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP), which uses the comprehensive sex education model of sexual risk reduction, the mainstream media predicted an apocalypse signaled by unplanned pregnancies.

Behar's Poke at Pence a Reminder of ABC's Disdain for Conservative Christians
published in CNSNews.com
February 16, 2018 - Tony Perkins

ABC got at least one thing right about "The View" - its name. As far as the hosts are concerned, there is only one view: theirs. Sure, they'll invite a token "conservative" on to add fireworks, but even that doesn't get in the way of the hosts' daily routine of smug Middle America-bashing. If the idea is to offend viewers, it's working.

After Atheist Group Got Prayers Before Sports Canceled, Students Are Fighting Back
published in The Daily Signal
February 15, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Most Americans have probably never heard of Beloit, Ohio. But this month, they're starting to hear from them. It may be a small town (less than 1,000 people at most), but it's mighty. And in the face of the bullies at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, that's all that matters.

Liberals Lay Groundwork for All-Out Impeachment Assault on Trump if They Win House or Senate
published in Lifenews.com
February 12, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Barely a day goes by that Democrats don't demand President Trump's resignation - or, if they're feeling particularly feisty, impeachment. It's such a routine cry of the Left that some Americans are probably tempted to yawn their way through the threats. But, as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) tried to warn conservatives yesterday, there's nothing empty about them.

School Loses Dad-Daughter Dance Because of Gender-Neutral Policies
published in The Daily Signal
February 8, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Kids see plenty of offensive things at school-but when did fathers become one of them? Ask New York's Department of Education. As far as its officials are concerned, nothing can damage a child more than hosting a special event for dads.

President is keeping his promises
published in USA Today
February 6, 2018 - Tony Perkins

I've heard the allegations about Donald Trump's past moral failures. I don't pretend to know what's true and what isn't. But there is a truth I do know: Faith in Jesus Christ calls us to live with moral clarity. And that means calling sin - sin.

Planned Parenthood's annual report is out: Another unhappy tale
published in The Hill
January 28, 2018 - Cathy Ruse

This year, like every year on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the nation looked back to a ruling from seven men on the bench while tens of thousands of people came to Washington to the March for Life.

On Morals and Mulligans...
published in The Christian Post
January 25, 2018 - Tony Perkins

If there's one thing I've always said, it's that Christians should never check their faith at the door when they enter the public square. So, let me start by practicing what I preach. Like you, I've heard all of the allegations about Donald Trump's past, his years of baggage and personal failings. I don't pretend to know what's true and what isn't -- certainly not now, in an environment as toxic as ours. But there is a truth I do know: faith in Jesus Christ that calls us to live with moral clarity in everything we do. And that means calling sin -- sin.

Americans are ready for meaningful limits on abortion
published in USA Today
January 23, 2018 - Tony Perkins

In 1973, the Supreme Court believed it had resolved the abortion debate, but decades later it's clear the court failed to settle the issue. Why? Abortion runs contrary to the laws of nature.

Ignore the Scam: Planned Parenthood No Supporter of African-Americans
published in The Daily Signal
January 18, 2018 - Tony Perkins

Plenty of movements have tried to hitch their wagon to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. For years, people across the political spectrum have claimed him as one of their own-in part because it's convenient and in part because he isn't here to dispute it.

Christians in the Middle East are suffering. When will aid promised by Team Trump arrive?
published in Fox News
January 18, 2018 - Tony Perkins

As Vice President Mike Pence prepares for his visit to Egypt, Jordan and Israel that begins at the end of this week, concerns continue to mount for the Middle East's persecuted Christians - especially for refugees who are looking for the assistance promised by the United States to help them survive ISIS' relentless assault on their homelands.

Anita Hill's Defense of Bill Clinton Would Be a Joke Today
published in Huffington Post
January 15, 2018 - Ken Blackwell

The dresses and buttons and speeches at the Golden Globes notwithstanding, every new revelation of abuse and sexual assault in Hollywood begs the question: "Why didn't anyone notice and stop this sooner?" Surely the friends of mega-producers Harvey Weinstein and Brett Ratner, colleagues of news "celebrities" like Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, co-stars of celebrities like Kevin Spacey or hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons could see something was amiss, that under the surface something ugly and evil was happening?

Number of High School Students Who Have Had Sex Drops
published in The Daily Signal
January 9, 2018 - Tony Perkins

For every parent who's tried to tell their teenage kids that "everyone's not doing it," here's proof! According to the CDC's new nationwide report, the number of high school students who said they've ever had sex dropped from 47 percent in 2005 to 41 percent in 2015. The good news is even better for African American students, who showed improvements across the board, followed by Hispanics who practiced more abstinence in three of the four grades.

Voices from the Grave Cry out for Justice in Iran
published in Townhall.com
December 30, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

On Thursday, thousands of Iranians protested against the ruling regime in Iran's second-largest city, Mashhad. Chants of "death to dictator" and "death to Rouhani" were brave and resounding.

Every Vote Really Does Count
published in Townhall.com
December 25, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

November's election was not good for Virginia Republicans. Their 66-seat majority in the 100-member House of Delegates fell dramatically. To 50 or 51, depending on whether the equivalent of a coin flip comes up heads or tails. Really.

Pennsylvania's Push to Protect Unborn Lives
published in The Daily Signal
December 18, 2017 - Tony Perkins

If this has been "one of the most successful Congresses" for the pro-life agenda, then the states deserve some of the credit.

Sessions' First Year: A Breath of Fresh Air After Years of Obama Scandals
published in Huffington Post
December 12, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

A year ago the Department of Justice was finishing up eight long years of a scandal-plagued term under Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, as President Obama's political arm. A year later, the department has done a complete 180 degree turn back to upholding - instead of undermining - the rule of law, and restoring law and order.

The 'War on Christmas' Is Real
published in Inside Sources
December 12, 2017 - Travis Weber

Each year, as battlefield correspondents begin anew to report the "War on Christmas," different eyes roll in different directions. Many agnostics, progressives, "indifferents," and Christians skeptical of "those other Christians," will tend to dismiss it and cast eyes heavenward. But should they? Is it all as easily dismissed as one would like?

The Inanity of Liberals' Fearmongering on Tax Reform
published in The Daily Signal
December 6, 2017 - Tony Perkins

On Monday night, the GOP tax bill took another step toward President Donald Trump's desk when Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., named nine members to the conference committee, including Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas.

Supreme Court Justices Grill ACLU and Colorado in Christian Baker's Case
published in The Daily Signal
December 6, 2017 - Travis Weber

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case over whether cake artist Jack Phillips can be forced by the state to design and create a cake celebrating a same-sex wedding in violation of his religious beliefs on marriage.

In Masterpiece, the Supreme Court Grapples With a Problem of Its Own Making
published in Townhall.com
December 6, 2017 - Travis Weber

At Tuesday's oral argument in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission-which will decide whether baker Jack Phillips can be forced by the state to design and create a cake celebrating a same sex wedding-it became apparent quite early on that the Court was grappling not merely with Jack's case, but with a number of potential conflicts between religious freedom and same-sex marriage on its hands.

Planned Parenthood's Ark. Rival
published in The Christian Post
December 3, 2017 - Tony Perkins

Planned Parenthood's biggest nemesis isn't the GOP - or even pro-lifers. Lately, it's the democratic process. When abortion groups started moving into the extreme territory staked out by Barack Obama - pushing late-term, taxpayer-funded, and unregulated abortions - most Americans didn't move with them. So, like most liberals with unpopular agendas, Planned Parenthood turned to the only place capable of giving them the victories they couldn't win legislatively: the courts.

LGBT advocates seek to scuttle a vital Constitutional right
published in Sacramento Bee-CA
November 29, 2017 - Travis Weber

As the Dec. 5 oral argument date for his case grows near, the drumbeat proclaiming Jack Phillips must be forced to create a same-sex wedding cake against his conscience grows louder.

ACLU: Forcing Faith Out of Adoption
published in Townhall.com
November 21, 2017 - Travis Weber

It may have been unintentional, but a recent lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union could nonetheless result in many children being displaced from adoption agencies who would otherwise have been happy to care for them and find families to adopt them.

What Happened to Colonel Who Didn't Want to Praise an Airman's Same-Sex Marriage
published in The Daily Signal
November 15, 2017 - Tony Perkins

After flying in the B-2 bomber, Air Force Col. Leland Bohannon knows a thing or two about stealth. And the attack against his faith isn't it. In fact, the military seems to be going out of its way to punish the Christian dad of five, despite a distinguished career defending the same freedom the Air Force is intent on taking from him.

School Worker Was Told She Could Be Fired If She Offered to Pray for Someone Again
published in The Daily Signal
November 14, 2017 - Tony Perkins

It was a small sentence-"I will pray for you"- but it meant big trouble for Cony High School technician Toni Richardson. When Richardson offered that comfort to another Christian on staff in private, she was hauled before school officials and warned not to utter a word about her faith again.

Sen. Cassidy Was Right: Most Planned Parenthood Businesses Are in Urban Areas
published in Townhall.com
November 11, 2017 - Arina Grossu

During a CNN health-care debate on September 25, 2017 Sen. Bill Cassidy stated, "You know, first, most Planned Parenthood settings are in urban areas, urban areas that have lots of OB/GYNs...Now, as it turns out, the folks who don't have access to those cancer screenings live in rural areas. They live in areas where there are not enough physicians. So the idea is that we want someone to have to drive - a lower-income person drive - three hours to a Planned Parenthood facility there to get her screening, or would we rather take that money and put it back in the rural area to allow her to get her health care there?"

ObamaCare 2018: Unaffordable, fewer options, still covers abortion
published in The Hill
November 10, 2017 - Arina Grossu

Open enrollment for ObamaCare is under way, having started November 1 and running through December 15, 2017. For the fourth year in a row, the Family Research Council and the Charlotte Lozier Institute have partnered to uncover exclusive 2018 information at ObamaCareAbortion.com revealing abortion coverage in ObamaCare plans.

Atheists, Courts Mark Veterans Day While Demanding Demolition Of Veterans Memorials
published in The Federalist
November 10, 2017 - Travis Weber

This Veterans Day, millions across America will celebrate the sacrifice and service of millions more who have laid down their time and treasure-and in many cases their lives-for our country. At a time when our nation daily worships at the altar of self-fulfillment, and honor for such service increasingly falls by the wayside, those in Bladensburg, Maryland now have to contend with federal judges who want to take away their veterans memorial.

After Texas Shooting, the Secular Left's Gospel of Condescension Continues
published in The Daily Signal
November 8, 2017 - Tony Perkins

Adversity does not build character, James Lee Allen wrote, it reveals it. That's become painfully clear in the last 24 hours, as many liberals seem intent on showing the country just how little they've learned about Americans since last year's election.

Delaware Considers Letting Students Decide Race, Gender Without Parents' Permission
published in The Daily Signal
November 8, 2017 - Tony Perkins

"White boys could soon self-identify as black girls in Delaware." So begins one of the latest columns of Fox News' Todd Starnes, reporting on what parents probably wish was fake news. Unfortunately for the families in The First State, reality may soon be optional for kids in Delaware public schools.

What This Disabled Navy Veteran Told NFL Team When They Tried to Honor Him
published in The Daily Signal
November 6, 2017 - Tony Perkins

The NFL owners are desperately trying to put the anthem controversy behind them after weeks of slumping ratings, sales, and horrible PR. But the damage, say most Americans, has already been done. Some fans are more determined than ever to stick it to the league that dishonored our flag, country, and millions of U.S. troops.

Judge Usurps Power, Ignores Real Issues in Transgender Military Injunction
published in Breitbart
November 3, 2017 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

President Trump used Twitter to announce on July 26 that "the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military." U. S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, appointed to the federal bench by then-President Clinton, has now substituted her own judgment about how to run the military for that of our nation's elected Commander-in-Chief.

A Traditional Marriage Student Group Has Been Branded a 'Hate Group'
published in The Daily Signal
November 1, 2017 - Kelly Marcum

In today's bitter political climate, there are few labels more intellectually lazy than "hate group." When you label an entity as a "hate group," you automatically demonize it and remove from your shoulders any mantle of responsibility to dialogue or engage in civil discourse with this denounced entity.

In abortion case, we let two children down: Jane Doe and Baby Doe
published in The Hill
October 27, 2017 - Travis Weber

"Remember, we are talking about a child here." When a federal judge with pro-abortion leanings lets loose such a nugget of truth, it is often accidentally uttered. This appears to be the case with this darkly ironic statement, Judge Patricia Millet made in her concurrence in the D.C. Circuit's Tuesday en banc decision in Garza v. Hargan, ordering an underage girl to be permitted an elective abortion after being detained while unlawfully trying to cross the border into the U.S.

All Hat, No Decency
published in Huffington Post
October 23, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

Texans have a saying for people who talk big but act small: All hat, no cattle. It's hard to think of someone better fitting that description than Rep. Frederica Wilson, the Florida Democrat with a multitude of colorful hats but no decency.

Seizing the Moment at the Values Voter Summit
published in Breitbart
October 12, 2017 - Tony Perkins

This weekend, thousands will descend on Washington for the 12th annual Values Voter Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. They are coming to D.C. ready to seize a moment that was delivered with the election of Donald Trump and significant conservative gains in both the House and Senate. These voters are coming energized by a president who is working to keep his promises but exasperated by the U.S. Senate that has become the graveyard of promises.

Supreme Court must take on heartbreaking surrogacy case
published in The Hill
September 30, 2017 - Arina Grossu

There is currently a petition before the U.S. Supreme Court which presents critical constitutional questions relating to California's enforcement of surrogacy contracts under the state's statute.

Can a Christian Serve as a Judge Anymore?
published in The Daily Signal
September 12, 2017 - Travis Weber

Earlier this month, during a judicial confirmation hearing for 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Amy Barrett, who is a Catholic law professor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., questioned whether Barrett could be a Christian and a judge at the same time:

Historical Revisionism
published in Townhall.com
August 18, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

Look back on the great men and women of history. Most of them fare poorly when subjected to modern scrutiny. They launched wars, murdered rivals, enslaved enemies, enriched allies and violated most every moral norm valued by people today.

'Sanctuary Cities' Aren't Brave. They're Harboring Criminals.
published in Huffington Post
August 13, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

President Donald Trump issued an executive order to stop subsidizing cities which obstruct immigration law. Chicago filed suit in response. Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to continue collecting federal dollars while ignoring federal policy.

Trump's Attorney General Jeff Sessions is bringing the hammer down on leaks
published in USA Today
August 4, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

Attorney General Jeff Sessions showed today why he's one of the best leaders President Trump has selected to move our country forward; no one doubts after today that he will bring to justice those who have put our national security at risk with unauthorized leaks of classified information. Already four people have been charged and there are numerous criminal referrals.

Trump's right: Transgender patriotism isn't the issue - military readiness is
published in The Hill
July 27, 2017 - Tony Perkins

At a campaign event with veterans in Virginia, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump responded to a question about "social engineering and political correctness" in the military - including "transgender rights" - by saying, "We're gonna get away from political correctness ... some of the things they're asking you to do and be politically correct about are ridiculous."

Why We Were Right to Pray for President Trump
published in The Christian Post
July 19, 2017 - Tony Perkins

The Religious Right and Left may disagree on a lot of things, but the importance of prayer shouldn't be one of them. Yet when a picture circulated of evangelical leaders laying hands on Donald Trump in the Oval Office, even self-described Christians pitched a fit.

Doctors Across The World Are Fighting To Treat Charlie Gard. Will The UK Let Them?
published in The Federalist
July 12, 2017 - Arina Grossu

Why has the case of British 11-month-old baby Charlie Gard struck an international nerve? At its core, this controversy is about state infringement on parental rights. The question is, whose child is Charlie: his parents' or the state's? Why is the hospital holding him hostage and by what authority can it override his parents' wish to pursue therapy that could help Charlie?

Where Are The Decent Liberals?
published in Huffington Post
July 5, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

President Donald Trump's critics fixate on his tweets and then wonder why he spends so much time responding to their attacks. But why do they devote so much attention to his tweets in the first place? Maybe they realize that many Americans are happy to finally have a president who fights back.

Report: Attacks On America's First Freedom Increased 76 Percent In Three Years
published in The Federalist
July 3, 2017 - Travis Weber

More than 200 years ago, the young United States was learning to walk in its freshly won freedom and the Constitution born of it. Our experiment in self-governance, based on the idea that our Creator endowed all of us with certain inalienable rights as reflected in our Declaration of Independence, was unique in the history of the world.

Trump, Congress Should Halt Transgender Military Policy that Costs Billions
published in Townhall.com
June 30, 2017 - Peter Sprigg

Last year, without any systematic study of the consequences, the Obama administration reversed longstanding policies that excluded those who identify as transgender, on both psychological and medical grounds, from serving in the U.S. military. The armed services immediately stopped discharging existing service members who suffer from gender dysphoria (unhappiness with their biological sex at birth). Phase Two of this policy-allowing persons who identify as transgender to join the military-was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2017.

Supreme Court Delivers Big Wins for Religious Freedom
published in The Stream
June 30, 2017 - Travis Weber

"[L]aws . . . that single out the religious for disfavored treatment" are not permissible. So held a large majority of Supreme Court justices on Monday in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer. The Court ruled 7-2 that excluding a group from a Missouri grant program just because of its religious nature violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Pentagon Transgender Agenda Won't Improve Military Readiness, Costs $3.7 Billion
published in The Christian Post
June 29, 2017 - Tony Perkins

For the first time in years, House staffers didn't need the blow-up mattresses they probably stashed in their offices for last night's debate. The Armed Services Committee wrapped up one minute shy of midnight - setting a new record in what is traditionally one of the longest days in Congress. That's not to say that yesterday's mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was an easy one. Members put in a grueling 14-hour day - marked at times by intense back-and-forth on how to best clean up the military mess left behind by Barack Obama. At 11:59 p.m., members were rewarded for their hard work with a near-unanimous vote (60-1) that sent them to bed hours before dawn.

Abortion Activists are Still Trying to Put David Daleiden in Jail for Exposing Planned Parenthood
published in Lifenews.com
June 20, 2017 - Tony Perkins

If abortion groups are trying to keep a low profile, they're not doing a very good job of it. While Congress debates whether taxpayers should fund the likes of Planned Parenthood, the industry has spent the last six months trying to avoid headlines. That will be impossible now, thanks to a federal judge who's threatening to send the man responsible for exposing the grisly business to jail.

Trump and Welfare Reform: No More Free Lunch
published in The Christian Post
June 19, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

While the Left promotes fake scandals, President Donald Trump proposes real change. Congressional Republicans should keep their eyes on the ball and enact his reforms into law.

The Bigotry of Bernie Sanders
published in Townhall.com
June 14, 2017 - Travis Weber

It is the height of irony that Senator Bernie Sanders, in declaring Office of Management and Budget deputy director nominee Russell Vought's beliefs as "bigotry" during his confirmation hearing (see 44:20) last week, expressed blatant bigotry toward Vought by refusing to vote for him for nothing but Vought's religious views.

We Must Act While We Still Can
published in Decision Magazine
June 14, 2017 - Tony Perkins

It was true before the U.S. presidential election and it remains true today: The problems we face are not just political and cultural; at their core, they are spiritual. I believe we received a reprieve from our worsening cultural condition by avoiding the election of Hillary Clinton. With the election of Donald Trump, we may have a window of opportunity. But this window will not be open long. God certainly hasn't placed us here at this time in history to sit passively on the sidelines hoping that things will change. He has given us the opportunity to act while we still have the freedom to do so.

President Trump Names Abstinence Education Leader to Top Post at HHS Department
published in Lifenews.com
June 8, 2017 - Tony Perkins

The Department of Health and Human Services is shaping up to be a huge headache for the radical Left. This week, the administration is adding another solidly pro-life, pro-abstinence leader to a roster that's already a who's who of the conservative movement. Valerie Huber, a longtime leader in sexual risk avoidance circles, is taking a job as the chief of staff for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS.

Obamacare is Imploding, Republicans Must Repeal It and Defund Planned Parenthood
published in Lifenews.com
May 30, 2017 - Tony Perkins

It's a good thing the House and Senate are out this week. Judging by the headlines, they'll need their rest to navigate choppy waters of the health care repeal when they return. Like Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), who managed to hold the shakiest of coalitions together for a May 4 vote, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has his hands full juggling the personalities and agendas of 52 very different Republicans.

Secretary Mattis: Focus on War-Fighting, Ditch the Social Engineering
published in Breitbart
May 30, 2017 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

The head of the United States Pacific Command, Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., testified before the House of Representatives in late April that the threat posed by North Korea has grown sufficiently to endanger the Hawaiian Islands. All around the globe, serious national security problems are coming to the fore in places like Iran, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and the South China Sea. Yet, because of holdover personnel from the Obama administration, and damaging Obama-era policies remaining in place, our military continues flailing.

Maxine Waters: The Left's Best Against Donald Trump?
published in Huffington Post
May 29, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Ca.) says there is something "tragically wrong" with President Donald Trump. His advisers and friends are "a bunch of scumbags." He is creating "chaos and division."

Rolling Thunder, 'Missing Man' tables and the Bible
published in Washington Times
May 24, 2017 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

Memorial Day is a time for Americans to remember the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy. Those sacrifices include the lives of many young men and women who paid the ultimate price for our continued liberty.

Democrat Outreach to Pro-Lifers Will Take More Than Talk
published in The Christian Post
May 18, 2017 - Tony Perkins

Democrats dug themselves into quite a hole with the party's hardline social platform last summer. And climbing out hasn't exactly been easy. By almost everyone's estimation (including Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif.), the Left's extremism on issues like abortion and transgender bathrooms cost them the White House. But months after the loss no one saw coming, the party is still struggling to rebound.

Destroying the Johnson Amendment
published in Inside Sources
May 16, 2017 - Travis Weber

President Trump's public vows to "totally destroy" the Johnson Amendment started during his campaign, continued through election night, and have persisted during his presidency - most recently appearing in his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast this past February.

The First 100 Days to Securing America
April 24, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

President Donald Trump is nearing his 100th day in office. Unlike his predecessor, President Trump doesn't spend much time on the golf course. He's busy issuing executive orders, appointing strong conservatives, bombing Islamist terrorists, and safeguarding our borders.

4 Entertaining Moments During Oral Arguments Over Banning Churches From Public Funds
published in The Federalist
April 24, 2017 - Travis Weber

It's not every day that you get such a collection of entertaining quotes from Supreme Court justices. Last week's oral arguments in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer will decide whether a state can exclude a religious entity from a public grant program just because the entity is religious. These four entertaining moments from those arguments indicate the court will likely rule for the church in this case.

The 'Bigly,' and Necessary, Humility of Judge Neil Gorsuch
published in The Hill
April 6, 2017 - Travis Weber

With the Senate poised to vote this week on Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination to replace the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, one quality of Judge Gorsuch has been widely overlooked by scribes and talking heads throughout cable news coverage.

Gorsuch's Pro-Life Promise
published in US News and World Report
March 21, 2017 - Arina Grossu

In the opening statement of his confirmation hearing, Judge Neil Gorsuch pledged that he will do all in his power "to be a faithful servant of the Constitution." While we cannot be sure how he will rule on abortion, his tone was measured and we can expect a textual, neutral, faithful application of the Constitution. This type of originalist approach will translate into rulings protecting all human life and not activist abortion rulings making up rights which are nowhere to be found in the Constitution.

How the market can fix health care
published in Washington Times
February 20, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

Republicans agree that Obamacare has failed and must be repealed. But they can't agree on the replacement "plan."

Shulkin Poised to Address Concerns at the VA
published in Breitbart
February 10, 2017 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin

On January 11, then-President-elect Donald J. Trump nominated David J. Shulkin, M.D., to be his administration's first Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At the time, Dr. Shulkin was serving as the agency's Under Secretary for Health Administration. On February 1, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs held a fast-tracked confirmation hearing for Dr. Shulkin. As an Obama appointee for his current position, Shulkin is expected to be confirmed in the general session of the Senate.

Free pastors from the Johnson Amendment
published in Religion News Service
February 9, 2017 - Tony Perkins

President Trump is doing something relatively rare in American politics - he is fulfilling his campaign promises. One of the several promises made by candidate Trump was to eliminate the problems for churches and religious leaders caused by the Johnson Amendment. Exactly what is the Johnson Amendment? How has it been used? And how should it be fixed?

Judge Gorsuch Is A Mainstream Constitutionalist
published in The Stream
February 5, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

"Mainstream". We are having a country-wide civics lesson on who is or is not out of our mainstream: Senate Democrats or the Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch.

Donald Trump Won the Respect Vote
published in The Stream
January 24, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

Donald Trump isn't the first Republican president denounced as "illegitimate." The Left spent eight years refusing to get over George W. Bush's victory in 2000. It was the same issue. He won the election by the rules, but Al Gore had more "popular" votes.

Religious Freedom Under President-Elect Trump
published in The Stream
January 16, 2017 - Travis Weber

As we commemorate Religious Freedom Day 2017, on January 16th, we mark a year of much change and a season of much opportunity for religious freedom.

What President-elect Trump can do about religious freedom
published in Fox News
January 16, 2017 - Tony Perkins

Eighty-eight years ago almost to the day, the famed African-American civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. Named for the monk who started the Reformation over four hundred years earlier, Dr. King would go on to become a Baptist minister and arguably the most important civil rights figure of the twentieth century.

Confirm Senator Sessions
published in USA Today
January 16, 2017 - Dean Nelson

The confirmation of a president's nominee for a Cabinet post should be based on that individual's character and qualification for the office. Sen. Jeff Sessions has devoted decades to defending the rights of all Alabamans, and should be confirmed as U.S. attorney general.

Christian Persecution, Religious Freedom Explored in 'Silence'
published in The Christian Post
January 13, 2017 - Peter Sprigg

"Religious Freedom Day" is observed each year on January 16. This year, perhaps surprisingly, Hollywood has given us a reminder of why the principle of religious freedom is so important - to avoid the persecution of religious dissenters that has stained so much of world history.

Why True Feminism Means Skipping the Women's March on Washington
published in The Christian Post
January 9, 2017 - Brynne Krispin

On January 21, women from around the country will come together in our nation's capital for the Women's March on Washington. Hundreds of thousands of women will fill the streets near the U. S. Capitol with their Rosie the Riveter arms flexed and their "woman power" signs bouncing in the air. They'll stand tall and confident, filled with determination for their voices to be heard during the next four years of a Trump presidency.

Trump Will Have His Hands Full Fixing Social Extremism in the State Department
published in The Stream
January 4, 2017 - Tony Perkins

It may be a new year, but there's nothing new about the concerns surrounding the State Department's liberal activism. While Americans were busy unwrapping presents, conservatives were tearing into something else: Obama's record on social issues. After eight years of watching the State Department operate as a global base for abortion and sexual activism, most Republicans are ready to get back to the real business of diplomacy. That's a tough job under normal circumstances, but after two terms of President Obama, the Trump team will have its hands full.

A media noose for Jeff Sessions
published in Washington Times
January 3, 2017 - Ken Blackwell

Dishonest media attacks against President-Elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, won't derail his confirmation. But it's important to discuss where they come from because not everyone who realizes their origin is comfortable with that conversation.

A Christmas gift of prayer
published in Roanoke Times
December 24, 2016 - Travis Weber

What a gift it would be this Christmas in the United States if we simply came together to remember and pray for the Christians being persecuted in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world.

Navy Begins Transgender Indoctrination
published in The Stream
December 18, 2016 - Peter Sprigg

With only a few weeks left of Barack Obama's presidency, his administration is doing all it can to solidify the radical changes it has introduced - especially in the armed forces. After winning repeal in 2010 (from a lame duck Congress) of the law against homosexuality in the armed forces, the administration set out in 2016 to complete its extreme LGBT makeover of the military by opening the doors to transgender service members as well. Defense Secretary Ash Carter revoked longstanding policies against transgender military service on July 1, 2016, and a year later, on July 1, 2017, the armed forces are currently scheduled to begin actively recruiting persons who identify as transgender.

7 Years on, Obamacare Is Less Pro-Life Than Anything We Were Told
published in The Daily Signal
December 15, 2016 - Arina Grossu

Open enrollment for Obamacare plans is well under way, having started Nov. 1 and running through Jan. 31, 2017. Not only is Obamacare proving unaffordable to millions of Americans-it is proving unconscionable for pro-life Americans who don't want to pay for health care plans that cover abortion on demand or lack transparency about such coverage.

A transgender military is a weaker, compromised military
published in The Hill
December 8, 2016 - Peter Sprigg

Donald Trump's election as president, and the reelection of a Republican House and Senate, have created an opportunity for America "to rebuild our military" - a pledge that Trump made during his campaign.

Religious Liberty - the Way Forward
published in Inside Sources
December 2, 2016 - Travis Weber

As the dust settles after Election Day, it is clear that religious liberty bore significant weight on the minds of many as they entered voting booths this year. Donald Trump was propelled into the presidency in part by voters concerned about the curtailing of religious freedom by the Obama administration, a process Hillary Clinton would have continued into her presidency.

The Liberal Media's Anti-Christian Witch Hunt of Chip and Joanna Gaines
published in The Daily Signal
December 2, 2016 - Tony Perkins

Bullying Christians may be a favorite strategy of the left-but it's not necessarily an effective one. Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV's popular show "Fixer Upper" may be sending that message without ever opening their mouths.

Is the High Court Starting to Take the Little Sisters Seriously?
published in The Stream
April 29, 2016 - Travis Weber and Cathy Ruse

Last week, religious challengers and the government both filed another round of briefswith the Supreme Court on a question it asked the parties in Zubik v. Burwell. This is the legal challenge by the Little Sisters of the Poor and dozens of other religious organizations objecting to being forced to provide certain drugs and services, mandated as part of Obamacare health insurance coverage, against their sincere religious beliefs. (Family Research Council joined an amicus brief in the case.)

Pay-Pal Prefers Cuba to North Carolina
published in Tulsa Beacon
April 7, 2016 - Rob Schwarzwalder

It's probable that most of the readers of this piece, including those in my own family, use Pay-Pal. It's efficient, quick, and reliable. Pay-Pal has also just announced it has "canceled its plans to open a new global operations center in Charlotte, following passage of a North Carolina law that prevents cities from creating non-discrimination policies based on gender identity."

Why reconciliation can and should be used to defund Planned Parenthood
published in The Hill
October 27, 2015 - David Christensen

Efforts to defund Planned Parenthood Federation of American (PPFA) on the end of the fiscal year 2015 Continuing Resolution have been blocked in the Senate due to the 60-vote cloture threshold, but we believe an effort to defund a significant portion of PPFA's government revenue is possible on the budget reconciliation bill which requires only 51 votes. We believe such a provision is consistent with the Byrd Rule, which restricts "extraneous" provisions in reconciliation bills.

Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran Valued Black Lives and Religious Liberty. Liberals Fired Him.
published in The Stream
October 24, 2015 - Ken Blackwell and Bob Morrison

For more than thirty years, former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran proved that black lives matter. In a city 54% black, it was natural to show this concern day after day. It's safe to say that over his 30-year career in Louisiana and Georgia, Chief Cochran was responsible for saving thousands of black lives. And white, Hispanic and Asian lives as well. It would be inconceivable that a respected major city Fire Chief would do otherwise.

We Can't Reform Our Justice System Without Lifting Families
published in The Federalist
October 22, 2015 - Ken Blackwell and Rob Schwarzwalder

Common-sense criminal sentencing reform is gaining momentum. Presidential candidate Jeb Bush and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins are among the signers of the Right on Crime Statement of Principles, which argues for applying "conservative principles to criminal justice policy" as "vital to achieving a cost-effective system that protects citizens, restores victims, and reforms wrongdoers." Earlier this year, a collation of extraordinary political bedfellows-ranging from Hillary Clinton and Martin O'Malley to Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz-published a book of essays titled, "Solutions: American Leaders Speak Out on Criminal Justice Reform."

Will the EEOC Decide Who Is Catholic?
published in Townhall.com
October 21, 2015 - Travis Weber

Earlier this year, the Catholic Diocese of Richmond fired the executive director of an associated charity known as the Saint Francis Home after the man disclosed he was in a same-sex marriage. The executive director subsequently filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming sexual orientation discrimination. While such EEOC complaints (and federal lawsuits) have been filed before, only this past summer did the EEOC rule inBaldwin v. Foxx that sexual orientation discrimination could constitute sex discrimination which is prohibited by Title VII. Despite its jumbled logic, this ruling increases the likelihood that the executive director's claim against the Richmond Diocese will find traction with the EEOC.

How the Indiana Pizza Shop Responded After Being Tricked Into 'Catering' a Gay Wedding
published in The Daily Signal
October 16, 2015 - Travis Weber

Much of the media today roundly disparage any business-person who even voices their religious beliefs regarding same-sex marriage. This is the consistent narrative by which many presumptuously judge small business owners' (often wedding vendors) motives in affirming their religious convictions as animating their business lives.

Kim Davis and the Rule of Law
published in Townhall.com
October 14, 2015 - Ken Blackwell

Most liberals and even some conservatives are arguing that Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis must either issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples or quit her post. Where you stand on this issue too often comes down to a case of where you stand on the question of whether same-sex nuptials are now "the law of the land" because Justice Tony Kennedy and four of his black-robed cohorts say so.

Condemned If You Do: Sgt. Charles Martland
published in Townhall.com
October 12, 2015 - Ken Blackwell

We should all want our troops in Afghanistan to intervene to stop the rape of boys, right? Surely, we don't want our U.S. Army to act like morally neutered crew members of the Starship Enterprise from the famed "Star Trek" TV series. Those fictional time and space travelers had a Prime Directive that forbade them from interfering in the development of less technologically advanced beings they encountered as they went "where no man had gone before."

Bedtime, School Time and Families
published in Courier Post Online
October 7, 2015 - Rob Schwarzwalder

It's been said that bedtime is the perfect time for kids to ask questions, request food, require additional bathroom breaks and need a nightlight.

3 Encouraging Stories of Adoption
published in The Christian Post
October 6, 2015 - Rob Schwarzwalder

In the midst of the distressing stories of Planned Parenthood's heartless abortion industry and the gruesomeness inherent in destroying a child within the womb, compassionate and committed people in our country and in many other places in the world are putting their lives and incomes on the line in adopting children who desperately need families and homes. Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/3-encouraging-stories-of-adoption-146571/#cD7uYv2OFqCgI9qw.99

Indeed Black Lives Matter-- Especially the Unborn!
published in Townhall.com
October 3, 2015 - Ken Blackwell

Most liberals and even some conservatives are arguing that Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis must either issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples or quit her post. Where you stand on this issue too often comes down to a case of where you stand on the question of whether same-sex nuptials are now "the law of the land" because Justice Tony Kennedy and four of his black-robed cohorts say so.

How to Overcome Planned Parenthood's Wall of Lies
published in The Stream
October 2, 2015 - Rob Schwarzwalder

Selma Cohen is not dead. Who is Selma Cohen and why is this news? Due to a computer error, Medicaid declared Mrs. Cohen deceased. Here's what happened:

Religious Liberty, the Founders, and Us
published in ChristianHeadlines.com
September 22, 2015 - Rob Schwarzwalder

When Blaine Adamson, owner of Hands On Originals printing company in Lexington, Kentucky, declined to print tee shirts for the Lexington Gay Pride Festival, the city's Gay and Lesbian Services Organization filed a complaint. That was in March 2012. Here's what happened next: "In October 2014, after 24 months of back-and-forth, Lexington's Human Rights Commission issued its ruling, finding the business guilty of breaking the town's 'fairness' ordinance and ordered re-education known as 'diversity training' as punishment."

Planned Parenthood and Abortion in the States: Good News in the Battle for Life
published in ChristianHeadlines.com
September 14, 2015 - Rob Schwarzwalder

States are recognized in the Constitution as powerful entities. "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people," says the Tenth Amendment. In other words, whatever the Constitution does not specifically authorize the federal government to do lies within the authority of the states.

Dads and Moms Still Know Best
published in Townhall.com
September 11, 2015 - Rob Schwarzwalder

Over the past half-century, America has gone from "Father Knows Best" to Father Knows Nothing. That path has been strewn with sorrow for millions of families in this country. The reality shows that play to diminishing audiences today tend to show the seamier side of life and to revel in the revealing.

Jimmy Carter's Profile in Courage
published in Townhall.com
September 8, 2015 - Ken Blackwell and Bob Morrison

"Power of Prayer, and a president." It's not often you read that kind of headline on the front page of the Washington Post. But the story-a powerful one of crushing political defeat and personal spiritual redemption-is what commanded our attention a couple of weeks ago.

Does the Constitution contain Stem Cells?
published in ARRA News Service
July 18, 2014 - Ken Blackwell and Bob Morrison

Our esteemed Family Research Council (FRC) colleague, Dr. David Prentice has lectured around the world on the wonders of ethical stem cell research. Dr. Prentice has catalogued the more than seventy treatments that bring needed relief to more than 60,000 persons a year.