Justice Antonin Scalia was a bulwark of constitutional fidelity, deep conviction, and common sense. Conservatives relished not only the soundness of his decisions but the dancing, puckish, and sometimes devastating wit with which they were written.
As FRC President Tony Perkins said upon learning of his death, we "join the nation in mourning the passing of Justice Scalia, a man who had a deep love for our nation and the Constitution and who, as the father of nine children, was passionate about the institutions of marriage and family."
Among the greatest threats to the Constitution are the ongoing efforts of the Left to diminish the Tenth Amendment's recognition that those things not specifically delegated in the Constitution to the federal government belong to the states. And, as ever, the Left’s relentless effort to diminish the sanctity of life.
These things came together recent in a case involving the State of Texas's regulations to improve the health and safety standards of abortion centers. Whole Woman's Health, which owns two abortion centers in the Lone Star State, is suing Texas over these entirely appropriate regulations. As FRC's Senior Fellow for Regulatory Studies Chris Gacek has noted, "The law enacted by the state of Texas requires abortion centers to have health and safety measures that are consistent with standards of care required at other health facilities. They are necessary, common sense measures needed to safeguard women's health and safety."
It's for this reason that earlier this month, FRC signed on to an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt asking the Court to uphold the Texas law. The brief was filed on behalf of FRC and other interested parties by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
Antonin Scalia believed that the Constitution had an objective and understandable meaning, and that it should be taken that way -- as it originally was intended by those who drafted and ratified it. Speaking a few years ago at the University of Virginia School of Law, Justice Scalia said, "It is essential to originalism, as it is not to so-called 'evolutionary constitutional jurisprudence,' to know the original meaning of constitutional provisions."
It is for this kind of clear articulation of how to interpret our country's core legal text -- that which constitutes us as an independent and functioning nation -- that Justice Scalia will be so missed. All lovers of the Constitution should keep the torch he held up so courageously lit bright for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Robert F. Schwarzwalder, Jr.
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council
P.S. Be sure to take advantage of FRC's outstanding lecture program -- you can view, at no charge, our speakers online as they address critical issues. Our two most recent lectures were with the distinguished scholar Dr. George Nash on "Herbert Hoover's Crusade Against Collectivism" and The Federalist's Stella Morabito discussing, "Bruce or Caitlyn? Why Everyone Should Care About the Transgender Movement."And next week, watch for a new compilation of FRC op-eds, publications, and events coming your way.
Religious Liberty
“Free to Believe” –
- Broad support for pharmacists’ freedom, near-unanimous opposition to extreme Wash. state policy – Alliance Defending Freedom
- Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Obeying Orders in Gay Marriage Case, Judges Rules – Associated Press
- School Ends Program Rather than Allow Bible References - CitizenLink
- Recently Passed Tennessee Bill Allows Counselors to Deny Treatment Based on Religious Beliefs – Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines
International Religious freedom-
- The Savior of French Liberalism:Raymond Aron’s work holds lessons for the future of Islam and the West - Daniel DiSalvo, City Journal
- Thousands Shed Light on Christian Persecution with One Powerful Song on Feb. 21 – CBN News
- ISIS Is Guilty of Anti-Christian Genocide - Demetrios of Mokissos, Wall Street Journal
- World Watch List 2016: Country Rankings by Degree of Persecution – Open Doors
- China Detains Highest-Ranking National Church Leader Since Cultural Revolution – Nathan Wineinger, 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative
Religious Liberty in the public square
- Chuck Colson's Tribute to Justice Scalia – Chuck Colson, Breakpoint
- NASA Censors ‘Jesus’ from Employee Emails – Liberty Institute
- Religious Liberty and the Future: Faith, Skepticism, Culture, and Hope – Heritage Foundation panel
- What the Death of Justice Antonin Scalia Means for Religious Liberty – Emma Green, The Atlantic
- Georgia's 'pastor protection act' now much more likely to become law – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Life
Abortion
- Yes, Planned Parenthood Targets And Hurts Poor Black Women – Willis L. Krumholz, The Federalist
- Leading medical groups urge Supreme Court to protect pharmacists’ right of conscience – Becket Fund
- Wisconsin governor signs bill that defunds Planned Parenthood – Casey Mattox, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Bills aimed at protecting born-alive aborted babies, barring dismemberment abortions rejected in New Hampshire – Jonah Hicap, ChristianToday.com
- Reporters, writers use zika virus to campaign for abortion – Katie Yoder, MRC
- Millennials Across the United States are More Likely to Identify as Pro-life Than Previous Generations – Josh Denton, Indiana Family Institute, in the FRC Blog
- Pregnancy Clinics Fight for Right to Deny Abortion Information – Erik Eckholm, New York Times
- Reporters, writers use zika virus to campaign for abortion – Katie Yoder, Newsbusters.org
- What NARAL missed: Doritos ‘Ultrasound’ ad features filmmaker’s preborn son – Amanda Read, Live Action News
Adoption
- Priceline ad mocks adoption, enrages adoptive parents – Susan Michelle, LiveActionNews.org
- Couple Adopts Baby With Heroin-Withdrawal – and Rejoice – Murray Vasser, LifeSiteNews.com
- Couple Shares Their Joy of Adopting a Physically Disabled Baby Others Called a “Curse” – Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com
Bioethics
- Gene editing: The next frontier in America’s abortion wars – Sarah Karlin, Politico
- Barack Obama Pushes FDA to Allow Scientists to Create Three-Parent Embryos – Micaiah Bilger, LifeSiteNews.com
- From “Physician Knows Best” to the Cult of Autonomy: A Seismic Shift in Bioethics – Grace Stark, The Public Discourse
Family
Marriage
- What Couples with Children Argue About Most – Nicholas Zill, Institute for Family Studies
- Why single men may not be having the most fun – Brad Wilcox, Washington Post
- Why Aren't We Discussing Fatherlessness? – Leslie Loftis, PJ Media
Human Sexuality (Homosexual/ gender issues)
- Grace and Truth in LGBT Engagement – Darrell Bock, Caleb Kaltenbach, Hendricks Center, Dallas Seminary
- I Used to Be Transgender. Here’s My Take on Kids Who Think They Are Transgender – Walt Heyer, Daily Signal
- Are You ‘Tri-gender’? Teens Given 25 Options in Survey - Christian Institute (United Kingdom)
- Maine governor stops bureaucrats from imposing transgender bathroom rules on schools – Ben Johnson, LifeSiteNews.com
- When Are You Really an Adult? – Julie Beck, The Atlantic
- Nigeria blasts UN for pushing ‘LGBT’ agenda
- South Dakota Could Be First State to Pass Transgender ‘Bathroom Bill’ – Katy Steinmetz, TIME
Human Trafficking
- In Sex Trafficking, ‘Kids Are Renewable Resources’ – Emily Deruy, The Atlantic
- Fighting the Sexual Abuse of Young Afghani Boys at the United Nations – Palmer Williams, American Center for Law and Justice
Pornography
- Our Libraries have a Porn Problem – National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)
- Prostitution: “The Zone” of Raw Male Physical and Sexual Violence - NCOSE
Welfare Reform
- Welfare Reform is Compassionate and Kansas Policy Proves It – Kristina Ribali, The Blaze
- Work and welfare reform – Rachel Sheffield, Burlington (NC) Times-News