In last week’s message, I discussed the growing problem of hostility to Christianity that many Americans have faced over the last 15 years and continue to face now, despite living in a free democracy.

It’s important to remember that this problem is by no means limited to the U.S.—other freedom-loving countries are also showing disturbing anti-Christian trends. In a recent survey conducted in the U.K., it was revealed that an astonishing 93 percent of Christians “believe that their faith is being marginalized in British society today.” The results were published by Premier Christian Communications, after 12,000 “ordinary Christians” took part in the survey. Commenting on the survey results, Premier CEO Peter Kerridge said that “it is ‘clear’ that the U.K. does not have the ‘liberal accepting society’ that it believes it does ‘if we don't tolerate and accept everyone, including Christians.’” In just the past year in the U.K., a Christian nurse was fired for speaking about her faith and praying for patients, two Christians were convicted of disorderly conduct and fined for preaching on the streets, and numerous Christian schools were given downgraded statuses by the leading education watchdog group for their teachings on homosexuality and other religions.

FRC will continue to fight for the freedoms of all believers to live out their faith freely in the public square, with the hope that Christians of all nationalities will also fight for their rights. Christ’s words will forever be our guide: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Thank you for your prayers and for your continued support of FRC and the family.

Sincerely,

Dan Hart
Managing Editor for Publications
Family Research Council

 

FRC Articles

It’s Time to Clean Up Our Elections – Ken Blackwell

Doctors Across The World Are Fighting To Treat Charlie Gard. Will The UK Let Them? – Arina Grossu

Where Are The Decent Liberals? – Ken Blackwell

The Serpents are Surfacing – Ken Blackwell

Movie Review: “Alison’s Choice” – Lauren Hand

Those with Gender Dysphoria Can Find Healing – Peter Sprigg

No Fear: Coach Kennedy’s Steadfast Faith – Emma Gibney

Release Charlie Gard – Arina Grossu

 

Religious Liberty

Religious Liberty in the Public Square

Has a Civil Rights Stalwart Lost Its Way? – Ben Schreckinger, Politico Magazine

Cakes and Consciences: The Case of Jack Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop – Nathanael Blake, Public Discourse

The Urgency of Restoring the Biblical Values of America’s Founders – Arthur Goldberg, Public Discourse

Passion for Equality – Mark Movsesian, First Things

The Pelvic Left Attacks an Innocent Woman – Austin Ruse, Crisis

The Media’s Use of This ‘Hate Group’ Label Puts Conservatives’ Safety at Risk – Katrina Trinko, The Daily Signal

Religious Freedom Advocates Fire Back After ‘Hate Group’ Smear Over Jeff Sessions Speech – Fred Lucas, The Daily Signal

International Religious Freedom

93 Percent of UK Christians Feel Their Faith Is Marginalized, Survey Says – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post

Orthodox Jewish girls school faces closure for refusing to teach children about homosexuality – Brandon Morse, TheBlaze

The New Totalitarian Laws of Canada – John Paul Meenan, Crisis

Chinese Nobel Prize winner dies in prison, first since the Nazi regime – ChinaAid

Military Religious Freedom

US Army Tells Female Soldiers to 'Accept' Having Naked Men in Their Showers – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post

‘Work Hard, Pray Hard’: Retired General Reveals the True Path to Inner Peace – Erik Rosales, CBN News

 

Life

Abortion

Video: Stephanie Gray: "Abortion: From Controversy to Civility" – Talks at Google

Stunning images from inside the womb show that human life begins at fertilization – Becky Yeh, Live Action News

Oregon poised to make abortion free – Samantha Gobba, WORLD

Abortion Fanatics Don’t Want Choice, They Want Fewer Babies – Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist

Bioethics

Parental and Governmental Authority in Medical Decisions: The Tragic Case of Charlie Gard – Melissa Moschella, Public Discourse

Je Suis Charlie, Once More – R.R. Reno, First Things

Basic Bioethics: How to illuminate the Christian perspective – Joe Carter, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Obamacare

Needed pro-life protections in potential healthcare legislation – Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Obamacare Is Causing Insurers To Delay Surgeries Patients Need – Richard Menger, The Federalist

Bringing Senate Conservatives and Moderates Together on Health-Care Reform – Michael F. Cannon, National Review

 

Family

Economics/Education

How to Find Hope in the Humanless Economy – Kevin Brown and Steven McMullen, Christianity Today

Here’s How Anti-Conservative Academic Discrimination Works – David French, National Review

Jobs Report Stronger Than Expected, but More Must Be Done to Boost the Economy – Timothy Doescher, The Daily Signal

Here’s Why So Many Republicans View America’s Colleges And Universities Negatively – Gracy Olmstead, The Federalist

Is California anti-family? – Joel Kotkin, Orange County Register

Think Tank: Reconsider Caring For Your Kids Because Money Matters Most – Gracy Olmstead, The Federalist

Marriage

5 Long-Time Married Couples Share Their Secrets to a Happy Marriage – Jenna Jonaitis, Verily

Married People Have More Sex – Nathan Yau, Flowingdata

Premarital counseling can decrease divorce rates, psychologist says – Laren Hanson, The Daily Universe

Michigan couple, both 99, celebrates 80th wedding anniversary – Eliza Murphy, Good Morning America

The 4 Crises Every Marriage Must Make It Through – Paul Carter, The Gospel Coalition

The Adult Children of Divorce Find Their Voice – Leila Miller, Family Studies

Faith/Character/Culture

Why Is God So Hidden? – J. Warner Wallace, BreakPoint

Can Ethnicity Become a Straitjacket? – Mike Tong, Desiring God

Don’t be Uncle Rico: A moral snatched from Napoleon Dynamite – Tod Worner, Aleteia

Hospitality Is Not Just for Home – Bethany Jenkins, The Gospel Coalition

What Makes Humans So Special? – Matt Nelson, Word On Fire

Want to Lead a Happier Life? Be More Generous, Study Says – Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post

Human Sexuality

Symptoms, Causes and Loving Those with Same-Sex Attraction – Carrie Gress, National Catholic Register

Doctors Admit They Don’t Know Which Kids Should Gender Transition But Do It To Them Anyway – Walt Heyer, The Federalist

Husband, Lift Up Your Eyes – John Piper, Desiring God

Pediatrician: ‘Transgender’ ideology has created widespread child abuse – Michelle A. Cretella, LifeSiteNews

Increase in extramarital sex leading to new STD epidemic – Fr. Mark Hodges, LifeSiteNews

Most Teens Aren’t Having Sex, and They Deserve More Support for That Choice – Alysse ElHage, Family Studies

Oral sex spreading unstoppable bacteria – James Gallagher, BBC News

At issue: The push for gender inclusivity in toys – Chris Woodward, OneNewsNow

Human Trafficking

3 things to know about the human trafficking report – Travis Wussow, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Backpage has always claimed it doesn’t control sex-related ads. New documents show otherwise. – Tom Jackman and Jonathan O'Connell, The Washington Post

Pornography

What Porn Did To Their Lives – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative

Seven Promises to Pray Against Porn – J.A. Medders, Desiring God

Kay Warren: ‘I Struggled With Porn Fascination’ – Nancy Flory, The Stream