Dear Friends,
Today is Religious Freedom Day in America (see FRC's resources below). In our great country, religious freedom has held a special place in our civic life ever since the days of Thomas Jefferson. But this freedom is increasingly coming under assault by activists on the Left here at home and by authoritarian regimes abroad. This is why we must never take the freedoms we have in this country for granted.
So what do we mean by "religious freedom"? In this day and age, it's vitally important to define our terms in order to counter those who have a far too narrow view of this first freedom. FRC's David Closson has written an excellent summation of the proper understanding of religious freedom:
"Simply put, religious liberty is the freedom to live out one's faith according to his or her deepest convictions. This means people have the right to believe what they want in terms of theology and doctrine and can live in a way that brings their life into conformity with these beliefs. Obviously, this does not mean people can do whatever they want under the guise of 'religious liberty,' but it does mean that as much latitude as possible should be extended to those with sincere religious convictions about how to order their lives."
Our Founding Fathers understood that man's deepest desire is to live out his most deeply held convictions, which most often come from religious foundations. The freedom of religion was therefore included in the First Amendment to the Constitution—our "first freedom." May we never take this freedom for granted and always use it for the greater glory of God.
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 "Religious Freedom Day" Resources
"Washington Watch" Special Report: Religious Freedom Day – 5-6 p.m. ET on Facebook Live
On Religious Freedom Day, consider life in countries without it – Travis Weber
Religious Freedom Day – David Closson
When Free Exercise Comes at a Price – Alexandra McPhee
FRC Articles
NEW Policy Publication: Top 10 Myths About Abortion – Ingrid Skop, M.D.
NEW Policy Publication: Why "Sexual Orientation" and "Gender Identity" Should Never Be Specially Protected Categories Under the Law – Peter Sprigg
All I want for Christmas is a Supreme Court victory for public Christmas displays, crosses – Alexandra McPhee
E-Verify — The Immigration Solution Congress is Looking For – Ken Blackwell
Seventeen Years Later, Controversy Emerges Over Painting of "Ground Zero Cross" – Alexandra McPhee
The APA is Crazy: "Traditional Masculinity is Psychologically Harmful" – Cathy Ruse
Family Research Council Opposes the "Equal Rights Amendment"
The ERA: A Bad, Old Idea – Cathy Ruse
The Postal Service Stamps Out the Christmas Spirit – Alexandra McPhee
Is Anyone Surprised that Planned Parenthood Treats its Pregnant Employees Terribly? – Patrina Mosley
Is Chai Feldblum Reconsidering Religious Freedom? – Peter Sprigg
Compassion Is Needed for Parents and Professors Dealing with "Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria," Too – Peter Sprigg
Parents Beware of Puberty-Blocker Propaganda – Cathy Ruse
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
Democrats Question Judicial Nominee About Membership in Catholic Association – Kevin Daley, The Daily Signal
Apple removes Christian ministry app following complaints by LGBT activists – Teri Webster, The Blaze
Colorado loses bid to dismiss cake artist's lawsuit – Alliance Defending Freedom
Washington state senior center bans religious Christmas expression – Alliance Defending Freedom
Early Christmas gift: City ends discrimination, Maryland church resumes worship – Alliance Defending Freedom
House Passes Bill to Free Pastors from IRS Muzzle and Shield Churches from Accidental New Tax – Benjamin Gill, CBN News
Family's Christmas Stamps Rejected Because of "Religious" Content – ToddStarnes.com
Texas Lawmaker Wants to Put The Ten Commandments Back in Public Schools – Jeremiah Poff, ToddStarnes.com
Indiana school district bars coaches from participating in team prayers after atheist complaint – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Oxford students demand university fire famed philosophy prof for 'homophobia' – Lisa Bourne, LifeSiteNews
International Religious Freedom
Wise Men Still Bring Gifts: Our Extraordinary Christmas in Egypt – Rick Segal, Desiring God
The Coming 'Turkish Jihadist Invasion' Against Christians: A Christmas Plea from Syrians to US Christians – Chris Mitchell, CBN News
As China Cracks Down on Churches, Christians Declare 'We Will Not Forfeit Our Faith' – Javier C. Hernández, The New York Times
2 Christian brothers sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan, charity warns – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
India: Shock as pastor arrested for 'showing movie about Jesus' – Athena Chrysanthou, Express
Chinese City Bans Christmas Celebrations to Maintain 'Clean Environment' – Frances Martel, Breitbart
Trump's troop withdrawal 'sacrifices' Syrian Christians, gives 'victory' to jihadis: activist – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Christians 'Standing in the Way' of China's Xi Jinping's Totalitarian Rule – George Thomas, CBN News
During Christmas Week, Iran Arrests 9 Christians for 'Zionism,' Spreading 'Corrupt' Beliefs – Tyler O'Neil, PJ Media
Military Religious Freedom
Air Force Under Attack For Helping Salvation Army Provide Christmas to Needy Kids – ToddStarnes.com
Life
Abortion
Abortion Killed 42 Million People In 2018 – Paul Bois, The Daily Wire
Living pro-vida – Mary Jackson, WORLD
Democrats vow to lift ban on federal funds for abortions – Jessie Hellmann, The Hill
The Supreme Court Should Protect Unborn Children with Down Syndrome – O. Carter Snead and Mary O'Callaghan, Public Discourse
Trump Contests "Sexual and Reproductive Health" at UN but Fails to Rollback Abortion Language – Austin Ruse, C-Fam
Indiana Health Department Refuses To License Abortion Clinic Over Undisclosed Records – Grace Carr, The Daily Caller
Planned Parenthood, Other Feminist Organizations Accused Of Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers – Ashe Schow, The Daily Wire
Pro-choice activist tells kids: abortion is 'part of God's plan,' 'like dentist appointment' – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Kansas judge rules telemedicine abortions can continue – John Hanna, ABC News
'Like a giant what-if': Siblings of aborted children mourn their loss – Skyler Lee, Live Action
Planned Parenthood's President Admits Abortion Is Group's 'Core Mission' – Alexandra DeSanctis, National Review
Adoption
Texas couple: God 'purposefully connected' us to kids found chained in horrific abuse case – Caleb Parke, Fox News
Bioethics
Obama-Appointed NIH Director: Aborted Fetal Tissue Will 'Continue to Be the Mainstay' for Research – Susan Berry, Breitbart
Family
Marriage
Why You Shouldn't Give Up on Your Marriage – Teri Reisser and Paul Reisser, Focus on the Family
The Cleansing of the Temple: Casting Pornography Out of Marriage – Michelle Curran and Luca Marelli, Humanum
Podcast: Holy longing: The struggle with infertility – Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
State Efforts to Reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences Should Include Programs to Strengthen Marriage – Alysse ElHage, Family Studies
Parenting
Farewell, Judith Rich Harris – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Gender-Neutral Parenting Isn't for Me – Leigh Harper, Family Life
Faith/Character/Culture
How Tragedy Testifies To The Supreme, Glorious Value Of Human Life – Caroline D'Agati, The Federalist
What Do We Owe Our Parents? – Ashley McGuire, Family Studies
Grown Men Are the Solution, Not the Problem – David French, National Review
It Is Good That You Exist – Rachel Bulman, Word on Fire
The Strongest Men Are Gentle – David Mathis, Desiring God
Watch This Dude Climb 3,200 Feet Of Granite With No Harness In 'Free Solo' – Glenn T. Stanton, The Federalist
Breaking the Fourth Wall on Social Media – Austin Ruse, Crisis
This New Year, Act More Leisurely – Bart Price, Ethika Politika
Should I Stay at a Christian Organization That Doesn't Seem Christian? – Joshua Chatraw, The Gospel Coalition
Human Sexuality
When Sex Becomes Cheap – Paul Sullins, Humanum
Protecting Sex From Liberalism – Anthony McCarthy, Public Discourse
The Problem Isn't Technological: Rebuilding Women's Reproductive Health – Weronika Janczuk, Public Discourse
30 Transgender Regretters Come Out Of The Closet – Stella Morabito, The Federalist
Comprehensive Sex Education Undermines Students' Moral Development – Tapio Puolimatka, Public Discourse
Study: Infidelity, porn prevalent sex sins in church – Diana Chandler, Baptist Press
Criminal Records Show Women Are Prudent To Not Want Men In Their Bathrooms – Jamie Shupe, The Federalist
Idaho ordered to provide sex reassignment surgery to inmate jailed for sexually abusing a child – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Human Trafficking
Who Are Sex Traffickers, And Why Do They Exploit Other Humans? – Fight the New Drug
Pornography
Two Developments That Changed Our Movement – Patrick Trueman, National Center on Sexual Exploitation
50 Heartbreaking Ways That Porn Harms Relationships And Society – Fight the New Drug
Filmmaker/Actor Josh Radnor On Why He's Against Porn – Fight the New Drug