Dear Friends,
The presidential election result one week ago was a cause for celebration for many and a cause of genuine shock and dismay for others. It was also a sobering reminder of how sharply and equally divided we are as a country, especially in terms of the popular vote.
In a democracy such as ours, is this really a cause for concern? After all, if we are all free to believe and vote how we want, does it really matter that we are divided? As John Cuddeback writes, sharp divisions in a society are indeed a cause for concern. Why? Because in order for friendship and community to flourish, there needs to be commonality in fundamental principles. As demonstrated by the stark differences in the Democrat and Republican platforms, much of America does not seem to share fundamental principles. As Cuddeback points out, “If people think differently they will act differently.” This reality hinders our ability to share in a true community, which in order to thrive must ultimately agree on what virtue is and focus on its cultivation.
Most of us live in communities that do not share fundamental principles, so what are we to do? The key is to focus close to home—to build up one’s own family and cultivate friendships in the immediate vicinity in our local communities. As Cuddeback writes: “[B]uilding such cells of excellence is a fundamental requirement for the renewal of the broader polity. Smaller communities with shared vision and practices are healthy, and thus they tend to grow and divide. Since they are vibrant cells, they are also cells that can share a vision—the very vision that can unite and animate the broader community.”
Can this focus on the local community really affect people who do not share our fundamental principles? The author concludes: “[V]ibrant local communities are perhaps also the last, best chance for the broader society to learn basic truths of natural law by seeing them enacted in the flesh. Especially for people growing increasingly impervious to the admonitions of rational argument, there is no witness to the truth of family life, for instance, like families that are living that truth. In a sense, when it comes to the human good, seeing is believing.”
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
This Divisive Election Is an Opportunity to Share the Gospel – Travis Weber
The Wisdom of Trump’s Abortion Answer – Cathy Ruse
Adoption: How One Life Touches Countless Others – Elizabeth Hance
State-Sanctioned Discrimination in Georgia – Mandi Ancalle
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
Make Religious Freedom Great Again – Ryan T. Anderson, Public Discourse
The War On Wedding Vendors Is Ultimately A War On Free Thought – James Gottry, The Federalist
Defending Conscience Rights at Hacksaw Ridge and in the HHS Cases – Matthew Kacsmaryk, First Things
Trump’s Supreme Court List: Ivy League? Out. The Heartland? In. – Adam Liptak, The New York Times
International Religious Freedom
British Columbia's highest court upholds religious freedom – Catholic News Agency
Medical team refuses to operate on critically ill dissident – Qiao Nong, China Aid
New Film Highlights Persecution Of Christians Around The World – James Macintyre, Christian Today
Military Religious Freedom
Like Our Veterans, Americans Are Ones Who Draw a Line in the Sand – Peter Burfeind, The Federalist
U.S. Military On Trump Election: Like The Day Osama Was Killed – God and Country
Life
Abortion
40 Days for Life Fall Campaign Concludes With 658 Babies Saved From Abortions – Shawn Carney and David Brando, Life News
Pro-Life Americans Have the Opportunity of a Generation – Melanie Israel, The Daily Signal
Kathleen Eaton Bravo is on a mission to change the pro-life movement – Zoe Romanowsky, Aleteia
Model Speaks Out Against Down Syndrome Abortion: ‘Life Needs To Happen’ – Katie Yoder, NewsBusters
Meet the 4 Siblings Behind the Designs of This New Pro-Life Apparel Company – Leah Jessen, The Daily Signal
Adoption
Steve Jobs, Faith Hill Among 15 Famous People Featured in New Book on Adoption, 'Chosen for Greatness' – Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post
Bubba Watson and the Joy of Adoption – Jeremy V. Jones, Focus on the Family
Cubs player Chris Coghlan and his wife share their story of adoption – Nancy Flanders, Live Action News
Sportscaster Ernie Johnson on Adopting His Son With Special Needs: ‘It’s Rooted In Our Christian Faith’ – Justin Taylor, The Gospel Coalition
Bioethics
Lives That Don’t Matter – David Walsh, The Catholic Thing
Don’t Let Assisted Suicide Come to the Nation’s Capital – Richard M. Doerflinger, Public Discourse
Colorado Approves Ballot Measure Making It 5th State to Legalize Assisted Suicide – Steven Ertelt, Life News
A Right to Assisted Suicide for the Institutionalized Mentally Ill – Wesley J. Smith, First Things
Obamacare
Health care premiums will go up next year unless Obamacare is fixed, Aetna CEO says – Anita Balakrishnan, Yahoo! Finance
A Blueprint for Repealing and Replacing Obamacare with Bipartisan Support – Josh Blackman, National Review
Jonathan Gruber Discovers ‘Stupidity’ Is Wrong Word For American Voters – Ira Stoll, The Sun
Family
Economics
Churches Need to Combat Joblessness – Eric Metaxas, The Christian Post
Where I Was Wrong Part III: Taxes, Work, and Family – Pete Spiliakos, First Things
Better-Educated Women Still Prefer Higher-Earning Husbands – Family Studies
Marriage
Marriage Isn’t Meant to Meet Your Needs – Christopher Ash, The Gospel Coalition
Maximizing Everyday Moments in Your Marriage – Greg Smalley, Focus on the Family
This Monthly Ritual Will Refresh Your Marriage – Monica Gabriel Marshall, Verily
Faith/Character/Culture
Aristotle and the Elections – John Cuddeback, First Things
Everyone’s duty is to hope for Trump, work for America – Ben Sasse, Omaha World-Herald
Ideology is the Enemy of True Faith – Anthony Esolen, Crisis
Leadership in an Angry & Divided Nation – John Stemberger, The Stream
4 Things To Pray For Now That The Election Is Over – Hans Fiene, The Federalist
Faith is not your ticket to happiness—but something much better – Michael Rennier, Aleteia
Human Sexuality
Should Government Talk More About the Risks of Hormonal Contraception? – Helen Alvaré, Family Studies
The Contraception Crisis that Isn’t – Rebecca Oas, C-Fam
Boulder Valley schools leading way in training teachers for LGBTQ culture change – Jennifer Brown, The Denver Post
Pornography
Drinking Out of Broken Cisterns: Pornography and the Lies It Perpetuates – Stephanie Laferriere, Reformed African American Network
Walmart Removes All Eroticized Child Nudity Photography Books – Works to Protect Families – National Center on Sexual Exploitation
Why Being In Love Means Being Anti-Porn Too – Fight the New Drug
Books – Works to Protect Families – National Center on Sexual ExploitationWhy Being In Love Means Being Anti-Porn Too – Fight the New Drug
