Dear Friends,
A disturbing idea has been embedded in our culture for quite some time. It is the idea that in general, people should be left to their own devices to decide what is right and wrong for them. In other words, people, particularly children, should not be imposed upon or “nurtured,” they should instead be free to take on their own “nature,” whatever that may manifest to be. This is illustrated by the growing phenomenon of parents insisting that their children must be free to choose their gender.
Those who adhere to this philosophy, I would argue, are not being totally honest with themselves. What I mean by this is that those who insist that everyone must be free to decide for themselves what is right or wrong are the very same people that expect society to adhere to certain rules, such as the prohibitions against murder, rape, and theft. This is quite telling, because it reveals that there are some things in life that most people agree are inherently true and therefore non-negotiable; indeed, they can and should be imposed.
This reveals the inherent flaw in the “nature over nurture” logic. Believers know that if man is left to his own devices, he will eventually devolve into a selfish beast. In other words, man does not come upon moral behavior by chance or by nature—it must be taught and shown to him. This fact underscores the critical role that parents have in educating their children. When believers pass on the tenets of their faith to their children, they are giving them a foundation to not only become a stable member of society and have a successful future, but to enjoy a life of happiness that can only be found by serving God. As Ian Rowe has written in Family Studies, even our country’s most wealthy educational benefactors do not understand this basic fact—that children who are most likely to succeed are those whose parents are their primary educators.
More and more evidence for the importance of stable family structures continues to come out every day. May we lead by example and help transform our culture into one that values and upholds the family unit.
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
Ignoring Military’s Reasons for Transgender Order, Unelected Judge Sets National Security Policy – Tony Perkins
In abortion case, we let two children down: Jane Doe and Baby Doe – Travis Weber
Trump is a great champion of religious liberty -- a welcome change from Obama – Tony Perkins
All Hat, No Decency – Ken Blackwell
Foster Parenting and Adoption: Answering God’s Call to Love – Kathy Athearn
Vice President Pence Announces Relief for Middle East Christians – Travis Weber
Georgetown University’s Identity Crisis – Kelly Marcum
We Need To Rethink Our Sexual Culture – Dan Hart
In Today’s Media Environment, It’s “News” When the Department of Justice Actually Enforces the Law – Travis Weber
Is the Air Force Finished With People of Faith? – Travis Weber
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
The Uses and Abuses of Hate – Robert Knight, Townhall
When Will The Media Stop Trusting A Hate Group To Label Hate Groups? – Margot Cleveland, The Federalist
Federal court rules World War I memorial cross must be torn down – Todd Starnes, Fox News
91% of pastors want to speak freely without govt punishment – Alliance Defending Freedom
ACLU Silent on Gay Coffee Shop Owner Who Kicked Out Pro-Lifers – Amber Randall, The Daily Signal
Georgetown may defund student group for defending Church teaching on marriage – Claire Chretien, LifeSiteNews
Why the Government Shouldn’t Force Bakers—Or Anyone—to Express Support for Same-Sex Marriage – Steven Smith, Public Discourse
I’m a Conservative at Princeton. Why My Fellow Student Is Wrong to Make War on Free Speech. – Owen Wheeler, The Daily Signal
"Free to Believe"
Colorado Baker Asked to Make ‘Birthday Cake’ for Satan – Kelsey Harkness, The Daily Signal
KY Judge Who Objects to Homosexual Adoptions Faces Charges – FACT
International Religious Freedom
Modern Horror: New Report Says Global Persecution of Christians Is at Historic Peak – National Catholic Register
The Last Christians: Priest Describes Horror, Courage of Christians Being Killed for Their Faith – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post
White House Reveals ‘Game-Changer’ for Persecuted Middle East Christians – Peter Jesserer Smith, National Catholic Register
North Korean defector describes 'life of hell' for Christians – Perry Chiaramonte, Fox News
Court: Student can be expelled for calling gay ‘marriage’ a sin on Facebook – LifeSiteNews
Military Religious Freedom
Air Force Punishes Colonel who Refused to Affirm Gay Marriage – ToddStarnes.com
Life
Abortion
How 1,000 Churches Could Transform the Abortion Debate – Greg Austen, Care Net
Abortionist cancels illegal late-term abortions after pro-lifers expose him – Claire Chretien, LifeSiteNews
Maryland Pro-Lifers to Protest Newly Opened Late Term Abortion Clinic of LeRoy Carhart – Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post
In Blocking Abortion Legislation, Democrats Will Display Their Extremism – George Will, National Review
Abortion Rate Drops 25% Over Last 6 Years as More Babies Saved From Abortions – Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews
Ontario bans pro-life witness outside abortion centers – Lianne Laurence, LifeSiteNews
Abortion Clinics are Crawling With Dirty Health Violations, Report Finds – Grace Carr, The Stream
Adoption
International Adoptions Drop to New Low as Evangelical Funding Spikes – Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, Christianity Today
ACLU Threatens to Stamp Out Diversity by Shuttering Faith-Based Adoption Agencies – Emilie Kao and Zachary Jones, The Daily Signal
Video: Foster Care and Adoption: The Keberlein Story
A Theology Of Adoption – Lauren Rae Konkol, First Things
Bioethics
Embryos and Five-Year-Olds: Whom to Rescue – Robert P. George and Christopher O. Tollefsen, Public Discourse
Basic Bioethics: An A to Z glossary on ‘making life’ – Joe Carter, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
A Right To the Baby We Want – Wesley J. Smith, First Things
Radical Autonomy: A Dangerous Metaphysical Myth – Philip Hawley, Jr., Public Discourse
Obamacare
How Iowa Became An Obamacare Horror Story – Paul Demko, Politico Magazine
Family
Economics/Education
Bill Gates Overlooks the Vital Role of Families in Shaping Children’s Academic Outcomes – Ian Rowe, Family Studies
What Tax Reform Owes Families – Josh McCabe, Family Studies
4 ways to display the gospel as a public school teacher – Anonymous, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Why Catholic Schools Should Scrap Scholastic Book Fairs – Jean Schoonover-Egolf, Crisis
Marriage
What 25 Years of Marriage Have Taught Me – John Clark, National Catholic Register
Are We Asking Too Much of Our Marriages? – Anna Sutherland, Family Studies
More Than Marriage: What’s Behind Polyamory In the Church – Katie McCoy, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Video: The Biggest Misconception About Marriage – The Gospel Coalition
10 Lessons Learned from 20 Years of Marriage – Nina Vallone, Chicago Now
Faith/Character/Culture
The Crisis of Masculinity – Tony Reinke, Desiring God
I Don’t Care If It’s Halloween. Your Gruesome And Tacky Yard Decorations Are Sick And Rude – Georgi Boorman, The Federalist
At Least as Dangerous as Porn – Jon Bloom, Desiring God
Happier Mealtimes, Healthier Eating for Kids – Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Life Is Still Beautiful – Trevin Wax, The Gospel Coalition
Why Fatherlessness Is Not Normal and Dads Need to Hug Their Kids – Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post
What Women Who Have Had A Miscarriage Want You To Know – Emily Carrington, The Federalist
Video: How to Resist the Allure of Gossip – The Gospel Coalition
Women Should Stop Insisting Men Are Bad Just Because They Feel Sexual Tension – D.C. McAllister, The Federalist
Has Promoting Mother Absence Spawned Campus Crybabies? – Joy Pullmann, The Federalist
Human Sexuality
Why the Light of Purity is Needed to See the Mystery of Sex – Dietrich von Hildebrand, National Catholic Register
#Metoo: The prevalence of sexual assault and a call to the church – Trillia Newbell, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Let’s (Not) Talk About Sex, Baby – Marshall Segal, Desiring God
The Ugly Truth About Sex Reassignment the Transgender Lobby Doesn’t Want You to Know – Bruce Ashford, The Daily Signal
Why America’s STD Crisis Is a Pro-Life Issue – Joe Carter, The Gospel Coalition
Transgender hormone blockers are ‘institutionalized child abuse’: pediatrician – Fr. Mark Hodges, LifeSiteNews
Studies Show Birth Control and Contraception Don’t Reduce Unintended Pregnancies – Michael New, LifeNews
A Pastoral Approach to the Transgender Debate – Todd Miles, The Gospel Coalition
Are We Equipping Young People to Combat Sexual Harassment and Assault? – Alysse ElHage, Family Studies
Pornography
Why You Can’t Consistently Fight Sexual Abuse Without Also Fighting Porn – Fight the New Drug
Pornography Use and Relationship Quality: An Interview with Samuel Perry (Part 1) and Part 2 – Alysse ElHage, Family Studies
