One could not watch the Republican presidential candidate debate Wednesday evening, nor can one scan the headlines of today’s papers, without realizing that protecting the unborn has become one of the most decisive issues of our time.
The horrific videos of Planned Parenthood personnel coldly discussing income from selling the body parts of the unborn have struck the conscience of the nation, and moved pro-life lawmakers to demand a complete end to federal funding of the abortion giant. FRC stands with them in this effort. As FRC President Tony Perkins has said, “FRC is demanding that Congress zero-out Planned Parenthood’s funding on a must-pass piece of legislation.” This is what legislation by U.S. Rep. Diane Black of Tennessee would do. As she wrote recently in National Review, her bill would “ultimately increase available funding to community health centers by $235 million during this one-year period. The legislation further prioritizes women’s health care over abortion by reallocating federal funding to the more than 13,000 facilities nationwide that provide preventive care to those who need it most and do not perform abortions.”
Pro-life champions like U.S. Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona have offered legislation to curtail the destruction of unborn life. Rep. Franks, who spoke about his efforts yesterday at FRC, has authored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 3504), which is scheduled to be considered in the House over the next several days. And next week, the Senate will consider U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham's "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," the House version of which was also authored by Rep. Franks. The bill, which has already passed the House, would protect unborn children from abortion in almost all cases for two reasons: one, as documented by the Director of FRC's Center for Human Dignity, Arina Grossu, these little ones feel pain -- intensely. And two, they have inherent value as little lives created by a loving God.
FRC will never compromise our commitment to those whose precious, God-given lives are treated by the abortion industry merely as revenue sources and saleable commodities. The image of God they bear, from conception onward, calls us to defend them. Protecting unborn babies and their mothers from the predatory abortion industry is one of the highest callings of our time. Affirming the value of life is a privilege. And we can rejoice that in our time, we have the honor of standing for it.
Sincerely,
Rob Schwarzwalder
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council
P.S. Are you coming to FRC’s annual Values Voter Summit? It’s not too late to register to hear leading presidential candidates and key conservative leaders lay-out their agendas for the coming year. And don’t miss Chelsen Vicari’s excellent review of Tony Perkins’ important new book, No Fear.
Religious Liberty
“Free to Believe” –
- Kim Davis: The Issues of Accommodation and Burden – Rob Schwarzwalder, FRC
- Kim Davis Faces “Seemingly Impossible Choice” (Liberty Counsel) – Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel Connect
- Judge orders Kim Davis released from jail – Kate Scanlon, Daily Signal
- Victory for Chaplain Wes Modder Could Send Waves of Freedom Throughout Military – Liberty Institute
- First a Clerk, Now a Judge: Oregon Jurist Under Investigation for Refusing to Perform Same-Sex Weddings – David French, National Review
- ’Lawless’ in Kentucky - Dr. John Eastman, National Review
International Religious freedom-
- We need the U.S. Commission on International Religious Liberty – Rob Schwarzwalder, The Stream
- The Double Standard and Foreign Policy – Herbert London, WAMC
Marriage Licensing–
- Bill to abolish marriage licenses dies in Alabama House – Mike Carson, AL.com
- 'Spouse' and 'spouse' replaces 'bride' and 'groom' on Florida marriage licenses - Adrienne Cutway, Orlando Sentinel
Religious Liberty in the public square –
- Favoring some claims of conscience over others – Travis Weber, Washington Times
- Texas Supreme Court to Houston Mayor: Let your People Vote! – Travis Weber, Townhall
- Navy Chaplain Exonerated From Possible Discharge After Expressing Biblical Beliefs on Homosexuality - Samuel Smith, Christian Post
- Why We're Losing Liberty – Robert George, Prager University
Tax Exempt Status–
- Want a vibrant public square? Support religious tax exemptions – John Inazu, Washington Post
- U.S. Senator Mike Lee discusses future of tax-exempt status for churches – Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod
Life
Abortion
- Planned Parenthood and Abortion in the States: Good News in the Battle for Life – Rob Schwarzwalder, ChristianHeadlines.com
- 10th Planned Parenthood Video Reveals Strategy To Hide Organ-Trafficking Involvement – Bre Payton, The Federalist
- Keeping the Spotlight on Planned Parenthood – Stephen J. Heaney, Public Discourse
- Office Depot’s ‘Apology’ To Pro-Lifers Could Use Some Major Work – Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist
- Sen. Mike Lee Says Exactly What Americans Needs To Hear On Planned Parenthood – The Federalist Staff, The Federalist
- States Should Follow Wisconsin’s Lead And Ban ‘Research’ On Aborted Babies – Bre Payton, The Federalist
- Whistleblower Raises More Questions About Planned Parenthood – Amy Otto, The Federalist
- A Down Syndrome Prediction Shouldn’t Be A Death Sentence – Rachel Mullen, The Federalist
- She aborted her baby. Now she’s sharing her photo to warn other women not to do the same. – Sarah Terzo, LifeSite
- Race and Margaret Sanger - Paul Kengor, Spectator.org
- Planned Parenthood’s California Counsel - Steven Greenhut, City Journal
- On Abortion, Medical Science is Still Waiting to be Heard - Philip Hawley, Jr., Public Discourse
- A Timely Model: Abolitionist William Wilberforce and the Pro-Life Movement – Ryan Hoselton, Gospel Coalition
Adoption
- WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ADOPTION – Elizabeth Kirk, First Things
- Raped, living in her car, mom makes bold choice for adoption - Robin Keahey, LiveActionNews.com
Federal funding of abortion
- Four Ways the Senate could end Taxpayer Funding of Planned Parenthood - Kelsey Harkness, Daily Signal
- Pastors in John Boehner’s District Encourage him to be bold and Defund Planned Parenthood - Kate Scanlon, Daily Signal
Fetal Pain
- Senate Will Vote Next Week on Pro-Life Bill Banning Late-Term Abortions After 20 Weeks - Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com
- FACING THE UNBORN – Richard Stith, First Things
Healthcare conscience
- Overnight Healthcare: Senate leaders eye vote on late-term abortion ban - Sarah Ferris and Peter Sullivan, The Hill
- Five federal judges rebuke court: don’t tell the Little Sisters how to be Catholic – EWTN News
Obamacare
- Families Brace for Steep Hikes [in ObamaCare] - Grace-Marie Turner, Galen.org
- House Republicans Just Got a Big Win in Their Lawsuit Against Obamacare – Peter Suderman, Reason
Family
Family Economics
- Families need Congress to renew tax credits - Karen Barsell, Reno Gazette-Journal
- The Marriage Tax Penalty: What Couples Should Know Before Tying the Knot - Kimberly Parr, How Money Walks
Human Sexuality (Homosexual/ gender issues)
- Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom – FRC Lecture with Ryan Anderson
- Evangelicals will not be surrendering to the sexual revolution – Russell Moore, First Things
- How Many Gay Marriages? – Bryan Ballas, Juicy Ecumenism
- At What Point Does the Homosexual Agenda Become a National Religion? – Daniel Horowitz, Conservative Review
Human Trafficking
- Photographing Human Trafficking in New York – Evelyn Nieves, The New York Times
- There Is No School for Millions of Working Children Worldwide - Tony Magliano, Christian Post
Pornography
- End Child Pornography: Enforce Adult Pornography Laws – Patrick A. Trueman, The Public Discourse
- 10 Lies You Must Affirm in Order to Look at Porn – Jared H. Moore, Canon and Culture
- Sexual Exploitation Summit Takes on Predatory Porn Industry and Victims of Child Porn – Ray Nothstein, Christian Post
Pro-Marriage divorce reform
- What’s Driving the Marriage Divide? -- Rachel Sheffield, Public Discourse
- Millennials are killing the institution of marriage? Not so fast - Meeri Kim, Philly Voice
