Current Events Archives

On Life and Political Party Platforms

Political party platforms matter.

Once the product of smoke-filled backrooms, they cast vision, identify opportunities and problems, and suggest practical, legislative, and executive solutions.

Given that a right to life is a fundamental truth, both the Republican and Democrat party platforms should reflect a national commitment to innocent preborn life.

Support for life first appeared in the 1976 Republican Platform and included a call for a human life amendment, which would have banned abortion and saved the nearly 60 million lives that have been lost since that bicentennial year.

Topics: Current Events July 9, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Juneteenth is Triumph of Truth Over Lies

Today’s celebration of Juneteenth – referred to by some as “America’s second Independence Day”– has only been a federal holiday since 2021, but dates to 1865.

It was on June 19, 1865 when Union forces sailed into Galveston Bay in Texas to enforce the end of slavery.

At the time, there were 250,000 slaves in Texas – and none of them knew that nearly 4 million other American slaves had been emancipated when the Civil War ended two months earlier.

Topics: Current Events Tags: pop culture June 19, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Chimes of Freedom on Foreign Shores

I had the privilege of being in France yesterday as the country observed the 80th anniversary of the Normandy invasion on D-Day. It was a sobering and inspiring experience.

If you’ve seen the coverage on TV, you know that many world leaders were on hand, represented at ceremonies at Normandy and elsewhere: President Biden, French President Emanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain’s King Charles III, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky among them.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith June 7, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

We Must Remain Laser Focused on the Dignity of Life

Focus on the Family president Jim Daly issued the following statement today in response to the ongoing debate concerning pro-life legislative priorities:

“For nearly a half-century, pro-life activists working towards the reversal of Roe have known that returning the issue of abortion to the states would trigger this next season of passionate cultural debate concerning the defense of preborn life.

“Of late, there is predictable discourse over political strategy within the pro-life movement regarding calls for a national standard on gestational limits for abortion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news April 9, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Dare Pornhub Decry Protections for Kids

It’s always a good day when pornographers are upset and unable to distribute or share their dangerous content, especially to children.

Pornhub, the fourteenth most popular website in the world, is not happy – and that should bring some measure of relief to many. That’s because the leading purveyor of pornographic material has decided to suspend access to their site in Texas – a protest move designed to express their objection to new age verification laws in the Lone Star State.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, news March 21, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

God’s Amazing Grace in a Transgendered Person’s Life

More and more young people, especially girls, are experiencing gender confusion. Ten years ago, the prevalence of transgenderism in children was 0.1% in the US. Now it’s 2-3%. That’s an increase of 4000%. Why?

Here’s another important question to answer: Is medical gender transition necessary to prevent youth suicide?

To answer those questions and others, I’m talking to Dr. Meg Meeker and Laura Perry Smalts on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “God’s Amazing Grace in a Transgendered Person’s Life.”

Dr.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, parenting March 5, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Teachers Should Be Seen as Allies not Adversaries in the Classroom

Lying has been a chronic problem in schools for generations, but it’s rarely been the teachers not telling the truth.

A lawsuit in California claims Christian teachers in the Golden State are being forced to conceal critical details from parents of sexually confused children.

Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West are teachers employed by the Escondido Union School District. In a lawsuit filed against their district, the educators allege they’re being forced to not only participate in the “social transition” of kids – but also lie to their parents if asked about it.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, parenting February 21, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Changing Minds to Save the Pre-Born

The pro-life issue is close to my heart. And defending pre-born babies is a huge part of what we do at Focus on the Family. Few people are more vulnerable than pre-born children and women facing unplanned pregnancies.

And few people have a greater passion to protect the vulnerable than Kristan Hawkins. She’s the head of Students for Life, a pro-life organization working primarily on college campuses. She also does nationwide interviews on the topic of abortion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: parenting, pro-life February 19, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Cultivating a Mentally Healthy Family

Since COVID has it been more difficult than you expected for your family’s emotional well-being to “get back to normal”?

It has been for a lot of families. That’s why I’ve invited my colleague, Dr. Danny Huerta, to join me on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Cultivating a Mentally Healthy Family.” Dr. Huerta is a speaker, author, and vice president of Parenting and Youth here at Focus. He oversees our initiatives that equip mothers and fathers with biblical principles and counsel for raising healthy, resilient children.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, parenting February 12, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Ohio Veto Override a Victory for Children and Common Sense

Score one in the Buckeye State for the genius of the checks and balances system of government.

The Ohio Senate’s override of Governor Mike DeWine’s incredulous veto of legislation banning the sexual mutilation of children caps a bizarre legislative odyssey that left many social conservatives heavy-hearted – and vowing action to right the chief executive’s wrong.

Wednesday’s vote ensures that the Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation Act (SAFE Act) will now go into effect in 90 days.

The Act makes it illegal for doctors to prescribe puberty blocking drugs and opposite sex hormones for minors.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news January 24, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura