Daly Focus Blog
While most of us slept, Texas Senate Bill 8 went into law early Wednesday morning – legislation that protects innocent life from the point of a detectable heartbeat, or about 6 weeks gestation.
Abortion advocates had appealed to the Supreme Court to block the new law. As of this writing, though, the High Court has not acted on the motion.
I was in Texas this past Saturday night, hosting Focus on the Family’s See Life 2021 event in Dallas.
One of America’s greatest freedoms is the right to worship God.
The 1st Amendment of the Constitution reads:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Sadly, many of the freedoms assured us by the 1st Amendment are threatened or challenged in the culture.
The scenes coming out of Kabul, Afghanistan this past week are deeply disturbing, and on so many levels.
Recent reports suggest women and children have been attacked and killed in the aftermath of the Taliban’s return to power. One woman was gunned down for not wearing a burka.
The oppression comes in various forms.
Dozens of photographs show workers painting over massive street advertisements featuring women. Not because they are sexually suggestive or immodest, but simply because they are unapologetically women.
Literally, women are being erased this week in Afghanistan.
The majority of the world looks upon such things as misogynistic and patriarchal, or at its worst, a return to an oppressive stone-age. This is the polar opposite of human progress. And it stands in direct contrast with the influence Christianity has upon the status of women.
Remove the belief system that unquestionably substantiates that both men and women are created in the image of God, and this is what remains.
A culture where womanhood is erased is inhumane and should be challenged in the strongest voice. But radical Islam isn’t alone in erasing women. In the most sophisticated centers of today’s culture, so-called “people of science” erase women in equally dramatic fashion.
The academic journal Breastfeeding Medicine released a new position statement, authored by eight medical doctors, informing medical professionals that the proper protocol is now to utilize “desexed language” when referring to the natural feeding of babies by their mothers. Words like, “breasts” is to be replaced with “chests”, “nursing mothers” are now “lactating persons” or “human milk-feeding individuals,” and “birthing people” is preferred over “mothers.”
Does anyone find this disturbing and perplexing?
Just weeks ago, journalist Katie Herzog wrote a widely circulated piece based on first-hand accounts explaining how professors at leading medical schools now “sincerely apologize” to their medical students for simply implying that only women can get pregnant.
“Why would medical school professors apologize for referring to a patient’s biological sex?” Herzog asks.
Wednesday’s vote in the Senate regarding the “budget blueprint” for a proposed $3.5 trillion spending spree next year raises far more questions than it answers, and especially for Christians concerned with a disregard for life and religious freedom.
If you’ve considered the ongoing debate these last few weeks to be confusing, join the club.
On Tuesday, the Senate passed a $1.2 trillion “infrastructure” bill that is purportedly designed to fund roads, bridges and trains. Yet, tucked inside that bill are dollars for salmon recovery, as well as increased food and beverage services on Amtrack.
The opening ceremonies for the 2021 Summer Olympics are today in Tokyo, Japan.
The Olympics is one of the greatest displays of skill, physical ability, and dedication in all the world. Not only are the athletes performing on a world stage, but they’re competing at such a high level and under such intense pressure (decades of hard work and training often boil down to a single performance) that we often never consider the very real limitations each athlete must face and overcome.
The president returned to familiar turf inside the United States Capitol on Wednesday to meet with Democrat lawmakers to discuss the budget, a massive spending proposal that promises to plunge the country deeper into debt.
Since we were kids, we’ve been told that money doesn’t grow on trees, but you wouldn’t know that from the way Congress has been doling out dollars of late. Based on media reports, the Senate majority are expected to ask for somewhere between $3.5 trillion and $4 trillion dollars for the upcoming fiscal year.
Of course, contained within those trillions are vital and critical items – military spending to ensure our nation’s safety, infrastructure to keep America operational and, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, measures intended to protect our citizens’ health and well-being.
Yet, also included are dollars many liberals and radicals want to “transform” America – i.e., turn upside down and inside out fundamental values and traditions that have distinguished the United States for well over two centuries.
Sadly, there seems to be a prevailing philosophy in Washington these days that money will solve any problem, and the more money we spend, the fewer problems we’ll have.
It’s just not true.
Take for instance our ongoing battle to eradicate poverty.
Since President Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964, nearly $26 trillion in taxpayer funds has been spent to fight it.
By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court has ruled that a California law requiring charities to disclose the identities of their donors is unconstitutional.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts called such disclosure requirements a “dragnet for sensitive donor information” and found that such a law violates an individual’s First Amendment right to free association.
Big Brother may always be watching – but after Thursday’s ruling, he won’t be seeing as much as some government bureaucrats and bullies wished he would.
Unanswered – or poorly answered questions, never go away.
Nevertheless, it’s very good news that the United States Supreme Court announced earlier today that they’ve agreed to review Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
At issue is a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks.
The nine justices should use this case to re-evaluate Roe and Casey and best case, overturn them both. At the very least, the court should allow the states more leeway in prohibiting abortion pre-viability, including for things like gender, race or disability.
History tells us not to pin our hopes on the court in cases like this.
President Joe Biden’s “American Families Plan” is being touted by the administration as “an investment in our kids, our families, and our economic future.”
In reality, it’s a very bad bet – and for numerous reasons.
Of particular interest to me in the bill is the president’s proposal to spend an extra $225 billion on childcare and another $200 billion on “free” preschool. The premise and rationale for such a massive expenditure is that more federal dollars equate to healthier kids and families.
Last week’s fatal shooting of a Columbus, Ohio teenager by a police officer set off another fierce debate about the competence and racial motivations of law enforcement.
As you will recall, Columbus police were called out to a violent knife attack. Body camera footage later revealed one of the teen girls attempting to stab the other just prior to the gunfire.
To be sure, the police officer, who was white, was faced with a horrific dilemma that required an almost instantaneous decision.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
