Current Events Archives

TOMS Shoes Discount

As I shared in a post a couple of weeks ago, Focus on the Family is very pleased to be hosting a special event with TOMS Shoes in Irvine, California, this Thursday, June 30th. The gathering is called, “Style Your Sole,” and participants will be given an opportunity to purchase and decorate a pair of shoes at a discount. And according to TOMS tradition, another pair of shoes will be given to a needy child.

For those unfamiliar with TOMS, the company gives away one pair of shoes to a needy child around the world for every pair purchased.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, pop culture June 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Singing the Dodger Blues

There might not be any crying in baseball, at least according to Hollywood script writers, but fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers have recently shed tears of a different type.

Frank and Jamie McCourt met as freshmen at Georgetown University. Upon graduation they were married and embarked on an exciting life together, raising four sons and managing several successful business ventures. A life-long Red Sox fan, Frank attempted to purchase the famed Boston club, but he was outbid.

Topics: Current Events Tags: husband, marriage, wife June 27, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Two Questions the Abortion Industry Cannot Answer

Dr. Bernard Nathanson, the former atheist/abortionist who killed 60,000 babies before becoming one of the pro-life movement’s strongest advocates, was remembered today in a funeral mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. He was 84.

The former chief of obstetrics and gynecology for the Northeast Air Command of the Air Force, Dr. Nathanson credited his dramatic conversion from promoting death to preserving life to seeing a single picture, or more precisely, experiencing the wonder of ultrasound technology.

Topics: Current Events Tags: pro-life February 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Justin Bieber’s Scandal

Are any of your kids “Beliebers” – i.e. fans of singer Justin Bieber?

In pop music circles, Mr. Bieber is a big deal. An overnight sensation whose music was first posted online, the sixteen year-old also has a new movie out. Opening two weeks ago, the film has already grossed nearly $50 million.

But according to the New York Times art critic Jon Caramanica, Mr. Bieber has big-time trouble brewing.

A scandal? Drugs? Sex? A family feud?

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, news, pop culture, pro-life February 22, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Billy Ray Cyrus’ Regret

Even if you don’t follow pop culture, you’ve inevitably read or heard of the teen actress Miley Cyrus. Playing the wholesome character “Hannah Montana” on her popular Disney television show of the same name several years ago, Miss Cyrus was catapulted into entertainment’s stratosphere. She quickly became a marketer’s dream and was earning millions of dollars in TV, music and feature films. In the midst of her rapid ascent, though, she also found herself wrapped up in controversy, from being caught posing for provocative photographs to smoking a bong and taking hallucinogenic drugs.

Topics: Current Events Tags: parenting, pop culture February 16, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Update on Chick-fil-A

Back on January 28th I wrote that Indiana University had banned Chick-fil-A from its South Bend campus. University officials were concerned about Chick-fil-A’s donation of food to a marriage conference in Pennsylvania.

In essence, IU was offended that a vendor appeared to be in support of traditional mainstream (biblical) values.

Well, they are apparently offended no more. Chick-fil-A is back at Indiana University.

Raving fans rejoice!

“I heard from many students, faculty, staff, alumni and citizens from across the area, the state and the country,” said Chancellor Una Mae Reck.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture, religious liberty February 7, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Faith at Super Bowl XLV

I think I know who’s going to win the big game.

But first . . .

Over 100 million people will watch Sunday’s Super Bowl contest between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Many of you will be watching for the football. Many more will be watching for the commercials. And some, like my wife, will be indifferent, maybe stopping to catch a few plays or a few minutes here and there.

Jean is like many women, I think.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, faith, pop culture February 4, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Planned Parenthood Stung by Sting Operation

Everybody knows Planned Parenthood promotes and encourages abortion. But sex trafficking?

It is a convoluted and sad story:

Amy Woodruff, the clinic manager of a New Jersey Planned Parenthood office has been fired for aiding and abetting two people who posed as sex trafficking workers.

The undercover operation was organized by Lila Rose of Live Action, a youth-led movement dedicated to building a culture of life and ending abortion. Ms. Rose, a student at UCLA, founded Live Action in 2006.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, pop culture, pro-life, sex February 3, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Chick-fil-A Banned

Indiana University has banned Chick-fil-A from its South Bend campus.

Why?

It’s all because one of the popular company’s restaurants in Pennsylvania has announced plans to donate food to the Pennsylvania Family Institute and Family Life for The Art of Marriage: Getting to the Heart of God’s Design conference.

Translation: According to Indiana University, those who support (or even hint at supporting) traditional marriage are not welcome, and by association, neither are their chicken sandwiches, waffle fries or handspun milkshakes.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, homosexuality, marriage, policy, pop culture January 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Philadelphia Grief

When a tape of an Oval Office conversation from January 23, 1973, was released in 2009, many were surprised that President Nixon expressed ambivalence when talking about the Supreme Court’s decision the day before that legalized abortion.

The White House issued no statement on the day Roe v. Wade was decided. On the tapes, Nixon expressed concern that broader access to abortion would foster “permissiveness” and that it “breaks the family.” Yet, he also said he saw reasons why it might be necessary, such as – shockingly and offensively – in cases of interracial pregnancies.

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids, news, pro-life January 24, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura