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Tears in Texas

Not again.

That was my first thought Sunday when I learned about the tragic shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

As you know by now, 26 people were killed when a gunman burst into the 11 A.M service of the small congregation and opened fire.

The youngest victim was a pre-born child. The oldest was 77. The church pastor’s 14-year-old daughter was also murdered.

Additionally, 20 congregants were wounded.

Reports today suggest the gunman was deeply disturbed and motivated by a dispute with his ex-wife’s family.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news, pastors November 7, 2017 by Jim Daly

Three Thoughts about the New York City Terror Attack

Terror made its way to American streets again this week in New York City.

The weapon? A rented pickup truck.

The result? Six innocent people died instantly. Two additional people died later from the injuries they received.

The suspect is a 29-year-old man from Uzbekistan claiming the Muslim faith who was “radicalized domestically” according to authorities. He became sympathetic to ISIS and learned about the terror group’s tactics right here on our shores. Although he acted alone, he left a note in his truck saying he committed the barbaric attack in the name of ISIS.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news November 1, 2017 by Jim Daly

Jane Doe’s Legal Battle to Abort Exposes Reality of Legalized Abortion

It’s a story that’s intertwining two contentious issues of our day: abortion and immigration.

I’m talking, of course, of the case out of Texas involving a pregnant 17-year-old girl being held in a federal detention center since crossing the border illegally in September. This unaccompanied minor, “Jane Doe,” is 15 weeks pregnant and is trying to get an abortion.

Her case ended up in the court system, with the government arguing in court that it does not have a duty to “facilitate” an abortion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, policy, pro-life October 25, 2017 by Jim Daly

The Friendship that Changed a Neo-Nazi’s Heart

Anyone who looked at Michael Kent a few years ago would have been forgiven for thinking he was beyond hope.

He was in jail, and his body bore various tattoos that gave witness to his Neo-Nazi beliefs, including a large swastika on his chest. He was also part of a violent skinhead group.

There’s no way that guy’s ever going to change, right?

Well, not so fast.

Turns out the Michael Kent of today is very different – and it’s all thanks to his friendship with an African-American woman, Tiffany Whittier.

Topics: Current Events Tags: friendship, news October 20, 2017 by Jim Daly

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Senators, Please Continue to Confirm Judges

One of Focus on the Family’s top public policy priorities for the Trump Administration has been appointing top-notch judges who interpret the Constitution and our laws as written and originally understood.

That’s because our federal courts have been filled with judicial activists who rewrite the laws and Constitution to reflect their own personal preferences. It’s been because of these activist judges that we have legalized abortion, legalized same-sex marriage – and some lower courts are even reinventing the definition of “sex” in discrimination laws to include biological men who identify as women, and vive versa.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, policy, religious liberty October 13, 2017 by Jim Daly

What Benjamin Watson Has to Say About Racial Reconciliation

News outlets and social media have been erupting over issues of racial inequality. There are protests online, protests in the streets, and symbolic protests during the national anthem at NFL games.

Benjamin Watson has a unique perspective on those matters. He’s an African-American, and he plays professional football. He was on our Focus on the Family Broadcast a few weeks ago challenging men to step up in their support of their wives and to be passionate about helping them to be great mothers.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, news, pro-life October 12, 2017 by Jim Daly

Birth Control Mandate Rollback Ends “Government Harassment of Religious-Minded Employers”

My statement on the news that the Trump Administration’s Oct. 6 decision to roll back the birth control mandate. – J.D.

“We are pleased to see that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a significant rule change to the Obamacare-based mandate that employers, even those with religious or moral objections, must provide for possible abortion-causing contraceptives in company health plans. This extreme rule forced many employers to make an impossible choice between their deeply held conscience-based objections to abortion, and the prospect of paying crippling fines for non-compliance.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, religious liberty October 9, 2017 by Jim Daly

Toxic Masculinity? Not in Las Vegas

Evil and carnage weren’t the only things evident on that terrible Sunday night in Las Vegas when bullets rained down on a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers.

There were also thousands of examples of heroism and self-sacrifice.

Many off-duty doctors, nurses and paramedics who were enjoying the concert sprang into action to help the wounded. These men and women risked their own lives to give CPR, make tourniquets, and apply pressure on bleeding wounds.

A mom used her own body to shield her 4-year-old daughter from the barrage of bullets.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, relationships October 4, 2017 by Jim Daly

Hugh Hefner has died. How does his view of sex compare to God’s?

You may have heard that the founder of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner, died last night at the age of 91. I want to share with you my statement to the media on his passing:

“The death of Hugh Hefner has elicited tributes of many kinds, including that he was a pioneer who liberated the sexual frustrations of a culture. In reality, his efforts and entrepreneurial pursuits helped enslave generations of both women and men.

“Pornography corrupts what God created for enjoyment within marriage and objectifies the gift of our sexuality.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, news, sex September 28, 2017 by Jim Daly

Understanding Teen Depression and Suicide

Focus on the Family is airing an important two-day broadcast titled “Understanding Teen Depression.”

Depression and suicide rates among kids are staggering. Everyone should be concerned. Right here in Colorado Springs, we’ve had an escalation of teen suicide clusters that is breathtaking, with two schools not far from our campus having a total of 12 suicides in the last three years.

That sort of pain is not unique to our community. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 3 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 report at least one major depressive episode in the past year, and more than 2 million report severe depression has impeded their daily functioning.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, news, parenting September 22, 2017 by Jim Daly