policy Archives

VIDEO: A Win For Life and Free Speech at the Supreme Court

We’re grateful to learn of today’s Supreme Court decision in the free speech case of NIFLA v. Becerra.

This case was a textbook example of government overreach. Thankfully, the court overturned a dangerous encroachment of our time-honored First Amendment freedoms of speech and religion.

No person should be compelled by government to speak a message contrary to their beliefs. Yet, that is exactly what the California legislature did, in an attempt to force pro-life pregnancy care centers to promote the availability of free and low-cost abortions.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy, pro-life, religious liberty June 26, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thoughts on the Border Crisis

The controversy at the southern border continues to churn. Like many of you, I’ve been following its many twists and turns, straining to gather reliable information and, at times, struggling to separate the fact from the fiction. There is a lot of bad and biased information out there. To be sure, emotions are running high on both sides, a consequence of the very real human concern and the highly partisan nature of our times.

As I’ve previously indicated, separating children from their parents can be harmful and traumatic.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, policy June 19, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Video: Our Trip to the Masterpiece Cake Shop

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, homosexuality, policy, religious liberty June 13, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

2 Minute Video: Explaining the Masterpiece Cake Shop Ruling

I’m currently on a plane flying back home from a visit with friends of the ministry. While I was changing planes in Chicago, I asked my colleague, Bruce Hausknecht, to break down in shirt-sleeve English Jack Phillips’ victory today at the Supreme Court.

Without a doubt, today’s Supreme Court decision recognizes that religious freedom is still entitled to its pre-eminent place among our constitutional guarantees.

I’ve been saying for some time that the conflict between LGBT rights and religious freedom doesn’t have to be a win-lose.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy, religious liberty June 4, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Masterpiece Cake Decision is a Victory for Religious Respect

I’m delighted to hear of the 7-2 Supreme Court victory today for Jack Phillips and his bakery, Masterpiece Cakeshop.

It’s been a long time in coming.

No one should be forced to violate their faith in order to earn a living, and Jack, who I’ve met and consider a friend, just wants to be free to live out his faith in his chosen profession.

As Jack has said on several occasions, this case was never about refusing to serve gay people.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy, religious liberty June 4, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

An Open Letter to the People of Ireland

Dear Ireland:

As the son of an Irish father and as the president of America’s largest Christian family ministry, I write this letter with a heavy heart.

Based on the snapshots of your jubilant and celebrating citizens that American media outlets are currently publicizing, one might think congratulations are in order.

But they would be wrong.

In fact, rather than offering my compliments for a victory, I am offering my deepest condolences.

Last week’s landslide vote to overturn your country’s abortion prohibition marks the tragic beginning of a culture of death for the Emerald Isle.

Topics: Current Events Tags: policy, pro-life May 30, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Trump Administration Is Right. Taxpayer Funds Should Not Support Abortion.

We applaud today’s action by the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in keeping this Administration’s pledge to American taxpayers that no funds would go directly, or indirectly, to support abortion.

HHS’s announcement that it will be bringing back a Reagan-era regulation dealing with family planning funds and abortion responds to the cry of millions of Americans who want their government to support life, not death. Six in ten Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy, pro-life May 18, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Emasculation of the Boy Scouts Continues

Yesterday’s announcement that the Boy Scouts of America will drop “Boy” from the name of its signature program is yet another sad development for the once storied and celebrated organization.

You’ll recall that the Boy Scouts announced in 2013 that they would be allowing openly homosexual scouts to join local troops. In 2015, they began accepting openly homosexual leaders. Since these changes, scout membership has dropped approximately ten percent. Many churches have decided to cancel sponsorship of troops.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, kids, policy, pop culture May 3, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Your Help is Needed to Protect Faith-Based Adoption Agencies

Are faith-based adoption agencies – those that believe foster children and newborns fare best when placed in a home with a mom and a dad – threatened with extinction?

The outlook is ominous.

But first, let’s establish some facts. At any given time, there are more than 100,000 foster children available for adoption in the United States, meaning that there are always many more children waiting for their forever home than there ought to be. I am personally aware of what it means to be one of those waiting children, since that was me at one point in my own childhood.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, kids, policy, religious liberty May 2, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Senators Mitch McConnell and James Lankford on Faith, Family, and Leadership

Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of being in Washington, D.C., to talk with media and government leaders about the importance of the family in the culture.

Two of my meetings were with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky and Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma. They both shared perspectives about faith and family that I believe Focus on the Family’s listeners will want to hear. We’re airing those conversations on our broadcast “Protecting Life and Family Values in the Senate.”

Our discussions weren’t specifically political, but, still, that is the Senators’ sphere of influence.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, family, policy April 19, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura