The panel questioned why the counseling department treated Ward differently than students in other settings. “That her conflict arose from religious convictions is not a good answer; that her conflict arose from religious convictions for which the department at times showed little tolerance is a worse answer,” A federal appeals court has delivered at least... Continue Reading

The way forward for Christian political engagement, according to Gerson, is a perspective that does not view America as a nation subjected to divine punishment or reward based on collective morality, but one that places the protection of human dignity at the center of policy decisions. “Public expression of faith often reveals the deepest commitment... Continue Reading

“Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience,” [New York Cardinal Tim] Dolan told the Associated Press. “This shouldn’t happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights.” Christian leaders are considering... Continue Reading

Dan Smith, executive director of the School Administrators of Iowa, says that to his knowledge there have never been any significant problems with the law in his state. “Initially there may have been some concern about that, through the early ’90s maybe, but I think that’s a pretty well-accepted practice now…I’m not aware of any... Continue Reading

“Not only are the young people there — elementary grade kids, high school kids, college kids — but they’re there with a vibrancy, just an excitement about them being part of a movement that is about saving innocent human life.” President Obama and another massive turnout of pro-life Americans gained attention in Washington as the... Continue Reading

What you need is not a sinless man. You need a man deeply aware of his sin and of his potential for further sin. You need a man who can see just how capable he is of destroying himself and your family. And you need a man with the wisdom to, as Jesus put it,... Continue Reading

Paradoxes and transformations like this are but ordinary reflections of the powerful pattern of the Cross of Jesus Christ at work in the world. But I have to tell you—when it happens it is still breathtaking. When I was granted a Top Secret clearance under the Naval Security Group, part of the National Security Agency,... Continue Reading

As Mr. Barnes of “Bad Catholic” notes, this is a particularly Protestant sentiment that can be traced back to theologian Karl Barth, who often distinguished between “revelation” and religion. YouTube videos go viral all the time, but sermons rarely do. Enter Jefferson Bethke, a young “spoken-word” poet who recently posted the video “Why I Hate... Continue Reading

Sudan’s Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowments has threatened to arrest church leaders if they carry out evangelistic activities and do not comply with an order for churches to provide their names and contact information, Christian sources said. The warning in a Jan. 3 letter to church leaders of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC)... Continue Reading

A series of lawsuits and a new court ruling are fresh examples of how laws granting marriage benefits to gay couples can end up squashing religious liberty, says a Christian attorney involved in one of the cases. All four cases involve states with gay “marriage” or same-sex civil unions laws: Illinois, Vermont, Hawaii and New... Continue Reading