Family Research Council
The weaponization of religious liberty
By guest — June 8, 2016
(RNS) How did something as fundamentally American as religious freedom become a culture war weapon against LGBT people and their families?
What Anna Duggar doesn’t understand about Christian forgiveness (COMMENTARY)
By Laura Turner — August 24, 2015
(RNS) This false forgiveness is too often the result of the pressure professional Christians feel to forgive when they are in the public eye.
Duggars reeling from Josh’s sex-abuse scandal
By Maria Puente — May 21, 2015
Josh Duggar apologized Thursday (May 21) and abruptly resigned his job at the Family Research Council in Washington, one of the leading conservative groups fighting abortion and gay marriage among other causes.
On conservative religious activism, the numbers speak for themselves (COMMENTARY)
By Rob Schwarzwalder — May 13, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam says churches are "entirely focused" on abortion and same-sex marriage. The numbers tell a different story.
Court rejects atheists’ demand to end tax break for clergy housing
By Kimberly Winston — November 13, 2014
(RNS) Supporters say the clergy tax breaks helps compensate ministers and rabbis for their role in providing social services and pad their "modest salaries."
Why Chris Christie and Jeb Bush were snubbed by social conservative leaders
By David Gibson — September 29, 2014
(RNS) Their absence at the Values Voter Summit could hurt the New Jersey governor and the brother of the former president with conservative Christians who are key to winning the GOP presidential primaries.
Meriam Ibrahim, finally freed from Sudan, meets with Pope Francis
By Josephine McKenna — July 24, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican’s chief spokesman said Pope Francis wanted Thursday’s meeting to be a “gesture of support for all those who suffer for their faith, or living in situations of difficulty or restraint.”
LGBT workers may feel impact of Hobby Lobby ruling
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — July 1, 2014
(RNS) The next religious liberties faceoff may be between LGBT workers and private business owners who, the Supreme Court says, have religious rights.
San Francisco archbishop defends decision to join D.C. rally against gay marriage
By David Gibson — June 17, 2014
(RNS) "If the point of this event were to single out a group of individuals and target them for hatred, I most certainly would not be there,” wrote San Francisco Achbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who leads the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Justice Department will extend benefits to same-sex couples
By Christopher Doering — February 10, 2014
(RNS) The Justice Department will instruct employees to give lawful same-sex marriages full and equal recognition to the greatest extent possible under the law. Gay marriage is currently legal in 17 states and the District of Columbia.
This year’s March for Life reaches a new group: evangelicals
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — January 17, 2014
(RNS) James Dobson will speak at the March for Life rally on Jan. 22, as part of a new strategy to expand the annual event's reach beyond its Catholic base to include evangelicals.
Conservatives shift their tone on gay anti-discrimination bill
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — November 5, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The rhetoric from Republican and conservative opponents of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is moving away from the morality of the bedroom and into the business sphere. More politicians are fighting ENDA as a bad economic move, not as a break with the Bible.
Christian conservatives divided over Common Core education standards
By Katherine Burgess — October 17, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) As 45 states implement new Common Core education standards this fall, some Christians see the heavy hand of government in the state-led goal posts for K-12 students in English and mathematics.
Conservatives promote House bill to protect opponents of gay marriage
By Lauren Markoe — September 24, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The bill signifies a shift in strategy for gay marriage opponents: Increasingly resigned to the reality that they're unlikely to stop gay marriage, they're now trying to blunt its impact by carving out explicit protections for dissenters.
Atheists and humanists launch Freethought Equality Fund PAC
By Katherine Burgess — September 18, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Organizers of the new Freethought Equality Fund political action committee claim there are more than 24 nontheists in Congress, although only Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., publicly identifies her religion as “none.”
