Current Events Archives

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

MTV’s Obsession with Child Abuse

On December 29th, the Miami Herald ran a startling headline:

MTV’s Every Detail Etched on Children’s Minds

The article’s author, Ellen Livingston, spoke with myriad teachers and students about the network’s massive influence, almost all negative. John Anderson, a teacher at a private Lutheran School, said he’s worried kids are obsessed with it. He cited the fact that creative assignments often include MTV references.

Livingston asked the question: Knowing that the programming gets “its force from sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll” do parents mind their children spending the best years of their youth in front of MTV?

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, kids, pop culture January 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thirty Years Ago Today

It was as if the day were scripted in Hollywood by the pen of Frank Capra, inclusive of pomp and pageantry, dreams and high drama, culminating at high noon, no less, all as the world watched.

In Washington, D.C., January 20, 1981, was cold and cloudy, but as Ronald Wilson Reagan took the oath, the overcast sky parted and a ray of sunshine fell upon the western front of our nation’s Capitol. Across the globe in Iran, 52 Americans hostages were loaded onto a plane and finally released following 444 days of captivity.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news, policy January 20, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Regis Philbin’s Secret

By now, if you care or pay attention to such things, you know Regis Philbin has announced his retirement from morning television.

In the interest of full disclosure, as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t watch much television, including Regis, but I find elements of his life instructive and thought you might as well.

When most people think of Regis Philbin, they see success. He is one of television’s good guys, quick-witted and kindly humored. But Regis’ life has not been a one-act play whose star always shined strong and bright.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, pop culture January 19, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are Babies Better than Abortion?

Writing in today’s Wall Street Journal, William McGurn asks a serious question:

Are babies better than abortion?

Mr. McGurn is responding to a sobering new study recently released from the Chiaroscuro Foundation, a private nonprofit organization. He writes:

After crunching the latest statistics from New York City’s Health Department, the foundation reported that 41% of pregnancies (excluding miscarriage) in New York ended in abortion. That’s double the national rate.

As a society, does this figure say anything about the choice between a baby and abortion?

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids, policy, pro-life January 18, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Do Something Now!

I’ve never been one to lament that the future of the Christian church rests in the hands of those from Generation X, Y or now Z.

Maybe that’s because I’ve always believed there are great leaders and bright lights in every age and stage of life – you just need to know where to look!

Esther Fleece, Focus on the Family’s Director of Millennial Relations, is one such leader, and she’s helped Focus partner with many like-minded ministries dedicated, as we are, to reaching the next generation.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, kids January 14, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura