news Archives

Today’s Supreme Court Announcement About Marriage Misses This Fact

Today’s news regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to grant certiorari to four marriage cases sets up the impending culmination to a decades-long cultural debate.

The outcome will either uphold a state’s right to define marriage or declare same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.

However, regardless of the outcome, today’s news fails to recognize, appreciate and honor a key truth. Marriage is an institution that historically and culturally has always brought the two unique and complementary parts of humanity together into a lifetime, cooperative partnership that establishes and maintains the family.

Topics: Current Events Tags: marriage, news, policy, religious liberty January 16, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is Roe v. Wade on the Ropes?

Note: On Jan. 21, the GOP leadership pulled this bill and cancelled the vote. Please read my new post on what’s happened — and, more than ever, please contact your representative. -JD

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Your help is needed.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are currently gearing up for a vote on a bill that would ban abortion (with a few exceptions) after 20 weeks’ gestation.

It’s called the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” (H.R. 36) and it builds on the fact that 10 states have already passed local versions of the law since 2010.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy, pro-life January 16, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Was Atlanta’s Fire Chief Fired Over His Faith?

By now you’ve likely heard that Atlanta Fire Chief, Kelvin Cochran, was recently fired from his position for publishing a book in which he affirmed a biblically orthodox understanding of human sexuality.

The 162-page book in question, “Who Told You That You Were Naked?” is a Bible study designed for Christian men.

According to press reports, Mr. Cochran gave a copy of the book to three individuals within his department, all of whom he knew to be Christian.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, news, religious liberty January 14, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What a Boy Taught This Pastor

January is Sanctity of Human Life month, so it’s very fitting that I share with you some more about a film project Focus has been working on called The Drop Box. I’ve highlighted this touching documentary in this blog before, and you’ll be hearing more about it in the weeks to come. The documentary highlights the work of Pastor Lee Jong-rak who leads Jusarang Community Church in Seoul, South Korea.

The hallmark ministry of Pastor Lee’s church is its care for children that are left in its “baby box,” a warm, safe receptacle where an infant can be left anonymously instead of being discarded in a cold alley or a dumpster.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, faith, kids, news, pro-life January 6, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Share the Value of Both Mom and Baby with #iseetwo

This year, Focus on the Family is commemorating Sanctity of Human Life month in January in three primary ways:

1. Announcing a new milestone for our Option Ultrasound program

In the ten years since its launch, we estimate that Option Ultrasound has now helped saved more than 300,000 babies! Since its beginning in 2004, Option Ultrasound has provided some 655 grants to qualified pregnancy medical clinics and about $4.5 million worth of benevolent resources to pregnancy centers.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: kids, news, pro-life January 5, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Looking Ahead to 2015

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you many of the exciting things God accomplished through Focus on the Family—with your support—this year. With tomorrow being the last day of 2014, it’s appropriate to start looking forward. God has put many plans in our hearts for 2015. We’ll be stretching towards these goals – as well as eagerly anticipating what the Lord might surprise us with. Here are just two of the things Focus will be working on next year.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: news December 30, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

2014 Year in Review

On a wall of our offices at Focus on the Family we have a Bible verse prominently posted. It reads:

“All the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.” – 2 Chronicles 29:36

That verse comes to mind every December when our public relations team compiles a news release of the year’s highlights.

It’s amazing to look back and realize what God has accomplished for His glory and for the benefit of families… all “quickly,” in a year.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: news, promos December 11, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why We Share the Blame for the Redefinition of Marriage

Facts are stubborn things,” wrote John Adams. “Whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

And so, by that measure, there’s been a lot of conjecture and spin surrounding the push to redefine the sacred institution of marriage.

But what are the facts? Where does the issue concerning same-sex marriage currently stand?

Consider:

Same-sex marriage is now legal or nearly so in 35 states.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, marriage, news November 19, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

From Chick-fil-A to the U.S. Senate

By now you likely know that South Carolina’s Tim Scott has become the first African-American Republican from the South to be elected to the United States Senate since Reconstruction.

Logic dictates that he won the seat because more people voted for him than voted for his opponent.

But there’s more to the story.

Isn’t there always?

How Tim got to the night of November 4th is a tale almost too good to be true.

But it isn’t.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, family, news, policy November 12, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Five Things Last Night’s Election Taught Us

Let the spinning begin.

Pundits and analysts from both sides of the political spectrum are deciphering, interpreting and calculating the impact of last night’s mid-term elections. Our own public policy analysts were up late into the night closely watching the returns from across the country.

What’s our take?

I’ve lived long enough and seen enough to subscribe to the old adage that rarely is anything as good as you hope for – or as bad as you fear.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy November 5, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura