Religious News
The Daily Signal reports on faith and religion in America, covering Christian, Jewish, and other faith communities, with analysis and commentary on cultural trends, religious liberty, and moral issues that influence public life.
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- Opinion
Podcast: Reaching High Schoolers, College Students With the Pro-Life Message
Are young Americans open to the pro-life message? Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, joins us to discuss the work her organization does, and how they help pro-life students reach students with different views. Plus: Justin Bieber tells Vogue magazine he decided, after he and his now wife started dating again, to…Katrina Trinko -
- News
At Prayer Breakfast, Trump Touts ‘Historic Action to Protect Religious Liberty’
President Donald Trump spoke up for life and religious freedom Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast, two days after making similar appeals during his State of the Union address. “To ensure that people of faith can always contribute to society, my administration has taken historic action to protect religious liberty,” Trump said during his remarks…Fred Lucas -
- News
This Democratic Lawmaker Explains Why She’s Pro-Life
“Being pro-life isn’t a party issue, it’s based on a value system. Caring about every stage of life is pro-life.” These are words from Democrat Katrina Jackson, an African-American state legislator from Louisiana who shared her personal story of becoming an advocate for both life and women’s health in an interview with The Daily Signal….Joshua Q. Nelson -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Coach Kennedy’s Religious Freedom Case. Here’s Why There’s Still Hope.
The Supreme Court decided last week to not review the case of Joe Kennedy, a Washington state football coach who was fired for praying with his players. But the game isn’t over yet. We have reason to believe the Supreme Court might revisit the case and rule in Kennedy’s favor. Kennedy made headlines after he…Michael Berry -
- Opinion
2 Democrats Are Trying to Trample a Faith-Based Foster Care Provider’s Religious Freedom
We celebrated Jan. 16 as National Religious Freedom Day, an annual reminder of why religious freedom is so important to our country. This fundamental right means that everyone is free to pursue the truth without the threat of government coercion, and everyone is free to live by his or her conscience. This freedom precedes any law…Monica Burke -
- News
Marking Anniversary of Religious Freedom Law, Acting AG Whitaker Laments Loss of Support From Left
In 1993, President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, signed broad consensus legislation to protect religious liberty, with support from religious conservative groups and the American Civil Liberties Union alike, which helped it sail through Congress. Twenty-five years later, however, religious freedom has become a highly contentious issue, and many Democrats and liberal groups have sought to…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
A Christian Baker’s New Legal Fight With Colorado Is a Matter of Fairness
Most of us understand the importance of fairness early in life. Whether it’s an umpire’s call in Little League or a teacher’s grading in elementary school, we all intuitively know that fairness is a big deal. But fairness perhaps is no more important than when our rights are in the hands of courts or other…Jim Campbell -
- News
Judge Says Christian Baker Jack Phillips’ Lawsuit Against Civil Rights Officials Can Proceed
A federal judge in Denver rejected Colorado’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that state civil rights officials are waging a campaign of harassment against Jack Phillips, the Christian baker at issue in the landmark Masterpiece Cakeshop case. Three weeks after Phillips prevailed at the Supreme Court, a state anti-discrimination panel issued a new probable cause…Kevin Daley -
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Envoy Says Trump Willing to ‘Stand Up and Push’ for Global Religious Freedom
President Donald Trump is committed to pushing for greater tolerance of different faiths by governments around the world and dismantling an “iron curtain of religious persecution,” his envoy for religious freedom said in an interview with The Daily SIgnal. “Most people in the world move by what their faith tells them,” Sam Brownback, the former…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Podcast: Religious Freedom in Hard Places
Religious freedom is a legacy of the American founding, but unfortunately, on the world stage, religious freedom is often the exception rather than the rule. Today, our colleague Rachel del Guidice sits down with Sam Brownback, the former governor of Kansas who is now ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. They discuss some of his efforts…Daniel Davis -
- News
Pro-Life Movement Sees Hope in Trump, Senate in Wake of Republicans’ Losses in House
It may seem that pro-life activists have a steeper hill to climb after the results of the midterm election results, but one of the movement’s leaders says he sees avenues for hope. “When you’re in the minority, there are ways you can kind of build up your base,” Tom McClusky, vice president of government affairs for…Troy Worden -
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BREAKING: Trump Administration Seeks ‘Pro-Life, Pro-Science’ Alternatives to Fetal Tissue Research
The Trump administration is investing up to $20 million for the next two years to determine effective alternatives to using tissue from aborted babies for research. The announcement Monday from the Department of Health and Human Services comes after the administration in September terminated a government contract with California-based Advanced Bioscience Resources Inc. to provide…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Podcast: The Pro-Life Victories in the Midterm Elections
There was a lot of good news for pro-lifers in the 2018 election results—and proof that talking about pro-life values is the way to win over, not lose, voters. Mallory Quigley, vice president of communications for the Susan B. Anthony List, joins us to discuss the group’s door-to-door efforts, and what they saw through contact…Katrina Trinko -
- Opinion
Washington State, ACLU Aren’t Letting Up in Crusade Against Florist’s Religious Liberty
How would you like to attend a political rally featuring President Donald Trump? How about one featuring former President Barack Obama? Even better—why don’t you attend both? You get to help decorate the stage. You can even create a banner setting forth that party’s platform. Given our polarized political climate, it’s a safe bet that…James Gottry -
- News
Judge Bans Enforcement of California Law Requiring Pro-Life Groups to Promote Abortion
A federal judge in San Diego has permanently barred enforcement of California’s Reproductive FACT Act, which requires pro-life crisis pregnancy centers to disseminate information about abortion. The Friday order follows a June 26 Supreme Court decision that found that the FACT Act likely violates the First Amendment. “The government has no business forcing anyone to express a…Kevin Daley -
- Opinion
We Hear You: Remembering American History, Learning From the Russians, and Understanding Religious Freedom
Editor's note: Our audience responded to Jarrett Stepman's commentary on Americans' weakening grasp on their history. Some of that feedback leads off this week's collection of comments. Write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Excellent wake-up moment, Jarrett Stepman (“Americans Have Almost Entirely Forgotten Their History”). Now how do we correct this disparity? I agree…Ken McIntyre -
- News
Christian Baker Jack Phillips Asks Court to Halt New Civil Rights Prosecution
Jack Phillips, the Christian "cake artist" of Masterpiece Cakeshop fame, asked a federal court Tuesday to temporarily stop a new civil rights prosecution brought against him by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Three weeks after Phillips prevailed June 4 at the U.S. Supreme Court, the state agency issued a probable cause determination finding that he likely discriminated…Kevin Daley -
- News
March for Life Theme in 2019 Is ‘Pro-Life Is Pro-Science’
The organization which holds “the largest pro-life event in the world” has formally announced the theme for its next march in 2019: “Unique from day one: Pro-life is pro-science.” This Thursday the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, a pro-life organization which aims to “end abortion by uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in…Troy Worden -
- Opinion
The Supreme Court Recently Sided With Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers. The Ripple Effect Has Begun.
Pregnancy centers were victorious at the Supreme Court earlier this summer, and that win is having a major ripple effect. In NIFLA v. Becerra, the court ruled 5-4 that states cannot require pro-life pregnancy centers to post advertisements promoting abortion, holding that such laws would violate the free speech rights of those centers. The ruling…Moira Gaul -
- Opinion
Christian Bakers’ Victory at UK Supreme Court Keeps Free Speech Alive
Earlier this year, Christian cake artist Jack Phillips won a resounding 7-2 victory at the Supreme Court against those who tried to force him to custom design a cake for a same-sex wedding, against his religious beliefs. A similar case has just played out across the pond, and the victory for religious liberty is equally…Jay Hobbs