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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- News
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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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Promoting Religious Liberty Affirms ‘Human Dignity,’ Pompeo Tells Values Voter Summit
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed Friday that the Trump administration is committed to religious liberty, both at home and abroad. Speaking at the conservative Values Voter Summit in Washington, Pompeo said that more than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries that place significant limitations on religious freedom. He singled out Iran…Fred Lucas -
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Colorado Baker Talks About New Religious Freedom Struggle With State
Jack Phillips, owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop, is confronting yet another struggle with the state of Colorado. This time, the state is investigating the Christian baker for declining to bake a gender transition cake that is pink on the inside and blue on the outside. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which lost in a 7-2…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Christian Cake Baker Turns the Tables, Sues Colorado for Anti-Religious Bias
Jack Phillips owns Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, and is himself a master baker. He’s in trouble with the state of Colorado for declining to create a custom cake for an event because doing so would violate his religious beliefs. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Phillips has already taken a similar case all the…Thomas Jipping -
- News
Colorado Targets Christian Baker Again Despite Supreme Court’s Cake Ruling
The Colorado Civil Rights Commission is going after Christian baker Jack Phillips again, although the Masterpiece Cakeshop owner won a resounding 7-2 decision in June before the U.S. Supreme Court. The state commission moved against Phillips after a lawyer asked him to design and bake a custom cake celebrating a gender transition, pink on the…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
How Religious Freedom Erodes, One Step at a Time
Last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the formation of a new Task Force on Religious Liberty at the Department of Justice. The action came on the heels of a ministerial summit on religious freedom, which explored how religious freedom is under attack around the globe. At the summit, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and…Emilie Kao -
- Opinion
Major US Initiative Could Spark New Era of Expanding Religious Freedom
Last week may have marked an inflection point for international religious freedom. Historically, governments that strongly protect religious freedom have been a rarity. It is no small thing, then, that essentially all countries are now willing at least to pay lip service to the idea, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that religious…Kelsey Zorzi -
- News
What Jeff Sessions’ New Task Force Will Do to Defend Religious Freedom
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a task force on religious liberty Monday to build on President Donald Trump’s earlier executive action to provide protections for what some call Americans’ “first freedom” under the First Amendment. “A dangerous movement, undetected by many, is now challenging and eroding our great tradition of religious freedom,” Sessions said in…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Podcast: The Importance of Religious Freedom Around the World
Aaron Rhodes, president of the Forum for Religious Freedom Europe and author of “The Debasement of Human Rights: How Politics Sabotage the Ideal of Freedom,” joins us to talk about religious freedom around the world. Plus: San Francisco is considering effectively banning tech companies from providing free lunches.Katrina Trinko