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
What Lawmakers Can Do to Protect Rights of Pro-Life Medical Professionals
James Madison once wrote that “Conscience is the most sacred of all property.” Sadly, over the course of the Obama administration, there has been an effort to strip away this most precious right when it is pitted against preferred liberal causes, such as abortion. Whatever you think about abortion, no one should be forced to…Jana Minich -
- News
Planned Parenthood’s Virtual Reality Exhibit on Abortion Isn’t ‘Real,’ Pro-Life Groups Say
Planned Parenthood’s virtual reality exhibit promoting access to abortion at the Democratic National Convention doesn’t depict reality, pro-life groups tell The Daily Signal. The nation’s largest abortion provider “is using technology and computer-generated imagery to perpetuate lies about the pro-life movement as a whole, and to advance its abortion brand,” pro-life advocate Arina Grossu said. Planned…Leah Jessen -
- News
‘No American Should Be Forced to Participate in Abortion,’ Says Pastor Following Pro-Life Vote
Seated in the House gallery, one man watched the vote on the Conscience Protection Act with all the intensity of a general going into war. On July 13, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, which intended to protect the rights of health care providers, churches, and other groups that object to participating in abortion….Josh Shepherd -
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At Religious Liberty Hearing, Democrats Unlikely Backers of Atlanta Fire Chief
The story of the former Atlanta fire chief who was fired from his job after publishing a book that addressed marriage and sexuality from a biblical perspective took center stage at a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill, with witnesses from both sides of the aisle voicing disapproval of the city’s decision to terminate the decorated…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Religious Liberty and Same-Sex Marriage Takes Center Stage in Congress
Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle are bracing for what is likely to be a contentious hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill over legislation aimed at protecting individuals and organizations who hold traditional views about marriage and sexuality. The long-awaited hearing, called by Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, will…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Stands by and Watches as Religious Freedom Is Curtailed
Last week, in a development which is a loss for freedom, pluralism, and tolerance in America, the Supreme Court declined to take up the case of Stormans v. Wiesman. This should not be a difficult case. It involves pharmacy owners (members of the Stormans family) who do not want to dispense certain drugs that can…Travis Weber -
- Opinion
Why Americans Should Care About Attacks on Religious Liberty in Russia
There are troubling new developments in Russia. Russia’s parliament, the Federal Assembly, has just approved so-called anti-terrorism legislation that criminalizes free speech and that attacks religious liberty. If President Vladimir Putin signs this into law in the coming weeks, it will be illegal for Christians to share their faith outside of a church building, as if…Sen. Ben Sasse -
- News
Religious Freedom Bill Creeps Forward in Congress
A bill designed to protect individuals and nonprofit organizations from being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs may soon gain traction in the House of Representatives. After a year of inaction, the bill, called the First Amendment Defense Act, will get a hearing on July 12, The Daily Signal has learned. The First Amendment…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
A Supreme Court Justice’s Dire Warning for Those Who Value Religious Freedom
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a case challenging a Washington state law that forces a family-owned pharmacy to dispense emergency contraceptives is an “ominous sign” for those who value religious freedom, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said. “If this is a sign of how religious liberty claims will be treated in the years…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
‘Clueless’ Star Stacey Dash Talks About Being Pro-Life and Pro-Gun in Hollywood
Hollywood is not friendly territory for conservatives, something actress Stacey Dash found out in 2012 when she tweeted out her support for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The “Clueless” star sat down with The Daily Signal to talk about her experience stepping into the political fray. Dash also speaks about her new book, “There Goes…Genevieve Wood -
- Opinion
Persecution of Pro-Life Doctors Isn’t Limited to Cuba. It Happens Here.
Want to know a good way to get yourself expelled from your life’s work and jailed in Cuba? Be pro-life. Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet, who is an Afro-Cuban physician and human rights activist in Cuba, is living proof. He, and a few others, went out in public and held up a piece of cardboard which read: “Aborto Asesinato de Niños” (“Abortion,…Chuck Donovan -
- Opinion
Latest Assault on Religious Freedom: Illinois Abortion Bill Restricts Doctors and May Violate Federal Law
In the latest assault on the First Amendment right of Americans to freely exercise their religious beliefs, the Illinois Legislature has passed a bill that will force doctors to violate their religious convictions about the immorality of abortions. Illinois SB 1564 has passed both houses and is headed to the governor to sign or veto. This…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
‘We Will Never Be Silent’: Mississippi Governor Receives Religious Freedom Award
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant received a religious freedom award Thursday evening in Washington, D.C., for his courage to protect and stand up for the religious rights of citizens in his state. “We want to honor those who have courage,” Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said. Perkins honored Bryant, a Republican, with the Family Research…Leah Jessen -
- News
How a Pro-Life Video Changes Minds on Abortion
A pro-life advocacy group published a series of man-on-the-street interviews to make the case that some pro-choice Americans shift to a pro-life position when encountered with the reality of abortion. On Tuesday, Live Action, a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, released a video that showcases a series of self-proclaimed pro-choice Americans watching a four-minute video…Faith Vander Voort -
- Opinion
House Rejects Amendment That Would Have Curtailed Religious Freedom
On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to reject the Maloney Amendment. The Maloney Amendment would have ratified President Barack Obama’s executive order barring federal contractors from what it describes as “discrimination” on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in their private employment policies. And, of course, “discrimination” on the basis of gender identity…Ryan T. Anderson -
- Opinion
What We Should Learn After Religious Liberty Fight in Missouri
By now you’ve likely read or heard of the knock-down, drag-out fight that we had at the Missouri Legislature on Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 39. If passed by simple legislative majorities, SJR 39 would have placed a ballot question on either the August or November ballot pertaining to religious liberty. Missouri voters would then decide…Gregg Keller -
- Opinion
Big Business Helps Squash Voters on Religious Liberty Debate
When it comes to religious liberty debates, big businesses don’t want the people to decide. Or at least they don’t want the people of Missouri to decide. While the more explosive battles in Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina about bills regarding religious liberty and LGBT accommodations have gained national attention, Missouri has flown mostly under…Katrina Trinko -
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Attempt to Send Religious Liberty Bill Straight to the People Fails in Missouri
A measure that attempted to take the power away from Missouri lawmakers and give it to the people to decide how to handle the marriage and religious liberty debate died in committee Wednesday after three Republicans voted against it. “It is unfortunate that Republican representatives who typically campaign as conservatives refused to govern that way,”…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
US Commission on Civil Rights Fails to Understand Religious Liberty Laws
The United States Commission on Civil Rights has issued a statement slamming what it described as “so-called ‘religious liberty’” laws in North Carolina, Mississippi, Kansas, and Tennessee that supposedly “target members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (‘LGBT’) community for discrimination.” A nine-page dissent released by two members of the eight-member commission defended both the commonsense…J. A. Clark -
- News
Colorado Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Christian Baker’s Appeal on Gay Wedding Cakes
The Colorado Supreme Court will not review the case of a Denver-area “cake artist” ordered by the state government to bake and decorate cakes to celebrate same-sex marriages. Lawyers for Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo., said they are evaluating his legal options. “We asked the Colorado Supreme Court to take this…Leah Jessen