Faith and Law

Genesis 1:26 reveals that God made humankind in His image and reflecting His nature for an awesome assignment: to rule responsibly over all He has made. Being good stewards of God’s creation is a biblical mandate.

In this lecture, Dr. Jessica Moerman, climate scientist and President and CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network, addressed the debate over the causes of climate change, discussed the role of human activity on today’s global warming, while providing scripture based reasons for how environmental stewardship is part of our Christian witness and a matter of defending the life and health of the most vulnerable.

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Federal agencies have often used the regulatory process to impose mandates that infringe on key rights of religious exercise and conscience. But this spring, the Supreme Court overturned the longstanding doctrine of congressional delegation known as Chevron deference. What does that mean for congressional authority and how is religious freedom impacted by agency rules? 

Our panel featuring Laura Wolk Slavis of Becket, Paul J. Ray of the Heritage Foundation, Rachel Morrison of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and Amy Vitale of Becket, discussed this question—and how congressional staff can effectively engage the regulatory process—through the lens of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. 

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Marriage and fertility rates are lower than ever seen before in America’s history. This means that a record share of today’s young adults will never marry or have children. But the paradox is that men, women, and children in married families are much more likely to thrive socially, emotionally, and financially than their peers who don’t enjoy that safety and stability.

University of Virginia Professor Brad Wilcox of the Institute for Family Studies and American Enterprise Institute joined us to reveal what’s happening to marriage and family life, why these two institutions are losing ground, and what Washington can do to revive their fortunes in 21st-century America.

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Disagreements are easy; productive disagreements require effort. But productive disagreements are the heartbeat of a healthy democracy, a healthy team, and even a healthy family. Dr. Rick Langer and Dr. Tim Muehlhoff of Biola University joined us for a look at productive disagreements and what they ask of our hearts as well as what they ask of our speech–both toward those on the other side and also toward our own in-group

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How should we, as Christians, think about the role of government? And how should we think about our own roles as public servants? Dr. Vince Bacote, professor of theology at Wheaton College, joined us in a partnership with the Center for Public Justice for a theological discussion on government, authority, and sphere sovereignty — a term coined by 19th century Dutch theologian, politician, and pastor Abraham Kuyper.

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In a polarized world, where the public square has become increasingly hostile, how do we continue to make progress on the things we are called to build? Is it even possible to build anything at the moment?

With a strong track record of working under challenging circumstances to bring about societal change, Baroness Philippa Stroud, Member of the House of Lords and a leading public influential in the UK,  identified the steps needed to renew culture, starting with healthy institutions. Drawing on her work with the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, Stroud discussed how policymakers can foster changes in society that ensure that citizens can take hold of the opportunities in front of them and develop the personal resilience to serve over decades.

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How do we, as a people, hand down love, one generation to another? Is that the role of the law? What did previous generations know about this tradition of love and law that we, today, may have forgotten? Dr. Matthew Mehan, Associate Dean and Assistant Professor of Government at Hillsdale College joined us for a reflection on possible answers to these and related questions, drawn from revered foundational texts of the Americans who came before us. Such reflections may, perhaps, change the way we make, uphold, and, in a special way, love the law.

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Over 70 million adults in the U.S. have a criminal record. These individuals face over 44,000 government-imposed barriers to work, housing, education, and civil rights that limit their efforts to become responsible stewards of their families and communities. How can churches, businesses, law enforcement, and policymakers better unlock second chances for Americans who have paid their debt to society?

A panel of experts from Prison Fellowship joined us for a conversation about the importance of strategies that protect public safety and promote success for individuals with a criminal record.

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In the United States – and, indeed, around the world – changing demographics reflect a steadily aging population. As families grow smaller and more far-flung and as care costs escalate, conversations about elder care are complex and, often, heart breaking. While in the past it was generally presumed that care of elders was a family obligation, today that is less often the norm. 

Public policy makers who navigate this complex arena have decisions to make as to whether policy should be viewed as a way to replace the care once provided by families, as a scheme to assist families in providing this care, or a blend of both.

Lucia Silecchia, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Research at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law joined us to discuss the ways in which subsidiarity can be a critical part of these urgent conversations. 

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The days of Christianity providing a unifying moral vision for our culture (Christendom) are over. 

Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, Chairman of Ligonier Ministries joined us to discuss how Abraham Kuyper anticipated this contemporary problem facing American Christians and can help us develop a persuasive and public Christian program.

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