Faith and Law

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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Declinism is in the air in certain circles, and it coincides with the conclusion of some historians that 250 years is roughly the lifespan of great superpowers. How do Christians understand such cyclical views of history, and what are the genuine grounds for confidence in the possibility of renewal. Christians are not called to be Pollyannas, but what should our realistic position be?

Os Guinness, Anglo-Irishman, author, and social critic, joined us to discuss this timely and important topic.

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We live in times when low-grade nihilism simmers just beneath the surface of everyday conversation, the desire for impact birthed in secular zeal soon stymied by chokeholds of institutional breakdown and pixelated trust. 

We call out injustice in public but feel squeamish about acknowledging our contributions to it. We text expressions of care to one another but lack the creativity to prove it off-screen. We feel exhausted by the ever-accelerating pace of modern life, by performative politics, by the cultural demand to keep up appearances and continually refine our own identities. Cynical indifference is tempting an entire generation of young adults.

Even as we long for experiences of beauty, transcendence, and meaningful co-creation have we lost the ability to find the quiet space required to discern the movement of God?

Anne Snyder, editor-in-chief of Comment magazine, joined us to explore a series of principles that can field regeneration, bear fruit, and change history’s direction for the better.

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The kind of people we are, has much to do with the kind of public life we have. Spiritual formation is central to civic renewal. 

Michael Wear, Founder, President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, joined us to share ideas outlined in his new book, The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life.

He encouraged us to consider reframing how we view our political involvement as Christians, why who we are in our political life is not quarantined from who we are in "real life," and how we can seek a gentler, healthier politics, all while living and working on Capitol Hill.

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Every child is capable of being an agent of their own uplift provided they are given the resources to inform the decisions that will make them successful adults. 

Ian Rowe, Sr. Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute discussed four factors that are crucial for children to overcome the victimhood narrative and discover their pathway to power: family, religion, education, and entrepreneurship.

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Faith and Law hosted our yearly panel discussion with Capitol Hill veterans to explore ethical issues encountered by Hill staff, especially as they reach senior leadership positions. Panelists including John Cusey, Melika McKinnis, and John Shelton shared their stories of success and failure as they navigated the complicated ethical waters of the Hill. The discussion was moderated by Bill Wichterman, President of the board of Faith and Law.

Due to technical issues with one of the hearing room microphones, parts of our recording have subpar audio quality. We regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

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As a leader of the largest ever global study on human flourishing, Dr. Byron Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University and Visiting Distinguished Professor in the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University, joined us to discuss why a "focus on flourishing" is important for all policymakers whatever their political party. 

In conversation with Pepperdine School of Public Policy Dean Pete Peterson, Dr. Johnson went beyond the theoretical to reveal what the latest data are telling us about the importance of faith in promoting healthy societies, and how policy decisions can either inhibit or promote human flourishing.

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Gary Haugen's firsthand experience investigating systemic human rights abuses helped him recognize a troubling pattern: people living in the world’s poorest communities experienced constant physical danger because their local justice systems weren’t equipped to defend them from the violence they faced every day. Haugen was told that this would never change, but he believed otherwise, leading to the founding of International Justice Mission (IJM). Since 1997, IJM's reach has expanded globally into 31 program offices in 16 countries working to combat trafficking and slavery, violence against women and children and police abuse of power.

Still, these issues of violence persist, affecting millions around the world – an estimated 50 million people live modern slavery globally and nearly 736 million women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.

Government officials in the United States are uniquely positioned to create policies and foreign assistance programs that protect vulnerable people from these human rights abuses. How can policymakers work to increase access to justice, hold criminals accountable, and reduce the prevalence of violence and exploitation?

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