Students across the country rely on faith-based organizations for community, faith, and assistance. However, their right to freely operate and be recognized are in jeopardy right now.
The Biden Administration issued in February a “proposed rule and request for information” on existing Education Department policies that afford protections for all religious student organizations on college campuses.
Essentially, Biden’s Education Department is proposing to revoke key regulations that leveled the playing field for religious organizations. These regulations, for instance, allow religious organizations to have certain requirements on their group’s leadership or membership. For example, a Christian group at a university might have a statement of faith that its leaders are required to sign. That helps ensure that those in leadership are committed to advancing the Christian goals of the group – just like any secular group might want its own leaders to align with its goals. Under current protections, the Christian group could set their requirement without fear of retribution from their university. But now, the Biden Administration wants to revoke those protections.
The Education Department wants you to believe that the Trump Administration’s work in 2020 to protect religious organizations was confusing for institutions of higher education or “not necessary to protect the First Amendment right to free speech and free exercise of religion.” They are conveniently billing this as a way to protect religious liberty.
We disagree and campus organizations who have been kicked off campuses in the past also disagree.
From promoting mental health to stable friendships that help build faith, these student organizations provide many services to our country’s young adults. And, we know that these organizations likely mean a lot to you personally, so I hope you take a moment to share those personal stories with the Education Department as they finalize the rule they have just proposed.
The Education Department is accepting your comments on this rule until Midnight E.T. on March 24th, so FPA has prepared a letter to help get you started. Below is an excerpt from that letter:
“[The 2020 rule] provided great support and reassurance to religious organizations on campuses across the country who are at risk of being punished by their schools for their faith-based nature. The Education Department serves as an important arbitrator in ensuring that Institutions of Higher Education do not trample on the rights of students to freely express their beliefs and to freely assemble. We are also concerned that all faith organizations, including minority faiths, are in jeopardy of having their right to operate their organization according to the core tenants of their belief taken away.”
Here are two steps you can take TODAY!
1. Head to our Action Center and tell the Administration today that they should cancel this rule and protect the First Amendment of religious students across the country! Please consider adding your own comments on how religious organizations have supported you in your time on campus.
2. Share this commenting opportunity with other friends and family who have also been impacted by religious organizations on campus.
I hope you will take a moment to share your concerns with the Biden Administration before it is too late!
Sincerely,
Ruth Ward
Director, Government Affairs
As you watch TV or scroll through social media, it becomes pretty clear that we live in a culture that does not follow Christ. But, we still have to relate to that culture every day. And for those who are parents, you bear the weight of helping your children grow up in this culture while learning to follow Christ.
How can we help kids see the world around them through a Biblical lens? Our guest in today’s video is one of the best people to answer that question. His name is Dr. Jeff Myers, and he’s the president of Summit Ministries, a ministry that specializes in teaching young people about biblical worldview. He talks about navigating an un-Biblical world with a Biblical worldview, a perspective that he shares with wit and wisdom. If you’ve ever found it challenging to navigate our culture or wonder how to help the kids in your life see the world through a biblical lens, you won’t want to miss this conversation!
TUNE IN on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube
10:00am PT / 11:00am MT / 12:00pm CT / 1:00pm ET
As one of the leading experts in his field, Dr Myers has a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Denver and is the author of 14 books. He’s also a faculty member for our sister Foundation’s School Board Academy.
PLUS: Use code FPA23 for $100 off Summit Ministries’ 2-week Student Conference this summer! Registrants who sign up before March 31 will also receive $200 off. Anyone 16-22 years of age is welcome to learn why the Biblical worldview is true. Attendees leave not only seeing everything around them through a Biblical lens, but they are equipped with the factual knowledge to back up the truth.
At Family Policy Alliance, our vision is a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished. To stay up to date on the fight to protect families and learn how to take action, follow us on social media!
See you in the comments section,
Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer
P.S. Have you checked out our NEW podcast? We pick the brains of newsmakers and experts to break down what’s happening now on the issues YOU care about. With new episodes weekly, you’ll be up to date on all things that affect your family. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.
We have an urgent request for your help.
The Colorado legislature has introduced a package of radical, pro-abortion bills called the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA). Senate committees are hearing these bills today, and the full Senate will likely consider them later this week. Your voice is needed to oppose them!
One of these bills, SB 190, aims to shut down Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs). PRCs provide vital resources to women experiencing a crisis pregnancy, including baby supplies, counseling, and ultrasound scans. It also bans abortion pill reversal treatment, which is a safe and proven way to attempt to reverse the effects of abortion-inducing drugs.
A second bill, SB 188, would mandate that hospitals and medical facilities retain an employee even if the employee was found to have violated the employers’ ethical standards by providing prohibited services such as abortion or transgender procedures. A Catholic hospital, for example, would not be allowed to end employment of a physician who performed abortions at the hospital.
Finally, a third bill, SB 189, attempts to circumvent Colorado’s prohibition against public funding of abortion by requiring that the insurance plans that cover most Coloradans include full abortion coverage.
These bills would advance a radical, dangerous, anti-life agenda. Send a message to your senator today requesting that they vote “No” on the Reproductive Health Equity Act – it only takes a moment using the form below.
Now is the time to speak up to protect the sanctity of life and medical ethics in Colorado!
Sincerely,
Joseph Kohm III
Director, Public Policy
March is Women’s History Month, and we are excited to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments and successes of women. So many women—like Susan B. Anthony and Justice Amy Coney Barrett—have fought for the right to vote, to excel in their fields, to overcome odds, to win national championships and to protect the innocence of the unborn.
However, President Joe Biden this month paints a very different picture of women’s rights in our country in his proclamation on Women’s History Month. He states that the Dobbs decision is a systematic barrier to equal opportunity and recommits to defending abortion, including dangerous chemical abortion pills.
The proclamation’s regrettable call to action for Congress is “to pass a federal law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade so all women in every State have the right to choose.”
And, Congress quickly responded to the President’s call. Forty-eight Senators introduced the so-called “Women’s Health Protection Act,” which would expand abortion until birth for any reason were it to pass.
Just this past week, President Biden also released his annual budget, which again commits his administration to the destruction of life and calls on Congress to pass this legislation that allows for abortion on demand until birth. Here are a few of the more concerning highlights from his budget we wanted to share with you:
❌Commits to continue fighting for abortions and gender affirming care at Veterans’ Administration clinics
❌Increases funding for the mis-guided United Nations Population Fund
❌Increases funding to Planned Parenthood through Title X funding
❌Touts his two Executive Orders and Presidential Memorandum that expand access to chemical abortions, undermine the conscience rights of medical doctors, and expand access for those traveling out of state for abortions to circumvent their own state laws
It is still unclear whether the administration recognizes what defines a woman as they set out to undermine women’s sports and health care, at the same time as they advance radical gender ideology in our schools.
But, one thing is clear. The Biden administration and the Left have made abortion for any reason, at any time the ONE thing that defines a woman’s ability to succeed. We wholeheartedly disagree.
Women deserve better.
Women have God-given unique characteristics that should be celebrated this month, not undermined by a radical mantra from the Left that has refused to define a woman as anything but a biological woman. This has left women vulnerable in sports competitions, the prison system and in schools as they are forced to embrace biological men as a female peer.
Together, we will continue to celebrate the great achievements that have been made by women regardless of what a small minority promotes. This month, be sure to celebrate the great accomplishments of the moms, daughters, and sisters in your own life!
Sincerely,
Ruth Ward
Director, Government Affairs
Dear Friend,
We made a slight mistake yesterday regarding the timing of a bill that we asked you to take action on. There are two critical Texas bills that both deal with the transgender agenda. The bill to protect minors from transgender drugs and surgeries (S.B. 14) should be heard soon. But the priority bill – being heard on Monday in the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee – is the bill to protect women’s sports (S.B. 15).
For those of you who have taken action on S.B. 14 already, thank you! You are ahead of the curve—that bill will be heard soon, and we will update you as needed.
But Senate Bill 15 is equally important, and we urgently need your help to ensure it passes out of committee on Monday! That’s when the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee will consider S.B. 15, a bill to protect women’s collegiate sports in Texas. The bill protects female college athletes from having to compete against biologically male athletes.
In recent months, we have seen the stories about an Ivy League man dominating women’s swimming events. He has illegitimately broken women’s records and taken the place of deserving women on the winners’ platform, including at both the Ivy League and NCAA National Championships. Parents are now concerned for their daughters’ sports scholarships and educational opportunities. It is a travesty and one which we need to prevent from happening in Texas.
Along with our friends at Texas Values, who have been critical to the effort to get this bill passed, we need your help making sure it becomes law. The Senate State Affairs Committee will consider S.B. 15 on Monday, and we need you to send a message to your Senator today urging them to vote “Yes” on S.B. 15 and ensure female college athletes in Texas will not have to compete against men.
Let’s ensure the playing field is level for women’s sports! Discrimination against women in the name of social expediency has no place in Texas. Send a message to your senator today requesting that they vote “Yes” on S.B. 15 – it only takes a moment using the form below.
Now is the time to speak up to protect women’s sports in Texas!
Sincerely,
Joseph Kohm III
Director, Public Policy
More and more children are being pushed toward transgender interventions. This often begins with puberty blockers and eventually progresses to cross-sex hormones and even surgery. Many of the resulting physical changes, like sterilization or mastectomies, are irreversible.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the rise in transitions is producing more people who regret that decision. Despite the permanent changes, many of them eventually try to return to living as their biological sex. They’re known as “detransitioners,” and those who choose to publicly share their stories are incredibly courageous.
That’s why at Family Policy Alliance we are glad to recognize Detransition Awareness Day, happening this year on March 12 (Sunday).
Whether you personally know someone who has struggled to embrace their biological sex, or you simply want to be more educated on the issue, this weekend is a great time to learn more.
Below are three resources to help you get started.
- Hear from someone who lived it. Our CEO and President, Craig DeRoche, recently sat down with Erin Brewer, a woman who greatly struggled as a child to embrace her female body but now advocates to protect children from this harmful ideology. Watch now on Facebook or YouTube, or listen to our podcast episode on Apple, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
- Understand the parents’ perspective. Earlier this year, we talked with reporter Brandon Showalter about his work on this issue and about a new documentary called Dead Name. While not about detransition specifically, this powerful documentary sheds light on the struggles parents face when a child chooses to “transition.” Watch now on Facebook or YouTube, or listen to our podcast episode on Apple, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
- Get the facts. If you want to learn more about the issue or how you can be involved, be sure to check out our Help Not Harm page. There, you can get answers to the most common questions, learn about the issues at stake, and find ways to take action.
As you learn more about this issue, be sure to say a prayer for those who suffer from gender dysphoria. Join us in praying for their protection from dangerous procedures, for the ability to get loving help when needed, and for hope and healing for those who have gone through with transition and are now regretting that decision.
And, while you spend time learning and praying about this issue, you can rejoice with us that there is good news: four states have already passed Help Not Harm laws, which protect children from transition and give child victims a chance to sue the medical practitioners who hurt them so much. Plus, several more states are considering similar bills this year – perhaps your state is one of them! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments.
Sincerely,
Meridian Baldacci
Director, Strategy
Dear Friend,
We have a request for your urgent help.
The Kansas legislature just passed House Bill 2238, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, a bill to protect girls sports in Kansas. The bill protects female athletes from having to compete against biologically male athletes in K-12 education and at the collegiate level.
The bill is now headed to Governor Laura Kelly’s desk and we need you to encourage her to sign it!
In recent months, we have seen the stories about an Ivy League man dominating women’s swimming events. He has illegitimately broken women’s records and taken the place of deserving women on the winners’ platform, including at both the Ivy League and NCAA National Championships. Parents are now concerned for their daughters’ sports scholarships and educational opportunities. It is a travesty and one which we need to prevent from happening in Kansas.
Along with our friends at Kansas Family Voice, who have worked tirelessly to get this bill passed, we need your help making sure it becomes law. The bill is now on Gov. Kelly’s desk, and we need you to send a message to her today urging her to keep her campaign promises and sign the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act!
Let’s ensure the playing field is level for girls’ sports! Discrimination against girls in the name of social expediency has no place in Kansas. Send a message to Gov. Kelly requesting that she sign HB 2238. It only takes a moment using the form below.
Now is the time to speak up to protect girls’ sports in Kansas!
Sincerely,
Joseph Kohm III
Director, Public Policy
We have an urgent request for your help.
We need your help protecting the next generation of Texans from woke ideology. On Monday, the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs will consider Senate Bill 14 (S.B. 14), based on our model Help Not Harm Act, and we need you to encourage them to support it.
This important bill protects vulnerable children from gender transition surgery and procedures while holding doctors accountable.
S.B. 14, based in part on our model Help Not Harm Bill, would prevent healthcare practitioners from performing dangerous, irreversible gender transition surgeries on children, including mastectomies or “top surgery.”
It would also prohibit treating children with hormone therapy and other nonsurgical gender transition procedures that cause irreversible effects like infertility and body changes. Finally, it holds doctors accountable by enabling medical malpractice suits by victims and authorizing the Texas Attorney General to enforce compliance with the law.
Our kids deserve to be kept safe from predatory medical procedures. Along with our friends at Texas Values, who have worked hard to advance these bills, we need your help to protect them.
Please send a message to your senator today, telling him or her to support S.B. 14
It only takes a minute using the form below. By doing so, you will help ensure Texas law helps, not harms, our kids.
Sincerely,
Joseph Kohm III
Director, Public Policy
Dear Friend,
We have an urgent request for your help.
We need your help protecting Iowa’s next generations from woke ideology. This week, the Iowa legislature will consider House File 623 and Senate File 538, adapted versions of our Help Not Harm model bill, and we need you to encourage them to support it!
These important bills protect vulnerable children from gender transition surgery and procedures while holding doctors accountable.
H.F. 623 and S.F. 538, based almost entirely on our model Help Not Harm Bill, would prevent healthcare practitioners from performing dangerous, irreversible gender transition surgeries on children, including mastectomies or “top surgery.”
They would also prohibit treating children with hormone therapy and other nonsurgical gender transition procedures that cause irreversible effects like infertility and body changes. Finally, they hold doctors accountable by providing a way to sue doctors that perform these procedures on children.
Our kids deserve to be kept safe from predatory medical procedures. Along with our friends at The FAMiLY Leader, who have worked tirelessly to advance these bills, we need your help to protect them.
It only takes a minute using the form below. By doing so, you will help ensure Iowa law helps, not harms, our kids.
Sincerely,
Joseph Kohm III
Director, Public Policy
Your action has led to a big pro-life development!!
You may recall that immediately following the New Year holiday the Biden administration announced that it would begin to allow pharmacies to dispense dangerous chemical abortion pills, potentially turning every pharmacy and grocery store into an abortion business – something that had never been done before.
The new guidance would permanently establish a path for doctors to phone-in abortion pills for patients – a very risky and dangerous practice for women in their first trimester of pregnancy.
Since the guidance was released in January, we have been asking our readers to contact some of the largest grocery and pharmacy chains across the nation to share their concerns and to respectfully ask that they not become an abortion business.
As of today, tens of thousands of grassroots messages have been sent, with more coming in every day.
We are excited to share that Walgreens is the first to announce that they will NOT be selling abortion pills or shipping abortion pills to over 20 states – including some where abortion remains legal. This is a direct result of actions by our national coalition and state attorneys general as well as a massive grassroots effort from readers like you.
Walgreens specifically noted that pro-life activism played a role in their decision.
That means that the actions taken by you, our readers, had an impact in this decision.
Already, Walgreens has come under attack from the Left for this decision. California Governor Newsom has stated his intention to cut off any state ties with Walgreens, despite the fact that Walgreens still intends to distribute abortion pills in over half the country. The Left will stop at nothing to undermine the safety and well-being of mothers and their unborn children.
If you took action, thank you – we appreciate your engagement and participation. The battle is far from over, but we press on encouraged by news like this.
It is worth noting that after Roe, pro-life activism has taken on a new and heightened importance.
It is because of the Dobbs decision, that states are now free to protect life like never before and to push back against the Biden administration and corporate America’s proliferation of abortion. Your pro-life voice has more influence in these matters now than it ever had after Roe was handed down in 1973.
None of the other grocers or pharmacies have taken this step. If you have not already done so, you can still send them a message by clicking HERE.
Continue to encourage local and large retail pharmacies and grocers to stand up against mounting pressure to provide these dangerous chemical abortion pills. And know that your voice is making a difference!
For Life,
Robert Noland
Director, Audience Engagement