Dear Friends:
After months of television and radio ads, robocalls, political signs, and constant chatter about the election, we are now in the final stretch! With less than 5 days until Election Day—Tuesday, November 6—we are rapidly approaching the conclusion of what has been a busy and sometimes tumultuous election cycle.
Last week, the frontpage of the Santa Fe New Mexican featured a story about St. Anne Parish Catholic Church in Santa Fe. According to the article, some Santa Fe residents raised concerns about a sign above the church’s doors, encouraging parishioners to “Vote Pro-Life.” In response, Father Larry Brito, St. Anne’s pastor, stated, “If we were standing up for immigrants, nobody would complain. But when we stand up for others who have no voice, the 4,000 children a day who are killed by abortion, they complain. It would be a great disservice to be quiet during this holocaust.”
Then, over the weekend, the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Albuquerque Journal published a full-page advertisement that included a New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (NMCCB) statement on the “dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.” In the 2017 statement, the bishops expressed their firm opposition to abortion and physician-assisted suicide, stating, “Support for abortion or doctor-assisted suicide is not in accord with the teachings of the Church. These represent the direct taking of human life, and are always wrong.” Earlier this week, the NMCCB objected to the statement being used for “political advertising.”
These stories and others point to the frequent intersection of faith and politics, and the need for people of faith to vote in accordance with their faith—not their party.
So if you have not already voted, please do so this week or on Election Day, and please remember to VOTE CHRISTIAN!
- EARLY VOTING continues through Saturday, November 3. For information about early voting in your area, you can look up early voting locations hereor you can call your county clerk.
- ELECTION DAY VOTING on Tuesday, November 6, begins at 7AM and closes at 7PM. Information regarding Election Day voting locations is available here.
- SAMPLE BALLOTS and other information are available here by entering your voter registration information
- Additional election-related information is also available on our website.
Thank you again for exercising your civic responsibility and for standing with us in our efforts to defend and strengthen the family, life, and religious freedom!
Together in Christ,
Vince Torres
President and Executive Director
“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” -Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)
“Prayer is the language that moves heaven. Voting is the language that will change New Mexico.”
By Paul Weber – President and CEO
Should your rights as a parent cease when your child walks into school?
Should the government determine when you’ve lived long enough?
Should you have to give up your business, career or professional license because of your faith?
These questions are being debated in legislatures across the nation right now. And, as you read this, Family Policy Alliance and our state allies are representing you, your values and your family on these (and more) policy issues.
In addition to these, we face a critical mid-term election that will determine the balance for the family in Washington, D.C., as well as in statehouses across the nation.
Family Policy Alliance stands ready to engage with your continued partnership today.
Over a century ago in 1905, humorist Mark Twain—not known as a Christian—made a significant observation as quoted in Collier’s magazine: “If Christians should vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease.” When you support Family Policy Alliance, you put Twain’s comments into action.
Our theme verse at Family Policy Alliance is this: “. . . the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (Dan. 11:32b). Will you stand with us today—so pro-family voters can take action in both the primaries and in the general election?
Thank you in advance for your consideration and ongoing support.
Paul Weber
President and CEO
Eli had been old enough to vote for several years, but because he felt unsure about the issues and candidates, he never registered or took part in elections.
But after Eli attended an event with our president Paul Weber, he made a decision: He voted in a mid-term election. And now he’s teaching his students the importance of engaging.
Join us in our efforts to motivate pro-family voters.
My children are always teasing me when I ask a question, saying, “Dad . . . just Google it!”
So, I did. I typed “expectations of citizens” in my browser and about.com listed the following Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens:
- Support and defend the Constitution.
- Serve the country when required.
- Participate in the democratic process.
- Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
- Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
- Participate in your local community.
That’s an excellent list! What would America look like if we all did this? Our nation would be transformed! How? Because, to support and defend the Constitution, you must study it. To participate in the democratic process, you must be an informed voter. To truly respect others, you must get to know them. To shape the future of your community, you must engage with your neighbors.
What I found most interesting is that those seeking to become U.S. citizens are also expected to do these things: “As a new U.S. citizen, it is your duty to give back to your adopted nation by fulfilling these responsibilities.”
At Family Policy Alliance, we educate and equip American Christians to engage as biblical citizens. We call that unleashing citizenship. We take this responsibility seriously and through our alliance of nearly 40 state-based organizations, we are seeing results.
Those born here often take their citizenship for granted. Yet, those who sacrifice to come to our shores and lawfully seek citizenship understand it’s their duty to give back.
May we all embrace this duty with a little more diligence?
Paul Weber
President and CEO
Family Policy Alliance
The vice-presidential debate is now long over and forgotten. But toward the end of the debate, both candidates—self-proclaimed Christians—were asked to “discuss in detail a time when you struggled to balance your personal faith and a public policy position.”
Democratic candidate Tim Kaine responded: “I try to practice my religion in a very devout way and follow the teachings of my church in my own personal life. But I don’t believe that in this nation, a First Amendment nation, where we don’t raise any religion over the other, and we allow people to worship as they please, that the doctrines of any one religion should be mandated for everyone.” He went on to say that he and Hillary Clinton support Roe v. Wade and “a woman’s right to choose.”
In contrast, Republican candidate Mike Pence, now vice president-elect, said: “I would tell you that for me the sanctity of life proceeds out of the belief that . . . where God says before you were formed in the womb, I knew you, and so . . . I sought to stand with great compassion for the sanctity of life.” He continued, “so for me, my faith informs my life.”
One’s natural response was to paraphrase the Constitution and a Supreme Court ruling to justify his support for abortion on demand. The other’s was to cite God’s Word and how it directs his steps.
Both men’s faith teaches personhood at conception. Yet, only one aligns his actions with his faith.
We saw during that debate the contrast between a politician and a statesman—a person who stands firm and takes action (Dan. 11:32b) regardless of the personal consequences.
Your sacrificial gifts are training and discipling people like Mike Pence as Family Policy Foundation Statesmen. What a hopeful future we are building together!
Paul Weber
President and CEO
Family Policy Alliance
2016 marks the first time Meridian will be able to vote for President. It’s a challenging year for that, but she says it’s still important for you to vote.
YOU can help reach others like Meridian today!
Each $30 you give will rally 50 pro-family voters to the polls
to cast ballots for family, life and religious freedom.
The media attention is focused on the presidential race, but there are many important Senate races at stake around the country.
John Paulton, director of political operations for Family Policy Alliance, outlines the importance of maintaining the Senate and which races could make all the difference.
Beginning September 30, If 7:14 is calling people to pray twice a day for 40 days leading up to the election.
The campaign, #Focus4Forty, hopes to inspire Americans to pray for revival during one of the most contentious elections in recent history. You can download the If 7:14 app and receive a reminder twice a day to pray (there’s no cost and you won’t be put on any lists).
“America needs God,” said Bob Vander Plaats, creator of If 7:14. “And, it needs God’s people to pray. How they vote after that is between them and God, but we know that people praying for America are more likely to make a godly choice in the election booth.”
This weekend marks Citizenship Sunday – the kickoff of a national voter registration drive prior to the November election.
In 2008, millions of voters stayed home, giving the final count to Barack Obama and four more years of progressive policies that have taken aim at life, family, marriage and religious freedom.
We can take steps to make sure that doesn’t happen in 2016.
The drive begins on September 18 and runs until the day voter registration ends in your state. You can register to vote and find other information about polling places, absentee voting, and early voting where you live. Family Policy Alliance is encouraging people to share this information with family and friends and on social media.
“Now, more than ever, we need people to go to the polls,” said Paul Weber, president and CEO of Family Policy Alliance. “There are so many down-ticket races and issues on the ballot this year that need our attention. Simply bowing out is not an option.”
The media often act as if the only election is for the presidency. But so much more is at stake.
Top on the list is control of the U.S. Senate. That is critical for many reasons, especially for confirming or rejecting judicial nominees.
One example of a critical Senate race is in Florida, where Family Policy Alliance already has field staff on the ground. They’re leading teams who are calling and knocking on doors—reaching key pro-family citizens who are inconsistent voters and need your encouragement to go vote this November.
“We are thankful to partner with Family Policy Alliance in this year’s critical efforts to get pro-family voters to the polls,” says John Stemberger, president of Family Policy Alliance’s state group Florida Family Action. “This is the kind of on-the-ground work that wins elections, and we are grateful for the strategic support of the Family Policy Alliance team, which makes this project successful.”
Also, Family Policy Alliance is focused on key state legislative races that could make a huge difference in protecting life and religious freedom. For example, a change of just three seats in the Kentucky House could pave the way for passage of a host of pro- family protections that are currently being blocked.
And because judges so often strike down pro-family legislation, Family Policy Alliance is working to hold judges accountable. Among states we are focused on is Kansas, where several activist liberal judges are facing key retention votes.
Every candidate would have you believe that their race is the most important. But Family Policy Alliance does the digging for you to find the races around the country that really matter the most—and where additional resources will make a difference for your values.
That’s why one of the smartest ways for you to support pro-family election efforts is by investing in your Family Policy Alliance. When you do, you’ll influence the outcome of important down-ticket races. Will you partner with Family Policy Alliance today, to educate and rally pro-family Americans to the polls this fall?