Policy Stories

Ethics

U.S. Supreme Court case challenges gag rule on Christian counselors

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Chiles v. Salazar, a case that strikes at the heart of free speech, religious liberty, and the proper boundaries of government regulation in mental health. Counselor Kaley Chiles wants to help young people distressed about their gender achieve their chosen goal to grow comfortable with their bodies and avoid harmful drugs and procedures. But a Colorado law forbids her from doing so, and Attorney General Salazar wants to enforce the “gag rule.”
Ethics

FIRST-PERSON: Hope for the violence that plagues us

The last three days have reminded us, once again, of the frailty of human life in the face of the human capacity to inflict sudden, deadly violence upon other people.
Policy

Conservative advocate Charlie Kirk killed by gunman at a Utah campus rally

Conservative advocate Charlie Kirk was killed by a gunman at Utah Valley University Wednesday (Sept. 10). President Donald Trump paid tribute to the leader via social media calling him great and legendary.
Ethics

Sex-abuse survivors in Texas, Missouri protected from non-disclosure agreements

Texas and Missouri laws banning nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in sexual abuse settlements took effect over the Labor Day weekend.
Ethics

Not worth the gamble

In a unique move, the Osage Nation has proposed a new casino at Lake of the Ozarks under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which means it would not be subject to approval by Missourians. It would, however, need approval from the BIA (which is all but certain), as well as approval from the governor. Therefore, even though Amendment 5 was rejected, and even though Missourians have spoken, plans are still moving forward to build a new casino.
Policy

Baptist leaders urge Trump to ban abortion drug

Forty Southern Baptist state executives, officers and public policy leaders have signed on to a letter encouraging President Trump’s “immediate action” in stopping the mail-order distribution of the abortifacient mifepristone.
Ethics

Churches, religious broadcasters prevail in lawsuit challenging Johnson Amendment

The Johnson Amendment, as it formerly restricted political comments from the pulpit, is null and void, according to a July 7th binding consent judgment.
Ethics

Supreme Court restores parents’ rights to opt children out of LGBTQ storybook time

The United States Supreme Court ruled Friday (June 27) that parents of public-school children in Montgomery County, Md., have a right to opt their kids out of classroom reading times with books the school board labels as “LGBTQ inclusive.”
Policy

Ten years after Obergefell: Can the U.S. reverse course on marriage?

More than 425,000 same-sex couples had already wed in the U.S. when the Supreme Court approved such unions in the historic Obergefell v. Hodges decision June 26, 2015. Ten years later, the number of gay marriages has risen by at least 55 percent, reaching 774,553 in 2023, based on U.S. Census Bureau data as reported by Pew Research Center. Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said Obergefell did more than alter legal definitions, but “cemented a cultural rejection of God’s design for marriage.”
Ethics

Supreme Court upholds South Carolina’s effort to defund Planned Parenthood

The United States Supreme Court ruled Thursday (June 26) that South Carolina can continue its effort to defund Planned Parenthood by barring abortion clinics in the state from participating in Medicaid programs.

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