SPOTLIGHT: Celebrating American Independence

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, Monte Larrick interviews attorney David Shestokas, a former 2022 candidate for Illinois Attorney General. Mr. Shestokas is involved in the battle for election integrity, and is the author of two must-read books: Creating the Declaration of Independence and Constitutional Soundbites.

In this episode, Shestokas emphasizes the important role that the Declaration of Independence currently plays in preserving American freedoms. He notes,

“What the Constitution is intended to do is to execute the ideals that are found in the Declaration of Independence… the Constitution itself is a pretty mechanical document, but the Declaration of Independence defines really what it means to be an American.”

SPOTLIGHT: Crisis Pregnancy Centers Under Attack in Illinois

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, Monte Larrick interviews former state representative, Peter Breen, who now serves as the Executive Vice President of the Thomas More Society, which is a non-profit national public interest law firm that is dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, religious liberty, and election integrity. They discuss at length the tyrannical Senate Bill 1909, which is designed to shut down pro-life pregnancy care centers through litigation, fines, and more.… Continue Reading

The Left’s True Reason for Opposing Religion

Written by Brian Wencel

The Left often whines about religion being shoved in their faces, claiming that religious beliefs are being forced upon them by Christian conservatives. If you try and talk to a liberal about abortion, gay marriage, or the indoctrination occurring in the public school system, you’ll be bombarded with demands to keep religion out of government, even if you never brought your religious beliefs into the conversation in the first place. They claim to take a firm stance against having religious talk forced on people who don’t want it.… Continue Reading

A Postman “Carries the Mail” for Religious Liberty: Groff v. LeJoy

Written by Dr. John A. Sparks

In January 2019, Gerald Groff left the Holtwood Post Office in the small rural community of Holtwood, Pennsylvania, located in Lancaster County. When he left, he figured it was likely for good. He resigned his mail carrier position there because he knew that he was inching closer and closer to being fired. He had already endured various steps of the Post Office’s progressive discipline. What drove him to leave the USPS was its failure to accommodate his sincerely held religious convictions.… Continue Reading

How Christianity Has Advanced Freedom & Equality for All

Written by Dr. John D. Wilsey

Everywhere we look, we see confidence in the American experience on the wane. A recent Wall Street Journal/NORC poll found that patriotism has declined among Americans from 70% to 38% since 1997. Part of the explanation for that alarming trend is how the left creates a narrative that America is inherently a racist and oppressive nation.

Furthermore, that narrative has asserted that Christianity is a harmful religion, creating division, violence, misogyny and justifying slavery.… Continue Reading

Momentum Grows to Protect Religious Freedom in Public Schools

Written by Jorge Gomez

First Liberty’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court victories in our Coach Joe Kennedy and Treat Children Fairly cases continue bearing fruit.

Thanks to these wins, our legal experts predicted this would be a school year with more religious liberty than ever before. By God’s grace, our prediction is turning out to be true. Multiple states are moving to protect religious liberty in schools.

For decades, public school districts often misunderstood their obligations under the First Amendment.… Continue Reading

Practicing Christians Are Now Fascists And Terrorists?

Written by Dr. Everett Piper

What would you say if you were asked what one worldview poses the greatest threat to life, liberty, and human flourishing?

Would your answer be Marxism and its march across history that has left 100 million men, women and children dead in its wake?

Would it be the Third Reich’s socialism and the untold numbers of Jews executed in its “work camps” such as Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Dachau and Buchenwald?

Or maybe you’d say it’s radical Islam and the bloodlust of Boko Haram, al Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf or the Taliban?… Continue Reading

Pro-life Activist Who Was Treated Like a Terrorist Finally Acquitted

Written by Brian Wencel

I am sure many of you know the story of Mark Houck, a pro-life activist and father of seven who was accused of harassing and shoving 73-year-old abortion clinic escort, Bruce Love, in an incident last year. Mark and his 12-year-old-son were doing sidewalk counseling at an abortion clinic in Pennsylvania. Mr. Love started verbally harassing the 12-year-old and that’s when the pushing ensued. Local authorities decided not to press charges against Mr.… Continue Reading

SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Religious Freedom Case Involving Postal Worker

Written by Jorge Gomez

Big news: The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear our case involving former postal worker Gerald Groff, who was wrongly forced out of his job because of his religious beliefs.

Along with First Liberty, he is represented by Baker Botts LLP, the Church State Council and the Independence Law Center.

The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is not required to grant a religious accommodation for an employee to observe the Sunday Sabbath.… Continue Reading

Kirk Cameron Banned From Reading Book About ‘Love and Self-Control’ at Public Libraries

Written by Dr. Everett Piper

It’s December 2022, and the winner of this week’s woke Olympics goes to the nation’s public libraries.

Here’s how news outlets across the country are reporting the story.

“’Growing Pains’ star Kirk Cameron has a new Christian children’s book out, but he’s being banned from hosting story hours at publicly funded libraries across the nation. Cameron’s book, ‘As You Grow,’ teaches the value of producing the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.”… Continue Reading