The U.S. Supreme Court recently announced it will hear 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, a free speech case that could have major implications for religious liberty. This is a case being handled by our friends at the Alliance Defending Freedom.
It involves Lorie Smith, a Christian web designer from the Denver-area who declines to create wedding websites for same-sex couples, because of her religious beliefs. The case is expected to be heard during the Court’s next term, which begins in October.… Continue Reading
Religious Liberty | David E. Smith | March 4, 2022 7:00 AM | Comments Off on SCOTUS Case of Colorado Web Designer Has Big Implications for Religious Liberty
This week, Illinois Family Spotlight focuses on current issues regarding religious freedom and the U.S. judicial system. To start the podcast, Monte Larrick interviews well-known Colorado baker and cake artist, Jack Phillips and general counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, Kristen Waggoner. Phillips describes the persecution and targeting he has endured at the hands of the LGBT faction in his ongoing battle for religious freedom within the context of his business. In discussing the work of ADF, Waggoner speaks to the disturbing trend of “weaponization of our justice system to silence and to ruin people” who hold to different views regarding marriage and gender.… Continue Reading
James Madison once wrote, “Government is instituted to protect property of every sort” and that “conscience is the most sacred of all property.” Yet just before July 4 weekend, the U.S. Supreme Court, by denying an appeal in an important religious liberty case, has essentially abrogated both property and conscience rights, as well as the right to use one’s own property in accordance with deeply held religious beliefs. So much for self-evident truths, inalienable rights, and the institution of government to secure these rights.… Continue Reading
Colorado baker Jack Phillips is a perpetual offender. He simply will not do. His offense? Unswervingly honoring his deeply held, and constitutionally protected, religious beliefs.
We’ve all heard of Phillips and his travails. Leftist bullies have been tormenting him for years, beginning in 2012, when the Colorado Civil Rights Commission targeted him for refusing to make a custom-designed cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding.
After several setbacks in various tribunals, Phillips was finally vindicated in a 7-to-2 U.S.… Continue Reading
Written by John Stonestreet and Timothy D. Padgett
The most recent incarnation of the Equality Act is also the most radical version we have yet seen. It’s worth noting as well that it’s closer to becoming law than any version so far put forward.
As a friend of mine would say, this isn’t magic; it’s math. This Congressional term, the Equality Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Though unlikely at this point, a 50-50 tie in the Senate broken by a Democratic White House is feasible, making the Equality Act a live option.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee has voted out the Equality Act of 2019 (H.R.5). It now heads for a vote on the U.S. House floor with 240 co-sponsors, which means its passage is virtually certain.
The legislation amends all major civil rights law, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act, to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” along with race, sex and religion as classes that are protected from discrimination.
There is so much wrong here it is hard to know where to start.… Continue Reading
Various leftist grievance groups have insisted for years that they just want equal treatment and equal rights, that they only want to end discrimination and that they come with an attitude of “live and let live.” Nope.
We’ve long known that the “tolerance” police don’t merely want equal rights and to be treated with civility. They require that you honor their ideas as superior, reject your own contrary ideas and do penance for ever having held your own ideas.… Continue Reading
It’s “1984” and we are living in schizophrenic times. Dickensian times. Orwellian times. The best of times, but yet the worst.
Times where we demand the truth while reveling in our lies. Times of great material gain but times of even greater moral loss. Times of monetary advancement, yet times of shocking mental decline. Times of the pathology of the intellect and the reprobate mind. Times of calling good evil and evil good; bitter sweet and sweet bitter.… Continue Reading
Featured in this edition of Spotlight, the Q & A portion of the Illinois Family Institute’s 2018 Worldview Conference featuring John Stonestreet. John is the President of the Chuck Colson Center and a co-host for daily BreakPoint commentaries.
Following his presentations, Stonestreet took questions from the audience ranging from pending Supreme Court rulings, division in America, Facebook, and even Kanye West.
Illinois Family Spotlight
"Choosing Style over Substance" (Illinois Family Spotlight #097)
Media Watch | David E. Smith | 
January 30, 2023 8:00 AM | 
Comments Off on Agree With Us, or Else: Soviet-Style Totalitarian Spirit Afoot in America 
