Faith and Law

We live in times when low-grade nihilism simmers just beneath the surface of everyday conversation, the desire for impact birthed in secular zeal soon stymied by chokeholds of institutional breakdown and pixelated trust.  We call out injustice in public but feel squeamish about acknowledging our contributions to it. We text expressions of care to one another but lack the creativity to prove it off...

The kind of people we are, has much to do with the kind of public life we have. Spiritual formation is central to civic renewal.  Michael Wear, Founder, President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life , joined us to share ideas outlined in his new book, The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life . He encouraged us to consider reframing how we...

Every child is capable of being an agent of their own uplift provided they are given the resources to inform the decisions that will make them successful adults.  Ian Rowe, Sr. Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute discussed four factors that are crucial for children to overcome the victimhood narrative and discover their pathway to power: family, religion, education, and entrepreneurship. S...

Faith and Law hosted our yearly panel discussion with Capitol Hill veterans to explore ethical issues encountered by Hill staff, especially as they reach senior leadership positions. Panelists including John Cusey, Melika McKinnis, and John Shelton shared their stories of success and failure as they navigated the complicated ethical waters of the Hill. The discussion was moderated by Bill Wichterm...

As a leader of the largest ever global study on human flourishing, Dr. Byron Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University and Visiting Distinguished Professor in the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University , joined us to discuss why a "focus on flourishing" is important for all policymakers whatever their political party.  In conversation with Pep...

Gary Haugen's firsthand experience investigating systemic human rights abuses helped him recognize a troubling pattern: people living in the world’s poorest communities experienced constant physical danger because their local justice systems weren’t equipped to defend them from the violence they faced every day. Haugen was told that this would never change, but he believed otherwise, leading...

The American political order, and the civilization from which it emerged, are under unprecedented assault—from both the political Left and the New Right. Yet the ideals and institutions that have shaped Western Civilization—concepts such as individual freedom, natural rights, and belief in a loving God—have made profound contributions to human flourishing. Dr. Joseph Loconte, Presidential Scholar...

Mark Tooley , president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy joined us to discuss how Dutch and English Whiggish principles birthed by Anglo Protestantism created ordered liberty and self government. These principles are not static but dynamic. And once shaping society they are not easily erased. Confidence about tomorrow can come if we recall and better live out these principles. They remin...

In our day, "social justice" is a loaded term. While it is easy to agree that every relationship carries responsibilities -- friend and friend, business and client, government and people -- identifying the terms and principles of those responsibilities is a trickier task. What makes one party a giver and another a receiver? When injustice abounds, who is to blame? Is it correct to associ...

V. Bradley Lewis, Associate Professor Philosophy at Catholic University, and Jonathon Askonas, Assistant Professor of Politics at Catholic University, engaged in an interview-style discussion on the current standing, risks, and allure of artificial intelligence. Support the show

The development of medical treatments often requires use of human subjects, as well as human cells and body parts as models of human systems, to investigate mechanisms of action and to test therapeutics. Biotechnology has provided many successful therapies for previously intractable conditions, but also increasingly complex techniques that can alter what it means to be human and blur ethical lines...

The divisions in America increasingly create an environment where everything is political, and the places in society where people who disagree can come together are dwindling as a result. How does our faith act as a compass to guide us through this culture of litmus tests and virtue signalling? When our culture wants us to pick sides and put our faith in politics, how do we lead a different way? A...

For over half a century, pro-life advocates have fought to protect the sanctity of human life. Now that the decision the pro-life community has been waiting and praying for has finally become a reality, a question remains: Now what? How do we continue to stand for life for everyone who bears the image of God—from womb to tomb? And if abortion disproportionately impacts the poor and the marginalize...

For nearly a decade, federal policies meant to address homelessness have centered around “Housing First,” which begins with an assumption that the crisis is driven primarily by a lack of affordable housing. But is it really? Studies show that most individuals experiencing homelessness suffer from severe addiction, untreated mental illness, or a combination of the two. Others end up on the streets...

In celebration of 40 years of ministry on Capitol Hill, Faith and Law hosted a special panel discussion moderated by alumni Katherine Haley. The panel consisted of current Members of congress, representative Mike Johnson, representative Julia Letlow, and representative Adrian Smith, who shared stories about how their Christian faith has guided them to reflect Jesus to the Halls of congress, our na...

What do the pro-life and racial justice movements share in common? How can these shared values lead to greater advocacy and more effective outcomes in society. Gloria Purvis, Catholic author, commentator and the host and executive producer of The Gloria Purvis Podcast, joined us to discuss Life and Race in Post-Dobbs America. Before we begin playing the lecture, we’d like to apologize for the poor...

Civil-military relations have often been tense and the current age of high political polarization poses particular challenges to maintaining healthy civil-military relations. Dr. Peter Feaver , Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Duke University and former Special Advisor on the National Security Council during both the Clinton and Bush administrations, joined us to review best pra...

More than one in three adults in the U.S. have a criminal record. These individuals face over 44,000 government-imposed barriers to work, housing, education, and civil rights that limit their efforts to become responsible stewards of their families and communities. How can churches, businesses, law enforcement, and policymakers better unlock second chances for Americans who have paid their debt to...

Anxiety seeps into everything–into our own individual lives, relationships, and even our politics. As Christians, how might a transformed view of anxiety change the way we participate in politics? Curtis Chang demonstrates how anxiety is not a sin that should be prayed away, but how it is an opportunity to invite God into our individual and political lives in new and exciting ways.  If you would l...

Faith and Law Executive Director, Lauren Noyes was joined by special guest panelists Russell Moore and David French for a discussion on some of the issues of deepest concern to the Faith and Law community, including, life, religious liberty, and building unity in today's polarized political environment.  Support the show

When it comes to religious freedom, should Christians support diversity or are there any limits to religious freedom? If so, what are those limits and how do we determine them in a diverse society?  Stanley Carlson-Thies, Senior Director at the Center for Public Justice , Lauren Baas Residential Program Coordinator for the American Studies Program and Emily Fromke, Program Director at the Center f...

Every day, police officers step up to fill an irreplaceable role in the community, responding to neighbors in crisis. However, access to important and lifesaving training for officers is often limited—increasing the risk of excessive use of force and undermining officer well-being. How can federal, state, and local leaders foster more effective and ethical policing and crisis response strategies?...

Joseph Capizzi , Ph. D. in Theology, is the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Ecology and an Ordinary Professor of Moral Theology at The Catholic University of America. He has published widely on just war theory, bioethics, the history of moral theology, and political liberalism. Dr. Capizzi worked as a research fellow at the VADM James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the...

Faith and Law will host a panel of Capitol Hill veterans to explore ethical issues encountered by Hill staff, especially as they reach senior leadership positions. Panelists will share their stories of success and failure as they navigated the complicated ethical waters of the Hill. Discussion will be moderated by John Palafoutas, co-founder of Faith and Law. Panelists include: Mark Epley , Partne...

Ronald Reagan’s strategy for a peaceful victory in the Cold War combined military, economic, information, and political pressure with diplomatic outreach – all undergirded by Reagan's Christian faith.  Dr. William Inboden, Executive Director and William Powers, Jr. Chair at the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas-Austin joined us to discuss how Reagan’s strategy t...