Faith and Law

With a balance of wisdom, candor, and scholarly rigor the beloved archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput takes on life’s central questions: why are we here, and how can we live and die meaningfully? In his latest book Things Worth Dying For , Chaput delves richly into our yearning for God, love, honor, beauty, truth, and immortality. He reflects on our modern appetite for consumption...

Dr. Brad Wilcox argues that while a massive expansion of center-based childcare sounds like a win for social justice, in fact, it would negatively impact many American children and prioritizes elite work-family preferences over those of ordinary Americans. While this plan isn't the answer, American families do need help. What public policy solutions will work? W. Bradford Wilcox is Director o...

Senator Tim Scott is the first Black American elected to the U.S. Senate from a Southern state since Reconstruction and the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate. Growing up in a poor, single parent household in North Charleston, South Carolina, Scott had to beat many odds to end up as a lawmaker on Capitol Hill. The work ethic, resilience, and faith he learned from his mother and mentor helped...

The 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which struck down the pro-life statutes of every state in the Union, was described by John Hart Ely as “not constitutional law,” that is, he wrote, “this super- protected right is not inferable from the language of the Constitution.” Sweeping as Roe v. Wade was –and the precedent has been used to strike down literally hundreds of pro-life laws since...

Our country is living through a social crisis, to which many Americans have responded with populist anger at our institutions, and metaphors of destruction to describe the path forward: cleaning house, draining swamps. But now is not a time to tear down. It is a time to build and rebuild by committing ourselves to the institutions around us. From the personal and local to the national and politica...

We are created to flourish: to experience the wholeness (shalom) God desires and to be agents of bringing that flourishing to others. The Bible’s big story of “ought-is-can-will” provides the navigational grid that can animate an engagement with the world that’s marked by faithfulness, creativity, and hope. Dr. Amy L. Sherman is a Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research , where...

Notre Dame Law Professor Dr. John Finnis will lead a discussion of his much-discussed First Things article, " Abortion is Unconstitutional ". Known for his work in moral, political and legal theory, as well as in constitutional law, John Finnis joined the Notre Dame Law School faculty in 1995. He earned his LL.B. in 1961 from Adelaide University (Australia) and his doctorate in 1965 from...

In Partnership with the  Institute for Human Ecology A broad consensus has formed for improved instruction in American history and civics. Multiple studies and assessments indicate that Americans have an appallingly deficient understanding of their history and their governing process. And, of course, the events of political violence over the last year exacerbate those concerns. But what should suc...

Never have U.S. atrocity determinations, which are uncommon to begin with, happened against a country as wealthy and powerful as China, lead by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). This bold justice initiative is galvanizing those around the world to rally against the atrocities taking place in Xinjiang Province. Background reading on this topic: Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in Chin...

In the best of times, Capitol Hill is an open marketplace where visions for governing our diverse and multi-ethnic republic are sorted out and employed for the common good. But these are not the best of times. In this conversation, we’ll learn some of the principles and practices of peacemaking that allow Christians to live as ambassadors of reconciliation and collaborate across lines of differenc...

From racial injustice protests to divisive electoral politics to a Confederate flag in the Capitol on January 6th and impeachment hearings, our country’s divisions have been on full display. This has challenged many Americans - and those around the world - to relook at democracy and its principles. This discussion will explore what democracy means in a divided country and whether unity is possible...

Because of the Covid pandemic, many jurisdictions have placed limits on religious worship. Protests that such limits infringe the religious liberty guarantees of the First Amendment have reached the Supreme Court. What are the permissible limits on religious worship? How can we expect the Supreme Court to rule before its terms ends in June? Mark Rienzi is Professor at The Catholic University of Am...

Genesis 1:26 reveals that God made humanity in His image, and reflecting His nature, for an awesome task and responsibility: to rule responsibly over all He has made. Being good stewards of God’s creation is both a biblical mandate and the historical legacy of the Christian church.  In this lecture, Dr. Jessica Moerman of the Evangelical Environmental Network  presented on how environmental stewar...

Succeeding on Capitol Hill isn't quite a mathematical equation, but there are some important guideposts that will make that success much more likely. In this session, long-time Hill veteran Bill Wichterman will offer very practical guidance about how to become an excellent staffer who is more likely to advance. Support the show

James 1:19 teaches that we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." As Christian policy advocates strive to honor God's heart for all of his creation, it is important to listen to the experiences of our Black brothers and sisters in Christ. After a year of racial unrest, we should lead by listening and learning. This forum will feature a conversation with...

Have rancor and hyper-partisanship in our politics gone so far that recovery is impossible? Is America now a fading, failing democracy? Or can we come together as one nation to revitalize our experiment in ordered liberty in the 2020s? David Blankenhorn will address these questions and discuss them with us. David is president and co-founder of Braver Angels , a national citizens' initiative w...

We are in the midst of a very controversial election period in which there have been reams of commentary about the role played by evangelicals.  How can the church engage in political issues without having a politicized faith? What should we be thinking about the role of Evangelicals in the riot at the Capitol? How does the American evangelical church come back together and heal as one body even w...

Michelle Altman, Chief of Staff to Senator James Lankford shares her story "Excellence in Work and Following Christ on the Hill.”  Support the show

Americans have long cared about preserving a tradition of liberal arts education, seeing it as key to a free society of citizens with both the knowledge and virtue to sustain self-governance and to advance social order and prosperity. In this webinar, Professor Mooney will analyze the major philosophical debates about educational policy, such as between pragmatist, Marxist, classical liberal and C...

A discussion of the short-term and long-range challenges facing Great Tradition Christians in an America increasingly unmoored from its moral and cultural foundations. Support the show

Is “social justice” the same as “ biblical justice,” or do these concepts sometimes diverge? On the one hand, social justice seems deeply indebted to Christian thought and practice. On the other hand, some of its most active proponents today are secularists, sometimes even Marxist atheists. In light of such complications, how ought Christians interact with the “social justice movement” in the Unit...

Christians are invited by God to help those in poverty, and many are eager to answer that call. But how? Peter Greer, Jena Nardella, and Oye Waddell offer a biblical and economic understanding of how to address poverty and foster sustainable economic development and human flourishing.  Click to read the panelists' slides: Jena Nardella Peter Greer Oye Waddell Recommended reading: Created to F...

Our nation is being torn apart. But what if there’s one big thing at the center of it all. In Divided Hearts of America , Super Bowl champion and executive producer Benjamin Watson goes on a journey to discover the truth about abortion—a subject that has been at the center of heated debates since the passage of Roe v. Wade in 1973. Along the way, Watson sits down with over 30 experts in various fi...

The Department of State's Commission on Unalienable Rights , chaired by Harvard professor Mary Ann Glendon, issued its report on human rights in U.S. foreign policy in July, examining human rights from the perspective of both America's foundational principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Professors Robert George of Princeton and William Saunders of Catholic University d...

"The only way to truly have wisdom about politics is to daily fight to prevent making politics and power an idol, and to stay grounded in an identity in Christ that is separate from accomplishments." - Ammon Simon Ammon Simon, Chief Counsel to Senator Toomey, shares Christ centered wisdom on battling temptations that come from working on Capitol Hill including:  pride, tribalism and work...