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 remind us that we each bear God’s political image and are stewards of His creation. And they point us away from nostalgia or temptations towards authoritarianism and instead towards enriched democracy amid providential hope.Support the show

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 associate "social justice" with an image of the people pressing its government for goods and services?Dr. Russell Hittinger, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Ecology at Catholic University, presented clear principles, classical and timeless, for identifying what justice is, who gives it, and what order it upholds. Support the show

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. When we consider stem cells, cloning, gene editing, human-animal chimeras, organoids, embryoids and so-called synthetic embryos, what is ethical and what crosses the line of human dignity? Is any scientific endeavor justifiable because of a potential for cures, or are there ethical limits to efforts to heal or eliminate certain diseases all together? Do ethical alternatives exist that would benefit humanity without losing our ethical integrity?The Charlotte Lozier Institute has developed the Handbook of Nascent Human Beings to explain the science and to stimulate discussion on the ethics and moral permissibility of modern medicine and biotechnology. The place of this research in policy will also be discussed.David A. Prentice, Ph.D. is Vice President for Scientific Affairs at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. He is also Advisory Board Chair and a Founding Member for the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, a unique comprehensive stem cell center in Kansas that he was instrumental in creating. In 2020, he was appointed by the Secretary of HHS to the federal Human Fetal Tissue Ethics Advisory Board. Dr. Prentice has almost 50 years’ experience as a scientific researcher and professor, including previous service as a staff member at Los Alamos National Laboratory, senior fellow at the Family Research Council, Professor of Life Sciences at Indiana State University, Adjunct Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Molecular Genetics at the John Paul II Institute, The Catholic University of America. He has provided scientific lectures, policy briefings and testimonies in 40 states and 21 countries, including before the U.S. House and Senate and numerous state legislatures, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the President’s Council on Bioethics, European Parliament, British Parliament, Canadian Parliament, Australian Parliament, German Bundestag, French Senate, Swedish Parliament, the United Nations, and the Vatican.Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D., is Vice President and Director of Life Sciences at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. A scientist with over 20 years’ experience in academic and clinical medicine with an emphasis on the cause of pediatric disease, Dr. Sander Lee earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Medical College of Wisconsin followed by postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital in molecular and cell biology. Dr. Sander Lee was an appointed faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she directed a research laboratory investigating congenital heart disease in children and served as Scientific Director of Molecular Diagnostics at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. She has also served as a scientific consultant and is currently a member of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality.Dr. Sander Lee is dedicated to promoting ethical advancements in healthcare that protect the sanctity of every human life. She has given expert legislative testimony, numerous national media interviews, and provided scientific advice for legislators, policymakers, and organizations. Dr. Sander Lee is published in various medical journals and textbooks, including her most recent contribution to the book, Choose Life: AnsSupport the show

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?Andrew Hanauer, President and CEO of the One America Movement, joined us to discuss how to reject toxic forms of division and offer a moral vision that transcends our divisive and disconnected culture.Support the show

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 marginalized, specifically Black Americans, why should we seize this new opportunity to make right what has gone terribly wrong?Benjamin Watson, author and a former NFL player who now serves as VP of strategic relationships with Human Coalition,  joined us to discuss how we can create a culture where abortion is both unthinkable and unnecessary by relentlessly pursuing a more just world—for everyone.Click here to order Benjamin Watson's latest book "The New Fight for Life Roe, Race, and a Pro-Life Commitment to Justice".Support the show

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 because they have no one to turn to, typically owing to broken familial relationships. It’s time for a change. Steven Buri, Robert Marbut and Wesley J. Smith of the Discovery Institute joined us to explore a new approach that acknowledges the inherent dignity of those suffering and that focuses on restoration, recovery, and self-sufficiency.Support the show

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 nation, and around the globe.Support the show

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 quality of the audio recording. We hope that you will still appreciate the insight shared by Mrs. Purvis.Support the show

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 practices in civilian control of the military in light of recent controversies and ongoing political divisions.Support the show