Faith and Law

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

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 society? What can our society do to reduce cycles of recidivism, addiction, and unemployment among individuals leaving our nation's prisons and jails? Prison Fellowship joined us for a conversation about the importance of fostering a culture that promotes second chances.Speakers:Stanley Ball, Vice President and Chief Litigation Counsel at Eaton CorporationJa’Ron Smith, Partner at Dentons Global Advisors Government RelationsJermaine Wilson, Regional Director at Prison Fellowship and Mayor of Leavenworth, KansasKate Trammell, Esq., Vice President of Advocacy at Prison FellowshipSupport the show

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 like to learn more about how Christians are invited to experience anxiety differently, you can pre-purchase Curtis's upcoming book, The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry is the Doorway to Your Best Self (May 15 release date).For additional content on anxiety and other topics highly relevant to the Faith and Law community, you can subscribe to Redeeming Babel (Curtis's non-profit) at this link. Members of Redeeming Babel receive their monthly newsletter, access to member-only events, member level participation in Curtis's weekly Good Faith podcast, and other special resources.Support the show

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 for Public Justice joined us to discuss how Religious Freedom is Vital for the Common Good.Support the show

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?Featured panelists included:Ernie Stevens, Deputy Division Director of Law Enforcement, The Council of State GovernmentsDr. Quintin Williams, Program Officer, Gun Violence Prevention and Justice ReformThe Joyce FoundationKate Trammell, Esq., Vice President, Advocacy, Prison FellowshipErnie & Joe: Crisis Cops follows two Texas officers who are changing the way law enforcement responds to mental health calls. Ernie and Joe have unique insight into that crisis response as part of the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit. This film examines Ernie and Joe’s daily encounters with people grappling with mental and behavioral health challenges. The full-version of ERNIE & JOE CRISIS COPSis available on HBO for streaming. The film is also available free to all U.S. law enforcement and public safety personnel thru 2024. For more information, visit www.ernieandjoethefilm.com.Prison Fellowship’s recently published, “Building Blocks of Trust”, complete with illustrations and data, this report looks at the history of police training, current training requirements, challenges of modern policing, and community-oriented solutions that promote public safety. To learn more, visit www.prisonfellowship.org/policetraining.Support the show

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 U.S. Naval Academy from 2013 to 2014.Bradley Lewis, Ph.D. is Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the School of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America. Dr. Lewis specializes in political and legal philosophy, especially in classical Greek political thought and in the theory of natural law. He holds a B.A. from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. He has published scholarly articles in Polity, History of Political Thought, the Southern Journal of Philosophy, Philosophy and Rhetoric, Communio, the Josephinum Journal of Theology, the Pepperdine Law Review, the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, and the Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, as well as chapters in a number of books. He is currently working on a book project provisionally titled “The Common Good and the Modern State.” He is also a fellow of the Institute for Human Ecology and serves as associate editor of the American Journal of Jurisprudence.Support the show