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Ethics In The Public Forum

The Scriptures call Christians to be good citizens, both of heaven (Mat 22.21, Acts 5.29) and of earth (Rom 13.1, 1 Pet 2.17). To do that, we must be fully informed about both realms. “Knowing Christ” sets our eyes on eternity, “Making Him Known” is the work of being salt, light, and a city set on a hill here and now.

The “Ethics In The Public Forum” section exists to provide a party-neutral and an ethics-rich voice for things that ought to concern the Christian in the public forum. Whether abortion, or free speech, or the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, we intend to keep you informed on the key issues. padoc, a member of St. John’s, is helping us keep abreast of some of the most important ethical trends and news.

Take time to read the blog. Then - whether you call, write, vote, or pray - act. Especially pray that God may so rule the hearts of His servants the President of the United States, the Governor of this Commonwealth, and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek His honour and glory; and that we and all the people, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and obediently honour them, according to His blessed Word and ordinance …

Ethics In The Public Forum

  • Even The ACLU Agrees!
    4 weeks ago

    COLUMBUS, Ohio, February 9, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In what critics are calling an unprecedented act of bias, pro-abortion Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish (D-Beechwood) has denied Shelby County teen Elisabeth Trisler a routine legislative honor, evidently because he objects to Trisler's pro-life values. Budish is refusing to allow Trisler on the House floor to accept a...
  • Falsehood In Advertising
    4 weeks ago

    During Super Bowl 44 (or XLIV, if you prefer), commercials are shown which are highlighted as some of the most creative of the year. My favorite is still the series of "Wassaaap" commercials back in the late 90s.

    This year had some notable examples. The Audi commercial with the "Green Police" was sort of funny - did anyone catch the drug-sniffing anteater? The Denny's "Chicken In Space" spot was kind of funny. The...
  • Abstinence Education Works
    5 weeks ago

    A recent landmark study out of the University of Pennsylvania evaluated sixth and seventh graders undergoing abstinence-oriented education versus traditional sex education. The study looked at the percentage of each group that became sexually active within the next two years.

    Only one-third of those students who received abstinence-focused education were sexually active within the next two years versus one-half of those who received the traditional abstinence and...
  • Superbowl Ad Stirs Abortion Controversy
    5 weeks ago

    Tim Tebow is the quarterback of the Florida Gators.  He led his team to two national championships and is expected to play professionally for the NFL.  He is also the committed Christian son of Christian parents.

    When Tim's mother, Pam Tebow, was pregnant with Tim in 1987, she contracted ameobic dysentary while on a misssionary trip in the Philippines.  Mrs. Tebow's physician advised his patient to terminate her pregnancy...
  • Does The Church Need To Hold Its Mouth Right?
    6 weeks ago

    VirtueOnline1 points the reader to a report that King's Glory Fellowship Association, a Christian church in Calgary Canada, has lost its charitable status. Reported in a "National Post" article entitled "Advocacy Costly For Church - Fellowship Loses Tax Status As Charity"...
  • "Coming Out" - Again
    7 weeks ago

    In almost any community of ideas, there are topics that are considered forbidden or taboo. For evolutionists, creationism is taboo. For Republicans, any positive comment about welfare is taboo. For Democrats of the Northeastern US variety, laissez-faire economics spells disaster for those in need. For naturopaths, medicine is off limits; and for traditional physicians naturopathy is likewise looked down upon.

    Correspondingly, there are...
  • Ethics In The World-Wide Forum
    8 weeks ago

    "Ethics In The Public Forum" is a rather broad concept. If you review what 'padoc' and I (the rector) have contributed to this forum, you'll quickly see that the entries are virtually all about domestic issues. The themes of health care and abortion are at the top of the list.

    But this is the age of the internet, in which email, documents, sound, text, and video can be sent and received on everything from desktop computers to your cell phone or iPod....
  • Does The Health Care Plan Penalize Married Couples?
    11 weeks ago

    In the firestorm on Capitol Hill and throughout the United States over the topic of health care reform, it seems that legislators have missed a key issue. As Mike McManus writes (http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1180…): "While abortion and public plan aspects of health reform...
  • United Church of Christ, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterians OK Abortion Funding
    13 weeks ago

    From VirtueOnline, we learn that these organizations, among many others, have said that “there is a social and moral obligation to ensure access to abortions at every stage in an individual’s life.”

    • The Episcopal Church
    • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
    • United Church of Christ
    • United...
  • Abortion showdown looms in Senate
    14 weeks ago

    News sources report that senators debating health care legislation are headed for a clash over abortion, the issue that threatened to derail the bill in the House.

    Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., plans to unveil an anti-abortion amendment as early as Thursday that abortions rights supporters inside the Senate and out say they can’t support.

    In some cases, “abortion rights supporters” are gathering their forces to keep abortions restrictions out of the...