The Social Conservative Review: January 10, 2013

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Dear Friends,

"Human trafficking" is a term that sounds almost clinical. In this sense, it is a misnomer, as human trafficking describes something that is evil in every way.

Thousands of American girls, boys, and young women are forced into sexual bondage each year, compelled under severe duress - sometimes, even the threat of death - to commodify themselves in prostitution, pornography, and other vices.

Thankfully, the Christian community is responding. On Wednesday at FRC, former Congresswoman Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope International, and Mark Blackwell, founder of Justice Ministries, gave an inside look at this brutal trade and how believers can help the people victimized by it in real, practical ways. You can view the webcast here.

There is no charge to watch the webcast, but you might find the cost high: Your prayer life, your time, and your understanding of our culture could be changed forever.

Sincerely,

Rob Schwarzwalder
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council

P.S. Be sure to tune into FRC President Tony Perkins' new daily radio program, featuring some of America's top political, religious, and cultural leaders and a call-in session where you can voice your views and ask questions. Learn more by clicking here.

Educational Freedom and Reform
Homeschooling

"Keep it in the family," The Economist
"Common Core State Standards Initiative: Too Close to a National Curriculum," Home School Legal Defense Association
"The Winter Blues," Crosswalk

Legislation and Policy Proposals

"Reform Agenda Gains Strength," EducationNext
"Catholic Education, in Need of Salvation," New York Times
"Education in the Media, 2012: Hits & Misses," The Hoover Institution
"Lawmakers Gear Up for Action on K-12 Issues," Education Week
"The irrational fear of for-profit education," American Enterprise Institute

College Debt

"Community College Can Be a Better Deal than Four-Year Options," Family Research Council
"College Debt and Tuition Pushed Up By Administrator Salaries," FrontPage Magazine
"The Student Loan Debt Crisis: Welcome to the $1 Trillion Club," Fox Business
"Regulating U.S. Colleges for Student Debts Seen Winning Support," Business Week
"Families Shoulder Heftier Burdens as College Debt Swells," ProPublica

Government Reform
Regulation

"No Regulation? No Problem," RealClearPolitics
"Morning Bell: The 10 Worst Regulations of 2012," The Heritage Foundation
"After Election, Pace Quickens for New Government Regulations," The Christian Post

Waste/Fraud/Abuse

"Almost $700,000 in government waste during second half of December," TennesseeWatchdog.org
"Federal Food Stamp Program Spent Record $80.4 Billion in Fiscal Year 2012," Religion Today
"Max Baucus rewards ex-staffers with tax breaks for their clients," The Washington Examiner

Health Care
Abstinence

"Premarital Sex?," Moore to the Point
"Sexual Iconoclasm," Touchstone Magazine
"The Millennial Generation's Acceptable Sin," The Gospel Coalition

Health care reform: Political and Legislative efforts

"Victory Against HHS Mandate in Missouri," The Acton Institute
"State Contraceptive Mandates," First Things
"The HHS Mandate and Judicial Theocracy," The Public Discourse
"As 2013 Begins, Get Ready For An ObamaCare Tax Onslaught," Forbes
"Health Care Company Granted Temporary Relief From HHS Mandate," Thomas More Society

Homosexuality

"Petitioners on White House Website Call Roman Catholic Church a 'Hate Group'," Family Research Council
"Same-Sex Marriage and Social Change: Exceeding the Speed of Thought," The Public Discourse
"Court Upholds Firing of College Official Over Op-Ed Against Gay Rights," The Chronicle of Higher Education
"My Take: Let's protect religious counselors amid 'conversion therapy' debate," CNN
"Illinois Legislature Warned of the Irreparable Harm the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Would Cause," Thomas More Society
"Liberty Counsel Files Brief at Appeals Court Against California's Ban on Change Therapy," Liberty Counsel

Human Life and Bioethics
Abortion

"Viewpoint: Pro-Life and Feminism Aren't Mutually Exclusive," Time
"Planned Parenthood Reports Record-High Taxpayer Funding, Abortions," Susan B. Anthony List
"Fetal and political pain," WORLD Magazine
"Is the Pro-Life Cause Winning?," Moore to the Point
"Roe at Forty, part 1: The Court's Failure to Address the Question of the Unborn's Moral Status," The Catholic Thing
"Pregnancy Centers Gain Influence in Anti-Abortion Arena," New York Times
"The Pro-Life Movement Really is Winning the Abortion Battle," LifeNews.com
"Pope Benedict Criticizes Efforts To Legalize Abortion," Turtle Bay and Beyond
"RH Reality Check legal analyst says unborn babies neither natural nor legal persons, botches both categories," LiveAction
"Sex Selection Abortion Behind India Rape Crisis?," National Review Online
"Nursery Crimes," Touchstone Magazine

Bioethics and Biotechnology

"Babies begin learning the distinctive sounds of their native language while in utero," New York Daily News
"Gene Patents Face Reckoning," The Wall Street Journal

Euthanasia and End of Life Issues

"Euthanasia Movement Promotes "Kill Me" Living Will in Australia," LifeNews.com
"Euthanasia for Alzheimer's, 'Accelerated Deaths' Considered by European Neighbors," Christianity Today

Stem Cell Research
To read about the latest advances in ethical adult stem cell research, keep up with leading-edge reports from FRC's Dr. David Prentice, click here.

"Case dismissed," WORLD Magazine
"Stem cell materials could boost research into key diseases," Phys.org
"Supreme Court Tosses Suit to Stop Obama Embryonic Research Funding," LifeNews.com

Human Trafficking

"The State of Modern Slavery," Relevant Magazine
"Between pronunciation lessons, a friendship forms between a volunteer and a survivor.," The Polaris Project
"Weekend of Prayer: Ending Human Trafficking and Slavery," The Acton Institute

Marriage and Family
Adoption

"Welcome the Little Children," Family Research Council
"Responding to Russia's Adoption Ban," RedState
"Why Adoption Became Russell Moore's Personal Cause," Christianity Today

Family Economics

"Strolling Along the Fiscal Cliff," Family Research Council
"'Fiscal cliff' deal penalizes married couples," The Washington Times
"The Biblical Foundations of Economic Principles," Institute for Faith, Work & Economics
"Poverty as a Consequence of Sin," Values and Capitalism

Family Structure

"Marriage May Promote Safer, Healthier Pregnancies," Family Research Council
"The New French Resistance: Pro-marriage demonstrations erupt," The Addison Eagle
"A Million First Dates," The Atlantic
"It's Better To Be Raised by a Single Mom," Slate
"Can the President Have a Marriage Agenda Without Talking About What Marriage Is?," The Public Discourse
""I must watch over you": The virtue of familial responsibility," The Clarion Review
"The Key to a Strong Marriage: Humble Repentance," Owen Strachan

Media
Pornography

"Porn Use and Supporting Same-Sex Marriage," The Public Discourse
"Why the new movie about 'Deep Throat' could be important," The Atlantic

Internet

"In Defense Of Instagram," The Examined Life
"Christian Broadcasters Group Warns of Troubling Trend of Online Censorship," Religion Today
"Safety in social media comes down to lifestyles," MercatorNet

Religion and Public Policy
Religious Liberty

"Next front in religious liberty fight: Military chaplains and "ceremonies"?," CatholicVote
"Religious Liberty in the Military," Bench Memos
"Hobby Lobby Defies Obama Administration With Civil Disobedience For Religious Liberty," Breitbart.com
"New PBS Documentary "First Freedom" Explores Faith of U.S. Founding Fathers & the Path to Religious Liberty in America," The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
"FRC Submits SCOTUS Brief on Behalf of 49 Members of Congress in Public Prayer Case," StreetInsider.com

Religion in America
Check out Dr. Kenyn Cureton's feature on Watchmen Pastors called "The Lost Episodes," featuring how religion has had an impact on our Founding Fathers.