On Thursday, President Biden took the step of expanding the list of workers who would be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or submitting to regular testing. His announcement follows the recent decision to mandate that all federal employees receive the vaccine or face possible disciplinary action. These changes reflect a shift from the previous …
Continue...On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Equality Act. The ERLC submitted written testimony for the hearing’s official public record opposing the bill. Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of a controversial bill. The vote was 224-206, with all Democrats and three Republicans voting in favor of …
Continue...This week, the U.S. Senate Committees on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) and Finance held hearings on the nomination of Xavier Becerra for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Becerra is among President Joe Biden’s most controversial cabinet nominees, drawing significant opposition from pro-life Americans and religious liberty advocates. Who …
Continue...Recently, I had the opportunity to read Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World by noted scholar David VanDrunen (Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago and the Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Westminster Seminary California). The majority of VanDrunen’s work focuses on natural law and the two kingdoms’ doctrine, …
Continue...The peaceful transition of power from one chief executive to another is one of the most enduring and cherished legacies of the American government. But it’s also a complicated process. There is a lot that has to happen between Election Day and Inauguration Day. Here is a brief outline of some of the steps that …
Continue...For much of history, Christians have understood the church and the state as two orders given as good gifts by God. Rightly relating the two is no easy task. Historically there are two temptations regarding the proper relation of the church to the state.
Continue...Currently, more than half of U.S. states have statewide mask mandates in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The governors of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Montana and Ohio all announced statewide mandates last week, bringing the total number of states requiring masks to 30. In addition to statewide mandates, some states and cities …
Continue...What just happened? As part of the economic response to the COVID-19 crisis, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which made it possible for some small businesses, nonprofits, and houses of worship to qualify for a portion of the $367 billion in Small Business Administration (SBA) loan guarantees and subsidies, …
Continue...This week, on June 9, the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) held a hearing on Capitol Hill on the importance of charitable giving during the coronavirus crisis. Propelling American generosity to churches and charities serving the vulnerable in this crisis is a priority of the ERLC’s advocacy in Washington, D.C. What is the Joint Economic Committee? …
Continue...Two weeks ago, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued new guidance (FAQ 31) for the Paycheck Protection Program that raised concerns and uncertainty about whether nonprofit organizations and houses of worship were able to certify that their loan application was “necessary” given the current economic uncertainty. This guidance indicated that organizations would be required to …
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