FIRST AMENDMENT
"Freedom of Thought, Speech, Association, and Religion"FIRST AMENDMENT
"Freedom of Thought, Speech, Association, and Religion"FIRST AMENDMENT
Faith in Public Life
Government has no obligation to ignore or deny, and has every right to acknowledge, that the United States was founded, primarily, by Christians, and that our laws and government are rooted in a Judeo-Christian worldview. Citizens, churches, private organizations, and public officials have every right to proclaim their faith in public settings and to bring their religiously-informed moral values to bear in election campaigns and public policy decisions.
The Family Foundation will continue to speak out when bigotry against people of faith, especially Christians (who are the most frequent target), is expressed in the media and in the political sphere. In addition, it will work for sound public policy so that government is clearly and practically on the side of religious freedom and not on the side of those who wish to control or limit religious expression.
Conscience Protection
But conscience protection cannot be limited to just medical realms. The requirement to participate in, celebrate, or honor a spiritual ceremony, like a marriage, that is outside one’s own particular beliefs should not be pressed upon anyone. However, this protection is not and must not be used as an opportunity to deliberately discriminate against another. But if heartfelt, sincerely-held beliefs preclude one’s celebration of some ceremony or conduct that violates the conscience, that deepest conviction must be protected. After all, even when America was engaged in a world war that it could have lost, America honored the freedom of conscience principle and excused citizens with conscientious objections from fighting and killing against their sincerely-held beliefs.
Recent First Amendment Related Blog Posts
Free Speech secured for KY’s state universities
This legislative battle actually brought a few of those on the left to work with those on the right. The result was “victory.” It’s not often that a conservative college student and liberal college student stand side-by-side in support of legislation at the Kentucky...
Legislators need your encouragement. Make YOUR toll-free call (one call on each)
Call 1-800-372-7181 Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line and leave these messages. It is very easy. You will not have to speak to your legislator(s) – simply leave a message with the receptionist for “all legislators in (your) county.” Double your impact by...
Kennedy & problems with same-sex marriage
The Obergefell decision began a collision course with other rights that Kentuckians, and all Americans, have always cherished. Casting the deciding vote and writing for the Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy decided that the “limitation...
Justice Kennedy delivers his swan song in June at the end of the U.S. Supreme Court term
Kennedy’s final actions make it clear that, in his mind, government MAY NOT compel speech. In include a trio of cases, and powerful concurring opinion, Kennedy takes his stand on the First Amendment and the speech it protects. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M....
BAD NEWS: The federal court system is gradually changing what the words “sex” and “gender” mean
The federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, with jurisdiction over Kentucky, has ruled that Title VII’s prohibition against “sex” discrimination “protects transgender persons because… transgender or transitioning status constitutes an inherently gender nonconforming...
“Cakeshop” decision will likely be monumental
By the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, an important case addressing the intersection of our nation’s foundational right to religious liberty and the Court’s newly recognized right to...
House Bills 326 and 372 were losses this year
House Bill 326 protected student privacy and House Bill 372 addressed religious liberty but both met the same fate – they were lost in the tumult of the pension and budget battles . . . but both could have and should have passed because they represent part of the...
House Bill 372: Pastor, Church and School Protection Act
Regarded as the “Live and Let Live” bill, HB 372 protects churches, pastors and religious schools from state control that would attempt to force them to violate their deeply-held religious beliefs about marriage. HB 372 is a shield to protect, not a sword to hurt...
HB 372 could move! 2018 could be historic
The weighty issues of the 2018-19 biennial budget and, more importantly, the failing pension system have put Frankfort lawmakers in a precarious place. Clearly, cutting programs or raising taxes in an election year to make the budget balance are not good political...
Free Speech secured for KY’s state universities
This legislative battle actually brought a few of those on the left to work with those on the right. The result was “victory.” It’s not often that a conservative college student and liberal college student stand side-by-side in support of legislation at the Kentucky...
Legislators need your encouragement. Make YOUR toll-free call (one call on each)
Call 1-800-372-7181 Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line and leave these messages. It is very easy. You will not have to speak to your legislator(s) – simply leave a message with the receptionist for “all legislators in (your) county.” Double your impact by...
Kennedy & problems with same-sex marriage
The Obergefell decision began a collision course with other rights that Kentuckians, and all Americans, have always cherished. Casting the deciding vote and writing for the Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy decided that the “limitation...
Justice Kennedy delivers his swan song in June at the end of the U.S. Supreme Court term
Kennedy’s final actions make it clear that, in his mind, government MAY NOT compel speech. In include a trio of cases, and powerful concurring opinion, Kennedy takes his stand on the First Amendment and the speech it protects. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M....
BAD NEWS: The federal court system is gradually changing what the words “sex” and “gender” mean
The federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, with jurisdiction over Kentucky, has ruled that Title VII’s prohibition against “sex” discrimination “protects transgender persons because… transgender or transitioning status constitutes an inherently gender nonconforming...
“Cakeshop” decision will likely be monumental
By the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, an important case addressing the intersection of our nation’s foundational right to religious liberty and the Court’s newly recognized right to...
House Bills 326 and 372 were losses this year
House Bill 326 protected student privacy and House Bill 372 addressed religious liberty but both met the same fate – they were lost in the tumult of the pension and budget battles . . . but both could have and should have passed because they represent part of the...
House Bill 372: Pastor, Church and School Protection Act
Regarded as the “Live and Let Live” bill, HB 372 protects churches, pastors and religious schools from state control that would attempt to force them to violate their deeply-held religious beliefs about marriage. HB 372 is a shield to protect, not a sword to hurt...
HB 372 could move! 2018 could be historic
The weighty issues of the 2018-19 biennial budget and, more importantly, the failing pension system have put Frankfort lawmakers in a precarious place. Clearly, cutting programs or raising taxes in an election year to make the budget balance are not good political...
Free Speech secured for KY’s state universities
This legislative battle actually brought a few of those on the left to work with those on the right. The result was “victory.” It’s not often that a conservative college student and liberal college student stand side-by-side in support of legislation at the Kentucky...
Legislators need your encouragement. Make YOUR toll-free call (one call on each)
Call 1-800-372-7181 Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line and leave these messages. It is very easy. You will not have to speak to your legislator(s) – simply leave a message with the receptionist for “all legislators in (your) county.” Double your impact by...
Kennedy & problems with same-sex marriage
The Obergefell decision began a collision course with other rights that Kentuckians, and all Americans, have always cherished. Casting the deciding vote and writing for the Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy decided that the “limitation...
Justice Kennedy delivers his swan song in June at the end of the U.S. Supreme Court term
Kennedy’s final actions make it clear that, in his mind, government MAY NOT compel speech. In include a trio of cases, and powerful concurring opinion, Kennedy takes his stand on the First Amendment and the speech it protects. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M....
BAD NEWS: The federal court system is gradually changing what the words “sex” and “gender” mean
The federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, with jurisdiction over Kentucky, has ruled that Title VII’s prohibition against “sex” discrimination “protects transgender persons because… transgender or transitioning status constitutes an inherently gender nonconforming...
“Cakeshop” decision will likely be monumental
By the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, an important case addressing the intersection of our nation’s foundational right to religious liberty and the Court’s newly recognized right to...
House Bills 326 and 372 were losses this year
House Bill 326 protected student privacy and House Bill 372 addressed religious liberty but both met the same fate – they were lost in the tumult of the pension and budget battles . . . but both could have and should have passed because they represent part of the...
House Bill 372: Pastor, Church and School Protection Act
Regarded as the “Live and Let Live” bill, HB 372 protects churches, pastors and religious schools from state control that would attempt to force them to violate their deeply-held religious beliefs about marriage. HB 372 is a shield to protect, not a sword to hurt...
HB 372 could move! 2018 could be historic
The weighty issues of the 2018-19 biennial budget and, more importantly, the failing pension system have put Frankfort lawmakers in a precarious place. Clearly, cutting programs or raising taxes in an election year to make the budget balance are not good political...
Older Posts
News Brief: FEMA reverses itself regarding aid to churches in disaster areas
After a policy change by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), churches are no longer excluded from disaster aid. Three Texas churches had filed a lawsuit against FEMA for being denied disaster aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Two Florida synagogues...
News Brief: TFF helps bring another amicus before the US Supreme Court
The Family Foundation is not a legal organization; it’s a policy organization. Yet, in recent months The Foundation has collaborated on several “friend of the court” briefs at the US Supreme Court. Once again, via amicus brief, The Foundation is urging the Supreme...
SOGI ordinance ignores religious convictions
Though Paducah is one of the furthest points west in Kentucky, it’s recent passage of a “Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity” ordinance (a SOGI) will likely find its way into the very center of freedom and religious liberty debates for months to come. What happened...
Supremes slap down CA abortion ad requirement
LEXINGTON, KY – “The court affirmed today that government should not force people to say or do things in which they don’t believe,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for The Family Foundation. “No one should be forced to provide free advertising for the abortion industry...
Cake case underscores religious freedom
LEXINGTON, KY – “The government should not violate anyone’s sincerely held religious beliefs,” said a spokesman for The Family Foundation in response to today’s Supreme Court ruling, Masterpiece Cakeshop, in favor of a Colorado baker who declined to create a wedding...
News Brief: FEMA reverses itself regarding aid to churches in disaster areas
After a policy change by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), churches are no longer excluded from disaster aid. Three Texas churches had filed a lawsuit against FEMA for being denied disaster aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Two Florida synagogues...
News Brief: TFF helps bring another amicus before the US Supreme Court
The Family Foundation is not a legal organization; it’s a policy organization. Yet, in recent months The Foundation has collaborated on several “friend of the court” briefs at the US Supreme Court. Once again, via amicus brief, The Foundation is urging the Supreme...
SOGI ordinance ignores religious convictions
Though Paducah is one of the furthest points west in Kentucky, it’s recent passage of a “Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity” ordinance (a SOGI) will likely find its way into the very center of freedom and religious liberty debates for months to come. What happened...
Supremes slap down CA abortion ad requirement
LEXINGTON, KY – “The court affirmed today that government should not force people to say or do things in which they don’t believe,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for The Family Foundation. “No one should be forced to provide free advertising for the abortion industry...
Cake case underscores religious freedom
LEXINGTON, KY – “The government should not violate anyone’s sincerely held religious beliefs,” said a spokesman for The Family Foundation in response to today’s Supreme Court ruling, Masterpiece Cakeshop, in favor of a Colorado baker who declined to create a wedding...