The Future of the Family and Religious Freedom at CPAC

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), two breakout panels were dedicated to important social issues. One dealt with problems related to the future of the family and a second addressed religious freedom.

On the panel discussing the family, Terry Schilling from the American Principles Project emphasized the problem that pornography is having upon the marriage rate. Indeed, the marriage rate in the United States is at an all-time low. “Due to pornography, young men don’t need women as much as they used to,” Schilling said.

Mary Eberstadt, an author and essayist, echoed Schilling’s argument about the problem of pornography. “Whenever we discuss laws prohibiting pornography, it’s like Gollum with the ring, people react negatively. 

Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan from the Department of Health and Human Services emphasized the importance of healthy families in forming healthy societies. “Children that grow up in two parent families are much more likely to graduate from high school and are twice as likely to graduate from college. Young men that grow up with a committed father are 75% less likely to have a child out of wedlock,” Deputy Secretary Hargan said. 

In a second panel on religious freedom, United States Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said, “The Trump Administration considers religious freedom a right given by God, not something given by government.”

Conservative commentator and radio host Todd Starnes highlighted the threat that religious freedom faces in the United States. “We are endowed with our Creator with certain unalienable rights, it’s not a right given by our fellow man.”

“A few days ago, in a CNN townhall, Don Lemon asked Mayor Pete Buttigieg whether Christian nonprofit organizations should lose their tax-exempt status if they discriminate against LGBT people. And Buttigieg responded by saying, ‘absolutely,’” Starnes argued. Several months ago, The Daily Citizen addressed why churches and religious organizations should remain tax-exempt. 

“Religious liberty is under attack, and we need to remain vigilant,” Starnes concluded.

It was great to see the attention given to the importance of family, faith and religious freedom at the largest gathering of conservatives in the nation. Faith, family and religious freedom are bedrock foundations of our society, and they must be protected.

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