Our religious freedom is in great peril. Perhaps the greatest threat to this God-given freedom is the Obama administration’s abortion/contraceptive mandate forcing most employers to provide their employees insurance with free coverage of abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and sterilization—regardless of religious or moral objections. The religious exemption within the mandate is very narrow, applying mostly just to churches. And every effort by the administration to resolve religious freedom concerns has been grossly inadequate.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a proposed update to its mandate in hopes of allaying concerns. However, little has changed.

The proposal still fails to protect many religious schools and charities. It still fails to protect many businesses such as Hobby Lobby that seek to operate according to deeply held religious beliefs. And it still forces many objecting employers to contract with insurers on plans to offer their employees abortion-inducing drugs in violation of their moral convictions. Employers refusing to comply face fines of up to $100 per employee per day.

This is frightening. No American should be forced by the government to purchase or provide insurance that violates his or her deeply held beliefs. We must not let this assault on religious freedom stand.

This week, members of Congress are in their home districts visiting with their constituents. Now is a great opportunity for people of faith to contact their representatives to express their objections to the abortion/contraceptive mandate and support for laws that protect rights of conscience. I hope you will consider making a call and paying a visit to your representative. You may even want to ask your small group, your pastor, or your fellow church members to attend with you. This is a wonderful opportunity to pray for your elected officials, to encourage them to stand tall in this fight, and to remind them that moral issues are important to you. You can contact your representative in his or her local office here.

For More Information:
ERLC brief: mandate harms religious freedom
New HHS rule on abortion mandate ‘inadequate’

If we do not speak out now, our religious freedom will continue to erode, and this abortion/contraceptive mandate could stand. So I hope you’ll make that call to your representative’s office today to schedule a meeting. Please also consider forwarding this email to your friends. If you are able to make contact with your representative, we would love to hear about it.

As always, thank you for your concern and your action.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

Our cherished religious freedom is eroding quickly before our very eyes. While this is happening on multiple fronts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) abortion/contraceptive mandate is one of the most visible means by which the government is stripping our freedom of conscience.

And unless Americans awaken to this brewing storm, the mandate could devastate the very foundation of our religious freedom with tsunami-like force.

To help stop the erosion of our God-given freedom, several lawmakers, led by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), have introduced the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940) in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 940 would uphold freedom of religion and conscience in three critical ways:

• Ensure that individuals and insurers are not forced to purchase or provide health insurance policies to which they have moral objections;
• Bar the government from discriminating against health care entities that refuse to provide or pay for abortions; and
• Allow victims of discrimination on matters of conscience like abortion to seek redress in federal court.
  Now we need many more representatives to support this bill. Will you help?

If you believe no person should be forced to violate his or her religious or moral convictions under health care, please urge your representative to cosponsor the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940). You can reach your representative through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or send an email here. Also, please consider forwarding this alert to your friends and church members. We need many others to help.

Countless employers are already facing the weight of the coercive mandate, which forces most employers to provide their employees insurance with free coverage of abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and sterilization—regardless of religious or moral objections. And in just a few months, on Aug. 1, many religious organizations, including faith-based schools, colleges, and hospitals, will be forced to comply with the mandate as well. The alternative is crippling fines of up to $100 per employee per day.

Already, businesses, colleges, and hospitals have filed nearly 60 lawsuits against the administration’s mandate. Hobby Lobby and Tyndale House Publishers are just two of the Christian-run businesses now entangled in legal battles for refusing to violate their consciences on abortion-inducing drugs.

We cannot afford to sit out this battle and leave our religious freedom to the uncertainty of the courts. Time is of the essence. That’s why the Health Care Conscience Rights Act is so important.

Urge Your Representative to Cosponsor H.R. 940

For More Information:
Letter to lawmakers in support of conscience protections bill
ERLC to HHS: Mandate is ‘religious persecution’
Letter to HHS: Comment on failed religious ‘accommodation’
New HHS rule on abortion mandate ‘inadequate’

I hope you recognize the urgency of this battle. The stakes are high. Our religious freedom is a gift to us from God, not government. It is the government’s duty to protect it.

Thank you for making that call or sending that email to your representative.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

This Thursday, May 2 marks the 62nd annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. On this first Thursday of May, which is set aside each year by presidential proclamation, people from every corner of the nation will join together at churches, courthouses, businesses, schools, and other venues to seek the face of God and lift up our nation in prayer. I hope you’re already making plans to be a part of it.

We don’t have to look past the morning and evening news headlines to realize that we are a nation in great need of prayer. Families are crumbling. Marriage is on the verge of redefinition. Religious freedom is under fire. Judeo-Christian values are under assault from every direction. Millions are hurting and hopeless without Jesus Christ. If ever there has been a time our nation has needed prayer, it is now.

It is altogether fitting, then, that the theme for this year’s National Day of Prayer, organized by the National Day of Prayer Task Force, is “Pray for America.” The theme Scripture passage captures well our hope and our need: “In His name the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:21).

America is facing God-sized problems requiring God-sized solutions. What our nation desperately needs is a heaven-sent revival among God’s people that will lead to a spiritual reformation in our land. This is not going to happen without God’s people getting on their knees before Him. But we must petition God according to His guidelines:

“If…My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

So I hope you will mark your calendar for May 2 and make plans to participate in the National Day of Prayer. To find out more information, please visit the National Day of Prayer’s website here. You can also find a location near you to join with others in prayer on May 2.

May God bless you, your family, and this great land called America as we turn to Him in prayer.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

The sacred institution of marriage has reached an hour of great need for prayer. In less than 24 hours, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the high-stakes issue of same-sex “marriage.”

On Tuesday, the court will hear oral arguments on Proposition 8, California’s 2008 voter-approved amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman in the state’s constitution. On Wednesday, the court will consider the section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that defines one-man, one-woman marriage for federal purposes.

The future of marriage hangs in the balance. The court’s decisions in these cases, expected in June, could reshape marriage as we know it and God designed it. In a worst-case scenario, the justices could impose same-sex “marriage” across all 50 states.

That’s why I urge you to make the court’s proceedings on marriage a matter of utmost prayer this week.

Last week, we invited you to join us in A Call to a Week of Prayer for Marriage. I hope you have already begun praying with us. To help guide you in your prayer time, we have created a simple prayer guide for each of the next seven days, beginning today. I hope you will download this guide as well as encourage your friends and fellow church members to do the same by forwarding it to them.

As an additional prayer component, I encourage you to be in prayer for the thousands of traditional marriage supporters expected in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for a March for Marriage. Crowds will gather on the National Mall at 8:30 a.m., with a march to the Supreme Court set to begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by a rally on the Mall at 11:00 a.m. If you live in the Washington area and your work schedule permits, I encourage you to make plans to join thousands of others for the marriage march. While I realize you may not be able to make it to the nation’s capital on Tuesday, all of us can join the marchers in prayer.

For More Information:
A Call to a Week of Prayer for Marriage — with Prayer Guide
The Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage — Part 1
The Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage — Part 2
March for Marriage

Thank you for praying with us that our Supreme Court justices will honor God by honoring marriage as He designed it. May God bless you as you stand for His sacred institution of marriage.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

As you are well aware, the Boy Scouts of America is on the verge of reversing course on one of its timeless values. Under pressure from a few corporate donors along with some others, the BSA national leadership is considering changing the organization’s longstanding policy that bans openly homosexual leaders and Scouts.

And they are wasting no time. The BSA board of directors is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to change the existing policy!

Tell the Boy Scouts Not to Change Longstanding, Principled Membership Policy

Such a policy change would mark a dangerous step away from the BSA’s stated commitment of providing “the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.” It would represent a serious departure from the Scout Oath, which includes a pledge “to keep myself…morally straight.” And it would even run afoul of the BSA’s own statement just six months ago that the existing policy is supported by a “majority of our membership” and “remains in the best interest of Scouting.”

In an ad printed nationwide yesterday in the USA Today, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission joined 41 other organizations urging the BSA to “show courage” and “stand firm for timeless values” by retaining the longstanding policy barring open homosexuals from Scouting.

The BSA needs to hear from you as well—before it’s too late!

If you share our concerns, please contact the Boy Scouts of America leadership and board of directors immediately and urge them to stand on principle by voting against any proposal to weaken the current membership standards, which ban openly homosexual leaders and Scouts. You can reach them by phone at (972) 580-2000. If you receive a busy tone, please keep dialing. Or simply send them an email here.

For More Information:
USA Today ad urging Boy Scouts to retain existing membership standards
Letter to Boy Scouts on proposal to allow homosexual leaders
Boy Scouts on verge of admitting homosexual leaders

Thank you for taking a few minutes to help protect the timeless values upheld by the Boy Scouts for more than a century.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

On Monday, February 4, many faith groups around the country will be contacting their elected representatives to tell them how they want our country to address gun violence.

We believe our representatives do need to hear from people around the country. We encourage you to call as well to tell your congressman and senators what you think should be done. Do you want universal background checks? A ban on semi-automatic guns? A ban on high-capacity magazines? More attention to mental health issues? Or something else?

You can find out how to reach your representatives here. Or simply dial the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to their offices.

Your representatives need to hear from you. We hope you will call in on February 4 to share your opinion.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

We need your help to protect the religious freedom of the brave men and women serving in our military. Please take a few minutes today to contact your two senators and urge them to cosponsor the Military Religious Freedom Act (S. 3526).

S. 3526, introduced by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and James Inhofe (R-OK), would do two important things: protect chaplains from being coerced to violate their consciences to perform same-sex “marriage” ceremonies and prohibit such ceremonies from being performed on military installations.

Following the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2011, the Pentagon authorized same-sex “marriage” ceremonies on military installations and gave chaplains the green light to perform them. That controversial authorization triggered, predictably, an escalating battle concerning religious freedom and homosexuality. We now need to protect chaplains and service members from being pressured to set aside their religious convictions in the face of the normalization of homosexuality in the military.

The House of Representatives has already passed complementary legislation to S. 3526. The men and women in all ranks of our armed forces—including in the chaplaincy—need your voice today to prompt the Senate likewise to protect the most sacred and basic freedoms.

Please join us in this effort by contacting your senators today and urging them to cosponsor S. 3526, the Military Religious Freedom Act. You can reach them through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or send them an email here.

Thank you for taking time to make your voice heard!

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on ratification of a dangerous treaty concerning people with disabilities. The treaty under consideration is more than deeply flawed—it is downright dangerous for our nation, especially for the parents of special needs children.

Your voice is needed immediately to stop this treaty from ratification!

Titled the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the treaty may sound innocent. Who could oppose ensuring protections for people with disabilities? But in reality, this treaty is a Trojan horse that would usurp U.S. sovereignty and parental rights by putting the U.S. under the control of a panel of U.N. “experts” on matters relating to the disabled. What’s more, the treaty could potentially lead to an expansion of abortion services under its troublesome reference to “sexual and reproductive health.”

Last week, the Senate voted 61-36 on a procedural vote in favor of moving toward a final vote on ratification of this dangerous treaty. This final vote is expected tomorrow. That means time is of the essence.

This treaty is beyond need of repair. It’s a lame-duck issue that should be killed.

If you agree, please contact your two senators immediately and urge them to vote “NO” on ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. You can reach them through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or send them an email here.

More information on the treaty

We cannot afford to keep silent on this. While the treaty requires a two-thirds majority to be ratified, many of the 36 senators who voted last week against bringing the treaty to the floor are under serious pressure to capitulate on the vote tomorrow to ratify the treaty. They need to hear from you right now.

Thank you for standing for the basic parental freedoms so foundational to our great nation.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

What is part of Washington’s solution? Reduce charitable deductions! This is a bad idea. Deductions for donations to charity incentivizes giving to others and certainly raises more money for charitable institutions (religious and non-religious) than would otherwise be generated. A recent study revealed that one third of donors would give less if the tax deductibility of charitable giving were to be eliminated.

At a time of severe economic dislocation, when the people’s demand for the services of charitable institutions is particularly high, it would be extremely counterproductive and illogical to implement tax policies which would result in crippling cuts to the budgets of charitable institutions, rendering them far less able to help the most vulnerable in society.

The proposal to further cap charitable deductions in the federal tax code is a threat aimed like a dagger at the heart of America’s charitable nonprofit entities, secular and religious. It will weaken most, kill many, and harm all.

Your assistance is needed now more than ever. Please call your Congressman and Senators and urge them to oppose any measure that would place additional restrictions on charitable deductions. You can contact them through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or send them an email here.

Thank you for working to protect the charitable tax deduction. Your efforts are extraordinarily important in advancing the good work of America’s churches and other charitable institutions.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention

In a matter of hours, Election Day will be upon us. Tomorrow, Americans will have the great privilege of going to the polls to cast their votes for the next president of the United States, as well as for numerous other elected positions.

This election is tremendously important. In fact, I believe it is the most important election of my lifetime. What happens Tuesday will largely determine the course of our nation for the next four years and perhaps for generations to come. A whole host of issues will be impacted, such as the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, religious freedom, federal court nominees, the federal tax burden on families, and national security issues, including the future of Israel.

As American citizens, we have the right to be involved in the public and legislative arena. And as obedient Christians, we have the responsibility to be involved. Christ calls His followers to be “salt” and “light” in the culture, not to retreat from it, allowing decay and darkness to abound. At the very least, that means voting. And considering the consequences of our absence from the voting booth, we cannot afford to remain on the sidelines.

This Tuesday, please join me in fulfilling our Christian and civic duty. I urge you to prayerfully consider where the presidential candidates, as well as your state and congressional district candidates, stand on the issues. Then vote for those who best represent your values, your beliefs, and your convictions. You can learn more about the candidates, polling locations, and the importance of voting by visiting iVoteValues.com.

Your vote matters!

Download 2012 Party Platform Comparison Guide

May God bless you as you vote, and may God bless America with leaders who will honor Him with their votes.

In His Service,

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention