Radio Show Archives 2003

Radio Shows on this page do not have audio links. This list is provided for information purposes.

Adult Stem Cell Research
When the mainstream media reports on the advancements in stem cell research and its benefits in finding cures for diseases, it focuses primarily on embryonic stem cell research and very little on adult stem cell research. While embryonic stem cell research has generated a great deal of opposition from pro-life advocates, because the procedure destroys a human embryo, adult stem cell research poses no such ethical problems and has been producing very promising results. This week's guest, author and senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, Wesley Smith, talks about stem cell research, why adult stem cells have the best potential for treating diseases and why the media is essentially ignoring this potential. (December 26)

Locke v. Davey
In early December, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Locke v. Davey, a case in which they will decide whether a college student who majors in theology can be denied state scholarship funds. The Thomas Moore Law Center filed an amicus brief, which was written by this week’s guest attorney Patrick Gillen. Patrick discusses the details of the case and what implication is has for the religious freedoms of college students nationwide. (December 19)

Religious Expression in Public Schools
Perhaps more than at any other time of the year, the Christmas season is a time when the religious freedoms of public school students are challenged. With school plays and classroom assignments geared toward the holidays, many schools trample the religious rights of students and teachers, particularly regarding the Christian message of Christmas. On this week’s program, legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, Michael Johnson, explains the rights that students and teachers have when it comes to expressing their religious beliefs in the public school. (December 12)

The Dangers of Pornography
Pornography has been a threat to families for decades and that threat continues to rise as the prevalence and availability of pornography increases, especially among children. On this week’s program, the chief counsel for Concerned Women for America, Jan LaRue, discusses the effects of pornography on children, marriages and even the economy. She also discusses the government’s role in the fight against pornography and what parents should do to keep their children safe from this threat. (November December 5)

Marriage: What It Is — 1 & 2
A debate continues to rage in America about the true meaning of marriage. Homosexual activists are working hard to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. One recent effort includes a million dollar ad campaign launched to “educate” people about how homosexuals define marriage. During the next two weeks, Maggie Gallagher, the president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy and the coauthor of The Case for Marriage, will explain why marriage is and always should remain between a man and a woman. In part one Maggie confronts some of the most common arguments made to justify same-sex “marriage” including whether marriage is a basic human right and what role children play in the purpose of marriage. On the second show Maggie explains why preserving the current family structure is important and what the implications of "homosexual marriage" are when it comes to the family. She also discusses what can be done about the legal threats against marriage in American history. (November 22 & 29)

Feminism
For decades, feminists have been decrying what they see as the oppression and denigration of women in society. Women have been told to break free from the bonds of traditional gender roles in order to seek true “liberation.” Yet for all their activism, feminists have done little to help women and more to hurt them, according to a new book entitled “Feminist Fantasies.” On this week’s program, noted conservative leader and president of the Eagle Forum, Phyllis Schlafly talks about her book on feminism and how it has robbed women of health, happiness and security. (November 14)

Homeschooling
As homeschooling becomes more common in mainstream America, the academic successes of homeschooled children are rarely challenged any more. But critics continue to raise questions about whether or not children educated at home are really being prepared to enter into society as productive citizens. However, a new research study of adults who were homeschooled has found that socialization is not a problem at all. In fact, the study found that adults who were homeschooled become very engaged citizens with particularly high levels of involvement in their communities and civic affairs. It also found high levels of enjoyment of life and job satisfaction. This week’s guest, Tom Washburne, director of the National Center for Home Education, which commissioned the study, explains more about the study’s findings and why socialization is not a problem for homeschooled students. (November 7)

School Choice in North Carolina
A new report published by the North Carolina Education Alliance entitled “Choice in North Carolina Education: 2003” has found that public school choice options for parents are lacking in this state. On this week’s program, Dr. Karen Palasek, author of the study, will discuss her findings including what school choice options currently exist and why there are so few choices available to families in North Carolina. (October 31)

Dangers of RU-486
The recent death of a California teenager after she took the abortion pill RU-486 has renewed debate about its safety and efficacy. This week’s guest, Wendy Wright the senior policy director for Concerned Women for America, will be discussing how RU-486 works, whether it’s safe for women and why her organization has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw its approval of the abortion pill. (October 24)

"Marriage Protection Week"— Part 2
This week’s program continues last week’s discussion with Peter Sprigg, the senior director for the Center for Marriage and Family Studies at the Family Research Council, about the threat posed to traditional marriage by the promotion of so-called same-sex marriage. Peter will also explain some of the technical issues surrounding the Federal Marriage Amendment and ways that people can get involved in the effort to protect marriage in the United States. (October 17)

"Marriage Protection Week" — Part 1
Traditional marriage is under attack and is threatened with redefinition by activist courts all across the country. In response, many pro-family organizations have banded together to defend the institution of marriage. On this week’s show (the first in a two-part series), Peter Sprigg, the senior director for the Center for Marriage and Family Studies at the Family Research Council, talks about the coalition and “Marriage Protection Week” being held October 12-18. He also describes the threat to marriage and what concerned citizens can do to help protect this vital institution. (October 10)

The Importance of "Family Dinners"
Parents who are looking for ways to help their children avoid drugs and alcohol may not realize that there is a simple way to help reduce their child’s risk of getting involved with substance abuse—have dinner together on a consistent basis. This week’s guest, Joseph Califano, discusses some recent findings by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University that point to family dinners as a way to keep kids away from drugs and alcohol. He will also explain the national campaign to promote “Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children.” (October 3)

Family Friendly Movies
With all the sex, violence and language in the movies these days, parents are finding it harder to select films that do not have inappropriate materials in them. And as many parents have already discovered, the ratings placed on movies by the film industry do not always accurately reflect their content. So what can parents do? This week’s guest, Bob Smithouser has some suggestions. Bob is the editor of Focus on the Family’s magazine Plugged In and editor of the book Movie Nights: 25 Films to Spark Spiritual Discussion with Your Teen. On this program Bob will discuss how to determine if a PG or PG-13 movie is appropriate for adolescents to watch. He will also explain how movies are rated by the film industry, whether that system is reliable, and some alternative resources for parents. (September 26)

The Ten Commandments in History
The Ten Commandments have been receiving a significant amount of attention over the last few months. While several courts have ruled the public display of this document unconstitutional, others have upheld displays based on the significant role that the Ten Commandments played in the establishment of American jurisprudence. So what role did the Ten Commandments play in our nation’s history? Noted historian and speaker David Barton, president of Wallbuilders, addresses this question and other issues surrounding the Ten Commandments and the founding of our nation. (September 19)

Day Care Deception
Day care is often promoted in today's society as a better place to raise children with advocates citing the cognitive and social benefits that the day care experience offer to children. But what is the truth behind this push for non-parental child care? Author and researcher Brian Robertson explores this question. Pulling from the findings in his book Day Care Deception: What the Child Care Establishment Isn't Telling Us, Brian explains the hidden agenda behind the promotion of early child care and what the real child care crisis in America today. (September 12)

See You at the Pole
With the new school year underway, many students will be gathering for the annual “See You at the Pole” event scheduled for September 17, 2003. This student-led, student-organized prayer time gathers students from all around the country to their respective school’s flagpole to pray for their families, school and country. This week’s guest, Joshua Carden, a litigation staff attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, talks about the event, the rights of students, and what students and parents can do if they encounter resistance at their school to holding the event. (September 5)

The Homosexual Agenda
There has been an increasing amount of news coverage, television programming and judicial activity regarding homosexuality over the past several months. And some polls indicate that more and more Americans are beginning to take note—many by registering their objections to granting special rights such as marriage to homosexuals. So what exactly is the homosexual agenda? This week’s guest, Alan Sears, explains it in more detail. Alan is the president and general counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund and coauthor of a new book entitled The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today. He discusses some of the strategies used by homosexual advocates and who it is they target to advance their cause in society. (August 22 & 29)

State of Our Unions
Marriage is the most important social institution in society today; therefore, how marriage is viewed and treated in America is important to the future of the family. On this week’s program, noted author and social critic Barbara Dafoe Whitehead discusses the social indicators and trends related to marriage and children found in a study she coauthored entitled, The State of Our Unions 2003. (August 15)

NCFPC Legal Intern Insights
Each summer the NC Family Policy Council welcomes legal interns from the Alliance Defense Fund's Blackstone Fellowship to assist the staff in research projects and legislative issues. On this week's show, interns Brooke Everley and Jamie McEachern discuss what they have learned about public policy during their time with the Family Policy Council. They also explain some of the findings from their research in the fields of parental rights and religious freedom. (August 8)

Social Services vs. Parental Rights
The N.C. Supreme Court handed Tarheel parents a big victory on July 16 when they reaffirmed the rights of parents and unanimously ruled that two Cleveland County parents were wrongly cited with obstructing a child abuse investigation. Instead, the Court found that social services unnecessarily investigated the family without sufficient evidence. This week’s guest, litigation attorney Jim Mason, from the Home School Legal Defense Association, explains the details of the case and why it is significant for parental rights in North Carolina. (August 1)

Opposing Assisted Suicide
The effort to legalize assisted suicide is one of the most dangerous threats facing American society today. The North Carolina Family Policy Council has supported efforts at the General Assembly to pass legislation that would ban assisted suicide in our state. On this week’s program, Wesley Smith, an attorney and consultant for the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, talks in-depth about these issues including why it is important to stop efforts to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. (July 25)

How Early Sex Hurts Women
Few people dispute that early sexual activity among women increases the chance of contracting a sexually transmitted disease and of having an unwanted pregnancy. But there are other risks involved as well. According to a new study released by the Heritage Foundation, early sexual activity can also affect the future stability of marriage, personal happiness and financial situation. This week’s guest, Melissa Pardue, a Fellow in Social Welfare Policy at the Heritage Foundation, further explains these findings and why it is important to discourage early sexual activity among women. (July 18)

Lawrence v. Texas
In a landmark decision, which represented a victory for homosexual activists, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law barring homosexual sex, saying that a so-called right to privacy protects such conduct. This week’s guest, attorney Kelly Shackelford, discusses this ruling and its impact on other states’ sodomy laws (including North Carolina’s). Shackelford, who is president of the Free Market Foundation and is chief counsel at the Liberty Legal Institute in Texas, also examines the impact this decision could have on the future of traditional marriage. (July 4 & 11)

Human Cloning and the AMA
At a recent annual meeting, the American Medical Association (AMA) came out in support of cloning for research purposes - a move that raised concern about how this action could affect the human cloning debate. On this week's program, Carrie Gordon Earll, the senior policy analyst for bioethics at Focus on the Family talks about the AMA's decision and its potential impact on the current debate in Congress about banning the procedure. She also discusses why human cloning for research is ethically wrong. (July 4)

Natural Law
With all of the varying religions and political viewpoints worldwide, doesn’t it seem interesting that there is general consensus on the rightness or wrongness of many actions? This week’s guest offers some insight into this very question. In his book entitled “What We Can’t NOT Know: A Guide” author J. Budziszewski, a professor of government and philosophy at the University of Texas, explains the universal moral code known as “natural law,” how it testifies to the existence of absolute truth, and why natural law supports the idea of a traditional family. (June 20 & 27)

Children of Divorce
Much has been written about the social and economic impact of divorce on children. However, little has been written about the effect divorce has on their moral and spiritual lives. This week’s guest is Elizabeth Marquardt, an affiliate scholar with the Institute for American Values, where she is the director of the Children of Divorce Project. Elizabeth is currently working on a book that explores how divorce affects the moral and spiritual needs of children of divorce. She will discuss her findings on this program and explain how the Church can reach out to both children and adults from broken families. (June 13)

Public Schools and Child Safety
A recent survey released by Public Agenda discussed the educational concerns of parents, teachers and students, including the unsafe environment and lack of parental involvement in schools. This week’s show features Mark Fey, an education analyst at Focus on the Family, who offers further insight into these concerns including how changes in our culture have contributed to the problems in today’s schools. Mark also discusses some alternatives to public education and offers advice to parents whose children are in public schools. (June 6)

Religious Expression in Public Schools
The U.S. Department of Education has released guidelines outlining the parameters for religious activity in public schools, as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Mat Staver, the founder and president of Liberty Counsel, a religious civil liberties education and legal defense organization, discusses these new guidelines and what they mean for the freedom of religious expression in public schools. (May 30)

Fetal Homicide
With the tragic murders of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner making national headlines, renewed attention has been focused on fetal homicide legislation in Congress — a measure that would recognize the unborn child as a second victim in acts of violence against pregnant women. Wendy Wright, senior policy director for Concerned Women for America talks about the federal fetal homicide legislation, the need for such laws at the state level and why this issues has proved to be an uncomfortable subject for abortion advocates. (May 23)

Protecting Marriage
Most people would agree that marriage is an important institution, but does it deserve special privileges and protection from the government? On this program, Bridget Maher, a policy analyst on marriage and the family at the Family Research Council, discusses the social benefits of marriage and why states, like North Carolina, should protect it. (May 16)

Lottery "Hard Times"
While some North Carolina policymakers continue to call for a state lottery, other states’ lotteries continue to struggle. On this week’s show, David Zanotti, the president of the Ohio Roundtable, a non-profit, non-partisan education and research organization, talks about the Ohio lottery, which has posted its lowest profits in more than a decade. David discusses his state’s lottery experience and explain why it has been such a failure. (May 9)

The Success of Abstinence Education
The first major study to examine the impact of abstinence education on teen behavior has been released and shows that, contrary to the claims of those who advocate comprehensive sex education, abstinence is responsible for the drop in pregnancy and birth rates. On this week’s show, Dr. Joanna Mohn, a physician from New Jersey and the primary researcher for this study, talks about the study’s finding and about the impact this research could have on the current debate about the effectiveness of abstinence education. (May 2)

Unmarried Households Highlight Census Report
According to a new report released by the U.S. Census bureau, the number of couples who are living together outside of marriage has risen dramatically. This week's guest, Matt Daniels, who is the executive director of the Alliance for Marriage, talks about the effect this movement away from traditional families is having. He explains why a two-parent home comprised of a father and mother is the best arrangement for children and what dangers exist in cohabiting heterosexual and homosexual homes. Matt also explains why his organization is campaigning to get the Federal Marriage Amendment passed in Congress. (April 25)

Domestic Partner Benefits
Homosexual activists are beginning to pressure cities and counties in North Carolina to grant same-sex and cohabiting partners the same health and employee benefits that have traditionally been reserved for married couples. This week’s guest, Glen Lavy, who is a staff attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, talks about the far-reaching impact of such action and what is wrong with granting unmarried partners the same benefits that married couples enjoy. (April 18)

The First Amendment
This week’s guest, Dr. David Lowenthal, discusses how the federal courts have been misinterpreting the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment resulting in the kind of ruling handed down by the Ninth Circuit—that the phrase “One nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. Dr. Lowenthal is a professor emeritus at Boston College and the author of a book entitled Present Dangers: Rediscovering the First Amendment. (April 11)

2003 General Assembly Preview
With the state legislative session in full swing, it is important for citizens to be aware of the legislation that has been introduced in the state legislature and to know what impact it could have on their families. On this week's program, John Rustin, director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council, offers a preview of the legislation that has already been introduced this session and explains what effect these bills could have on the people of North Carolina. (April 4)

Sexual Messages on Television
This week on “Family Policy Matters” host Bill Brooks talks with Mike Long about a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation that deals with the sexual messages teenagers see on television. Mike Long is the developer of a directive-based abstinence education program called “Everybody is NOT Doing it” and has trained over 30,000 teachers how to implement abstinence education in their classrooms. His video series has been used in over 4,000 school systems nationwide. Mike will discuss how television effects teenager’s views about sex and offer an alternative perspective on the realities of this subject. (March 28)

Challenge to Texas Sodomy Law
This week on “Family Policy Matters” host Bill Brooks talks with guest Glen Lavy, a staff attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund. Glen’s group is one of several pro-family organizations to file a legal brief in an important case before the U.S. Supreme Court involving a challenge to a Texas law barring homosexual conduct or sodomy. Glen will be discussing the case and what kind of impact it could have. (March 21)

Pro-life Court Victory
On this week’s edition of “Family Policy Matters” host Bill Brooks talks with Joe Gigante, the director of media and government relations for the American Life League, about a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down an attempt by a pro-abortion group to silence abortion protesters. He will discuss the history of the case and why this victory is important for the pro-life movement and the free speech rights of all Americans. (March 14)

A Culture of Life
This week on “Family Policy Matters,” host Bill Brooks talks with Bill Saunders, the senior fellow and director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Life and Bioethics, about the center's new booklet entitled Building a Culture of Life, 30 Years After Roe V. Wade. Mr. Saunders will be talking about where the pro-life movement is going thirty years after abortion was made legal and how we can help build a culture of life in North Carolina and nationwide. (March 7)

Sex Education Survey
Peter Brandt, the director of the Issues Response Department in the Public Policy Division at Focus on the Family, talks about a new survey conducted by Zogby International, which tracked parental attitudes about sex education. He discusses the findings of this survey and what kind of impact it will have on the upcoming legislative debate concerning federal funding for abstinence-only sex education. (February 28)

"Heroism"
This week’s “Family Policy Matters” features Dr. Peter Gibbon, a research associate at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and author of a new book entitled, A Call to Heroism: Renewing America’s Vision of Greatness. Dr. Gibbon talks about his book and why heroism is so important to the American culture. (February 21)

Guarding Against Gay-Straight Alliances
Peter LaBarbera, the senior policy analyst for the Culture and Family Institute and founder of Americans for Truth, a group dedicated to countering the powerful homosexual advocacy groups, discusses Gay-Straight Alliances, student-led homosexual clubs that are springing up in schools across America. Mr. LaBarbera will talk about why these clubs are dangerous and what parents can do to ensure that their child’s school does not have one. (February 14)

Ministering to the Gambling Addict
This week on “Family Policy Matters,” host Bill Brooks talks with Mike Vlack the senior writer and researcher for Church Initiative, a church-equipping ministry located in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Mike will explain a new church-based ministry he helped to coordinate called Chance to Change, a program designed to help problem gamblers through the power of Christ. (February 7)

Analyzing Abortion Numbers
This week’s edition of “Family Policy Matters” features host Bill Brooks and Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee discussing a new report from the Alan Guttmacher Institute which features new data on the number of abortions in the United States. He will discuss how pro-abortion groups gather abortion figures and what these new numbers mean for the debate over partial-birth abortion. (January 31)

Consequences of Induced Abortion
On this Week’s “Family Policy Matters,” Dr. John Thorpe, co-director of the North Carolina Program for Women’s Health at UNC-Chapel Hill, explains why he thinks women considering abortion need to be informed of the risks involved. Dr. Thorpe is the lead author of a research article published this month in Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, which reviewed several studies on the long-term health consequences of induced abortion on women. (January 24)

United Nations Population Fund
For two weeks on "Family Policy Matters": Doug Sylva, the Director of Research at the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), discusses the dangers of the population control methods used by the United Nations Population Fund, especially in China. He explains why the United States has withdrawn funding from this United Nations program. (January 10 and 17)

Religion's Impact on Teenagers
On this week’s "Family Policy Matters": Dr. Christian Smith, the associate chair of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discusses a four-year research project designed to increase understanding of the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents in the United States. Dr. Smith talks about some of the findings of the study, specifically how religion impacts teen self-esteem and behavior. (January 3)