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  • Family and Religion

    Restore the family as the primary institution of civil society, and reclaim the fullness of religious liberty in America’s civic life.

    Sitting on Sidelines “Not an Option” for Faithful

    It’s not every day that a Heritage scholar offers to help comedian Stephen Colbert make sense of how Christians, especially young evangelicals, can apply biblical principles to politics in our pluralist culture. But it’s good to share the burden of a neighbor — even one so “befuddled” as Colbert — … More

    A New Anti-Poverty Agenda: Better Future for At-Risk Youths

    A key component to effectively address poverty is recognizing and reducing barriers to the work of neighborhood organizations that are the lifeblood of our nation’s civil society. The Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE), led by Bob Woodson, recognizes and supports a nationwide network of thousands of grassroots leaders, whose impassioned … More

    CHART: Paul Ryan Lays Out a Vision for Reforming Welfare, Fighting Poverty

    In his speech today at Cleveland State University, Representative Paul Ryan (R–WI) laid out a vision for reforming the nation’s approach to poverty. “With few exceptions, government’s approach has been to spend lots of money on centralized, bureaucratic, top-down anti-poverty programs,” Ryan stated. “The mindset behind this approach is that … More

    Family Fact of the Week: Fathers’ Involvement Helps Teens Delay Sexual Activity

    A new study published in the journal Pediatrics adds to a body of research showing the importance of fathers in protecting children against negative outcomes, from lower academic achievement to poverty. The study found that teens who have close emotional relationships with their fathers are more likely to put off … More

    Second Circuit Strikes Down Defense of Marriage Act

    On Thursday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit was the latest to issue a ruling on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Over a strong dissent by one of the judges, it ruled that section 3 violates equal protection and … More

    Guest Post: State Legislators Unite to Defend American Religious Freedom

    Last Tuesday, a bipartisan group of more than 120 legislators in nine states announced the formation of the nation’s first state religious freedom caucuses. The announcement comes amid increasing evidence that social hostility and government restrictions against religion are on the rise in the United States, an observation underscored by … More

    Must-Read Research: Obama Gutting Welfare Reform, Setting Spending Records

    Welfare spending is at a staggering, all-time high. A new government report confirms that the U.S. now spends roughly $1 trillion a year on what has become a behemoth welfare system consisting of more than 80 federal programs. Robert Rector explains more in congressional testimony from earlier this year: “Examining … More

    Is Marriage the Key to Prosperity?

    What’s the number one antidote to child poverty in America? Marriage. The truth is that children born to married-parent families are 82 percent less likely to live in poverty. The most effective weapon against child poverty is within our reach. Last week during the second presidential debate, former Governor Mitt … More

    Family Fact of the Week: Why Values Matter

    A recent Gallup poll found that, for the first time, a majority of Americans think that the government should not promote traditional values. This opinion regarding the government’s role reflects a general rise in relativism and a social environment in which upholding clear standards is characterized as being judgmental and … More

    Morning Bell: Welfare Spending Shattering All-Time Highs

    It’s been a pretty big year for welfare—and a new report shows welfare is bigger than ever. The Obama Administration turned a giant spotlight on the welfare system in July when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proclaimed it had the authority to gut the work requirements from … More