The Inside Scoop

Family North Carolina Magazine—Nov/Dec 2007

By John L Rustin

On a regular basis at the North Carolina Family Policy Council, our telephones ring and incoming emails chime with questions from folks across the state about their constitutional right to express their faith in public. The frequency of these questions always increases during the Christmas season, and it is no surprise why. The American culture seems to be hypersensitive to any mention of Jesus Christ in the public arena. We see it in the schools, in the media and even in commercial retail stores.

In this issue of Family North Carolina, we are excited to feature an in-depth review of our legal rights, as American citizens, to religious expression in the public schools and the public square, especially during Christmastime. Our friends at the Alliance Defense Fund provide answers to some of the most common questions asked by citizens at Christmas about freedom of speech and expression, such as: “Can my child distribute Christmas cards with a religious message at school?” “Is it legal to discuss the religious foundation of Christmas in the classroom?” “Can students wish each other ‘Merry Christmas’ on school property?” “Do some of my friends and I have the right to set up a nativity scene at a public park or on public grounds?”

While this information is not intended to be legal advice in and of itself, it is our hope that it will equip you to better understand your constitutional rights, encourage you, and enable you and your family to celebrate the birth of Christ to the fullest this year.

We are also pleased to take a look back at the genesis of Thanksgiving in America. Noted author and historian David Barton examines the origin of why we, as a nation, take time each year to offer our thanks to God for the gracious bounty, blessing and protection that He continues to bestow upon our country. From the writings of our Founding Fathers to the Thanksgiving Day Proclamation from our current President, this historical perspective is a vivid reminder of the countless ways Almighty God has blessed our nation and why we should be truly thankful.

Once again, Alysse ElHage delivers keen insight into the modern-day family through an exploration of the role of motherhood in society. While some women have chosen to leave lucrative careers in order to raise their children, others are finding creative ways to balance home and work. Meet three women who share personal stories of how they have found deep fulfillment in motherhood: one who stepped off the career track in order to be a full-time mother, one who followed a life-long ambition to be a stay-at-home mom, and another who has arranged her career around her family.

In a landmark decision in mid-September, the Maryland Court of Appeals—that state’s highest court—took a strong stand in defense of traditional marriage when it rejected the claims of nine same-sex couples who argued that Maryland’s Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. North Carolina Family Policy Council staff attorney Tami Fitzgerald analyzes the court’s opinion and highlights the basis on which the court determined that marriage can only consist of the union of one man and one woman. This decision may well serve as a model for other states to follow if and when similar issues come before them.

The North Carolina Lottery has recently completed its first full year and has plenty to show for it—scandal, lackluster revenues, taking advantage of the poor, misleading advertising, and a lawsuit that threatens to undo the whole operation. David Bass investigates this year and what government sponsored gambling has meant to the Tar Heel State.

Finally, the “Interview” section contains an excerpt from our Family Policy Perspectives DVD series in which Professor Phillip Johnson, a nationally recognized leader in the Intelligent Design movement, discusses what Intelligent Design is all about and why those who accept Darwin’s theory of evolution as fact are often promoting a theological worldview as opposed to true science.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Family North Carolina and we encourage you to respond with your thoughts and feedback. We also greatly appreciate your continued support in all our efforts, and we wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving and very Merry Christmas!

John L. Rustin is vice president and director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council.