In our commentary, read about the political and cultural issues affecting Tennesseans written from a conservative perspective. Columns are typically written by Dr. Kent DelHousaye, a trained political theologian and a longtime pastor and the current FACT president.
Alice in Wonderland Meets Judge Humpty Dumpty in ‘Transgender’ Lawsuit
May 15, 2020 by David Fowler
A good friend of mine is knee-deep in a lawsuit over “transgenderism” in high school sports. As I read what the judge in that case told the lawyers representing the biological female plaintiffs concerning the words they must use, I felt like I was Alice in Wonderland falling through the rabbit hole and coming face-to-face with Humpty Dumpty.
Representative Self-Government Was on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Docket Wednesday
May 8, 2020 by David Fowler
Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on an extremely important case involving the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Obamacare contraception mandate. But the heart of the issue transcends the mandate itself. That’s why the state of Tennessee and four of the nine members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation filed briefs in the case. They weren’t just coming to the defense of the nuns but defending the very balance of powers that protects self-government.
Did Last Week’s U.S. Supreme Court Decision Kill Roe v. Wade?
May 1, 2020 by David Fowler
Last week, in Ramos v. Louisiana, the United States Supreme Court gave Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly a precedent that should encourage them to reconsider the “laddered” approach to abortion legislation that the Senate Judiciary Committee approved prior to its COVID-19 induced recess.
Tennessee Is Acting Like a Real State By Suing the Federal Government
Apr 24, 2020 by David Fowler
Earlier this week I read a friend-of-the-court brief prepared by my friend Joanne Bregman. The brief was submitted to the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Eagle Forum of Tennessee, run by my friend, Bobbie Patray, and Eagle Forum nationally. One particular thing Ms. Bregman wrote made me think of the Scotsman William Wallace at Stirling Bridge and the patriots at Concord Bridge, where battles for freedom were won. It made me want to grab a kilt and musket and head to the halls of Congress and then the Supreme Court’s chambers!
Will TN Let Abortion Clinics Keep Getting Away with Murder?
Apr 17, 2020 by David Fowler
This week several Tennessee abortion clinics sued to have a federal district court in Nashville prevent Governor Lee’s executive orders on social distancing and essential services from applying to their abortion practice. Parts of the press release about it were most amusing, even made me chuckle, but not for long.
COVID-19, I Would Like You to Meet ‘Good Friday’
Apr 10, 2020 by David Fowler
I don’t think I’ve seen anything like what we’re now experiencing with COVID-19 in terms of the news cycle; almost every news story has something to do with the virus. It is hard to think of anything else. But this week, thoughts of COVID-19 really refocused my thinking in light of what Christians call Holy Week.
If Abortion Is Protected From COVID-19 Orders, Why Isn’t Worship?
Apr 3, 2020 by David Fowler
This week, a pastor of a megachurch in Florida was arrested because the church continued to hold worship services in violation of the state’s COVID-19–predicated “sheltering” order and three federal judges ruled unconstitutional such an order to prevent the operation of abortion clinics. How should we think about these situations constitutionally?
How COVID-19 Refocused My Thinking
Mar 27, 2020 by David Fowler
I read something about two weeks ago, before COVID-19 social distancing began to disrupt everything, that has now really refocused my thinking. It came back to me at the end of last week because it had made me think about this question: In the midst of this pandemic and all its uncertainties, what is the one thing I would ask God for if I could ask for just one thing?
Should Our Governor Order the Suspension of Worship Services?
Mar 20, 2020 by David Fowler
My counterpart in Massachusetts emailed earlier this week that his state’s governor had issued an order “prohibiting gatherings of over 25 people” that included “faith-based events” and “any similar event or activity that brings together 25 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time.” Could Governor Lee issue such an order, or perhaps more importantly, should he?
Schumer’s Attack on Supreme Court Justices—Mission Accomplished
Mar 13, 2020 by David Fowler
In my view, most pundits completely missed the point of Sen. Chuck Schumer’s attack on Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh last week when the U.S. Supreme Court was hearing arguments on the constitutionality of Louisiana’s abortion law requiring abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges.
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