The Weekly is a rundown of news by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission highlighting the week’s top news stories from the public square and providing commentary on the big issues of our day.

Gov. Sam Brownback Confirmed as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

Six months after his official nomination, former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback was finally confirmed yesterday to be ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

The position requires confirmation by the Senate, which led to a 49-49 vote split along party lines. Because Sen. John McCain was absent due to treatment for brain cancer, Vice President Mike Pence—who also serves as the president of the Senate—had to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Brownback previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1995-96) and as U.S. Senator (1996-2011) before being elected as governor of Kansas in 2010. He will replace Rabbi David Saperstein, who left the post in January 2017.

While in the Senate, Brownback was a sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), which established the International Religious Freedom Office (IRFO) within the Department of State, the independently operating United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and a Special Adviser on International Religious Freedom within the National Security Council.

Together, these organizations were founded in order to “(1) condemn violations of religious freedom, and to promote, and to assist other governments in the promotion of, the fundamental right to freedom of religion; and (2) seek to channel U.S. security and development assistance to governments that are found not to be engaged in gross violations of the right to freedom of religion.”

The Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom is the head of the IRFO and an ex officio member of the USCIRF. As the ambassador-at-large Brownback will be responsible for such tasks as producing the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, testifying before Congress on issues of international religious freedom, and meeting with foreign government officials at all levels, as well as religious and human rights groups in the United States and abroad, to address problems of religious freedom.

In his new role Brownback will also be responsible for:

• Promoting freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries;
• Assisting emerging democracies in implementing freedom of religion and conscience;
• Assisting religious and human rights NGOs in promoting religious freedom;
• Identifying and denouncing regimes that are severe persecutors on the basis of religious belief.

Brownback has tweeted that religious freedom is “the first freedom” and that religious freedom is “the choice of what you do with your own soul.” After the confirmation vote, he tweeted: “Thank you to [President Trump and Vice President Pence], and all the Senators who supported my nomination. I'm looking forward to starting my new position as Ambassador and working hard for the American people and religious freedom around the world.”

ERLC President Russell Moore described Brownback as “an outstanding choice” adding, “I am delighted to see the Senate confirm him to serve in this critical post.”

“This ambassadorship is a key piece in our nation’s responsibility to act on behalf of the persecuted around the world, one that requires a seasoned, respected leader who brings conviction and gravity to the work of this crucial post,” said Moore. “Governor Brownback is exactly this kind of leader. He will be an exceptional ambassador.”

This week on ERLC podcasts: Daniel Darling talks to Erik Stanley, from Alliance Defending Freedom, about the importance of religious liberty. On the Capitol Conversations podcast, Matthew Hawkins and Travis Wussow review the political landscape surrounding a legislative solution for “Dreamers” and DACA recipients and discuss the upcoming March for Life and Evangelicals for Life conference. And on the ERLC podcast series, “How to Handle,” Trillia Newbell talks to Craig Cooper about reconciling after adultery

Other Issues

American Culture

American religious groups vary widely in their views of abortion
David Masci, Pew Research

More than four decades after Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide, most Americans (57%) are supportive of legal abortion, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey. But a substantial minority (40%) says abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, and within some U.S. denominations and religious groups, this figure is much higher.

Supreme Court to rule on Trump travel ban
Mark Sherman, Associated Press

The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide the legality of the latest version of President Donald Trump's ban on travel to the United States by residents of six majority-Muslim countries.

Bioethics

Missouri Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments In Satanic Temple Believer's Challenge To Abortion Law
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

As reported by the Washington Post, the Missouri Supreme Court yesterday heard oral arguments in Doe v. Nixon, a case brought by a woman who is a member of the Satanic Temple, challenging Missouri's restrictions on abortion.

Chinese scientists used Crispr gene editing on 86 human patients
Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz

China is taking the lead in the global race to perfect gene therapies.

Where US abortion laws stand 45 years after Roe v. Wade
Meghan Keneally, ABC News

Access to abortions, which the Supreme Court legalized 45 years ago today, is still being fought over, with advocates from either side of the issue arguing for their cause.

Christianity and Culture

Adoption, foster care common in churches, study says
Bob Smietana, Baptist Press

About 4 in 10 Protestant churchgoers say their congregation has been involved with adoption or foster care in the past year, according to a study released today (Jan. 24) by LifeWay Research, which conducted the survey Aug. 22–30.

Are White Evangelicals Sacrificing The Future In Search Of The Past?
Daniel Cox, FiveThirtyEight

In longing for an American past, white evangelical Protestants1 may be neglecting their future.

Christian Rights: Did Pro-Life Advocacy Turn Conservative Evangelicals into Human Rights Advocates?
Daniel K. Williams, Public Discourse

A new book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand conservative evangelicals on their own terms. It traces the ways in which pro-life politics has made the Christian Right of 2017 a very different entity from the Religious Right of the 1970s.

International Issues

The Rise of the Brazilian Evangelicals
Chayenne Polimedio, The Atlantic

Meet Jair Messias Bolsonaro, the ultra-conservative military officer-turned-politician poised to capitalize on the fall of the Workers’ Party.

Bolivia’s President Revokes Evangelism Restrictions
Morgan Lee, Christianity Today

Evo Morales announces on national TV that controversial criminal code will be scrapped.

Religious Liberty

University ordered to readmit campus Christian group
Diana Chandler, Baptist Press

A state university must temporarily restore registered status to a Christian student group kicked off campus for allegedly violating the school's human rights policy, a U.S. district court ruled Jan. 23.

Sexuality Issues

The Sex-Change Revolution Is Based on Ideology, Not Science
Ryan T. Anderson, The Daily Signal

Research shows that 80 to 95 percent of children with gender dysphoria will eventually identify with and embrace their bodily sex.