by Richard Nelson | Jun 11, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
I recently moderated a forum on racism, justice, and the Church, where three black pastors from Kentucky and Tennessee joined me and a colleague in a helpful conversation that brought a better understanding of the black community’s response to the senseless...
by Ben Taylor | May 28, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
The ACLU filed suit against Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams who sponsored the law that requires a photo ID to vote. Secretary Adams shot back at the ALCU in a public response to the lawsuit, “because the far left is too extreme to win elections, they...
by Richard Nelson | May 20, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
Last week, the House of Representatives passed an enormous bill seeking to aid more Americans as our country deals with the continued economic fallout from COVID-19. Buried in this bill was a blatant giveaway to the federally illegal marijuana industry, an act seeking...
by Richard Nelson | May 1, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
Beshear’s Veto of SB 9 Unnecessarily Divides in Effort to Save Life by Richard Nelson, Hershael York, and Bob Russell On Friday, we participated in a forum of pastors across Kentucky to discuss the church’s response to the pandemic and how to honor Gov....
by Ben Taylor | Mar 17, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
Kentucky lawmakers are promoting legislation that would circumvent parental rights in favor of the LGBTQ agenda. HB 296, filed by Lisa Wilner (D-Louisville), would mandate schools to provide “age-appropriate” sex education to children in kindergarten-12th grade. But...
by Richard Nelson | Mar 1, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
Marijuana as medicine is moving in the Kentucky legislature but before we jump on the bandwagon, we should make sure we are using the same definitions so that we don’t talk past each other. Most people think when you say medical marijuana that a doctor is prescribing...
by Ben Taylor | Feb 25, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
As citizens of Kentucky, we rely on our elected officials to protect us and govern wisely. A bill that has been proposed runs in opposition to those principals. HB 137, if passed, would legalize sports gambling in Kentucky and has been touted by supporters as the...
by Ben Taylor | Feb 25, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
One of the more controversial bills being considered this legislative session is HB 136, which would legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky starting on January 1, 2021. It was filed by Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Jefferson). In the past, Republicans have opposed medical...
by Richard Nelson | Feb 14, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
Should children be able to determine their own gender? A group of health professionals who provide care for transgender patients in Kentucky think so. In a recent op-ed in the Lexington Herald-Leader, 13 medical professionals consisting of medical doctors, nurses,...
by Richard Nelson | Jan 21, 2020 | Opinion Pieces
Last week, the New York Times reported on a Kentucky Senate bill banning conversion therapy, a controversial technique whose extreme practitioners employ abusive practices to force change on those struggling with various sexual orientations. The bipartisan bill—SB 85,...
by Richard Nelson | Dec 18, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
According to a recent Gallup survey, Americans plan to spend an average of $942 on Christmas gifts this year. This is the most ever since Gallup began measuring the trend. It’s shaping up to be a record year for retailers but often the pressure to give the...
by Richard Nelson | Dec 2, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
Our homes will soon be filled with the aroma of roast turkey wafting through the kitchen and dinner tables decked with mounds of mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and other holiday favorites that please our Thanksgiving palates. It’s my favorite holiday,...
by Richard Nelson | Oct 29, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
There are some issues we’d rather not talk about in public. Religion and politics are two that evoke strong sentiments bound to bring conflict, so most go to great lengths to avoid talking about them. Now an even more difficult, if not disconcerting subject, is in the...
by Richard Nelson | Oct 15, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
Halloween is still two weeks away, but Democratic Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke’s resolve to remove tax-exempt status from churches and other nonprofits sent shivers through viewers of CNN’s recent presidential town hall forum. We expect every...
by Ben Taylor | Sep 4, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
Linda Blackford’s recent column criticizing Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) policies and apparent defense of disorderly conduct by KY Fairness Campaign Director Chris Hartman, who was recently arrested at the KFB’s annual breakfast, is baffling. It’s not against the...
by Richard Nelson | Aug 23, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
Elections are kind of like a new school year. New faces show up. Fresh ideas are disseminated. Personalities emerge. Elections often teach us as much about the candidates’ values as we learn about ourselves. In other words, elections serve as teachable moments....
by Richard Nelson | Jul 4, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
Just a few days ago I was in Washington DC where I visited the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence. It was featured alongside the U.S. Constitution and other historical documents in the dimly lit rotunda. It was amazing to see our founding...
by Richard Nelson | Jun 30, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
States across the nation are enacting pro-life laws at a record pace. Approximately 30 pro-life laws, including four in Kentucky, have been enacted this year. More appear to be on the way. According to Steven Aden, general counsel of Americans United for Life “This...
by Ben Taylor | May 20, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
The Kentucky General Assembly passed four pro-life bills in this past session, totaling out to a whopping eight pro-life bills under Gov. Bevin’s administration. This is an unprecedented stretch of pro-life legislation. Kentucky’s pregnancy care centers outnumber...
by Richard Nelson | May 16, 2019 | Opinion Pieces
Kentucky’s primary election is this Tuesday and if voter participation in 2015 is any indication, the turnout will be in the neighborhood of a dismal 12 percent. Low turnout is partly because Kentucky is one of a handful of states that elects its governor and...
