Brittany Farrell | May 16, 2013 | SHARE: 
As families and students across North Carolina begin to conclude another school year and prepare for summer vacations, we at the North Carolina Family Policy Council are also embracing a period of transition. After many long years of faithful and dedicated leadership, we are bidding goodbye to our president Bill Brooks. The sadness and anxiousness that come during such a time is tempered by the joy of welcoming back our dear friend John Rustin, who previously served as our vice president. This process has reminded us all in very tangible ways that the important work we do is truly a labor of love, and held safely and lovingly in the hands of our heavenly Father.
We are especially pleased to open this issue of Family North Carolina with commentaries from our outgoing president Bill Brooks and our incoming president John Rustin. There is not a better duo dedicated to the promotion of good pro-family policy in North Carolina. We are truly blessed by their leadership.
You may notice a theme throughout many of this issue’s articles—unintended consequences. Dr. Martin McCaffrey’s powerful feature article sheds light on the importance of complete and accurate information in the battle against premature birth. His expertise in the field of perinatal care, and his heart for the sanctity of all human life show in the way he uncovers the often-ignored link between a woman’s decision to have an abortion and the increased risk of delivering subsequent babies prematurely, which presents a host of issues for mother and child alike. He outlines the science behind this link, and offers suggestions for how to better inform women of this link as part of offering them the best health and neonatal care.
Attorney Mary Summa outlines how a recent movement in the courts to determine custody and parental rights disputes based on the courtdetermined “best interest of the child” has opened a Pandora’s box of questionable legal theory that erodes marriage, the family unit, and freedom. This erosion has been precipitated most recently through the implementation of a de facto parenting doctrine that allows for homosexual or three or more “parent” custody of children. Mary offers policy prescriptions on how to address some of the multitude of harms.
The Boy Scouts of America have a long and storied history of helping to mold boys into men of character. The values and practices that have made this mission a success are under attack. Alysse ElHage provides a straight-forward analysis of why and how scouting’s mission and values would be severely compromised should they buckle to pressure from homosexual activists to change the organization’s long-standing membership policy that prohibits open homosexuality.
Readers of Family North Carolina have become familiar with the excellent research and writing of attorney Christopher Derrick to help keep all of us apprised of the implications of various attempted changes to North Carolina’s gambling laws over the last several years. In this issue of FNC, Chris highlights the multitude of unintended (or perhaps intended) consequences that would result should lawmakers choose to legalize casino gambling under the guise of helping nonprofits to raise funds, most notably the potential for Las Vegas style casinos in cities across the State.
Couples facing infertility carry a heavy burden, however, when these and others turn to surrogacy as a means of filling that empty baby-shaped hole in their lives, the ethical and legal implications are grave. As outlined by attorney Mary Summa, this often wellintentioned “solution” actually advances the commodification and exploitation of women, children, and the poor, and should therefore be prohibited.
Do not miss Bill Brooks’ powerful interview with Ryan Bomberger about how his own stirring life experiences have led him to dedicate his life to use media to illuminate the intrinsic value of every human life and highlight the injustice of abortion.
Thank you for your continued partnership with us to advance the promotion of sound pro-family public policy in North Carolina. We are privileged to count each of you among our allies and friends. Remember to keep your copy of Family North Carolina nearby as you celebrate Mother’s Day, graduations, and summer fun. You never know when a relative or friend will be in need of some good reading!
Brittany Farrell is assistant director of policy for the North Carolina Family Policy Council and editor of Family North Carolina.
