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- Politics
- Fox News
Focus on the Family's Jim Daly rejects SPLC ‘hate group' label: ‘This isn't hate, it's the love of Christ'
In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Focus on the Family President Jim Daly responded to the Southern Poverty Law Center's (SPLC) recent decision to classify his organization as a "hate group," calling the label "discouraging," "dangerous," and a reflection of "what's wrong with the culture right now." Focus on the Family, a Colorado-based nonprofit founded in 1977 by Dr. James Dobson, is one of the most visible Christian ministries in the United States, offering counseling, crisis intervention, parenting resources, foster care support, and to Daly, the group reaches six million radio listeners and several million digital viewers, with a mission of "helping parents to be the best parents they could be, all with the undertone of a Christian understanding." But now, the nonprofit finds itself added to a controversial SPLC list typically associated with white supremacists and violent ALLEGES FBI USED BIASED SOURCES IN ANTI-TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC MEMOS UNDER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION "Southern Poverty Law Center made the decision in some kind of criteria that they, and only they know, and that is to put us on the hate list," Daly said. "I think, again, it exemplifies what's wrong with the culture right now—that we can't have differing opinions on things." At the core of the SPLC's issue is Focus's belief in traditional marriage. Daly was direct: "Our Christian tradition is marriage between one man and one woman, and that's what we believe and we believe we can advocate for that." While Daly acknowledged that society is shifting, he said Focus will not abandon its scriptural roots to satisfy cultural trends. "For us, we can't relent on changing what we believed to be scriptural truth for the current place of where the culture is at." "For some reason that then deems us as a hate group," he said. "It's very discouraging really, because I think the SPLC started in a good place… but they have turned that muscle now on the Christian community."CONCERNED PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS COMPARED TO 'HATE GROUPS' BY COLORADO DEM: WOULDN'T 'ASK THE KKK' FOR OPINION The implications, Daly warned, are not just reputational. He recalled the 2012 shooting at Family Research Council (FRC), another Christian nonprofit SPLC labeled as hateful. A gunman entered the FRC office with the intent to kill, and was later quoted saying he was inspired by the SPLC's "hate map." "He said… his motivation was aroused because Family Research Council had been placed on the SPLC hate list," Daly said. "They are dancing on very dangerous territory when they put these labels out." That danger isn't theoretical. According to Daly, Focus had protestors at its doorstep within 24 hours of the SPLC's announcement. "We had protesters harassing our employees coming into the door here… so we had to get and pay for extra police presence on our campus," Daly said. "It raises danger for everybody. I don't know if that's their motivation, but it is a consequence." But even in the face of hostility, Daly says Focus remains committed to "doing the work that the Lord has called us to do." That includes extensive work in foster care and pregnancy resource services. "My wife and I both have been foster parents for 15 years," he shared. "We support pregnancy resource centers with ultrasound machines." He also pointed to Focus's measurable impact. "Last year we helped 140,000 couples get through a marital crisis, 540,000 couples to strengthen their marriage," he said. "That's a good thing." And he asked a pointed question to the SPLC directly: "Why would you go after an organization doing that much good and label us a hate group? It just, it makes no sense." Daly was clear that the mission isn't about political gain or culture war bravado, but the gospel. "This is not hate," Daly said. "This is the love of Christ trying to show people God's design for marriage and parenting and people." That message, however, is increasingly misunderstood in a culture that Daly says punishes theological conviction. He referenced a meeting with the late Pastor Tim Keller and gay rights activists in New York City as a model. "Tim Keller said it so well. He said, 'New York City works because we don't go out of our way to put our finger in the other group's eye'," Daly recounted. "We need to accept where we're at together and then be at the table of pluralism and say, how do we coexist?" He continued: "Creating a hate list because of your views, your theology, your ideology, just isn't helpful." Asked whether Focus planned a legal response, Daly said it's under serious consideration. "There has to be a line where an organization that creates a hate list has to be responsible for that," he said. "If we were to go to court, I think they would be hard-pressed to win that defamation lawsuit." Still, Daly struck a hopeful note. He said the biggest response they've received wasn't fear or funding loss, but support. "People that do know us, people that have experienced us helping them through a crisis in their marriage or a crisis with their teenager, they know us," Daly said. "This isn't who you are, and they get it." Above all, Daly urged believers to respond to cultural hostility with character. "Romans 2:4 says it's God's kindness that leads one to repentance—and I believe in that," he said. "You can have the most crusty person who hates out for a reason you may not even know, and you start to dialog with them… and then you find a hurt, a pain that occurred in their life." And for churches wondering how to speak into culture without compromising biblical convictions, Daly offered a closing challenge: don't just preach orthodoxy: live HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "We know truth. We know orthodoxy, the spoken word. We need more orthopraxy, the doing of the word," Daly said. "We could literally wipe out the foster care list if we just got engaged—one family per church." That vision, he said, is what keeps him going. "Wouldn't it be nice if Fox News and the New York Times ran a headline that said: 'Christian Church wipes out waiting foster care list'? I'm looking forward to that headline. And that's what I work for every day."
New York Post
29-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Archaeologists solve grim mystery of 1,500-year-old bucket found at historic tourist site
Archaeologists recently discovered the purpose of a mysterious 1,500-year-old bucket at one of England's most historic sites – and it wasn't pleasant. The National Trust released a statement about the Byzantine Bromeswell bucket, found at Sutton Hoo, in May. The site of two ancient Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, Sutton Hoo has offered a wealth of knowledge about pre-Norman British history since its first excavation in 1938. During an excavation last summer, archaeologists unearthed the base of the Bromeswell bucket, which dates back to the 6th century. Different fragments of the bucket were uncovered in past excavations, but this latest discovery gave researchers more to study. With the base in hand, researchers quickly went to work to analyze the artifact with a variety of techniques, including computerized tomography, CT scans and X-rays – and they found an answer. In a morbid turn of events, experts learned the bucket was used to hold the cremated remains of an important person, and their grave goods. 'The cremated human and animal bones uncovered confirm the find was used as a cremation vessel,' the National Trust noted. A statement was released by The National Trust that the Byzantine Bromeswell bucket was found earlier this month. National Trust/David Brunett The organization added, 'Cremated human bones included parts of a talus (ankle bone) and fragments of a skull vault (the upper part of the skull that protects the brain).' The bucket dates back to the 500s. It's decorated with a hunting scene depicting men armed with swords and shields, as well as dogs and lions – painting a vivid picture of life in the past. 'The latest fragments include feet, paws, the base of shields and even the missing face of one of the men,' the statement described. It is believed the bucket came from Antioch in the Byzantine Empire, now located in modern Turkey. The National Trust noted, 'Letterforms used within the bucket's design suggest it was made in the 6th century, meaning it was already 100 years old when it arrived here at Sutton Hoo.' Researchers also found 'a mystery object' that turned out to be a double-sided comb made from an antler. Interestingly, the object had not been burned. The National Trust said the presence of the comb suggests the Anglo-Saxons took grooming seriously, as combs have been found in male and female burials before. Archaeologists recently found a 1,500-year-old bucket at an ancient Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Sutton Hoo, one of England's most historical sites. National Trust Images/James Dobson 'Slightly less romantically, combs also would have been useful in the control of lice,' the statement said. 'Although the human bone in the cremation couldn't be sexed, it's hoped that ancient DNA from the owner might survive on the comb, and analysis could reveal more about them.' National Trust archaeologist Angus Wainwright said that he was 'hopeful' future research will uncover new insight into 'this very special burial.' 'We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times, but it's always been a mystery why it was buried,' Wainwright said. 'Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community.' Anglo-Saxon expert Helen Geake told the National Trust the puzzle of the Bromeswell bucket has 'finally' been solved. 'Now we know that it is the first of these rare objects ever to have been used in a cremation burial,' she said. 'It's a remarkable mixture – a vessel from the southern, classical world containing the remains of a very northern, very Germanic cremation.' She also said the find 'epitomizes the strangeness' of Sutton Hoo, which has captivated British history enthusiasts for decades. 'It has ship burials, horse burials, mound burials and now bath-bucket burials,' Geake observed. 'Who knows what else?'
