Governor Pat McCrory hasn’t exactly been the most popular person in North Carolina after he took sides against religious liberty. Last week, the governor stunned voters by vetoing a bill that would have shielded state officials from performing same-sex “weddings.” Taking a page out of Indiana’s book, McCrory capitulated to the voices of religious intolerance and rejected protections for people with strong religious beliefs. Thankfully, the legislature refused to take no for an answer and overrode McCrory’s veto.

But if North Carolina was sending the governor a message, he didn’t get it. Despite all the outrage over his decision, the governor dug in his heels and proclaimed it a “disappointing day for the rule of law and the process of passing legislation in North Carolina.” The same leader who complained that elected officials should follow the law is now upset that they did! In a statement to reporters, he promised to “continue to stand up for conservative principles” (which will be a little difficult since, on this issue, he never started).

“While some people inside the beltline are focusing on symbolic issues,” he told USA Today, “I remain focused on the issues that are going to have the greatest impact on the next generation, such as creating jobs, building roads, strengthening education and improving our quality of life.” Since when did religious liberty become “symbolic?” Was it before or after the founding fathers built the entire nation on it? If defending the First Amendment is just a nod to bygone days, then America is in much deeper trouble than anyone thought.

Luckily, Michigan’s governor seems to understand what Pat McCrory doesn’t: the significance of freedom. Like other states, the Wolverines are bracing themselves for the Supreme Court’s marriage ruling this month and are doing everything they can to safeguard people with natural marriage views. If Solicitor General Donald Verilli was right, faith-based organizations are the single most vulnerable group in America if the justices rule wrongly. Concerned that religious nonprofits and charities might be the next target, Michigan is putting a hedge of conscience exemptions around adoption agencies in particular. As we’ve witnessed in other places — like Illinois and D.C. — entities like Catholic Charities would rather close their doors than be forced to place children in homosexual homes.

Under the law that Governor Snyder signed [Thursday], faith-based adoption groups would be exempt from those laws, as long as they refer parents to another agency. Although the Left kicked and screamed about the bill, the reality is that it merely extends the protections to religious groups that Michigan already gives to private agencies. And just because liberals call it “discrimination” doesn’t mean it is. These are common-sense accommodations that would have been a non-story 10 years ago. As one GOP state senator pointed out, Michigan would be in a real jam without faith-based adoption charities. Already, half of the state’s $19 million adoption-services budget goes to adoption organizations with religious ties.

“If they close their doors,” state Senator Rick Jones said, “I don’t know what we’ll do with all the children. This is a real threat.” This law guarantees that the state “does not discriminate against social service agencies that serve the poor and vulnerable while providing foster care and adoption services to the general public,” explained Catholic Conference CEO Paul Long. Adoption is not — and should never be — about adults. This is about giving children the best chance to succeed in life. And that means giving them a mom and a dad.

The Lone Granger

Imagine wiping every person in the United States off the map. That’s how many people the Chinese government has aborted under its barbaric “one-child” policy. Based on estimates from the Chinese health ministry (which are almost certainly low), more than 336 million abortions have taken place since 1971. At a rate of 1,500 babies an hour, the Chinese government is literally erasing the next generation — and greatly endangering its existing ones with China’s disproportionate attack against baby girls.

Unfortunately for taxpayers, the U.S. government is playing a role in this tragedy with its taxpayer support of the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), which condones the policy. Although President Bush was quick to zero out American support, the U.S. endorsement came back with a vengeance under President Obama, who has funneled more than $200 million to UNFPA over his two terms.

If the Republican Congress gets its way, that’s about to change. In yesterday’s House Appropriations Committee debate, Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) fought — not only to defund UNFPA, but cap international “family planning” money. And despite attempts to strike it, Granger and other pro-life members stood their ground on the Mexico City policy, defeating an amendment that would have let the money flow to international groups that advocate for and perform abortion. Our thanks to Rep. Granger for protecting taxpayer dollars — and unborn lives along with it!

Columbus’s Day

At the foot of the concrete steps to Ohio’s Capitol is the motto “All things are possible for God.” That was the perfect backdrop Thursday for the more than 300 people at a Columbus prayer event sponsored by FRC’s lead Watchmen Pastor in the Buckeye state, J.C. Church and the Ohio FPC, Citizens for Community Values. Together with FRC’s Lt. General Jerry Boykin, the solemn assembly cried out to God on behalf of the state of Ohio and for our nation. At least 20 different leaders from national and local organizations participated in praying, as well as business leaders. They asked for God’s intervention and protection in the business community, the Supreme Court, the military, and the institution of marriage (which garnered the most emotion and excitement from the crowd).

After the prayer gathering, General Boykin and FRC’s Brandon MacCartney attended a lunch briefing with 150 church leaders. Speaking alongside Southern Baptist Convention President Dr. Ronnie Floyd, General Boykin delivered a powerful message about staying strong in the face of adversity. Dr. Ronnie Floyd challenged the pastors to really consider what’s at stake. Forget the status quo, he told the pastors, and get serious about standing for truth, evangelism, and being a voice beyond the four walls of the church.

This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.