CATEGORY: CULTURE (2 min)

Ice cold reception

Many pro sports teams in recent years have paid homage to the mainstream cultural issues du jour—from Black Lives Matter to the war in Ukraine to getting out the vote. One of the most notable of these is the constant celebration of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. This usually takes the form of “Pride Nights” which force all the players and spectators to participate.

And if a player doesn’t want to join in…. well, the mob is coming.

In The American Conservative, John Hirschauer introduces us to Ivan Provorov, a defenseman for the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, who took this very stand. Provorov, based on his Russian Orthodox faith, refused to warm up until the “Pride Night” celebration was over, and then he entered the rink at the start of the game.

But Hirschauer tells us that’s when the media pounced. Some racially attacked him, some launched profane insults, and one reporter (who didn’t know him) even blasted Provorov for being hypocritical to his faith in his personal life.

Hirschauer wonders why these vicious assaults exist—especially when Provorov was so respectful in his decision. Read his full take right here.

CATEGORY: RELIGION (6 min)

Compromise or capitulation

The United Kingdom is home to a unique relationship between church and state. Ever since the time of Henry VIII, the Church of England has been inextricably linked with the country’s government. In the past, the church has usually given in to the nation’s political desires over traditional religious beliefs.

But is there room for compromise?

Carl Trueman, in First Things, swings the spotlight to one of these decisions. Penny Mordaunt, a high-ranking member of the Conservative Party, asked the Church of England to accept and honor gay marriages. Trueman notes this indicates the departure of the Conservatives from traditional values, but he was somewhat surprised by the Church’s response.

Anglican bishops did not fully cave by agreeing to Mordaunt’s request, but they did choose to allow blessings on gay “civil partnerships.” Trueman, although acknowledging that this was some attempt to resist state pressure, does not believe it will stave off surrender.

“Fine distinctions… are unlikely to be sustainable for any extended period of time,” Trueman writes.

Discover why Trueman thinks this Anglican stand will not last in his article right here.

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CATEGORY: SOCIETY (6 MIN)

'Til laws do us part

The furious debates over gay marriage as seen above speak to a fundamental shift in our American understanding. Presidential candidates only in the past few years have explicitly changed their views to try and align with most voters on supporting same-sex unions. But will the shifting sands stop there?

Ryan T. Anderson knew they would not. For our Intercollegiate Review archive, we review Anderson’s article from nearly a decade ago forecasting how much more the sanctity of marriage would be degraded. He returns the definition of marriage to the basics: a man and a woman in a permanent monogamous relationship.

The trend to change marriage didn’t start with the gay rights movement, Anderson reminds us—it started with the explosion of no-fault divorce. Now that the law tells marriage to include people of the same sex, Anderson argues that marriages with more than two people and temporary marriages (“wedleases”) are on the cards as well.

“After all, law affects culture. Culture affects beliefs. Beliefs affect actions,” Anderson says.

Find out his plan for reclaiming marriage right here.

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