PA State Rep. Amen Brown (D-Philadelphia) has recently introduced a bill, House Bill 2210 (HB2210), with a handful of cosponsors, to legalize retail marijuana for recreational use in Pennsylvania. This bill mirrors a State Senate bill, Senate Bill 846, that was introduced by Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie). Here are three things you should know about the bill: 1. HB2210 is Big Government. Not only would this set up a new regulatory control board, but it ***would restrict local municipalities*** from being able to opt out of pot shops in their j ..read more

Our leadership can have an impact on justice, on lives, and the vulnerable. Our legislators can control religious freedom and the rights of parents. Your vote matters and makes a difference. The PA Family Voter Guide can help you determine where candidates stand on the issues that matter most to you.  Be prepared to vote on Primary Election Day, April 23 with our Choose Well election toolkit for churches. Honoring God Slides (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Honoring God Bulletin Insert (printer lines and black and white)  A Way to Serve Video Honoring God in the Election Video (C ..read more

By: Dan Bartkowiak Today, the Pennsylvania Cable Network hosted a debate on marijuana legalization for their Capitol Preview program, and I was one of their guests. You can watch the full PCN program tonight @ 7pm or online using PCN Select. On this week's The PCN Capitol Preview, Wyatt Massey of @SpotlightPA, Chris Goldstein of @NORML, Dan Bartkowiak of @PFIpolicy and @Sen_Pennycuick. Then, Kim Lyons of @PennCapitalStar, @SenatorMartinPA, @SenatorHughes, and @LindseyForPA. pic.twitter.com/04NB19PW04 — PCN (@pcntv) March 25, 2024 Several claims by the pro-retail marijuana side stood out to ..read more

Capitol press conference highlights various costs of non-medical legalization (recreational use). (HARRISBURG, PA – March 20, 2024) Today, a group of state lawmakers and coalition leaders held a press conference to highlight the many harms of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s agenda on marijuana, which is to legalize high-potency THC for retail recreational sale in Pennsylvania.  “The manufactured, dangerously-high potency THC marijuana pushed in a retail recreational use market has caused damaging social costs and negative consequences in states experimenting with legalization,” stated Dan Bartk ..read more

Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative (PPWC) is a unifying voice for pregnancy resource centers in Pennsylvania  (HARRISBURG, PA – March 19, 2024) Today, directors of pregnancy medical clinics and resource centers in PA announced a new initiative, the Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative (PPWC), which will help bring awareness to communities and lawmakers of the vital connection between pregnancy help services and the needs of women and families throughout Pennsylvania.  “The Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative is a new initiative unifying pregna ..read more

Three Things To Know: Detrans Awareness Day (March 12) By: Dan Bartkowiak Is this the medical scandal of the century? March 12 is Detrans Awareness Day – so this is a prime time to discuss the cracks beginning to show in the “gender affirmation care” industry. The detrans community includes voices of those who went through “sex-change” services and surgeries only to regret the decision and detransition back to their true biological sex. Today’s awareness effort is an opportunity to highlight their stories and the many problems with the current healthcare community’s approval and promotion of b ..read more

Speaking from Personal Experience  Alexis Sneller, Policy Analyst, PA Family Institute You may have seen news stories in the last few days in reaction to an Alabama Supreme Court ruling in a case involving in vitro fertilization (IVF). It’s an issue that impacts a lot of sensitivities and brings up significant ethical questions. And, it is something that I, as an IVF baby, am deeply invested in. But my opinions may surprise you.  First, before we can talk about IVF, a quick word on what it actually is. Simply put, IVF harvests a mature egg and artificially fertilizes it in a lab with ..read more

By Michael Geer My youngest son, Wes, was over at our house the other day and started telling me how his iPhone was pushing gambling. Well, not his phone exactly, and it’s not just him. The now-legal sports betting and online casino apps and advertising are putting high-stakes gambling (or “gaming,” as the industry likes to call it) right in our faces through our smartphones, providing special enticements and incentives to join in the “fun.” For many, it’s too hard to resist, and for some, it leads to devastating addiction, financial ruin, and family dissolution. New reports reveal calls to a ..read more

You do not want the teen in your life to miss out on this incredible opportunity! For over twenty years, PA Family has hosted our City on the Hill (COTH) Youth Leadership and Worldview conference to equip young adults to confidently stand in their faith and make a difference in their communities.  This year, COTH will take place July 21st-27th, 2024 at Lancaster Bible College. During the first half of the week, we bring in nationally recognized speakers to cover the important social issues that young adults are facing everyday, like defending the sanctity of life, understanding a biblica ..read more

(HARRISBURG, PA – February 6, 2024) Today, Governor Josh Shapiro called for full-blown legalization of marijuana for recreational use as part of his budget address, putting the addiction-for-profit marijuana industry above the health and well-being of Pennsylvania families. “Gov. Josh Shapiro, in calling for the legalization of manufactured marijuana for retail recreational sale in PA, goes against our law enforcement agencies, every major health organization, mental health services, and, most importantly, the well-being of Pennsylvanians,” stated Dan Bartkowiak, Director of Communications for ..read more