Politics USA
Not about US: The misuse of one verse in American evangelicalism
Tony Bennett
Former Vice President Mike Pence has for many years introduced himself to audiences by saying: “I’m a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican – in that order.”
I’ve heard many evangelical Christians in the UK speak warmly of Pence’s strong Biblical faith. Indeed, there is much to admire. But I’m concerned.
Politics USA
The US Supreme Court and questions of justice
Tony Bennett
In the UK we are used to Parliament being the law-making body for the nation. But a recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court on the meaning of “sex” for the purposes of gender discrimination showed that sometimes it’s the Supreme Court that has the final word.
How the US Supreme Court works
Our Supreme Court is not yet 20 years old and is only just beginning to make its mark. The United States Supreme Court, on the other hand, was created back in 1789 as a coequal branch of the federal government, alongside Congress and the Presidency. It even has the power to declare Acts of Congress unconstitutional, and thereby null and void. (The UK Supreme Court has no comparable power.) Through this power, the US Supreme Court has become the final arbiter of what the laws mean and, most importantly, what the Constitution means. That’s why most important cases of legal and constitutional importance end up there.
Politics USA
Trump and 'the most important issue': Immigration
Tony Bennett
Rather like studying Scripture, context is so important.
In 2015, having glided down that gold escalator in Trump Tower in New York to announce his first presidential bid, Donald Trump was not a minute into the speech when he delivered this broadside against immigrants: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems … They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
Iran: The trivialisation of war
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon recently, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth promised to bring on Iran the biggest onslaught of the war thus far. He spoke of “overwhelming force” and the U.S. military’s unrivalled ability to rain “death and destruction from above” on its “apocalyptic” Iranian enemies.
He ended his remarks by asking the American people to pray for victory in battle and the safety of American troops. “Every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches,” he added, they should pray “in the name of Jesus Christ.”