Protecting the Unborn Overseas
By Ecce Verum   |   05.18.24
Once Dobbs came down, abortion became much more of a state debate than ever before. But there are still battles to be won in the nation's highest legislature. While Congress may be far from passing a national measure to completely protect the unborn, the pro-life movement still has warriors in D.C. who are pushing for justice in incremental steps.
Only God Should Play God, Part 3
By Ecce Verum   |   05.14.24
In our last piece, we continued our series on the troubling moral consequences of various forms of artificial reproduction technology. From the death of hordes of innocent human embryos to the violation of the sacred marriage commitment, the picture doesn't look pretty when man tries to play God. But we're not done yet. Let's look at a couple more implications of this vicious technological trend.
What’s the Hubbub About “Influencers?”  
By Ecce Verum   |   05.06.24
In 2022, research found that almost 1 in 5 Gen Z-ers were willing to quit their job to be an "influencer" on social media. 12% would quit college. So, whatever an influencer is, it sure seems important to this generation. Is that for good or for ill? While there are rarely clear answers to questions like these, here are some thoughts that might offer a sound perspective on the newfangled industry of "influencing."
The Pro-Life Intramural, Part 2
By Ecce Verum   |   05.03.24
Last time, we discussed the two sides of the intramural pro-life debate: abolitionists and prudentialists. And we observed that each side has a valid perspective based on a very true aspect of the issue. But shall the twain ever meet?
Only God Should Play God, Part 2
By Ecce Verum   |   05.01.24
Last time, we discussed several moral issues that arise when man decides to "play God" in the area of human reproduction. In vitro fertilization always takes innocent life. Embryonic genetic editing tends towards the sad assumption that the mother is the only patient involved, because the embryo is not considered a patient. And efforts to alter a baby's genetics don't have an easy line between "health-related concerns" and flat-out "child enhancement."
Only God Should Play God, Part 1
By Ecce Verum   |   04.27.24
The pro-life movement is solidly consolidated in its stance on abortion. And this is for good reason, given how heinous and grievous of a crime abortion is. However, abortion is not the only contemporary issue fundamentally affecting nascent life. One issue on which pro-lifers arguably have less of a consensus involves the medical practices for various forms of artificial reproductive technology.
The Pro-Life Intramural, Part 1
By Ecce Verum   |   04.25.24
There's a common debate that tends to pop up in pro-life circles when "partial solutions" to the evil of abortion are proposed. Incremental pro-life moves, such as a ban on abortion after the baby is 15 weeks old, tend to draw both ire and praise from the same side of the aisle.
Are Doors Insensitive?
By Ecce Verum   |   04.19.24
Doors are insensitive. They just stand there, entirely filling up the entrance to their houses and obstinately obstructing the way without caring who's at the doorstep. Society would seem a lot more hospitable without doors, wouldn't it? Sure, maybe—but society would also be a lot less safe. The insensitivity of a door is precisely what protects you at night.
What Are You Buying Into?
By Ecce Verum   |   04.13.24
Have you ever wondered why so many companies invest so much energy and resources into being woke? After all, business seems like it should be about, well, business! Basic economics tells us that resources are always scarce, and the goal of a successful corporation is to use its resources more effectively than its competitors and thus make a profit.
Homeschooling, Part 3
By Ecce Verum   |   03.25.24
We ended the last piece in the middle of our discussion of the biblical benefits of homeschooling. Jesus tells us that every student, when he is trained fully, will be like his master (Luke 6:40), which prompts us to ask: what kind of masters are my children being trained by? We discussed the godless ideas permeating the public school classroom, but education is more than just ideas. It also involves people. So let's also consider more than just the lessons being taught; what about the people teaching them?
Homeschooling, Part 2
By Ecce Verum   |   03.21.24
In a recent piece together, we explored one of the major benefits of homeschooling that greatly impacted me as a student: the freedom that my parents had to tailor my education to my needs. I know many other homeschool families have reaped this benefit from homeschooling as well. Homeschooling parents are able to educate their children according to their individual needs and aptitudes, which often results in a more rigorous and productive education than the standard fare in the public school system.
Why Should Anyone Homeschool? Part 1
By Ecce Verum   |   03.12.24
I've been blessed to write several dozen articles for IFI on topics ranging from transgender bathrooms to sports gambling to the politically correct concept of "ableism." It's been a very fun ride. But, peering back through it all—the rants on the artificial fertility lobby and the exposés of abortion politics, the laments over the modern denial of science and the abandonment of logic—I still think back to the very first article I ever wrote for the Institute: COVID Boosted Idea of Educational Freedom.
“Three in One Flesh?”
By Ecce Verum   |   02.23.24
The "slippery slope" idea is sometimes a fallacy. But other times, it's simply the way the world works. Concerned conservative Christians—the ones who warned us that legalizing one sexual perversion would lead to another down the road—were right. Say hello to polyamory, 2024.
The Gamble Behind the Gamble
By Ecce Verum   |   02.06.24
Online sports gambling has been around for a while, but it has really put the pedal to the floor over the last few years. This is partly because the activity enjoys much more legal leeway now than it has in the past. Only just a few years ago, states were forbidden by federal law from operating or sponsoring sports lotteries, but the Supreme Court struck down that law in the case Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (2018).
Illinois Youth Survey Warrants Caution
By Ecce Verum   |   02.02.24
Every school has to know at least a little bit about the students it is teaching, and every school has to provide at least something of value to its students. But there's a flipside—in pursuit of these goals, schools should not pry into areas of family life beyond their proper purview. While every family will have slightly different standards about what is appropriate for schools to inquire about or provide for their kids, I think that concerned parents and observers of the education system may soon sound the alarm that schools are becoming too intrusive.
Ecce Verum
Ecce Verum

Ecce Verum is passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how God’s redemptive work relates to every aspect of life. His earnest desire is to steward well the resources and abilities that God has given him, in whatever situation God may have him. Currently, Ecce is pursuing a B.A. in classical liberal arts at New Saint Andrews College, with the intention to enter law school after graduation and fight for the truth in the legal and political fields. However, he does enjoy aptly written words regardless of the topic, and has contributed to blogs on apologetics and debate in addition to writing on academic literary research. A former national semi-finalist and finalist in speech and debate, he now coaches students in value debate and competitive speaking.

IFI Featured Video
The Elections Are Over, Christians Still Have Work To Do
Get Our New App!