Author: Dan Bryant

We need to have a serious conversation about when life begins. As I’ve argued before, that question has very serious consequences for public policy. As we now see in the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, it threatens the opportunity of women who have fertility issues with the possibility of becoming pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF). This tragedy is a direct result of...

In 1951 20th Century-Fox released its epic Biblical drama of the supposed love affair between King David and Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of the nation’s generals. It is a tale worth retelling today for many reasons, not the least of which is to correct the Biblical record on what really transpired between those two in the ancient story. But why retell that story today? Because it says...

It wasn’t particularly surprising when Governor Ron DeSantis made Critical Race Theory (CRT) enemy number one in the culture wars.  That is precisely the kind of reaction that CRT predicts as part of the systemic racism of our institutions.  To be clear, it is fair to debate whether CRT is a valid theory that accurately depicts the history of racism in our society just as...

Note: This article also appears in the Eugene Weekly's online edition. On the morning of January 6, 2021, Nancy Pelosi spoke to members of the Democratic caucus via video conference.  She closed the meeting with these words: Today is the Feast of Epiphany, January 6,   the Magi, the rest of the world seeing the birth of Christ.  Let us pray in any way that you do,...

Read my latest column in the Eugene Weekly:

I’ve always considered myself more of a “social justice” guy than a “law and order” person.  Not that the two are necessarily in opposition, but growing up in the Civil Rights era and amidst Vietnam War protests, I found that law and order were usually on the wrong side of justice.  Rather curious then that I find myself now longing for the triumph of law and order...

The Supreme Court overturns Roe and Texas now counts fetuses as “persons.”  Naturally a woman carrying such a person in Plano, Texas does the math and quickly deduces she and yet to be born person meet the requirement for driving in the HOV lane ("high occupancy vehicle", meaning two or more people).  Logical, right?  No, said the officer giving her the ticket, only persons “outside...

My column on gun violence in schools for the Eugene Weekly. Photo: REUTERS/John Ernst

In the uproar over the leaked opinion of Justice Alito—a potential seismic shift in public policy—I fear a most critical issue is being overlooked. Justice Alito reasons that abortion is a moral issue and moral issues should be left to legislatures, not to courts.  The latter may be correct, but is he right that abortion is a moral issue?  I contend that his premise is wrong and abortion...

Preface: The Register Guard reports this morning that the family of Annette Montero has filed a lawsuit against Sanipac and the driver of their truck that crushed Ms. Montero in her sleeping bag on the morning of Aug. 26, 2019. Below is the piece I wrote about this tragedy and printed in the church newsletter a few days later. We held a memorial service for Ms. Montero at First Christian Church...