Today's Cultural Warfare Update

Focus on the Family/FRC spin on Roberts's comments about a right to privacy - they say it's extremely limited and not to worry about it, saying it won't stop him from overturning Roe v. Wade and Lawrence v. Texas;

"Light of Life Rescue Mission" wants to be able to continue refusing employment based on religion - FotF supports them; I don't know whether they mean in positions involving the core religious mission (which is legal) or non-religious positions (which is not) - FotF doesn't distinguish, or, I suspect, care;

Challenges to funding of "abstinence education programs" as dishonest and/or inaccurate;

FotF article on hate-crimes bill passing house with GBLT-inclusive language; Concerned Women for America's Robert Knight accuses "homosexuals" of exploiting 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and John Roberts's confirmation hearings to get "sneak" laws passed - includes ACTION ITEM to get it taken back out;

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists wants anti-abortion doctors to refer patients to doctors who will provide "appropriate care" if the patient requests - includes ACTION ITEM to oppose legislation;

Michigan anti-abortion law overturned;

Anti-marriage Constitutional amendment dies in Massachusetts legislature - fundamentalists claim victory, since the amendment didn't also ban civil unions in all forms, and they want one that does; c.f. other news items about the fight to get an anti-marriage and anti-CU amendment on the ballot;

Gov. Schwarzenegger to meet with GBLT-rights groups, who will try to talk him out of vetoing marriage in California; Focus on the Family sends out a NATIONAL action-item to tell him not to "resist the pressure tactics" and veto the bill;

Senate condemns law holding "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional;

Missouri passes tighter parental-consent laws in special session called by Governor Blunt;

Senate committee passes addition to Federal Employee nondiscrimination policy - putting sexual orientation back into the list, after Bush administration officials had been busily taking it out; CWA is outraged, talks about sneaky queers exploiting Hurricane Katrina as a distraction - includes ACTION ITEM to pull it back out;

CWA implies that Roberts wouldn't overturn laws of the kind they like - they're really, really, really enthusiastic about him, still;

CWA reports with glee about the "scientific community [having] its knickers in a twist" over the political successes of creationism;

CWA promotes planning for anti-gay "Day of Truth" to counter "pro-homosexual 'Day of Silence' campaign" at schools;

CWA has an updated item against Plan B emergency-contraception, there's a new FDA comment period ending November 1st; CWA claims makers are running ads telling college women in California to have multiple sex partners and solve their problems with Plan B - includes ACTION ITEM to tell the FDA to keep it from going OTC;

Free Congress Foundation head Paul M. Weyrich wants Federal subsidies to encourage a massive return to family farming as a measure to promote "the next conservatism"; I'm pro-family farms and against the current subsidies the corporation farms get - tho' it's interesting to see more and more conservative steering of tax dollars (and larger government) around;

CWA press release against GBLT-folk being included in the hate-crimes law;

Agape Press talks about the California marriage law planned veto, and repeats Robert Knight's claim that queers exploit distractions created by national disasters to pass laws;

CWA links to Boston Globe column about the attempts to block Plan B; not sure why, they don't usually link to opposition;

Traditional Values Organisation article on John Roberts confirmation hearings, mostly a screed against the Usual Suspects for imposing "liberal litmus tests" like "the separation of church and state," "privacy rights," "promotion of the homosexual agenda," and a very interesting comment about how the 14th Amendment shouldn't let the Federal government interfere in state affairs;

Baylor University (Texas) orders campus Starbucks to remove cups containing Armistead Maupin quote on the basis that it "promotes homosexuality";

Presumably-fundamentalist Christians in San Diego rallied to pray and fast against Pagan Pride Day event; flyer describes neopagan practices as "vile... extreme witchcraft, curses, demonic rituals, sacrificial altars and occultism";

Family Research Council rallies against marriage rights in Florida; includes ACTION ITEM to collect signatures for anti-marriage state constitutional amendment;

Family Research Council claims adding sexual orientation to existing hate-crimes law (as per the previously-described amendment) is "bigotry," claims that crimes committed against "homosexuals" would result in special punishment. THIS IS A LIE: 1) it's sexual orientation, so if somebody kills a straight person on the basis of their sexual orientation, it's still a hate crime, and 2) it's already there for race, religion, etc; the list has just been made larger.

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