Today's Cultural Warfare Update
Apr. 25th, 2005 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdColorado Senator Salazar goes on the offensive against Focus on the Family - this is FotF's article;
Today's Family News in Focus;
Concerned Women for America condemns Connecticut for civil unions - urges CT readers to yell at their legislators over it;
Traditional Values Coalition's Lou Sheldon debates the Freedom to Marry Coalition's Evan Wolfson;
Family Research Council statement on their "Justice Sunday" churchcast. The radio station supposedly carrying it here in Seattle didn't, so I don't have anything to transcribe or skim. The spin, however, is that the filibuster is anti-Christian. While waiting for it to appear on the supposed local broadcaster, I also heard ads targeting Senator McCain, urging people to contact him demanding that he support the rules change immediately.
----- 1 -----
Salazar Says Focus 'Hijacking Christianity'
by Pete Winn, associate editor
Focus on the Family
April 22, 2005
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036286.cfm
Colorado's freshman senator charges ministry with seeking to establish a theocracy in the U.S.
For some time now, pro-family groups like Focus on the Family have been asking Senate Democrats to stop using filibusters to block President Bush's judicial nominees from getting up-or-down votes in the Senate.
In fact, Focus on the Family Action, the ministry's lobbying arm, is now running ads which aim to convince selected senators — Democrats and Republicans alike — to allow nominees such as Janice Rogers Brown and Priscilla Owen to be put to a vote on the Senate floor.
But on Thursday, Colorado Democratic U.S. Senator Ken Salazar came out with guns blazing — apparently upset about being targeted in one of the ads, he went so far as to accuse Focus on the Family of wanting to "set up a theocracy."
In a letter to Focus Chairman Dr. James Dobson, Salazar, a lifelong Catholic, accused Focus of "hijacking" Christianity." The senator also condemned Dobson for agreeing to appear this Sunday in a national simulcast called "Justice Sunday," with Focus on the Family board member Albert Mohler, Jr., whom Salazar labeled as anti-Catholic.
"I would further encourage you to cease your unfounded attacks on the faith of my Democratic colleagues," Salazar wrote. "The Senate controversy over judges is simply about whether the rules should be broken in the pursuit of power. The controversy has nothing to do with the faith of any Democratic U.S. Senator."
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
Family News in Focus
Monday, April 25, 2005
Focus on the Family
http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Family_News_in_Focus/
* Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar accuses Focus on the Family of being “unchristian"
1. "...continue to spar over the role faith should play in the judicial confirmation process." Salazar accuses FotF of unfounded attacks on his faith. FotF says that Salazar should "be alarmed" over "anti-Catholic" bias in the Senate. Salazar says he's never seen anything like that in the Senate. "What he did when he ran here in Colorado was promise that he would vote to allow an up or down vote on all of the judges... he reneged on that... he's trying to say it's something else." Dobson says, "Stop the excuses."
* Pro-cloning Senators drag out a new version of their cloning issue
2. "Would supposedly ban cloning... but like their previous efforts, mandates killing human embryos." "Stepped in with this phoney ban... what we call the 'clone and kill bill.'" "efforts by the pro-cloning strategy... it is big part of their strategy... that they want to create and destroy human life... for research..." This is about embryonic stem cell research, which they call "cloning." "Clone and kill human embryos."
* Pentagon makes a request to Congress affecting gays and the military
3. Lawrence v. Texas "has rippled its way through the pentagon." "The crack in the door that will allow openly gay homosexuals to sign up." "The proposed change rightly keeps consensual sodomy a crime." "A charge of sodomy isn't required; it's the effect of gay behaviours on the mission." "I suspect it's being done to push the homosexual agenda forward a little further... homosexual rights activists have issued statements in support of the change..."
* The National Council on Problem Gambling says more women getting hooked
5. "More women who are attracted to casinos, because they appear to be harmless." "Independence has led to addiction for many women." "Video gambling machines... draw women... women tend to be more addicted to the next win, where men are attracted to games of skill and control."
* Schism in Episcopal church regarding homosexual Bishop Gene Robison continues continues to grow
6. Overland Park, KS "Christ Church" is "severing ties." Christ Church "choosing to take a peaceful stand." "They believe that was a break with historic understanding of scripture and was something they could not any longer support." "Christ Church will become nondenominational."
* Boston High School spotlights problem of teenage drinking with breathalyzer testing before after-hour events
4. "Kids don't like the idea, but parents do." "Students Against Destructive Decisions" are for it. Surprise breathalyzers before school events such as football games and dances - if you go, you have to get tested.
* California Sen. Barbara Boxer quietly withdraws recent threats of a legislative filibuster against pro-life legislation
2. "I think in the end that senator Boxer saw that she was going to lose, at least by a couple of votes..." Boxer will try again next year.
----- 3 -----
Connecticut Recognizes Same-Sex Couples
4/23/2005
By Bethanie Swendsen
Concerned Women for America
Gov. Rell signs civil union bill.
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/7965/CFI/family/index.htm
Connecticut has become the second U.S. state to recognize same-sex couples by granting them the ability to form civil unions.
The vote passed in the Senate, 26-8, on Wednesday, April 20. Vermont is currently the only other state that recognizes civil unions, and Massachusetts allows homosexuals to “marry,” but these states were reacting to court rulings that told the legislatures to act.
Connecticut’s landmark law takes effect on October 1, 2005.
“It’s been only judges and a handful of legislatures that have come up with counterfeit marriage schemes. Nowhere do you see the people voting for this stuff,” said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) Culture & Family Institute. “The citizens of Connecticut should have the final say on this, and we hope and expect that they will assert themselves.”
Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) signed on to the bill after the House of Representatives made a “politically acceptable” change, defining “marriage” as a union between a man and a woman, thus giving clear definition between “marriage” and “civil unions.”
According to the Hartford Courant, this new law extends to “gay” couples the rights and responsibilities married couples have under 588 state statutes, including the right to file a joint tax return and make medical decisions for a partner. The same-sex union is not recognized under federal law or by most other states.
Many feel that the legislature and Gov. Rell pulled a fast one by passing this bill during a non-election year.
Take action: CWA urges Connecticut residents to make your voice heard on this important issue. Let your elected representatives know you disagree with this law. To locate contact information for your legislators, click here.
----- 4 -----
Gay marriage debate heats up
By Gerry Shih
Staff Writer, The Stanford Daily
Thursday, April 21, 2005
last updated April 21, 2005 3:03 AM
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16959&repository=0001_article
Evan Wolfson of the Freedom to Marry Coalition and Reverend Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition debated the issue of gay marriage last night at the Law School in front of an audience of hundreds of students, faculty and community members.
Moderated by KQED host Angie Coiro, the debate covered a range of legal, ethical, scientific and moral issues before opening up for questions.
Sheldon affirmed a “natural” view of marriage — that procreation is only possible through heterosexuality and separate from the legal and social issues surrounding homosexuality. But Wolfson attacked what he called Sheldon’s attempt to impose religious beliefs on the legal system and charged Sheldon with being “anti-separation of church and state.”
Some of Sheldon’s statements drew muffled groans and jeers from the audience, composed mostly of law students, while Wolfson, with whom the audience was clearly aligned, sparked bursts of laughter in the room with his sharp retorts.
[More at URL]
----- 5 -----
Justice Sunday: 61 Million Households in 44 States
April 23, 2005 - Saturday
Family Research Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2005
CONTACT: Amber Hildebrand, (202) 393-2100
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR05D15&v=PRINT
Washington, D.C. -- Justice Sunday - Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith, a live nationwide television simulcast hosted by FRC Action, the legislative arm of Family Research Council, and Focus on the Family Action, will make its way into 61 million households in 44 states this Sunday, April 24.
"We have had an amazing response because people of faith are realizing that actions in Washington have a direct impact on their lives in the heartland," said Tony Perkins, President of FRC Action.
"We think everyone has a right to express a point of view, but these men and women waiting on confirmation, several of them for years, have the right to be told if they are going to be hired or not. More importantly, the American people have the right to know what their elected officials are doing in Washington. I respect those who disagree. They have every right to disagree, but we have every right to discuss this and every issue effecting our communities and our families," said Perkins.
"This simulcast would not be necessary if the Senate's most liberal members would distance themselves from the interest groups that hold them in thrall. It's time to bring some transparency to the process and it is time to give these nominees an up or down vote," Perkins added.
"A small minority of Senators do not even want to give these nominees the opportunity to receive the vote they are entitled to. They would rather unfairly and unconstitutionally filibuster the President's choices than take the chance of the full Senate voting openly."
"This is not about faith, but a debate and fairness for people of faith, any faith."
For more information on Justice Sunday visit www.frcaction.org.
Today's Family News in Focus;
Concerned Women for America condemns Connecticut for civil unions - urges CT readers to yell at their legislators over it;
Traditional Values Coalition's Lou Sheldon debates the Freedom to Marry Coalition's Evan Wolfson;
Family Research Council statement on their "Justice Sunday" churchcast. The radio station supposedly carrying it here in Seattle didn't, so I don't have anything to transcribe or skim. The spin, however, is that the filibuster is anti-Christian. While waiting for it to appear on the supposed local broadcaster, I also heard ads targeting Senator McCain, urging people to contact him demanding that he support the rules change immediately.
----- 1 -----
Salazar Says Focus 'Hijacking Christianity'
by Pete Winn, associate editor
Focus on the Family
April 22, 2005
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036286.cfm
Colorado's freshman senator charges ministry with seeking to establish a theocracy in the U.S.
For some time now, pro-family groups like Focus on the Family have been asking Senate Democrats to stop using filibusters to block President Bush's judicial nominees from getting up-or-down votes in the Senate.
In fact, Focus on the Family Action, the ministry's lobbying arm, is now running ads which aim to convince selected senators — Democrats and Republicans alike — to allow nominees such as Janice Rogers Brown and Priscilla Owen to be put to a vote on the Senate floor.
But on Thursday, Colorado Democratic U.S. Senator Ken Salazar came out with guns blazing — apparently upset about being targeted in one of the ads, he went so far as to accuse Focus on the Family of wanting to "set up a theocracy."
In a letter to Focus Chairman Dr. James Dobson, Salazar, a lifelong Catholic, accused Focus of "hijacking" Christianity." The senator also condemned Dobson for agreeing to appear this Sunday in a national simulcast called "Justice Sunday," with Focus on the Family board member Albert Mohler, Jr., whom Salazar labeled as anti-Catholic.
"I would further encourage you to cease your unfounded attacks on the faith of my Democratic colleagues," Salazar wrote. "The Senate controversy over judges is simply about whether the rules should be broken in the pursuit of power. The controversy has nothing to do with the faith of any Democratic U.S. Senator."
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
Family News in Focus
Monday, April 25, 2005
Focus on the Family
http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Family_News_in_Focus/
* Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar accuses Focus on the Family of being “unchristian"
1. "...continue to spar over the role faith should play in the judicial confirmation process." Salazar accuses FotF of unfounded attacks on his faith. FotF says that Salazar should "be alarmed" over "anti-Catholic" bias in the Senate. Salazar says he's never seen anything like that in the Senate. "What he did when he ran here in Colorado was promise that he would vote to allow an up or down vote on all of the judges... he reneged on that... he's trying to say it's something else." Dobson says, "Stop the excuses."
* Pro-cloning Senators drag out a new version of their cloning issue
2. "Would supposedly ban cloning... but like their previous efforts, mandates killing human embryos." "Stepped in with this phoney ban... what we call the 'clone and kill bill.'" "efforts by the pro-cloning strategy... it is big part of their strategy... that they want to create and destroy human life... for research..." This is about embryonic stem cell research, which they call "cloning." "Clone and kill human embryos."
* Pentagon makes a request to Congress affecting gays and the military
3. Lawrence v. Texas "has rippled its way through the pentagon." "The crack in the door that will allow openly gay homosexuals to sign up." "The proposed change rightly keeps consensual sodomy a crime." "A charge of sodomy isn't required; it's the effect of gay behaviours on the mission." "I suspect it's being done to push the homosexual agenda forward a little further... homosexual rights activists have issued statements in support of the change..."
* The National Council on Problem Gambling says more women getting hooked
5. "More women who are attracted to casinos, because they appear to be harmless." "Independence has led to addiction for many women." "Video gambling machines... draw women... women tend to be more addicted to the next win, where men are attracted to games of skill and control."
* Schism in Episcopal church regarding homosexual Bishop Gene Robison continues continues to grow
6. Overland Park, KS "Christ Church" is "severing ties." Christ Church "choosing to take a peaceful stand." "They believe that was a break with historic understanding of scripture and was something they could not any longer support." "Christ Church will become nondenominational."
* Boston High School spotlights problem of teenage drinking with breathalyzer testing before after-hour events
4. "Kids don't like the idea, but parents do." "Students Against Destructive Decisions" are for it. Surprise breathalyzers before school events such as football games and dances - if you go, you have to get tested.
* California Sen. Barbara Boxer quietly withdraws recent threats of a legislative filibuster against pro-life legislation
2. "I think in the end that senator Boxer saw that she was going to lose, at least by a couple of votes..." Boxer will try again next year.
----- 3 -----
Connecticut Recognizes Same-Sex Couples
4/23/2005
By Bethanie Swendsen
Concerned Women for America
Gov. Rell signs civil union bill.
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/7965/CFI/family/index.htm
Connecticut has become the second U.S. state to recognize same-sex couples by granting them the ability to form civil unions.
The vote passed in the Senate, 26-8, on Wednesday, April 20. Vermont is currently the only other state that recognizes civil unions, and Massachusetts allows homosexuals to “marry,” but these states were reacting to court rulings that told the legislatures to act.
Connecticut’s landmark law takes effect on October 1, 2005.
“It’s been only judges and a handful of legislatures that have come up with counterfeit marriage schemes. Nowhere do you see the people voting for this stuff,” said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) Culture & Family Institute. “The citizens of Connecticut should have the final say on this, and we hope and expect that they will assert themselves.”
Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) signed on to the bill after the House of Representatives made a “politically acceptable” change, defining “marriage” as a union between a man and a woman, thus giving clear definition between “marriage” and “civil unions.”
According to the Hartford Courant, this new law extends to “gay” couples the rights and responsibilities married couples have under 588 state statutes, including the right to file a joint tax return and make medical decisions for a partner. The same-sex union is not recognized under federal law or by most other states.
Many feel that the legislature and Gov. Rell pulled a fast one by passing this bill during a non-election year.
Take action: CWA urges Connecticut residents to make your voice heard on this important issue. Let your elected representatives know you disagree with this law. To locate contact information for your legislators, click here.
----- 4 -----
Gay marriage debate heats up
By Gerry Shih
Staff Writer, The Stanford Daily
Thursday, April 21, 2005
last updated April 21, 2005 3:03 AM
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16959&repository=0001_article
Evan Wolfson of the Freedom to Marry Coalition and Reverend Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition debated the issue of gay marriage last night at the Law School in front of an audience of hundreds of students, faculty and community members.
Moderated by KQED host Angie Coiro, the debate covered a range of legal, ethical, scientific and moral issues before opening up for questions.
Sheldon affirmed a “natural” view of marriage — that procreation is only possible through heterosexuality and separate from the legal and social issues surrounding homosexuality. But Wolfson attacked what he called Sheldon’s attempt to impose religious beliefs on the legal system and charged Sheldon with being “anti-separation of church and state.”
Some of Sheldon’s statements drew muffled groans and jeers from the audience, composed mostly of law students, while Wolfson, with whom the audience was clearly aligned, sparked bursts of laughter in the room with his sharp retorts.
[More at URL]
----- 5 -----
Justice Sunday: 61 Million Households in 44 States
April 23, 2005 - Saturday
Family Research Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2005
CONTACT: Amber Hildebrand, (202) 393-2100
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR05D15&v=PRINT
Washington, D.C. -- Justice Sunday - Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith, a live nationwide television simulcast hosted by FRC Action, the legislative arm of Family Research Council, and Focus on the Family Action, will make its way into 61 million households in 44 states this Sunday, April 24.
"We have had an amazing response because people of faith are realizing that actions in Washington have a direct impact on their lives in the heartland," said Tony Perkins, President of FRC Action.
"We think everyone has a right to express a point of view, but these men and women waiting on confirmation, several of them for years, have the right to be told if they are going to be hired or not. More importantly, the American people have the right to know what their elected officials are doing in Washington. I respect those who disagree. They have every right to disagree, but we have every right to discuss this and every issue effecting our communities and our families," said Perkins.
"This simulcast would not be necessary if the Senate's most liberal members would distance themselves from the interest groups that hold them in thrall. It's time to bring some transparency to the process and it is time to give these nominees an up or down vote," Perkins added.
"A small minority of Senators do not even want to give these nominees the opportunity to receive the vote they are entitled to. They would rather unfairly and unconstitutionally filibuster the President's choices than take the chance of the full Senate voting openly."
"This is not about faith, but a debate and fairness for people of faith, any faith."
For more information on Justice Sunday visit www.frcaction.org.
