Today's Cultural Warfare Update
Jun. 10th, 2005 11:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdNone on Wednesday; my laptop is at the shop and this thing I'm using right now is like using farking stone knives and bearskins. Anyway, here's your list:
Fundamentalist legislative attempt to make church/state cases too expensive to bring to court;
Focus on the Family article comparing liberalism to the worldview of Darth Vader;
FotF article attacking attempts to get partner benefits
FotF supports Papal attack on gayfolk, contraception, abortion;
FotF reports Albertsons allows pharmacists to refuse to dispense emergency contraception in Illinois; I'm not sure of the full details of this since there's a court case involved;
Poll shows Americans don't want religious leaders involved in politics; FotF and related groups spin wildly to say the poll really means the opposite and respondants were "confused";
American theologian forced out of the Catholic church by John Paul II nails a new 95 Theses to the doors of the church at Wittenburg;
Comparson of quotes from Nazi propoganda film "The Eternal Jew" and various fundamentalist anti-gay statements made over the last few years - probably beneath me to post this, really, but, well, there it is;
Texas governor tells gayfolk to move out of state if they don't like anti-marriage law;
Today's Family News in Focus accuses secular science of intentional dishonesty;
Concerned Women for America rails against new show with lesbian characters;
CWA article that Christians could be sent to jail for praying - the specifics of the case from their own article is that a school board is refusing to obey a consent degree _it signed_, has been to court over this four times already; they're asking for a contempt of court ruling;
CWA action item against the AFL-CIO over its support for domestic partner benefits at private companies (in union contracts) and its refusal to support the Federal Marriage Amendment - includes action item;
Traditional Values Coalition action item for the "Constitutional Restoration Act," which would forbid courts from hearing establishment (church/state) cases;
TVC action item in support of "Support Our Scouts Act," which insures the Scouts can use Federal funding and facilities despite their official religious requirement and anti-gayfolk stances;
Brutal action item/propoganda piece against inclusion of GBLT-folk in Federal hate crimes legislation by TVC;
TVC action item in support of embryonic stem cell research ban.
----- 1 -----
NO PROFIT FROM ESTABLISHMENT CASES
Indiana Congressman is sponsoring legislation to take the
profit out of suing.
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036787.cfm
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
Representative John Hostettler, R-Ind., has teamed with
the American Legion to prevent the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) and others like them, from strong
arming defendants.
The Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005 (PERA) would
prohibit attorneys' fees from being collected in cases
against the establishment of religion clause.
The ACLU boasts more than 400,000 members and supporters
and handles more than 6,000 cases each year. Its 2003
revenue topped $44 million while it claims to have been
awarded more than $2 million in settlements.
The legislation comes at a time when the ACLU is
challenging the mention of "Jesus" in the Indiana
legislature, the cross on the California state seal and
prayer at graduation ceremonies across America. Regularly
such cases never make it to court because of concern over
the cost of attorney fees.
A solitary cross stands on the hillside of a national
preserve near the Nevada-California border. Frank Buono, a
retired park ranger, sued, claiming that his seeing the
cross a couple times every year infringed on his rights.
The courts agreed. The ACLU pocketed $63,000 in attorneys'
fees.
Currently, when the ACLU wins a case, as it did in Buono
v. Norton, the losing party must pay the fees of the
successful attorneys. Initially the law was good. Poor
minorities were facing discrimination but were unable to
afford a lawyer. Now, liberal advocacy groups are using
the law as a burden to municipalities faced with potential
religious liberties cases.
In light of the situation facing many state and federal
agencies, Rees Lloyd, a former ACLU attorney and past
commander of American Legion Post 428, took action. Lloyd
authored Legion's Resolution 326. The resolution calls the
group's 2.7 million members to "expressly preclude the
courts from awarding attorney fees in lawsuits brought to
remove or destroy religious symbols."
The Legion had adopted that cross in the middle of the
Mojave Desert in 2003. Now the ACLU was treading on sacred
ground.
"The ACLU has become fanatical," Lloyd said. "The facts
are the facts. They are elitist social engineers."
Then he raised a critical point.
"As a former ACLU attorney, I know that they have no
attorney fees," he said. "They are either done by staff
attorneys or volunteers."
In fact, in Buono v. Norton, the counsel listed for the
plaintiff was "Peter J. Eliasberg and Mark D. Rosenbaum,
ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles,
California." Both attorneys are ACLU staffers.
Hostettler has taken his bill to the House before. In 2003
the bill died in subcommittee. But Lloyd is quick to point
out this is a different Congress.
"Now there are 2.7 million people solidly and unanimously
supporting this bill," Lloyd noted.
The legislation is currently in its infancy in the 109th
Congress but already has 20 co-sponsors.
"We're in pretty good shape," a spokesman for Rep.
Hostettler said. "One hundred is a magic number because
you can kind of force a bill through with that."
----- 2 -----
DARTH RECESSES
What lurks inside the liberal mind? A worldview espoused
by the hero of the new "Star Wars" movie.
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/commentary/a0036784.cfm
by Gary Schneeberger, editor
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
SUMMARY: What lurks inside the liberal mind? A worldview
espoused by the hero of the new "Star Wars" movie.
I'm not a big "Star Wars" fan.
I've never owned a light saber. I couldn't explain the
difference between Tatooine and Naboo under threat of
dismemberment with a light saber -- I only know they're
the names of planets from the movie series because I
looked them up online. I'm so out-of-touch with the "Star
Wars" ethos, in fact, that as a desperate-to-fit-in
12-year-old back in 1977, when the original film was
released, I endured a summer's worth of taunts from my
friends (my wife still makes fun of me for it, actually)
for pronouncing the name of the saga's cheeky golden
android not as "See-Three-Pea-Oh" but as "See-Three-Poe."
I cite this lack of "Star Wars" gravitas only to make it
clear up front that I have no credentials -- or any
inclination, really -- to debate the philosophical nuances
of George Lucas' galaxy far, far away. I'm not much
interested in the debate over whether the plotline of the
latest film, "Revenge of the Sith," is meant as a
commentary on the Bush administration's war on terror --
as many media pundits have suggested. What I am
interested in is how the scene most often tagged by those
pundits as indicting Bush -- whether Lucas intended it to
be or not -- plays out as a textbook example of the way
liberals fight the culture war.
The scene in question comes as the movie nears its climax,
when Anakin Skywalker, his transformation into Darth Vader
incomplete only because he's not yet donned the black cape
and helmet, is poised to do battle with his mentor, the
hero Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"If you are not with me," Anakin says ominously, drawing
his light saber, in the line pundits cite as a swipe at
Bush, "then you are my enemy."
Obi-Wan's response: "Only a Sith (i.e., a bad guy) deals
in absolutes."
Substitute "conservative" for "Sith" in that last
sentence, and you have what could be the marketing slogan
for the National Organization for Women, People for the
American Way, Americans United for Separation of Church
and State, the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood,
the American Civil Liberties Union and any "documentary"
with Michael Moore's name on it.
The real threat to America today, these folks say as often
and as loudly as it takes for somebody to pay attention,
is that the "radical right" sees everything in black and
white when we really live in a world tinted in "tolerant"
grays.
I don't need to tell most of you reading this -- except
you affiliated with some of the groups mentioned above,
who subscribe to CitizenLink as a form of "opposition
research" -- the fallacy of this "anyone who believes in
absolutes is a threat to the Republic" argument. Just for
grins, though, let's see if it even applies to the "Star
Wars" movies, by posing a question even I'm qualified to
answer: Is it really adherence to absolutes that turns
Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader?
[More at URL] [Ed. note: HI GUYS!]
----- 3 -----
GAYS CONTINUE PRESSURING EMPLOYERS FOR SPECIAL RIGHTS
The nation's largest homosexual rights lobby releases
annual employer report.
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0036783.cfm
By Bill Wilson, Washington, D.C. correspondent
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
SUMMARY: The nation's largest homosexual rights lobby
releases annual employer report.
The Human Rights Campaign has released its annual State of
the Workplace report that aims to show how Fortune 500
companies are embracing domestic partner benefits and
nondiscrimination policies for homosexuals.
At first, it sounds reasonable -- workplace equality for
homosexuals. But prying under the veneer of tolerance
reveals an agenda that goes way beyond equality.
For sex-changed Margaret Stumpp, a senior vice president
at Prudential, it's a spiritual experience.
"We're not clowns in a dress," she said. "We're not
mentally disturbed. We are simply ordinary people who
desire to align our sense of self with our physical
presentation."
And activists have a plan to strong arm corporate America
for benefits they are unable to get at the ballot box.
"GLBT employees go to work everyday," said Human Rights
Campaign President Joe Solmonese, "and they're influencing
and changing the hearts and minds of their fellow
employees and in corporate leadership in ways that are
outpacing the country."
But American Values President Gary Bauer says corporate
elites do not represent American citizens.
"But if the employees of those Fortune 500 companies could
be asked their opinion," he said, "I have no doubt that
like most Americans they would be against elevating same
sex relationships to the equivalent of marriage."
And Bob Knight of the Culture and Family Institute points
out that most companies have not folded.
"America has more than two million corporations," he said.
"Most of them have not introduced domestic partner
benefits."
To date, 215 Fortune 500 companies are giving homosexuals
what most Americans will not -- the same benefits as
married couples.
----- 4 -----
Pontiff Condemns Cultural Attacks on Family
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
Pope Benedict XVI, speaking Monday at St. John's Cathedral
in Rome, denounced homosexual marriage and divorce calling
each a threat to the future of the family, Reuters
reported.
"Today's various forms of dissolution of marriage, free
unions, trial marriages as well as the pseudo-matrimonies
between people of the same sex," he said, "are instead
expressions of anarchic freedom which falsely tries to
pass itself off as the true liberation of man."
While gay-activist Franco Grillini of Rome was "strongly
disappointed" by the Pontiff's remarks calling them
"violent lecturing," many are comforted by Benedict's
strong conservative stand on the issue of traditional
marriage.
"I was pleased when Benedict was appointed because I knew
him to be in strong support of conservative values," said
Peter Brandt, senior director of issues response at Focus
on the Family. "I am now even more pleased that he has
boldly denounced what we know to be one of the root causes
of the disintegration of the family -- namely the fight
for gay marriage and the devaluing of traditional marriage
itself."
----- 5 -----
Albertsons Agrees to Respect Pharmacists' Right of Conscience
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
Albertsons Corporation agreed to accommodate its
pharmacists' right to refuse to fill prescriptions that
violate their religious or moral beliefs. The
accommodation came on the heels of a lawsuit filed by
attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and the
Christian Legal Society (CLS) against Albertsons and
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on behalf of pharmacist
David Scimio.
Blagojevich imposed an "emergency rule" stating that a
pharmacist "must dispense . . . without delay"
contraceptives, including so-called emergency
contraceptives such as the "morning after" pill, despite
the state's right-of-conscience act.
Steven H. Aden, chief litigation counsel of CLS's Center
for Law and Religious Freedom, said the right of
conscience is an important component of religious liberty.
"Pharmacists should not be forced to fill prescriptions
for the 'morning after' abortion pill," he said, "if it
violates their conscience."
Shortly after ADF and CLS filed suit, Albertsons
distributed a memo to all its Illinois pharmacists stating
it would accommodate their right of conscience by
permitting them to refer prescriptions to which they
conscientiously object to another Albertsons pharmacist or
to a competitor.
"We applaud the decision by Albertsons to restore to Mr.
Scimio and other Albertsons pharmacists the same rights
they had prior to the governor's action," Aden said, "and
allow them to be true to their beliefs about the sanctity
of human life."
----- 6 -----
POLITICS AND RELIGION A MIXED BAG ACCORDING TO POLL
A new poll found that Americans don't want their religious
leaders involved in politics.
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036794.cfm
Focus on the Family
June 8, 2005
Politics and Religion a Mixed Bag According to Poll
by Aaron Atwood, assistant editor
SUMMARY: A new poll finds Americans don't want their
religious leaders involved in politics.
Americans believe in God but don't want God anywhere near
their politics, according to an Associated Press / IPSOS
poll. The results, released Monday, found that 84 percent
of Americans say religion is "important" to them, but many
don't think religious leaders should influence the
political process.
When asked "Do you think religious leaders should or
should not try to influence government decisions?" 37
percent of U.S. respondents answered "should" while 61
percent answered "should not."
Frank Turek, co-author of "Legislating Morality" and
senior partner of the Austin Group, said the poll
represents confusion on the part of Christians.
"People are confusing religion and morality," he said.
"Religion is telling people if, when and how to worship.
'You've got to go to our church, our service, in this
way.' That is clearly against the First Amendment. But you
can't avoid legislating morality -- telling people how to
treat others.
"Even liberals are legislating for a woman's 'moral' right
to choose, even though she may 'choose' to kill her baby."
The poll is flawed, according to Rev. Louis P. Sheldon,
chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition.
"The question is most leading," he said. "It does not
reveal a heartfelt experience. The word 'influence' sounds
like a lobbyist avoiding the Gospel and just being
political. I would have worded the question something more
along the lines of 'What is the role in morality shaping
American public policy?' "
The answer?
"Historically, 100 percent," Sheldon said.
Turek agreed, "52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of
Independence were religious leaders. Rev. John Witherspoon
even taught theology at Princeton. This poll is saying
that he and the other 51 had no right to shape our
government."
Gary Cass was a minister and school board member in San
Diego before he became executive director of the Center
for Reclaiming America -- a public policy,
political-action organization. Influencing government is
what he does -- unashamedly.
He argues that a culture is nothing more than the
generally-accepted moral and religious convictions of the
people in it.
"Christian leaders have every right -- and I believe duty
-- to impact the society in which we live," Cass said. "It
is therefore inescapable that a society's religion informs
their political views."
FOR MORE INFORMATION: If you'd like to learn more about
why Christians should be involved, you'll want to read
"Why You Can't Stay Silent: A Biblical Mandate to Shape
Our Culture" by Tom Minnery, vice president of government
and public policy at Focus on the Family.
http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=2741&refcd=CE05FCZL&tvar=no
----- 7 -----
Nebraska Appeals Marriage Protection Amendment
Focus on the Family
NEWS BRIEFS
June 8, 2005
[Received in email; no URL]
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today filed an
appeal in response to a federal court ruling that
overturned that state's constitutional amendment banning
same-sex marriage, the Lincoln Star reported.
Seventy percent of voters approved an amendment in the
2000 election that banned marriage between same-sex
couples.
"I believe that the citizens of this state," Bruning said,
"have a right to structure their constitution as they see
fit."
Dave Bydalek, executive director of Family First of
Nebraska agreed with Bruning and said the judge's decision
disregarded the voters.
"This, once again illustrates an unelected judge
substituting his own will over the people of Nebraska,"
Bydalek said.
Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. and Republican Gov. Dave Heineman
both support the appeal; Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. did not
comment.
----- 8 -----
Theologian Challenges Pope To Rethink Church's Position On Gays
by Mary Ellen Peterson 365Gay.com San Francisco Bureau
Posted: June 9, 2005 12:01 am ET
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/06/060905reformation.htm
(Wittenberg, Germany) Crowds gathering in front of the famous Wittenberg Cathedral watched curiously as American theologian Matthew Fox walked to the building's great wooden doors and then nailed up a challenge to the Catholic Church just as Martin Luther did in 1517.
Like Luther, Fox believes that the church is in trouble and in need of a drastic change.
Fox's challenge was in the form an updated version of Luther's 95 Theses - applying them to today.
While Luther's protest was against indulgences and corruption in the administration of Pope Leo X, Fox's beef is more attuned to the injustices and power abuses he sees in the Vatican under Pope Benedict XVI and the apathy epidemic present in Protestant Churches.
"I have great respect for what Luther achieved when he protested against corruption. I also believe the church needs a reformation more today than it did 500 years ago," Fox said.
Fox and the new Pope are old opponents who had intensive debates on theological issues in the 1980s. Fox and 100 other prominent theologians were silenced by then Cardinal Ratzinger. A year later, Fox was forced to leave the Dominican Order by Pope John Paul II and subsequently converted to the Episcopal church.
"Jesus said nothing about condoms, birth control or homosexuality," says one of the Theses. Fox said it is time for Christians to choose who the Church will follow: an "angry exclusionary God or the loving God who opens the path to wisdom."
Among his other theses are: "God is both Father and Mother" and "Religion is not necessary, but spirituality is."
German camera crews recorded the nailing of the theses to the church door and continued to roll as curious tourists read them - some proclaiming their agreement.
"The traditional purpose of a thesis is to open up constructive debate in the search for truth," said Fox.
"At this critical time in human and planetary history, when the earth is being ravaged by the violence of war, poverty, sexism, homophobia and eco-destruction, we need to gather those who offer a future that is one of compassion, creativity and justice to stand up and speak their conscience together as never before. Religion ought to be part of the solution, not the problem."
[More at URL]
----- 9 -----
Nazi Anti-Jewish Speech
VS.
Religious Right Anti-Gay Speech
http://www.hatecrime.org/subpages/hitler/hitler.html
"When you say...you [gay Americans] are not a group of people who need special protection. You do well economically. You are an elite. That is precisely the argument that has been made in behalf of the worst kind of discrimination against Jewish people."
- United States Senator Paul Wellstone, July 29, 1994 -
Responding to a religious right spokesman's anti-gay testimony
Welcome: Der ewige Jude ("The Eternal Jew") is often considered the most famous Nazi propaganda film. It was produced at the insistence of Joseph Goebbels, and depicts the Jews of Poland as corrupt, filthy, lazy, ugly, and perverse: they are an alien people who are taking over the world. Fast forward to the 1990s. United States Senator Paul Wellstone, himself Jewish, publicly took a religious right spokesman to task a few years back for anti-gay rhetoric that Wellstone felt was "precisely the argument" the Nazis used to justify the Holocaust.
In an effort to see if Senator Wellstone is right - are fundamentalist Christians using anti-gay arguments that echo back to the Nazi era? - this page compares quotes from "The Eternal Jew" with Christian conservatives' modern-day quotes about gay Americans.
Examine the quotes, and decide for yourself.
----- 10 -----
Grandstanding Freak of the Week
http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2005/06/grandstanding_f.html
Texas Governor Rick Perry is one ignorant s.o.b. I'd call him a "sack of sh*t," but I wouldn't want to insult manure.
Not only does Perry sign new anti-abortion legislation in the school gymnasium of at the Calvary Christian Academy, not only did his office send out an e-mail to religious groups before the signing, saying "We want to completely fill this location with pro-family Christian friends who can celebrate with us," he also used the occasion to ceremoniously and totally gratuitously sign a resolution to amend the Texas Constitution by banning same-sex marriages (gratuitously because his signature is in no way whatsoever required at this stage and the entire production was merely hate-baiting).
But that's just the grandstanding. Why he's the "Freak of the Week" is what he said after the signing:
[More at URL]
----- 11 -----
Family News in Focus
Friday, June 10, 2005
Focus on the Family
Bob Ditmer
http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Family_News_in_Focus/
* Abusive relationships often begin with dating…research suggests its more common than many realize
1. "Physical violence in dating is a serious issue for most teens." "Love is not Abuse" curriculum. Rev. Al Miles interviewed. "Teens are turning toward popular culture to find their support network or to find what that the model is for a moral, adult life." Lots of denial from parents about violence and abuse, particularly in the self-labelled Christian community. "Men get the image that masculinity means always being in power, always being in control, and in particular, having control over your women."
* Using your ATM card can result in expensive bank charges you aren’t aware of until the charge shows up
3. Watch out for fees on automatic teller machines; also, bank fees are extremely high. Pay attention. "Banks aren't going to take care of that for you." Recommend spending cash rather than using credit or debit cards.
* Frivolous lawsuits cost America jobs and Americans millions, according to those in Congress pushing reforms
4. They immediately bring in establishment cases, then talk about economic lawsuits, particularly asbestos. "Broken medical liability system and our broken liability system in general." "The lawsuit reform agenda has widespread support from... other leading representatives of small businesses." American Trial Lawyers and "representatives of the Democratic party" are "noticably absent" from the list of supporters.
* Gallup poll says 58% of Americans don’t have problem with premarital sex or having babies outside of marriage
6. Quotes someone talking about how having sex caused all their mental problems. "We forget that sex has psychological and emotional implications at well." Focus on the Family Institute: "It's all about the culture we live in... we have got to restore leaders to the deep belief in God's design." "Restoring a Christian worldview will take time and effort." "It's important that our nation's laws reflect [that]."
* Southern Illinois University Law School sued for not recognizing Christian Student Club.
5. University told the club they can't require members to be Christian. "The only place where they try to single out belief... is with religion." "The university is discriminating against the club's Christian viewpoint."
* Investigation finds alarming percentage of scientists intentionally slant research, casting doubt on social research topics like abstinence, abortion and gay rights
2. Health Partners Research Foundation in Minnesota says 15% of researchers admit to skewing in response to pressure from a sponsour. Fundamentalist commentator says that liberals are probably most of the problem; no data for that, he's just asserting that because liberals are bad and Christians are good. Cites as example studies showing that abstinence-only education doesn't work, and asserts they are just wrong because they already "know" that it really does work, with the implication that anything disagreeing with that must be fraudulant.
** NOT IN SUMMARY:
7. Urging to keep gambling out of international trade agreements; gambling houses pressing a trade case against American anti-gambling laws. Internet gambling cases in particular.
----- 12 -----
The-N; MTV’s New Assault on Young Teens
6/10/2005
Concerned Women for America
By Martha Kleder
Lesbian show to air between benign teen sitcoms
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8334/CFI/family/index.htm
The program schedule for MTV’s latest endeavor, The-N channel, is aimed at teen and “tween” aged girls. Reruns of Moesha,Sabrina the Teenage Witch,My So-Called Life, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and a couple of original series currently fill the air time of the fledgling network. The-N, a night time network starting at 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern, is available to about 43 million homes nationwide to customers of cable, digital cable and dish systems. But the benign teenage fare currently seen on The-N will take an activist edge this fall.
In November, the show South of Nowhere will join the line-up. The show centers on three teens whose parents move them from Ohio to Los Angeles and their struggles to adjust. Spencer, the lead character, is a beautiful 16-year-old girl who begins questioning her sexuality along with her parents, friends, and school.
“I’d like kids to see that there’s a real portrayal of their lives, one that [reflects] their thoughts on who they are, what they want to be, their dreams and successes and failures,” creator/executive producer Tom Lynch told The Hollywood Reporter.
Lynch’s credits include a list of kid-friendly shows like Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated, and Nickelodeon’s The Secret World of Alex Mack and Romeo! But South of Nowhere has its own, very different direction and purpose.
South of Nowhere is the first show in the United States aimed at 12-17 year-olds that centers on a lesbian teen. During the 11-episode series Spencer, played by Gabrielle Christian, will discover lesbianism, break the news to her family and friends, and possibly develop a relationship with her best friend.
“MTV is not satisfied with starting a homosexual network, they are intent on pushing sexual perversion on all of their channels and one aimed at pre-teens that draws viewers as young as nine and 10 is no exception for them,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute.
MTV launched the homosexual-themed channel LOGO in February. It can be seen in major markets.
“The homosexual agenda is grabbing for our kids at younger and younger ages,” Knight added. “This is a mirror of the perverse and pornographic sex education materials we see cropping up in schools.”
----- 13 -----
Commentary: Christians Could be Sent to Jail for Praying in School
6/10/2005
By Mario Diaz
Concerned Women for America
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8333/LEGAL/freedom/index.htm
"Anything short of actual imprisonment would be ineffective..." -- ACLU of Louisiana
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew5:10
In their latest attack on Christianity, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a motion to hold Tangipahoa school board officials in Louisiana in contempt of court, asking they be jailed for praying in schools.
The Tangipahoa school board and the ACLU of Louisiana entered into an agreement, made public in an August 27, 2004, District Court Consent Judgment, which required school officials to prohibit “invocations given prior to athletic events,” “participation and/or encouragement by school officials in pre-game and post-game prayers involving student athletes,” and “invocations by students to the student body over the school’s public address system during assemblies or at any school sponsored event.” The ACLU claims school officials have violated the agreement on multiple occasions. This motion is the fourth complaint they’ve filed against the school board.
Even though this is considered a civil matter, the ACLU has asked the court to hold school officials in criminal contempt, asking for jail time. “Their refusal to comply with the Consent Decree should and must result in their removal from society—removal for a period of time sufficient to impress upon them, and like imitators, the seriousness of the Court’s order,” reads the complaint. “Anything short of actual imprisonment would be ineffective to sending that message to these individuals.”
What? This “must result in their removal from society”? Are we talking about child molesters here? Sorry, that can’t be it; those are the kind of people the ACLU would be defending instead of trying to put in jail. The ACLU defends the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) and tries to get school officials in jail for praying --you know the real criminals.
Tragically, although I fully expect the court to reject this ridiculous request, the ACLU still moves its agenda forward with every lawsuit they bring. You see, it doesn’t really matter if they win or loose, by their own admission, what they want is to impress “like imitators” of the price to be paid for showing their faith in public. And unfortunately the courts have allowed and often helped them in this endeavor.
With their highly capricious interpretation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause as erecting a “wall of separation between church and state,” U.S. courts find themselves more involved in matters of religion than the framers ever intended them to be. Is there anything more intrusive than the government sending you to jail for praying, no matter where it is?
----- 14 -----
CWA Joins Effort Against AFL-CIO’s Homosexual Agenda
6/9/2005
By Robert Knight
Concerned Women for America
Letter cites union giant’s opposition to marriage amendments.
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8326/CFI/family/index.htm
Concerned Women for America (CWA) has joined with more than 40 other groups in a letter to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to urge the AFL-CIO to cease equating “gay” marriage with civil rights. The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor—Congress of Industrial Organizations) represents 57 unions that claim 13 million total members.
On March 3, an unreported executive committee resolution issued in Las Vegas boasted that unions have “negotiated domestic partner benefits … and other benefits for … lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered families.” This means the AFL-CIO supports sex out of wedlock and sex with multiple partners (bisexuality), along with cross-dressing and other sexual deviancies.
The group characterized efforts to pass a federal constitutional amendment protecting marriage as a bid to “discriminate” against “a group of people by denying them rights.”
In response, the American Family Association spearheaded the writing of a pro-family letter sent June 1 to the AFL-CIO. Signed by CWA Board Chairman Beverly LaHaye and CWA’s Culture & Family Institute Director Robert Knight, as well as other pro-family representatives, the letter notes that “millions of dues-paying American union members either already have, or soon will, vote in favor of a Marriage Protection Amendment to their state constitution. Just as certainly, millions of dues-paying union members also support ratification of a Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
The letter asks the AFL-CIO to rescind the resolution, and to support legislative efforts to protect marriage:
The AFL-CIO’s embrace of homosexual activism is the latest example of powerful elites adopting stances that are far to the left of their membership. In Michigan, a heavily unionized state, a marriage protection amendment passed with nearly 60 percent of the vote in 2004, and a marriage amendment passed in Ohio as well by a similar margin.
As the letter notes, “The Detroit News reported Oct. 22, 2004, that a public opinion survey it commissioned ‘shows two-thirds of union households support (the Marriage Protection Amendment), identical to the level of support in non-union households.’”
Take Action:
Tell the AFL-CIO that it is out of step with most Americans’ moral values and that it should cease assisting the radical homosexual political agenda.
Write:
Mr. John Sweeney, President
American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
815 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Call: 202-637-5000
E-mail: Click here. <http://www.aflcio.org/siteguides/contactus.cfm>
----- 15 -----
TVC Chairman Supports Constitutional Restoration Act Of 2005
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2320
June 9, 2005 – A recently published Associated Press/IPSOS poll indicates that Americans still consider themselves religious and believe in God.
The poll measured attitudes about religious belief in ten nations. The survey asked about faith and if individuals thought clergy should be free to influence public policy.
In the U.S., nearly all of the respondents said they believed in God. Only 2% said they did not. In addition, 40% said they thought religious leaders should be free to sway public policy. In France, by contrast, 19% declared themselves to be atheists and 85% objected to clergy activism on public policy issues.
Rev. Sheldon’s commentary this week describes the results of this poll and urges Congress to pass the Constitutional Restoration Act of 2005. This legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) in the House.
If passed, this bill will accomplish the following: 1. It will prevent federal judges, including the Supreme Court, from issuing any rulings dealing with God or the acknowledgment of God; 2. It will prevent these judges from issuing any rulings based upon foreign court decisions—except those under English common law. Any judge who violates this can be impeached.
As Rev. Sheldon has observed: “Religious freedom is highly valued in the United States and it must be protected from the hands of atheist and liberal judges who view the Constitution as a “living document” whose meaning can be stretched and reinterpreted to fit the liberal social agenda.”
TAKE ACTION: Read and distribute TVC’s report on the Constitution Restoration Act Of 2005 and urge your Senators and Representative to support its passage this session! CapWiz: http://capwiz.com/traditional/dbq/officials/
----- 16 -----
’Support Our Scouts Act Of 2005’ Deserves Support!
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2317
June 9, 2005 – Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has introduced the “Support Our Scouts Act Of 2005.”
This legislation is being introduced to counter the threats by the ACLU and other anti-Boy Scouts organizations to ensure that the Boy Scouts are given equal access to all public facilities.
The Boy Scouts has been under attack for years now because of its policy of excluding homosexuals and atheists from its organization.
The ACLU, headed by a homosexual activist, has been one of the leading enemies of the Boy Scouts and is doing everything it can to punish the Scouts. This includes filing lawsuits to get the Scouts kicked out of public facilities and lands.
See our report on the ACLU: http://www.traditionalvalues.org/pdf_files/ACLU.pdf
The ACLU claims that because the Boy Scouts requires a belief in God for membership, it is a religious group and must be excluded from federal or state properties. Currently, the federal government is defending itself in a lawsuit designed to sever ties between the Boy Scouts and the Departments of Defense and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Support Our Scouts Act Of 2005 will clearly declare that the Scouts has the right to use federal facilities. It also terminates or reduces federal funds to any state agency that denies the Scouts equal access to public facilities, forum, or programs.
Without passage of this bill, the Boy Scouts will continue to be under constant attack from the ACLU and homosexual activist groups who are determined to destroy this fine organization.
The Boy Scouts of America has issued a statement fully in support of this legislation: Position Statement: Support Our Scouts Act.
[More at URL]
----- 17 -----
She-Male Bill Pushed by Senator Ted Kennedy
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2316
June 9, 2005 – Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) are pushing passage of a hate crimes bill that will include federal protection for cross-dressers, drag queens, transsexuals, and she-males (individuals who maintain both male and female sex organs for bizarre sex acts).
This dangerous pro-homosexual bill is called the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2005 (S. 1145). This has been reintroduced year after year by Kennedy and Smith and has been defeated before going to the President for his signature.
The legislation is ostensibly designed to aid local law enforcement officials in prosecuting hate crimes. What is actually does is make “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” into federally-protected categories equal to race or ethnicity under federal law.
Transgender activist groups have lobbied for years to convince homosexual activists that “gender identity” should also be a federally-protected category. If this legislation passes, she-males, drag queens, and every other bizarre sexual behavior will be considered a civil right to be given federal protection.
The homosexual newspaper Washington Blade has published additional details on what this legislation is designed to accomplish for the homosexual agenda.
TVC’s report, “Hate Crime Legislation: Unequal Treatment Under The Law” provides sound reasons why all hate crime legislation should be opposed.
In 2003, the Senate Republican Policy Committee also published a detailed analysis of the Kennedy/Smith hate crimes bill—and why it should NOT be passed: “The Kennedy ‘Hate Crimes’ Bill: An Unwise Proposal.”
Read TVC’s report, “A Gender Identity Disorder Goes Mainstream” for an analysis of the goals and philosophy of the transgender movement.
TAKE ACTION: Send copies of our reports and the U.S. Senate report on hate crimes to your two U.S. Senators and Representative. Urge them to vote NO on the Kennedy/Smith hate crimes bill. Use CapWiz to contact your Senators and Representative: http://capwiz.com/traditional/dbq/officials/
----- 18 -----
Stem Cell Battle Looms
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2315
June 9, 2005 – The Congress is still battling over two competing stem cell research bills. One will protect the sanctity of life; the other will promote the deliberate creation and killing of human embryos to be used in stem cell research.
The pro-life legislation is the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005. The pro-death legislation is the Embryonic Stem Cell Research bill (S. 471/HR 810) co-sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), the current head of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill will allow experimentation on human embryos who will then be killed for their stem cells.
TVC published a series of links on the dangers of the Embryonic Stem Cell Research bill in late May: Good And Bad Stem Cell Bills. The National Right To Life Committee has provided a detailed analysis of the Human Cloning Prohibition Act and why it should be passed: Human Cloning Legislation in Congress: Misconceptions and Realities.
TAKE ACTION: Urge your Senators and Representative to support passage of the Human Cloning Prohibition Act and to oppose the Embryonic Stem Cell Research act. CapWiz: http://capwiz.com/traditional/dbq/officials/
Fundamentalist legislative attempt to make church/state cases too expensive to bring to court;
Focus on the Family article comparing liberalism to the worldview of Darth Vader;
FotF article attacking attempts to get partner benefits
FotF supports Papal attack on gayfolk, contraception, abortion;
FotF reports Albertsons allows pharmacists to refuse to dispense emergency contraception in Illinois; I'm not sure of the full details of this since there's a court case involved;
Poll shows Americans don't want religious leaders involved in politics; FotF and related groups spin wildly to say the poll really means the opposite and respondants were "confused";
American theologian forced out of the Catholic church by John Paul II nails a new 95 Theses to the doors of the church at Wittenburg;
Comparson of quotes from Nazi propoganda film "The Eternal Jew" and various fundamentalist anti-gay statements made over the last few years - probably beneath me to post this, really, but, well, there it is;
Texas governor tells gayfolk to move out of state if they don't like anti-marriage law;
Today's Family News in Focus accuses secular science of intentional dishonesty;
Concerned Women for America rails against new show with lesbian characters;
CWA article that Christians could be sent to jail for praying - the specifics of the case from their own article is that a school board is refusing to obey a consent degree _it signed_, has been to court over this four times already; they're asking for a contempt of court ruling;
CWA action item against the AFL-CIO over its support for domestic partner benefits at private companies (in union contracts) and its refusal to support the Federal Marriage Amendment - includes action item;
Traditional Values Coalition action item for the "Constitutional Restoration Act," which would forbid courts from hearing establishment (church/state) cases;
TVC action item in support of "Support Our Scouts Act," which insures the Scouts can use Federal funding and facilities despite their official religious requirement and anti-gayfolk stances;
Brutal action item/propoganda piece against inclusion of GBLT-folk in Federal hate crimes legislation by TVC;
TVC action item in support of embryonic stem cell research ban.
----- 1 -----
NO PROFIT FROM ESTABLISHMENT CASES
Indiana Congressman is sponsoring legislation to take the
profit out of suing.
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036787.cfm
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
Representative John Hostettler, R-Ind., has teamed with
the American Legion to prevent the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) and others like them, from strong
arming defendants.
The Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005 (PERA) would
prohibit attorneys' fees from being collected in cases
against the establishment of religion clause.
The ACLU boasts more than 400,000 members and supporters
and handles more than 6,000 cases each year. Its 2003
revenue topped $44 million while it claims to have been
awarded more than $2 million in settlements.
The legislation comes at a time when the ACLU is
challenging the mention of "Jesus" in the Indiana
legislature, the cross on the California state seal and
prayer at graduation ceremonies across America. Regularly
such cases never make it to court because of concern over
the cost of attorney fees.
A solitary cross stands on the hillside of a national
preserve near the Nevada-California border. Frank Buono, a
retired park ranger, sued, claiming that his seeing the
cross a couple times every year infringed on his rights.
The courts agreed. The ACLU pocketed $63,000 in attorneys'
fees.
Currently, when the ACLU wins a case, as it did in Buono
v. Norton, the losing party must pay the fees of the
successful attorneys. Initially the law was good. Poor
minorities were facing discrimination but were unable to
afford a lawyer. Now, liberal advocacy groups are using
the law as a burden to municipalities faced with potential
religious liberties cases.
In light of the situation facing many state and federal
agencies, Rees Lloyd, a former ACLU attorney and past
commander of American Legion Post 428, took action. Lloyd
authored Legion's Resolution 326. The resolution calls the
group's 2.7 million members to "expressly preclude the
courts from awarding attorney fees in lawsuits brought to
remove or destroy religious symbols."
The Legion had adopted that cross in the middle of the
Mojave Desert in 2003. Now the ACLU was treading on sacred
ground.
"The ACLU has become fanatical," Lloyd said. "The facts
are the facts. They are elitist social engineers."
Then he raised a critical point.
"As a former ACLU attorney, I know that they have no
attorney fees," he said. "They are either done by staff
attorneys or volunteers."
In fact, in Buono v. Norton, the counsel listed for the
plaintiff was "Peter J. Eliasberg and Mark D. Rosenbaum,
ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles,
California." Both attorneys are ACLU staffers.
Hostettler has taken his bill to the House before. In 2003
the bill died in subcommittee. But Lloyd is quick to point
out this is a different Congress.
"Now there are 2.7 million people solidly and unanimously
supporting this bill," Lloyd noted.
The legislation is currently in its infancy in the 109th
Congress but already has 20 co-sponsors.
"We're in pretty good shape," a spokesman for Rep.
Hostettler said. "One hundred is a magic number because
you can kind of force a bill through with that."
----- 2 -----
DARTH RECESSES
What lurks inside the liberal mind? A worldview espoused
by the hero of the new "Star Wars" movie.
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/commentary/a0036784.cfm
by Gary Schneeberger, editor
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
SUMMARY: What lurks inside the liberal mind? A worldview
espoused by the hero of the new "Star Wars" movie.
I'm not a big "Star Wars" fan.
I've never owned a light saber. I couldn't explain the
difference between Tatooine and Naboo under threat of
dismemberment with a light saber -- I only know they're
the names of planets from the movie series because I
looked them up online. I'm so out-of-touch with the "Star
Wars" ethos, in fact, that as a desperate-to-fit-in
12-year-old back in 1977, when the original film was
released, I endured a summer's worth of taunts from my
friends (my wife still makes fun of me for it, actually)
for pronouncing the name of the saga's cheeky golden
android not as "See-Three-Pea-Oh" but as "See-Three-Poe."
I cite this lack of "Star Wars" gravitas only to make it
clear up front that I have no credentials -- or any
inclination, really -- to debate the philosophical nuances
of George Lucas' galaxy far, far away. I'm not much
interested in the debate over whether the plotline of the
latest film, "Revenge of the Sith," is meant as a
commentary on the Bush administration's war on terror --
as many media pundits have suggested. What I am
interested in is how the scene most often tagged by those
pundits as indicting Bush -- whether Lucas intended it to
be or not -- plays out as a textbook example of the way
liberals fight the culture war.
The scene in question comes as the movie nears its climax,
when Anakin Skywalker, his transformation into Darth Vader
incomplete only because he's not yet donned the black cape
and helmet, is poised to do battle with his mentor, the
hero Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"If you are not with me," Anakin says ominously, drawing
his light saber, in the line pundits cite as a swipe at
Bush, "then you are my enemy."
Obi-Wan's response: "Only a Sith (i.e., a bad guy) deals
in absolutes."
Substitute "conservative" for "Sith" in that last
sentence, and you have what could be the marketing slogan
for the National Organization for Women, People for the
American Way, Americans United for Separation of Church
and State, the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood,
the American Civil Liberties Union and any "documentary"
with Michael Moore's name on it.
The real threat to America today, these folks say as often
and as loudly as it takes for somebody to pay attention,
is that the "radical right" sees everything in black and
white when we really live in a world tinted in "tolerant"
grays.
I don't need to tell most of you reading this -- except
you affiliated with some of the groups mentioned above,
who subscribe to CitizenLink as a form of "opposition
research" -- the fallacy of this "anyone who believes in
absolutes is a threat to the Republic" argument. Just for
grins, though, let's see if it even applies to the "Star
Wars" movies, by posing a question even I'm qualified to
answer: Is it really adherence to absolutes that turns
Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader?
[More at URL] [Ed. note: HI GUYS!]
----- 3 -----
GAYS CONTINUE PRESSURING EMPLOYERS FOR SPECIAL RIGHTS
The nation's largest homosexual rights lobby releases
annual employer report.
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0036783.cfm
By Bill Wilson, Washington, D.C. correspondent
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
SUMMARY: The nation's largest homosexual rights lobby
releases annual employer report.
The Human Rights Campaign has released its annual State of
the Workplace report that aims to show how Fortune 500
companies are embracing domestic partner benefits and
nondiscrimination policies for homosexuals.
At first, it sounds reasonable -- workplace equality for
homosexuals. But prying under the veneer of tolerance
reveals an agenda that goes way beyond equality.
For sex-changed Margaret Stumpp, a senior vice president
at Prudential, it's a spiritual experience.
"We're not clowns in a dress," she said. "We're not
mentally disturbed. We are simply ordinary people who
desire to align our sense of self with our physical
presentation."
And activists have a plan to strong arm corporate America
for benefits they are unable to get at the ballot box.
"GLBT employees go to work everyday," said Human Rights
Campaign President Joe Solmonese, "and they're influencing
and changing the hearts and minds of their fellow
employees and in corporate leadership in ways that are
outpacing the country."
But American Values President Gary Bauer says corporate
elites do not represent American citizens.
"But if the employees of those Fortune 500 companies could
be asked their opinion," he said, "I have no doubt that
like most Americans they would be against elevating same
sex relationships to the equivalent of marriage."
And Bob Knight of the Culture and Family Institute points
out that most companies have not folded.
"America has more than two million corporations," he said.
"Most of them have not introduced domestic partner
benefits."
To date, 215 Fortune 500 companies are giving homosexuals
what most Americans will not -- the same benefits as
married couples.
----- 4 -----
Pontiff Condemns Cultural Attacks on Family
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
Pope Benedict XVI, speaking Monday at St. John's Cathedral
in Rome, denounced homosexual marriage and divorce calling
each a threat to the future of the family, Reuters
reported.
"Today's various forms of dissolution of marriage, free
unions, trial marriages as well as the pseudo-matrimonies
between people of the same sex," he said, "are instead
expressions of anarchic freedom which falsely tries to
pass itself off as the true liberation of man."
While gay-activist Franco Grillini of Rome was "strongly
disappointed" by the Pontiff's remarks calling them
"violent lecturing," many are comforted by Benedict's
strong conservative stand on the issue of traditional
marriage.
"I was pleased when Benedict was appointed because I knew
him to be in strong support of conservative values," said
Peter Brandt, senior director of issues response at Focus
on the Family. "I am now even more pleased that he has
boldly denounced what we know to be one of the root causes
of the disintegration of the family -- namely the fight
for gay marriage and the devaluing of traditional marriage
itself."
----- 5 -----
Albertsons Agrees to Respect Pharmacists' Right of Conscience
Focus on the Family
June 7, 2005
Albertsons Corporation agreed to accommodate its
pharmacists' right to refuse to fill prescriptions that
violate their religious or moral beliefs. The
accommodation came on the heels of a lawsuit filed by
attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and the
Christian Legal Society (CLS) against Albertsons and
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on behalf of pharmacist
David Scimio.
Blagojevich imposed an "emergency rule" stating that a
pharmacist "must dispense . . . without delay"
contraceptives, including so-called emergency
contraceptives such as the "morning after" pill, despite
the state's right-of-conscience act.
Steven H. Aden, chief litigation counsel of CLS's Center
for Law and Religious Freedom, said the right of
conscience is an important component of religious liberty.
"Pharmacists should not be forced to fill prescriptions
for the 'morning after' abortion pill," he said, "if it
violates their conscience."
Shortly after ADF and CLS filed suit, Albertsons
distributed a memo to all its Illinois pharmacists stating
it would accommodate their right of conscience by
permitting them to refer prescriptions to which they
conscientiously object to another Albertsons pharmacist or
to a competitor.
"We applaud the decision by Albertsons to restore to Mr.
Scimio and other Albertsons pharmacists the same rights
they had prior to the governor's action," Aden said, "and
allow them to be true to their beliefs about the sanctity
of human life."
----- 6 -----
POLITICS AND RELIGION A MIXED BAG ACCORDING TO POLL
A new poll found that Americans don't want their religious
leaders involved in politics.
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036794.cfm
Focus on the Family
June 8, 2005
Politics and Religion a Mixed Bag According to Poll
by Aaron Atwood, assistant editor
SUMMARY: A new poll finds Americans don't want their
religious leaders involved in politics.
Americans believe in God but don't want God anywhere near
their politics, according to an Associated Press / IPSOS
poll. The results, released Monday, found that 84 percent
of Americans say religion is "important" to them, but many
don't think religious leaders should influence the
political process.
When asked "Do you think religious leaders should or
should not try to influence government decisions?" 37
percent of U.S. respondents answered "should" while 61
percent answered "should not."
Frank Turek, co-author of "Legislating Morality" and
senior partner of the Austin Group, said the poll
represents confusion on the part of Christians.
"People are confusing religion and morality," he said.
"Religion is telling people if, when and how to worship.
'You've got to go to our church, our service, in this
way.' That is clearly against the First Amendment. But you
can't avoid legislating morality -- telling people how to
treat others.
"Even liberals are legislating for a woman's 'moral' right
to choose, even though she may 'choose' to kill her baby."
The poll is flawed, according to Rev. Louis P. Sheldon,
chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition.
"The question is most leading," he said. "It does not
reveal a heartfelt experience. The word 'influence' sounds
like a lobbyist avoiding the Gospel and just being
political. I would have worded the question something more
along the lines of 'What is the role in morality shaping
American public policy?' "
The answer?
"Historically, 100 percent," Sheldon said.
Turek agreed, "52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of
Independence were religious leaders. Rev. John Witherspoon
even taught theology at Princeton. This poll is saying
that he and the other 51 had no right to shape our
government."
Gary Cass was a minister and school board member in San
Diego before he became executive director of the Center
for Reclaiming America -- a public policy,
political-action organization. Influencing government is
what he does -- unashamedly.
He argues that a culture is nothing more than the
generally-accepted moral and religious convictions of the
people in it.
"Christian leaders have every right -- and I believe duty
-- to impact the society in which we live," Cass said. "It
is therefore inescapable that a society's religion informs
their political views."
FOR MORE INFORMATION: If you'd like to learn more about
why Christians should be involved, you'll want to read
"Why You Can't Stay Silent: A Biblical Mandate to Shape
Our Culture" by Tom Minnery, vice president of government
and public policy at Focus on the Family.
http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=2741&refcd=CE05FCZL&tvar=no
----- 7 -----
Nebraska Appeals Marriage Protection Amendment
Focus on the Family
NEWS BRIEFS
June 8, 2005
[Received in email; no URL]
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today filed an
appeal in response to a federal court ruling that
overturned that state's constitutional amendment banning
same-sex marriage, the Lincoln Star reported.
Seventy percent of voters approved an amendment in the
2000 election that banned marriage between same-sex
couples.
"I believe that the citizens of this state," Bruning said,
"have a right to structure their constitution as they see
fit."
Dave Bydalek, executive director of Family First of
Nebraska agreed with Bruning and said the judge's decision
disregarded the voters.
"This, once again illustrates an unelected judge
substituting his own will over the people of Nebraska,"
Bydalek said.
Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. and Republican Gov. Dave Heineman
both support the appeal; Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. did not
comment.
----- 8 -----
Theologian Challenges Pope To Rethink Church's Position On Gays
by Mary Ellen Peterson 365Gay.com San Francisco Bureau
Posted: June 9, 2005 12:01 am ET
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/06/060905reformation.htm
(Wittenberg, Germany) Crowds gathering in front of the famous Wittenberg Cathedral watched curiously as American theologian Matthew Fox walked to the building's great wooden doors and then nailed up a challenge to the Catholic Church just as Martin Luther did in 1517.
Like Luther, Fox believes that the church is in trouble and in need of a drastic change.
Fox's challenge was in the form an updated version of Luther's 95 Theses - applying them to today.
While Luther's protest was against indulgences and corruption in the administration of Pope Leo X, Fox's beef is more attuned to the injustices and power abuses he sees in the Vatican under Pope Benedict XVI and the apathy epidemic present in Protestant Churches.
"I have great respect for what Luther achieved when he protested against corruption. I also believe the church needs a reformation more today than it did 500 years ago," Fox said.
Fox and the new Pope are old opponents who had intensive debates on theological issues in the 1980s. Fox and 100 other prominent theologians were silenced by then Cardinal Ratzinger. A year later, Fox was forced to leave the Dominican Order by Pope John Paul II and subsequently converted to the Episcopal church.
"Jesus said nothing about condoms, birth control or homosexuality," says one of the Theses. Fox said it is time for Christians to choose who the Church will follow: an "angry exclusionary God or the loving God who opens the path to wisdom."
Among his other theses are: "God is both Father and Mother" and "Religion is not necessary, but spirituality is."
German camera crews recorded the nailing of the theses to the church door and continued to roll as curious tourists read them - some proclaiming their agreement.
"The traditional purpose of a thesis is to open up constructive debate in the search for truth," said Fox.
"At this critical time in human and planetary history, when the earth is being ravaged by the violence of war, poverty, sexism, homophobia and eco-destruction, we need to gather those who offer a future that is one of compassion, creativity and justice to stand up and speak their conscience together as never before. Religion ought to be part of the solution, not the problem."
[More at URL]
----- 9 -----
Nazi Anti-Jewish Speech
VS.
Religious Right Anti-Gay Speech
http://www.hatecrime.org/subpages/hitler/hitler.html
"When you say...you [gay Americans] are not a group of people who need special protection. You do well economically. You are an elite. That is precisely the argument that has been made in behalf of the worst kind of discrimination against Jewish people."
- United States Senator Paul Wellstone, July 29, 1994 -
Responding to a religious right spokesman's anti-gay testimony
Welcome: Der ewige Jude ("The Eternal Jew") is often considered the most famous Nazi propaganda film. It was produced at the insistence of Joseph Goebbels, and depicts the Jews of Poland as corrupt, filthy, lazy, ugly, and perverse: they are an alien people who are taking over the world. Fast forward to the 1990s. United States Senator Paul Wellstone, himself Jewish, publicly took a religious right spokesman to task a few years back for anti-gay rhetoric that Wellstone felt was "precisely the argument" the Nazis used to justify the Holocaust.
In an effort to see if Senator Wellstone is right - are fundamentalist Christians using anti-gay arguments that echo back to the Nazi era? - this page compares quotes from "The Eternal Jew" with Christian conservatives' modern-day quotes about gay Americans.
Examine the quotes, and decide for yourself.
----- 10 -----
Grandstanding Freak of the Week
http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2005/06/grandstanding_f.html
Texas Governor Rick Perry is one ignorant s.o.b. I'd call him a "sack of sh*t," but I wouldn't want to insult manure.
Not only does Perry sign new anti-abortion legislation in the school gymnasium of at the Calvary Christian Academy, not only did his office send out an e-mail to religious groups before the signing, saying "We want to completely fill this location with pro-family Christian friends who can celebrate with us," he also used the occasion to ceremoniously and totally gratuitously sign a resolution to amend the Texas Constitution by banning same-sex marriages (gratuitously because his signature is in no way whatsoever required at this stage and the entire production was merely hate-baiting).
But that's just the grandstanding. Why he's the "Freak of the Week" is what he said after the signing:
"Texans have made a decision about marriage and if there is some other state that has a more lenient view than Texas then maybe that's a better place for them to live," Perry said.Do you hear that gay Texans? Your Governor has invited you to leave the state. You're not welcome in the Lone Star State. Only steers, no queers.
[More at URL]
----- 11 -----
Family News in Focus
Friday, June 10, 2005
Focus on the Family
Bob Ditmer
http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Family_News_in_Focus/
* Abusive relationships often begin with dating…research suggests its more common than many realize
1. "Physical violence in dating is a serious issue for most teens." "Love is not Abuse" curriculum. Rev. Al Miles interviewed. "Teens are turning toward popular culture to find their support network or to find what that the model is for a moral, adult life." Lots of denial from parents about violence and abuse, particularly in the self-labelled Christian community. "Men get the image that masculinity means always being in power, always being in control, and in particular, having control over your women."
* Using your ATM card can result in expensive bank charges you aren’t aware of until the charge shows up
3. Watch out for fees on automatic teller machines; also, bank fees are extremely high. Pay attention. "Banks aren't going to take care of that for you." Recommend spending cash rather than using credit or debit cards.
* Frivolous lawsuits cost America jobs and Americans millions, according to those in Congress pushing reforms
4. They immediately bring in establishment cases, then talk about economic lawsuits, particularly asbestos. "Broken medical liability system and our broken liability system in general." "The lawsuit reform agenda has widespread support from... other leading representatives of small businesses." American Trial Lawyers and "representatives of the Democratic party" are "noticably absent" from the list of supporters.
* Gallup poll says 58% of Americans don’t have problem with premarital sex or having babies outside of marriage
6. Quotes someone talking about how having sex caused all their mental problems. "We forget that sex has psychological and emotional implications at well." Focus on the Family Institute: "It's all about the culture we live in... we have got to restore leaders to the deep belief in God's design." "Restoring a Christian worldview will take time and effort." "It's important that our nation's laws reflect [that]."
* Southern Illinois University Law School sued for not recognizing Christian Student Club.
5. University told the club they can't require members to be Christian. "The only place where they try to single out belief... is with religion." "The university is discriminating against the club's Christian viewpoint."
* Investigation finds alarming percentage of scientists intentionally slant research, casting doubt on social research topics like abstinence, abortion and gay rights
2. Health Partners Research Foundation in Minnesota says 15% of researchers admit to skewing in response to pressure from a sponsour. Fundamentalist commentator says that liberals are probably most of the problem; no data for that, he's just asserting that because liberals are bad and Christians are good. Cites as example studies showing that abstinence-only education doesn't work, and asserts they are just wrong because they already "know" that it really does work, with the implication that anything disagreeing with that must be fraudulant.
** NOT IN SUMMARY:
7. Urging to keep gambling out of international trade agreements; gambling houses pressing a trade case against American anti-gambling laws. Internet gambling cases in particular.
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The-N; MTV’s New Assault on Young Teens
6/10/2005
Concerned Women for America
By Martha Kleder
Lesbian show to air between benign teen sitcoms
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8334/CFI/family/index.htm
The program schedule for MTV’s latest endeavor, The-N channel, is aimed at teen and “tween” aged girls. Reruns of Moesha,Sabrina the Teenage Witch,My So-Called Life, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and a couple of original series currently fill the air time of the fledgling network. The-N, a night time network starting at 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern, is available to about 43 million homes nationwide to customers of cable, digital cable and dish systems. But the benign teenage fare currently seen on The-N will take an activist edge this fall.
In November, the show South of Nowhere will join the line-up. The show centers on three teens whose parents move them from Ohio to Los Angeles and their struggles to adjust. Spencer, the lead character, is a beautiful 16-year-old girl who begins questioning her sexuality along with her parents, friends, and school.
“I’d like kids to see that there’s a real portrayal of their lives, one that [reflects] their thoughts on who they are, what they want to be, their dreams and successes and failures,” creator/executive producer Tom Lynch told The Hollywood Reporter.
Lynch’s credits include a list of kid-friendly shows like Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated, and Nickelodeon’s The Secret World of Alex Mack and Romeo! But South of Nowhere has its own, very different direction and purpose.
South of Nowhere is the first show in the United States aimed at 12-17 year-olds that centers on a lesbian teen. During the 11-episode series Spencer, played by Gabrielle Christian, will discover lesbianism, break the news to her family and friends, and possibly develop a relationship with her best friend.
“MTV is not satisfied with starting a homosexual network, they are intent on pushing sexual perversion on all of their channels and one aimed at pre-teens that draws viewers as young as nine and 10 is no exception for them,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute.
MTV launched the homosexual-themed channel LOGO in February. It can be seen in major markets.
“The homosexual agenda is grabbing for our kids at younger and younger ages,” Knight added. “This is a mirror of the perverse and pornographic sex education materials we see cropping up in schools.”
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Commentary: Christians Could be Sent to Jail for Praying in School
6/10/2005
By Mario Diaz
Concerned Women for America
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8333/LEGAL/freedom/index.htm
"Anything short of actual imprisonment would be ineffective..." -- ACLU of Louisiana
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew5:10
In their latest attack on Christianity, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a motion to hold Tangipahoa school board officials in Louisiana in contempt of court, asking they be jailed for praying in schools.
The Tangipahoa school board and the ACLU of Louisiana entered into an agreement, made public in an August 27, 2004, District Court Consent Judgment, which required school officials to prohibit “invocations given prior to athletic events,” “participation and/or encouragement by school officials in pre-game and post-game prayers involving student athletes,” and “invocations by students to the student body over the school’s public address system during assemblies or at any school sponsored event.” The ACLU claims school officials have violated the agreement on multiple occasions. This motion is the fourth complaint they’ve filed against the school board.
Even though this is considered a civil matter, the ACLU has asked the court to hold school officials in criminal contempt, asking for jail time. “Their refusal to comply with the Consent Decree should and must result in their removal from society—removal for a period of time sufficient to impress upon them, and like imitators, the seriousness of the Court’s order,” reads the complaint. “Anything short of actual imprisonment would be ineffective to sending that message to these individuals.”
What? This “must result in their removal from society”? Are we talking about child molesters here? Sorry, that can’t be it; those are the kind of people the ACLU would be defending instead of trying to put in jail. The ACLU defends the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) and tries to get school officials in jail for praying --you know the real criminals.
Tragically, although I fully expect the court to reject this ridiculous request, the ACLU still moves its agenda forward with every lawsuit they bring. You see, it doesn’t really matter if they win or loose, by their own admission, what they want is to impress “like imitators” of the price to be paid for showing their faith in public. And unfortunately the courts have allowed and often helped them in this endeavor.
With their highly capricious interpretation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause as erecting a “wall of separation between church and state,” U.S. courts find themselves more involved in matters of religion than the framers ever intended them to be. Is there anything more intrusive than the government sending you to jail for praying, no matter where it is?
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CWA Joins Effort Against AFL-CIO’s Homosexual Agenda
6/9/2005
By Robert Knight
Concerned Women for America
Letter cites union giant’s opposition to marriage amendments.
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8326/CFI/family/index.htm
Concerned Women for America (CWA) has joined with more than 40 other groups in a letter to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to urge the AFL-CIO to cease equating “gay” marriage with civil rights. The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor—Congress of Industrial Organizations) represents 57 unions that claim 13 million total members.
On March 3, an unreported executive committee resolution issued in Las Vegas boasted that unions have “negotiated domestic partner benefits … and other benefits for … lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered families.” This means the AFL-CIO supports sex out of wedlock and sex with multiple partners (bisexuality), along with cross-dressing and other sexual deviancies.
The group characterized efforts to pass a federal constitutional amendment protecting marriage as a bid to “discriminate” against “a group of people by denying them rights.”
In response, the American Family Association spearheaded the writing of a pro-family letter sent June 1 to the AFL-CIO. Signed by CWA Board Chairman Beverly LaHaye and CWA’s Culture & Family Institute Director Robert Knight, as well as other pro-family representatives, the letter notes that “millions of dues-paying American union members either already have, or soon will, vote in favor of a Marriage Protection Amendment to their state constitution. Just as certainly, millions of dues-paying union members also support ratification of a Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
The letter asks the AFL-CIO to rescind the resolution, and to support legislative efforts to protect marriage:
On behalf of the millions of dues-paying American union members who agree with us that marriage between one man and one woman deserves and demands state and federal constitutional protection, we urge the AFL-CIO Executive Committee to respect and honor the views of your own rank-and-file membership by voting – during your upcoming July 25-28 annual convention in Chicago – to rescind your March 3rd resolution.The signers also told Sweeney that they would:
"[D]o everything in our power to ensure that rank-and-file union members all across America are fully informed of the AFL-CIO’s endorsement of homosexual activists’ political agenda" as well as federal and state laws that allow union members to withhold financial support from their unions' lobbying activities."In anticipation that the AFL-CIO Executive Committee may refuse to rescind its opposition to constitutional protection of marriage," the group wrote, "[we will also] communicate our commitment to ensure that legal counsel and representation are provided at no charge to any union member who wishes – in response to your resolution – to exercise any or all of the above-stated legal rights to withhold funding from the AFL-CIO and its affiliate unions."
The AFL-CIO’s embrace of homosexual activism is the latest example of powerful elites adopting stances that are far to the left of their membership. In Michigan, a heavily unionized state, a marriage protection amendment passed with nearly 60 percent of the vote in 2004, and a marriage amendment passed in Ohio as well by a similar margin.
As the letter notes, “The Detroit News reported Oct. 22, 2004, that a public opinion survey it commissioned ‘shows two-thirds of union households support (the Marriage Protection Amendment), identical to the level of support in non-union households.’”
Take Action:
Tell the AFL-CIO that it is out of step with most Americans’ moral values and that it should cease assisting the radical homosexual political agenda.
Write:
Mr. John Sweeney, President
American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
815 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Call: 202-637-5000
E-mail: Click here. <http://www.aflcio.org/siteguides/contactus.cfm>
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TVC Chairman Supports Constitutional Restoration Act Of 2005
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2320
June 9, 2005 – A recently published Associated Press/IPSOS poll indicates that Americans still consider themselves religious and believe in God.
The poll measured attitudes about religious belief in ten nations. The survey asked about faith and if individuals thought clergy should be free to influence public policy.
In the U.S., nearly all of the respondents said they believed in God. Only 2% said they did not. In addition, 40% said they thought religious leaders should be free to sway public policy. In France, by contrast, 19% declared themselves to be atheists and 85% objected to clergy activism on public policy issues.
Rev. Sheldon’s commentary this week describes the results of this poll and urges Congress to pass the Constitutional Restoration Act of 2005. This legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) in the House.
If passed, this bill will accomplish the following: 1. It will prevent federal judges, including the Supreme Court, from issuing any rulings dealing with God or the acknowledgment of God; 2. It will prevent these judges from issuing any rulings based upon foreign court decisions—except those under English common law. Any judge who violates this can be impeached.
As Rev. Sheldon has observed: “Religious freedom is highly valued in the United States and it must be protected from the hands of atheist and liberal judges who view the Constitution as a “living document” whose meaning can be stretched and reinterpreted to fit the liberal social agenda.”
TAKE ACTION: Read and distribute TVC’s report on the Constitution Restoration Act Of 2005 and urge your Senators and Representative to support its passage this session! CapWiz: http://capwiz.com/traditional/dbq/officials/
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’Support Our Scouts Act Of 2005’ Deserves Support!
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2317
June 9, 2005 – Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has introduced the “Support Our Scouts Act Of 2005.”
This legislation is being introduced to counter the threats by the ACLU and other anti-Boy Scouts organizations to ensure that the Boy Scouts are given equal access to all public facilities.
The Boy Scouts has been under attack for years now because of its policy of excluding homosexuals and atheists from its organization.
The ACLU, headed by a homosexual activist, has been one of the leading enemies of the Boy Scouts and is doing everything it can to punish the Scouts. This includes filing lawsuits to get the Scouts kicked out of public facilities and lands.
See our report on the ACLU: http://www.traditionalvalues.org/pdf_files/ACLU.pdf
The ACLU claims that because the Boy Scouts requires a belief in God for membership, it is a religious group and must be excluded from federal or state properties. Currently, the federal government is defending itself in a lawsuit designed to sever ties between the Boy Scouts and the Departments of Defense and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Support Our Scouts Act Of 2005 will clearly declare that the Scouts has the right to use federal facilities. It also terminates or reduces federal funds to any state agency that denies the Scouts equal access to public facilities, forum, or programs.
Without passage of this bill, the Boy Scouts will continue to be under constant attack from the ACLU and homosexual activist groups who are determined to destroy this fine organization.
The Boy Scouts of America has issued a statement fully in support of this legislation: Position Statement: Support Our Scouts Act.
[More at URL]
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She-Male Bill Pushed by Senator Ted Kennedy
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2316
June 9, 2005 – Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) are pushing passage of a hate crimes bill that will include federal protection for cross-dressers, drag queens, transsexuals, and she-males (individuals who maintain both male and female sex organs for bizarre sex acts).
This dangerous pro-homosexual bill is called the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2005 (S. 1145). This has been reintroduced year after year by Kennedy and Smith and has been defeated before going to the President for his signature.
The legislation is ostensibly designed to aid local law enforcement officials in prosecuting hate crimes. What is actually does is make “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” into federally-protected categories equal to race or ethnicity under federal law.
Transgender activist groups have lobbied for years to convince homosexual activists that “gender identity” should also be a federally-protected category. If this legislation passes, she-males, drag queens, and every other bizarre sexual behavior will be considered a civil right to be given federal protection.
The homosexual newspaper Washington Blade has published additional details on what this legislation is designed to accomplish for the homosexual agenda.
TVC’s report, “Hate Crime Legislation: Unequal Treatment Under The Law” provides sound reasons why all hate crime legislation should be opposed.
In 2003, the Senate Republican Policy Committee also published a detailed analysis of the Kennedy/Smith hate crimes bill—and why it should NOT be passed: “The Kennedy ‘Hate Crimes’ Bill: An Unwise Proposal.”
Read TVC’s report, “A Gender Identity Disorder Goes Mainstream” for an analysis of the goals and philosophy of the transgender movement.
TAKE ACTION: Send copies of our reports and the U.S. Senate report on hate crimes to your two U.S. Senators and Representative. Urge them to vote NO on the Kennedy/Smith hate crimes bill. Use CapWiz to contact your Senators and Representative: http://capwiz.com/traditional/dbq/officials/
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Stem Cell Battle Looms
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2315
June 9, 2005 – The Congress is still battling over two competing stem cell research bills. One will protect the sanctity of life; the other will promote the deliberate creation and killing of human embryos to be used in stem cell research.
The pro-life legislation is the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005. The pro-death legislation is the Embryonic Stem Cell Research bill (S. 471/HR 810) co-sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), the current head of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill will allow experimentation on human embryos who will then be killed for their stem cells.
TVC published a series of links on the dangers of the Embryonic Stem Cell Research bill in late May: Good And Bad Stem Cell Bills. The National Right To Life Committee has provided a detailed analysis of the Human Cloning Prohibition Act and why it should be passed: Human Cloning Legislation in Congress: Misconceptions and Realities.
TAKE ACTION: Urge your Senators and Representative to support passage of the Human Cloning Prohibition Act and to oppose the Embryonic Stem Cell Research act. CapWiz: http://capwiz.com/traditional/dbq/officials/
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-06-10 07:28 pm (UTC)My brain was confused at first by the CWA/AFL-CIO headline. "CWA" is also the acronym of the Communications Workers of America, a large union that's part of the AFL-CIO, and the one that WashTech is loosely affiliated with. For a moment, I couldn't figure out why a liberal union of journalists, telecommunication workers, and techies would be against the AFL-CIO's policies on domestic partner benefits.