(NEWS) Today's Cultural Warfare Update

[solarbird]

New Jersey appeals court rules against marriage equality - FotF article;

Focus on the Family/Family Research Council effort to discredit studies showing abstinence-only education programmes backfiring;

Former Alabama judge Roy Moore, kicked out of office for refusing to obey a judicial order, is considering a run for governor;

Today's Family News in Focus;

Focus on the Family starts second-round of newspaper anti-filibuster-compromise ad campaign - ads include action items;

Bush appointee Scott Bloch, head of the Office of Special Council in the Bush administration, dropped GLBT hiring/firing protections, so that people could be fired for being queer. He's one of several who have done so, and is under fire for the action. Concerned Women for America has an action item out to support him for dropping these job protections;

CWA happiness about a transman losing the latest round of a custody fight with his ex-wife in Florida - _lots_ of contempt shown for transmen in this one;

CWA intern rantfest about the horrors of a gay pride parade in DC, where she's interning ("women dressed like Oregon loggers... the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed, featuring a giant lookalike Ernie puppet (they even found a way to desecrate Sesame Street");

CWA attacks California Republican fundraiser for "welcom[ing] folks from the pornography industry."


----- 1 -----
N.J. COURT: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE NOT ALLOWED
A state appeals court has sent a very encouraging message
to the marriage-protection movement.

http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0036865.cfm

by Pete Winn, associate editor

SUMMARY: A state appeals court has sent a very encouraging
message to the marriage-protection movement.

The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court in
a strongly worded 2-1 decision, today upheld a lower court
decision that said it does not violate the state
constitution to define marriage as between one man and one
woman. The decision came in a case originally filed by
seven same-sex couples who applied for, but were denied
marriage licenses.

The judges said the homosexual activists failed to prove
their claim that the denials violated their rights of
privacy and equal protection under the New Jersey
Constitution.

Writing for the majority, Judge Stephen Skillman
maintained that without legislative action "there is no
basis for construing the New Jersey Constitution to compel
the state to authorize marriages between members of the
same sex.''

Dale Schowengerdt, an attorney for Alliance Defense Fund
who authored a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the
Family Research Council, said the court hit a home run.

"The court acknowledged what is undeniable," Schowengerdt
said, "that marriage between members of the same sex has
no foundation in our history or tradition. Same-sex
couples do not have a right to marriage under the New
Jersey Constitution."

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst at Focus on the Family
Action, said the language the judges used was especially
heartening.

Affirming the proper role of the judiciary, the judges
wrote: "The personal views of the members of the court
concerning 'the wisdom or policy of a statute' should play
no part in determining its constitutionality. . . A
constitution is not simply an empty receptacle into which
judges may pour their own conceptions of evolving social
mores."

And in a concurring opinion, Judge Anthony Parrillo wrote,
"Indeed, there are reasons for limiting unfettered access
to marriage. Otherwise, by allowing the multiplicity of
human choices that bear no resemblance to marriage to
qualify, the institution would become non-recognizable and
unable to perform its vital function."

That was music to Hausknecht's ears.

"It's nice to hear a court exercise judicial restraint and
affirm the fact that a legislature is the proper body to
consider changes in social policy," he said. "This court
decision basically acknowledged that it is possible a time
may come when society accepts the view that homosexuals
should be allowed to marry. But they leave it entirely up
to the Legislature to amend the marriage laws."

Pat Trueman, senior legal counsel for the Family Research
Council, said the court also specifically repudiated the
reasoning utilized by the top state court in Massachusetts
-- the only U.S. state to allow gay marriage. The New
Jersey judges called the infamous Goodridge decision "a
normative judgment that conflicts with the traditional and
still prevailing religious and societal view of marriage
as a union between a man and a woman . . . "

"This New Jersey court is rejecting the same kind of
judicial activism which swept the Massachusetts Supreme
Judicial Court," Trueman said, "when they ruled in a 3-2
decision that the Massachusetts Constitution, drafted over
200 years ago, required recognition of same-sex marriage."

In addition, he said the court asserted the argument that
the same kind of constitutional attack gay activists
leveled against marriage "could be made against statutes
prohibiting polygamy."

As good as this decision was, according to Mat Staver,
president of Liberty Counsel, it is nevertheless another
confirmation that a federal marriage-protection amendment
needs to be adopted.

[More at URL]


----- 2 -----
NEGATIVE ABSTINENCE PLEDGE REPORT REBUTTED
The raw is data said to show a very different result than
the researchers reported.

http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0036861.cfm

by Josh Montez, correspondent

SUMMARY: The raw data is said to show a very different
result than the researchers reported.

Virginity pledge programs don't work, and the teens who
pledge abstinence are more likely to engage in riskier sex
-- at least according to a March report in the Journal of
Adolescent Health. Unsatisfied with that conclusion, The
Heritage Foundation re-examined the same data -- and found
the opposite to be true.

Robert Rector, senior research fellow in domestic policy
studies at Heritage, called the original report, which was
widely covered by the media, "the worst piece of junk
science I've seen in 20 years."

"The worst and most outrageous thing," he said, "was that
they suggested that adolescents who took virginity pledges
were more likely to engage in kinky, risky sex."

Rector said the study examined only 21 out of 14,000
adolescents. So he rechecked the entire sample taking
note of the teens who had pledged to remain abstinent
until marriage.

"We found, not surprisingly, that they are less likely to
engage in sexual activity," he said, "and the riskier the
sexual activity, the less likely the pledgers are to do it
when compared to non-pledgers."

Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst with Focus on the
Family Action, agreed that teens who pledge abstinence are
avoiding high-risk behavior -- which means they avoid
STD's.

"They are less likely to engage in sex while in high
school, less likely to experience teen pregnancy, less
likely to have children out of wedlock," she said.
"Clearly, it's a protective factor not only in high school
but all the way through young adulthood."

[More at URL]


----- 3 -----
Former Chief Justice Eyes Governorship
Focus on the Family

[Received in email; no URL]

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has his sights set
on the possibility of running for governor of his state,
Boston.com reported.

Moore, who gained notoriety over his refusal to remove a
Ten Commandments display from his courthouse, has
widespread support in the state.

Baptist minister Rick Scarborough, chairman of the Judeo
Christian Council for Constitutional Restoration, supports
Moore.

"There's enough people in Alabama clamoring for him to
run," Scarborough said, "I don't see that he has much
choice."

Though some have voiced concern over his emphasis on
bringing religion into government, many conservatives have
even pushed Moore to make a bid for the presidency.

"There's no question he would heighten the debate on the
whole issue of religion and politics," Scarborough said.
"And nationally, there is a core following that would be
faithful to him."


----- 4 -----
Family News in Focus
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Focus on the Family
Terrie Phillips

http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Family_News_in_Focus/

* Supreme Court decision limiting state medical marijuana laws could turn into road-block to physician assisted suicide
2. Ackerman, "Pro-Family Law Centre": Federal government has the right to regulate that entire process, and any drugs that might be used in a capacity that might be used in assisted suicide." Question of who can control doctors; states license, FotF argues for more Federal control over drugs doctors can use.

* Government process could allow a tribal gambling casino next to you
1. McCain and Richard Pombo: "how to plug loopholes that allow tribal gambling casinos" almost "anywhere." FotF's Chad Hill: "If we've learned anything from gamling expansion... it destroys families, marriages, and individuals." Congress is "best seeking input" to "protect neighbourhoods from unwated gambling casinoes."

* New Barna survey raises interesting questions about Christian-faith, American-style
4. "Average spiritual maturity... bible knowledge and "sharing" of faith "trailing on their list of strength." "Believers often underestimate the effectiveness of... prayer." "76% of Christians feel they are at or below average when it comes to sharing their faith." Talk about the need to increase "sharing of faith," which is to say, evangelising. "Most just feel it's too hard. ... Foundation for Evangelism doesn't feel it has to be."

* Canadian study claims level of religion or spirituality an Alzheimers patient processes can slow process of the disease
6. Baycress Centre for Generactic Care. Claim: "the more spiritual a person is, the slower the progression of the disease." Guy at Duke University: Alzheimers patients show a stress hormone that speeds up the progression of the disease; religious faith can reduce stress, dampening production of that hormone. Religious wrapper put on top of that. "Because it's what God calls us to do."

* Dr. W. David Hager, pro-life member on FDA's reproductive medicine panel doesn't expect reappointment
3. "I'm surprised there's been so much opposition to my appointment." - Hager. "I felt that I should stand for the things that were right... and that's what I did." "Continue to pray for believers who are in positions of influence in the government."

* Two new Commissions created by President attempt to control how long redundant and ineffective government agencies are allowed to exist
5. Plan to "review the effectiveness of all government programmes." Claims that $217B/year are "ineffective or redundant" programmes. Tom Coburn to be involved in the "Results Commission" and the "Sunset Commission."


----- 5 -----
Focus Action Targets Key Senators in Second Round of Anti-Filibuster Ads
from Focus on the Family Action

http://www.focusaction.org/activities/a0000093.cfm

Focus on the Family Action has launched a second round of anti-judicial filibuster ads in three key states. Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Ken Salazar of Colorado, Susan Collins of Maine and Olympia Snowe of Maine were targeted in newspaper ads asking why they would not "commit to allow a fair up-or-down vote" on nominee Priscilla Owen.
The four senators targeted have taken a prominent role in negotiating a "compromise" that would likely leave judicial filibusters in place to block future nominees.

Colorado - http://www.focusaction.org/pdfs/Salazar_Owen.pdf

Maine - http://www.focusaction.org/pdfs/Collins_Snowe_Owen.pdf

Nebraska - http://www.focusaction.org/pdfs/Nelson_Owen.pdf


----- 6 -----
Support Scott Bloch!
6/15/2005
Concerned Women for America

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8351/CWA/misc/index.htm

Scott Bloch heads the Office of Special Counsel. His job is to defend federal whistleblowers and investigate their claims of wrong doing. But a simple act of updating the counsel’s website to comply with federal law has placed Mr. Block in a position of needing the same kind of support. What was his offense? Simply removing the Clinton-era policy on civil rights and replacing it with the actual Title VII law which the Bush administration follows. The Clinton policy added “sexual orientation” to the list of protected classes of race, color, religion, sex and national origin. That addition goes beyond the scope of the actual law. For the act of being true to the policy and direction of the current administration, Mr. Bloch is being attacked personally and viciously by homosexual activists. Bob Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute has more on this case and what you can do to show your support. Click here to listen.

Mostly this is Robert Knight:

"Coming under tremendous fire from the homosexual community..." Office of Special Council protects Federal whistleblowers. "He noticed that the agency had added sexual orientation to its list of protected categories actionable under the law." [Ed. Note: they're implying that this is for outside his agency; it wasn't. It was for internal employees.] "We don't have to do this anymore, since it's not actionable under the law." Claims the Clinton office had "thousands of cases they had ignored" and had "dispensed with them as quickly as possible." [Note: he took office 18 months ago, not four and a half years ago.] Catholic groups have expressed support. "He's just upheld the law, he hasn't done anything wrong... we urge you to support [him]."

Big list of social fundamentalist activists - all the usual names - have signed on in support. "This issue is a lot bigger than just Mr. Bloch... if the homosexual activists can drive him from office, it basically means they control the government."

CWFA article used as "explanatory note" showing why fundamentalists have to get involved.

Action item: call White House comment line to urge the President to back Mr. Bloch at the Office of Speical Council.

"There are a handfull of homosexual employees..." who claim they have been discriminated against since Mr. Bloch changed the policy. "He has transferred some employees... but [they] haven't proved any pattern of discrimination."

Repeat of action item: call the White House to support Scott Bloch. [Comments to the White House: 202-456-1111]


----- 7 -----
Florida Transsexual Loses Custody Battle
6/14/2005
Concerned Women for America

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8349/CWA/family/index.htm

Family advocates across the nation are cheering the decision of Florida Appellate Judge Carolyn Fulmer for reversing a terrible custody decision that took two children from their biological mother and placed them with their mother’s transsexual former partner. The appellate court ruling in the Kantaras case makes several strong pro-family points. Bob Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute has more. Click here to listen.

Again, mostly Robert Knight:

Liberty Council "recent court victory" in Florida; trial custody dispute. A transman married "a real woman" and had biological children; "the so-called man, whose really a woman, sued to get custody of the kids." Judge ruled the transman and the woman were "never married" because same-sex marriage is illegal and therefore she has no standing. "Michael Kantaras, who is otherwise known as Margo, born and named Margo..." "Now we have a good decision that makes sense. The marriage was never a marriage." "Hopefully [the kids can] develop a life of faith and turn out okay." "Nice to see a judge rule the right way for a change."

"A number of cases involving the transsexual lifestyle... a number of cases... we're also keeping our eye on." "The mother has become Christian, her lesbian partner has made a claim for custody..." "The courts so far have upheld the Christian mother's case, she has custody of the kids." [Note: neither parent in this case is trans; they're the lesbian couple who got a CU in Vermont; one of them became a fundamentalist and moved to Virginia.]


----- 8 -----
From American Pride to Another Kind Entirely
6/14/2005
By Lindsey Douthit

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8347/CFI/family/index.htm

One June day, a CWA intern finds herself a stranger in a very strange land.

Ah, Washington, D.C.: home of the Washington Monument, the White House and Capitol Hill. The town is every intern’s Promised Land.

One need only pass by the glorious Lincoln Memorial to swell with American pride and want to make a difference. During my first week as a fresh-faced intern at Concerned Women for America, I saved up as much energy for the weekend as I could and gave myself a second assignment—that of tourist. Little did I expect to get such an eyeful.

After a marvelous day strolling through Capitol Hill, the National Mall, and downtown D.C., my tired feet led me back to Dupont Circle, my neighborhood for the summer, and smack into the middle of the 20th annual June “Capital Pride” homosexual festival.

The first clue that I was not in Kansas anymore was the nude girl riding by on a bicycle. Surely that was, among other things, painfully uncomfortable. Then a group of hawkers offered to sell me rainbow-colored beads and sunglasses. I had a gut feeling that these were not the sweet, happy rainbows from childhood stories.

Before I could take all this in, along came an onslaught of “gay” celebrators. Giant parade floats filled with men wearing only leather straps or women dressed like Oregon loggers glided by, with banners proclaiming the joys of living a homosexual lifestyle. Later the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed, featuring a giant lookalike Ernie puppet (they even found a way to desecrate Sesame Street) cheerfully singing “I’m So Over the Rainbow” to the tune of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” What next, I thought, a Mr. Rogers impersonator singing “Won’t You Be My Gay Neighbor?”

A wave of helplessness hit me as I realized that the route to my apartment was blocked by the festival goers. As they screamed in different voices about love and tolerance and happiness, I hoped that they wouldn’t find out where I was interning, or what I really thought about all this, and that I’d make it home somehow. Something told me that they would not be very tolerant of my conservative, Biblical views. Since June is the official “Gay Pride” month, I wondered if it would be a good idea to start apartment shopping.

Eventually, I managed to cut through a crowd of scantily clad men and collapse in my apartment. When I had taken on the role of tourist this June day, I did not realize that the yearly Monument to Gay Pride was one of the stops. I guess my D.C. guidebook forgot to mention that.

Lindsey Douthit is a 2005 Ronald Reagan Memorial Intern for Concerned Women for America and a graduate of Baylor University, class of 2005.


----- 9 -----
Republican Fundraiser Welcomes Pornographers
6/13/2005
Concerned Women for America

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8345/CWA/nation/index.htm

As the Republican National Committee (RNC) prepares to host a $2,500 a plate fundraiser that President Bush plans to address, pro-family groups learn that the RNC is preparing to welcome folks from the pornography industry. Porn performer Mary Carey, who lost a bid for California governor against Arnold Schwarzenegger, and her employer pornographer Mark Kulkis are on the guest list, in an obvious attempt to make a mockery of the party’s pro-family platform. Bob Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute has more. Click here to listen.

Mostly Robert Knight again, of course;

Political dinner: "Well, there's a fundraising dinner for the Republican party and the President is speaking at this event... Tuesday, June 14th..." "A hard-core pornography company, mostly for homosexual men... just trying to get publicity... people are asking why the couple aren't being rejected..." They defend the Republicans for taking the money at first, but then criticises them for not kicking them out when it became public. No, really. "I think they think the Christian base is with them no matter what... they should have just taken care of it immediately..." They suggest that they should have blocked the couple at the door and handed them back their cheque. "I would hope they would at least do that at this point."

Mary Carey was arrested in Tacoma for violating local caberet laws involving contact with customers. Has talked about in the past about how pornography is a big industry and pays taxes and are Americans. "Well, I'm sure mafia hit men pay taxes also."

Action item: call the White House saying that the money should be returned and Carey and Kulkis kicked out at the actual event.

Comments

[partywhipple.livejournal.com]

Bush appointee Scott Bloch, head of the Office of Special Council in the Bush administration, dropped GLBT hiring/firing protections, so that people could be fired for being queer. He's one of several who have done so, and is under fire for the action. Concerned Women for America has an action item out to support him for dropping these job protections;

Ok here is the thing about this one. You have to have good cause to terminate someone already. A law saying "you can't terminate someone for being x" now is not necessary unless x is something you can convince a judge is something which was making you a bad worker. It's why we don't need a law saying "You can't kill people for being gay". You already can't kill people period, gays are people, hence you're not allowed to kill them either. More laws is NOT a good thing. We live in enough of a nannie state as it is.

[solarbird]

First, we're not talking about law; we're talking about internal policy within the administration. CWA tried to make it sound like a unilaterial Clinton expansion of Federal protections against job discrimination applicable to private businesses, but it wasn't. It was policy internal to the OSC. That policy has now been changed, as it has been changed in several other bureaus within the administration.

Two, there are other forms of discrimination than just firing, tho' I did call out firing in the specific example. All such protections were removed.

Three, as far as queers are concerned, your data is incorrect. Unless there is specific protection against it, you can be fired solely for being queer. It is even legal to have a "no queers may apply" policy, such as has been maintained by Cracker Barrel Restaurants.

General firing law varies by state. For example, Washington State is an at-will state, which means you can be fired for no reason whatsoever. And at the Federal level there is no such protection as you describe of which I'm aware. (If there were such protections, Washington State's at-will hiring laws would be superceeded for most companies by the Federal law, and they aren't.) And in some Federal-level cases, there are specific prohibitions, such as in the armed services. (Which is why we've lost so many Arabic speakers from the military lately, who were canned solely for being gay or lesbian.)

[partywhipple.livejournal.com]

That is really freaking stupid to not want someone to work for you just because they are gay or whatever. On the other hand I don't believe that a business should be restricted in how they hire. If they don't want to hire gays, blacks, left handed people or people with short hair I think it should be up to them. Let them shoot themselves in the foot. I'd much rather be able to tell who is going to treat me like shit every chance they get because I'm black.

There is no point in arguing this. I would MUCH rather live in a world with clear lines drawn and where assholes were allowed to speak their minds. It would be much easier to avoid them that way.

[solarbird]

Fair enough - but this isn't what I posted about, or the situation they're defending. This is the administrative branch of the Federal government doing it. I damn well do expect my government not to pull that crap on me.

[partywhipple.livejournal.com]

Good point.