Today's Cultural Warfare Update
Jun. 27th, 2005 10:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdSouthern Baptist Convention passes resolution urging churches to investigate local schools and try to shut down any GBLT-affirming or tolerant activities there; specific targets (according to earlier coverage) were gay-straight alliance student clubs and any student organisation which included any non-condemnational GBLT-focus;
Older (2002) article by Rick Santorum: liberals and media made Catholic priests abuse children;
FotF article on the political battle over PBS - includes action item;
Today's Family News in Focus;
Weird CWA article on today's Ten Commandments ruling;
Lobbying groups waiting for next Supreme Court nominee with bated breath;
Article on possible GOP rift over nominees; pro-business wing wants fundamentalist wing to shut up when nominees come up; fundamentalists say they will demand clear position statements on abortion, marriage rights (against both).
----- 1 -----
Gay Agenda in Schools Will Be Under the Microscope
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
June 24, 2005
[No URL; received in email]
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) approved a
resolution Thursday calling on churches to investigate
homosexual activism in schools.
Sixty-three Christian and pro-family organizations signed
a statement in support of the resolution, which
acknowledges that problems exist in many schools.
Diane Gramley, president of Pennsylvania's American Family
Association, one of the original signatories, said schools
must no longer be used as places of social re-engineering.
"This resolution is a clear message that homosexual
activism within schools is a real problem," Gramley said,
"and that we, who are concerned with the safety and
well-being or our children, are going to take steps to
protect them."
----- 2 ----
Fishers of Men
7/12/2002 - 3:30 PM PST
by Rick Santorum
http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=30
By the Honorable Senator Rick Santorum
Like most American Catholics, I have followed the recent sex scandals in the Church with profound sympathy for victims, revulsion over priests who prey on minors and frustration at the absence of hierarchical leadership. Unlike most, I have been visited by the gift of hope; for I see in this fall an opportunity for ecclesial rebirth and a new evangelization of America. This "new evangelization," advocated strenuously by Pope John Paul II, has the potential for restoring confidence in the priesthood while empowering all American Catholics.
The most obvious change must occur within American seminaries, many of which demonstrate the same brand of cultural liberalism plaguing our secular universities. My hope was rekindled last week as our American Cardinals proposed from Rome an "apostolic visitation" of seminaries emphasizing "the need for fidelity to the Church's teaching, especially in the area of morality." It is an arduous task. However, the Pope made it clear last week that he expects the strong appeal of the Cardinals to be followed by decisive Episcopal action.
It is startling that those in the media and academia appear most disturbed by this aberrant behavior, since they have zealously promoted moral relativism by sanctioning "private" moral matters such as alternative lifestyles. Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.
----- 3 -----
Democrats Want Public Television Chief Fired
by Josh Montez, correspondent
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
SUMMARY: Liberals are upset with his effort to bring
balance to PBS.
[Received in email; no URL]
Sixteen Democratic senators want President Bush to fire
the chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(CPB), the parent organization over the Public
Broadcasting Service (PBS). They disagree with his plan
seeking greater editorial balance at PBS, long regarded by
conservatives as having a liberal bent.
In a letter to Bush this week, the senators complained
about CPB Chairman Ken Tomlinson's claim that PBS "is not
balanced" and that he's spending money to investigate
individual news programs for bias.
"We urge you to immediately replace Mr. Tomlinson with an
executive who takes his or her responsibility to the
public television system seriously," they wrote, "not one
who so seriously undermines the credibility and mission of
public television."
The letter was signed by Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.,
Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Frank
Lautenberg, D-N.J., Pat Leahy, D-Vt., Debbie Stabenow,
D-Mich., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Tom
Harkin, D-Iowa, Jon Corzine, D-N.J., Maria Cantwell,
D-Wash., Joe Biden, D-Del., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.,
Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Joe
Lieberman, D-Conn.
On a News Hour broadcast on PBS, Tomlinson recently
wondered aloud what the fuss is all about.
"You and I both know that public television is never going
to turn right-wing," he said. "What we are simply seeking
here is balance."
Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of
Popular Television at Syracuse University, said he's not
seen evidence of deep bias.
"I don't think if you look at the history and the
programming on public broadcasting that it has been
imbalanced," he said. "There is this big claim that it has
been partial and not fair and not balanced. I really don't
think that's been the case at all."
But Cliff Kincaid, editor of the Accuracy in Media Report,
disagrees.
"The liberal democrats are obviously upset because
(Tomlinson's) threatening the liberal dominance and
control of public broadcasting," he said. "Tomlinson paid
some money to a few consultants to document the bias. He
found out the shows like the Bill Moyers show were biased
and he wanted to do something about it. That's his job.
Why should he step down or resign for doing his job?"
The White House has said President Bush will continue to
support Ken Tomlinson.
TAKE ACTION: If you'd like to encourage President Bush to
stand by Ken Tomlinson and his effort to bring balance to
PBS, click here for the CitizenLink Action Center:
http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F
----- 4 -----
Family News in Focus
Monday, June 27, 2005
Focus on the Family
Terry Phillips
* Supreme Court's decision on property rights has many critics… some worry about implications for church property
1. "Some have speculated the decision could threaten church property as well." Centre for Law and Policy: "The concept of truly private property has been declared deceased and is all but interred as a result of this decision." Several states are talking about introducing state constitutional amendments to strengthen property rights. Institute for the Constitution calls for impeaching judges. Alliance Defense Fund: concerns about church confiscated are "overstated." "Free exercise clause continues to remain in operations..." points to a Federal law providing extra protection for religious uses.
* Federal raids on so-called medical marijuana establishments send message that recent Supreme Court decision will be enforced
3. "Quick to act." 30 arrested, three raids; "the days of a wink and a nod at marijuana usage are coming to an end." Hoping "the California busts are just a beginning." The "marijuana lobby has completely disingenuous" goals. California Family Alliance says the raids shouldn't be a surprise, supports Justice Department. "Since we have passed this initiative, they think there's really nothing wrong with marijuana."
* "Love Won Out" conference from Focus of the Family once again brings message that homosexuality need not be forever
NO STORY
* PTA Conference in Ohio had competing event going on next door after refusing to let Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays have booth
5. "The Ex-Gay message was given right next door to the PTA" meeting. Anti-bulling efforts part of the "homosexual agenda." Dr. Throckmorton pops up again as a "member of PFOX," claims PFLAG "only wants to protect kids based on sexual orientation." "Bullying is precisely the strategy used by those who are sympathetic to the homosexual activists." "Homosexual activists focus on the bullying of homosexuals, but not the student population" as a whole.
* Liberal Interfaith Alliance apologizes for comments made by two of its members; pair had called Focus on the Family "Gestapo" and "American Taliban"
2. Rev. Bill Curtain and Peter Moralis made the above comparisons; president of IA has disclaimed the comments. "The essence of the Christian message is forgiveness; of course I accept the apology."
* Plan allowing military data base on high school students for recruiting is receiving lots of criticism
4. DoD working with private marketing firm to learn about students aged 16-18. Centre for Military Readiness opposes(!) because it includes SSNs, subject studies, objects to private firm involvement.
----- 5 -----
CWA Baffled by Court’s Lemon Twist
6/27/2005
Concerned Women for America
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8417/MEDIA/nation/index.htm
Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women for America (CWA) is puzzled that our highest Court has held unconstitutional the display of the Ten Commandments in courthouses, but permitted displays on state capital grounds. We are gratified, however, that at least displays such as in the Texas capitol grounds case are permissible.
“How the majority tries to reconcile these two rulings and the ruling in the Kentucky courthouse case with its prior rulings upholding religious displays on public property is no doubt a stretch beyond reason,” said Jan LaRue, CWA’s chief counsel.“We had expected that ‘benevolent neutrality’ by government toward religion in the public square would eradicate the insufferable ‘malevolent hostility’ that has reigned for too long. The Court’s use of the Lemon v. Kurtzman test is based on the fallacy of the so-called ‘wall of separation between church and state.’”
The Ten Commandments are a religious text recognized as sacred by most Christians and Jews. Nonetheless, posting them on public property as part of a historical display is a legitimate secular purpose. The Commandments are an important part of our laws and history. Each of the Commandments has influenced our federal, state and local laws.
[More at URL]
----- 6 -----
Lobbyists can't wait to push justice favorites
Monday, June 27, 2005
By Maeve Reston, Post Gazette National Bureau
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05178/529142.stm
WASHINGTON -- There are few, if any, people on Capitol Hill who know whether Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist will step down this week. At the moment, it's the most coveted secret in Washington politics.
But that hasn't prevented outside groups from launching their public relations campaign over a potential Supreme Court nomination -- one that is expected to be of unprecedented scale.
This past week, the conservative group Progress for America began airing $700,000 in television ads intended to "warn Americans" that "liberal attack groups are hungry to smear almost any potential candidate" who doesn't meet their test.
On the left, the People for the American Way Foundation has sent out thick reports to members of the press arguing that if Bush chooses a nominee as conservative as Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia, some 100 Supreme Court precedents "protecting seven decades of social justice gains" could be overturned.
The pre-campaign campaigning is just a glimpse of what's to come. In Washington's viciously partisan environment, outside groups have been preparing for this potential moment since President Bush was elected.
They have formed coalitions of several hundred groups poised to spend millions of dollars in an effort to sustain or defeat Bush's nominee.
The recent struggle over 10 of Bush's picks for federal appeals court openings who had been held up by Democrats provided a dress rehearsal for the now-looming drama.
The conservative Progress for America spent close to $4 million advocating for several of Bush's most contested nominees, and the People for the American Way Foundation spent $5 million on their campaign to prevent Senate Republicans from abolishing filibusters of judicial nominees. Both groups coordinated their efforts with dozens of smaller groups that helped hone the message through efforts on the ground.
Those campaigns -- from the television advertisements, to the rallies to the thousands of telephone calls to wavering senators -- solidified the structure that is now in place to handle a Supreme Court nomination.
"We found out that there are a lot of people in this country that are watching. ... We have huge networks now," said Nancy Zirkin, Deputy Executive Director at the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights.
[More at URL]
----- 7 -----
GOP rift looms over high court nominations
Some want evangelicals to keep quiet during fight
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | June 26, 2005
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/26/gop_rift_looms_over_high_court_nominations/
WASHINGTON -- As liberals and conservatives gear up for a multimillion-dollar battle over a potential Supreme Court vacancy, a growing divide on the right threatens the unity of President Bush's coalition: Conservative legal scholars want their evangelical allies to keep quiet and take a back seat in any nomination battle.
Evangelical attacks on judges over the Terri Schiavo feeding tube case backfired on Republicans, polls taken in the spring indicated. Now, many conservatives fear the religious right could hurt the party's cause by using faith-based arguments about abortion, same-sex marriage, and the separation of church and state to promote a Supreme Court nominee.
Instead, many Republican lawyers with close ties to the White House are determined to present such a nominee to the country in the religiously neutral terms Bush used in last year's campaign: as a judge who ''knows the difference between personal opinion and strict interpretation of the law."
''We should be looking for outstanding jurists, not ministers," said Victoria Toensing, a Justice Department official in the Reagan administration.
But grass-roots evangelicals, frustrated by GOP-appointed judges who have not overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, say they've learned their lesson from past Republican Supreme Court appointments David H. Souter, Anthony Kennedy, and Sandra Day O'Connor. They said they will demand clear positions from any conservative nominee.
[More at URL]
Older (2002) article by Rick Santorum: liberals and media made Catholic priests abuse children;
FotF article on the political battle over PBS - includes action item;
Today's Family News in Focus;
Weird CWA article on today's Ten Commandments ruling;
Lobbying groups waiting for next Supreme Court nominee with bated breath;
Article on possible GOP rift over nominees; pro-business wing wants fundamentalist wing to shut up when nominees come up; fundamentalists say they will demand clear position statements on abortion, marriage rights (against both).
----- 1 -----
Gay Agenda in Schools Will Be Under the Microscope
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
June 24, 2005
[No URL; received in email]
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) approved a
resolution Thursday calling on churches to investigate
homosexual activism in schools.
Sixty-three Christian and pro-family organizations signed
a statement in support of the resolution, which
acknowledges that problems exist in many schools.
Diane Gramley, president of Pennsylvania's American Family
Association, one of the original signatories, said schools
must no longer be used as places of social re-engineering.
"This resolution is a clear message that homosexual
activism within schools is a real problem," Gramley said,
"and that we, who are concerned with the safety and
well-being or our children, are going to take steps to
protect them."
----- 2 ----
Fishers of Men
7/12/2002 - 3:30 PM PST
by Rick Santorum
http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=30
By the Honorable Senator Rick Santorum
Like most American Catholics, I have followed the recent sex scandals in the Church with profound sympathy for victims, revulsion over priests who prey on minors and frustration at the absence of hierarchical leadership. Unlike most, I have been visited by the gift of hope; for I see in this fall an opportunity for ecclesial rebirth and a new evangelization of America. This "new evangelization," advocated strenuously by Pope John Paul II, has the potential for restoring confidence in the priesthood while empowering all American Catholics.
The most obvious change must occur within American seminaries, many of which demonstrate the same brand of cultural liberalism plaguing our secular universities. My hope was rekindled last week as our American Cardinals proposed from Rome an "apostolic visitation" of seminaries emphasizing "the need for fidelity to the Church's teaching, especially in the area of morality." It is an arduous task. However, the Pope made it clear last week that he expects the strong appeal of the Cardinals to be followed by decisive Episcopal action.
It is startling that those in the media and academia appear most disturbed by this aberrant behavior, since they have zealously promoted moral relativism by sanctioning "private" moral matters such as alternative lifestyles. Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.
----- 3 -----
Democrats Want Public Television Chief Fired
by Josh Montez, correspondent
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
SUMMARY: Liberals are upset with his effort to bring
balance to PBS.
[Received in email; no URL]
Sixteen Democratic senators want President Bush to fire
the chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(CPB), the parent organization over the Public
Broadcasting Service (PBS). They disagree with his plan
seeking greater editorial balance at PBS, long regarded by
conservatives as having a liberal bent.
In a letter to Bush this week, the senators complained
about CPB Chairman Ken Tomlinson's claim that PBS "is not
balanced" and that he's spending money to investigate
individual news programs for bias.
"We urge you to immediately replace Mr. Tomlinson with an
executive who takes his or her responsibility to the
public television system seriously," they wrote, "not one
who so seriously undermines the credibility and mission of
public television."
The letter was signed by Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.,
Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Frank
Lautenberg, D-N.J., Pat Leahy, D-Vt., Debbie Stabenow,
D-Mich., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Tom
Harkin, D-Iowa, Jon Corzine, D-N.J., Maria Cantwell,
D-Wash., Joe Biden, D-Del., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.,
Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Joe
Lieberman, D-Conn.
On a News Hour broadcast on PBS, Tomlinson recently
wondered aloud what the fuss is all about.
"You and I both know that public television is never going
to turn right-wing," he said. "What we are simply seeking
here is balance."
Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of
Popular Television at Syracuse University, said he's not
seen evidence of deep bias.
"I don't think if you look at the history and the
programming on public broadcasting that it has been
imbalanced," he said. "There is this big claim that it has
been partial and not fair and not balanced. I really don't
think that's been the case at all."
But Cliff Kincaid, editor of the Accuracy in Media Report,
disagrees.
"The liberal democrats are obviously upset because
(Tomlinson's) threatening the liberal dominance and
control of public broadcasting," he said. "Tomlinson paid
some money to a few consultants to document the bias. He
found out the shows like the Bill Moyers show were biased
and he wanted to do something about it. That's his job.
Why should he step down or resign for doing his job?"
The White House has said President Bush will continue to
support Ken Tomlinson.
TAKE ACTION: If you'd like to encourage President Bush to
stand by Ken Tomlinson and his effort to bring balance to
PBS, click here for the CitizenLink Action Center:
http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F
----- 4 -----
Family News in Focus
Monday, June 27, 2005
Focus on the Family
Terry Phillips
* Supreme Court's decision on property rights has many critics… some worry about implications for church property
1. "Some have speculated the decision could threaten church property as well." Centre for Law and Policy: "The concept of truly private property has been declared deceased and is all but interred as a result of this decision." Several states are talking about introducing state constitutional amendments to strengthen property rights. Institute for the Constitution calls for impeaching judges. Alliance Defense Fund: concerns about church confiscated are "overstated." "Free exercise clause continues to remain in operations..." points to a Federal law providing extra protection for religious uses.
* Federal raids on so-called medical marijuana establishments send message that recent Supreme Court decision will be enforced
3. "Quick to act." 30 arrested, three raids; "the days of a wink and a nod at marijuana usage are coming to an end." Hoping "the California busts are just a beginning." The "marijuana lobby has completely disingenuous" goals. California Family Alliance says the raids shouldn't be a surprise, supports Justice Department. "Since we have passed this initiative, they think there's really nothing wrong with marijuana."
* "Love Won Out" conference from Focus of the Family once again brings message that homosexuality need not be forever
NO STORY
* PTA Conference in Ohio had competing event going on next door after refusing to let Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays have booth
5. "The Ex-Gay message was given right next door to the PTA" meeting. Anti-bulling efforts part of the "homosexual agenda." Dr. Throckmorton pops up again as a "member of PFOX," claims PFLAG "only wants to protect kids based on sexual orientation." "Bullying is precisely the strategy used by those who are sympathetic to the homosexual activists." "Homosexual activists focus on the bullying of homosexuals, but not the student population" as a whole.
* Liberal Interfaith Alliance apologizes for comments made by two of its members; pair had called Focus on the Family "Gestapo" and "American Taliban"
2. Rev. Bill Curtain and Peter Moralis made the above comparisons; president of IA has disclaimed the comments. "The essence of the Christian message is forgiveness; of course I accept the apology."
* Plan allowing military data base on high school students for recruiting is receiving lots of criticism
4. DoD working with private marketing firm to learn about students aged 16-18. Centre for Military Readiness opposes(!) because it includes SSNs, subject studies, objects to private firm involvement.
----- 5 -----
CWA Baffled by Court’s Lemon Twist
6/27/2005
Concerned Women for America
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8417/MEDIA/nation/index.htm
Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women for America (CWA) is puzzled that our highest Court has held unconstitutional the display of the Ten Commandments in courthouses, but permitted displays on state capital grounds. We are gratified, however, that at least displays such as in the Texas capitol grounds case are permissible.
“How the majority tries to reconcile these two rulings and the ruling in the Kentucky courthouse case with its prior rulings upholding religious displays on public property is no doubt a stretch beyond reason,” said Jan LaRue, CWA’s chief counsel.“We had expected that ‘benevolent neutrality’ by government toward religion in the public square would eradicate the insufferable ‘malevolent hostility’ that has reigned for too long. The Court’s use of the Lemon v. Kurtzman test is based on the fallacy of the so-called ‘wall of separation between church and state.’”
The Ten Commandments are a religious text recognized as sacred by most Christians and Jews. Nonetheless, posting them on public property as part of a historical display is a legitimate secular purpose. The Commandments are an important part of our laws and history. Each of the Commandments has influenced our federal, state and local laws.
[More at URL]
----- 6 -----
Lobbyists can't wait to push justice favorites
Monday, June 27, 2005
By Maeve Reston, Post Gazette National Bureau
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05178/529142.stm
WASHINGTON -- There are few, if any, people on Capitol Hill who know whether Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist will step down this week. At the moment, it's the most coveted secret in Washington politics.
But that hasn't prevented outside groups from launching their public relations campaign over a potential Supreme Court nomination -- one that is expected to be of unprecedented scale.
This past week, the conservative group Progress for America began airing $700,000 in television ads intended to "warn Americans" that "liberal attack groups are hungry to smear almost any potential candidate" who doesn't meet their test.
On the left, the People for the American Way Foundation has sent out thick reports to members of the press arguing that if Bush chooses a nominee as conservative as Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia, some 100 Supreme Court precedents "protecting seven decades of social justice gains" could be overturned.
The pre-campaign campaigning is just a glimpse of what's to come. In Washington's viciously partisan environment, outside groups have been preparing for this potential moment since President Bush was elected.
They have formed coalitions of several hundred groups poised to spend millions of dollars in an effort to sustain or defeat Bush's nominee.
The recent struggle over 10 of Bush's picks for federal appeals court openings who had been held up by Democrats provided a dress rehearsal for the now-looming drama.
The conservative Progress for America spent close to $4 million advocating for several of Bush's most contested nominees, and the People for the American Way Foundation spent $5 million on their campaign to prevent Senate Republicans from abolishing filibusters of judicial nominees. Both groups coordinated their efforts with dozens of smaller groups that helped hone the message through efforts on the ground.
Those campaigns -- from the television advertisements, to the rallies to the thousands of telephone calls to wavering senators -- solidified the structure that is now in place to handle a Supreme Court nomination.
"We found out that there are a lot of people in this country that are watching. ... We have huge networks now," said Nancy Zirkin, Deputy Executive Director at the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights.
[More at URL]
----- 7 -----
GOP rift looms over high court nominations
Some want evangelicals to keep quiet during fight
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | June 26, 2005
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/26/gop_rift_looms_over_high_court_nominations/
WASHINGTON -- As liberals and conservatives gear up for a multimillion-dollar battle over a potential Supreme Court vacancy, a growing divide on the right threatens the unity of President Bush's coalition: Conservative legal scholars want their evangelical allies to keep quiet and take a back seat in any nomination battle.
Evangelical attacks on judges over the Terri Schiavo feeding tube case backfired on Republicans, polls taken in the spring indicated. Now, many conservatives fear the religious right could hurt the party's cause by using faith-based arguments about abortion, same-sex marriage, and the separation of church and state to promote a Supreme Court nominee.
Instead, many Republican lawyers with close ties to the White House are determined to present such a nominee to the country in the religiously neutral terms Bush used in last year's campaign: as a judge who ''knows the difference between personal opinion and strict interpretation of the law."
''We should be looking for outstanding jurists, not ministers," said Victoria Toensing, a Justice Department official in the Reagan administration.
But grass-roots evangelicals, frustrated by GOP-appointed judges who have not overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, say they've learned their lesson from past Republican Supreme Court appointments David H. Souter, Anthony Kennedy, and Sandra Day O'Connor. They said they will demand clear positions from any conservative nominee.
[More at URL]
