Satanic Clubs in Public Schools to Counter Jesus

The Satanic Temple has launched a nation-wide campaign to force public schools to sanction “Educatin’ with Satan” after-school programs in every school that allows Christian clubs.  Stu De Haan, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple’s Arizona chapter, said he has received expressions of interest in the new clubs from parents, teachers and students.

“[Schools] cannot prohibit students from forming an After School Satan Club on the same terms as the [Christian] Good News Club.”
-- Richard Katskee, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

For background, read Satanic, Atheist Books Provided in Colorado Schools and also read Bible Ban Forced by Atheists and Satanists

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Satan on Throne at Oklahoma Capitol with ACLU Help

Satanists Team Up with Abortionists vs. Missouri Law

Satanists to Lead 'Prayer' in Phoenix Government

Satanists Join Muslims in Minnesota & California



-- From "Satanist after-school clubs planned in Washington elementaries" by Ann Dornfeld, KUOW-FM94.9 (Seattle, WA) 8/4/16

The Satanic Temple says it’s bringing the After-School Satan club to schools across the country that now host the evangelical Christian Good News Club, including Centennial Elementary in Mount Vernon and Point Defiance Elementary in Tacoma.

Tarkus Claypool, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple’s Seattle chapter, said the Good News Club indoctrinates children into superstitious, fear-based religion. In contrast, Claypool said, "we’re indoctrinating them into scientific, logical, rationalist, non-superstitious worldview. The program includes an art project and a curriculum that is based in free inquiry.”

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution allows Good News Clubs [sponsored by the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)] to meet on school grounds.

The Satanic Temple opposes religion in the schoolhouse, but says if it’s allowed, the same privilege must be granted to all religions.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Several school districts say After School Satan clubs likely in line with policies" by Katherine Stewart and Moriah Balingit, Washington Post 8/1/16

Several U.S. school districts indicated Monday that they think the Satanic Temple’s plan to open “After School Satan” clubs in elementary schools probably conforms with their policies and local laws, and the Prince George’s County, Md., school system said it is reviewing a request to open such a club.

Parents and administrators have reacted coolly to the idea of setting up a Jesus-vs.-Satan fight in their elementary schools, with many showing curiosity and skepticism. School officials in Prince George’s said they have received a request to start a club and are reviewing it, but the school system has not had any discussions with the Satanic Temple about it. The Temple said it wants to open a club at Bradbury Heights Elementary School, which is in the Capitol Heights neighborhood just outside the southeast edge of Washington.

Martha Wright, executive director of CEF of Maryland, acknowledged that the Satanic Temple has a right to have clubs in schools but also said she doesn’t really want the group there.

CEF actively works to counteract Satan in its work, and a CEF instruction book titled “Guard Your Heart” promises “a flocked lesson helping kids ages 6-11 guard against Satan’s attacks.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "After School Satan Club proposal spurs debate on religious activity in public schools" by Katherine Stewart, Washington Post 8/4/16

The Satanic Temple’s proposal to start After School Satan Clubs in schools across the country already has sparked conflict with at least one school district and has led a legal group to offer free assistance in fighting the emergence of the clubs.

The Roskruge Bilingual K-8 School in Tucson is one of eight schools that received a written proposal to establish an After School Satan Club on Monday, and on Tuesday, lawyers for the Tucson Unified School District demanded that the Satanic Temple remove the school’s name from its website. The temple listed Roskruge as a place where it has offered to present its curriculum, but the district argues that no club has been approved there.

Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, said the group does not intend to take the school’s name off its website. . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Schools receive requests for after-school ‘Satan club’" by The Associated Press 8/4/16

Mat Staver, founder of a Christian legal aid group that has represented the Child Evangelism Fellowship, said Greaves’ organization was illegitimate and an “atheist group masquerading” as religious. Greaves described Satanism as an atheist philosophy whose believers “feel it provides everything a religion provides to be legitimized as such.”

Greaves said his group could pose tough legal fights if its requests are denied.

In Utah, the Granite School District said that if the group meets set requirements, including paying rent, there’s nothing the district can do to stop it. District spokesman Ben Horsley said the group won’t be able to put up fliers in schools or talk to students during school hours, the same arrangement given to the Good News Club.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Supreme Court Justice Scalia Said Government Should Favor God of the Bible

And read Justice Scalia Said Satan is Real, Journalist Dumbfounded

Ex-lesbian Ex-wife, Now Man, Ruled De Facto Parent

Brittany Conover gave birth to her son Jaxon Conover in 2010, who was conceived by artificial insemination without a legal father, and thereafter "married" her lesbian lover Michelle Conover, from whom she is now divorced.  However, last week, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that Michelle Conover, who now claims to be a transgender named Michael and is suing for visitation rights to Jaxon, is the child's "de facto" parent.

“Gays and lesbians are particularly 'ill-served by rigid definitions of parenthood'...When gay or lesbian relationships end, at least one member will find itself in a court system ill-prepared to recognize its existence and to formulate rules to resolve its disputes.”
-- Judge Sally D. Adkins wrote in the majority opinion

For background, read Judge Declares Deceased Lesbian Married to Lover

Also read Sperm Donor Must Support Lesbians' Child in Kansas

And read Creating Synthetic Humans: Secret Harvard Meeting

-- From "Maryland's highest court recognizes 'de facto' parents" by The Associated Press 7/9/16

Maryland's highest court has ruled an adult who is intimately connected to a child's upbringing is entitled to visitation and a share of custody, if the child's best interests are served.

The Court of Appeals decision overturns an eight-year-old ruling. In that decision, judges declined to grant de facto parental rights to unrelated individuals, unless they could prove exceptional circumstances.

The boy [Jaxon] was born six months before [the two women] married and 17 months before they divorced.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "In win for gay couples, Maryland high court recognizes ‘de facto’ parents’ rights" by Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post 7/8/16

De facto parents can include the partner of a lesbian who undergoes artificial insemination, a gay man whose partner adopts a child from a country that does not allow same-sex couples to jointly adopt, or a straight man who raises a child with a woman for years without formal adoption.

R. Martin Palmer Jr., an attorney for Brittany Conover, said the court usurped the role of lawmakers in defining a parent and may have created a situation in which stepfathers can take control of children from capable mothers.

“Seeking to serve the needs of the LGBT community has created a bad situation for traditional families and their children,” Palmer said.

Nancy Polikoff, a family-law professor at American University who studies LGBT issues, said the ruling does not address all issues nontraditional parents face, including what happens when parent split up before an artificially conceived child is born and whether the children of non-biological parents qualify for benefits after their death.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Maryland’s Highest Court Establishes ‘De Facto Parenthood’ in Lesbian Divorce and Custody Case" by Jeannette Richard, CNSNews.com 7/12/16

In the decision, the court established de facto parenthood for a person who formed a “parent-like” relationship with the child that “the biological or adoptive parent consented to and fostered,” provided that “the petitioner and the child lived together in the same household, that the petitioner assumed obligations of parenthood by taking significant responsibility for the child’s care, education and development, including contributing towards the child’s support, without expectation of financial compensation, and that the petitioner has been in a parental role for a length of time sufficient to have established with the child a bonded, dependent relationship parental in nature.”

Michelle/Michael filed a court request for visitation rights claiming that she had standing as a parent under Maryland’s definition of “father” for children of unmarried parents. Michelle still identified as a woman at that time.

In 2013, the circuit court ruled that “[Michelle] is in fact a female, had not adopted the child, and in no way was related to the child, thus not sufficiently establishing that she could be the ‘father’ of the child.”

The lower court ruled that Michelle did not have parental standing, but as a third party, must first show that Brittany was an unfit parent or that exceptional circumstances existed in order to claim visitation rights.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "The 'de facto' parent" an editorial by The Baltimore Sun 7/10/16

Since the issue of de facto parenting isn't addressed under existing statute, the court endorsed standards set forth under a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision: That the biological or adoptive parent consented to and fostered the third party's parent-like relationship, that they lived together in the same household, that the de facto parent took on significant responsibility for the child's care, education and development without expectation of financial reward, and the parental relationship lasted long enough for them to be bonded and the child to feel dependent.

Divorce and child custody decisions have always been a messy and difficult business with, as Judge Sally Adkins writes in the opinion, "grave implications for all parties." The case isn't resolved by the Court of Appeals ruling, only the legal standing of Michelle Conover who, according to a court filing, transitioned to living as a transgender man after the divorce. Now, the matter of visitation will be back in the hands of the lower court.

What constitutes a parent? Clearly, the answer to that question has evolved over time, and the law has failed to keep up with that social progress. . . .

To read the entire editorial above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Supreme Court Legalizes Sex With Animals in Canada

Muslims Force Maryland Schools Closed Routinely

In order to accommodate demands for observance of numerous Muslim holidays, the politically correct Howard County School Board voted to close schools for virtually every religious event under the sun regardless of the prevalence or absence of such adherents in the supposed multicultural school system of suburban Maryland.

"I strongly believe that our school calendar should be inclusive of the cultures and religions of all Howard County residents.  In a county where we pride ourselves on our diversity, we have to demonstrate that in terms of our actions."
-- Janet Siddiqui, Board Member

“Howard County is no longer majority Judeo-Christian.  We are made up of all kinds of people.  There is nothing to study in my opinion.  It's either all or none. I cannot vote for anything that is not inclusive."
-- Ann De Lacy, Board Member

“Once you open to that [long list of holidays], you have to honor every single one, and that becomes impractical in finding a way to serve school for 180 days.”
-- Ellen Flynn Giles, Board Vice Chairman

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Angry Muslims Demand School Holiday for Ramadan in New Jersey

D.C. Muslims Force Christmas Off Maryland School Calendar

'Allahu Akbar' Taught in Minnesota School for Christmas

Also read Majority in U.S. Want Christmas Celebrated WITHIN Schools: Poll





-- From "Howard Co. school board expands religious holiday status quo" by Kristi King, WTOP-FM103.5 (Washington, D.C.) 1/14/16

Rejecting an option that would have kept schools open on the Jewish High Holidays, the school board voted Thursday night to also give students off days to observe [the Hindu holiday] Diwali, [the Muslim holiday] Eid and the Lunar New Year.

The move to accommodate observances of additional religious holidays only applies to the 2016-17 school year while studies are conducted.

Numbers of area school systems have been making adjustments related to observing religious holidays.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools recently decided to open schools on Rosh Hashanah in 2016 for the first time in more than a decade. Teachers aren’t allowed to give tests and exams on that day or any other day of “major religious observances” such as Eid al-Adha and Yom Kippur.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Md. school system keeps Jewish holidays, adds days off for Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid al-Adha" by Donna St. George, Washington Post 1/15/16

The board said its action — in a unanimous 8-0 vote — was a one-year decision, for the 2016-2017 school year, that would come as the system of 55,000 students studies the issue and plans a voluntary survey of religious preferences. It asked district staff to report back with a range of options for how to implement the change.

More broadly, Howard’s action is likely to draw attention as school systems nationally struggle with how to create an inclusive school calendar — balancing fairness, logistics and legal constraints — as their communities are increasingly diverse and vocal.

Maryland state law requires schools to be closed on Christmas and Good Friday, as well as Easter Monday. Howard schools have chosen to close for the Jewish holidays since 1979, when officials said staff absentee rates of 12 percent were interfering with instruction.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Howard County adds Muslim, Hindu holidays to school calendar" by Lisa Philip, Howard County Times - The Baltimore Sun 1/15/16

. . . during a discussion at the board's meeting on Thursday night, several members expressed the need for next year's academic calendar go beyond closing schools on the two Jewish holidays, to be more inclusive of the county's increasingly diverse population and to allow non-Judeo-Christian students to celebrate their religious and cultural traditions. . . . [even though] The school system does not record the religious backgrounds of its students.

[Superintendent Renee] Foose also recommended that the board hire an independent firm to survey and collect data about students' and families' religious and cultural observances, to inform the work of the 2017 to 2018 calendar committee.

[Board member Bess] Altwerger said that she agreed with the suggestion, but that the school system should recognize Lunar New Year Eve, Diwali and Eid al-Adha in the meantime. She found sympathetic views among most of her fellow board members.

Members of the East Asian, Muslim and Hindu communities have advocated for the inclusion of their religious holidays for at least the past two school years. Eid al-Adha, an important holiday on the Muslim calendar, and Diwali, equally as important for the Hindu community, have never been recognized on the county's school calendar before.

Last year after hearing requests from the Chinese and Korean communities, the board voted to place a professional development day on the Lunar New Year in the 2015-2016 school year. . . .

Because of the need for separation between church and state, [board member Sandie] French said, holidays cannot be given to students for religious reasons, but rather must be given for logistical reasons.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Islam Lesson Closes School: Virginia Parents Fume

And read Tennessee Students Taught Muslim Prayer of Conversion

Fed. Judge Favors D.C. Cross vs. Atheists, Muslims

The U.S. District Court in Maryland ruled this week against the American Humanist Association (AHA) atheists and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) who demanded that the 1925 40-foot Blandensburg Cross, a World War I Veterans Memorial near Washington, D.C., be removed because it is owned and maintained by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

“It is hereby declared by the ownership, maintenance and display of the monument by the commission do not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
-- U.S. District Judge Deborah Chasanow

For background, read the myriad atheist lawsuits against the Christian cross across America.

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Cross Removed from Wichita State Chapel: Muslim Conversion

Court Nixes Police Favoring Muslims vs. Christians

Court Orders Christian Cop to Mosque, Accept Koran

Satanists Join Muslims in Minnesota & California

-- From "Judge rejects bid to remove WWI 'Peace Cross'" posted at WUSA-TV9 (Washington, D.C.) 12/1/15

The American Humanist Association wanted it removed or altered on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment ban on the government establishing a religion.

The judge ruled that while the cross is undeniably a religious symbol, the monument does not endorse a religion.

The memorial is known as the Peace Cross and can be seen at the intersection of Route 450 and Route 1.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Judge: Forty-foot cross is not a government endorsement of religion" by Matt Zapotosky, Washington Post 12/1/15

In a 36-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow ruled unequivocally against the American Humanist Association’s bid to have the monument torn down or modified on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment ban on the government’s establishment of religion.

“The Monument and Veterans Memorial Park are secular war memorials that host numerous commemorative events,” Chasanow wrote. She added that the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s ownership and upkeep of the cross was “driven by a secular purpose, maintaining and displaying a ‘historically significant war memorial’ that has honored fallen soldiers for almost a century.”

In her ruling, Chasanow noted that the monument sits on a base that bears a plaque listing the names of 49 men from Prince George’s County who died in World War I and that the “vast majority” of events held at the site were observances of Memorial Day or Veterans Day. She also noted that after the case was filed, the National Park Service placed the monument on the National Register of Historic Places.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Court finds cross memorial constitutional" by Jonathan Pitts, The Baltimore Sun 11/30/15

The ruling was a victory for the co-defendants in the case, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the government entity that owns and controls the land on which the cross stands, and the American Legion, which erected it 90 years ago and continues to use the site for Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations.

It marked a setback for the American Humanist Association, a Washington-based group that describes its mission as bringing about "a progressive society where being 'good without a god' is an accepted way of life" and strengthening secular influence in government.

"We're still reviewing and evaluating the decision and our options," she said, including the possibility of taking the case to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Roger Byron, senior counsel for the Liberty Institute, the Plano, Texas-based law firm representing the American Legion in the case, said he was encouraged by a ruling that "faithfully applies the law [and] helps assure both the courts and other government entities that might [want to] use religious texts or imagery that these are lawful under the First Amendment."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Bladensburg Cross Can Stay, Judge Rules" by Jacob Gershman, Wall Street Journal 12/2/15

The Bladensburg veterans memorial, erected in 1925 by the American Legion, is one of a number of memorial crosses under legal fire by civil-liberty groups who want them off government land.

To support its claim, the [atheist] group pointed to religious language in a fundraising pledge sheet circulated to donors who financed its construction nearly a century ago. “We, the citizens of Maryland, trusting in God, the supreme ruler of the universe, pledge faith in our brothers,” it said.

In a 36-page opinion handed down this week, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow concluded that the religious associations didn’t amount to a constitutional violation:

The Monument’s secular commemorative purpose is reinforced by the plaque, the American Legion’s seal, and the words “valor,” “endurance,” “courage,” and “devotion” written on it. None of these features contains any religious reference. In short, the record amply demonstrates that the construction and maintenance of the Monument “was not an attempt to set the imprimatur of the state on a particular creed. Rather, those who erected the cross intended simply to honor our Nation’s fallen soldiers.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "WWI Cross Upheld by Federal Court" by Joseph Williams, American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) 12/1/15

The lawsuit actually alleges that because the war memorial is located on what they claim is public property near a busy intersection that at least one of the plaintiffs passes “about once a month” driving around town or on his bike, it “associates a Christian religious symbol with the State and gives the impression that the State supports and approves of Christianity, as opposed to other religions, and that the state may even prefer Christians and Christianity over other religions.”  One of the plaintiffs actually says that he is “personally offended and feels excluded” because the cross honors our nation’s veterans.

In fact, the lawsuit states that he was “shocked when he first saw the cross and it upsets him whenever he passes it.”

Each of the plaintiffs complains of “unwelcome contact” with the WWI memorial cross and tell the court they “do[] not wish to encounter the Bladensburg Cross in the future.”  In other words, they want it torn down.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Judge torpedoes atheists' attack on veterans memorial" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 11/30/15

Noel Francisco, lead counsel for the American Legion and chair of Jones Day’s Government Regulation Practice, says, “We are grateful that the court ruled in our favor and upheld the memorial’s lawfulness under the First Amendment. This memorial has stood for almost 100 years in honor of the fallen and should be allowed to stand for 100 more.”

[The memorial] was challenged by the American Humanist Association, which was joined by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, as a violation since the site now is owned and maintained by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The ownership of the site had changed hands several times, and, the court found, it wasn’t even yet clear who owned it during certain times. But she said that didn’t matter.

The judge applied the U.S. Supreme Court’s Lemon test to the situation . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read D.C. Muslim Call to Prayer from National Cathedral

As Al Qaeda Proclaims War on the Christian Cross — U.S. Schools Force Islamic Terror Singing and Posters, while President Obama Compares Christians to Islamic Terrorists

New Abortion Spa: Murder Your Child in Luxury

In an effort to soothe expectant mothers into oblivion, the new Carafem abortion clinic is opening in Friendship Heights (Montgomery County), Maryland to service the Washington D.C. elite caught by an embarrassing "unexpected" pregnancy.

“It was important for us to try to present an upgraded, almost spa-like feel.”
-- Melissa S. Grant, VP Carafem

For background on various other abortion marketing techniques, click headlines below:

Planned Parenthood's Upscale Marketing to Suburbia

Abortion is What She Wants, Says Valentines Ad

$50 Off for Sunday Abortions Aimed at Poor in Florida

TV Abortion Commercials: Problem Terminated

Planned Parenthood Lures Teen Clients via Texting

'Getting an Abortion is Easy!' Massachusetts Ad Tells Teens

Also read U.S. Taxpayers Send $Billions to Abortionists, Government Reports

-- From "New spa-like abortion clinic is part of a trend to de-stigmatize the procedure" by Sandhya Somashekhar, social change reporter for the Washington Post 3/30/15

Plagued by political setbacks in recent years, abortion rights activists are seeking to normalize abortion, to put a human face on the women getting the procedure and, in some cases, even putting a positive spin on it.

At Carafem, staff members plan to greet clients with warm teas, comfortable robes and a matter-of-fact attitude.

[Carafem President Christopher] Purdy said he got the idea for Carafem two years ago after more than a decade with DKT International, a nonprofit group that promotes family planning and HIV prevention in developing countries. Overseas, he said, getting an abortion is often as simple as visiting a pharmacy. In the United States, however, some states strictly regulate the abortion pill, citing concerns about its safety, making it virtually impossible to get in some rural areas.

By offering only pharmaceutical abortions, Purdy says, he can avoid purchasing expensive surgical equipment and can keep prices low for clients. The average pharmaceutical abortion cost about $500 in the United States in 2011, Guttmacher figures show; Purdy plans to charge around $400.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Abortion ‘Spa’ To Open In DC" by Rachel Stoltzfoos, Reporter, Daily Caller 3/30/15

Beginning this week, clients will be welcomed with hot tea and comfy robes in the clinic, which features wood floors, plush upholstery and natural wood tones, so it resembles a high-end salon or spa.

For $400, women will receive counseling and basic tests, then take an initial pill, before returning home with a second set of pills to induce the abortion the next day. The goal is to have them in and out in an hour. Like a typical salon or spa, women can schedule weekend and evening appointments online, or by calling a 24 hour hotline.

Carafem staff understand the “various emotions” that come with getting an abortion, the clinic’s site states, and promise to give “clear, non-judgmental, and accurate information” to clients. The site features pictures of young smiling women in pleasant settings drinking coffee, eating and walking together.

“It’s fresh, it’s modern, it’s clean, it’s caring,” [Purdy] said. “That’s the brand we’re trying to create.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Luxurious Spa-Like Abortion Clinic Gives Customers Robe, Cup of Tea as They Kill Their Baby" by Sarah Zagorski, LifeNews.com 3/30/15

I don’t know about you but I think it’s going to take a lot more than pretty floors and furniture to change public opinion on abortion. First of all, whether an abortion takes place at a run-down Gosnell-like facility or at a “high-end salon,” abortion always, 100% of the time, kills an unborn child and hurts the family involved.

Secondly, as LifeNews previously reported, after abortion over 65% of women suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and post abortive women are six-times more likely to commit suicide than women who have given birth. Also, many women describe their abortion experience as ‘a nightmare,’ with 60% reporting that it felt like ’Part of me died.’

So to put it mildly, better branding, “abortion spas,” and all the positive talk in the world will never change the horror of abortion or the devastation it brings.

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

Also read As Pro-life Laws Sweep America, Liberals Battle Back as well as 75% of Abortion Clinics Closed: Jan. 2015 vs. 1991

And read Gallup Poll: Americans Want Abortion Laws Changed

Pastors Coerced to Preach Environmentalism in MD

A new "rain tax" imposed in Maryland was intended to reign over tax-exempt churches, but government officials are instead giving the pastors a choice:  If church leaders will trade their Christian teaching for pagan environmental worship, then the tax will be reduced or even waived entirely.

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Global Warming a Religion, Say Climate Scientists

Environmentalism is the Greatest Threat to Civilization

Federal Judge Says Atheists Right on New Clergy Tax

Houston Lesbian Mayor Subpoenas Pastors' Sermons

Pastors Face Fines, Jail for Refusing 'Gay Wedding'

However, Pastors Defeat IRS, Endorse Political Candidates

Environmentalists Say Trade Babies For Climate Change

Also read about the environmentally-friendly burning of aborted babies in Oregon.

-- From "Churches receive stormwater fee discounts by starting ‘green’ ministries, sermons" by Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post 11/16/14

Maryland’s stormwater remediation fee has been criticized ever since it became law in 2013. One of its main detractors is Gov.-elect Larry Hogan (R), who derisively calls the fee a “rain tax” and has promised to try to repeal it.

The fee applies to public and private properties, commercial and residential, and is assessed according to the size of each property’s impervious surface — solid material that blocks stormwater from being absorbed and filtered by the underlying soil.

In Prince George’s, churches are some of the largest properties in the county, with sprawling parking lots and generous acreage.

Churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship are an “untapped resource” to help inspire the larger community to “do what is right,” Jon Capacasa of the Environmental Protection Agency said.

[Dozens of pastors have] agreed to start “green” ministries . . . and to preach environmentally focused sermons to educate their congregations.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Obama's John Kerry Quotes Allah: We Must Fight Climate Change

What's next in this ObamaNation?  It's a 'Fake Church,' Says Catholic Cardinal

D.C. Muslims Force Christmas Off School Calendar

The board of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools in suburban Washington, D.C. is more than happy to accommodate Islamic holidays but school officials say such a change would violate state law, so the board instead voted to strip all Christian and Jewish holiday names from the schedule, but this didn't satisfy the Muslim activists who demand parity.

UPDATE 9/23/15: Angry Muslims Demand School Holiday in New Jersey

For background, read New York Schools Observe Muslim Holidays, but Christmas? and also read Muslim Holiday Celebrated at Massachusetts Schools as well as Massachusetts Students Forced To Learn Muslim Conversion

However, Citizens Force Islam Indoctrination Out of Ohio Middle School

In addition, read the myriad examples of public schools favoring Islam.



-- From "Religious holidays to no longer be on county's school calendar" posted at WBAL-TV11 (Baltimore, MD) 11/12/14

Yom Kippur, Christmas and other religious holidays will no longer be on the calendar at Montgomery County schools.

Students will still have those religious holidays off, but those holiday names, including Easter and Rosh Hashanah, won't be showing up on their calendars.

The county's Board of Education voted 7 to 1 on Tuesday to remove any mentions of religious holidays on calendars for the next school year.

The change stems from schools being closed for Jewish holidays but not for Muslim observances. Muslim leaders in the community asked that equal recognition be given to the Muslim holy day of Eid al-Adha.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Holidays’ names stricken from next year’s Montgomery schools calendar" by Donna St. George, Washington Post 11/11/14

Board members said Tuesday that the new calendar will reflect days the state requires the system to be closed and that it will close on other days that have shown a high level of student and staff absenteeism. Though those days happen to coincide with major Christian and Jewish holidays, board members made clear that the days off are not meant to observe those religious holidays, which they say is not legally permitted.

It is unclear how many Muslim students attend Montgomery schools, but in 2013, Muslim community leaders urged Muslim families and their supporters to keep students home for Eid ­al-Adha, hoping that the number of absentees would be persuasive as they made their case for a school closing. Montgomery school officials reported that absences for that day — 5.6 percent of students and 5 percent of teachers — were only somewhat higher than a comparable day the previous week.

Students who miss classes on religious holidays are given excused absences. But Muslim families have argued that students should not have to choose between their faith and their schoolwork and that missing even a day leaves many students behind. They say the day off is a matter of equity, with Christian and Jewish students getting days off for their holidays.

Several board members pledged to produce a clearer standard for the kind of operational impacts that might lead to further consideration of closing schools on a Muslim holiday in the future. The calendar change Tuesday affects only the next school year.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Montgomery Co. ed board strips religious holiday references from new calendar" posted at WTOP-FM103.5 (Washington, D.C.) 11/12/14

Saqib Ali, a former Maryland state delegate and co-chair of Equality for Eid, was not happy with the board of education's action Tuesday.

"Equality is really what we're looking for," Ali said. "Simply saying we're not going to call this Christmas, and we're not going to call this Yom Kippur, and still closing the schools, that's not equality."

School board members said they were sympathetic to the desire to have Eid recognized and close schools but that legal precedent in Maryland bars them from closing for religious purposes.

That explanation doesn't sit well with Zainab Chaudry, with the Council on American Islamic Relations [CAIR].

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "'Equality 4 Eid Coalition' Rally" posted at Montgomery Community Media

Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal joined the Equality 4 Eid Coalition and other community leaders on Sept. 23 to urge Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff and students—Muslim and non-Muslim—to stay home from school on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to help celebrate the holiday Eid al-Adha in solidarity with their Muslim friends.

There are two major holidays on the Muslim calendar. Eid al-Fitr is a celebration to mark the end of the month of Ramadan. Over the next three years, Eid al-Fitr will fall in summer, when schools are closed. Eid al-Adha, which marks the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, will falls on autumn dates over the next three years.

The coalition said that it has found at least six school districts in the U.S. that close for the Muslim holiday. They are Burlington, Vt., Cambridge, Mass., Dearborn, Mi.; Paterson, N.J.; Skokie, Ill.; and Trenton, N.J.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



And also read about the rebellion against Christmas by secularists, including by President Obama.

Baltimore College Denies Entry for Being Christian

When Brandon Jenkins interviewed at the Community College of Baltimore County (Maryland) for admission to a radiology program, he made a single two-word mention of God, and that was enough for administrators to overtly deny entry to Jenkins on the basis of his apparent Christian faith.

"I understand that religion is a major part of your life and that was evident in your recommendation letters, however, this field is not the place for religion. . . . We have many patients who come to us for treatment from many different religions and some who believe in nothing. If you interview in the future, you may want to leave your thoughts and beliefs out of the interview process."
-- Adrienne Dougherty, radiation therapy program director

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Atheists at Ball State Univ. Forbid Christian to Teach Science

University Says Student's Cross Necklace Offends Freshmen

Florida University Professor Says Priests are Full of Crap

University of North Carolina On Trial for Anti-Christian Bias

In addition, read of the visceral reaction by professors to Christians' free speech and read of Bible bans at colleges and of the endless examples of "higher education" hostility toward Christianity.

-- From "Community college applicant alleges he was rejected because of religious beliefs" by Carrie Wells, The Baltimore Sun 4/23/14

Brandon Jenkins, who is being represented by the Washington-based American Center for Law and Justice, said in the lawsuit that when asked what was most important to him during an interview with CCBC officials as part of the application process last spring, he responded: "My God."

A response from CCBC's attorney Peter S. Saucier, also included in the exhibits, said the school seeks applicants "motivated by an individual passion in the field" and that Jenkins' statement that he was pursuing the program at the behest of God or others "was not a good answer."

In the letter, CCBC's lawyer also pointed out that Jenkins has a criminal record that includes drug and theft charges. The lawyer said CCBC officials told Jenkins that he would have difficulty finding a job in Maryland because of his background. He had said during his interview that he wanted to stay in Maryland.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Community College of Baltimore County Sued for Allegedly Rejecting Student for Religious Reasons" by Molly Greenberg, Senior Writer, Higher Ed Beat, In The Capital 4/24/14

CCBC officials have not commented on the suit, as it is not their policy to comment about pending litigation. That said, college spokeswoman Hope Davis mentioned that the school is committed to diversity.

"We have so many people from so many different backgrounds and so many different cultures," she said. "Just to think that we would discriminate based on religion ... it's just not something that we do."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "College Student Denied Admission Into Program Because He Said God Is Most Important in His Life" by Melissa Barnhart, Christian Post Reporter 4/25/14

During his interview process with a five-person panel, Jenkins was asked: "What is the most important thing to you?" And he replied, "My God."

But according to ACLJ, a Washington, D.C.–based organization that focuses on defending constitutional and human rights laws worldwide, this was the only time Jenkins commented on his belief in God. The ACLJ also noted that he only did so because he was responding to a question asked by one of the CCBC representatives.

A federal lawsuit was filed Monday [in the U.S. District Court of Maryland] on Jenkins' behalf by the ACLJ, which is asking that Jenkins be granted admission into the program, and that he be awarded damages related to the delay in his admission.

ACLJ Senior Counsel David French told The Christian Post Wednesday that Dougherty's statement to Jenkins is not only "flatly illegal, but also bigoted." He also noted that the "college's own lawyer said that he (Jenkins) shouldn't wear his faith on his sleeve."

French described Jenkins as a "high-character individual," and noted that before he applied to the radiation therapy program, he was helping to run a halfway house, which is work that he continues to do today.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Student claims community college rejected application because of Christian faith" By Todd Starnes, FoxNews.com 4/24/14

Now, I have to admit to being a bit skeptical when I first heard about Mr. Jenkins’ plight – seeing how this is the age of tolerance and diversity. But any doubt I had melted away after his attorney showed me the proverbial smoking gun.

". . . the fact is that in any secular job or program interview it is better to have a concrete reason for wanting to undertake the training at hand than to say only that God directed one to do it,” [the college's attorney Peter] Saucier wrote to the ACLJ. “That is true for every job from astronaut to attorney.”

It sounds to me like the Community College of Baltimore County has a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” religion policy.

The ACLJ lawsuit names four administrators: Sandra Kurtinitis, Mark McColloch, Richard Lilley and Adrienne Dougherty as defendants. Should they be found guilty of discriminating against this man because of his faith – they should be fired. American tax dollars should not be used to fund the salaries of religious bigots.

Mr. French acknowledged that his client had a single criminal charge on his record – dating back more than 10 years. Early in the admission process, Mr. Jenkins asked if that would be a problem, and he was assured it would not hamper his effort.

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

Also read the myriad cases of colleges and universities discriminating against Christian students.

Now Illegal to Quote George Washington, Media Say

After a federal judge slapped an injunction on the name of Jesus in public, the liberal media and other atheist organizations are denouncing Maryland's Carroll County Commissioner Robin Bartlett Frazier for reading a public prayer by the father of America that included the words "Lord Jesus Christ."  Frazier said she would rather go to jail than agree to squelch her Christian expression.

“If we cease to believe that our rights come from God, we cease to be America. . . . We’ve been told to be careful. But we’re going to be careful all the way to Communism if we don’t start standing up and saying ‘no.’”
-- Robin Bartlett Frazier

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Jesus' Name Unconstitutional in Public Meetings: Federal Appeals Court Ruling

Ohio Councilman Won't Stop Praying in Jesus' Name

Saginaw, Michigan City Council Ignores Atheists' Threat over Prayer

Prayer at School Board Won't Stop in South Carolina

Alabama Legislators Want Historic Congressional Prayers Read in Schools Each Day

America Going to Hell; Christians Lose Convictions

Jesus' name forbidden by judge, says Baltimore TV News (click for video)

UPDATE 5/13/14: U.S. Supreme Court rules prayers to Jesus Christ OK at government meetings

-- From "Carroll County Commissioner ‘Willing To Go To Jail’ Opening Meeting With Prayer Despite Judge’s Ruling" by CBS News D.C. & Associated Press 3/28/14

Judge William Quarles Jr. ruled Wednesday that the board must stop opening up its meetings with sectarian prayers.

The American Humanist Association complained about the prayers in 2012, sending a letter to the board on behalf of three Carroll County residents. The group later filed a lawsuit on the residents’ behalf when the prayers did not change.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "County Commissioner Disobeys Judge's Ruling, Opens Meeting With Christian Prayer: 'I'd Rather Go to Jail'" by Katherine Weber, Christian Post Reporter 3/29/14

"I think that [the ruling] is an infringement on my First Amendment rights of free speech and free religion, and I think it's a wrong ruling," Frazier said. . . .

"This might be a good opportunity to demonstrate how our Founding Fathers, and leaders all throughout our history, have upheld the idea that we are a nation based on biblical principles," Frazier continued. "We're one nation under God, and I believe that's where our inalienable rights come from."

The county commissioner then proceeded to recite a prayer she said came from former U.S. President George Washington that invokes "Jesus Christ," "Our Lord, our God," and "merciful Father," among other religious references. William M. Ferraro, an associate editor of Washington's papers at the University of Virginia, told The Baltimore Sun Thursday that the prayer came from a book of prayers attributed to Washington from 1919, but there is no evidence that Washington actually wrote the prayer.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Carroll County commissioner defies judge’s order against sectarian prayer" by Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post 3/28/14

“I am willing to go to jail,” Frazier, who worked for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) in intergovernmental affairs, said to the meeting . . .

John Whitehead, a civil liberties lawyer who has handled many religious freedom cases, said the trend for the past 30 years has been for more challenges to government-led prayers. Frazier and other commissioners who created Carroll’s policy argue that they are praying in their capacity as individual Americans and thus have free speech.

“At a certain point, the court will either say you can do it or you can’t,” Whitehead said. “The point is either you have free speech or not.”

The county commissioners are represented at no cost to them by the National Center for Life and Liberty, a Christian nonprofit organization in Texas that works to protect “Church liberty, Christian education, homeschool education,” among other things, according to its Web site.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Commissioner Frazier defies judge's order, opens meeting with sectarian prayer" by Christian Alexandersen, Carroll County Times Staff Writer 3/27/14

[Judge] Quarles signed a preliminary injunction Tuesday to keep the commissioners from continuing their practice of saying sectarian prayers. The commissioners will be allowed to make prayers at meetings, but cannot invoke “the name of a specific deity associated with any specific faith or belief ...,” according to the judge’s opinion.

The injunction is the result of a lawsuit originally brought against the county by two Carroll residents — Bruce Hake, of Union Bridge, and Neil Ridgely, of Finksburg. Later, Judy Smith, Lauren Graybill and the American Humanist Association joined Hake and Ridgely as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

[Board President Commissioner Dave] Roush noted that the 4th Circuit has permitted the commissioners to continue using the court-approved words in its prayers. Those words include Lord God, our Creator, giver and sustainer of life, the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Heavenly Father, Lord our Governor, mighty God, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, creator of planet Earth and the universe and our own Creator.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "As Carroll debates prayer, founding fathers' faith comes into focus" by Ian Duncan, The Baltimore Sun 3/29/14

Despite a federal judge's order that the Carroll County commissioners stop praying to Jesus at their meetings, Commissioner Robin Bartlett Frazier reached into history and summoned George Washington to aid her cause last week.

Thomas S. Kidd, a historian at Baylor University, said that there are plenty of examples of officials in the early United States explicitly blending politics and Christianity which Frazier could have drawn on.

Take, for example, a proclamation issued by Washington's successor, John Adams, in 1798 calling for a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer." He recommended that citizens of the young republic look to "God," "the Redeemer of the World," and the "Holy Spirit" and repent for their "manifold sins and transgressions."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

For further background, read Prayer at Civic Meetings Flourish Across America as more Citizens Rebel Against Atheist Threats

And also read of countless examples of citizens banding together to defy the atheists and pray in school and other local government bodies.

75% of Maryland Abortion Clinics Fail Inspections

Twelve of the 16 abortion clinics were found to be in violation of the 2012 updated state regulations by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH), and four of the 16 received emergency suspension of their licenses to protect “public health, safety or welfare.”

Meanwhile, former Planned Parenthood nurses Joyce Vasikonis and Jayne Mitchell-Werbrich are testifying before the Delaware state legislature about the “ridiculously” unsafe and filthy conditions while they worked at the abortion clinic -- video:

For background, click headlines below of related articles:

Most Abortion Clinics to Close in Virginia

Fetuses in Dumpsters Closes Michigan Abortion Clinics

New Michigan Law Requires 'Safe' Abortion Clinics

Unsafe Illinois Abortion Clinic Closes Permanently

Illinois Abortion Clinics Passed without Inspections

Abortionist Kills Chicago Mother in Second Trimester

Woman Dies from Abortion in Maryland, Media Silent

More Abortionists Linked to Murder Cases

-- From "Md. Health Department Investigation Finds Deficiencies at 12 Abortion Clinics" posted at WRC-TV4 (Washington, DC) 5/25/13

An investigation by Maryland health officials into the state's 16 surgical abortion facilities found that 12 were deficient in some respect . . .

Among the issues found at the 12 clinics were lapses in providing information about the professional credentials of physicians, maintaining a sanitary environment, and providing a discharge diagnosis into the medical record.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Abortion clinics lose licenses again" by Andrea K. Walker, The Baltimore Sun 5/24/13

State health regulators suspended the licenses of several abortion clinics owned by Associates in OB/GYN Care for the second time after an employee with no health care license or certification gave a patient a drug to induce an abortion at the Baltimore facility.

The same employee also performed an ultrasound on the woman, although the employee wasn't trained in the procedure, according to records released Friday by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. There also was no physician at the clinic, even though the woman had scheduled an appointment for a May 4 procedure.

The state's Office of Health Care Quality investigated the clinic and suspended its license after receiving an anonymous complaint about the patient's treatment on May 7. The agency also examined operations at clinics owned by OB/GYN Care in Cheverly, Frederick and Silver Spring and suspended the licenses of those clinics as well.

The investigation found that it was standard protocol at the clinics to administer the drug Misoprostol to induce an abortion in patients in the 11th week of pregnancy or later, even if the patient had not been seen by a doctor and there was no physician at the clinic.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Four Maryland abortion clinic licenses suspended: woman died at one clinic" by John Jalsevac, LifeSiteNews.com 5/24/13

The previous closure of three of the clinics in early March followed the discovery by state inspectors that a woman had died at Associates in OB/GYN Care’s Baltimore facility. While the woman was said to have died from an underlying condition, inspectors had learned that the abortionist and staff at the facility weren't certified in CPR, and a defibrillator at the clinic didn’t work.

The state decided to inspect the clinics following an anonymous complaint regarding the treatment of this client.

The Department of Health's letter announcing the license suspensions also revealed that the abortion clinics have not "provided acceptable plans of correction for all of the deficiencies" discovered during inspection.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Md: ‘No deficiencies’ found in care of woman who died after abortion" by Lena H. Sun, Washington Post 5/24/13

In the case of the Germantown clinic, the health department began an investigation shortly after the woman’s death Feb. 7 [of 29-year-old Jennifer McKenna Morbelli]. Officials interviewed clinic staff, reviewed medical records and the clinic’s policies and procedures, and consulted with the state medical examiner’s office.

In a letter Friday to state legislative leaders, health department officials said they “identified no deficiencies with respect to this complaint.”

But the department did find numerous deficiencies at Germantown Reproductive Health Services during its broader inspection of all surgical abortion clinics.

At the Germantown clinic, nurses were not properly trained to give sedation medication. The clinic’s medical director was not properly credentialed. One nurse’s license had expired the year before.

Inspectors also found that the clinic failed to develop and put in place policies and procedures for emergencies if patients had to be transferred to a hospital. . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

In addition, read Pro-lifers Prevail: More Abortion Restriction Laws and also read Pro-life Legislation Floods America as well as Eroding Roe v. Wade State-by-state

Woman Dies from Abortion in Maryland, Media Silent

Just weeks after the mainstream media glorified the work of late-term abortionists, the work of LeRoy Carhart, one of their heroes of partial-birth abortion, killed 29-year-old Jennifer McKenna Morbelli who was 33 weeks pregnant.  An investigation has begun after she died Thursday in a local emergency room and Carhart was nowhere to be found.

As of the time of the initial posting, not a single mainstream media article had appeared concerning the death.

UPDATE 2/11/13: Washington Post finally covers the story by slamming pro-lifers for alarming the public just because a woman happened to "visit" an abortion clinic days before her death.

UPDATE 2/20/13: Washington Post reports "woman died of natural causes"

For background, read LeRoy Carhart's Late-term Abortion Clinic in Germantown, MD and also read Illegal Activity Alleged at Carhart's Nebraska Clinic as well as Mainstream Media Glorify Late-term Abortions

-- From "Sundance 2013: 'After Tiller' puts a face on abortion doctors" by Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times 1/18/13

Premiering today at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. documentary competition, “After Tiller” is an intimate and heartfelt look at the four doctors performing third-trimester abortions in the United States, doing so even after the 2009 assassination of such a physician, Dr. George Tiller. . . .

“What’s interesting is that the four doctors really are proud of what they do,” said [film director Martha] Shane during a phone interview from Park City on Thursday morning. “They don’t feel they are working in the shadows. They’re brave enough to let the world know they do third-trimester abortions, they are public about it. I think part of the reason they agreed to participate in this film was actually to show that they are proud of the work that they do, it helps women and alleviates suffering.”

. . . the doctors see their work as important and worth continuing. As to whether the protests against what he does ever gave him doubts regarding his work, Dr. LeRoy Carhart said, “I never even give it a second thought.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Sundance Film Festival 'HERO' Leroy Carhart Kills Young Woman During 3rd Trimester Abortion in Germantown, MD" posted at Christian Newswire 2/8/13

A 29 year-old woman was pronounced dead at a local hospital in Germantown, MD on Thursday, February 7th, as a direct result of complications experienced during a 3rd trimester abortion by LeRoy Carhart -- who was hailed as a "hero" in the film "After Tiller" at the recent Sundance Film Festival.

[The abortion procedure began on Sunday, then on] Thursday morning around 5am, the young woman was short of breath and in intense pain. When she and her family tried to contact LeRoy Carhart for assistance and follow-up care, he could not be reached. The young woman was transported to a local hospital Emergency Room by private vehicle.

The Maryland Medical Examiner spent a significant amount of time reviewing the case and the records at the hospital on Thursday, and determined the case needed further investigation due to the unusual circumstances of her death.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Woman Dies After Botched 33-Week Abortion Takes Her Life" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com 2/8/13

According to information the pro-life group Operation Rescue released to LifeNews today, the unnamed woman went to the abortion facility for a third trimester abortion from out-of-state and arrived at Germantown Reproductive Health Center on Sunday to start the abortion process. Local pro-life advocates protesting outside saw her every day until yesterday, and described her as appearing “pale and weak.”

Early Thursday morning . . . The woman was taken by her family from her hotel to a nearby hospital emergency room at approximately 5:00 a.m. Efforts by hospital staff to contact Carhart or get informational assistance from the abortion clinic were unsuccessful.

Operation Rescue says the abortion patient suffered massive internal bleeding into her abdominal cavity. She slipped into a Code Blue condition approximately six times before finally succumbing to her injuries at around 9:30 a.m. The case has been placed with the Medical Examiner for further investigation.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Major News Media Ignore Woman’s Reported Botched Abortion Death" by Robert Stacy McCain, American Spectator 2/8/13

Neither the Washington Post nor the Baltimore Sun has yet reported on this woman’s death in Maryland, despite the fact that there was an 11 a.m. press conference today in front of the Germantown clinic. The story is also being ignored by the Associated Press, USA Today, the New York Times, and television news networks.

The local Montgomery Gazette was the only newspaper to send a reporter to the press conference [but has yet to publish a story].

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also view video of 911 emergency call from Carhart's botched abortion in March 2012:

UPDATE May 2013 (video):

Obamanation: Gay Agenda Carries in 4 More States

Besides the reelection of President Obama, Americans witnessed more evidence of God's judgment on America as citizens in Maryland, Maine and Washington voted for same-sex "marriage," and voters of Minnesota rejected an amendment to their state constitution to define marriage as one man and one woman.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men [and women] who suppress the truth by their wickedness . . . men [and women] are without excuse . . . Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools . . . Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
-- The Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans (excerpts from chapter one, NIV)

For background, read Exploiting Obama Racism for Maryland Same-sex 'Marriage' and also read about Maine, the process in Washington state, and the amendment in Minnesota.

UPDATE 11/8/12: Final Washington count shows voters approved same-sex "marriage"

UPDATE 5/31/13: Minnesota, the 12th "gay marriage" state, begins weddings June 6th

-- From "Gay marriage, marijuana backed in historic votes" by David Crary, Associated Press National Writer 11/7/12

Altering the course of U.S social policy, Maine and Maryland became the first states to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote . . .

The results in Maine and Maryland broke a 32-state streak, dating to 1998, in which gay marriage had been rebuffed by every state that voted on it. They will become the seventh and eighth states to allow same-sex couples to marry.

In another gay-rights victory, Minnesota voters defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would banned same-sex marriage in the state. Similar measures were approved in 30 other states, most recently in North Carolina in May.

Washington state also voted on a measure to legalize same-sex marriage, though results were not expected until Wednesday at the soonest.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Obamanation: Secularized Like Europe, Spiritualized Like Oprah

In addition, read Homosexual 'Marriage' Not Enough; Next Goal as well as Pedophilia is Sexual Orientation, Like 'Being Gay'

The question is: Will 'Wimpy' Pastors Engage War on Christianity?

Exploiting Obama Racism for MD Same-sex 'Marriage'

Next week's vote on the definition of marriage in Maryland is said to hinge on the state's nearly one-third black population, according to homosexualists who advertise that African Americans who blindly pledge allegiance to President Obama should likewise follow his anti-Christian lead and bless what God abhors -- a mantra being countered by black pastors.

“It's bad enough for President Obama to personally support gay marriage, now he and this ad are urging Black Christians to ignore their pastors and are attempting to re-educate the Black Christian community for political gain. This has to stop.”
-- Rev. Williams Owens, President of the Coalition of African-American Pastors

For background, read Voters Can Stop Maryland being Eighth 'Gay Marriage' State and also read Black Pastors Line up to Oppose Obama as well as Black Pastors Split with NAACP, Obama on Gay Agenda

-- From "President Obama’s voice featured in new same-sex marriage radio ad in Maryland" by John Wagner, The Washington Post 10/25/12

The ad, produced by Marylanders for Marriage Equality, highlights the emphasis both sides have put on wooing African-American voters, who make up a larger share of the electorate in Maryland than in any state outside the Deep South.

Proponents have also featured civil rights leaders and black ministers in their ads, arguing that allowing gay people to wed is the fair thing to do whether one personally approves or not.

They have also emphasized Obama’s conversion and the endorsement of same-sex marriage this spring of the NAACP.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Black vote key to Maryland gay marriages" by Pamela Nonga Ngue, California News Service 10/31/12

Increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage among African American voters could propel Maryland to become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a ballot referendum.

Initially, opposition among African American churches presented a formidable obstacle in a state whose population is almost one-third black and is among the nation's most reliable Democratic states.

But recent polls have revealed a shift in African American attitudes, which could have implications for same-sex measures around the nation, including those in Minnesota, Maine and Washington state. Support for marriage rights from President Obama has contributed to a growing acceptance among blacks that parallels evolving attitudes in the population as a whole.

A Washington Post poll this month showed the measure ahead by nine percentage points, though a Baltimore Sun poll released last weekend showed it a dead heat. If approved, the law will go into effect on Jan. 1.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Black Shift on Maryland Gay Marriage Pits Clergy Against NAACP" By William Selway, Business Week 10/19/12

Black voters have traditionally opposed gay marriage. . . .

[However,] Black opinion in Maryland shifted after Obama this year publicly backed same-sex marriage and the NAACP announced its support. A Pew Research Center national poll yesterday on Hispanics found that 52 percent said they supported gay marriage, a shift from 2006 when 56 percent opposed it.

. . . backers of gay marriage are making a direct appeal to blacks, who make up a quarter of the state’s voters, using television ads that feature ministers and a civil-rights leader explaining their support.

The Maryland ballot initiative is pitting minister against minister.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Maryland voters' support for same-sex marriage slips" by Danielle Ryan, Los Angeles Times 10/31/12

The change appears to be partly driven by black pastors in Maryland urging their congregations to vote against the measure.

The latest polling for the [Baltimore] Sun, conducted Oct. 20-23 by the Annapolis, Md., firm OpinionWorks, now shows 50% of black voters against same-sex marriage, with 42% supporting the idea.

Turnout in the state is likely to be driven by the presidential election, with Democrats expected to show up in big numbers. In the 2008 election, African Americans accounted for 25% of the Maryland vote.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Black Pastors: Pro-Gay-Marriage Ad ‘Manipulating the Black Community’" by Matt Cover, CNSNews.com 11/1/12

A group of African-American pastors is slamming a political ad that urges Marylanders to vote for a ballot referendum that would legalize same-sex marriage, calling it an attempt “to re-educate the black community” on the issue.

“This ad is the worst attempt at pandering and manipulating the Black community to ignore their own pastors who rightfully uphold the sanctity of traditional marriage. President Obama, whose support for same-sex marriage is used in the ad to explicitly pressure Black listeners to ignore their church's teachings, must disavow the ad and its message,” Owens said.

Black Christian churches traditionally have opposed homosexual marriage on religious grounds, often frustrating the attempts of liberals who try to enact it. In Maryland, the state legislature passed a same-sex marriage bill earlier this year, prompting the ballot measure as a last-chance effort by opponents of gay marriage to stop the law from taking effect.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Gay Marriage On Ballot In Four States; Obama Endorses Measures" by Liz Halloran, National Public Radio 10/26/12

. . . over the past decade and a half, each of the 30 states to consider constitutional amendments that would outlaw such unions has adopted the ban — from Alaska in 1998 to North Carolina earlier this year.

That may change on Election Day, when voters in Maryland, Washington, Maine and Minnesota — awash in money, messages and advertisements from both sides of the issue — will make their decision on whether to recognize gay marriage.

The Maryland Marriage Alliance has featured black preachers in its ads, and a note opposing gay marriage written by a niece of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. appears on the organization's website.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.