Liberal 'Church' Sues NC to Overturn God's Decree

The United Church of Christ (UCC) in Charlotte, North Carolina filed a federal lawsuit against the new state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman claiming that the citizens' 2012 ballot decision violates the First Amendment right of apostate "christians" to celebrate that which God condemns: Homosexual behavior.

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

United Church of Christ Eliminates 'Heavenly Father'

UCC Supervisor Bans Jesus & Bible from VA Chaplains

Liberal 'Churches' Conforming to Decadent Culture

New York Methodist Bishop Allows Same-sex Marriages

President Obama's National Cathedral is the Seat of Apostasy

In addition, read how activist judges across America are forbidding voters the right to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

-- From "North Carolina Clergy Bring Challenge to State Gay Marriage Ban" by Hasani Gittens, NBC News 4/28/14

Rev. Joe Hoffman, Senior Minister of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, in Asheville, noted that his denomination has supported same-sex rights for years, but faces the penalty of a misdemeanor if he performed any marriage ceremonies for them, which he has.

Hoffman is among the coalition of clergy bringing the case, which was spearheaded by the campaign for Southern Equality [CSE].

Of the scores of same-sex marriage lawsuits filed around the country, the group says this is the first one based on a First Amendment religious-freedom argument, as opposed to the 14th Amendment equal-protection arguments.

The official defendant in the case is North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, whose office did not return calls for comment on Monday.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "United Church of Christ Challenges North Carolina's Same-Sex Marriage Ban on Religious Liberty Grounds" by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter 4/29/14

"The United Church of Christ is an inclusive church of extravagant welcome, founded on the Constitution's guarantee of the free exercise of religion, and the United Church of Christ believes this freedom should be guarded, protected and defended," said the Rev. Bernard R. Wilson, chairperson of the United Church of Christ Board, in a statement on Monday. "That is the reason the UCC took this legal action in North Carolina today."

Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the NC Values Coalition and former Chairwoman of Vote for Marriage NC, responded in a statement on Monday to the lawsuit, which was filed by several members of the clergy and six same-sex couples:

"This is sadly, and predictably, the 'lawsuit of the week' filed by those who want to impose same-sex marriage on North Carolina, in spite of the fact that 61% of the voters passed the Marriage Amendment 2 years ago. North Carolinians had good reason to protect marriage in our Constitution, recognizing that the union of a man and woman plays an irreplaceable role in the health of society, first of which is the protection of children."

Fitzgerald said, however, that it is "both ironic and sad that an entire religious denomination and its clergy who purport holding to Christian teachings on marriage would look to the courts to justify their errant beliefs. These individuals are simply revisionists that distort the teaching of Scripture to justify sexual revolution, not marital sanctity."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read American Decline: Obama's Gay Agenda vs. Christians as well as America Going to Hell; Christians Lose Convictions

Obama's VA Strips Jesus & Bible from Chaplains

The Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego, with the help of the religious left United Church of Christ (sic), has censored VA hospital chaplain trainees Major Steven Firtko, U.S. Army (Retired) and Lieutenant Commander Dan Klender, U.S. Navy. The officers have now sued Eric Shinseki, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, saying that Ms. Nancy Dietsch, the UCC-endorsed supervisor and employee of the VA-DOD Clinical Pastoral Education Center program, in following the President Obama's VA handbook, explicitly ordered the men to stop quoting the Bible and never to say the name of Jesus Christ as part of their training because speaking such words is an act of bullying.

“No American choosing to serve in the armed forces should be openly ridiculed for his Christian faith, and that is most obviously true for chaplains participating in a chaplain training program. Not only was the treatment these men received inappropriate, it was also a violation of federal law and the religious freedom guarantees of the First Amendment.”
-- Commander J.B. Wells, U. S. Navy (Ret.), executive director of Military-Veterans Advocacy

For background, read Veterans Sue VA Over Freedom of Speech & Religion re: Houston National Cemetery

In addition, read how the Air Force Engages War on Christianity and Persecutes Believers

And also read President Obama's Army Says Christians are Worst Terrorists

And read that President Obama's Pentagon Says Following Jesus' Command is a Court Martial Offense and also says Christians are 'Hate Groups'



-- From "Men Not Allowed to Say 'Jesus' in Chaplain Class: Lawsuit" by Andie Adams and Steven Luke, KNSD-TV 7 (San Diego) 11/8/13

"Anytime you tell somebody you can’t pray in Jesus' name and you’re a chaplain, you are acting inappropriately because you're regulating and censoring their religious rights,” said the plaintiff’s attorney, John B. Wells.

The plaintiff’s attorney says they're filing suit against the VA for fostering an atmosphere where the persecution can happen and not doing enough to stop it.

Attorneys for the VA say the defense will most likely be handled by the Department of Justice, but no one was available yet for comment.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

For background, read President Obama's Dept. of Justice Forces Christian Employees to Celebrate Homosexuality

From "VA sued for harassing Christian chaplains" by Drew Zahn, World Net Daily 11/9/13

. . . on Sept. 24, 2012, the lawsuit claims, during a classroom discussion, Dietsch asked Firtko what he “believed faith was.”

Firtko responded by quoting Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Dietsch told Firtko, on the first of several such instances according to the lawsuit, that he was not to quote the Bible in the chaplaincy program classroom.

The lawsuit also claims Dietsch told her students that the VA in general and she in particular do not allow chaplains to pray “in Jesus’ name” in public ceremonies.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Military Chaplains Sue After Being Ordered Not to Quote Bible, Pray in Jesus’ Name" by Heather Clark, Christian News Network 11/10/13

“Ms. Dietsch informed the class she believes God could be a man or woman. Chaplain Firtko [then] recited the Lord’s Prayer, stating, ‘Our Father. who art in Heaven,’” the lawsuit states. “In response, Ms. Dietsch angrily pounded her fist on the table and shouted, ‘Do not quote Scripture in this class!’”

“Ms. Dietsch insisted that evolution was fact and that she believed mankind evolved. Chaplain Firtko stated he believed in the Genesis statement that ‘[i]n the beginning, God created the Heavens and Earth,’” it outlines regarding another instance. “In response, Ms. Dietsch pounded her fist on the table and ordered Chaplain Firtko to not quote Scripture in the classroom, stating [that] it made her feel like she had been ‘pounded over the head with a sledge hammer.’”

“When Chaplain Klender responded to a question during a group discussion regarding the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, CT by stating he would tell a parent whose child was a victim by stating that ‘there is evil in the world,’ Ms. Dietsch impugned his core faith beliefs stating they would not work in a clinical setting,” the suit outlines. “In the presence of the other students she said, ‘You don’t actually believe that do you?’”

Klender eventually withdrew from the program, and Firtko was put on a six-week probation period after being threatened with dismissal. Firtko was eventually let go after Dietsch stated that the “probation period is not yielding the results we both desire.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read the entire court filing: Conservative Baptist Association of America v. Shinseki (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia)

In addition, read President Obama Breaks Law, Gives VA Money to Homosexuals

For further background, read President Obama Redefines 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion and yet President Obama Denies Leading War Against Christianity, and so Congress Responds to Obama's Military Attack on Christians

CBS Gives Voice to Atheists, Heretics, & Apostates

CBS News latest foray into American religion is the 30-minute broadcast Religion & Spirituality in a Changing Society wherein a variety of liberal "christians," humanists, atheists, hedonists, homosexualists, feminists and pagans explain how America is rejecting Bible-based (real) Christianity.

John P. “Jack” Blessington, the program's part-time executive producer of CBS News (and part-time school headmaster), says that his broadcast career has offered him “the largest classroom that I’ll ever have.”

This CBS News indoctrination piece equates the reelection of President Bush in 2004 (said to be caused by Evangelical Christians) and the Catholic priest sexual abuse scandal, to the 9/11 terrorist attack against America -- all three jolted Americans into an anti-religion phase.

That sounds familiar: Obama's Army Says Christians are Worst Terrorists

For background on such propaganda, read The Religious Left 'Taste' the Millennium in Obama and also read Obama's National Cathedral is the Seat of Apostasy as well as Biblical Prayer Stricken from Obama Inauguration

But don't worry, President Obama Denies Leading a War Against Christianity



-- From "For CBS producer, sharing beliefs is key" by Linda Bloom, United Methodist News Service 4/1/13

[John P. “Jack”] Blessington, the long-time executive producer of the CBS Religion and Culture series, will receive a special Wilbur award April 6 from the Religion Communicators Council during the council’s 84th annual convention.

The special award recognizes his contributions to public discussions of faith topics for more than 30 years, demonstrating, as Douglas F. Cannon, a United Methodist communicator and RCC president points out, “that faith topics can be approached as news and are not boring.”

Blessington likes to allow believers to share the stories of their own faith. “I am a church-attending Roman Catholic who argues for ecumenism,” he told United Methodist News Service in a recent interview.

Since 1989, Religion and Culture has worked with members of the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission to develop programming. “We try to find out what the people of various religions believe and what they do to help each other and help mankind,” Blessington said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

For related articles, click headlines below:

Atheism, Paganism Latest Liberal Media Darling

Liberals Tell MSNBC to Censor Evangelical Christians

Methodists Team Up with Atheists for Bible Study

Baby Jesus with Two Lesbians: That's a Methodist Nativity Scene

Methodist Clergy Buck Bible, Church - Science Also

Allah Worshiped in Virginia Methodist Church

A Rabbi, Pastor & Imam Join a Methodist Seminary, and ... (it's NO joke!)

Pagans and Liberal 'christians' Celebrate Earth on Good Friday

Liberal 'Churches' Conforming to Decadent Culture

ELCA Lutherans Pardon Homosexual 'Pastors'

Episcopal Church Blesses Deviant Sexual Behavior

Sexually Deviant Pastors OK in Presbyterian Church

Sex Trainers of the Unitarian Universalist and Religious Left Teach Orgasm to Teens

United Church of Christ Eliminates 'Heavenly Father'

Atheist Proposes Godless Religion, Complete with Sermons

Atheists Crave Church Fellowship, but Absent God

New Massachusetts 'Church' With No God

Church is About Friendships, NOT God: Study

God is Not a Being, but an Experience

MN Univ. Hires Church Sex Trainers to Teach Orgasm

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities has contracted with "experts on female orgasm," who also train teachers for the Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ "Our Whole Lives" sexuality education programs, to teach The Female Orgasm for the benefit of "orgasm aficionados and beginners of all genders."

The description posted on the school’s official events calendar asks “Are you coming?”

For background, click on headlines below to read what passes for education these days:

Orgasm Live Demo in Chicago College Classroom

Exotic Dancers in Catholic University Business Class

Government Teaches Children to Enjoy Sex - Daily Orgasms Recommended

U.N. Agency: Teach Five Year-olds Masturbation

School Sexualization Standards by NEA, Abortionists

Texas School Trains 12-year-olds in Oral, Anal Sex

'Dating Website' (prostitution) to Pay for College

Bondage-S&M-Sex Student Group OK'd by Harvard

UPDATE 2/10/13: Hooker, Porn Star Lectures at Univ. of Illinois

UPDATE 2/21/13: "Sex educators" set up shop at Pennsylvania's Allegheny College in the campus chapel (Ford Memorial Chapel) where weekly worship services take place.

-- From "The Female Orgasm: A Program About Sexual Health and Women's Empowerment" posted at University of Minnesota

Join us to laugh and learn about the "big O," the most popular topic sex educators Marshall Miller and Kate Weinberg teach about! Orgasm aficionados and beginners of all genders are welcome to come learn about everything from multiple orgasms to that mysterious G-spot. Kate and Marshall cover it all with lots of humor, plenty of honesty, and an underlying message of sexual health and women's empowerment.

The full Female Orgasm Program includes: An emphasis on individuals making sexual decisions that are right for them, including whether to use the information now or when married or in a serious relationship; [and] Analysis of the messages women receive about their bodies and sexuality from media, religion, families, and elsewhere . . .

To request disability accommodations, please contact the Women's Center . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Public univ plans event to help female students achieve orgasm" by Oliver Darcy, CampusReform.org 1/28/13

The description of the event, which is hosted by the university’s Office of Diversity and Equity's Women's Center, does not say whether there is an age requirement. While the average age of undergraduates at UMTC is 21, it is not uncommon for students to enroll at the age of 17.

A university spokeswoman, Patricia Mattern, however, suggested there is in fact no age requirement in an e-mail statement to Campus Reform on Monday.

“This educational workshop is open to the full university community and participation is voluntary,” she said.  “As a research institution, we study, publish and educate on a vast range of topics, including human sexuality.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Minnesota spends $3,400 to teach orgasm" posted at World Net Daily 1/28/13

Scheduled teachers are “sex educators” Marshall Miller and Kate Weinberg. The program also is getting support from the Women’s Student Activist Collective, Aurora Center for Advocacy & Education and GLBTA Programs Office.

Miller is a trainer of teachers for the Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ “Our Whole Lives” sexuality education program.

The Minnesota school says the event, at the Theater St. Paul Student Center in April, is for all, “whether you want to learn how to have your first orgasm, how to have better ones, or how to help your girlfriend.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also in Columbia, SC at the University of South Carolina: From "I Heart Female Orgasm" posted by Joshua 1/23/13

Don’t miss this funny, educational Program about sexuality! I Heart Female Orgasm will be Wednesday, January 30th in the RH Ballroom!

Homosexual Bully Slams Pope in IL College Chapel

The anti-bullying advocate, backed by President Obama and highlighted on the White House website,spewed anti-Christian profanity in his speech Sunday at the United Church of Christ affiliated Elmhurst College -- the same day that he reiterated his contempt for the Bible on his website in a so-called apology for his anti-Christian rant of April 13th to teenagers in Seattle.

"What the Pope is saying is that the only thing that stands between my dick and Brad Pitt's mouth is a piece of paper....What the Pope is saying is that once we're all gay-married we're going to go extinct in a generation because once we're all gay-married, we're gonna forget which hole sh*ts babies."
--Dan Savage, Gay Sex Columnist, speaking at Elmhurst College 4/29/12

For background, read White House Says Gay Recruitment of Kids Successful and so Senators Join Obama in Supporting Dan Savage and also read White House Focus is Now 'Gay Students'

UPDATE 5/8/12: Catholic League President Bill Donohue called on Elmhurst College officials to apologize



-- From "Anti-gay activist takes issue with speech at Elmhurst College" by Annemarie Mannion, TribLocal reporter (Chicago Tribune) 5/1/12

Peter LaBarbera, of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, tweeted and posted portions of the April 29 speech made at Hammerschmidt Chapel on the campus. LaBarbera’s first video post, which was filmed by someone in the audience, shows Savage criticizing Pope Benedict’s warning against legalizing same sex marriage.

Desiree Chen, a spokeswoman for Elmhurst College, believes the event was successful.

The college invited the advice columnist, blogger and author to talk about the “It Gets Better” project, a video and social media effort designed to inspire hope in young people dealing with bullying or harassment.

Chen said the college has no plans to post a video of the speech because she does not have permission to do so. She said Savage did not grant permission.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Ousted Attendee: Gay Activist Dan Savage Is 'A Walking Hate Crime,' Speech Video Will Show" by Lauren Thompson, CNSNews.com 4/30/12

The media have been glossing over militant gay activist Dan Savage’s brutal war on Christians during a talk at Elmhurst College last week.

This latest attack on Christians comes just days after more than 100 Christian high students walked out on Savage after he called them "pansy-assed" at a journalism conference in California and said offensive things about Christianity.

Savage responded on Twitter to LaBarbera’s claims calling his own actions “civil” and branded LaBarbera a “liar.” He then touted that LaBarbera “bore false witness.”

LaBarbera described a lengthy list of Savage’s hateful dialogue, none of which has been published or featured in the video clips released of his talk. “He was especially obscene about Family Research Council leader Tony Perkins, declaring everything Perkins does causes gays to commit suicide. He said every dead gay kid is a rhetorical victory for Tony Perkins and Perkins stands on their dead bodies,” LaBarbera said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



From "Dan Savage Apologizes for Bullying During Anti-Bullying Speech" by Tim Newcomb, Time Magazine 5/1/12

Advice columnist Dan Savage, the founder of the ‘It Gets Better’ project — a series of web videos devoted to helping victims of bullying — is facing charges of bullying himself after a speech to a group of high school journalists in Seattle turned into a rant at several students who walked out in protest mid-speech.

Focusing on what he called the “hypocrisy” of Christians who wouldn’t condemn anti-gay bullying because of Biblical strictures on homosexuality, Savage said:

“We can learn to ignore the bullsh*t in the Bible about gay people… the same way we have learned to ignore the bullsh*t in the Bible about shellfish, about slavery, about dinner, about farming, about menstruation, about virginity, about masturbation. We ignore bullsh*t in the Bible about all sorts of things.”

That was the point at which a group of about 20 or 30 students and advisors quietly stood up and walked out of the auditorium. “It’s funny, as someone who is the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible, how pansy-assed some people react when you push back,” Savage said after they had left.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



From "Sparks fly over Dan Savage's comments to students about Bible" by Jonathan Martin, Seattle Times staff reporter 4/30/12

Savage's speech, at a 3,000-student gathering of young journalists in Seattle, linked bullying of gay kids with biblical denunciations of homosexuality.

In an interview, Savage said he regretted using vulgar terms and apologized for his description of the walkout, but defended his description of the Bible.

Savage said the speech is one he has repeatedly given in promoting "It Gets Better," his hugely successful project to help gay, lesbian and transgender youths cope with bullying. The project has at least 40,000 videos — testimonials meant to offer encouragement — including one by President Obama, and an accompanying book that debuted on The New York Times best-seller list.

In the speech, Savage, citing Sam Harris' "Letter to a Christian Nation," said the Bible gave instructions about how to treat slaves. If the Bible erred "on the easiest moral question that humanity has ever faced ... What are the odds that the Bible got something as complicated as human sexuality wrong? 100 percent," said Savage. Students are heard cheering and clapping.

In a statement, the [Seattle event] organizers said Savage "veered from the topic" of bullying. Student journalism "should not shy away from controversial topics and viewpoints. But it should promote and engage in civil discourse. Mr. Savage's speech fell short of that standard, and for this our organizations apologize."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read 'Gay Rights' Winning, Loss of Religious Liberty Documented - Washington Post writer demonstrates it's a "zero sum" game: Winning homosexual 'rights' means Christians must lose freedom of religion.

Chicago PBS WTTW-TV video interview with Dan Savage:

Uncloseted 'Gay Kids' Get Money at Elmhurst College

The Chicago suburban college, of the gay-affirming United Church of Christ, has become the first institution of "higher learning" to categorize incoming students by sexually-deviant behavior. Students who accept the "gay label" may be eligible for special homosexual scholarships.

-- From "Elmhurst College puts question about LGBT status on admission application" by The Associated Press 8/25/11

The application asks: "Would you consider yourself to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community?"

Elmhurst College admissions dean Gary Rold says students who answer "yes" may be eligible for a scholarship that will pay up to a third of tuition. He says the information also will help officials direct incoming students to services and groups that could help them on campus.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Elmhurst College asks prospective students about sexual orientation" by Kara Spak, Staff Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times 8/25/11

“Increasing diversity is part of our mission statement,” said Gary Rold, Elmhurst’s dean of admissions. “This is simply closing the loop, in many ways, of another group who has a very strong identity. It may not be race and religion but it’s an important part of who they are.”

Those who answer “yes” may be eligible for a scholarship worth up to one-third of tuition, not unusual because about 60 percent of incoming students receive some type of scholarship aid, Rold said. More importantly, he said, knowing students’ sexual orientation will help officials direct incoming students toward services or groups that might help them make an easier transition to college life.

And while the question might attract more applicants, he thinks that number will balance out with students who do not apply because of the question.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Elmhurst College's Sexual Orientation Application Question First In The Nation" posted at Huffington Post 8/25/11

The question is the first of its kind according to Campus Pride, a national advocacy group working to foster more LGBT-inclusive college settings, whose executive director Shane Windmeyer described the move as "a distinct and unique paradigm shift in higher education" in a statement Tuesday.

"For the first time, an American college has taken efforts to identify their LGBT students from the very first moment those students have official contact with them. This is definite progress in the right direction -- and deserves praise," Windmeyer said.

The question is an optional one for prospective students to fill out on the newly designed application, and also offers a "prefer not to say" option. It appears in a series of questions asking applicants about their religious affiliation, languages other than English spoken in their home and other questions school administrators hope will help identify students' needs and potential interest in campus programs and resources, according to Campus Pride. In this case, students could be put in touch with a student club called Straights and Gays for Equality (SAGE).

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Admissions Preferences for Gays?" by Richard Kahlenberg, Chronicle of Higher Education 8/24/11

Elmhurst College, by asking students who apply whether they consider themselves “to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trangendered) community” is taking us in a very different direction, from equal treatment to affirmative action. Of course, members of the LGBT community should not be discriminated against in admissions, should be welcomed and supported once on campus, and the diversity they bring should be celebrated. But the purpose of asking individuals to identify themselves at the application stage, as part of a process designed to promote greater diversity, signals that identity will be a factor in admissions and scholarships, a line not to be crossed casually.

Affirmative action presents difficult policy questions. I respect supporters of racial preferences though I ultimately have come down instead in favor of considerations of economic disadvantage in admissions. But advocates of gay rights need to think long and hard before they decide to break with the long-advocated—and increasingly popular—principle of nondiscrimination in favor of something quite different.

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

Liberal 'Churches' Conforming to Decadent Culture

As same-sex "marriage" is legalized in very limited areas of America, leaders of "churches" that have abandoned scriptural authority pursue a variety of avenues to incorporate sexual deviancy.

For background, read Episcopalians Go Gay, Some Go Catholic and also read Presbyterians Vote Yea on Gay 'Clergy' as well as Methodists Ignore Own Rules re: Lesbian Pastor

-- From "Churches debate whether to marry gays" by Rachel Zoll, Associated Press Religion Writer 7/16/11

The decision is especially complex in the mainline Protestant denominations that have yet to fully resolve their disagreements over the Bible and homosexuality. Many have taken steps toward acceptance of gay ordination and same-gender couples without changing the official definition of marriage in church constitutions and canons. With the exception of the United Church of Christ, which approved gay marriage six years ago, none of the larger mainline churches has a national liturgy for same-sex weddings or even blessing ceremonies.

Just last Sunday, the Presbyterian Church formally lifted barriers to ordination for gays and lesbians who are not celibate, although individual congregations had been hiring gay pastors and conducting same-sex blessing ceremonies for years. . . .

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America formally abolished a celibacy requirement for gay and lesbian clergy more than a year ago, but still defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

The Episcopal Church blazed a trail, and enraged fellow Anglicans worldwide, in 2003 by consecrating the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. . . . Episcopalians are drafting prayers for blessing same-gender couples that advocates hope will be accepted next year by the General Convention.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Also read Liberal 'Churches' Continue to Wither

UPDATE 7/28/15: Gay Agenda Destroys Everything it Contacts

Mainline Church Eliminates 'Heavenly Father'

One of the most liberal of historic mainline protestant denominations, the United Church of Christ, in its homosexualization and feminization of Christianity, has decided to no longer refer to God as "Heavenly Father" but rather with gender-neutral terminology.

-- From "United Church of Christ goes 'Father'-free in 'updated' bylaws" by Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY 7/6/11

. . . the UCC isn't "editing" the creed, says the Rev. Bennett Guess, spokesman for the denomination. Guess explained what happened last night in Tampa where the UCC wrapped up its biannual governance meeting.

We are still a Trinitarian denomination. This was not a theological document. It was a restructuring from five boards to one. And in doing this, we dealt with bylaws written decades ago, before the denomination's commitment to using inclusive and expansive imagery for God.

We no longer use exclusively male language to refer to God. We haven't for a long time.

The board-consolidation resolution passed Monday night after several hours of debate on restructuring that has taken six years to accomplish, Guess says. With the change came the edit that replaces "Heavenly Father" with the "Triune God."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "'God the Father' banished by mainline denomination" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 7/5/11

A report from Eric Anderson on the denomination's website confirmed that delegates to the UCC's "General Synod 28" agreed late Monday to a series of proposed amendments to the constitution and bylaws. The vote was 613 in favor of the changes, 171 against and 10 abstaining.

The changes include a pointed deletion of a reference to God "as heavenly Father," which has been part of Christendom's description of the Trinity for millennia – the three persons of God being the heavenly Father, Christ the Son and Savior, and the Holy Ghost, the counselor and comforter.

Other constitutional changes in the package approved by delegates meeting in Tampa, Fla., over the holiday weekend dealt with issues such as modifications in the church structure, the responsibilities of boards and committees.

Denomination spokeswoman Barb Powell told WND today that the change was made because the reference to "heavenly Father" was too restrictive.

She said some of the denomination's pastors refer to God with terms such as "Creator" and "Father and Mother."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Repeal Marriage & Family: Obama's Religious Left

Rev. Nancy Wilson, a member of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, said the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) should be repealed and Congress should pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

For background, read Rep. Barney Frank's Gay Agenda Outline



-- From "Faith leaders lobby Congress for LGBT equality" posted at San Diego Gay & Lesbian News 5/25/11

Hundreds of faith leaders from all 50 states, including the largest number ever of heads of [liberal] Christian denominations and inter-faith religious leaders, lobbied members of Congress on Tuesday.

The faith leaders were part of the [homosexualists'] Human Rights Campaign's Clergy Call for Justice and Equality 2011 to support legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, to ban employment discrimination against LGBT people and protect students from discrimination and bullying.

The faith leaders represent millions of members and include dignitaries from the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reform Judaism, United Methodist Church, and the Metropolitan Community Churches. Participants come from dozens of faith traditions and the invocation was given by Buddhists from Hawaii.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Obama Faith-Based Adviser: Same-Sex Marriages Count" by Nicholas Ballasy, CNSNews.com 5/25/11

“We come to our nation’s capital to tell our elected officials that our marriages count and that DOMA should be repealed. My marriage of 33 years -- made legal in Massachusetts in 2004 -- is not protected in my state of Florida,” said [Rev. Nancy] Wilson, the moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches during a press conference on Tuesday for the Human Rights Campaign’s "Clergy Call for Justice and Equality 2011” on Capitol Hill.

Rabbi David Saperstein, the director and counsel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and a member of the White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, echoed Wilson’s comments.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Pagans, Liberal 'christians' Celebrate Earth on Good Friday

With today's convergence of the Christian recognition of Good Friday, and the modern pagan celebration of Earth Day, the divergence of reverence could not be more distinct: Those who worship the Creator, and those who worship the creation.

For background, read Evangelicals Warn of Cult of Environmentalism and also read Environmentalist 'christians' Say Man Controls Nature, Not God

-- From "Good Friday and Earth Day: Freedom and Slavery" by Anthony J. Sadar and Susan T. Cammarata, American Thinker 4/22/11

The two occasions could not be more dissimilar.

The message and acts of Jesus focused on people. And, in addition to love and grace, freedom was one of his main evangels. This freedom was from all ungodly yokes, which includes the sacrosanct norms and standards of today's progressive environmentalism.

While familiarity with the structure and strictures of world religions is quite common, familiarity with environmentalism as religion is not as common. Progressive environmentalism from its modern inception in 1962 with Rachel Carson's Silent Spring quickly emerged as a kind of faith that rivals the traditional religions of the world. It has all the trappings of a religion including a god (Mother Earth or Gaia); holy writs (Silent Spring, The Population Bomb); mantras ("Love your Mother," "Save the Planet"); doctrines (capitalism and industrialization are evil; socialism and eating low on the food chain are righteous); dead saints (John Muir, Rachel Carson); and, of course, holidays. Besides Earth Day, there is the U.N. sponsored World Environment Day on June 5 and World Ozone Day on September 5, among others.

No sensible, caring person denies that good stewardship is required for the wise use of natural resources and arable lands. However, what has arisen with progressive environmentalism is a careless denial of the sensible.

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

From "Christians reflect on Good Friday/Earth Day concurrence" by ENInews, postd at The Christian Century 4/21/11

[Liberal "christian" Earth Day] Proponents say that planting trees and meditating on ways humanity has wounded the earth can parallel devotions that mark Jesus' sacrifice, but opponents say that a political message, even a pagan one, is being pushed onto sacred territory.

"This year's Earth Day falls on Good Friday. This is a right and appropriate occasion to remember the cross, which was made out of trees, leads us from bondage to liberation, death to life," said the National Council of Churches in India, which groups 30 Orthodox and Protestant churches.

Earth Day has been observed on 22 April since 1970 and is considered one of the seminal events in the modern environmental movement; Good Friday is on a different date each year since it moves according to the observance of Easter.

In the U.S., the Episcopal Church, based in New York, has compiled resources for incorporating earth-care themes into services and celebrations, according to Episcopal News Service.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Episcopal Church: This Good Friday, let’s celebrate Earth Day" by Chris Moody, The Daily Caller 4/7/11

Two of the world’s holiest religious holidays are set to fall on April 22 this year — Good Friday for Christians and Earth Day for environmentalists — and some religious leaders are preparing their flocks to celebrate both.

The Episcopal Church’s office of Economic and Environmental Affairs released a statement urging followers to stay mindful of global warming, recycling and reducing carbon dioxide emissions while celebrating the ancient Christian holiday in 2011.

The church set up a website for the celebration of Earth Day, complete with links to resources on how to best get involved on the extra special day.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Abilene faithful, others discuss Good Friday, Earth Day convergence" by Brian Bethel, Abilene Reporter-News (Texas) 4/21/11

"This year Earth Day falls within Holy Week, specifically on Good Friday, a profound coincidence," said Mike Schut, the economic and environmental affairs officer of the Episcopal Church, in a statement.

To "fully honor Earth Day," he said, Christians must reclaim the theology that "knows Earth is very good."

"On Good Friday, the day we mark the crucifixion of Christ, God in the flesh, might we suggest that when Earth is degraded, when species go extinct, that another part of God's body experiences yet another sort of crucifixion — that another way of seeing and experiencing God is diminished?" Schut said.

"Good Friday is indeed Earth Day, for we of faith realize anew ... the cost of God loving this world," said Cliff Stewart, pastor of First Central Presbyterian Church.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Good Friday: Google Celebrates Earth, Ignores Jesus" by Erin R. Brown, Culture and Media Institute 4/22/11

For nearly 2,000 years, Christians and Catholics around the world have celebrated the day Jesus Christ died upon the cross at Calvary for the sins of the world - but by looking at Google, you wouldn't know that today is that day. Google's homepage, famous for its ever changing logo to reflect important holidays, accomplishments and achievements, is not displaying any acknowledgement of the Christian holiday known as 'Good Friday.'

The company has instead decided to portray its logo hidden in a lush animated garden to commemorate 'Earth Day.' Earth Day, while internationally recognized as a day for the eco-friendly and environmentally conscious, was concocted 41 years ago, born out of the anti-war hippy movement and spawned in part by Rachel Carson's book, 'Silent Spring.'

The Culture and Media Institute found that 65 percent of stories that discussed 'Easter' among network evening news shows in 2010 were negative, and 91 percent of those stories connected the holiday with the pedophilia scandal that surrounded the Catholic Church. Not surprisingly, every Earth Day story that ABC, CBS, and NBC nightly news shows broadcasted were glowingly positive about saving Mother Earth.

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

From "Google Doodle celebrates Earth Day" by Relaxnews 4/22/11

Google has frequently added images to its homepage to mark significant events; recent Google Doodles were created to mark the 50th anniversary of the first man in space on April 12 and Charlie Chaplin's birthday on April 16.

Now in its 41st year, Earth Day is an international environmental campaign aimed at raising awareness of climate change. Celebrities, businesses and individuals around the world are supporting the campaign through a series of events.

The organizers behind Earth Day are also encouraging individuals to publically pledge to do an environmentally friendly action, such as recycle more, as part of Earth Day's Billion Acts of Green campaign. The organizers hope they can collect a billion public pledges before the global Earth Summit in Rio in 2012.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Environmentalism Greatest Threat to Civilization

Liberal 'Churches' Continue to Wither

While mainline Protestant churches in the U.S. continue to experience decades-long decline, the memberships of Pentecostal traditions are on the rise, according to new figures compiled by the National Council of Churches.

"To paraphrase a biblical passage, to those who have, more is being given, and those who have little have less."

-- From "Evangelical Churches Still Growing, Mainline Protestantism In Decline" by Richard Yeakley, Religion News Service (Huffington Post) 2/15/11

The Roman Catholic Church (No. 1) and the Southern Baptist Convention (No. 2) are still significantly larger than all other North American denominations, but Catholics posted minimal growth of less than 1 percent, and Southern Baptist membership fell for a third straight year [by less than half a percent], according to the 2011 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches.

Mainline Protestant churches that have seen a fall in membership since the 1970s continued their decline. . .

The membership declines in mainline churches led to a 1 percent decrease in total U.S. church membership, to 145.8 million.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Gains, losses continue" by Peter Smith, Louisville Courier-Journal 2/14/11

Historic Protestant denominations continued their long-term decline in the most recent annual survey of religious membership, while Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and some Pentecostals reported continued growth.

Several of the council’s most active denominations, as it turns out, are declining. They include the nation’s largest Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodist denominations, the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches (USA). While some critics have long cited liberal influences for these churches’ decline, some conservative denominations also saw declines, including the Southern Baptist Convention and the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod). All have a largely white, Anglo constituency — a demographic that is aging and shrinking in proportion to minority populations in the United States.

For a list of the stats, and to read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Liberal churches losing ground in the US" by William Donohue, President of Catholic League 2/16/11

Beginning with the work of Dean Kelly in the 1970s, it has been empirically obvious that those religions which have experienced the greatest proportionate decline in membership are generally the most progressive or liberal in their teachings; conversely, conservative-oriented religions have fared comparatively well. The latest data from the Yearbook proves this to be true again.

With the exception of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and to some extent the American Baptist Churches, all the other churches with declining membership hold liberal views on abortion and gay rights.

Moreover, the smallest decline among the Baptist churches was registered by the most conservative among them, the Southern Baptist Convention (down .42). By sharp contrast, all the religions that experienced a growth in membership are pro-life and pro-marriage (normatively understood).

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read, 'Gay Churches' Decline as Mainlines Embrace Homosexuality

'Gay Churches' Decline as Mainlines Embrace Homosexuality

The decades-long phenomenon of all-gay 'churches' has waned for many reasons: Homosexual behavior is now celebrated in many mainline denominations; there are simply fewer homosexualists who desire to be Christian; and of course, by definition, homosexual behavior doesn't procreate.

-- From "Generation gap imperils gay church" by Jeff Kunerth, Orlando Sentinel 12/31/10

. . . Joy Metropolitan Community Church . . . Started in 1979, the predominantly gay Orlando church is imperiled by its inability to attract a younger generation of gay and lesbian worshippers. Only about 20 of the 250 people who regularly attend the church are in their 20s and 30s, said the Rev. Lisa Heilig, interim pastor.

Mainline Protestant denominations such as Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Methodists are dealing with the same doomsday demographic of aging congregations. But the gay church faces not only fewer young people attending church, but also a greater acceptance of gays in other churches.

Moreover, gay churches don't have the built-in ability to attract families with children, teenagers with youth programs, and young people with church services like rock concerts. There are no "crying rooms" for babies at Joy MCC or Sunday-school classrooms or a day-care center during the week.

"What I'm finding is they don't want to go to a church where they are segregated by their sexuality," said the Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams, who has about 50 young gays in her contemporary service at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Orlando. "Their relationship with God is first, but they want a church where they can be who they are and not have to hide it."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "NC Council of Churches selects openly gay man as president to lead push for liberal goals" by The Associated Press 12/27/10

The North Carolina Council of Churches is breaking ground by electing an openly gay minister as its incoming president.

The statewide organization that promotes Christian harmony and social justice has selected retired IBM sales executive and Raleigh resident Stan Kimer (KIM-uhr). The 55-year-old Kimer is a member of the Metropolitan Community Churches, a denomination for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Gay man leads N.C. church association" by Yonat Shimron, Charlotte Observer 12/27/10

[This] signals an acceptance among member denominations - Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics - that even if they have theological differences about homosexuality, they are OK with a gay man at the helm. Or at least, they don't see it as an issue worth fighting.

As president, Kimer leads a 35-member governing board that sets the council's direction on a host of social issues, including racial equality, health care, immigrant rights and environmental conservation. He was elected to a one-year term and could run for a second one-year term.

Kimer's election has its roots in a controversial 1993 decision by the N.C. council to add the Metropolitan Community Churches to its roster of cooperating denominations. The MCC is made up of nearly 200 U.S. churches, including seven in North Carolina, and caters to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

Soon after the MCC became part of the N.C. council, Kimer joined the board as a representative of St. John's MCC, a Raleigh church where he has been a member for 18 years.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Sky Falling on Dying Apostate 'Churches'

Is God sending a message to a mainline Protestant church when the ceiling collapses during Sunday services, injuring more than a dozen pew occupants?

-- From "Congregations struggle in aging, decaying churches" by Tom Breen, Associated Press 7/14/10

Caring for old church facilities is an increasingly acute problem, particularly for mainline Protestant denominations. As membership declines and budgets shrink, the beautiful edifices of American Christianity can feel like weights dragging down churches that are forced to spend money on maintenance and repairs instead of ministry, charity and other Gospel-derived imperatives.

. . . decline in fortune is mirrored among Protestant denominations like the [ELCA] Lutherans, [PCUSA] Presbyterians and [ECUSA] Episcopalians, [United Methodists, and United Church of Christ,] which have seen membership drop in recent decades while the average age of remaining worshippers gets older.

"A lot of these churches have shrunk from 500 members to 100 members, or from 800 members to 200 members," said Robert Jaeger, executive director of the Partnership for Sacred Places. "They look at the trend lines and they see the decline in membership and wonder, 'Gosh, in 10 or 15 years are we going to be gone?'"

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Sexually Deviant Pastors OK in Presbyterian Church

The PCUSA convention voted to accept clergy actively involved in homosexual activity, but the votes were split about defining marriage as "two people."

UPDATE 5/10/11: Presbyterians Vote Yea on Gay 'Clergy'

-- From "Presbyterians continue to be divided over gays" by Patrick Condon, Associated Press 7/9/10

Delegates to the Presbyterian church's convention in Minneapolis voted Thursday for a more liberal policy on gay clergy but decided not to redefine marriage in their church constitution to include same-sex couples. Approval of both measures could have made the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) one of the most gay-friendly major Christian churches in the U.S.

Even the more liberal stance on gay clergy faces more debate before it can become church policy. A majority of the church's 173 U.S. presbyteries must approve it. Two years ago — after years of efforts by supporters — a similar measure was sent out to presbyteries but died when 94 of them voted against it.

Both of Thursday's votes were close. Fifty-one percent of delegates voted to shelve the proposal to redefine marriage as being between "two people" instead of between "a man and a woman," just hours after 53 percent of them voted to allow non-celibate gays in committed relationships to serve as clergy.

On Friday, delegates voted down a motion to reconsider the marriage vote. It needed a two-thirds majority to come back to the floor and got just 40 percent. Gay rights supporters must wait two years until the next general assembly for another shot.

Several major Christian denominations have voted in recent years to allow non-celibate gays to serve as clergy if they are in committed relationships. Among them are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the U.S. Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ.

Fewer major U.S. denominations have taken the step of fully endorsing gay marriage. Only two, the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, have explicitly allowed it.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Presbyterian leaders OK gay, lesbian clergy, shelve same-sex marriage proposal" by Jean Hopfensperger and Mary Lynn Smith, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) 7/9/10

The late-night decision to table the proposal [to redefine marriage] and subject it to two more years of study caught many delegates at the denomination's gathering at the Minneapolis Convention Center by surprise, and there was a stunned silence as delegates absorbed the action.

Had the marriage measure passed, it, too would have had to be approved by the presbyteries.

Hours before the surprise shelving of the marriage measure, the assembly approved changing the denomination's ordination policy to make noncelibate gays and lesbians eligible to become clergy. The vote was 373-323.

It was the fourth time the assembly had approved such a change. The previous times, it was rejected by district leaders. Church leaders believe it has a better chance of meeting district approval this time.

Presbyterian ministers currently are permitted to perform ceremonial blessings of same-sex couples, but nothing more.

A group called Presbyterians for Renewal . . . opposed changes. Its website states: "Blurring or obscuring the clear teaching of God's Word in order to keep in step with secular laws and changing personal morals only confuses our witness and causes innumerable problems for the future."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

ELCA Lutherans Pardon Homosexual 'Pastors'

An Atlanta couple of homosexual men, defrocked in years past, have been reinstated as clergy now that the denomination has voted to include sexual deviants as shepherds of the flock.

UPDATE 7/25/10: New York Times praises ELCA as largest denomination to elevate sexual deviants

UPDATE 7/24/10: Seven ELCA sexually deviant 'pastors' in the San Francisco Bay area pardoned

-- From "Largest Lutheran group reinstating 2 gay ministers" by Kate Brumback, Associated Press Writer 5/4/10

The Rev. Bradley Schmeling and his partner, the Rev. Darin Easler, have been approved for reinstatement, the Chicago-based Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said in a news release. Their reinstatement comes about eight months after the denomination voted to allow gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as clergy, and about three weeks after the ELCA's church council officially revised the church's policy on gay ministers.

Schmeling, who serves as pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta, was removed from the church's clergy roster in 2007 for being in a same-sex relationship with Easler. A disciplinary committee ruled that Schmeling was violating an ELCA policy regarding the sexual conduct of pastors.

Even though Schmeling had been removed from the ELCA clergy roster, he remained pastor at St. John's, putting the church in violation of ELCA guidelines, said the Rev. H. Julian Gordy, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod.

Easler left United Redeemer Lutheran Church in Zumbrota, Minn., in 2003 to serve as a chaplain. He and Schmeling met at a church conference in Minnesota in 2004, and he moved to Atlanta to be with Schmeling the following year.

Easler was removed from the clergy roster in 2006 after having been without a parish for three years, the church said in a statement. He transferred to the United Church of Christ, which is a full communion partner of the ELCA, and worked in hospice care as a bereavement coordinator.

He recently applied to the candidacy committee of the ELCA's Southeastern Minnesota Synod in Rochester and was approved April 30. He plans to continue his hospice work under the auspices of the ELCA.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Related story: Schism Looms for ELCA Lutherans

Obama Ever-changing on Same-sex 'Marriage'

In 1996, Barack Obama favored same-sex 'marriage' but in 2004 he opposed it on religious grounds (yet his 'church' favors it). Then in 2008 he opposed same-sex 'marriage' while campaigning for the presidency (favoring California's Prop 8), but then after being elected, he opposed Prop 8, and now favors repealing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

UPDATE 10/28/10: Obama says his position on same-sex 'marriage' is evolving (again)

UPDATE 1/26/11: White House won't clarify President's position on same-sex 'marriage'

UPDATE 6/17/11: Obama spokesman challenged by far left on 1996 questionnaire (video):


-- From "Obama elusive on about-face on same-sex marriage" by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer 2/17/10

He is far from unique among presidents in changing positions he held before his election. But presidents usually attribute their turnabouts to external events or congressional resistance.

Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, [the state's largest gay rights group,] dismissed the president's shifting stance as "pure politics."

"When he was running for office in Chicago and wanted strong support from the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, he made it clear he supported full equality," Kors said. "Since he has continued to seek higher office, he has changed his position for the worse.

"It's especially appalling that he is citing his religious beliefs as grounds for his public government position on the civil marriage issue because he knows better," Kors said.

Obama attended the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago for 20 years and has said he found his faith there. He resigned in May 2008 during an uproar over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons that labeled the United States a racist, warmongering nation.

In 2005, the United Church of Christ's governing General Synod passed a resolution endorsing "equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender." The church, with 1.1 million members, is the largest U.S. denomination to support same-sex marriage.

Since becoming president, Obama has attended services at several Washington churches but has not joined one. Asked about the president's current affiliation, the White House press office described him as a "committed Christian" who prays daily.

The White House did not reply to questions about how Obama's religious interpretation of marriage might have changed over the years.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Liberal 'christians' Praise Montana Euthanasia Ruling

Montana Supreme Court clears path for third state to allow physician-assisted suicide, to the satisfaction of local 'church' leaders

-- From "Doctor-Assisted Suicide Gets OK in Montana" Associated Press 12/31/09

Patients and doctors had been waiting for the state's high court to step in after a lower court decided a year ago that constitutional rights to privacy and dignity protect the right to die.

The Montana Supreme Court opinion will now give doctors in the state the freedom to prescribe the necessary drugs to mentally competent, terminally ill patients without fear of being prosecuted, advocates said.

Oregon and Washington state allow assisted suicides for terminally ill patients, with Oregon adopting America's first "death with dignity" law in 1997. [Kathryn L. Tucker, the legal affairs director for Compassion and Choices,] said Montana doctors should now feel comfortable adopting procedures that doctors in the other two states use.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Baxter v. Montana: euthanasia finds support among Pro-Right-to-Die Christian Authority Figures" by Mariya Starchevsky, Newark Religious Issues Examiner 1/4/10

The moral stigma of suicide dates back to Christianity’s proliferation through Europe. Although the Bible does not condemn suicide explicitly, the view of “committing” suicide as a legal crime and a moral sin was adopted from St. Augustine and later by St. Thomas Aquinas. Pages 4-5. In history, suicide was a spiritual offense, because it was thought to mess with the Almighty’s plans.

. . . [The case included an amicus brief filed by religious groups and representatives.] Making their plead for a right to die from a religious point of view were Rev. Canon Gary Waddingham (Episcopal Priest) Rev. Steve Oreskovich (Episcopal Priest), Rev. Meg Hatch (M. Div, UCC) Chuck Heath (M. Div. LCPC, Chaplain), Reverend John C. Board (Episcopal Deacon) Rev. Jean Collins, (Episcopal Priest), Rev. John R. Payne, Journey BE (Disciples of Christ) and Dr. L.A. Kemmerer (Professor). These authorities then list approximately 70 other religious figures from the United Church of Christ, the Church of England, the Unitarian Universalists Association of Congregations, the Methodist Church, etc., all who support euthanasia when concerning competent, terminally ill adults.

These religious amici stress that end-of-life decisions are deeply personal.

“Those who do not share in the religious beliefs and doctrines of groups opposed to aid in dying see this as an unwanted intrusion into what should be a private decision making process between patient and physician." - Deric Weiss, M.D.,Billings, Montana.

“An overriding theme in the [Bible] is ‘free will.’ That is, the reasonable belief that God granted human beings the ability to distinguish between good and evil and to make choices concerning both. - Rev. John C. Board, Episcopal Deacon.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Liberal 'Christians' Want Taxpayer-funded Abortion

Over 1,100 'church' leaders call on Senate to ensure underprivileged and minority women's children may be freely murdered with tax dollars via ObamaCare

For background, read New Episcopal Divinity President Says Abortion is a Blessing

-- From "Over 1,000 Clerics Want Abortion Access in Health Care Bill" by Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter 10/2/09

The Religious Institute released an open letter that maintains that abortion is a “morally justifiable decision” that should be left to women to decide. The letter is a response to amendments in the Senate that would cut abortion coverage in private insurance plans that receive federal funding.

“Already, federal policy unfairly prevents low-income women and federal employees from receiving subsidized reproductive health services, but the new proposals would mean that even more women and families would lose access to these vital services,” said the Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute.

Haffner added, “Placing restrictions on private insurance plans that make abortion accessible to women represents a serious moral injustice.”

The letter itself contends that the sanctity of human life is “best upheld” when it is made carefully, not when women are “coerced to carry a pregnancy to term.”

Religious denominations that have endorsed the letter include: American Baptist Churches, Church of the Brethren, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and The United Methodist Church, among others.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Liberal 'Christians' Predictably Support Democrat Health Care Reform

. . . the religious left is rallying behind the health care package being debated in Congress and decrying the tactics used by the plan’s rightwing opponents.

UPDATE: ELCA Lutherans' own health insurance plan for clergy and church employees covers abortion -- even for sex-selection.

UPDATE 8/19/09: Obama orchestrates his faithful following

-- From "‘Religious Left’ tackles health care reform" by Andy Birkey, Minnesota Independent 8/18/09

A new coalition is promising “40 Days of Health Reform” — and it’ll hit Minneapolis in the next few weeks.

The campaign was launched to show the spiritual need for health reform, not to support any one specific set of policies. And it’s seen some immediate success as President Obama will join coalition members on a conference call later this week.

“This isn’t a political issue, it is a deeply theological issue, a biblical issue, and a moral issue,” said Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners magazine in a conference call last week. “So we are not going to at any time during the debate weigh in on the particulars of policy questions…[We’ll] leave the plumbing to the politicians.”

Wallis didn’t mince words in a recent editorial in his publication. “The ’storm troopers’ of political demagoguery, such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck, have mobilized their followers to disrupt town meetings and defeat comprehensive reform by yelling louder than anybody else,” he wrote. “The campaign tactics include lies, intimidation, character assassination, verbal abuse, and even mob behavior against members of Congress trying to conduct town hall meetings on the issues.”

[The 40 Days coalition includes the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, as well as] some of America’s largest [liberal 'Christian'] denominations: The Episcopal Church, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., United Methodist Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association, African Methodist Episcopal Church, the National Council of Churches in Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Church of Christ.

Some [liberal] Catholic groups are also on board: NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Catholics United, and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.

For Catholics and many other people of faith, the issue of abortion is an important one, but the coalition is refusing to let it be a stumbling block.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.