Sunday, March 31, 2013

Live-Birth Abortion? Just Kill the Baby Afterwards

Alisa LaPolt Snow, a lobbyist with the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, testified before the Florida legislature that if a baby survives an attempted abortion and is born alive, breathing on its own, it must be the mother's and/or abortionist's choice to murder the infant.

For background, read Planned Parenthood Kills a Baby Every 94 Seconds and also read Abortion Seriously Injures Thousands Yearly: Study as well as President Obama Makes New Promise to Fund Killing Babies



-- From "Planned Parenthood Official Argues for Right to Post-Birth Abortion" by John McCormack, The Weekly Standard 3/29/13

Florida legislators considering a bill to require abortionists to provide medical care to an infant who survives an abortion were shocked during a committee hearing this week when a Planned Parenthood official endorsed a right to post-birth abortion.

"So, um, it is just really hard for me to even ask you this question because I’m almost in disbelief," said Rep. Jim Boyd. "If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?”

"We believe that any decision that's made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician," said Planned Parenthood lobbyist Snow.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Planned Parenthood rep raises eyebrows in testimony on bill protecting babies born after botched abortions" posted at FoxNews.com 3/29/13

"Planned Parenthood condemns any physician who does not follow the law or endangers a woman's or a child's health, but we don't believe that politicians should be the ones who decide what constitutes the best, medically appropriate treatment in any given situation," [Alisa LaPolt Snow] said in a prepared statement.

. . . Another lawmaker made the point that the baby born alive would become a patient as well, not just the mother.

"That's a very good question," Snow said. "I really don't know how to answer that."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Planned Parenthood lobbyist opposes Florida's Infants Born Alive Act" by Andrea Johnson, Minot Daily News 3/31/13

Snow told incredulous legislators that she doesn't know how common it is for a child to be born alive during an abortion or what abortion doctors commonly do when this happens. She testified that Planned Parenthood sees logistical issues in the requirement to transport a child born alive to a hospital or trauma center. What happens, she asked, if the abortion clinic is in a rural setting, an hour's drive away from a hospital?

The bill was H.B. 1129, the Infants Born Alive Act. Despite Snow's testimony, it passed with the support of both Democrats and Republicans.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Iowa-Funded Anti-Bullying Plan Bullies Christians

Pastors across Iowa say that the program by Progress Iowa claiming to prevent bullying of gay youth is anti-Christian and actually an effort to limit religious liberty.  Iowa legislators want to restrict funding of the Diversity Commission of Des Moines Area Community College for promotion of this Progress Iowa so-called anti-bullying program, saying it's a Democrat Party propaganda campaign.
The program asks students “Is the Bible an excuse to hate?” and “Can the love between two people ever be an abomination?”
For background on "who's bullying whom," read Oregon: Christian Baker Must Do Lesbian 'Wedding' and also read Christmas Music at School is a 'Form of Bullying' as well as School Doesn't Back Gay Agenda, Obama Investigates

However, Christians ARE resisting the Gay Agenda -- Read about those successes!

-- From "Shaw backs effort to withdraw funds" by Bill Shea, Fort Dodge, Iowa Messenger 3/28/13

State representatives Rob Bacon, R-Slater, and Tom Shaw, R-Laurens, are among 16 legislators who announced Thursday that they want to withold money from the Ankeny-based college.

Shaw said Thursday afternoon that the college uses taxpayer money to send students to the Iowa Governor's Conference on LGBTQ Youth. That, he said, amounts to helping to sponsor the event.

The conference, Shaw said, "attacks religious liberty" and "attacks specific individuals because of their beliefs." He said the individuals attacked at the conference include radio talk show hosts Jan Mickelson, Rush Limbaugh "and perhaps others."

[DMACC] is the only public institution that uses taxpayer money to support the conference, according to Shaw.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Rhetoric over gay youth conference escalates" by Jennifer Jacobs, Des Moines Register 3/28/13

“We cannot in good conscience vote to give taxpayer dollars to people or groups who pervert the Bible (and) teach our youth to engage in dangerous behavior,” the Republican legislators’ statement says.

Chuck Hurley, vice president of the Family Leader, a religious conservative activist group, told reporters . . . “Stop coming after my kids and other people’s kids with evil propaganda,” Hurley said. “Stop twisting the Bible, and stop using our tax dollars to do it.” . . . and “stop exposing impressionable schoolchildren to evil.”

Brad Cranston, pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Burlington, said no child should be bullied for any reason at any time, but the conference isn’t about that. It’s about pushing homosexuality, he said.

Cranston said: “Homosexual behavior is neither right nor healthy. The Bible has made that very clear to us.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



From "Pastors, Legislators Speak Out on Attacks From LGBTQ Conference Speakers" by Kevin Hall, The Iowa Republican 3/29/13

Two dozen Iowa pastors, legislators and conservative activists gathered for a press conference Thursday to express their opposition to some of the planned workshops for the 8th Annual Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning) Youth.

. . . “Governor, in all honesty, these people are using your good name to lend legitimacy to their agenda,” said Pastor Kerry Jech of Marshalltown. “Not only have some of its participants attacked you personally, but the tone of the workshops misrepresents the beliefs of Christians.”

The 16 legislators who signed the statement are Iowa Senators Bill Anderson, Rick Bertrand, Mark Chelgren, David Johnson, Dennis Guth, Mark Segebart and Kent Sorenson, as well as state Reps. Dwayne Alons, Robert Bacon, Dean Fisher, Greg Heartsill, Sandy Salmon, Tom Shaw, Jason Schultz, Larry Sheets and Ralph Watts.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Lawmakers: Anti-Bullying Conference Bullies Conservatives, Christians" by Todd Starnes, Fox News (posted at Townhall.com) 3/29/13

Rob Denson, president of the college, told Fox News he will not withdraw funding from the event.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “All I know is the intent of Iowa Safe Schools is to support diversity and protect children.”

Denson confirmed they are sponsoring 50 students so they can attend the conference – costing $1,000.

“We want to make this conference available to a certain number of our students that might not otherwise be able to go,” he said. “As a community college we have many students who represent many of the different categories and we are supportive of all of them.”

“We respect everyone’s right to live the life they want to live,” he said.

[Jake Dagel, chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom chapter at DMACC said,] “Being a Christian or a conservative – you would feel like an outcast,” he said. “This is not diversity. Any organization or event that targets individuals is absolutely not diverse.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read President Obama Redefines 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion even though Obama Denies Leading War Against Christianity

In addition, 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.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Univ. N. Carolina On Trial for Anti-Christian Bias

The 4th U.S. Court of Appeals reversed a lower court 2009 dismissal of a lawsuit by Mike Adams, an award-winning professor, against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington for employment discrimination because of his conservative, non-work-related speeches and writings.
"No university should refuse promotion to an accomplished professor simply because it disagrees with his religious and political views."
-- Jordan Lorence, Alliance Defending Freedom Vice President (Adams' counsel)
For background, read Mistrial of Christian Prof. Shunned by Iowa Univ. and also read University Suspends Christian for Defending Marriage as well as University Won't Hire Christians as Scientists

-- From "Professor's lawsuit against UNCW proceeding to trial" by Ashlea Kosikowski, WECT-TV6 (Wilmington, NC) 3/29/13

Adams, a criminal justice professor at the school, sued the university in 2007, after he said he was denied a promotion due to his conservative political and religious beliefs.

He has been teaching at the school since 1993.

The lawsuit claims the school violated his First Amendment rights by asking him to stop his work as a conservative columnist.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "A Huge Win for Academic Freedom" by David French, National Review Online 4/7/11


. . . The university denied Adams’s promotion to full professor despite the fact that he was an award-winning teacher (often receiving the highest marks in the department), had more scholarly publications than the vast majority of his colleagues and more publications than his current and previous department chair at equivalent stages in their careers (indeed, no one with a similar publication record had ever been rejected for promotion), and had rendered service to the university sufficient to win one of the university’s most-coveted service awards.

. . . [University] colleagues unleashed a torrent of bile (in writing) regarding the viewpoints in his columns while considering his promotion application. Additionally, the chancellor of the university herself had initiated a secret investigation of Adams for his alleged “transphobia.” When explaining the promotion denial to Adams, his department chair indicated that one reason for the denial was that his colleagues found his “service” had undefined “negative effects” on members of the department.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "University prof's Christian speech protected" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 3/28/13

The Alliance Defending Freedom says the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals has determined that his columns and writings outside of his work environment are protected speech, and he can argue that in court.

“Put simply, Adams’ speech was not tied to any more specific or direct employee duty than the general concept that professors will engage in writing, public appearances, and service within their respective fields. For all the reasons discussed above, that thin thread is insufficient to render Adams’ speech ‘pursuance to [his] official duties’ as intended by [precedents],” the court said.

“Applying [that precedent, Garcetti] to the academic work of a public university faculty member under the facts of this case could place beyond the reach of First Amendment protection many forms of public speech or service a professor engaged in during his employment. That would not appear to be what Garcetti intended, nor is it consistent with our long-standing recognition that no individual loses his ability to speak as a private citizen by virtue of public employment.”

. . . In the fall, a North Carolina jury will hear the evidence.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

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

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Obamanation: Creating More Sex Disease than Jobs

The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just issued a document quoting the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association saying "Most sexually active people will be infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) at some point in their lives." Also just released is a report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office saying that America will never reach full employment while Barack Obama is president.
19.7 million new sexual disease infections in one year is far greater than the total of all jobs created plus all new college graduates since President Obama was first elected.
For background, read Federal Disease Study Shows Sex Education Has Failed and also read Fictional 'Safe Sex' - Gov't Losing War on STDs as well as Homosexual-focused Health Care is Obama Admin. Goal

-- From "CDC: 110,197,000 Venereal Infections in U.S.; Nation Creating New STIs Faster Than New Jobs or College Grads" by Terence P. Jeffrey, CNSNews.com 3/27/13

The STI study referenced by the CDC estimated that 50 percent of the new infections in 2008 occurred among people in the 15-to-24 age bracket. In fact, of the 19,738,800 total new STIs in the United States in 2008, 9,782,650 were among Americans in the 15-to-24 age bracket.

By contrast, there were 1,524,092 bachelor’s degrees awarded in the United States in the 2007-2008 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That means the total number of new STIs in 2008 outpaced the total number of new bachelor’s degrees by nearly 13 to 1, and the number of new STIs among Americans in the 15-to-24 age bracket outnumbered new bachelor’s degrees by more than 6 to 1.

While the CDC estimates that there were 19.7 million new STIs in the United States in 2008, data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that the total number of people employed in the country actually declined by 2.9 million during that year.

The CDC said the new venereal infections contracted each year cost the nation about $16 billion.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Sexually Transmitted Infections Among US Women and Men: Prevalence and Incidence Estimates, 2008" printed in the Journal of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association, March 2013 - Volume 40 - Issue 3 - p 187–193


Results: In 2008, there were an estimated 110 million prevalent STIs among women and men in the United States. Of these, more than 20% of infections (22.1 million) were among women and men aged 15 to 24 years. Approximately 19.7 million incident infections occurred in the United States in 2008; nearly 50% (9.8 million) were acquired by young women and men aged 15 to 24 years. Human papillomavirus infections, many of which are asymptomatic and do not cause disease, accounted for most of both prevalent and incident infections.

Conclusions: Sexually transmitted infections are common in the United States, with a disproportionate burden among young adolescents and adults. Public health efforts to address STIs should focus on prevention among at-risk populations to reduce the number and impact of STIs.

To read the entire study above, CLICK HERE.

From "Incidence, Prevalence, and Cost of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States" printed by the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC estimates that HPV accounts for the majority of newly acquired STIs. While the vast majority (90 percent) of HPV infections will go away on their own within two years and cause no harm, some of these infections will take hold and potentially lead to serious disease, including cervical cancer . . . While there is no treatment for the virus itself, there are treatments for the serious diseases that HPV can cause, and vaccines are available to prevent some types of HPV infection . . .

Most sexually active men and women will get HPV at some point in their lives. . . .

Abstaining from sex, reducing the number of sexual partners [a.k.a."life-long marriage"], and consistently and correctly using condoms are all effective STI prevention strategies. . . .

To read the entire publication above, CLICK HERE.

From "CBO: America Will Never See Full Employment Under Obama" by Terence P. Jeffrey, CNSNews.com 3/26/13

That would make Obama the only American president during the post-World War II era who never presided over a year in which the U.S. economy offered full employment to the American people.

In a blog entry published last week, CBO Director Doug Elmendorf said “we think it will take four more years to get back close to full employment.”

In fact, baseline data CBO released last month indicate . . . that actual unemployment will never drop below 6.0 percent in any quarter between now and the end of 2016.

According to CBO, unemployment will remain above 7.0 percent through the third quarter of 2015. It will then drop to 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015, and gradually decline to 6.0 percent by the fourth quarter of 2016.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read study showing
Abstinent Teens the Norm, Moral Sex-Ed Works - and yet Obama Funds Teaching Sex, not Abstinence

In addition, read Sexual Immorality Causes Cancer: HPV Epidemic

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Prayers in Gov't Meetings OK, Says San Fran. Court

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled yesterday that the policy in Lancaster, Calif. of allowing local clergy to pray at city council meetings is NOT a violation of the so-called "separation of church and state," even though the vast majority of the prayers are by Christian pastors who pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  The plaintiffs' attorney said "This case is definitely not over."

For background on this case, read
U.S. District Judge OKs Prayer in Lancaster (the lower court ruling in July 2011) and also read Jesus' Name Unconstitutional in Public, Says Federal Court

For background on public prayer, read Prayer Returns to Mississippi Schools: New Law and also read Missouri Votes to Bring Prayer Back to School, Countering Atheists as well as Prayer in America: Hidden Faith, or Public?

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

-- From "CA City Council Prayers Didn't Endorse Jesus" by Tim Hull, Courthouse News Service 3/26/13

In 2010, the city's former mayor, Bishop Henry Hearns, delivered an invocation that included the phrase "Bring our minds to know you and in the precious, holy and righteous and matchless name of Jesus I pray this prayer."

A three-judge panel noted that, of the 26 prayers given between the day that Lancaster passed its prayer policy and the day that Hearns gave the offending invocation, a full 20 of them were delivered by Christian preachers, all of whom used Jesus' name. That does not necessarily mean, however, that the "city itself has taken steps to affiliate itself with Christianity," according to the ruling.

"The city has instead taken every feasible precaution - short of the extra step (itself fraught with constitutional peril) of requiring volunteers to refrain altogether from referencing sectarian figures - to ensure its own evenhandedness," Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain wrote for the panel (parentheses in original).

The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that "when a neutral government policy or program merely allows or enables private religious acts, those acts do not necessarily bear the state's imprimatur," he added.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "9th Circuit Upholds Lancaster (CA) Prayer Policy Despite Sectarian Invocations" by Don Byrd, BJC News 3/26/13

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the constitutionality of Lancaster, California's City Council prayer policy against charges that it violates the separation of church and state. In so doing, the 9th Circuit seems to have taken a different approach than the 4th Circuit, which recently held unconstitutional a policy that resulted in consistently sectarian Christian prayer to open meetings of North Carolina's Forsyth County Commissioners, citing the Supreme Court's decisions in Marsh and Allegheny.

Here, the court emphasized that because Lancaster's policy takes great pains to avoid favoritism in determining who will give the prayer, the fact that the policy does not require nonsectarian invocations is unconcerning.
[S]o long as legislative prayer—whether sectarian or not—does not proselytize, advance, or disparage one religion (Marsh’s language) or affiliate government with a particular faith (Allegheny’s reiteration), it withstands scrutiny. Marsh. . . .  For these reasons, we join several of our sister circuits in concluding that neither Marsh nor Allegheny categorically forbids sectarian references in legislative prayer.
...
Indeed, if “what matters under Marsh is whether the prayer to be offered fits within the genre of legislative invocational prayer that has become part of the fabric of our society,” then surely, as a general matter, sectarian and nonsectarian legislative prayer stand on equal footing.
. . . Despite the differences in factual context, these 2 approaches between the 4th and 9th Circuits seem at odds. Will this impact how future courts determine legislative prayer disputes? Or whether the Supreme Court decides to further clarify the law in this area?

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Court: Calif. city officials can pray at meetings" by The Associated Press 3/26/13

The lawsuit was filed by Shelley Rubin and Maureen Feller.

Rubin is the widow of late Jewish Defense League head Irv Rubin. Feller is a Lancaster resident who claimed the invocations violated the constitutional separation of church and state.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Portland Boots Teacher for Countering Abortionist

Highly-skilled, experienced math and computer science teacher Bill Diss has been notified by administrators of his dismissal for "unprofessional, intimidating and/or harassing behavior," but fellow teachers and students alike know that Diss became persona non grata because of his Catholic beliefs and opposition to the ObamaCare-funded Planned Parenthood sex indoctrination "Teen Outreach Program."
“It’s much more important for them to have Planned Parenthood in the schools than to have a really dedicated teacher . . .”
-- Bill Diss, Benson High School (Portland, Oregon)
For background on the ObamaCare funding, read Oregon Parents Want Obama-paid Abortionist Out of Their School

UPDATE 12/10/14: San Francisco Area Parents Want Planned Parenthood Out of Their School

For background on persecution of Christian teachers, read New Jersey Teacher Investigated for Christian Beliefs and also read Teachers Forbidden Private Christian Lives as well as Teacher Suspended for Christian Beliefs at Home and then read Teacher Fired for Bible Gift at New Jersey School



-- From "Portland teacher: Abortion stance led to removal" by Pat Dooris, KGW-TV8 (Portland, OR) 3/22/13

The teacher said earlier this year he kept two Planned Parenthood workers out of his class because they lacked proper identification. They were apparently in the building as part of an optional class on sex education.

Diss is convinced that led to his ouster.

“I certainly fight Planned Parenthood, which I certainly have a right to do. And that was all on the outside, until this year when they brought Planned Parenthood in there,” said Diss.

Diss said he has done nothing wrong and will fight to keep his job [through his teachers union, with counsel].

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Benson High teacher's Planned Parenthood opposition caused district action against him, he claims" by Nicole Dungca, The Oregonian 3/21/13

[Diss] said the district has suspended him twice this year. He was given notice in March about the district's plan to recommend against his contract's renewal for the 2014-15 school year.

District spokeswoman Erin Hoover Barnett confirmed [Diss] was on leave but said she could not discuss specifics about the personnel matter.

The district offers students at several high schools the option of joining the Teen Outreach Program, meant to prevent teenage pregnancy, drug use and dropouts.

Planned Parenthood is the local partner of the teen program, funded in the district by a federal Department of Health and Human Services grant [ObamaCare].

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Teacher faces firing for opposing Planned Parenthood" by Garth Kant, World Net Daily 3/25/13

[In 2012,] Diss says he was told to expect officials from the Teen Outreach Program to come to his classroom, but when they instead showed him credentials from Planned Parenthood he asked them leave. Minutes later, they returned with the principal, who remove Diss from the classroom.

He was forced to attend the Planned Parenthood presentation the next day.

“They were extremely aggressive in obtaining the children’s signatures by promising them all sorts of gifts and cash,” Diss said. Planned Parenthood went on to file a formal complaint against Diss with the school.

Diss said, ever since then, the school has been questioning his teaching skills and methods, and he has been required to attend numerous hearings.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Teacher, a pro-life advocate, put on leave" by Ed Langlois, Staff Writer, Catholic Sentinel 3/22/13

Officials from Portland Public Schools walked into Bill Diss’ classroom last week and told the veteran math and computer science teacher he’d been placed on administrative leave while district Superintendent Carole Smith ponders a recommendation that he be fired.

Diss, a pro-life leader and advocate for teen sexual abstinence, was escorted peacefully off the Benson High School campus by a police officer.

Diss’ employee evaluations from Benson show steady improvement and regard from when he started in 2002 through ‘07. It was only in 2008, after he began speaking publicly about Planned Parenthood, that the official assessments turned negative. After a lot of work, he was able to get the 2008-’09 evaluation removed from his file because of innaccuracies.

His 2012/‘13 evaluation has been the most critical, claiming he has little knowledge of the age group and the impact of race and culture. Diss counters, saying that the top two students in his challenging computer science class this year were Hispanic and Black young women.

To read more about Bill Diss' school background from the above article, CLICK HERE.

From "Portland School District Boots Teacher Fighting Planned Parenthood" by Rita Diller, LifeNews.com 3/21/13

Planned Parenthood has been in pursuit of Mr. Diss since 2007 when he began organizing efforts to stop Planned Parenthood. A STOPP press release from February of 2009 noted that Planned Parenthood of Columbia Willamette wanted Bill Diss’ teaching license revoked. The press release quoted American Life League’s Jim Sedlak: “Bill has organized one of the most effective efforts against Planned Parenthood in the country. It’s no surprise Planned Parenthood will resort to anything—even going after his teaching license—in order to silence him.”

Bill was opposing, on his own time, outside of any school activities, the construction of a Planned Parenthood killing center in an African American neighborhood in Portland. The Planned Parenthood business was eventually built, and today targets minority women for abortions.

Planned Parenthood was unsuccessful in its revocation bid but, incredibly, a decree came from the school district that Bill could not indicate that he was a teacher at Benson or that he taught for the Portland schools when he was giving talks outside the school.

Things really started heating up again at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year . . .

To read the entire saga chronicled in the article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Religious Liberty & Anti-Christian Totalitarianism as well as School Doesn't Back Gay Agenda, Obama Investigates and yet President Obama Denies Leading War Against Christianity

Monday, March 25, 2013

School Bans Jesus from Prayers: Atheists Threaten

Despite citizens' support for continued student-led prayer opening school board meetings in Pickens County, South Carolina, the board narrowly voted to stricken the name of Jesus from prayers, now only to be read by the board members.  However, because there will still be prayer of some kind, the change may not avoid a threatened lawsuit by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation over the long-standing public display of Christianity at the meetings.

For background, read Prayer Returns to Mississippi Schools: New Law and also read Missouri Votes to Bring Prayer Back to School, Countering Atheists as well as Prayer in America: Hidden Faith, or Public?

UPDATE 6/6/13: Lord's Prayer at Pickens County Graduation

 -- From "Pickens County schools change policy on prayer" by Nikie Mayo, Anderson (SC) Independent Mail 2/25/13

Prayers said at Pickens County school board meetings will no longer be led by students and will no longer mention the name of Jesus, according to a policy narrowly approved Monday night.

The Pickens County Board of Trustees voted 3-2 to change its practice on prayer, three months after the Freedom From Religion Foundation threatened legal action against the school district if it did not end the tradition of allowing a student-led invocation at each meeting of trustees.

The organization that questioned the district’s prayer practice is not satisfied with the measure approved Monday night and will weigh its legal options, said foundation attorney Patrick Elliott.

Hundreds of parents attended a trustees’ meeting in Pickens County last month to urge school officials to keep student-led prayers in meetings. But the school district’s lawyers said they weren’t sure the practice — if it continued unchanged — could survive a challenge in court.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "[Final] Vote expected tonight on Pickens school board prayer" by Julie Howle, Staff Writer, Greenville News 3/25/13


[School] District spokesman John Eby has said that as long as the board’s policy complies with state law regarding legislative prayer, the state Attorney General’s office would be obligated to defend it.

An opinion from the state Attorney General’s office said, “While it is a close question, and the issue has not yet been squarely decided in this Circuit, it is our opinion that a court would likely conclude that the Marsh (v. Chambers) exception for deliberative bodies applies to a school board.”

If given final approval, the policy in Pickens County would mean a nonsectarian prayer would be given by a board member rotating from meeting to meeting. It would be a change from the previous practice of student-led prayers, which could be sectarian.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Board votes in favor of non-sectarian prayer" by Billy Cannada, Staff Writer, Pickens Sentinel 2/26/13

Prayer will continue at Pickens County School Board meetings, but not as many local residents had hoped.

“We don’t want a non-sectarian prayer. There’s no point to that,” Pickens County resident Laurel Maco said. “We’re willing to stand up for what we believe in Pickens County. We’ve already taken prayer out of the school, and [the school board meetings] used to be a wonderful opportunity for students to stand up and pray. Everyone wanted it to remain a student-led prayer.”

“I’m a pastor today and I’m a product of child prayer,” Pickens County resident Steven Kelly said. “I can’t understand at all why we would even have to have a meeting like this. There’s no question in my mind that prayer must stay in school.”

“To my knowledge there has been no lawsuit that has been filed,” Pickens County Resident Wayne Dickard said. “If a suit comes, you have to deal with it then, but we’re letting an outside entity dictate what goes on in Pickens County, which I think is wrong.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Mass. School Blesses Gay Agenda God, Lesbian Mary

South Hadley, Massachusetts taxpayers, including parents, have complained that students at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Public Charter School (grades 7 through 12) should not perform "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told," a blasphemous, pro-homosexual satire of the Bible. School administers countered the criticism, saying that the play is consistent with the school's philosophy -- dismissing the controversy as fueled by out-of-towners who simply don't share the local norms.
“[Canceling the play] would very much go against the grain of our unique, artistic and intellectually rigorous PVPA community and the larger Pioneer Valley Community.”
-- Scott Goldman, Head of School
Not surprisingly, the local liberal gay-affirming churches are showing support for the school to teach children to blaspheme the Bible.

For background, read The Devastating Effects of the Gay Agenda on Children, and read how Homosexual Indoctrination is Mandated for Schools, as well as read how the Feds Fund Homosexualists' School Training.

Also read how Massachusetts Parents were Forced by the Highest Courts to Accept the Gay Agenda for their Kindergartners.

Finally, read how the Gay Agenda is denying Christian liberty in the EU High Court, as well as in the Canadian Supreme Court, and even in the U.S. Supreme Court and by President Obama.



-- From "Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Public School presses on with gay biblical satire despite threats of protests" by Stephanie Barry, The Republican posted at MassLive.com 3/7/13

The school announced the opening of the play "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told," a satire on the Book of Genesis with gay characters, and was bombarded with emails and phone calls calling the show "blasphemous and hateful," according to Head of School Scott Goldman.

The Paul Rudnick comedy debuted in the Berkshires in 1998 and had a run in New York City and other theaters. The script features as characters Adam and Steve and Jane and Mabel in biblical times and modern day.

"It's not a play that bashes religion but it does make fun of some religious attitudes," director Chris Rohman said earlier this week during a rehearsal, adding: "Although it's full of jokes -- some of them at the expense of religious fundamentalism -- the play, is, at its heart, a thoughtful investigation of the meaning of faith and family."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Biblical satire by Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School - 'The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told' - prompts demonstrations in Northampton" by Suzanne McLaughlin, The Republican posted at MassLive.com 3/15/13

. . . a message on the sign outside Edwards Church across the street, read "God loves us all, gay and straight." Edwards Church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, the first protestant denomination nationally to embrace gay marriage.

Pat James, of Williamsburg, . . . said that she and her spouse, Karin McGowan, who attend the Haydenville Congregational Church, another UCC affiliated church, bought tickets for each night.

“The Haydenville Congregational Church is supportive all the way,” James said. “We are an open and affirming congregation.”

Savanna Ouellette, of Shutesbury, said she planned to attend the performance with her spouse, Katie Tolles. She said their church, the First Congregational Church of Amherst, welcomes gays and lesbians and is open to fresh interpretations of the Bible.

At a March 12 meeting of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School Board of Trustees, parent and president Ralph Tropeano questioned the process by which the play was chosen. He said he seconded a student opinion that the play is disrespectful to a specific faith community.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



From "Blasphemous Bible Drama Performed By Middle, High School Students Gets Showtime Despite Outrage" by Heather Clark, Christian News Network 3/17/13

“[The characters] Adam and Eve are ‘Adam and Steve.’ In the second act, they have the nativity scene where Mary is a lesbian who says all kinds of gross things,” said Brian Cameker of Mass Resistance. “It’s just a terrible play.”

In one scene, the virgin Mary reportedly shouts, “I’m not supposed to be pregnant, I’m a bulldyke!” Bestiality is also stated to be referenced in the program, and Pharoah is portrayed as a drag queen.

“[The playwrights] saw it as an opportunity to express some gay-positive messages that they want to share with the community,” Rohman said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Lesbian Mary, mother of God!" by Drew Zahn, World Net Daily 3/22/13


A New England theater guide, The Theater Mirror, in a glowing review, further explains the play “gets so specific as to be a gay how-to sexbook” and summarizes it as “a goofy gay romp with a serious sting in its tale.”

According to The Springfield Republican, the Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell [bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Mass.] responded through a spokesman: “I didn’t know it was the responsibility of charter schools to teach religious bigotry.”

Indeed, the play did go on, even over a the objections of a crowd of roughly 50 protesters who reportedly gathered on opening night.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

In addition, 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.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Student Suspended for NOT Desecrating Jesus' Name

Ryan Rotella, a junior at Florida Atlantic University, was suspended by administrators for complaining that professor Dr. Deandre Poole, vice chairman of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, told each student to write the name of Jesus on a piece of paper, put it on the floor, and then "stomp on it."  The University is defending Poole, saying he was simply teaching from the required textbook, “Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach.”

For background, read Jesus' Name Unconstitutional in Public: Supreme Court and also read White House Orders Jesus' Name Hidden in Obama's Presence

In addition, read how the Supreme Court is enabling the persecution of Christians on campus, such as myriad cases of banning Christian student organizations.


-- From "Student: FAU professor suspended me for not ‘stomping on Jesus’" by Erin Jester, Miami Herald 3/22/13

"Anytime you stomp on something it shows that you believe that something has no value. So if you were to stomp on the word Jesus, it says that the word has no value," Rotela told CBS12.

Rotela, who describes himself as a devout Mormon, went to Poole’s supervisor two days later to discuss the incident. He was suspended from the class since the incident.

FAU e-mailed a statement to CBS12 to the effect that sensitive topics are often breached during open discourse, but that a university is the appropriate venue for those discussions. The university would not say if Poole will face disciplinary action for suspending Rotela.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Professor Makes Students 'Stomp on Jesus'" by Todd Starnes, Foxnews.com 3/21/13


“I said to the professor, ‘With all due respect to your authority as a professor, I do not believe what you told us to do was appropriate,’” Rotela said. ‘I believe it was unprofessional and I was deeply offended by what you told me to do.’”

According to his university profile, [Deandre Poole] has a PhD from Howard University and is authoring a book titled, “Obamamania: The Rise of a Mythical Hero.”

Paul Kengor, the executive director of the Center for Vision and Values at Grove City College, told Fox News he’s not surprised by the classroom lesson.

“These are the new secular disciples of ‘diversity’ and ‘tolerance’ – empty buzzwords that make liberals and progressives feel good while they often refuse to tolerate and sometimes even assault traditional Christian and conservative beliefs,” Kengor said.

“It also reflects the rising confidence and aggression of the new secularists and atheists, especially at our sick and surreal modern universities,” he said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "FAU drops exercise asking class to stomp on ‘Jesus’ after student complains" by George Bennett, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer 3/22/13

Florida Atlantic University said Friday night it will no longer ask students in an intercultural communications class to write “Jesus” on a piece of paper and step on it.

After he complained, Rotela said, FAU accused him of threatening Poole.

FAU officials issued a statement of apology, saying the exercise was optional and that no students had been disciplined as a result of it.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Dem Party official makes students 'stomp on Jesus'" posted at World Net Daily 3/22/13

[Mark Siegel, the] former chairman of the [Palm Beach County] Democratic Party was forced to resign in September after comments he made at the Democratic National Convention last year in Charlotte, N.C.

Siegel was quoted as saying, “Oh no, the Christians just want us [Jews/Israel] to be there so we can all be slaughtered and converted and bring on the second coming of Jesus Christ.”

And two months earlier, a Democratic Executive Committee member from Palm Beach County also slammed Israel. Evelyn Garcia sent an email accusing the Jewish state of atrocities, writing, “By supporting Israeli occupation with U.S. foreign aid, we are all complicit and guilty of their crimes against humanity.”

Garcia quit her post after a public outcry.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Liberal Media Pounce on Evangelical Liberty University

Friday, March 22, 2013

More High-profile Republicans Going Gay Agenda

Joining Ohio's Sen. Rob Portman, who last week said he supports same-sex "marriage" because his son said "I'm gay," is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie saying that he doesn't believe that homosexuals should be helped if they choose to end deviant sexual behaviors -- Christie is being pressed to support legislation to outlaw such Christian counseling.
"There is no mistaking [Gov. Christie's] point of view on this when you look at his own prior statements where he makes clear that people’s sexual orientation is determined at birth."
-- Kevin Roberts, Spokesman for the Governor
UPDATE 8/26/13: Gov. Christie Signs Law Enhancing Gay Recruitment of Children

Hey, Gov. Christie, would you go here too?  'Gay Gene' Advocates Say Pedophilia is Inborn
 

For background, read 'Gay Kids' Can't Change, Says California Legislation and also read Most Homosexuals Who Want to Convert Report Change as well as Homosexuality NOT Fixed, Change Possible: Study and another study says Lesbianism is NOT Genetic

UPDATE 11/4/13: Top Pennsylvania Republican 'Evolves' To 'Gay Marriage'

UPDATE 4/2/13: Sen. Mark Kirk joins gay marriage parade  reports the Washington Post

-- From "Gov. Christie says he does not believe in gay conversion therapy" by Jenna Portnoy, New Jersey Star-Ledger 3/22/13

Christie’s office pointed to a July 2011 interview to show he fundamentally believes people are born gay. "Well my religion says it’s a sin," Christie told CNN’s Piers Morgan. "I’ve always believed that people are born with the predisposition to be homosexual. And so I think if someone is born that way it’s very difficult to say then that’s a sin."

The Republican governor’s announcement came one day after he said he didn’t know enough about the issue to comment — and hours after Democratic challenger Barbara Buono slammed his indecision as "disgusting" and the Democratic Governors Association, calling Christie "extremist," used it as a way to raise money.

Roberts declined to say why Christie crystallized his opinion overnight, or whether he would sign a bill pending in the Legislature that would ban the practice of trying to "convert" gays to become straight. Christie remains opposed to same-sex marriage.

The bill (S2278), which cleared a state Senate panel Monday with support only from Democrats, would ban licensed counselors from using the therapy. Supporters of the ban say the practice is damaging, while critics say it would interfere with the counselor-patient relationship and intrude on parents’ rights. Only California bans the practice, though the law is being challenged.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Conservatives to Portman: Gay ‘Marriage’ Harmful to the People Involved and Society" by Michael James, CNSNews.com 3/21/13

[Sen. Portman wrote] “British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he supports allowing gay couples to marry because he is a conservative, not in spite of it. I feel the same way. We conservatives believe in personal liberty and minimal government interference in people’s lives. We also consider the family unit to be the fundamental building block of society. We should encourage people to make long-term commitments to each other and build families, so as to foster strong, stable communities and promote personal responsibility.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said in a statement that he applauded Portman for loving his son no matter what the circumstances but that he -- as a conservative aware of the social necessity for marriage between a man and a woman -- could not condone Portman’s view about “gay marriage.”

Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality . . . said, “I think it would have been a more mature, a more tough-love approach for Senator Portman not to abandon his, essentially, his whole outlook on this very important moral issue of marriage, what marriage is. I think it would have been more mature if he had maintained his love for his son, of course, but not altered his entire worldview to accommodate it.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

For background, read More GOP Congressmen Proudly Fund Abortionists, Gay Agenda and also read GOP House Rebuffs Conservatives' Religious Liberty  as well as GOP Strategy: Dump Old Uneducated Christian Voters

The question for Christians to discern:
Are Republicans abandoning a God-fearing Party platform?

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Law Needed to Keep Men out of Women's Locker Room

After the Phoenix City Council granted the right of citizens to claim opposite-gender identity (so-called "transgender rights"), the Arizona state legislature is now considering a bill to forbid men who claim to be women to enter the ladies' room, and vice versa.  The bill states that sex is based on a person's birth certificate, rather than his/her feelings.
"This law simply restores the law of society: Men are men and women are women.  For a handful of people to make everyone else uncomfortable just makes no sense."
-- Rep. John Kavanagh, regarding Senate Bill 1432
For background, read Massachusetts Government Says Boys Free to Use Girls Locker Room and also read Colorado Parents Demand School Allow Son in Girls Restroom as well as Naked Men Allowed in Girls Locker Rooms by Law in Washington



-- From "Arizona bill ties restroom use to birth gender" by Cristina Silva, Associated Press 3/20/13

The bill would require people to use public restrooms, dressing rooms or locker rooms associated with the sex listed on their birth certificate or face six months in jail.

With more people identifying as transgender, state and local governments are increasingly banning gender-identity discrimination to ward off legal battles, but opponents and proponents alike complain the laws don't explicitly demand businesses provide equal access for transgender people, creating confusion over how governments, restaurants, clothing stores and other establishments must act.

The term transgender covers men and women whose identity does not match with their birth-assigned sex, including cross-dressers and people who don't want to alter their bodies hormonally or surgically.

More than 100 cities and counties have passed laws prohibiting gender-identity discrimination . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Phoenix mulls law limiting transgender restroom use" by Dustin Gardiner, The Arizona Republic 3/20/13

At the center of the controversy is a debate over whether Phoenix's new ordinance allows a person born a man but identifying as a woman to use the women's restroom and vice versa. There's no legal consensus, but city attorneys have said that a transgender person might, in some cases, have a discrimination claim under the law if blocked from using the restroom.

Critics of Phoenix's move have repeatedly raised fears that the city opened the door for sexual predators to share bathrooms with women and girls. They labeled it the "bathroom bill," a nickname gay-rights advocates said was an inflammatory distraction.

[Phoenix] Councilman Tom Simplot, who is openly gay and pushed the reforms, said if SB 1432 becomes law, it would criminalize the "very nature" of being transgender, a term used to describe people who identify as a sex different than that they were born as.

[SB 1432] includes exemptions for children who need assistance, the physically disabled, people giving aid to others and those who must enter a bathroom as part of their job responsibilities, such as a janitor or maintenance worker.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Transgenderism is a 'Delusion' According to Victim

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Biden, Pelosi Take Communion in Rome, Pope Opposed

Vice President Joe Biden and House Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi took communion at the papal installation Mass at the Vatican Tuesday despite Pope Francis I saying that politicians who do not follow Church teaching (for example, by not opposing abortion with all of their might) are not in communion with our Savior.

For background, read about Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi's Pro-choice Stance and about her Catholic Opinion on Nuns and Abortion; also read how the Bishops Chasten VP Biden, a 'Practicing Catholic'

In 2010 the Vatican proclaimed: Liberal Catholic Candidates Must Repent Publicly

And remember the assurance from Pope Benedict XVI:
Public Opinion Won't Liberalize the Church

In addition, read just how much Pope Francis I Opposes What Too Many (Self-proclaimed Catholic) Politicians Favor

UPDATE 6/22/13: Rep. Nancy Pelosi is a Fraud, Catholic Leaders Say

UPDATE 4/2/14: Pelosi's own archbishop says apostate Catholics like her mustn't take communion

UPDATE 4/4/14: Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin's hometown bishop says he's not permitted to take communion

-- From "Despite abortion views, Biden, Pelosi receive Communion in Vatican Mass" by Dave Boyer, The Washington Times 3/19/13

The vice president’s office confirmed Tuesday night that both he and Mrs. Pelosi took Communion during the Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

“Vice President Biden and Nancy Pelosi should certainly not receive Communion, either at the papal installation or anywhere else. Communion means ‘union,’ and they are not in union with the church on the most fundamental moral issue of the right to life,” said the Rev. Frank Pavone, founder of Priests for Life, a U.S.-based Catholic anti-abortion organization.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Biden, Pelosi Stir Controversy by Taking Communion" by Kenneth T. Walsh, U.S. News & World Report 3/20/13

Pope Francis, when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires in 2007, opposed giving communion to politicians who supported abortion rights.

During a vice presidential debate last year, Biden said he personally accepted the church's teaching that life begins at conception and as a personal matter he opposes abortion. But he added that he would not impose his belief on others and believes every women should have the right to make that choice.

In a torrent of comments on the web, Catholics and others began a fiery debate on the issue and related themes.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Biden, Pelosi take communion despite threatened backlash" by Donovan Slack, Politico 3/19/13

Pope Francis has said he is clearly against the practice, particularly by pro-choice politicians.

"We must adhere to ‘eucharistic coherence’, that is, be conscious that they cannot receive holy communion and at the same time act with deeds or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes against life and family are encouraged," he wrote in 2007. "This responsibility applies particularly to legislators, governors, and health professionals."

A spokeswoman for Biden declined to comment. A spokesman for Pelosi did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Pro-abortion Biden and Pelosi receive communion, but not from Pope at inaugural Mass" by John-Henry Westen, LifeSiteNews.com 3/20/13

Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro, the head of the Rome office of Human Life International told LifeSiteNews that “While some Americans were perfectly entitled to received Communion, like Congressman Smith, as Cardinal Raymond Burke has said so eloquently, politicians who consider themselves Catholic but support abortion should absent themselves from Holy Communion.”

Vice President Biden was received in a short meeting by Pope Francis.  Monsignor Barreiro explained, “When you have diplomatic relations with a country you can’t refuse to receive them in a lineup, you can however refuse them Holy Communion.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Bishops Warn Voting for Democrats is 'Grave Sin'

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

N. Dakota Pro-life Laws Slammed by Media, Doctors

The North Dakota Medical Association is denouncing legislation just passed and currently being debated that limit abortion after six weeks gestation ("heartbeat bill") and that defines life at conception ("personhood").  Doctors say they must have a right to decide issues of life in consultation with their patients irrespective of government lawmaking.

Doctors think they're above the law?!  It's contagious (they caught it from activist judges).

For background, read Arkansas 12-week Abortion Law Most Restrictive in U.S. and also read Pro-lifers Prevail: More Abortion Restriction Laws

So far, Personhood Legislation is Battling Uphill in Courts

UPDATE 3/27/13: Gov. signs bills, prepares for legal attack from abortionists

-- From "ND Senate approves 'heartbeat' abortion ban" by James Macpherson, Associated Press 3/18/13

The North Dakota Senate on Friday approved banning abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, sending what would be the most stringent abortion restrictions in the U.S. to the state's Republican governor [Jack Dalrymple, who is pro-life,] for his signature.

It's one of several anti-abortion measures the state Legislature has weighed this session. The vote came with almost no debate in the Senate and after the same chamber approved another measure that would make North Dakota the first to ban abortions based on genetic defects such as Down syndrome.

That measure would also ban abortion based on gender selection. The Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion laws throughout the country, says Pennsylvania, Arizona and Oklahoma already have such laws.

Some supporters of the so-called fetal heartbeat measure have said they hope to send a message that North Dakota is anti-abortion and aims to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion up until a fetus is considered viable, usually at 22 to 24 weeks.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "North Dakota looks at more abortion restrictions" by Dave Kolpack, Associated Press 3/18/13

The "personhood" measures would ban abortions by defining human life as beginning with conception. It's drawing opposition from some doctors who say it could cause problems for infertile couples seeking to use in vitro fertilization to conceive, but supporters insist that's addressed in the legislation.

Dr. Stephanie Dahl, a Fargo infertility specialist, said Monday that the personhood measures could ban in vitro fertilization and force doctors to leave the state rather than face health care restrictions or possible criminal penalties. In vitro fertilization, or IVF, involves mixing egg and sperm in a laboratory dish and transferring resulting embryos into the womb.

One of the key players in the anti-abortion campaign, state Sen. Margaret Sitte, a Republican from Bismarck, said she was "floored" by the assertions about limitations on in vitro fertilization. She said the proposals allow exceptions for the "screening, collecting, preparing, transferring, or cryopreserving a human being created through in vitro fertilization for the purpose of being transferred to a human uterus." Sitte said that clause was crafted with Dahl's help.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Anti-abortion attorney says ND bill won’t survive legal challenge" by Wendy Reuer, Forum News Service 3/18/13

Paul Linton, a Chicago-based attorney who has assisted other states with anti-abortion measures and served as general counsel to Americans United for Life . . . did not give an estimation of what litigation would cost, [but] if defeated, the state would pay not only its counsel, the attorney general, but the courts could also force the state to pay for attorney fees of those challenging the bill.

House Bill 1456 prohibits an abortion if a detectable heartbeat is found. . . . Another bill that passed, House Bill 1305, would ban abortions for gender selection or fetal anomalies.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "North Dakota has funds to fight over abortion" by The Associated Press 3/19/13

As oil-rich North Dakota moves toward outlawing most abortions, it's in a better position than most states for what could be a long and costly court battle over its restrictions.

Abortion-rights activists have promised a legal battle if the measures become law.

North Dakota has a budget surplus nearing $2 billion, thanks to new-found oil wealth.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read IVF: 'Creating' Life & Aborting Life in addition, read Lab Creates Human Life with 3 Biological Parents