A new study of maternal health of Chileans has shown that the mortality rate of pregnant women has decreased significantly since 1989 when Chile enacted a law to protect unborn children.
For background, read Abortion Safer than Giving Birth, Physicians Claim
From "Education, Not Abortion, Reduces Maternal Mortality, Study Suggests" posted at ScienceDaily 5/10/12
Using 50 years of official data from Chile's National Institute of Statistics (1957-2007), the authors looked at factors likely to affect maternal mortality, such as years of education, per capita income, total fertility rate, birth order, clean water supply, sanitary sewer, and childbirth delivery by skilled attendants. They also analyze the effect of historical educational and maternal health policies, including legislation that has prohibited abortion in Chile since 1989, on maternal mortality.
During the fifty-year study period, the overall Maternal Mortality Ratio or MMR (the number of maternal deaths related to childbearing divided by the number of live births) dramatically declined by 93.8%, from 270.7 to 18.2 deaths per 100,000 live births between 1957 and 2007, making Chile a paragon for maternal health in other countries.
One of the most significant findings is that, contrary to widely-held assumptions, making abortion illegal in Chile did not result in an increase in maternal mortality. In fact, after abortion was made illegal in 1989, the MMR continued to decrease from 41.3 to 12.7 per 100,000 live births (69.2% reduction). "Definitively, the legal status of abortion is unrelated to overall maternal mortality rates" emphasized [Dr. Elard Koch, epidemiologist and leading author of the study].
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Chilean Study Dispels Maternal-Mortality Myth" by Mary Novick, posted at National Review Online 5/11/12
For years abortion advocates and international bodies have been pressuring Chile to decriminalize abortion — claiming that Chile’s 1989 law prohibiting abortion is increasing the maternal mortality rate because women must be turning to unsafe and illegal abortion as an alternative. However, a study of statistical data from 1957 through 2007 in Chile was released this week, which dispels this myth about abortion and maternal mortality.
The researchers observed that the maternal-mortality rate continued to decrease after 1989 when abortion was made illegal. If the claims made by abortion advocates were true, then one would expect the maternal-mortality rate to have increased after 1989 to account for a dramatic increase in dangerous illegal abortions, but these numbers did not increase. They continued to plummet.
In spite of the attacks from the international pro-abortion lobby, Chile has a pretty great track record on maternal mortality. In fact, Chile has the lowest maternal-mortality rate in Latin America and it even has a lower maternal-mortality rate than that of the United States — a country with legal abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Study: Making Abortion Illegal Doesn’t Increase Maternal Mortality" by Andrew Bair, LifeNews.com 5/9/12
According to the World Health Organization (Trends in Maternal Mortality), the Central American nations of Nicaragua and El Salvador, in which abortion is completely illegal, have both seen a 44% drop in their maternal mortality ratios since 1990.
South Africa legalized abortion on demand in 1997. Since then, maternal mortality in that country has risen significantly according to the World Health Organization. The maternal mortality ratio is now estimated at 410. The MMR of Canada, which permits abortion on demand, increased 94 percent from 1990 to 2008. The MMR of the United States, which also permits abortion on demand, increased 96 percent. It’s clear, legalizing abortion does nothing to ameliorate high maternal mortality rates.
“Definitively, the legal prohibition of abortion is unrelated to overall maternal mortality rates” emphasized Koch.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "New Chile study challenges the ‘safe abortion’ myth" by Carolyn Moynihan, Mercatornet.com 5/8/12
Before 1980 the causes of MMR in Chile were on the whole directly related to pregnancy and birth. From then on the underlying health problems of “aging pregnancy” began to take over in the mortality stakes: hypertension, diabetes and obesity among others. The problem now, there and here in the developed world, “is not a matter of how many children a mother has, but a matter of when.”
Did the reproductive health brigade get that? Delayed motherhood can be literally deadly. At a certain point, the gains of education and good health and social services are taken too far and recoil upon the modern woman. With the greater part of the world, including many developing countries, now below replacement TFR, maternal mortality from social progress is set to climb before deaths from deprivation have been thoroughly, and one could say properly, addressed.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
To read the published study, CLICK HERE.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Judge Rules Against Religion, Favors Hospital
Texas State District Judge Michael Gomez ruled against the parents of 2-month-old Gabriel Zepeda whom doctors said could benefit from heart surgery. The parents said their faith precludes them from subjecting their child to the will of the hospital, but the judge's order allows doctors to take control from the Jehovah's Witnesses parents, whose faith refuses blood transfusions even in life-or-death situations.
-- From "Hospital can perform baby's surgery that parents declined" by Todd Ackerman, Houston Chronicle 5/10/12
"It is the opinion of Dr. Douglas Moodie, Gabriel's cardiologist, that the boy will suffer permanent harm or death unless he receives this operation," hospital lawyers said in the court petition.
Gabriel's parents, who were not identified in court documents, declined a Chronicle request for an interview made through the hospital. The court petition said that despite being told of the possible need to administer blood products, the parents "refuse to consent."
Blood products were required in Gabriel's case "even though the surgery will be performed in a minimally invasive method," the court petition said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
-- From "Hospital can perform baby's surgery that parents declined" by Todd Ackerman, Houston Chronicle 5/10/12
"It is the opinion of Dr. Douglas Moodie, Gabriel's cardiologist, that the boy will suffer permanent harm or death unless he receives this operation," hospital lawyers said in the court petition.
Gabriel's parents, who were not identified in court documents, declined a Chronicle request for an interview made through the hospital. The court petition said that despite being told of the possible need to administer blood products, the parents "refuse to consent."
Blood products were required in Gabriel's case "even though the surgery will be performed in a minimally invasive method," the court petition said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
IL GOP Congressman Protects Tax-funding Abortionists
Illinois Republican Robert Dold has joined President Obama and the Democrat party with pro-abortion legislation to restrict states from stopping tax-payer funding of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.
For background, read GOP RINOs Fund Planned Parenthood and read when Dold Stood with the Pro-abortion Left and also read States Defunding Planned Parenthood
-- From "House Republican floats bill to protect Planned Parenthood" by Elise Viebeck The Hill 5/9/12
Planned Parenthood has been under sustained attack from Republicans who say it should not receive public money for any preventive healthcare services because some of its clinics provide abortions.
[Arizona and] Seven other states have taken similar actions, or tried to [defund Planned Parenthood], according to Dold, a freshman member.
These include Ohio, Kansas, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, New Hampshire and Texas, where the decision to block funds has prompted a complicated court battle.
Dold's bill, the Protecting Women's Access to Health Care Act, would "prohibit discrimination" in the awarding of funds under Title X, a federal grant program for family-planning organizations that was signed into law by former President Nixon.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Republican Rep. tries to save Planned Parenthood" by Kate Nocera, Politico 5/9/12
[Dold] introduced the “Protecting Women’s Access to Health Care Act” at a press conference, flanked by representatives from Planned Parenthood and the Republican Majority for Choice.
Dold wouldn't go after his fellow Republicans beyond noting that he’d broken with his party during the defunding vote and said he looked forward to “working with members on both sides of the aisle” in supporting his legislation.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Republican Congressman Moves to Protect Taxpayer Funding to Planned Parenthood" by Elizabeth Harrington, CNSNews.com 5/9/12
Although the law prevents Title X family planning funds from being used for abortions, money is fungible and, as the latest data show, Planned Parenthood received a reported $79 million in Title X funding in 2010, and a total of approximately $342 million between 2002 and 2008.
Last year, Dold voted against an amendment written by his colleague Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) that would have ended Planned Parenthood’s Title X funding. The measure passed 240-185, but it was stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Illinois GOP Congressmen Fight for Planned Parenthood (2008)
For background, read GOP RINOs Fund Planned Parenthood and read when Dold Stood with the Pro-abortion Left and also read States Defunding Planned Parenthood
-- From "House Republican floats bill to protect Planned Parenthood" by Elise Viebeck The Hill 5/9/12
Planned Parenthood has been under sustained attack from Republicans who say it should not receive public money for any preventive healthcare services because some of its clinics provide abortions.
[Arizona and] Seven other states have taken similar actions, or tried to [defund Planned Parenthood], according to Dold, a freshman member.
These include Ohio, Kansas, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, New Hampshire and Texas, where the decision to block funds has prompted a complicated court battle.
Dold's bill, the Protecting Women's Access to Health Care Act, would "prohibit discrimination" in the awarding of funds under Title X, a federal grant program for family-planning organizations that was signed into law by former President Nixon.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Republican Rep. tries to save Planned Parenthood" by Kate Nocera, Politico 5/9/12
[Dold] introduced the “Protecting Women’s Access to Health Care Act” at a press conference, flanked by representatives from Planned Parenthood and the Republican Majority for Choice.
Dold wouldn't go after his fellow Republicans beyond noting that he’d broken with his party during the defunding vote and said he looked forward to “working with members on both sides of the aisle” in supporting his legislation.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Republican Congressman Moves to Protect Taxpayer Funding to Planned Parenthood" by Elizabeth Harrington, CNSNews.com 5/9/12
Although the law prevents Title X family planning funds from being used for abortions, money is fungible and, as the latest data show, Planned Parenthood received a reported $79 million in Title X funding in 2010, and a total of approximately $342 million between 2002 and 2008.
Last year, Dold voted against an amendment written by his colleague Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) that would have ended Planned Parenthood’s Title X funding. The measure passed 240-185, but it was stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Illinois GOP Congressmen Fight for Planned Parenthood (2008)
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Obama Tracks Unborn Children Visiting White House
America's most pro-abortion president, who said he wouldn't punish his daughters with a baby, wants to know the identity of every non-person (by his definition) who may enter the White House.
For background, read Obama Celebrates Roe v. Wade Anniversary and also read Obama Says Girls Need Abortion Rights for Equality
-- From "A Pro-Life Visiting Policy at the Obama White House?" by Olivier Knox, posted at ABC News 5/9/12
. . . an email from the White House Visitors Office that asks expectant parents to register their future bundle of joy, "crazy as it may sound." They should give their family name as the last name, "baby" as the first name, "NMN" ("No Middle Name"), and the like. The email goes on to say that, "once the baby is born," the parents should update the information.
"All White House tour guests, regardless of age, are required to provide identification information as part of the tour request. This includes children and infants," according to Secret Service Spokesman Brian Leary.
"This procedure was implemented to expedite tour requests by ensuring that all tour attendees are accounted for, as well as eliminating any delays that may occur if a tour guest arrives with a newborn that was not submitted as part of the original tour request," Leary said
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Security at pro-choice White House counts unborn children" by Dave Boyer, Washington Times 5/8/12
The pro-choice Obama White House requires pregnant visitors to count their unborn child as a person for tours of the executive mansion.
Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said there’s a disconnect at the White House.
“It is ironic that President Obama’s staff recognizes the existence of unborn babies for purposes of providing security within the White House — yet, there is no indication that President Obama has any problem with the fact that throughout the District of Columbia, abortion is now legal for any reason up to the moment of birth,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
For background, read Obama Celebrates Roe v. Wade Anniversary and also read Obama Says Girls Need Abortion Rights for Equality
-- From "A Pro-Life Visiting Policy at the Obama White House?" by Olivier Knox, posted at ABC News 5/9/12
. . . an email from the White House Visitors Office that asks expectant parents to register their future bundle of joy, "crazy as it may sound." They should give their family name as the last name, "baby" as the first name, "NMN" ("No Middle Name"), and the like. The email goes on to say that, "once the baby is born," the parents should update the information.
"All White House tour guests, regardless of age, are required to provide identification information as part of the tour request. This includes children and infants," according to Secret Service Spokesman Brian Leary.
"This procedure was implemented to expedite tour requests by ensuring that all tour attendees are accounted for, as well as eliminating any delays that may occur if a tour guest arrives with a newborn that was not submitted as part of the original tour request," Leary said
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Security at pro-choice White House counts unborn children" by Dave Boyer, Washington Times 5/8/12
The pro-choice Obama White House requires pregnant visitors to count their unborn child as a person for tours of the executive mansion.
Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said there’s a disconnect at the White House.
“It is ironic that President Obama’s staff recognizes the existence of unborn babies for purposes of providing security within the White House — yet, there is no indication that President Obama has any problem with the fact that throughout the District of Columbia, abortion is now legal for any reason up to the moment of birth,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Charity Touts Funding Abortion for 14-year-old
On its website, the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), which claims to have raised over $400,000 by "bowling for abortion," relays real-death stories of paying cash-strapped mothers to kill their unborn children, including young teens.
"Abortion funds," the website explains, "are local, grassroots groups that work tirelessly to help low-income and disadvantaged women who want an abortion and do not have enough money to pay for it. Abortion funds help women pay for their abortions, help them buy bus or plane tickets, and even offer a place to stay for those who have to travel for an abortion."
What sort of person would participate in such an event? . . . it seems safe to say that, as [pro-life activist Kristi Burton] Brown put it, Bowl-a-Thon participants "think that 1) abortion and promiscuity are absolutely hilarious; 2) children are an accident, so killing them is no big deal; or 3) you should be proud to support the killing of innocent, helpless babies." "I’m not sure which is the worst," she added.
"There’s simply something sick and beyond twisted about smiling while raising money that will knowingly be used to snuff out lives," the Alliance Defense Fund’s Steven Aden writes. "And something even more disturbing about the fact that so many of the teams in the National Abortion Access Bowl-A-Than [sic] do so with pure glee, if not [bravado]."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bowl-a-Thon Group Touts Raising Funds for 14-Year-Old’s Abortion" by Elizabeth Harrington, CNSNews.com 5/7/12
On its website in a post entitled, “Getting an abortion means getting a second chance,” NNAF highlights the story of Darcy, a 14-year-old who terminated her pregnancy with the help of the group’s “George Tiller Memorial Fund.”
After finding out she was pregnant, the girl writes she did not want to tell her mother, “But in the state where I live, minors can't get an abortion without permission from a parent or a judge,” she said. “So I did end up telling her.”
Darcy said a clinic put her in touch with NNAF because the “abortion was going to cost more than our rent.”
NNAF draws attention to Darcy as one of “the real stories of abortion access,” and how the group is fulfilling its mission “to make sure that all women and girls can get the abortions they seek.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "‘Bowling for abortion’ raises $400,000" by Ben Johnson, LifeSiteNews.com 4/26/12
Participating bowling teams have names like Bowlin’ for ‘Bortions, Kiss Our Uter-Ass, Margaret Sanger’s Ball Bangers, THUNDERCUNTS, If Only Limbaugh’s Mom Used Birth Control, IUDivas, Tuff Titties, Vag of Courage, Takin’ Our CUNTry Back, No Rosaries On MY Ovaries, Queer As In Fund Us, the Valiant Vulvas, the Charlottesville Harlots, and the Fierce Pussy Posse.
Some engage in transvestitism or mock priests and nuns with their costumes.
Some participants take their babies or young children along. Others joked, “abortion stops a beating heart.”
Last year, NNAF distributed more than $2.9 million last year to pay for 21,000 women to have abortions. Its George Tiller Memorial Abortion Fund “provides funding to women seeking later abortion care.”
“Over the past two months, more than 75% of the calls we received were from women who were 16 weeks or further into their pregnancy,” the foundation states.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
“I'm pretty smart for 14, I think. I definitely want to start my own [veterinarian] practice so that I make enough money and when I have kids I can be home with them.”From "'Bowl-a-Thon' Raises Over $400K for Abortions" by Michael Tennant, The New American 5/2/12
-- Darcy, the victim of the abortion charity
"Abortion funds," the website explains, "are local, grassroots groups that work tirelessly to help low-income and disadvantaged women who want an abortion and do not have enough money to pay for it. Abortion funds help women pay for their abortions, help them buy bus or plane tickets, and even offer a place to stay for those who have to travel for an abortion."
What sort of person would participate in such an event? . . . it seems safe to say that, as [pro-life activist Kristi Burton] Brown put it, Bowl-a-Thon participants "think that 1) abortion and promiscuity are absolutely hilarious; 2) children are an accident, so killing them is no big deal; or 3) you should be proud to support the killing of innocent, helpless babies." "I’m not sure which is the worst," she added.
"There’s simply something sick and beyond twisted about smiling while raising money that will knowingly be used to snuff out lives," the Alliance Defense Fund’s Steven Aden writes. "And something even more disturbing about the fact that so many of the teams in the National Abortion Access Bowl-A-Than [sic] do so with pure glee, if not [bravado]."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bowl-a-Thon Group Touts Raising Funds for 14-Year-Old’s Abortion" by Elizabeth Harrington, CNSNews.com 5/7/12
On its website in a post entitled, “Getting an abortion means getting a second chance,” NNAF highlights the story of Darcy, a 14-year-old who terminated her pregnancy with the help of the group’s “George Tiller Memorial Fund.”
After finding out she was pregnant, the girl writes she did not want to tell her mother, “But in the state where I live, minors can't get an abortion without permission from a parent or a judge,” she said. “So I did end up telling her.”
Darcy said a clinic put her in touch with NNAF because the “abortion was going to cost more than our rent.”
NNAF draws attention to Darcy as one of “the real stories of abortion access,” and how the group is fulfilling its mission “to make sure that all women and girls can get the abortions they seek.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "‘Bowling for abortion’ raises $400,000" by Ben Johnson, LifeSiteNews.com 4/26/12
Participating bowling teams have names like Bowlin’ for ‘Bortions, Kiss Our Uter-Ass, Margaret Sanger’s Ball Bangers, THUNDERCUNTS, If Only Limbaugh’s Mom Used Birth Control, IUDivas, Tuff Titties, Vag of Courage, Takin’ Our CUNTry Back, No Rosaries On MY Ovaries, Queer As In Fund Us, the Valiant Vulvas, the Charlottesville Harlots, and the Fierce Pussy Posse.
Some engage in transvestitism or mock priests and nuns with their costumes.
Some participants take their babies or young children along. Others joked, “abortion stops a beating heart.”
Last year, NNAF distributed more than $2.9 million last year to pay for 21,000 women to have abortions. Its George Tiller Memorial Abortion Fund “provides funding to women seeking later abortion care.”
“Over the past two months, more than 75% of the calls we received were from women who were 16 weeks or further into their pregnancy,” the foundation states.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Monday, May 07, 2012
'Gay Kids' Can't Change, Says Calif. Legislation
The new California law forbids children to receive psychological counseling that could encourage the child to resist deviant sexual behavior. Thus, any parent concerned that their child is being recruited into the homosexual lifestyle is forbidden from seeking professional help for the child.
UPDATE 9/4/12: Most Homosexuals Who Want to Convert Report Change
For background, read White House & Senate Says Gay Recruitment of Kids Successful and also read We Recruit Kids for Sexual Deviancy, Says Gay Activist as well as Parents Fight Calif. Gay Agenda Indoctrination
UPDATE 8/29/13: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals vehemently upholds law, condemns reparative therapy (see article at bottom)
UPDATE 8/26/13: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signs gay-kids-can't-change law and declares "Homosexuality is NOT a Sin"
UPDATE 2/20/13: Plaintiff's case against law presented to court
UPDATE 12/4/12: Judge blocks law pending final judgment of counselors' lawsuit
UPDATE 11/30/12: Counselors sue to block law from taking effect January 1st
UPDATE 8/30/12: Assembly passes bill, goes to governor to become law
-- From "Senator Takes Aim at Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapies" by Ian McDonald, KTXL-TV40 News 4/23/12
State Senator Ted Lieu (D-Sacramento) has introduced legislation that targets controversial sexual orientation conversion therapies.
Senate Bill 1172 would ban children under 18 from undergoing these therapies and would require adults seeking these treatments to sign consent forms that they are aware of potential dangers.
Lieu’s office also alleges that conversion therapies may push patients to suicide.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Ban urged on therapy to convert gays" by Cheryl Wetzstein, Washington Times 5/3/12
California groups that support parental rights and therapies to help people escape unwanted same-sex attractions are fighting a first-of-its-kind California bill that would ban such sessions for teens and children, and discourage them for adults.
SB 1172, which opponents say is a denial of freedom and family rights, already has been approved by one California state Senate committee, and is scheduled to be discussed Tuesday by members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee.
. . . leaders of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) say Mr. Lieu’s bill is filled with “misinformation” and threatens science, mental health and client rights.
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), a legal-defense group that objects to the bill’s impact on “free speech and family rights” called the proposal “one of the most outrageous, speech-chilling bills we have ever seen in California - and that's saying a lot.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Gay Teacher Sexting Boy Resigns, Media Silent
From "Senator: Ban gender counseling for kids" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 5/5/12
A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is scheduled May 8 on SB 1172, a bill by Sen. Ted Lieu to impose state limits on what therapists can tell their patients. His proposal would require that counselors “warn” their patients about “risks” of sexual-orientation-change therapy and ban such treatment for juveniles, even if both they and their parents want it.
The plan flatly bans the advice for minors, regardless of what the minor and his or her parents desire. It also demands a new consent form from adults that includes statements about sexual orientation with which many counselors disagree.
Ultimately, it creates essentially an open-ended civil liability for engaging in such speech.
According to Mathew McReynolds of PJI, “SB 1172 blames those who believe change is possible for gay suicides, guilt, substance abuse, relationship problems and a host of other ills.
“As if all that were not enough, the bill claims that sexually confused youth who experience ‘family rejection … face especially serious health risks’ and the state has a ‘compelling interest’ to protect their health. The logical implication from these two assertions is that the state is giving itself the power to take kids away from parents who do not affirm the kids’ sexual confusion,” he said.
The PJI analysis of the proposal noted that backers conspicuously left out sex-change counseling, “because backers believe gender is changeable, but sexual orientation is not.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 8/30/13: From "Court gags licensed California therapists" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to censor some licensed therapists in California, including pastors, by upholding a ban on “change therapy.”
“Nor will licensed counselors be permitted to offer such counsel, despite the fact that their clients are currently benefiting from such counsel,” according to Liberty Counsel, which brought the case on behalf of minors who now are “significantly benefiting” from the counseling.
“California has no compelling or empirical reason to justify banning change therapy, especially when the client seeks such counsel,” said Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver.
“The minors we represent do not want to act on same-sex attractions, nor do they want to engage in such behavior. They are greatly benefiting from this counseling. Their grades have gone up, their self-esteem has improved, and their relationships at home are much improved,” Staver said.
“This law is politically motivated to interfere with counselors and clients. The law is an astounding overreach by the state,” said Staver.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Many Kids Need Sex-change Mutilation, Say 'Experts'
UPDATE 9/4/12: Most Homosexuals Who Want to Convert Report Change
For background, read White House & Senate Says Gay Recruitment of Kids Successful and also read We Recruit Kids for Sexual Deviancy, Says Gay Activist as well as Parents Fight Calif. Gay Agenda Indoctrination
UPDATE 8/29/13: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals vehemently upholds law, condemns reparative therapy (see article at bottom)
UPDATE 8/26/13: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signs gay-kids-can't-change law and declares "Homosexuality is NOT a Sin"
UPDATE 2/20/13: Plaintiff's case against law presented to court
UPDATE 12/4/12: Judge blocks law pending final judgment of counselors' lawsuit
UPDATE 11/30/12: Counselors sue to block law from taking effect January 1st
UPDATE 8/30/12: Assembly passes bill, goes to governor to become law
-- From "Senator Takes Aim at Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapies" by Ian McDonald, KTXL-TV40 News 4/23/12
State Senator Ted Lieu (D-Sacramento) has introduced legislation that targets controversial sexual orientation conversion therapies.
Senate Bill 1172 would ban children under 18 from undergoing these therapies and would require adults seeking these treatments to sign consent forms that they are aware of potential dangers.
Lieu’s office also alleges that conversion therapies may push patients to suicide.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Ban urged on therapy to convert gays" by Cheryl Wetzstein, Washington Times 5/3/12
California groups that support parental rights and therapies to help people escape unwanted same-sex attractions are fighting a first-of-its-kind California bill that would ban such sessions for teens and children, and discourage them for adults.
SB 1172, which opponents say is a denial of freedom and family rights, already has been approved by one California state Senate committee, and is scheduled to be discussed Tuesday by members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee.
. . . leaders of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) say Mr. Lieu’s bill is filled with “misinformation” and threatens science, mental health and client rights.
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), a legal-defense group that objects to the bill’s impact on “free speech and family rights” called the proposal “one of the most outrageous, speech-chilling bills we have ever seen in California - and that's saying a lot.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Gay Teacher Sexting Boy Resigns, Media Silent
From "Senator: Ban gender counseling for kids" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 5/5/12
A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is scheduled May 8 on SB 1172, a bill by Sen. Ted Lieu to impose state limits on what therapists can tell their patients. His proposal would require that counselors “warn” their patients about “risks” of sexual-orientation-change therapy and ban such treatment for juveniles, even if both they and their parents want it.
The plan flatly bans the advice for minors, regardless of what the minor and his or her parents desire. It also demands a new consent form from adults that includes statements about sexual orientation with which many counselors disagree.
Ultimately, it creates essentially an open-ended civil liability for engaging in such speech.
According to Mathew McReynolds of PJI, “SB 1172 blames those who believe change is possible for gay suicides, guilt, substance abuse, relationship problems and a host of other ills.
“As if all that were not enough, the bill claims that sexually confused youth who experience ‘family rejection … face especially serious health risks’ and the state has a ‘compelling interest’ to protect their health. The logical implication from these two assertions is that the state is giving itself the power to take kids away from parents who do not affirm the kids’ sexual confusion,” he said.
The PJI analysis of the proposal noted that backers conspicuously left out sex-change counseling, “because backers believe gender is changeable, but sexual orientation is not.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 8/30/13: From "Court gags licensed California therapists" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to censor some licensed therapists in California, including pastors, by upholding a ban on “change therapy.”
“Nor will licensed counselors be permitted to offer such counsel, despite the fact that their clients are currently benefiting from such counsel,” according to Liberty Counsel, which brought the case on behalf of minors who now are “significantly benefiting” from the counseling.
“California has no compelling or empirical reason to justify banning change therapy, especially when the client seeks such counsel,” said Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver.
“The minors we represent do not want to act on same-sex attractions, nor do they want to engage in such behavior. They are greatly benefiting from this counseling. Their grades have gone up, their self-esteem has improved, and their relationships at home are much improved,” Staver said.
“This law is politically motivated to interfere with counselors and clients. The law is an astounding overreach by the state,” said Staver.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Many Kids Need Sex-change Mutilation, Say 'Experts'
Sunday, May 06, 2012
VP Joe Biden Embraces Homosexual Behavior/Marriage
Although President Obama continues cheerleading the Gay Agenda, he has sent the Vice President on the campaign trail to do what would mean defeat in November if the President did it himself -- that is, say "I fully support same-sex marriage."
It would appear that Biden's words are intended to signal that if Obama is re-elected, THEN he'll fully, and openly, back same-sex "marriage."
The vice president says the reason to support gay marriage is, in part, because of television shows.
For background, read Obama Defeats Marriage, Again - Congress Responds and also read White House won't clarify President's position on same-sex 'marriage' as well as Gay Lobby Purchases Politicians to Achieve Same-sex 'Marriage'
-- From "Biden: I'm 'absolutely comfortable' with gay marriage" by NBC's Carrie Dann 5/6/12
"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties," he told NBC's David Gregory on "Meet the Press." "And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that."
"The good news is that as more and more Americans become to understand what this is all about is a simple proposition," he said. "Who do you love? Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love? And that's what people are finding out is what -- what all marriages, at their root, are about."
"The vice president was saying what the president has said previously -- that committed and loving same-sex couples deserve the same rights and protections enjoyed by all Americans, and that we oppose any effort to roll back those rights," [a White House] aide said. "That's why we stopped defending the constitutionality of Section 3 [one-man, one-woman marriage] of the Defense of Marriage Act in legal challenges and support legislation to repeal it. Beyond that, the vice president was expressing that he too is evolving on the issue, after meeting so many committed couples and families in this country."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Bishops Say Obama Destroying Societal Norm
It would appear that Biden's words are intended to signal that if Obama is re-elected, THEN he'll fully, and openly, back same-sex "marriage."
The vice president says the reason to support gay marriage is, in part, because of television shows.
For background, read Obama Defeats Marriage, Again - Congress Responds and also read White House won't clarify President's position on same-sex 'marriage' as well as Gay Lobby Purchases Politicians to Achieve Same-sex 'Marriage'
-- From "Biden: I'm 'absolutely comfortable' with gay marriage" by NBC's Carrie Dann 5/6/12
"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties," he told NBC's David Gregory on "Meet the Press." "And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that."
"The good news is that as more and more Americans become to understand what this is all about is a simple proposition," he said. "Who do you love? Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love? And that's what people are finding out is what -- what all marriages, at their root, are about."
"The vice president was saying what the president has said previously -- that committed and loving same-sex couples deserve the same rights and protections enjoyed by all Americans, and that we oppose any effort to roll back those rights," [a White House] aide said. "That's why we stopped defending the constitutionality of Section 3 [one-man, one-woman marriage] of the Defense of Marriage Act in legal challenges and support legislation to repeal it. Beyond that, the vice president was expressing that he too is evolving on the issue, after meeting so many committed couples and families in this country."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Bishops Say Obama Destroying Societal Norm
Saturday, May 05, 2012
Christians of Faith Shouldn't be on School Boards: ACLU
The ACLU is asking a federal court in Virginia to declare the Ten Commandments unconstitutional in Narrows High School (Giles County) because a school board member admitted that he voted to allow display of the privately donated document because of his Christian faith. The ACLU is arguing that the school's position in the case is a "smoke screen" to hide the board's religious-based motivations.
UPDATE 7/9/12: Compromise puts America's Christian foundation on display (video):
UPDATE 6/1/12: School board quietly votes to remove Ten Commandments
UPDATE 5/16/12: Judge suggests compromise settlement of dropping first four Commandments (post only last six Commandments)
-- From "Judge to hear case of Commandments in Va. schools" by The Associated Press 5/4/12
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia is suing on behalf of a student to remove the Ten Commandments from Narrows High School, saying the display violates the First Amendment's protection against government endorsement of religion. The Giles County School Board, represented by Liberty Counsel, has argued that the Ten Commandments are part of a larger presentation that includes other key historical documents.
Both sides will appear Monday before U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski in Roanoke, asking him to rule in the case without going to trial. Urbanski previously has said he was interested in resolving the issue before the upcoming school year.
The board is asking Urbanski to rule in its favor, arguing that a private citizen put up the display and the school district didn't use public money to pay for it. It also argued that because the commandments were integrated among other historical documents, it isn't an official endorsement of religion but are part of teaching history.
The school board is seeking to strike depositions of several board members and others, along with numerous other pieces of evidence that plaintiffs presented describing the community's support of the displays on religious grounds. The ACLU has argued that community reactions and board members' testimony is relevant to demonstrating its contention that the purpose behind displaying the commandments is religious
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Judge urged to make quick ruling on Giles County display of Ten Commandments" by Laurence Hammack, Roanoke Times 4/13/12
While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that placing the Ten Commandments in schools is an illegal form of government-sanctioned religion, attorneys for Liberty Counsel are arguing there are key differences between that case and the one at hand.
Most importantly, they say, both the Ten Commandments and the other documents are part of the school curriculum in Giles County.
The U.S. history textbook used by the county states that values found in the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, inspired American ideas about government and morality.
However, the ACLU argues that the school board responded to a public outcry about religion — not history — when it voted 3-2 last June to put the multi-document display up at Narrows High School.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "ACLU Puts Ten Commandments on Trial" by Liberty Counsel 5/4/12
ACLU of Virginia sued the Giles County School Board after the Board adopted an open forum policy, which permits the display of historical documents by private individuals or groups. A privately-sponsored historical document display consisting of eleven documents, one of which is the Ten Commandments, in equally-sized frames was posted in Narrows High School.
The Virginia Standards of Learning requires students to know about the foundational principles of civilizations, including the Hebrews, and the foundations of law and government. Secular textbooks published by Prentice Hall and McGraw-Hill trace the roots of democracy and law and specifically refer to the Ten Commandments and many of the documents posted as part of the Foundations Display.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "ACLU: Christianity has no place on school board" by Drew ZahnEmail, World Net Daily 5/4/12
. . . according to The Roanoke Times, one of the ACLU’s arguments against the display is a school board member’s admission that he voted to allow the donation based on his own Christian beliefs.
The case Doe v. School Board of Giles County began in 2010, when the Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a complaint over a long-standing display of the Ten Commandments hung at Narrows High School, in Narrows, Va.
. . . despite federal court rulings finding such inclusive displays within constitutional bounds, the ACLU filed suit based in part, according to the [Roanoke Times], on the community’s outcry over the original removal of the 10 Commandments and School Board Member Joseph Gollehon’s admission – when asked if he voted for the display because he was a Christian – “It had right much to do with it.”
But according to Liberty Counsel, which is representing the school board in the case, the actions the board took are entirely constitutional, whether the members happen to be Christian or not.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 7/9/12: Compromise puts America's Christian foundation on display (video):
UPDATE 6/1/12: School board quietly votes to remove Ten Commandments
UPDATE 5/16/12: Judge suggests compromise settlement of dropping first four Commandments (post only last six Commandments)
-- From "Judge to hear case of Commandments in Va. schools" by The Associated Press 5/4/12
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia is suing on behalf of a student to remove the Ten Commandments from Narrows High School, saying the display violates the First Amendment's protection against government endorsement of religion. The Giles County School Board, represented by Liberty Counsel, has argued that the Ten Commandments are part of a larger presentation that includes other key historical documents.
Both sides will appear Monday before U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski in Roanoke, asking him to rule in the case without going to trial. Urbanski previously has said he was interested in resolving the issue before the upcoming school year.
The board is asking Urbanski to rule in its favor, arguing that a private citizen put up the display and the school district didn't use public money to pay for it. It also argued that because the commandments were integrated among other historical documents, it isn't an official endorsement of religion but are part of teaching history.
The school board is seeking to strike depositions of several board members and others, along with numerous other pieces of evidence that plaintiffs presented describing the community's support of the displays on religious grounds. The ACLU has argued that community reactions and board members' testimony is relevant to demonstrating its contention that the purpose behind displaying the commandments is religious
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Judge urged to make quick ruling on Giles County display of Ten Commandments" by Laurence Hammack, Roanoke Times 4/13/12
While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that placing the Ten Commandments in schools is an illegal form of government-sanctioned religion, attorneys for Liberty Counsel are arguing there are key differences between that case and the one at hand.
Most importantly, they say, both the Ten Commandments and the other documents are part of the school curriculum in Giles County.
The U.S. history textbook used by the county states that values found in the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, inspired American ideas about government and morality.
However, the ACLU argues that the school board responded to a public outcry about religion — not history — when it voted 3-2 last June to put the multi-document display up at Narrows High School.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "ACLU Puts Ten Commandments on Trial" by Liberty Counsel 5/4/12
ACLU of Virginia sued the Giles County School Board after the Board adopted an open forum policy, which permits the display of historical documents by private individuals or groups. A privately-sponsored historical document display consisting of eleven documents, one of which is the Ten Commandments, in equally-sized frames was posted in Narrows High School.
The Virginia Standards of Learning requires students to know about the foundational principles of civilizations, including the Hebrews, and the foundations of law and government. Secular textbooks published by Prentice Hall and McGraw-Hill trace the roots of democracy and law and specifically refer to the Ten Commandments and many of the documents posted as part of the Foundations Display.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "ACLU: Christianity has no place on school board" by Drew ZahnEmail, World Net Daily 5/4/12
. . . according to The Roanoke Times, one of the ACLU’s arguments against the display is a school board member’s admission that he voted to allow the donation based on his own Christian beliefs.
The case Doe v. School Board of Giles County began in 2010, when the Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a complaint over a long-standing display of the Ten Commandments hung at Narrows High School, in Narrows, Va.
. . . despite federal court rulings finding such inclusive displays within constitutional bounds, the ACLU filed suit based in part, according to the [Roanoke Times], on the community’s outcry over the original removal of the 10 Commandments and School Board Member Joseph Gollehon’s admission – when asked if he voted for the display because he was a Christian – “It had right much to do with it.”
But according to Liberty Counsel, which is representing the school board in the case, the actions the board took are entirely constitutional, whether the members happen to be Christian or not.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
National Day of Prayer: Hidden Faith, or Public?
As President Obama proclaims the annual prayer observance, calling it freedom "to pray, worship, or abstain according to the dictates of their conscience," do Christian Americans still enjoy the original intent of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
For background, read Bishops Throw Down Gauntlet: Obama War on Christianity and also read Most Americans Oppose Obama's War on Christianity as well as Supreme Court Says No Crosses; Arlington Neither?
In addition, read Atheists Lose: 'Day of Prayer' Ruled Constitutional
UPDATE 1/17/13: Obama Redefines 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion
UPDATE 9/17/12: Religious Liberty & Anti-Christian Totalitarianism
-- From "Obama on The National Day of Prayer: ‘Let us be humble in our convictions’" by On Faith, Washington Post 5/3/12
As is customary, President Obama issued a presidential proclamation declaring May 3, 2012, this year’s National Day of Prayer. [Excerpts:]
This year, secular advocates are holding a counter-event, calling May 3rd the National Day of Reason.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Religious freedom expert faults Obama’s prayer proclamation" by Michelle Bauman, Catholic News Agency 5/4/12
Since 1952, every U.S. president has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation calling on Americans to give thanks for their blessings and seek divine guidance for the future.
. . . the Obama administration is failing to respect the right to religious freedom, treating it as though it is merely a right to worship, but not to live out one’s beliefs.
[General counsel for the non-profit legal group Advocates for Faith and Freedom, Robert] Tyler explained that the American founders “absolutely” intended for the First Amendment’s religion freedom protections to apply to actions as well as beliefs. This view was carried down throughout most of America’s history, he said.
However, in 1990, the Supreme Court held in Employment Division v. Smith that laws which burden religion are acceptable as long as they are “neutral and generally applicable,” he said.
This ruling “has created quite a problem for the free exercise of religion in America today,” explained Tyler, observing that it has led to the idea that religious freedom merely means “believing whatever you want to believe” and does not extend to cover conduct.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "National Day of Prayer Coincides With 50th Anniversary of Ban on School Prayer" by Luiza Oleszczuk, Christian Post Reporter 5/2/12
As Americans prepare to observe the 61st annual National Day of Prayer this week, the usual debate over interpretation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, specifically the Establishment Clause, also takes center stage. But this year is special, according to some, because the May 3 observance also marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision that invalidated official prayer in public schools.
. . . this year's National Day of Prayer will reopen the debate on the Establishment Clause, which says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." In response to the annual day of prayer, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a secular advocacy group with some 18,000 members, has launched an "Ask Obama to end National Day of Prayer" petition. The group insists the nationwide observance is unconstitutional.
Especially conservative Christians see attacks on the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer as attacks on the freedom of worship.
[The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF)] Christian advocacy organization believes that "as in George Washington's very first address as president, so indeed the first every address by any president to this nation, he called this nation to a day of prayer. The call to prayer has continued throughout our history, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of 'humiliation, fasting, and prayer' in 1863."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Prayer Essential to Save America as well as Congressman: Prayer Needed to Solve America's Problems
Click headlines below to read previous articles on prayer and religious liberty in America:
Jesus' Name Unconstitutional in Public, Says Supreme Court
Supreme Court Forces Atheists into Christian Clubs
Supreme Court Ends Christian Witness on Campus
Jesus, God Almighty Censored at Vermont Graduation
Obama Weakens Christians' 'Conscience Clause'
Supremes Teach Obama Religious Liberty; Church Wins
Atheists Misrepresent U.S. Constitution re: Prayer
New Jersey Teacher Investigated for Christian Beliefs
Teacher Suspended for Christian Beliefs at Home
Students Suspended for Appearance of Silent Prayer
Pastors Booted from NYC Schools, then Arrested
Voluntary Praying at Food Pantry Verboten by Law?
Wisconsin County Yields Prayer to Atheist Threat
School Fights ACLU's Demand Against Prayer, but Loses Fight
Tennessee Teachers' Bowing Heads Verboten
Tennessee Teachers Forbidden Private Christian Lives
Tennessee Struggles for Freedom of Religion - Bullying
Tennessee Law Lets Teachers Pray with Students
School Prayer Amendment Passes in Missouri
Legislators Put Prayer Back in Florida Schools
Principal Upholds 1st Amendment, Atheists Challenge
Virginia County Ignores ACLU Threat over Prayer
North Carolina County Challenges ACLU over Prayer Threat
County Prays in Jesus' Name Despite ACLU Threat
Florida Citizens Defy ACLU by Praying at School
Prayer at Florida County Meetings Will Continue
Mississippi Town Counters Atheists on Prayer in School
Fighting for Jesus: Prayer at Football in Mississippi
For background, read Bishops Throw Down Gauntlet: Obama War on Christianity and also read Most Americans Oppose Obama's War on Christianity as well as Supreme Court Says No Crosses; Arlington Neither?
In addition, read Atheists Lose: 'Day of Prayer' Ruled Constitutional
UPDATE 1/17/13: Obama Redefines 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion
UPDATE 9/17/12: Religious Liberty & Anti-Christian Totalitarianism
-- From "Obama on The National Day of Prayer: ‘Let us be humble in our convictions’" by On Faith, Washington Post 5/3/12
As is customary, President Obama issued a presidential proclamation declaring May 3, 2012, this year’s National Day of Prayer. [Excerpts:]
Prayer has always been a part of the American story . . .Despite the government’s endorsement of the holiday, for years the National Day of Prayer has been criticized, largely by secular activists, as a violation of the principle of the separation of church and state.
On this National Day of Prayer, we give thanks for our democracy that respects the beliefs and protects the religious freedom of all people to pray, worship, or abstain according to the dictates of their conscience. Let us pray for all the citizens of our great Nation, particularly those who are sick, mourning, or without hope, and ask God for the sustenance to meet the challenges we face as a Nation. May we embrace the responsibility we have to each other, and rely on the better angels of our nature in service to one another. Let us be humble in our convictions, and courageous in our virtue. Let us pray for those who are suffering around the world, and let us be open to opportunities to ease that suffering.
This year, secular advocates are holding a counter-event, calling May 3rd the National Day of Reason.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Religious freedom expert faults Obama’s prayer proclamation" by Michelle Bauman, Catholic News Agency 5/4/12
Since 1952, every U.S. president has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation calling on Americans to give thanks for their blessings and seek divine guidance for the future.
. . . the Obama administration is failing to respect the right to religious freedom, treating it as though it is merely a right to worship, but not to live out one’s beliefs.
[General counsel for the non-profit legal group Advocates for Faith and Freedom, Robert] Tyler explained that the American founders “absolutely” intended for the First Amendment’s religion freedom protections to apply to actions as well as beliefs. This view was carried down throughout most of America’s history, he said.
However, in 1990, the Supreme Court held in Employment Division v. Smith that laws which burden religion are acceptable as long as they are “neutral and generally applicable,” he said.
This ruling “has created quite a problem for the free exercise of religion in America today,” explained Tyler, observing that it has led to the idea that religious freedom merely means “believing whatever you want to believe” and does not extend to cover conduct.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "National Day of Prayer Coincides With 50th Anniversary of Ban on School Prayer" by Luiza Oleszczuk, Christian Post Reporter 5/2/12
As Americans prepare to observe the 61st annual National Day of Prayer this week, the usual debate over interpretation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, specifically the Establishment Clause, also takes center stage. But this year is special, according to some, because the May 3 observance also marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision that invalidated official prayer in public schools.
. . . this year's National Day of Prayer will reopen the debate on the Establishment Clause, which says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." In response to the annual day of prayer, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a secular advocacy group with some 18,000 members, has launched an "Ask Obama to end National Day of Prayer" petition. The group insists the nationwide observance is unconstitutional.
Especially conservative Christians see attacks on the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer as attacks on the freedom of worship.
[The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF)] Christian advocacy organization believes that "as in George Washington's very first address as president, so indeed the first every address by any president to this nation, he called this nation to a day of prayer. The call to prayer has continued throughout our history, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of 'humiliation, fasting, and prayer' in 1863."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Prayer Essential to Save America as well as Congressman: Prayer Needed to Solve America's Problems
Click headlines below to read previous articles on prayer and religious liberty in America:
Jesus' Name Unconstitutional in Public, Says Supreme Court
Supreme Court Forces Atheists into Christian Clubs
Supreme Court Ends Christian Witness on Campus
Jesus, God Almighty Censored at Vermont Graduation
Obama Weakens Christians' 'Conscience Clause'
Supremes Teach Obama Religious Liberty; Church Wins
Atheists Misrepresent U.S. Constitution re: Prayer
New Jersey Teacher Investigated for Christian Beliefs
Teacher Suspended for Christian Beliefs at Home
Students Suspended for Appearance of Silent Prayer
Pastors Booted from NYC Schools, then Arrested
Voluntary Praying at Food Pantry Verboten by Law?
Wisconsin County Yields Prayer to Atheist Threat
School Fights ACLU's Demand Against Prayer, but Loses Fight
Tennessee Teachers' Bowing Heads Verboten
Tennessee Teachers Forbidden Private Christian Lives
Tennessee Struggles for Freedom of Religion - Bullying
Tennessee Law Lets Teachers Pray with Students
School Prayer Amendment Passes in Missouri
Legislators Put Prayer Back in Florida Schools
Principal Upholds 1st Amendment, Atheists Challenge
Virginia County Ignores ACLU Threat over Prayer
North Carolina County Challenges ACLU over Prayer Threat
County Prays in Jesus' Name Despite ACLU Threat
Florida Citizens Defy ACLU by Praying at School
Prayer at Florida County Meetings Will Continue
Mississippi Town Counters Atheists on Prayer in School
Fighting for Jesus: Prayer at Football in Mississippi
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
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.
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:
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:
"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."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'
--Dan Savage, Gay Sex Columnist, speaking at Elmhurst College 4/29/12
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:
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Oklahoma GOP & Supreme Court Defeat Personhood
After the Republican-controlled legislature and Republican governor of Oklahoma refused to consider giving unborn children a right to live, the citizen-led personhood referendum campaign was struck down as unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court citing the so-called right to abortion, thus denying the citizens' constitutional rights to petition government.
For background, read Abortionists Fear Personhood Movement Gaining Steam and also read Dems' Life Mission to Kill the Unborn, Says Miss. Governor as well as Colorado Personhood on the Ballot in 2012, Again
-- From "Oklahoma court rejects ballot initiative on 'personhood'" By Steve Olafson, Reuters 4/30/12
Passage of a personhood law or constitutional amendment would have the effect of banning abortion in the state, both supporters and critics have said.
A personhood bill passed the Oklahoma state Senate in February but the state's House of Representatives refused to bring it to a vote last week.
The petition was challenged in court last month by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union and local abortion rights groups.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Oklahoma Personhood Bill Backers Fail To Get Hearing" by The Associated Press 4/26/12
The state Senate-passed personhood bill has not been scheduled for a hearing in the House. But Rep. Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City moved Wednesday evening to suspend state House rules and allow the personhood bill to be immediately debated and voted on.
House Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Hickman of Dacoma, who was presiding over the chamber, ruled that Reynolds' motion was out of order. Hickman says any new business heard by the House must be scheduled with House Floor Leader Dale DeWitt of Braman.
House Speaker Kris Steele of Shawnee says a majority of the Republican caucus has privately voted against hearing the bill.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Oklahoma's top court rejects 'personhood' for embryos" by Michael Winter, USA TODAY 4/30/12
The state's high court ruled [unanimously] that Initiative Petition No. 395, which supporters had hoped to put to voters in November, was "clearly unconstitutional" because if violated a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld a woman's right to an abortion, The Oklahoman says.
Here's what the amendment, also known as State Question No. 761, sought to do:
From "Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects embryo 'personhood' measure" by The Associated Press 4/30/12
The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights filed a protest with the state Supreme Court on behalf of several Oklahoma doctors and residents. They asked the court to stop the group Personhood Oklahoma from gathering signatures.
The ruling is the latest setback for abortion opponents who have been pursuing personhood measures in several states. In December, a judge in Nevada ruled that a personhood initiative petition was vague and could not be circulated for signatures to qualify for the 2012 ballot. Similar proposals were defeated last year in Mississippi and Colorado.
The backers of the signature drive say their goal is to set up a legal challenge to the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that gave women a legal right to abortion
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Okla. court halts 'personhood' rights for embryos" by The Associated Press 5/1/12
Dan Skerbitz of Personhood Oklahoma said the organization's attorneys will have to study the decision before deciding how to proceed. He said that next year, supporters may ask the Legislature to place the issue on a statewide ballot.
Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the ACLU's Oklahoma chapter and a former Democratic lawmaker, said the court's decision Monday supports the notion that a woman and her family, "and not the government," should be making decisions on reproductive health care
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Lessons from the Defeat of the Oklahoma Personhood Bill" by Sarah Morice-Brubaker, Religion Dispatches 4/30/12
Why did SB-1433, the Oklahoma personhood bill, die? Until very recently, most people watching the bill expected it to pass. It passed the senate, it passed the house Public Health and Safety Committee, and Governor Mary Fallin had said that she would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that crossed her desk.
Well, there was a fight, but SB-1433 was never heard, and now the deadline has expired. In the aftermath, it seems to me that two factors contributed to the bill’s defeat: 1) Deep disagreement, between the personhood movement and more mainstream pro-life Oklahoma voters and legislators, on the advisability of amendments to the bill; and 2) The development of ill will between the personhood lobby and the Republican representatives.
To recap: In the past few weeks, Oklahoma house Republicans have been heavily lobbied by both Oklahomans for Life and Personhood Oklahoma (a state affiliate of Personhood USA). Those groups firmly opposed any amendment to the bill — even amendments that would protect access to IVF and birth control, and would clarify that women with life-threatening pregnancies could still receive treatment. Nevertheless, some supporters of the bill continued to claim that SB-1433 was nothing more than a statement of pro-life principles and wouldn’t affect Oklahomans’ access to assisted reproduction, emergency medical treatment, and their chosen form of birth control.
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
For background, read Abortionists Fear Personhood Movement Gaining Steam and also read Dems' Life Mission to Kill the Unborn, Says Miss. Governor as well as Colorado Personhood on the Ballot in 2012, Again
-- From "Oklahoma court rejects ballot initiative on 'personhood'" By Steve Olafson, Reuters 4/30/12
Passage of a personhood law or constitutional amendment would have the effect of banning abortion in the state, both supporters and critics have said.
A personhood bill passed the Oklahoma state Senate in February but the state's House of Representatives refused to bring it to a vote last week.
The petition was challenged in court last month by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union and local abortion rights groups.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Oklahoma Personhood Bill Backers Fail To Get Hearing" by The Associated Press 4/26/12
The state Senate-passed personhood bill has not been scheduled for a hearing in the House. But Rep. Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City moved Wednesday evening to suspend state House rules and allow the personhood bill to be immediately debated and voted on.
House Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Hickman of Dacoma, who was presiding over the chamber, ruled that Reynolds' motion was out of order. Hickman says any new business heard by the House must be scheduled with House Floor Leader Dale DeWitt of Braman.
House Speaker Kris Steele of Shawnee says a majority of the Republican caucus has privately voted against hearing the bill.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Oklahoma's top court rejects 'personhood' for embryos" by Michael Winter, USA TODAY 4/30/12
The state's high court ruled [unanimously] that Initiative Petition No. 395, which supporters had hoped to put to voters in November, was "clearly unconstitutional" because if violated a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld a woman's right to an abortion, The Oklahoman says.
Here's what the amendment, also known as State Question No. 761, sought to do:
This measure adds a new section to the Oklahoma Constitution to reconcile recent scientific developments with the definition of a human being for the purpose of equal protection under the law. The proposed amendment expands the legal definition of humanity or "personhood" to include every human being, regardless of place of residence, race, gender, age, disability, health, level of function, condition of dependency, or method of reproduction, from the beginning of biological development to the end of natural life. The amendment applies the term "person" under the Oklahoma Constitution equally to every human being so defined and prohibits the intentional killing of any such "person" without due process of law.To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects embryo 'personhood' measure" by The Associated Press 4/30/12
The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights filed a protest with the state Supreme Court on behalf of several Oklahoma doctors and residents. They asked the court to stop the group Personhood Oklahoma from gathering signatures.
The ruling is the latest setback for abortion opponents who have been pursuing personhood measures in several states. In December, a judge in Nevada ruled that a personhood initiative petition was vague and could not be circulated for signatures to qualify for the 2012 ballot. Similar proposals were defeated last year in Mississippi and Colorado.
The backers of the signature drive say their goal is to set up a legal challenge to the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that gave women a legal right to abortion
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Okla. court halts 'personhood' rights for embryos" by The Associated Press 5/1/12
Dan Skerbitz of Personhood Oklahoma said the organization's attorneys will have to study the decision before deciding how to proceed. He said that next year, supporters may ask the Legislature to place the issue on a statewide ballot.
Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the ACLU's Oklahoma chapter and a former Democratic lawmaker, said the court's decision Monday supports the notion that a woman and her family, "and not the government," should be making decisions on reproductive health care
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Lessons from the Defeat of the Oklahoma Personhood Bill" by Sarah Morice-Brubaker, Religion Dispatches 4/30/12
Why did SB-1433, the Oklahoma personhood bill, die? Until very recently, most people watching the bill expected it to pass. It passed the senate, it passed the house Public Health and Safety Committee, and Governor Mary Fallin had said that she would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that crossed her desk.
Well, there was a fight, but SB-1433 was never heard, and now the deadline has expired. In the aftermath, it seems to me that two factors contributed to the bill’s defeat: 1) Deep disagreement, between the personhood movement and more mainstream pro-life Oklahoma voters and legislators, on the advisability of amendments to the bill; and 2) The development of ill will between the personhood lobby and the Republican representatives.
To recap: In the past few weeks, Oklahoma house Republicans have been heavily lobbied by both Oklahomans for Life and Personhood Oklahoma (a state affiliate of Personhood USA). Those groups firmly opposed any amendment to the bill — even amendments that would protect access to IVF and birth control, and would clarify that women with life-threatening pregnancies could still receive treatment. Nevertheless, some supporters of the bill continued to claim that SB-1433 was nothing more than a statement of pro-life principles and wouldn’t affect Oklahomans’ access to assisted reproduction, emergency medical treatment, and their chosen form of birth control.
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Dartmouth Expands Sex-blind Dorm Room Assignments
In its policy to allow anybody room with anybody, Dartmouth College is supporting the Gay Agenda proposition that there are not two genders, but rather a spectrum of gender where no one is male or female.
But for some, reality hits home:
UPDATE 5/3/12: Princeton, UPenn, Chicago Now Offer ‘Gender-Neutral Housing' for Undergrads
-- From "College to expand gender-neutral housing options in fall" by Amelia Acosta, The Dartmouth Staff 4/26/12
As Dartmouth students gear up for room draw, they will have additional options for gender-neutral housing . . .
The Housing Office has seen “a lot of interest” in more options for male and female cohabitation on campus, [student housing intern, Maia] Matsushita said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Dartmouth: Dorm Assignments Will Not be 'Limited by Traditional Gender Binary'" by Susan Jones, CNSNews.com 4/30/12
People who wish to join the gender-neutral affinity program must fill out a special application, which asks, among other things, if a student is male, female, or intersex. It also poses the question, "Do you have a third-person pronoun you prefer to be addressed by? If so, which one?"
For the class of 2014, Dartmouth says it received 18,778 applications, and of that number, 1,139 students were enrolled.
Undergraduate tuition, room, board and mandatory fees run around $55,365 a year.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read More Than Two Genders, Kindergartners Taught
But for some, reality hits home:
“It would theoretically be a good idea [but] . . . We all use the same bathrooms, and you can’t really have boys and girls using the same bathroom in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable.”For background, read Rutgers Co-ed Dorms & Showers: Gay Agenda and also read Co-ed Locker Rooms at Iowa College - Anything Goes
-- Anoush Arakelian, student housing intern
UPDATE 5/3/12: Princeton, UPenn, Chicago Now Offer ‘Gender-Neutral Housing' for Undergrads
-- From "College to expand gender-neutral housing options in fall" by Amelia Acosta, The Dartmouth Staff 4/26/12
As Dartmouth students gear up for room draw, they will have additional options for gender-neutral housing . . .
The Housing Office has seen “a lot of interest” in more options for male and female cohabitation on campus, [student housing intern, Maia] Matsushita said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Dartmouth: Dorm Assignments Will Not be 'Limited by Traditional Gender Binary'" by Susan Jones, CNSNews.com 4/30/12
People who wish to join the gender-neutral affinity program must fill out a special application, which asks, among other things, if a student is male, female, or intersex. It also poses the question, "Do you have a third-person pronoun you prefer to be addressed by? If so, which one?"
For the class of 2014, Dartmouth says it received 18,778 applications, and of that number, 1,139 students were enrolled.
Undergraduate tuition, room, board and mandatory fees run around $55,365 a year.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read More Than Two Genders, Kindergartners Taught
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Dems' Life Mission to Kill the Unborn, Says Governor
Speaking about the Democrat party, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said on talk radio that “their one mission in life is to abort children, is to kill children in the womb.”
UPDATE 2/24/14: Abortion Rate Declines, Democrats Want More Access
UPDATE 11/8/13: Increase New York Abortions, Promises Mayor De Blasio
UPDATE 7/14/13: Democrats Want Blacks & Hispanics Aborted in Texas
UPDATE 10/28/12: Democrats Vote for Abortion, Christians Pray for Life
For background, read Jimmy Carter Says Democrats Wrong on Abortion and also read First Abortion-free State May Be Mississippi as well as Personhood Loses in Mississippi
-- From "Miss. Gov. Phil Bryant tells radio host the left’s ‘one mission in life is to abort children’" by The Associated Press 4/25/12
The governor was discussing a new abortion restriction law requiring doctors who perform abortions at a clinic to be certified OB-GYNs with admitting privileges at a local hospital. He said opposition to the bill came from the political left.
The House Democratic leader says Bryant’s comments went “totally, totally too far,” especially because Mississippi voters rejected a personhood amendment declaring life begins at conception.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bryant: Left’s mission is to abort children" by Jeff Amy, Associated Press 4/26/12
“The hypocrisy of the left, that now tried to kill this bill, that says I should have never signed it, the true hypocrisy is that their one mission in life is to abort children, is to kill children in the womb,” Bryant told [radio host Tim] Wildmon. “And it doesn’t really matter, they don’t care that if the mother’s life is in jeopardy, that if something goes wrong, a doctor can’t admit them to a local hospital, that he’s not even board-certified.”
During his campaign last fall, Bryant co-chaired with Wildmon’s father, [American Family Association] founder Donald Wildmon, an effort to pass a state constitutional amendment saying life begins at fertilization. Supporters of that “personhood” amendment believed it would provide a new avenue to challenge legalized abortion.
Days before 58 percent of Mississippi voters rejected the measure, Bryant appeared at a pro-personhood rally in Tupelo with Donald Wildmon and U.S. Rep Alan Nunnelee, a Tupelo Republican. There, Bryant said if voters were to reject the amendment, “Satan wins.” He called the campaign “a battle of good and evil of Biblical proportion.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Governor's Comments Raise Eyebrows" by Mike McDaniel, WTOK-TV11 (Jackson, MS) 4/26/12
Bryant's spokesman says the governor isn't backing down from what he said and in a statement says, "Gov. Bryant has not hidden from his commitment to defending life, and he will continue working toward his stated goal of making Mississippi abortion-free. His comments were directed at those who insist that the unborn do not have the right to life."
Bryant went on to say in the interview he wants to end abortion in the state which has been his position since he began his campaign for governor.
"That's what I said and that's what I intend to do," said Bryant.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 2/24/14: Abortion Rate Declines, Democrats Want More Access
UPDATE 11/8/13: Increase New York Abortions, Promises Mayor De Blasio
UPDATE 7/14/13: Democrats Want Blacks & Hispanics Aborted in Texas
UPDATE 10/28/12: Democrats Vote for Abortion, Christians Pray for Life
For background, read Jimmy Carter Says Democrats Wrong on Abortion and also read First Abortion-free State May Be Mississippi as well as Personhood Loses in Mississippi
-- From "Miss. Gov. Phil Bryant tells radio host the left’s ‘one mission in life is to abort children’" by The Associated Press 4/25/12
The governor was discussing a new abortion restriction law requiring doctors who perform abortions at a clinic to be certified OB-GYNs with admitting privileges at a local hospital. He said opposition to the bill came from the political left.
The House Democratic leader says Bryant’s comments went “totally, totally too far,” especially because Mississippi voters rejected a personhood amendment declaring life begins at conception.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bryant: Left’s mission is to abort children" by Jeff Amy, Associated Press 4/26/12
“The hypocrisy of the left, that now tried to kill this bill, that says I should have never signed it, the true hypocrisy is that their one mission in life is to abort children, is to kill children in the womb,” Bryant told [radio host Tim] Wildmon. “And it doesn’t really matter, they don’t care that if the mother’s life is in jeopardy, that if something goes wrong, a doctor can’t admit them to a local hospital, that he’s not even board-certified.”
During his campaign last fall, Bryant co-chaired with Wildmon’s father, [American Family Association] founder Donald Wildmon, an effort to pass a state constitutional amendment saying life begins at fertilization. Supporters of that “personhood” amendment believed it would provide a new avenue to challenge legalized abortion.
Days before 58 percent of Mississippi voters rejected the measure, Bryant appeared at a pro-personhood rally in Tupelo with Donald Wildmon and U.S. Rep Alan Nunnelee, a Tupelo Republican. There, Bryant said if voters were to reject the amendment, “Satan wins.” He called the campaign “a battle of good and evil of Biblical proportion.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Governor's Comments Raise Eyebrows" by Mike McDaniel, WTOK-TV11 (Jackson, MS) 4/26/12
Bryant's spokesman says the governor isn't backing down from what he said and in a statement says, "Gov. Bryant has not hidden from his commitment to defending life, and he will continue working toward his stated goal of making Mississippi abortion-free. His comments were directed at those who insist that the unborn do not have the right to life."
Bryant went on to say in the interview he wants to end abortion in the state which has been his position since he began his campaign for governor.
"That's what I said and that's what I intend to do," said Bryant.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
'Queer as Porn' Showing, Lecture at Mass. College
A gay endowment is being used to fund a queer weekend of events at Williams College, beginning with a pornographic screening followed by a lecture by the transgender star of the film, Jiz Lee. The college reports that a half-dozen alumni and one lone parent have complained.
-- From "[minimal]Outrage after transgender porn star is invited to give lecture at elite New England college" by UK Daily Mail Reporter 4/27/12
Jiz Lee has performed in over 100 films, some of which will be screened Friday evening at Williams College, one of the most prestigious schools in the country.
Lee was invited by the Queer Student Union to discuss her experience with porn and its relationship to personal empowerment.
Lee, a transgender star, will also discuss the visibility of the queer and trans communities in adult film as well as self-love, body positivity and consent.
The entire weekend will feature events sponsored by the Dively Committee for Human Sexuality and Diversity's 20th anniversary.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Campus-sponsored talk by 'genderqueer' porn star raises eyebrows at Williams College" by Molly Line, FoxNews.com 4/27/12
Founded in 1991 through a gift from Mike Dively, a 1961 graduate, the Dively Committee for Human Sexuality and Diversity is made up of faculty, staff and students who plan events each year. Bisexual activists, gay athletes, transgender performers and a wide variety of others have been welcomed to speak.
"For me I think the biggest question right now is a matter of whether the event has academic merit or whether it has social merit," said Marina Bousa, a junior studying anthropology at the college in Williamstown, Mass.
"I think that pornography is an issue, is a medium that deserves critical analysis, just like many other topics at Williams College, and I think this is a really good opportunity to engage in critical analysis," said Haley Eagon, a junior pursuing a double major in political science and women's, gender and sexuality studies
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
-- From "[minimal]Outrage after transgender porn star is invited to give lecture at elite New England college" by UK Daily Mail Reporter 4/27/12
Jiz Lee has performed in over 100 films, some of which will be screened Friday evening at Williams College, one of the most prestigious schools in the country.
Lee was invited by the Queer Student Union to discuss her experience with porn and its relationship to personal empowerment.
Lee, a transgender star, will also discuss the visibility of the queer and trans communities in adult film as well as self-love, body positivity and consent.
The entire weekend will feature events sponsored by the Dively Committee for Human Sexuality and Diversity's 20th anniversary.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Campus-sponsored talk by 'genderqueer' porn star raises eyebrows at Williams College" by Molly Line, FoxNews.com 4/27/12
Founded in 1991 through a gift from Mike Dively, a 1961 graduate, the Dively Committee for Human Sexuality and Diversity is made up of faculty, staff and students who plan events each year. Bisexual activists, gay athletes, transgender performers and a wide variety of others have been welcomed to speak.
"For me I think the biggest question right now is a matter of whether the event has academic merit or whether it has social merit," said Marina Bousa, a junior studying anthropology at the college in Williamstown, Mass.
"I think that pornography is an issue, is a medium that deserves critical analysis, just like many other topics at Williams College, and I think this is a really good opportunity to engage in critical analysis," said Haley Eagon, a junior pursuing a double major in political science and women's, gender and sexuality studies
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Boy Scouts Hold Rules on Gays, Liberals Outraged, Again
A lesbian leading a Cub Scout pack in Ohio, breaking the rule against homosexual leaders, has recently been dismissed from the Boy Scouts of America. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the prerogative of the Boy Scouts to restrict its leadership/membership as such, but now homosexualists, backed by Hollywood and various liberals, have launched a P.R. campaign to ruin the organization, even using Mitt Romney's own statements in their favor.
UPDATE 7/28/15 — Demise of Boy Scouts: Male Homosexual Leaders OKd
For background, read Republicans Accepting Gay Agenda More and More and also read Homosexualists Cost Philadelphia $860,000 to Boy Scouts
UPDATE 7/17/12: Boy Scouts reaffirms traditional male/female rules after 2-year review
UPDATE 6/7/12: Boy Scouts tells homosexualists the organization won't change its standards
UPDATE 6/26/12: Obama creating pro-gay Boy Scouts?
UPDATE 5/1/12: Pro-homosexual, Democrat Scout Board Member Resigns
-- From "Boy Scouts dismisses lesbian den leader" by UPI 4/26/12
Jennifer Tyrell, a 32-year-old Bridgeport mother of four, withdrew her 7-year-old son from the Boy Scouts of America when she was recently dismissed after serving as leader of his Cub pack for several months.
Tyrell is working with Change.org, a liberal political group, on a campaign to raise awareness about the Boy Scouts' policy toward gays and lesbians. She said she gathered 140,000 signatures and said she hopes to push the organization to accept gay leaders and scouts.
The organization said it respects people's right to a different opinion.
"Scouting will continue to teach our members to treat everyone with courtesy and respect," the [BSA] statement said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Lesbian Cub Scout Leader Ousted in Ohio; Homosexual Activists Promise Another Fight" by John Seewer, Associated Press 4/26/12
. . . Tyrrell traveled to New York from her home in Bridgeport, Ohio, to build momentum for a petition to overturn what she says are Ohio Boy Scout's anti-gay policies . . .
The Boy Scouts of America, whose oath calls for members to be "morally straight," maintains that as a private organization it has the right to exclude gays and atheists from its ranks.
That stance was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 but has led many state and local governments to deny support for the Scouts.
The organization said it believes Scouting is not the right place for youngsters to be exposed to issues of sexual orientation.
Because of the policy, Tyrrell said she only reluctantly allowed her 7-year-old son to join up in Bridgeport, where she lives with her partner and their four children. Told, she said, by the local cub master that it didn't matter that she is a lesbian, she was drafted to lead the pack in September.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Hollywood stars support lesbian den mother ousted from Boy Scouts" by Nancy Dillon, New York Daily News 4/23/12
Jennifer Tyrrell has collected more than 126,000 signatures for a petition on Change.org that urges the Boy Scouts of America to end their policy banning gay youth and den leaders.
“Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson along with TV stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson from ABC’s hit sitcom “Modern Family” and Max Adler from Fox’s “Glee” all signed the petition and lent their support at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defemation’s Media Awards Saturday night, an event spokesman confirmed.
“I feel as though I’m right in this, and I feel one day they’ll realize that,” Tyrrell told the Daily News Monday.
“Hopefully, with the amount of signatures we’ve collected in less than a week, we’ll send a huge statement to the Boy Scouts of America — that people are ready for a change.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 7/28/15 — Demise of Boy Scouts: Male Homosexual Leaders OKd
For background, read Republicans Accepting Gay Agenda More and More and also read Homosexualists Cost Philadelphia $860,000 to Boy Scouts
UPDATE 7/17/12: Boy Scouts reaffirms traditional male/female rules after 2-year review
UPDATE 6/7/12: Boy Scouts tells homosexualists the organization won't change its standards
UPDATE 6/26/12: Obama creating pro-gay Boy Scouts?
UPDATE 5/1/12: Pro-homosexual, Democrat Scout Board Member Resigns
-- From "Boy Scouts dismisses lesbian den leader" by UPI 4/26/12
Jennifer Tyrell, a 32-year-old Bridgeport mother of four, withdrew her 7-year-old son from the Boy Scouts of America when she was recently dismissed after serving as leader of his Cub pack for several months.
Tyrell is working with Change.org, a liberal political group, on a campaign to raise awareness about the Boy Scouts' policy toward gays and lesbians. She said she gathered 140,000 signatures and said she hopes to push the organization to accept gay leaders and scouts.
The organization said it respects people's right to a different opinion.
"Scouting will continue to teach our members to treat everyone with courtesy and respect," the [BSA] statement said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Lesbian Cub Scout Leader Ousted in Ohio; Homosexual Activists Promise Another Fight" by John Seewer, Associated Press 4/26/12
. . . Tyrrell traveled to New York from her home in Bridgeport, Ohio, to build momentum for a petition to overturn what she says are Ohio Boy Scout's anti-gay policies . . .
The Boy Scouts of America, whose oath calls for members to be "morally straight," maintains that as a private organization it has the right to exclude gays and atheists from its ranks.
That stance was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 but has led many state and local governments to deny support for the Scouts.
The organization said it believes Scouting is not the right place for youngsters to be exposed to issues of sexual orientation.
Because of the policy, Tyrrell said she only reluctantly allowed her 7-year-old son to join up in Bridgeport, where she lives with her partner and their four children. Told, she said, by the local cub master that it didn't matter that she is a lesbian, she was drafted to lead the pack in September.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Hollywood stars support lesbian den mother ousted from Boy Scouts" by Nancy Dillon, New York Daily News 4/23/12
Jennifer Tyrrell has collected more than 126,000 signatures for a petition on Change.org that urges the Boy Scouts of America to end their policy banning gay youth and den leaders.
“Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson along with TV stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson from ABC’s hit sitcom “Modern Family” and Max Adler from Fox’s “Glee” all signed the petition and lent their support at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defemation’s Media Awards Saturday night, an event spokesman confirmed.
“I feel as though I’m right in this, and I feel one day they’ll realize that,” Tyrrell told the Daily News Monday.
“Hopefully, with the amount of signatures we’ve collected in less than a week, we’ll send a huge statement to the Boy Scouts of America — that people are ready for a change.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Atheists Want WWI Memorial Cross Demolished in RI
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that a cross outside of the fire station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, as well as a prayer on the department website, be removed because both are unconstitutional. Citizens overwhelmingly support the 1921 memorial to fallen World War I soldiers, some arguing that the cross is NOT in reference to Christianity.
UPDATE 5/3/12 "We're 'going to battle against these atheists all the way back to Wisconsin'" (video):
-- From "Cross in Woonsocket called unconstitutional" by The Associated Press 4/24/12
The Woonsocket Call reports that the Madison, Wis.-based [atheist] group sent Mayor Leo Fontaine a letter calling the cross' display in the parking lot of the fire department "unlawful" because of the separation of church and state.
The foundation says an image of an angel and "The Fire Fighter's Prayer" on the department's website are also unconstitutional.
The group says it received a complaint from a local resident, but officials in Woonsocket are skeptical. Fontaine says the monument has been there for 97 years and no one has had a problem with it.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Mayor keeping options open, calls atheists 'knuckleheads'" by Dee DeQuattro, WPRO News (Radio 630/99.7FM) 4/25/12
“It’s one of those things that you want to try to dismiss because, you know, a couple knuckle heads out in Wisconsin have an idea that they feel offended about something and suddenly everybody has to jump for them and I don’t want to have to resort to that but I also don’t want to be unprepared either,” [Mayor Leo] Fontaine told WPRO’s John DePetro.
State Representative Jon Brien from Woonsocket agreed with Fontaine, “What I just heard is so ludicrous its even hard to believe,” Brien told the WPRO Morning News with Tara Granahan and Andrew Gobeil, “This is an organized war on religion, but not religion in general it is a war on Catholicism.”
“They can do it now because they know city and towns are broke so they are not going to be able to put up the money to fight them the way that they normally would,” said Brien.
Fontaine said he doesn’t view the monument as religious in nature. “This cross is there primarily as part of a war memorial and not so much to symbolize the Christian cross but To signify the crosses over thousands and thousands of graves of American soldier who fought and gave their lives for very freedom that this freedom from religion group operates under,” said Fontaine.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Woonsocket Council president defends cross on war memorial" by Mike McKinney, Providence Journal 4/25/12
City Council President John F. Ward . . . said the memorial being criticized by the Freedom From Religion Foundation is a historical monument, dedicated to people from Woonsocket who gave their lives in the two World Wars, not a religious one.
"I think the organization is completely off base in their objections," Ward said. He said if "they were right then we would have to rebuild the Supreme Court houses in Washington," remove monuments across the country, "and we would have to close the Arlington National Cemetery."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bishop Tobin weighs in on war monument, calls atheists bullies" by Dee DeQuattro, WPRO News (Radio 630/99.7FM) 4/26/12
Bishop Tobin says the challenge to the war monument that features a cross in Woonsocket by a Wisconsin atheist group is a “serious attack on religious expression and religious freedom” and that the atheists are bullying those who have faith.
“We are seeing a slow but steady erosion of a basic American value and that is the freedom of religious expression,” said Tobin. Tobin said the cross should not be taken down but he is open to relocating it to an area of more prominence where it will not be an “issue.” Mayor Leo Fontaine of Woonsocket said he is looking at spaces on private land that the monument could be relocated to if necessary. A rally scheduled for next Wednesday May, 2 at 4:30 p.m. at the monument aims to urge the city to keep the monument where it is.
Tobin told John DePetro that religion is everywhere in American society and various faiths are represented. He said that it is impossible for someone “offended” by the presence of religion to avoid it completely so they need to come to terms with it. “It is very hard to be immune to all that. If people are offended by that they have to deal with their issues,” said Tobin. “They cannot live in a bubble. They cannot isolate themselves completely from every religious expression in our nation, in our culture, in our society.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Cross in group's crosshairs" by Russ Olivo, The Call (Woonsocket, RI) 4/23/12
On April 13, the Madison, Wisc.-based foundation sent Mayor Leo T. Fontaine a letter calling the display of the “Latin cross” on public property “unlawful” and demanding that the situation be rectified.
Sprinkled with references to case law affirming the separation of religion and government, the warning has sparked outrage among veterans, city officials and many others in this overwhelmingly Roman Catholic enclave.
“It’s a jobs program for lawyers with nothing better to do,” says [Council President] Ward. “I have serious doubts that someone actually reached out to them to file a complaint.”
But city officials take the threat seriously. FFRF is a well-heeled organization whose track record proves it’s not bashful about backing up the tough talk with action. It’s taken on numerous high-profile legal battles over the church-state divide and has won many. It has a litigation fund that’s reportedly in the vicinity of $5.5 million and, by its own accounting, is presently pressing complaints in 11 states, including Pennsylvania, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Tennessee, Virginia and others.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
“The majority now is being bullied by the minority, by the atheists and by the secularists and we feel like we are on the defensive . . .”For background, read Supreme Court Says No Crosses; Arlington Neither? and also read Federal Appeals Court Rules Cross Unconstitutional as well as Court Ruling Removes Prayer Banner from Cranston RI School
-- Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin
UPDATE 5/3/12 "We're 'going to battle against these atheists all the way back to Wisconsin'" (video):
-- From "Cross in Woonsocket called unconstitutional" by The Associated Press 4/24/12
The Woonsocket Call reports that the Madison, Wis.-based [atheist] group sent Mayor Leo Fontaine a letter calling the cross' display in the parking lot of the fire department "unlawful" because of the separation of church and state.
The foundation says an image of an angel and "The Fire Fighter's Prayer" on the department's website are also unconstitutional.
The group says it received a complaint from a local resident, but officials in Woonsocket are skeptical. Fontaine says the monument has been there for 97 years and no one has had a problem with it.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Mayor keeping options open, calls atheists 'knuckleheads'" by Dee DeQuattro, WPRO News (Radio 630/99.7FM) 4/25/12
“It’s one of those things that you want to try to dismiss because, you know, a couple knuckle heads out in Wisconsin have an idea that they feel offended about something and suddenly everybody has to jump for them and I don’t want to have to resort to that but I also don’t want to be unprepared either,” [Mayor Leo] Fontaine told WPRO’s John DePetro.
State Representative Jon Brien from Woonsocket agreed with Fontaine, “What I just heard is so ludicrous its even hard to believe,” Brien told the WPRO Morning News with Tara Granahan and Andrew Gobeil, “This is an organized war on religion, but not religion in general it is a war on Catholicism.”
“They can do it now because they know city and towns are broke so they are not going to be able to put up the money to fight them the way that they normally would,” said Brien.
Fontaine said he doesn’t view the monument as religious in nature. “This cross is there primarily as part of a war memorial and not so much to symbolize the Christian cross but To signify the crosses over thousands and thousands of graves of American soldier who fought and gave their lives for very freedom that this freedom from religion group operates under,” said Fontaine.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Woonsocket Council president defends cross on war memorial" by Mike McKinney, Providence Journal 4/25/12
City Council President John F. Ward . . . said the memorial being criticized by the Freedom From Religion Foundation is a historical monument, dedicated to people from Woonsocket who gave their lives in the two World Wars, not a religious one.
"I think the organization is completely off base in their objections," Ward said. He said if "they were right then we would have to rebuild the Supreme Court houses in Washington," remove monuments across the country, "and we would have to close the Arlington National Cemetery."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bishop Tobin weighs in on war monument, calls atheists bullies" by Dee DeQuattro, WPRO News (Radio 630/99.7FM) 4/26/12
Bishop Tobin says the challenge to the war monument that features a cross in Woonsocket by a Wisconsin atheist group is a “serious attack on religious expression and religious freedom” and that the atheists are bullying those who have faith.
“We are seeing a slow but steady erosion of a basic American value and that is the freedom of religious expression,” said Tobin. Tobin said the cross should not be taken down but he is open to relocating it to an area of more prominence where it will not be an “issue.” Mayor Leo Fontaine of Woonsocket said he is looking at spaces on private land that the monument could be relocated to if necessary. A rally scheduled for next Wednesday May, 2 at 4:30 p.m. at the monument aims to urge the city to keep the monument where it is.
Tobin told John DePetro that religion is everywhere in American society and various faiths are represented. He said that it is impossible for someone “offended” by the presence of religion to avoid it completely so they need to come to terms with it. “It is very hard to be immune to all that. If people are offended by that they have to deal with their issues,” said Tobin. “They cannot live in a bubble. They cannot isolate themselves completely from every religious expression in our nation, in our culture, in our society.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Cross in group's crosshairs" by Russ Olivo, The Call (Woonsocket, RI) 4/23/12
On April 13, the Madison, Wisc.-based foundation sent Mayor Leo T. Fontaine a letter calling the display of the “Latin cross” on public property “unlawful” and demanding that the situation be rectified.
Sprinkled with references to case law affirming the separation of religion and government, the warning has sparked outrage among veterans, city officials and many others in this overwhelmingly Roman Catholic enclave.
“It’s a jobs program for lawyers with nothing better to do,” says [Council President] Ward. “I have serious doubts that someone actually reached out to them to file a complaint.”
But city officials take the threat seriously. FFRF is a well-heeled organization whose track record proves it’s not bashful about backing up the tough talk with action. It’s taken on numerous high-profile legal battles over the church-state divide and has won many. It has a litigation fund that’s reportedly in the vicinity of $5.5 million and, by its own accounting, is presently pressing complaints in 11 states, including Pennsylvania, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Tennessee, Virginia and others.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
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