Police are investigating allegations that a male substitute teacher, hired months ago, raped a 7-year-old boy at Mahalia Jackson Elementary School in Central City, Louisiana during PE class, Orleans Parish School Board officials have confirmed.
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Illinois Homosexual Teacher Arrested on Child Porn
Third Grade Boys Mimic Homosexual Abuse at California School
Drama-teaching Gay Sex Offenders: California Trend
Pennsylvania Homosexual Teacher Jailed: Paying Boys to Sext Him
Oregon Trains Pre-teens in Masturbation, Anal Sex
Also read President Obama Pays Pre-teens to Learn Anal Sex in Hawaii
-- From "NOPD: 7-year-old student sexually assaulted by coach in Central City" posted at WDSU-TV 6 (New Orleans, LA) 12/9/14
The New Orleans Police Department said officers were notified of the incident Monday morning in the 2400 block of Jackson Avenue.
The NOPD said the sexual assault happened between a 7-year-old boy and a substitute coach. Both of their identities were not released.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Substitute teacher accused of raping boy, 7, at Central City school" by Danny Monteverde, New Orleans Advocate 12/10/14
Stan Smith, interim superintendent of the School Board, said the incident allegedly happened sometime last week on the campus of Mahalia Jackson Elementary School in the 2400 block of Jackson Avenue. The boy’s parents reported it to school officials Monday, he said.
The crime log listed the incident as an aggravated rape.
A person must pass a background check to be able to work for the School Board as a substitute or full-time employee, Smith said. The person under investigation underwent a background check and passed it, he said.
“There was nothing in the background check that noted anything on this individual,” Smith said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Most Americans Say Gay Men Untrustworthy with Boys
In addition, read Pedophilia is Sexual Orientation, Like 'Being Gay' and also read Normalization of Pedophilia Urged by Psychiatrists
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
San Fran. Parents Want Abortionists Out of School
San Francisco Bay Area parents, along with their lawyers, are petitioning the Acalanes Union High School District in Lafayette, California to break its teaching contract with Planned Parenthood. The parents say the school should not pay abortionists to sexualize their 13-year-old children with “Sex Check! Are You Ready For Sex?” worksheets urging kids to ask each other, “Do you want to go back to my place?” and “Is it OK if I take my pants off?”
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Abortionist in Massachusetts School Opposed by Parents
Oregon Parents Want Obama-paid Abortionist out of School
Oregon Trains Pre-teens in Masturbation, Anal Sex
President Obama Pays Pre-teens to Learn Anal Sex in Hawaii
Texas School Trains 12-year-olds in Oral, Anal Sex
Also read how Planned Parenthood teams up with schools by providing "kinky sex trainers" for kids across America.
-- From "Sex education battle erupts in Lafayette" by Jana Katsuyama, Reporter, KTVU-TV2 (Oakland, CA) 11/6/14
The controversy stems from a parent of an Acalanes High School student who objected to the sex education program presented by Planned Parenthood.
The school says parents are notified in advance and allowed to opt out, but the parent Robin Longchamps says the district did not provide enough information.
Emily Poon, a college student from Pleasant Hill, was joined by about a dozen other college students who showed up carrying signs opposing Planned Parenthood.
"They have school nurses here that could do the job [of teaching sex ed]," Poon said.
Planned Parenthood says their curriculum does not include abortion, but they do address it if a student raises the question.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Critics want Planned Parenthood out of Acalanes High School" by Jennifer Baires, Contra Costa Times 11/04/14
"Our board has long supported comprehensive sexual health and HIV/AID prevention," [Superintendent John] Nickerson said. "Planned Parenthood has been utilized as a consultant for well over 10 years in some of our schools."
"We have to give 10 days notice of what we're going to be teaching when it comes to this unit, and that information was provided ahead of time with the topics that would be covered," [Acalanes Principal Allison Silvestri] said. "The instructor followed ed. code and the curriculum we had agreed upon," she added. "I was very pleased with the professionalism."
Nickerson and Silvestri both said it is common practice to contract this curriculum out with Planned Parenthood because their people are more up-to-date than instructors at the school, and are often more comfortable talking with teenagers about the subject matter.
"It's a divisive issue and the school principal and superintendent and school board should have known better than to have (Planned Parenthood) come in exclusively," said Giglio, calling it a "pro-choice organization." "There are plenty of other organizations they could have asked."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Parents angry after school tells 13-year-olds they can have sex, choose gender" by Perry Chiaramonte, FoxNews.com 12/10/14
“[Parents] are very concerned,” Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal organization that is assisting the concerned parents, told FoxNews.com. “Planned Parenthood is not exactly the best when it comes to putting young people first.
They were also taught about gender identity with the “Genderbread Person,” a play on the name of the holiday cookie, to teach them on how to identify themselves as either, “agender,” “bigender,” and “two spirit” to name a few.
“Our daughter took this course two years ago, after being provided the opportunity to opt out of the class,” John Lyons, whose two children attend AHS, told FoxNews.com. “The opt-out form provided a handful of bullet points about what the course would cover. After completing the course, it was apparent that some of what was ‘taught’ went beyond what was represented on the opt-out form. This is disappointing to us, because we are actually strong supporters of teen sex education in a peer environment to complement our home-based discussions.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "School Stirs Controversy with 'Genderbread,' Sex Checklists" by Brad Dacus, posted at Standard Newswire 12/8/14
Parents of freshmen at Acalanes High School [AHS] in Lafayette started asking questions after students began reporting disturbing behavior in a sex ed class at the school. Students reported that instructors threw a model of female reproductive organs at a student and that the instruction left them feeling pressured to have sex. The parents eventually obtained documents from the school district that confirmed their fears and indicate that some of the instruction may have been illegal.
Pacific Justice Institute has begun working with the parents in Lafayette. PJI sent a letter to the district on Nov. 24 raising "serious concerns" as to the legality of the program and included requests for public records. The district briefly responded Dec. 4 to insist that it needed an additional two weeks to locate the records.
Meanwhile, parents have collected more than 100 signatures on a petition and are working to educate the school community about what is happening behind closed doors at AHS. To date, the district and AHS principal have resisted calls to pull the program, which is scheduled to start back up in January. A number of parents are expected to speak out about the program at a Dec. 10 school board meeting.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Abortionists' Sex Ed Banned from Louisiana Schools
"This [sex education] is nothing but a sales meeting. They're accessing students to find present and future [Planned Parenthood] clients without parents understanding what is going on in the classroom."UPDATE 2/7/15: Acalanes Parents Expose Sex Worker Abortionist Teachers
-- Camille Giglio, taxpaying resident of Walnut Creek, CA
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Abortionist in Massachusetts School Opposed by Parents
Oregon Parents Want Obama-paid Abortionist out of School
Oregon Trains Pre-teens in Masturbation, Anal Sex
President Obama Pays Pre-teens to Learn Anal Sex in Hawaii
Texas School Trains 12-year-olds in Oral, Anal Sex
Also read how Planned Parenthood teams up with schools by providing "kinky sex trainers" for kids across America.
-- From "Sex education battle erupts in Lafayette" by Jana Katsuyama, Reporter, KTVU-TV2 (Oakland, CA) 11/6/14
The controversy stems from a parent of an Acalanes High School student who objected to the sex education program presented by Planned Parenthood.
The school says parents are notified in advance and allowed to opt out, but the parent Robin Longchamps says the district did not provide enough information.
Emily Poon, a college student from Pleasant Hill, was joined by about a dozen other college students who showed up carrying signs opposing Planned Parenthood.
"They have school nurses here that could do the job [of teaching sex ed]," Poon said.
Planned Parenthood says their curriculum does not include abortion, but they do address it if a student raises the question.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Critics want Planned Parenthood out of Acalanes High School" by Jennifer Baires, Contra Costa Times 11/04/14
"Our board has long supported comprehensive sexual health and HIV/AID prevention," [Superintendent John] Nickerson said. "Planned Parenthood has been utilized as a consultant for well over 10 years in some of our schools."
"We have to give 10 days notice of what we're going to be teaching when it comes to this unit, and that information was provided ahead of time with the topics that would be covered," [Acalanes Principal Allison Silvestri] said. "The instructor followed ed. code and the curriculum we had agreed upon," she added. "I was very pleased with the professionalism."
Nickerson and Silvestri both said it is common practice to contract this curriculum out with Planned Parenthood because their people are more up-to-date than instructors at the school, and are often more comfortable talking with teenagers about the subject matter.
"It's a divisive issue and the school principal and superintendent and school board should have known better than to have (Planned Parenthood) come in exclusively," said Giglio, calling it a "pro-choice organization." "There are plenty of other organizations they could have asked."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
 |
| Planned Parenthood's Gay Agenda genderbread chart |
“[Parents] are very concerned,” Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal organization that is assisting the concerned parents, told FoxNews.com. “Planned Parenthood is not exactly the best when it comes to putting young people first.
They were also taught about gender identity with the “Genderbread Person,” a play on the name of the holiday cookie, to teach them on how to identify themselves as either, “agender,” “bigender,” and “two spirit” to name a few.
“Our daughter took this course two years ago, after being provided the opportunity to opt out of the class,” John Lyons, whose two children attend AHS, told FoxNews.com. “The opt-out form provided a handful of bullet points about what the course would cover. After completing the course, it was apparent that some of what was ‘taught’ went beyond what was represented on the opt-out form. This is disappointing to us, because we are actually strong supporters of teen sex education in a peer environment to complement our home-based discussions.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "School Stirs Controversy with 'Genderbread,' Sex Checklists" by Brad Dacus, posted at Standard Newswire 12/8/14
Parents of freshmen at Acalanes High School [AHS] in Lafayette started asking questions after students began reporting disturbing behavior in a sex ed class at the school. Students reported that instructors threw a model of female reproductive organs at a student and that the instruction left them feeling pressured to have sex. The parents eventually obtained documents from the school district that confirmed their fears and indicate that some of the instruction may have been illegal.
Pacific Justice Institute has begun working with the parents in Lafayette. PJI sent a letter to the district on Nov. 24 raising "serious concerns" as to the legality of the program and included requests for public records. The district briefly responded Dec. 4 to insist that it needed an additional two weeks to locate the records.
Meanwhile, parents have collected more than 100 signatures on a petition and are working to educate the school community about what is happening behind closed doors at AHS. To date, the district and AHS principal have resisted calls to pull the program, which is scheduled to start back up in January. A number of parents are expected to speak out about the program at a Dec. 10 school board meeting.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Abortionists' Sex Ed Banned from Louisiana Schools
Tuesday, December 09, 2014
Police: Colo. Students Sexting, Parents Ignorant
After identifying the source of a sexting incident at Legend High School, police in Parker, Colorado are warning parents to supervise their children's usage of smart phones and social media, but no warnings have been given concerning all-to-common pornographic sex education in America's public schools. In Colorado, a minor who captures a self image and distributes the photo is guilty of felony child pornography.
UPDATE 11/6/15: Child Porn Self-produced by Hundreds of Colorado Students in One School
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Education Experts Say: Relax Parents, Sexting is Simply How Kids Flirt Today
Oregon Trains Pre-teens in Masturbation, Anal Sex
Texas School Trains 12-year-olds in Oral, Anal Sex
President Obama Pays Pre-teens to Learn Anal Sex in Hawaii
Chicago Sex Education for Pre-teens is Pornographic, Parents Say
California School Pushes College-level Porn Sex Ed, Parents Outraged
New Hampshire School Teaches Porn, Complaining Dad Arrested
UPDATE 3/17/15: Pornography Belongs in Classroom, More Experts Say
-- From "Parker police investigate high school sexting allegations" by Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post 12/6/14
Police, who were tipped off about the images on Tuesday, identified the "originator" of the photographs. But detectives are concerned that the images have already been shared with other students.
Parker police have asked parents of students to look at photographs or camera rolls and third party applications such as Snap Chat for explicit images.
"It is important to note that producing, taking, or sharing sexually explicit images of a minor is a felony criminal act which is punishable by jail time," according to a news release by the Parker Police Department.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Parker Police Investigate ‘Sexting’ Case At Legend High School" by CBS News KCNC-TV4 (Denver, CO) 12/6/14
The case is also being investigated by an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) detective.
“If your child feels that he or she was the subject in an explicit photo in this case and has not spoken to the police, please contact the Parker Police Department,” police said in a statement. “Review the content of the student’s devices. Please look in the photos, camera rolls, and any third party apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, or cloud storage which may have been utilized for image and video storage.”
If parents discover any vidoes, images, texts, apps, emails, or other communications that are believed to be evidence of criminal conduct or victimization of your child or any other child, we respectfully encourage you to contact the Parker Police Department at 303 805-6911.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read how public schools integrate pornography and even sex training into the curriculum and read the myriad examples of kids' sexcapades starting in kindergarten and even pre-school.
UPDATE 11/6/15: Child Porn Self-produced by Hundreds of Colorado Students in One School
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Education Experts Say: Relax Parents, Sexting is Simply How Kids Flirt Today
Oregon Trains Pre-teens in Masturbation, Anal Sex
Texas School Trains 12-year-olds in Oral, Anal Sex
President Obama Pays Pre-teens to Learn Anal Sex in Hawaii
Chicago Sex Education for Pre-teens is Pornographic, Parents Say
California School Pushes College-level Porn Sex Ed, Parents Outraged
New Hampshire School Teaches Porn, Complaining Dad Arrested
UPDATE 3/17/15: Pornography Belongs in Classroom, More Experts Say
-- From "Parker police investigate high school sexting allegations" by Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post 12/6/14
Police, who were tipped off about the images on Tuesday, identified the "originator" of the photographs. But detectives are concerned that the images have already been shared with other students.
Parker police have asked parents of students to look at photographs or camera rolls and third party applications such as Snap Chat for explicit images.
"It is important to note that producing, taking, or sharing sexually explicit images of a minor is a felony criminal act which is punishable by jail time," according to a news release by the Parker Police Department.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Parker Police Investigate ‘Sexting’ Case At Legend High School" by CBS News KCNC-TV4 (Denver, CO) 12/6/14
The case is also being investigated by an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) detective.
“If your child feels that he or she was the subject in an explicit photo in this case and has not spoken to the police, please contact the Parker Police Department,” police said in a statement. “Review the content of the student’s devices. Please look in the photos, camera rolls, and any third party apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, or cloud storage which may have been utilized for image and video storage.”
If parents discover any vidoes, images, texts, apps, emails, or other communications that are believed to be evidence of criminal conduct or victimization of your child or any other child, we respectfully encourage you to contact the Parker Police Department at 303 805-6911.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read how public schools integrate pornography and even sex training into the curriculum and read the myriad examples of kids' sexcapades starting in kindergarten and even pre-school.
Monday, December 08, 2014
Infanticide for the Disabled Pushed by Bioethicist
Udu Schuklenk, Professor of Philosophy and Ontario Research Chair in Bioethics at Queen’s University, who headed the Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel on End-of-Life Decision Making, is advocating what he calls "postnatal abortion" for imperfect babies not wanted by his/her parent(s).
-- From "End-of-life debate turns to newborns: ‘Postnatal abortion’ morally acceptable in some cases, ethicist says" by Tom Blackwell, National Post 12/7/14
[Prof. Schuklenk] wrote the opinion piece after being invited to debate the newborn issue at a conference of the American Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Toronto earlier this year.
Euthanasia would even be preferable to “terminal sedation,” where food and liquids are removed from a dying patient, because it would save parents and medical staff the distress of seeing a baby waste away over days or weeks, said Prof. Schuklenk.
The Netherlands does permit euthanasia of some newborns. . . .
[Schuklenk] rejected the notion that allowing euthanasia in such cases would lead to a slippery slope where the idea is applied increasingly broadly. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Should severely disabled infants be euthanased?" by Michael Cook, BioEdge 12/6/14
After dismissing arguments drawn from human dignity, sanctity-of-life, and the principle of double effect, Schuklenk still has to explain why a suffering infant could not be simply sedated so that it would not suffer, thus avoiding the need for euthanasia. The answer he says, is that parents and doctors and nurses would suffer unnecessarily.
From "The 'Quality of Life' Slouch Toward Infanticide" by Wesley J. Smith, National Review Online 5/15/14
[Udu Schuklenk writes in his] “What We Should Do About Severely Impaired Newborns?”
If the parents’ reason for wanting to love their baby as long as he lives can be viewed as religious–strongly hinted by Schuklenk as the only reason anyone could oppose, it’s really veto time!
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
“Once we have concluded that death is what is in the best interest of the infant, it is unreasonable not to bring about this death as painlessly and as much controlled in terms of timing by the parents as is feasible.”For background, read how American attitudes regarding "defective human beings" are trending toward that of Belgium where doctors kill months-old infants who are deemed deficient.
-- From "End-of-life debate turns to newborns: ‘Postnatal abortion’ morally acceptable in some cases, ethicist says" by Tom Blackwell, National Post 12/7/14
[Prof. Schuklenk] wrote the opinion piece after being invited to debate the newborn issue at a conference of the American Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Toronto earlier this year.
Euthanasia would even be preferable to “terminal sedation,” where food and liquids are removed from a dying patient, because it would save parents and medical staff the distress of seeing a baby waste away over days or weeks, said Prof. Schuklenk.
The Netherlands does permit euthanasia of some newborns. . . .
[Schuklenk] rejected the notion that allowing euthanasia in such cases would lead to a slippery slope where the idea is applied increasingly broadly. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Should severely disabled infants be euthanased?" by Michael Cook, BioEdge 12/6/14
After dismissing arguments drawn from human dignity, sanctity-of-life, and the principle of double effect, Schuklenk still has to explain why a suffering infant could not be simply sedated so that it would not suffer, thus avoiding the need for euthanasia. The answer he says, is that parents and doctors and nurses would suffer unnecessarily.
The unnecessarily prolonged dying of their infant son would extend a severely distressing situation for the parents. They would have to witness the deterioration of their infant son over a period of days, possibly weeks. Some of the attending health care professionals would undoubtedly also find it psychologically difficult to watch the child die foreseeably an unnecessarily slow death. …. Given that a terminally sedated infant would have no surviving interests to speak of, the interests of these other parties matter. If his prolonged dying is harmful to them, a further quality-of-life based argument in favor of terminating the infant's life is established.To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "The 'Quality of Life' Slouch Toward Infanticide" by Wesley J. Smith, National Review Online 5/15/14
[Udu Schuklenk writes in his] “What We Should Do About Severely Impaired Newborns?”
If we merely go by the newborn’s quality of life and life prospects it seems indeed best to end the unfolding tragedy sooner rather than later, but probably a decision should be arrived at with parental consent as opposed to against the unfortunate parents. It turns out that one can reasonably answer the rhetorical question of whether one would want to live in a society that terminated the lives of certain severely impaired newborns if one held the view – as I do – that the newborn’s current and future quality of life is all that matters here. I could live in such a society where empathy for human suffering trumps religious conviction.Don’t be fooled by the “parental consent” nonsense. First, parents shouldn’t have the power to have their babies killed. Beyond that, if we owe a duty to the baby to kill him, then parental rights become irrelevant and it’s veto time. Relevantly, back in the late 1990s, The Lancet reported that 27% of infanticides in the Netherlands–all based on a supposedly “unlivable life” occurs without parental consent.
If the parents’ reason for wanting to love their baby as long as he lives can be viewed as religious–strongly hinted by Schuklenk as the only reason anyone could oppose, it’s really veto time!
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
Sunday, December 07, 2014
Atheists Say Too Many Christians at Ohio School
The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is waging war on a small rural town in central Ohio because their school refuses to censor Christians and ban their influence; citizens' fervor has surged as a result. The out-of-state atheist lawyers have been writing threatening letters to the school for months, based on alleged complaints from anonymous people, about myriad Christians lurking at Licking Valley High School in Hanover, Ohio.
Atheists' Lawsuits Force Jesus Out of Ohio Schools
Atheists Strip Catholic University from Ohio Town Identity
Ohio Admits Wrong Against Christian Teacher
Ohio Councilman Won't Stop Praying in Jesus' Name
Atheists Say Ohio Religious Liberty Bill is Dangerous
News Video (WBNS-TV10 Columbus, OH) Debate Continues Over Religion In Licking Valley Schools
-- From "Is Licking Valley headed toward a lawsuit?" by Hannah Sparling, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12/6/14
There are strong opinions on either side, and the debate remains fierce. In light of the foundation’s fourth and most recent complaint against Licking Valley schools — charging the district is endorsing Christianity and violating the Constitution . . .
The foundation sent its first letter to Licking Valley on Sept. 23, referencing Valley’s marching band T-shirts from this past season.
The shirts are black with the word “Salvation” in white, a reference to Pavel Tchesnokovs song “Salvation is Created.”
The second letter, on Sept. 30, alleged that football coach Randy Baughman might have participated in a student-led prayer.
The third, on Oct. 31, was in reference to an elementary school assembly hosted by the Jubilee Gang. The Jubilee Gang is a Christian group, but school officials said the assembly was about character education.
The fourth and latest letter, sent Nov. 26, alleged that the football team has been using a chaplain since 1996.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Anti-religion group files another complaint against Licking Valley schools" by Eric Lyttle, The Columbus Dispatch 12/3/14
A letter to Superintendent David Hile from the foundation’s lawyer, Rebecca Markert, said someone contacted the group to complain that “a youth pastor, Jeff Hawkins, is allowed access to the team players to ‘evangelize every Thursday after practice and every Friday before games.’”
Markert said Hawkins has been serving as chaplain to the football team since 1996, according to the unnamed accuser, who claimed to have witnessed Hawkins addressing the team before a Nov. 7 game against Marysville in which he told the players, “The Lord is on our side,” and “mentions salvation at least once,” Markert said.
Hile said he’s not aware of anyone serving the role of chaplain for the football team . . .
“[Randy Baughman is] a legendary football coach in the state of Ohio and he’s a good man,” said Hile. “He’s a Christian, no question about that, and he’s proud of it. But employees can’t participate in religious activities with students. It’s district policy. I don’t know that he violated that policy. We’ll have that conversation.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "FFRF condemns 'culture of religion' at Licking Valley" by Hannah Sparling, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12/2/14
Rebecca Markert, the attorney who drafted all four letters, said it is unusual to get four complaints about a single district in such a short time frame. Markert said the Valley complaints have come from at least three different individuals, and the foundation has also gotten supportive letters from several others.
Hile confirmed he has not responded to the foundation's letters and does not plan to. His job is to investigate any complaints and — if there is a problem — fix it, he said.
His main problem with the situation is none of the complainants came to him first, he said.
"It would be courteous of that individual or that group of individuals to have this conversation with me before they jump to a group that's out of Wisconsin," he said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Prayer planned after Licking Valley football game" by Hannah Sparling, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 10/8/14
Community members are planning a public prayer at Friday night's football game — a message to a nontheist group that sent two recent letters to Licking Valley Local Schools regarding separation of church and state.
Friday night, community members are planning to meet at midfield to pray following the game between Licking Valley and Watkins Memorial High School. The invitation is open to players and fans from both sides, said Melanie Fitzgerald-Klein, the Newark resident helping organize the event.
"It's just a peaceful demonstration, just to say, 'You can send your letters, but there's a band of Christians that love the Lord and support their boys," Fitzgerald-Klein said. "... We just feel that since our coaches have been told they can't be on the field when the boys pray anymore, that our fans want to be."
Markert told The Advocate in September that the primary goal is to rectify any constitutional violations and prevent them recurring. If the district refuses to cooperate, litigation may be an option, she said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Football prayer photo prompts new complaint against Licking Valley High School" by Eric Lyttle, The Columbus Dispatch 10/2/14
The [FFRF] letter came with a copy of a photo taken on July 27, 2013, and pulled from the football team’s Facebook page that showed a player leading his team in prayer. That in itself is not a constitutional violation, nor a violation of district policy.
However, standing behind the team in the photo, with heads bowed, are three coaches.
Hile agreed that, if the photo was accurate, it displayed a possible violation of federal law and the district’s policy. The policy says, “District staff members shall not use prayer, religious readings or religious symbols as a devotional exercise or in an act of worship or celebration.”
“I didn’t respond to their last letter, which I’m sure made them mad,” Hile said. “I assume they’re scouring our websites now looking for anything they can find.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Band's 'Salvation' shirts prompt complaint" by Eric Lyttle, The Columbus Dispatch 9/26/14
The black T-shirts have the word “Salvation” printed across the chest in white letters. The shirts, said Licking Valley Superintendent David Hile, are in support of the band’s featured performance this year of Salvation is Created composed by Pavel Tchesnokov in 1912.
The shirts, as well as the featured musical performance, promote a religious theme in violation of the U.S. Constitution, according to the letter written by foundation attorney Rebecca S. Markert.
“The word ‘salvation’ has various meanings. It doesn’t have to be religious. It could mean 'deliverance from harm.' That’s the great thing about the English language,” Hile said.
Hile said he’s not worried about a . . . lawsuit, and would readily defend the band’s performance and attire in court if needed.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Valley coach says no complaints about prayer" by Henry S. Conte and Kurt Snyder, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12/6/14
Though Jeff Hawkins, the man listed in the [most recent FFRF] letter, is both a youth minister and involved with the team — "one of our many, many volunteers who help out on Friday nights" — [Coach] Baughman said he was not known as a team chaplain, but he also would not get into specifics, deferring to Superintendent Dave Hile.
The coach, though, did say the most disappointing thing is that, if someone was uncomfortable about anything he and the team were doing, he was never once approached about it.
"If someone out there has a problem, they can come and talk to us. We wish they would come to the source. I am a face-to-face kind of guy," Baughman said.
The coach, not known to hide his religious beliefs, also said he does not outwardly share that he is a Christian unless he is asked.
"How I live my life speaks more volume than what I tell people my beliefs are," Baughman said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Christian Free Speech Censored at Ohio College
And read Ohio School Bans 'Jesus Homophobe' T-shirt, Gays Sue & Win, School Pays $20,000
"[The FFRF] has really rallied a large group of people in our area. We have had a tremendous show of support. This [atheist] group has stirred up more emotions pertaining to God than I can. It has gotten Christians to stand up and voice their opinions."For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
-- Coach Randy Baughman, Licking Valley High School
"Have we investigated all FFRF complaints brought to date and documented those investigations, yes. Have we followed our policies, which are aligned to the case law, yes. Do I feel there are any grounds for a lawsuit, absolutely not."
-- Superintendent David Hile, who refuses to respond to FFRF
Atheists' Lawsuits Force Jesus Out of Ohio Schools
Atheists Strip Catholic University from Ohio Town Identity
Ohio Admits Wrong Against Christian Teacher
Ohio Councilman Won't Stop Praying in Jesus' Name
Atheists Say Ohio Religious Liberty Bill is Dangerous
News Video (WBNS-TV10 Columbus, OH) Debate Continues Over Religion In Licking Valley Schools
-- From "Is Licking Valley headed toward a lawsuit?" by Hannah Sparling, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12/6/14
There are strong opinions on either side, and the debate remains fierce. In light of the foundation’s fourth and most recent complaint against Licking Valley schools — charging the district is endorsing Christianity and violating the Constitution . . .
The foundation sent its first letter to Licking Valley on Sept. 23, referencing Valley’s marching band T-shirts from this past season.
The shirts are black with the word “Salvation” in white, a reference to Pavel Tchesnokovs song “Salvation is Created.”
The second letter, on Sept. 30, alleged that football coach Randy Baughman might have participated in a student-led prayer.
The third, on Oct. 31, was in reference to an elementary school assembly hosted by the Jubilee Gang. The Jubilee Gang is a Christian group, but school officials said the assembly was about character education.
The fourth and latest letter, sent Nov. 26, alleged that the football team has been using a chaplain since 1996.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Anti-religion group files another complaint against Licking Valley schools" by Eric Lyttle, The Columbus Dispatch 12/3/14
A letter to Superintendent David Hile from the foundation’s lawyer, Rebecca Markert, said someone contacted the group to complain that “a youth pastor, Jeff Hawkins, is allowed access to the team players to ‘evangelize every Thursday after practice and every Friday before games.’”
Markert said Hawkins has been serving as chaplain to the football team since 1996, according to the unnamed accuser, who claimed to have witnessed Hawkins addressing the team before a Nov. 7 game against Marysville in which he told the players, “The Lord is on our side,” and “mentions salvation at least once,” Markert said.
Hile said he’s not aware of anyone serving the role of chaplain for the football team . . .
“[Randy Baughman is] a legendary football coach in the state of Ohio and he’s a good man,” said Hile. “He’s a Christian, no question about that, and he’s proud of it. But employees can’t participate in religious activities with students. It’s district policy. I don’t know that he violated that policy. We’ll have that conversation.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "FFRF condemns 'culture of religion' at Licking Valley" by Hannah Sparling, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12/2/14
Rebecca Markert, the attorney who drafted all four letters, said it is unusual to get four complaints about a single district in such a short time frame. Markert said the Valley complaints have come from at least three different individuals, and the foundation has also gotten supportive letters from several others.
Hile confirmed he has not responded to the foundation's letters and does not plan to. His job is to investigate any complaints and — if there is a problem — fix it, he said.
His main problem with the situation is none of the complainants came to him first, he said.
"It would be courteous of that individual or that group of individuals to have this conversation with me before they jump to a group that's out of Wisconsin," he said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Prayer planned after Licking Valley football game" by Hannah Sparling, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 10/8/14
Community members are planning a public prayer at Friday night's football game — a message to a nontheist group that sent two recent letters to Licking Valley Local Schools regarding separation of church and state.
Friday night, community members are planning to meet at midfield to pray following the game between Licking Valley and Watkins Memorial High School. The invitation is open to players and fans from both sides, said Melanie Fitzgerald-Klein, the Newark resident helping organize the event.
"It's just a peaceful demonstration, just to say, 'You can send your letters, but there's a band of Christians that love the Lord and support their boys," Fitzgerald-Klein said. "... We just feel that since our coaches have been told they can't be on the field when the boys pray anymore, that our fans want to be."
Markert told The Advocate in September that the primary goal is to rectify any constitutional violations and prevent them recurring. If the district refuses to cooperate, litigation may be an option, she said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Football prayer photo prompts new complaint against Licking Valley High School" by Eric Lyttle, The Columbus Dispatch 10/2/14
The [FFRF] letter came with a copy of a photo taken on July 27, 2013, and pulled from the football team’s Facebook page that showed a player leading his team in prayer. That in itself is not a constitutional violation, nor a violation of district policy.
However, standing behind the team in the photo, with heads bowed, are three coaches.
Hile agreed that, if the photo was accurate, it displayed a possible violation of federal law and the district’s policy. The policy says, “District staff members shall not use prayer, religious readings or religious symbols as a devotional exercise or in an act of worship or celebration.”
“I didn’t respond to their last letter, which I’m sure made them mad,” Hile said. “I assume they’re scouring our websites now looking for anything they can find.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Band's 'Salvation' shirts prompt complaint" by Eric Lyttle, The Columbus Dispatch 9/26/14
The black T-shirts have the word “Salvation” printed across the chest in white letters. The shirts, said Licking Valley Superintendent David Hile, are in support of the band’s featured performance this year of Salvation is Created composed by Pavel Tchesnokov in 1912.
The shirts, as well as the featured musical performance, promote a religious theme in violation of the U.S. Constitution, according to the letter written by foundation attorney Rebecca S. Markert.
“The word ‘salvation’ has various meanings. It doesn’t have to be religious. It could mean 'deliverance from harm.' That’s the great thing about the English language,” Hile said.
Hile said he’s not worried about a . . . lawsuit, and would readily defend the band’s performance and attire in court if needed.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Valley coach says no complaints about prayer" by Henry S. Conte and Kurt Snyder, Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12/6/14
Though Jeff Hawkins, the man listed in the [most recent FFRF] letter, is both a youth minister and involved with the team — "one of our many, many volunteers who help out on Friday nights" — [Coach] Baughman said he was not known as a team chaplain, but he also would not get into specifics, deferring to Superintendent Dave Hile.
The coach, though, did say the most disappointing thing is that, if someone was uncomfortable about anything he and the team were doing, he was never once approached about it.
"If someone out there has a problem, they can come and talk to us. We wish they would come to the source. I am a face-to-face kind of guy," Baughman said.
The coach, not known to hide his religious beliefs, also said he does not outwardly share that he is a Christian unless he is asked.
"How I live my life speaks more volume than what I tell people my beliefs are," Baughman said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Christian Free Speech Censored at Ohio College
And read Ohio School Bans 'Jesus Homophobe' T-shirt, Gays Sue & Win, School Pays $20,000
Saturday, December 06, 2014
Minn. OKs Boys on Girls' School Teams, in Showers
Torn between competing liberal special interest groups, the Minnesota Sports High School League (MSHSL) has chosen to advance the Gay Agenda at the expense of the feminists by enacting a state-wide policy applying to public schools, and even independent Christian schools, to allow boys to play on girls sports teams and giving the boys freedom to join the girls in the locker rooms and showers.
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Boy, OKd in Girls Restrooms, Harasses Schoolgirls
California OKs Boys on Girls' Teams and in Their Showers
Supreme Court Opens Girl's Room to Grown Men in Maine
Naked Man in Girls Locker Room OKd in Washington
Man Dressed as Woman Teacher OKd for Texas Elementary School
President Obama's DOJ Forces Girl into Boys Locker Room
President Obama's Cross-dressing Military Fantasy is Reality
Change Sex Overnight in New York With New Law
Also read how the Gay Agenda permeates public schools with "transgender rights."
And read about Houston's lesbian mayor giving sexual predators legal access to women's restrooms and showers.
-- From "High school board OKs transgender athlete policy" by The Associated Press 12/4/14
The policy, which will take effect next school year, allows transgender athletes to pick the team that fits with their gender identity and provides an appeal process for students whose schools turn down their request.
Supporters of the measure celebrated its passage as an important step toward making transgender students more comfortable and accepted in school . . .
The policy sparked an avalanche of public input, delaying a vote scheduled for October and spawning full-page ads from opposing groups that proclaimed the guidelines would mean "the end of girls' sports."
Opponents again urged the board Thursday to delay or scrap those guidelines, citing concerns about giving transgender athletes an unfair advantage on girls' teams and worries over transgender students in locker rooms. Several Republican lawmakers asked the board to let the Legislature handle the issue.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "High school league votes to let transgender athletes pick their teams" posted at Minnesota Public Radio 12/4/14
Board members began considering the policy in July, and tabled a vote in October for further review. There was no delay this time. Members discussed it for about 30 minutes then took a vote.
After the vote, board chair Scott McCready, who is activities director at St. Charles High School in southeastern Minnesota, said the policy was needed to guide school officials like him on how to include transgender athletes in sports.
Transgender students who want to play on the team of their choice will be required to submit statements from parents or a doctor to school officials. But they won't be required to show proof of hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "High School League overwhelmingly approves transgender policy" by David La Vaque, Minneapolis Star Tribune 12/4/14
The board set out criteria for determining whether transgender students who were born male but identify as female can be eligible for girls’ teams at the nearly 500 schools in the league’s membership. State law already permits girls to compete in boys’ sports.
Eighteen of the 20 board members voted yes. Emmett Keenan, activities director at St. Cloud Cathedral, voted no. Paul McDonald of Ely, who was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton and participating in his first board meeting, abstained.
Chris McDonald, a league board member and debate coach at Eagan High School, said gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students "look to this board to provide equal access for all students."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Christian schools' 'hands tied' by gender-bender rules" by Greg Corombos, News Director, Radio America (posted at World Net Daily) 12/5/14
Minnesota is the 33rd state to grant some sort of high-school sports accommodation to transgender students. [Autumn Leva, director of policy and communications at the Minnesota Family Council] said this wave happened very recently, so it’s too soon to chronicle the impact of the policies from around the country. She contends this is a major focal point of the gay rights agenda. Leva said state high-school athletic associations are under pressure to conform from the the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFHS, which is heavily influenced by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN.
The MSHSL did adopt an exemption for religiously affiliated high schools, but Leva said that provides far less protection for those schools than the league would have Minnesotans believe.
“The league actually narrowed the exemption, so now if a private Christian school is not directly affiliated with a particular denomination or a specific church, they are not protected under this policy,” she said. “So they will have to comply. That’s all of our independent Christian schools.”
“Again, that will almost certainly lead to (transgender athletes) using the locker rooms of the opposite sex,” she said. “So we’ve got students’ privacy right implicated, putting students of opposite sex in very private settings, changing and using the restroom together. Obviously that’s a huge concern to students and parents.”
Leva added, “We’ve got Title IX implications and discrimination against female athletes, since our state statutes make very clear that we separate female teams for a reason, to ensure that they have an equal and fair opportunity to compete. This policy really flies in the face of that provision.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Parents Allow Babies to Choose Gender From Birth as well as 2-year-old Says She's a Boy, 'Parents' Say OK
In addition, read Transgenderism is a 'Delusion' According to Victim
"I think it's unfair that you're giving boys the opportunity to proclaim themselves as girls just so they can play on a girls team and potentially take away our scholarships."UPDATE 10/13/15: Illinois School Rejects Fed's Forcing Boy into Girls Shower
-- Melanie Outcalt, 10th grade volleyball athlete
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Boy, OKd in Girls Restrooms, Harasses Schoolgirls
California OKs Boys on Girls' Teams and in Their Showers
Supreme Court Opens Girl's Room to Grown Men in Maine
Naked Man in Girls Locker Room OKd in Washington
Man Dressed as Woman Teacher OKd for Texas Elementary School
President Obama's DOJ Forces Girl into Boys Locker Room
President Obama's Cross-dressing Military Fantasy is Reality
Change Sex Overnight in New York With New Law
Also read how the Gay Agenda permeates public schools with "transgender rights."
And read about Houston's lesbian mayor giving sexual predators legal access to women's restrooms and showers.
-- From "High school board OKs transgender athlete policy" by The Associated Press 12/4/14
The policy, which will take effect next school year, allows transgender athletes to pick the team that fits with their gender identity and provides an appeal process for students whose schools turn down their request.
Supporters of the measure celebrated its passage as an important step toward making transgender students more comfortable and accepted in school . . .
The policy sparked an avalanche of public input, delaying a vote scheduled for October and spawning full-page ads from opposing groups that proclaimed the guidelines would mean "the end of girls' sports."
Opponents again urged the board Thursday to delay or scrap those guidelines, citing concerns about giving transgender athletes an unfair advantage on girls' teams and worries over transgender students in locker rooms. Several Republican lawmakers asked the board to let the Legislature handle the issue.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "High school league votes to let transgender athletes pick their teams" posted at Minnesota Public Radio 12/4/14
Board members began considering the policy in July, and tabled a vote in October for further review. There was no delay this time. Members discussed it for about 30 minutes then took a vote.
After the vote, board chair Scott McCready, who is activities director at St. Charles High School in southeastern Minnesota, said the policy was needed to guide school officials like him on how to include transgender athletes in sports.
Transgender students who want to play on the team of their choice will be required to submit statements from parents or a doctor to school officials. But they won't be required to show proof of hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "High School League overwhelmingly approves transgender policy" by David La Vaque, Minneapolis Star Tribune 12/4/14
The board set out criteria for determining whether transgender students who were born male but identify as female can be eligible for girls’ teams at the nearly 500 schools in the league’s membership. State law already permits girls to compete in boys’ sports.
Eighteen of the 20 board members voted yes. Emmett Keenan, activities director at St. Cloud Cathedral, voted no. Paul McDonald of Ely, who was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton and participating in his first board meeting, abstained.
Chris McDonald, a league board member and debate coach at Eagan High School, said gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students "look to this board to provide equal access for all students."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Christian schools' 'hands tied' by gender-bender rules" by Greg Corombos, News Director, Radio America (posted at World Net Daily) 12/5/14
Minnesota is the 33rd state to grant some sort of high-school sports accommodation to transgender students. [Autumn Leva, director of policy and communications at the Minnesota Family Council] said this wave happened very recently, so it’s too soon to chronicle the impact of the policies from around the country. She contends this is a major focal point of the gay rights agenda. Leva said state high-school athletic associations are under pressure to conform from the the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFHS, which is heavily influenced by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN.
The MSHSL did adopt an exemption for religiously affiliated high schools, but Leva said that provides far less protection for those schools than the league would have Minnesotans believe.
“The league actually narrowed the exemption, so now if a private Christian school is not directly affiliated with a particular denomination or a specific church, they are not protected under this policy,” she said. “So they will have to comply. That’s all of our independent Christian schools.”
“Again, that will almost certainly lead to (transgender athletes) using the locker rooms of the opposite sex,” she said. “So we’ve got students’ privacy right implicated, putting students of opposite sex in very private settings, changing and using the restroom together. Obviously that’s a huge concern to students and parents.”
Leva added, “We’ve got Title IX implications and discrimination against female athletes, since our state statutes make very clear that we separate female teams for a reason, to ensure that they have an equal and fair opportunity to compete. This policy really flies in the face of that provision.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Parents Allow Babies to Choose Gender From Birth as well as 2-year-old Says She's a Boy, 'Parents' Say OK
In addition, read Transgenderism is a 'Delusion' According to Victim
Friday, December 05, 2014
Fired Homosexual Music Dir. Sues Catholics—Chicago
Colin Collette was fired from his position as music director at Holy Family Catholic Community in suburban Inverness in July because he announced plans to be married to William Nifong. Then Cardinal Francis George of the Archdiocese of Chicago met with Collette in September to make clear to him that the Church simply cannot employ someone who so publicly violates Catholic tenets, just as Rev. Terence Keehan of Holy Family had told Collette previously.
Also read of Catholic schools being attacked across America by their own parishioners for firing homosexuals.
And read how the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that President Obama's EEOC cannot veto church hiring and firing decisions.
In addition, read Pastors Face Fines, Jail for Refusing 'Gay Wedding'
-- From "Investigation expected after gay choir director fired from Catholic church files complaint" by Courtney Gousman, WGN-TV9 (Chicago, IL) 12/4/14
Federal and county officials are getting involved in allegations of discrimination, after a Catholic choir director says he was fired for professing plans to marry his gay lover.
The complaint filed Thursday is expected to trigger investigations [by the] EEOC and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights and could make for a landmark lawsuit.
Attorneys believe this case could make it all the way to the Supreme Court.
Right now Collette has taken a job [at] a flower shop and he has yet to marry his longtime partner.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gay music director files complaint over firing by Catholics" by Dan Hinkel and Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune 12/5/14
Collette's claims were filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights, the local body that handles discrimination allegations. A federal discrimination complaint generally has to be filed and reviewed before a person can sue a former employer over alleged discrimination. The EEOC can issue an aggrieved employee a notice of the right to sue the employer or, in rare cases, the agency can sue the employer on the employee's behalf.
Collette's firing upset many parishioners at Holy Family, drawing hundreds of people to a meeting at the church in August. Most who spoke at the event voiced support for Collette, and a church cantor announced his resignation because of Collette's dismissal.
In November, Holy Family announced the hiring of Gene Garcia as the new director of music, according to the church website.
Collette's lawyer, Kerry Lavelle, said negotiations with the church and archdiocese led nowhere. Collette has reached out to Chicago's new archbishop, Blase Cupich, but has received no response, LaVelle said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gay ex-Holy Family music director files discrimination claims" by Doug T. Graham, Daily Herald (Chicago suburbs) 12/4/14
The complaints name Holy Family's pastor, the Rev. Terence Keehan, and parish manager Rosemary Geisler as parties responsible for the discriminatory firing, according to Lavelle.
Kristina Regal, another attorney for Collette, said Holy Family has 30 days to respond to the allegations. Collette would end the legal proceedings if allowed to return to work at Holy Family or another parish, she said.
"This is the first case that we know about where someone has been terminated for entering into a legal gay marriage, so we're testing new law," [Kristina Regal] said.
Dolores Siok, a member of Holy Family for more than 25 years, said Collette's firing has driven a wedge down the middle of the congregation.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Cardinal meets with gay church employee who was fired" by Meredith Rodriguez and Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune 9/10/14
Colin Collette, who recently was let go from his job at Holy Family Catholic Church in Inverness, said that after he asked for the meeting, [Cardinal] George responded right away.
“I was incredibly grateful to the cardinal for meeting with me. This is an incredibly difficult time for him. ... I was moved beyond words that he would meet with me,” Collette said of George, who is battling cancer. “We prayed together. He was wonderful. He was very pastoral.”
Collette declined to elaborate on the nature of the discussion Tuesday. He said he had sought the meeting in hopes of getting his job back. While there was no indication that would happen, Collette said the cardinal urged him to speak to his pastor.
The Archdiocese of Chicago had said that the meeting would be private and that the cardinal would not comment about it. Holy Family’s pastor, the Rev. Terry Keehan, also did not respond to a request for comment.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gay Music Director Files Suit After Being Fired From Church Over Engagement" by Mary Ann Ahern, WMAQ-TV5 (Chicago) 12/4/14
Collette said [newly-appointed] Chicago Archbishop Blasé Cupich has not returned his calls.
“We do intend to respond in the appropriate form in which it was filed, and I think that’s probably the best way for us to respond to it,” Cupich said.
"Pastors hire and dismiss all parish personnel and govern according to the teachings of the Church and Archdiocesan policies. This is a matter of personal integrity on their part," the archdiocese said in a statement. "Those that serve as Ministers of the Church, including worship ministers, are expected to conform their lives publicly with the teachings of the Church."
Cardinal George said before his meeting with Collette that it was Collette's decision that "caused this crisis."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Cardinal Francis George's description of the ObamaNation: It's a 'Fake Church'
Cardinal Francis George says homosexual activist church leader HAD to be fired (video):
Also read Gay Agenda will be Complete when Christians are Muzzled, Say Homosexualists as well as Senator Ted Cruz Says the Gay Agenda Ends Christian Liberty
"I have chosen to enter into a marriage, as is my right under Illinois law, and perhaps I can open the door to other men and women who the church has chosen to exclude from the community. . . . My pursuit now is about change and justice, about acceptance and openness in the church"For background, read about Pope Francis' strong opposition to same-sex marriage and what he called the Work of the Devil.
-- Colin Collette, broadcasting on local media
Also read of Catholic schools being attacked across America by their own parishioners for firing homosexuals.
And read how the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that President Obama's EEOC cannot veto church hiring and firing decisions.
In addition, read Pastors Face Fines, Jail for Refusing 'Gay Wedding'
-- From "Investigation expected after gay choir director fired from Catholic church files complaint" by Courtney Gousman, WGN-TV9 (Chicago, IL) 12/4/14
Federal and county officials are getting involved in allegations of discrimination, after a Catholic choir director says he was fired for professing plans to marry his gay lover.
The complaint filed Thursday is expected to trigger investigations [by the] EEOC and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights and could make for a landmark lawsuit.
Attorneys believe this case could make it all the way to the Supreme Court.
Right now Collette has taken a job [at] a flower shop and he has yet to marry his longtime partner.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gay music director files complaint over firing by Catholics" by Dan Hinkel and Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune 12/5/14
Collette's claims were filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights, the local body that handles discrimination allegations. A federal discrimination complaint generally has to be filed and reviewed before a person can sue a former employer over alleged discrimination. The EEOC can issue an aggrieved employee a notice of the right to sue the employer or, in rare cases, the agency can sue the employer on the employee's behalf.
Collette's firing upset many parishioners at Holy Family, drawing hundreds of people to a meeting at the church in August. Most who spoke at the event voiced support for Collette, and a church cantor announced his resignation because of Collette's dismissal.
In November, Holy Family announced the hiring of Gene Garcia as the new director of music, according to the church website.
Collette's lawyer, Kerry Lavelle, said negotiations with the church and archdiocese led nowhere. Collette has reached out to Chicago's new archbishop, Blase Cupich, but has received no response, LaVelle said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gay ex-Holy Family music director files discrimination claims" by Doug T. Graham, Daily Herald (Chicago suburbs) 12/4/14
The complaints name Holy Family's pastor, the Rev. Terence Keehan, and parish manager Rosemary Geisler as parties responsible for the discriminatory firing, according to Lavelle.
Kristina Regal, another attorney for Collette, said Holy Family has 30 days to respond to the allegations. Collette would end the legal proceedings if allowed to return to work at Holy Family or another parish, she said.
"This is the first case that we know about where someone has been terminated for entering into a legal gay marriage, so we're testing new law," [Kristina Regal] said.
Dolores Siok, a member of Holy Family for more than 25 years, said Collette's firing has driven a wedge down the middle of the congregation.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Cardinal meets with gay church employee who was fired" by Meredith Rodriguez and Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune 9/10/14
Colin Collette, who recently was let go from his job at Holy Family Catholic Church in Inverness, said that after he asked for the meeting, [Cardinal] George responded right away.
“I was incredibly grateful to the cardinal for meeting with me. This is an incredibly difficult time for him. ... I was moved beyond words that he would meet with me,” Collette said of George, who is battling cancer. “We prayed together. He was wonderful. He was very pastoral.”
Collette declined to elaborate on the nature of the discussion Tuesday. He said he had sought the meeting in hopes of getting his job back. While there was no indication that would happen, Collette said the cardinal urged him to speak to his pastor.
The Archdiocese of Chicago had said that the meeting would be private and that the cardinal would not comment about it. Holy Family’s pastor, the Rev. Terry Keehan, also did not respond to a request for comment.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gay Music Director Files Suit After Being Fired From Church Over Engagement" by Mary Ann Ahern, WMAQ-TV5 (Chicago) 12/4/14
Collette said [newly-appointed] Chicago Archbishop Blasé Cupich has not returned his calls.
“We do intend to respond in the appropriate form in which it was filed, and I think that’s probably the best way for us to respond to it,” Cupich said.
"Pastors hire and dismiss all parish personnel and govern according to the teachings of the Church and Archdiocesan policies. This is a matter of personal integrity on their part," the archdiocese said in a statement. "Those that serve as Ministers of the Church, including worship ministers, are expected to conform their lives publicly with the teachings of the Church."
Cardinal George said before his meeting with Collette that it was Collette's decision that "caused this crisis."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Cardinal Francis George's description of the ObamaNation: It's a 'Fake Church'
Cardinal Francis George says homosexual activist church leader HAD to be fired (video):
Also read Gay Agenda will be Complete when Christians are Muzzled, Say Homosexualists as well as Senator Ted Cruz Says the Gay Agenda Ends Christian Liberty
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Christians Sue Wash. State for Seizing Their Kids
Washington state authorities were tipped off that a couple in Bellingham chose not to involve medical professionals in the care of their infant child and newly born twins, and so officials showed up at their home and took all three breast-fed children because the oldest one had a skin rash, but now after more than a month in state custody, the child is "suffering from pneumonia."
UPDATE 12/5/14: Court returns all children to parents, but requires physician and government care (see article excerpts below)
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
"Right-wingers'" Newborn Taken by New Hampshire Officials
Judge Rules Against Religion, Favors Hospital
'Experts' Say Obama-Schooling Should Begin at Age 18 Months
President Obama Replaces Fathers with Government Mentors
Obama's MSNBC: Kids Belong to State, NOT Parents
Entire West Virginia County Becomes School-run Orphanage-Plus
-- From "Baby custody hearing continues into third day" by Peter Wagner, KGMI-AM790 (Bellingham, WA) 12/4/14
According to state Representative Jason Overstreet who’s been interested in the case, a decision on where Erica Carey and Cleave Rengo’s children will end up could be decided Friday morning.
The story has caused a firestorm on Facebook.
Carey says her twins were healthy after a recent home birth.
DSHS says a court found there was cause to remove Carey’s twins and her ten month old from the home.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Couple fights for custody of children after home birth" by Alison Morrow, KING-TV5 (Seattle, WA) 12/3/14
Almost immediately after [their first child's] birth, Carey was pregnant again. This time, the couple's Christian beliefs influenced their decision to have an unassisted home birth. . . . however, paramedics showed up when someone reported the birth.
According to Carey and Rengo, the paramedics suggested taking the newborns to the hospital for a check up, but they refused, worrying about the twins' health with fragile immune systems among patients fighting disease.
Soon after, CPS took all 3 children.
In a petition filed Tuesday, the couple's attorney calls the seizure "unlawful, unconscionable, and inexcusable." Though there were calls to the home about domestic issues prior to the children's birth, the petition claims no evidence of "clear and present danger," rather that CPS is trying to impose their standards of "proper parenting."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From Facebook posting by Representative Jason Overstreet, 42nd district of Washington
The state wrapped up [their court case] within 20 minutes, trying at the close of their argument to introduce new exhibits showing medical problems with one of the babies. The only problem was that the diagnosis for pneumonia, ear infections and reflux were well after the babies had been removed from their breast feeding mother.
The State fumbled, with the defense objecting to the haphazard manner in which the State introduced those documents. The State, realizing it’s mistake, withdrew one of the documents and moved on.
At that point the defense team proceeded to systematically disassemble the State’s premise–the family argues; there are “mental health issues” in the home; and the parents weren’t adequately using the rash cream.
When the defense questioned the CPS supervisor as to whether or not the parents’ religious beliefs were a consideration in this case, the State objected and the commissioner was very leery of the issue, demanding that the defense proceed carefully. I’ll leave you to think about that one.
The State is on thin ice and they know it. At one point during cross-examination, being pointedly questioned by one of the defense attorneys asking incredibly damaging questions to the State’s case, the court commissioner had to ask the CPS supervisor on the stand to speak up because “your voice is fading.” Mine would have been fading too.
To read the entire Facebook post above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 12/5/14 - "Court: Return Rengo children to parents, with conditions" by Kie Relyea, The Bellingham (Washington) Herald
Saying he was giving a Bellingham couple a “second chance,” a Whatcom County Superior Court commissioner decided Friday, Dec. 5, to return their three young children, who had been taken into protective custody amid the state’s concerns over a chaotic home life.
But Commissioner Thomas Verge told Cleave Rengo, 23, and Erica Carey, 29, that the children would be removed again if they didn’t follow his conditions as well as cooperate with Child Protective Services.
Both parents also testified on Friday as their attorneys sought to show that the parents did provide medical care for their children, including antibiotic ointment to Levi’s leg for his eczema, which had been a matter of contention between both sides, and that they did augment Carey’s breastfeeding with formula to increase the twins’ weight. They said that while there had been numerous contacts with law enforcement, none involved Cleave Rengo physically assaulting Carey.
Verge said they could continue to provide homeopathic care for their children but also must consult a pediatrician. And the twins must continue to gain weight, he said, noting they were in the 1 percentile for their age when they were weighed on Nov. 8.
Verge also chastised the couple for resisting CPS workers and for their hostility toward them.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 12/5/14: Court returns all children to parents, but requires physician and government care (see article excerpts below)
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
"Right-wingers'" Newborn Taken by New Hampshire Officials
Judge Rules Against Religion, Favors Hospital
'Experts' Say Obama-Schooling Should Begin at Age 18 Months
President Obama Replaces Fathers with Government Mentors
Obama's MSNBC: Kids Belong to State, NOT Parents
Entire West Virginia County Becomes School-run Orphanage-Plus
-- From "Baby custody hearing continues into third day" by Peter Wagner, KGMI-AM790 (Bellingham, WA) 12/4/14
According to state Representative Jason Overstreet who’s been interested in the case, a decision on where Erica Carey and Cleave Rengo’s children will end up could be decided Friday morning.
The story has caused a firestorm on Facebook.
Carey says her twins were healthy after a recent home birth.
DSHS says a court found there was cause to remove Carey’s twins and her ten month old from the home.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Couple fights for custody of children after home birth" by Alison Morrow, KING-TV5 (Seattle, WA) 12/3/14
Almost immediately after [their first child's] birth, Carey was pregnant again. This time, the couple's Christian beliefs influenced their decision to have an unassisted home birth. . . . however, paramedics showed up when someone reported the birth.
According to Carey and Rengo, the paramedics suggested taking the newborns to the hospital for a check up, but they refused, worrying about the twins' health with fragile immune systems among patients fighting disease.
Soon after, CPS took all 3 children.
In a petition filed Tuesday, the couple's attorney calls the seizure "unlawful, unconscionable, and inexcusable." Though there were calls to the home about domestic issues prior to the children's birth, the petition claims no evidence of "clear and present danger," rather that CPS is trying to impose their standards of "proper parenting."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From Facebook posting by Representative Jason Overstreet, 42nd district of Washington
The state wrapped up [their court case] within 20 minutes, trying at the close of their argument to introduce new exhibits showing medical problems with one of the babies. The only problem was that the diagnosis for pneumonia, ear infections and reflux were well after the babies had been removed from their breast feeding mother.
The State fumbled, with the defense objecting to the haphazard manner in which the State introduced those documents. The State, realizing it’s mistake, withdrew one of the documents and moved on.
At that point the defense team proceeded to systematically disassemble the State’s premise–the family argues; there are “mental health issues” in the home; and the parents weren’t adequately using the rash cream.
When the defense questioned the CPS supervisor as to whether or not the parents’ religious beliefs were a consideration in this case, the State objected and the commissioner was very leery of the issue, demanding that the defense proceed carefully. I’ll leave you to think about that one.
The State is on thin ice and they know it. At one point during cross-examination, being pointedly questioned by one of the defense attorneys asking incredibly damaging questions to the State’s case, the court commissioner had to ask the CPS supervisor on the stand to speak up because “your voice is fading.” Mine would have been fading too.
To read the entire Facebook post above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 12/5/14 - "Court: Return Rengo children to parents, with conditions" by Kie Relyea, The Bellingham (Washington) Herald
Saying he was giving a Bellingham couple a “second chance,” a Whatcom County Superior Court commissioner decided Friday, Dec. 5, to return their three young children, who had been taken into protective custody amid the state’s concerns over a chaotic home life.
But Commissioner Thomas Verge told Cleave Rengo, 23, and Erica Carey, 29, that the children would be removed again if they didn’t follow his conditions as well as cooperate with Child Protective Services.
Both parents also testified on Friday as their attorneys sought to show that the parents did provide medical care for their children, including antibiotic ointment to Levi’s leg for his eczema, which had been a matter of contention between both sides, and that they did augment Carey’s breastfeeding with formula to increase the twins’ weight. They said that while there had been numerous contacts with law enforcement, none involved Cleave Rengo physically assaulting Carey.
Verge said they could continue to provide homeopathic care for their children but also must consult a pediatrician. And the twins must continue to gain weight, he said, noting they were in the 1 percentile for their age when they were weighed on Nov. 8.
Verge also chastised the couple for resisting CPS workers and for their hostility toward them.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Divorce Rates Drop, as well as Marriage Rates
Yesterday, the New York Times decided to print statistics showing that the rate of divorce, often erroneously quoted as being 50%, has been steadily declining for decades, but the driving forces are not encouraging as more people chose to marry later in life, or never at all.
Marriage Rates Low Among Millennial Generation
Young Adults Rarely Marry, Seniors Divorce Often
Fewer Get Married, but Stay Married: Census
Marriage Trend: Confined within Church
One-third of Households are People Living Alone
Most Non-committal Cohabitants' First Marriage Ends
More Women Shack Up & Give Birth; Marriage Rare
Also read ObamaNation: Perpetual Poor Barred from Marriage
-- From "The Truth About The Divorce Rate Is Surprisingly Optimistic" by Brittany Wong, The Huffington Post 12/2/14
We've all heard that 50 percent of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce.
And while that disheartening stat continues to get tossed around, the divorce rate isn't really at 50 percent -- and it isn't rising either. In fact, a new piece in the New York Times' data blog Upshot suggests that the divorce rate has actually been dropping for some time now. Looking at the numbers, the Times suggests the high divorce rate of the late 1970s and early 1980s may have just been a "historical anomaly," rather than a trend.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Everything you heard about divorce is wrong, sort of" by Herb Scribner, Deseret News 12/2/14
. . . Later marriages are a trend I wrote about back in October. Since the Great Recession of 2008, women have found more job opportunities than men, giving them a leg up in becoming the breadwinner at home and causing many of them to seek out men who have their finances and future secured.
Young millennial women are also sidestepping marriage to focus on personal goals ahead of forming a family, according to Deseret News National’s Emily Hales. Young women are putting other priorities — a career, having children and cohabitating — ahead of marriage, even though it’s something they really want, Hales wrote. It doesn’t help, either, that young marriages are also more likely to end in divorce, the Pew Research Center found, which has motivated youngsters to wait for marriage.
But only time will tell whether or not the divorce rate is truly declining. Family Studies reported older men and women, especially baby boomers, are divorcing at unprecedented rates. And if you adjust the current divorce rates by age, the divorce rate actually peaked in 2011 with a 40 percent increase, Family Studies reported.
And many divorce rate numbers don’t take into account the rise in cohabitating couples, who don’t always marry but still end up in separation, as Bradford Wilcox wrote about in 2013.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "The Divorce Surge Is Over, but the Myth Lives On" by Claire Cain Miller, New York Times 12/2/14
About 70 percent of marriages that began in the 1990s reached their 15th anniversary (excluding those in which a spouse died), up from about 65 percent of those that began in the 1970s and 1980s. Those who married in the 2000s are so far divorcing at even lower rates. If current trends continue, nearly two-thirds of marriages will never involve a divorce, according to data from Justin Wolfers, a University of Michigan economist (who also contributes to The Upshot).
Of college-educated people who married in the early 2000s, only about 11 percent divorced by their seventh anniversary, the last year for which data is available. Among people without college degrees, 17 percent were divorced, according to Mr. Wolfers.
Working-class families often have more traditional notions about male breadwinners than do the college-educated — yet economic changes have left many of the men in these families struggling to find work. As a result, many wait to achieve a level of stability that never comes and thus never marry, while others split up during tough economic times.
Some of the decline in divorce clearly stems from the fact that fewer people are getting married — and some of the biggest declines in marriage have come among groups at risk of divorce. But it also seems to be the case that marriages have gotten more stable, as people are marrying later.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Where Liberalism Flourishes, Population Diminishes
And read Utopian Dream Shattered by Reality of Birth Rate
In addition, read Married Birthing Nearly Extinct Among Non-college Grads and preview the violent and dismal economic future of an America without intact families as President Obama Replaces Fathers with Government Mentors
“Two-thirds of divorces are initiated by women, so when you’re talking about changes in divorce rates, in many ways you’re talking about changes in women’s expectations.”For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
-- William Doherty, marriage therapist, University of Minnesota
Marriage Rates Low Among Millennial Generation
Young Adults Rarely Marry, Seniors Divorce Often
Fewer Get Married, but Stay Married: Census
Marriage Trend: Confined within Church
One-third of Households are People Living Alone
Most Non-committal Cohabitants' First Marriage Ends
More Women Shack Up & Give Birth; Marriage Rare
Also read ObamaNation: Perpetual Poor Barred from Marriage
-- From "The Truth About The Divorce Rate Is Surprisingly Optimistic" by Brittany Wong, The Huffington Post 12/2/14
We've all heard that 50 percent of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce.
And while that disheartening stat continues to get tossed around, the divorce rate isn't really at 50 percent -- and it isn't rising either. In fact, a new piece in the New York Times' data blog Upshot suggests that the divorce rate has actually been dropping for some time now. Looking at the numbers, the Times suggests the high divorce rate of the late 1970s and early 1980s may have just been a "historical anomaly," rather than a trend.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Everything you heard about divorce is wrong, sort of" by Herb Scribner, Deseret News 12/2/14
. . . Later marriages are a trend I wrote about back in October. Since the Great Recession of 2008, women have found more job opportunities than men, giving them a leg up in becoming the breadwinner at home and causing many of them to seek out men who have their finances and future secured.
Young millennial women are also sidestepping marriage to focus on personal goals ahead of forming a family, according to Deseret News National’s Emily Hales. Young women are putting other priorities — a career, having children and cohabitating — ahead of marriage, even though it’s something they really want, Hales wrote. It doesn’t help, either, that young marriages are also more likely to end in divorce, the Pew Research Center found, which has motivated youngsters to wait for marriage.
But only time will tell whether or not the divorce rate is truly declining. Family Studies reported older men and women, especially baby boomers, are divorcing at unprecedented rates. And if you adjust the current divorce rates by age, the divorce rate actually peaked in 2011 with a 40 percent increase, Family Studies reported.
And many divorce rate numbers don’t take into account the rise in cohabitating couples, who don’t always marry but still end up in separation, as Bradford Wilcox wrote about in 2013.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "The Divorce Surge Is Over, but the Myth Lives On" by Claire Cain Miller, New York Times 12/2/14
About 70 percent of marriages that began in the 1990s reached their 15th anniversary (excluding those in which a spouse died), up from about 65 percent of those that began in the 1970s and 1980s. Those who married in the 2000s are so far divorcing at even lower rates. If current trends continue, nearly two-thirds of marriages will never involve a divorce, according to data from Justin Wolfers, a University of Michigan economist (who also contributes to The Upshot).
Of college-educated people who married in the early 2000s, only about 11 percent divorced by their seventh anniversary, the last year for which data is available. Among people without college degrees, 17 percent were divorced, according to Mr. Wolfers.
Working-class families often have more traditional notions about male breadwinners than do the college-educated — yet economic changes have left many of the men in these families struggling to find work. As a result, many wait to achieve a level of stability that never comes and thus never marry, while others split up during tough economic times.
Some of the decline in divorce clearly stems from the fact that fewer people are getting married — and some of the biggest declines in marriage have come among groups at risk of divorce. But it also seems to be the case that marriages have gotten more stable, as people are marrying later.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Where Liberalism Flourishes, Population Diminishes
And read Utopian Dream Shattered by Reality of Birth Rate
In addition, read Married Birthing Nearly Extinct Among Non-college Grads and preview the violent and dismal economic future of an America without intact families as President Obama Replaces Fathers with Government Mentors
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
'Day of Prayer' Ruled Legal—Colorado Supreme Court
A six-year battle in the Colorado court system over prayer ended last week when the state's highest court ruled 5-2 that atheists suffer no "psychic harm" from the governor's annual "Day of Prayer" proclamation.
For background, read 'Day of Prayer' Ruled Unconstitutional by Colorado Court of Appeals also read Atheists Lose: 'National Day of Prayer' Ruled Constitutional
And read National Day of Prayer: Hidden Faith, or Public? as well as Atheists Told, Army Will Support National Day of Prayer
Also read Atheists, Liberals Lament Recent Supreme Court Religious Liberty Rulings including the ruling that Christians Are Free to Pray in Jesus' Name at Government Meetings
-- From "Colorado Supreme Court upholds Day of Prayer proclamations" by The Associated Press 11/25/14
. . . the state Supreme Court said opponents don't have the right to sue partly because they weren't forced to participate in the prayer day and didn't suffer any negative consequences from the government.
In a dissenting opinion, two justices said the court should have considered the merits of the case as it did over 30 years ago in a challenge to the Christmas decorations at Denver's City and County Building.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colorado Supreme Court upholds Day of Prayer proclamations, reversing appeals court ruling" by The Associated Press 11/2/14
The Colorado justices ruled that the Freedom from Religion Foundation, including four of its Colorado members, do not have the right to sue because the government spent only nominal amounts to issue the annual proclamations. Opponents also weren't forced to participate in the prayer day and didn't suffer negative consequences from the government, the court said.
Prayer day foes had argued that the proclamations amounted to an endorsement of religion that creates "a hostile environment for non-believers" who are "made to feel as if they are political outsiders." But the court said that was not enough of an injury to justify suing the government and that ruling otherwise would open up the government to lawsuits from anyone who felt politically marginalized.
Congress established a National Day of Prayer in 1952, and most states hold statewide days of prayers to coincide with the national event.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colorado Atheists Lose Day-of-Prayer Protest" by Jamie Ross, Courthouse News Service 11/25/14
Though the Colorado Court of Appeals agreed with the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 2012 that the state's Day of Prayer proclamations violate a constitutional bar on a religious preference, a five-justice majority for the state Supreme Court ordered the case against Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, dismissed on Monday.
"Even assuming that the governor used public funds to pay for the paper, hard-drive space, postage, and personnel necessary to issue one Colorado Day of Prayer proclamation each year, such incidental overhead costs are not sufficiently related to respondents' financial contributions as taxpayers to establish the requisite nexus for standing," Chief Justice Nancy Rice wrote for the majority. "If such costs were sufficient to confer taxpayer standing, any and all members of the public would have standing to challenge literally any government action that required the use of a computer, basic office supplies, or state employee time."
Justice Gregory Hobbs Jr. joined a dissent by Justice William Hood that says the proclamations are more like speech than law.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Day of Prayer upheld in Colo." by Peter Marcus, The Durango Herald Denver Bureau 11/25/14
Justices William W. Hood III and Gregory J. Hobbs Jr. offered the dissenting opinions.
“By rejecting both taxpayer and individual standing, we abdicate our responsibility to consider a matter of great public importance – a matter where Colorado citizens allege that the state’s executive branch has violated an individual constitutional right that goes to the heart of who we are as people,” they said.
Incoming Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, a Republican, said the ruling provides adequate clarity.
“This decision by the state’s high court means that like the president of the United States and other governors around the country, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and future Colorado governors are free to issue honorary proclamations without fear of being tied up in court by special interest groups,” Coffman said. “It was the correct ruling by the justices after careful consideration of the issues.”
The battle over National Day of Prayer proclamations is not new. But with state supreme court reversing an appeal’s court ruling, the road for continued challenges is cut short, leaving the nonreligious with little recourse.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Court says [Gov.] Hickenlooper can declare a day of prayer" Editorial at Colorado Springs Gazette 12/1/14
The anti-religion, anti-free speech lawsuit was filed by a usual suspect: The Freedom From Religion Foundation. The foundation previously sued President Barack Obama for declaring a national day of prayer and lost in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Based in Wisconsin, the FFRF filed suit on behalf of Colorado residents Mike Smith, David Habecker, Timothy G. Bailey and Jeff Baysinger, who all claim they are damaged when the governor declares an annual day of prayer.
The key problem with the Freedom From Religion Foundation and its routine nuisance lawsuits can be seen in the organization's name. This country was founded to protect freedom "of" religion, which cannot be done if government also protects Americans "from" religion.
Freedom "from" religions would involve preventing religious leaders from telling believers to vote for candidates who support biblical principles. The FFRF has attempted this and failed. Freedom "from" religion would involve scouring society of religious sights and sounds in public space. The FFRF has tried and failed. Freedom "from" religion would involve forbidding politicians from openly praying or mentioning God. The FFRF has tried and failed.
To read the entire editorial above, CLICK HERE.
Also read the long list of states enacting laws to bring prayer back into public view.
. . . and yet the Liberal Media Ignore 40,000 National Prayer Events
For background, read 'Day of Prayer' Ruled Unconstitutional by Colorado Court of Appeals also read Atheists Lose: 'National Day of Prayer' Ruled Constitutional
And read National Day of Prayer: Hidden Faith, or Public? as well as Atheists Told, Army Will Support National Day of Prayer
Also read Atheists, Liberals Lament Recent Supreme Court Religious Liberty Rulings including the ruling that Christians Are Free to Pray in Jesus' Name at Government Meetings
-- From "Colorado Supreme Court upholds Day of Prayer proclamations" by The Associated Press 11/25/14
. . . the state Supreme Court said opponents don't have the right to sue partly because they weren't forced to participate in the prayer day and didn't suffer any negative consequences from the government.
In a dissenting opinion, two justices said the court should have considered the merits of the case as it did over 30 years ago in a challenge to the Christmas decorations at Denver's City and County Building.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colorado Supreme Court upholds Day of Prayer proclamations, reversing appeals court ruling" by The Associated Press 11/2/14
The Colorado justices ruled that the Freedom from Religion Foundation, including four of its Colorado members, do not have the right to sue because the government spent only nominal amounts to issue the annual proclamations. Opponents also weren't forced to participate in the prayer day and didn't suffer negative consequences from the government, the court said.
Prayer day foes had argued that the proclamations amounted to an endorsement of religion that creates "a hostile environment for non-believers" who are "made to feel as if they are political outsiders." But the court said that was not enough of an injury to justify suing the government and that ruling otherwise would open up the government to lawsuits from anyone who felt politically marginalized.
Congress established a National Day of Prayer in 1952, and most states hold statewide days of prayers to coincide with the national event.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colorado Atheists Lose Day-of-Prayer Protest" by Jamie Ross, Courthouse News Service 11/25/14
Though the Colorado Court of Appeals agreed with the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 2012 that the state's Day of Prayer proclamations violate a constitutional bar on a religious preference, a five-justice majority for the state Supreme Court ordered the case against Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, dismissed on Monday.
"Even assuming that the governor used public funds to pay for the paper, hard-drive space, postage, and personnel necessary to issue one Colorado Day of Prayer proclamation each year, such incidental overhead costs are not sufficiently related to respondents' financial contributions as taxpayers to establish the requisite nexus for standing," Chief Justice Nancy Rice wrote for the majority. "If such costs were sufficient to confer taxpayer standing, any and all members of the public would have standing to challenge literally any government action that required the use of a computer, basic office supplies, or state employee time."
Justice Gregory Hobbs Jr. joined a dissent by Justice William Hood that says the proclamations are more like speech than law.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Day of Prayer upheld in Colo." by Peter Marcus, The Durango Herald Denver Bureau 11/25/14
Justices William W. Hood III and Gregory J. Hobbs Jr. offered the dissenting opinions.
“By rejecting both taxpayer and individual standing, we abdicate our responsibility to consider a matter of great public importance – a matter where Colorado citizens allege that the state’s executive branch has violated an individual constitutional right that goes to the heart of who we are as people,” they said.
Incoming Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, a Republican, said the ruling provides adequate clarity.
“This decision by the state’s high court means that like the president of the United States and other governors around the country, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and future Colorado governors are free to issue honorary proclamations without fear of being tied up in court by special interest groups,” Coffman said. “It was the correct ruling by the justices after careful consideration of the issues.”
The battle over National Day of Prayer proclamations is not new. But with state supreme court reversing an appeal’s court ruling, the road for continued challenges is cut short, leaving the nonreligious with little recourse.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Court says [Gov.] Hickenlooper can declare a day of prayer" Editorial at Colorado Springs Gazette 12/1/14
The anti-religion, anti-free speech lawsuit was filed by a usual suspect: The Freedom From Religion Foundation. The foundation previously sued President Barack Obama for declaring a national day of prayer and lost in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Based in Wisconsin, the FFRF filed suit on behalf of Colorado residents Mike Smith, David Habecker, Timothy G. Bailey and Jeff Baysinger, who all claim they are damaged when the governor declares an annual day of prayer.
The key problem with the Freedom From Religion Foundation and its routine nuisance lawsuits can be seen in the organization's name. This country was founded to protect freedom "of" religion, which cannot be done if government also protects Americans "from" religion.
Freedom "from" religions would involve preventing religious leaders from telling believers to vote for candidates who support biblical principles. The FFRF has attempted this and failed. Freedom "from" religion would involve scouring society of religious sights and sounds in public space. The FFRF has tried and failed. Freedom "from" religion would involve forbidding politicians from openly praying or mentioning God. The FFRF has tried and failed.
To read the entire editorial above, CLICK HERE.
Also read the long list of states enacting laws to bring prayer back into public view.
. . . and yet the Liberal Media Ignore 40,000 National Prayer Events
Monday, December 01, 2014
Only 1 in 5 Kids Killed Before Birth: Obamabortion
President Obama's health agency reports that America's rate of abortion has dropped SO MUCH that only 18% of the nation's offspring suffer the death penalty in the womb -- ONLY three-quarters of a million annually. Suffering from the mid-term elections, abortion advocates lament further pro-life legislation, but the liberal media is optimistic that the abortion business will increase as the economy improves and/or as ObamaCare foots the bill.
UPDATE 12/1/15: Annual Abortion Totals Continue Decline, CDC Reports
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
2014 Election: Christians Defeat Abortionists in Tennessee Vote
'Abortion Barbie' Candidate NOT Attractive to Women Voters
ObamaCare Lies: Taxpayers Now Fund Abortions, Says Gov't Study
President Obama Praises Abortion on 41st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Morning-After Abortifacient is Becoming the 'Contraceptive' Choice
Pediatricians Push IUDs, Implants on Teen Girls
In addition, read Where Liberalism Flourishes, Population Diminishes and also read U.S. Teenage Birth Rate Lowest on Record
-- From "CDC: 18% of all pregnancies end in abortion; 730,322 is a new 'low'" by Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner 11/28/14
. . . according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . . . it was an "historic low."
The latest figures are from 2011 and show a downward overall trend in abortions since 2002, especially among younger women. But the numbers are up among women 25 and older, with a big jump among women over 40, said CDC.
. . . 10 women died as a result of having "legal induced abortions," said the CDC.
The report is titled "Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2011," and was released Friday.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "CDC: 18 Percent Of All Pregnancies Now End In Abortion" by Sarah Hurtubise, Reporter, Daily Caller 11/28/14
The vast majority of women who choose to abort are unmarried — 85.5 percent. The proportion of unmarried women who have an abortion has actually increased, while abortion has fallen overall — in 2001, 81.7 percent of women who had an abortion were unmarried. These women are much more likely to be young — 57.8 percent were in their 20s — although the abortion rate for women above 40 who go through with an abortion is showing a “small yet persistent increase.”
The race of the victims is disproportionately skewed as well. Non-Hispanic black women had the highest rate of abortion — for every 1,000 black women between the ages of 15 and 44 years, 29.7 had abortions in 2011. Non-Hispanic black women accounted for 36.2 percent of all abortions that year; non-Hispanic white women accounted for 37.2 percent.
. . . While the CDC noted that the abortion rate dropped from 33 percent to 18 percent in the decade before the [ObamaCare] contraceptive mandate, it’s sole recommendation to further lower the number of abortions only discussed no-cost birth control.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Recession led to U.S. abortion rates approaching all-time low, CDC reports" by Cynthia H. Craft, The Sacramento Bee 11/30/14
Since 2008, as the recession took hold, women revealed to researchers they were determined to avoid unwanted pregnancies because of worries over the cost of raising children. The ensuing collapse in the housing and job markets persuaded many women to be extra vigilant about using safe and reliable birth control methods, analysts said.
Overall, Guttmacher’s research found that 29 percent of surveyed women agreed with the statement, “With the economy the way it is, I am more careful than I used to be about using contraception.”
“More women and couples were using highly effective, long-acting, reversible methods such as IUDs,” Jones said. “They wanted to avoid or delay pregnancy and childbearing.”
Against that backdrop, early-pregnancy abortions through medication – referred to by some as “the abortion pill” – are steadily increasing, the Guttmacher report said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "The coming wave of anti-abortion laws" by Paige Winfield Cunningham, Politico 11/28/14
The big Republican gains in the November elections strengthened and enlarged the anti-abortion forces in the House and the Senate. But it’s the GOP victories in the statehouses and governor’s mansions that are priming the ground for another round of legal restrictions on abortion.
Abortion rights advocates have had setbacks in the states for several years, with a surge of legislative activity since 2011. Women seeking abortions may face mandatory waiting periods or ultrasound requirements. Clinics may face stricter building codes or hospital admitting privilege rules they can’t satisfy. Dozens of clinics have shut down in multiple states. Texas, for instance, has fewer than 10 abortion clinics now. A year ago, it had 40.
Republicans now hold two-thirds of the state legislative bodies, after winning control of 11 more chambers. They completely control the legislature in more than half the states, adding Nevada, New Hampshire and West Virginia to that list earlier this month. And they gained two more governor’s seats, so they will hold 31 next year.
Republican leaders who will control the U.S. Senate come January say they want to take up abortion this year, perhaps on a House-passed bill that would limit the procedure after 20 weeks. But the reality is that Senate Republicans will still fall a few votes shy of the 60 needed for controversial major legislation. It’s the states where Republicans can enact more abortion limits.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Abortion Rates Plunge: Liberals Fume, Call for More Access
And read Abortion Clinic Closings Set Record; Abortionists Admit Defeat
UPDATE 1/1/15: Planned Parenthood Reports Abortions & Profits Up
UPDATE 12/1/15: Annual Abortion Totals Continue Decline, CDC Reports
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
2014 Election: Christians Defeat Abortionists in Tennessee Vote
'Abortion Barbie' Candidate NOT Attractive to Women Voters
ObamaCare Lies: Taxpayers Now Fund Abortions, Says Gov't Study
President Obama Praises Abortion on 41st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Morning-After Abortifacient is Becoming the 'Contraceptive' Choice
Pediatricians Push IUDs, Implants on Teen Girls
In addition, read Where Liberalism Flourishes, Population Diminishes and also read U.S. Teenage Birth Rate Lowest on Record
-- From "CDC: 18% of all pregnancies end in abortion; 730,322 is a new 'low'" by Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner 11/28/14
. . . according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . . . it was an "historic low."
The latest figures are from 2011 and show a downward overall trend in abortions since 2002, especially among younger women. But the numbers are up among women 25 and older, with a big jump among women over 40, said CDC.
. . . 10 women died as a result of having "legal induced abortions," said the CDC.
The report is titled "Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2011," and was released Friday.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "CDC: 18 Percent Of All Pregnancies Now End In Abortion" by Sarah Hurtubise, Reporter, Daily Caller 11/28/14
The vast majority of women who choose to abort are unmarried — 85.5 percent. The proportion of unmarried women who have an abortion has actually increased, while abortion has fallen overall — in 2001, 81.7 percent of women who had an abortion were unmarried. These women are much more likely to be young — 57.8 percent were in their 20s — although the abortion rate for women above 40 who go through with an abortion is showing a “small yet persistent increase.”
The race of the victims is disproportionately skewed as well. Non-Hispanic black women had the highest rate of abortion — for every 1,000 black women between the ages of 15 and 44 years, 29.7 had abortions in 2011. Non-Hispanic black women accounted for 36.2 percent of all abortions that year; non-Hispanic white women accounted for 37.2 percent.
. . . While the CDC noted that the abortion rate dropped from 33 percent to 18 percent in the decade before the [ObamaCare] contraceptive mandate, it’s sole recommendation to further lower the number of abortions only discussed no-cost birth control.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Recession led to U.S. abortion rates approaching all-time low, CDC reports" by Cynthia H. Craft, The Sacramento Bee 11/30/14
Since 2008, as the recession took hold, women revealed to researchers they were determined to avoid unwanted pregnancies because of worries over the cost of raising children. The ensuing collapse in the housing and job markets persuaded many women to be extra vigilant about using safe and reliable birth control methods, analysts said.
Overall, Guttmacher’s research found that 29 percent of surveyed women agreed with the statement, “With the economy the way it is, I am more careful than I used to be about using contraception.”
“More women and couples were using highly effective, long-acting, reversible methods such as IUDs,” Jones said. “They wanted to avoid or delay pregnancy and childbearing.”
Against that backdrop, early-pregnancy abortions through medication – referred to by some as “the abortion pill” – are steadily increasing, the Guttmacher report said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "The coming wave of anti-abortion laws" by Paige Winfield Cunningham, Politico 11/28/14
The big Republican gains in the November elections strengthened and enlarged the anti-abortion forces in the House and the Senate. But it’s the GOP victories in the statehouses and governor’s mansions that are priming the ground for another round of legal restrictions on abortion.
Abortion rights advocates have had setbacks in the states for several years, with a surge of legislative activity since 2011. Women seeking abortions may face mandatory waiting periods or ultrasound requirements. Clinics may face stricter building codes or hospital admitting privilege rules they can’t satisfy. Dozens of clinics have shut down in multiple states. Texas, for instance, has fewer than 10 abortion clinics now. A year ago, it had 40.
Republicans now hold two-thirds of the state legislative bodies, after winning control of 11 more chambers. They completely control the legislature in more than half the states, adding Nevada, New Hampshire and West Virginia to that list earlier this month. And they gained two more governor’s seats, so they will hold 31 next year.
Republican leaders who will control the U.S. Senate come January say they want to take up abortion this year, perhaps on a House-passed bill that would limit the procedure after 20 weeks. But the reality is that Senate Republicans will still fall a few votes shy of the 60 needed for controversial major legislation. It’s the states where Republicans can enact more abortion limits.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Abortion Rates Plunge: Liberals Fume, Call for More Access
And read Abortion Clinic Closings Set Record; Abortionists Admit Defeat
UPDATE 1/1/15: Planned Parenthood Reports Abortions & Profits Up
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
