Updates 10:

The Book of Daniel TV Show Background

“In January, NBC began a new series entitled The Book of Daniel. This TV show is being promoted by the network as a serious drama about Christian people and the Christian faith. NBC and the mainstream media call this show ‘edgy,’ ‘challenging’ and ‘courageous.’ The series is written by Jack Kenny, a practicing homosexual who describes himself as being a ‘recovering Catholic,’ and is interested in Buddhist teachings about reincarnation and isn’t sure exactly how he defines God or Jesus. ‘I don’t necessarily know that all the myth surrounding Jesus is true,’ Kenny said. NBC considers The Book of Daniel a positive portrayal of Christ and Christians.” (AFA Online. 1/3/06.)

TV’s The Book of Daniel Content

“NBC’s ‘The Book of Daniel’ stars Aidan Quinn as an Episcopal priest with a gay Republican son, an alcoholic wife, a pain pill habit, a drug-dealing daughter and trouble with the Mob. Oh, and he talks to Jesus, who is portrayed as a laid-back slacker. Seriously, that’s the premise—it’s ‘Six Feet Under’ meets ‘Desperate Housewives’ crossed with ‘Joan of Arcadia.’ Not surprisingly, some groups have taken offense at the depiction of Jesus and Christian life. The American Family Association, a Christian group based in Mississippi, is organizing a campaign against the show, saying it mocks Christianity.” (The Gazette. 1/3/06.)

Brokeback Mountain Movie Mania

“For years, most of Hollywood’s cultural movers and shakers have been doing their level best to denigrate, insult and otherwise destroy what can only be described as the country’s ‘traditional values.’ With the movie Brokeback Mountain, featuring a secret love affair between two male cowboy characters, Tinseltown has now launched a salvo against the rich history and cultural influence of the American Old West. The mainstream media has been fawning all over this film and is even up for a variety of Oscar awards. It’s being touted by ‘critics’ as a ‘broader story of tragic love,’ a ‘remarkable’ and ‘heartbreaking’ film, a ‘cinematic triumph’ that is ‘compelling’ and atmospheric’ and its ‘universal substance,’ a story that is told with ‘taste and intelligence.’ Whatever!

The fact is the only reason Hollywood and its cheerleaders are ga-ga over this film is because it’s a ‘love story’ about two homosexual men. No matter what else you read or hear about it, that’s the bottom line on the film’s storyline, pure and simple. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that Brokeback Mountainis little more than an effort by Hollywood culture thieves to celebrate and mainstream a lifestyle of homosexuality with which most Americans disagree, while flipping the bird to the distinctly heterosexual American West, where men were men, women were women, and neither slept with members of the same gender! If you want more proof there is an agenda behind this move, consider that the advance praise for this film has only been matched by the advance criticism of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. As much as Tinseltown loves ‘gay’ cowboys, they hated Jesus! I hope this movie is going to be as popular with most Americans as a hog farm in the summer.” (WorldNetDaily. Jon Dougherty. “Making a Mountain Out of a Brokeback Molehill.” 12/15/05.)

Intelligent Design Out!

“A federal judge ruled recently that the Dover Area School Board violated the Constitution when it ordered that its biology students should be made aware of alternative theories to evolution such as Intelligent Design. U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled that the concept of Intelligent Design is fundamentally religious, and thus violative of the ‘separation of church and state.’ ‘According the logic of the court, any hint of the existence of God, whether derived by scientific means or otherwise, renders it off limits to public schools,’ said Stephen Campton, Chief Counsel for the AFA Center for Law and Policy. ‘The rigid denial of any competing theory to evolution suggests that evolution itself may be the only god allowed in our schools,’ Campton added. The court found that Intelligent Design posited the existence of a supernatural designer. This characteristic automatically removed the theory ‘from the realm of science and made it a religious proposition.’”(American Family Association CLP news release. 12/20/05.)

University Refusing Religious Group

“A spokesman for the advocacy group known as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) says California State University at San Bernardino is discriminating against a Christian student group in a way that has become all too common on college campuses across the United States. This university is refusing to recognize a campus Christian Student Association (CSA) for requiring that its members be Christians and adhere to the group’s statements of faith and sexual morality. The university claims that by trying to maintain its evangelical identity, the CSA is discriminating against non-Christians.” (Agape Press. 12/27/05.)

ACLU & Pledge Doublespeak

“A constitutional attorney says a lawsuit filed by the ACLU over Florida’s Pledge of Allegiance law is ‘much ado about nothing.’ With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, 17-year-old Cameron Frazier has sued the Palm Beach County School Board, alleging his teacher punished him when he refused to stand for the Pledge. The suit claims the student’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated, and seeks to overturn a state law that requires students to show written permission from their parents before abstaining from reciting the Pledge.The ACLU recently ignored a request from Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo to defend an Illinois student who was disciplined for refusing to stand for the Mexican national anthem. Brian Fahling,an attorney with the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, says the liberal ACLU group is employing an obvious double standard. ‘For the ACLU to come in on one case and not the other, or to hold the view that somehow they’re different, would be hypocritical,’ said Fahling.” (Agape Press. 1/3/06.)

The Book of Daniel Canceled

     “NBC’s anti-Christian program The Book of Daniel has been cancelled because of the efforts of concerned citizens coordinated by many Christian organizations—especially the American Family Association. The network’s decision to pull this program shows the power of the pocketbook because sponsors did not want to lose money. Even an impassioned plea by Daniel’s gay activist producer, Jack Kenny, could not match your participation. Thank you for caring!” (Don Wildmon, AFA Online; Tom Pedigo, AFA of Colorado. 2/1/06.)

Atheist Sees Christianity as Abusive

     “Controversial scientist and evolutionist, Richard Dawkins, dubbed ‘Darwin’s Rottweiler,’ calls religion a ‘virus’ and faith-based education ‘child abuse’ in a two part series he wrote and has appeared in the United Kingdom. Entitled ‘Root of All Evil?,’ the series features the atheist Dawkins visiting Lourdes, France, the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, a British religious school and Colorado Springs, Colorado, using each of the venues to argue religion—especially Christianity—subverts reason. Dawkins, using his visit to Colorado Springs’ New Life Church—a charismatic mega-church—criticizes conservative U.S. evangelicals and warns his audience of the influence of ‘Christian fascism’ and ‘an American Taliban.’ In part two of his series entitled ‘The Virus of Faith,’ Dawkins attacks the teaching of ‘religion’ to children, calling it child abuse. He says: ‘Innocent children are being saddled with demonstrable falsehoods. It’s time to question the abuse of childhood innocence with superstitious ideas of hellfire and damnation.’ Dawkins, who makes no effort to disguise his atheism and contempt for religion, focuses on the Bible in his attacks. According to him: “The God of the Old Testament has got to be the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous, and proud of it, petty, vindictive, unjust, unforgiving, and racist.’ Dawkins compares Moses to Hitler and Saddam Hussein, and calls the New Testament ‘St. Paul’s nasty, sado-masochistic doctrine of atonement for original sin.’” (WorldNetDaily. 1/8/06.)

Chaplain Fasts for Prayer Rights

      “A Navy spokesman says the chaplain who has been fasting for the right to pray in Jesus’ name is free to pray at worship services where attendance is voluntary, but not in mandatory ‘command settings’ that aren’t specifically religious in nature. Lieutenant William Marks says, ‘In those instances, we ask that chaplains be inclusive.’  Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, who did a water-only fast for more than two weeks has urged President Bush to sign an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their beliefs regardless of the venue. Marks and Klingenschmitt are both based at Virginia’s Naval Station Norfolk. (Agape Press. 1/6/06.)

Military Prayer Fight

     “An Evangelical leader and retired military chaplain says the United States Air Force is engaged in religious persecution against evangelical Christianity with its new policy forbidding chaplains from praying in the name of Jesus. Dr. Billy Baugham is Executive Director of the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers. The retired Army chaplain agrees with the more than 70 members of Congress who have signed a letter urging President George W. Bush to issue an executive order to allow chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. Baugham feels the Air Force’s written policy banning prayers in Jesus’ name is a direct attack on a specific faith community. Those behind this policy ‘have targeted the Evangelicals in this to marginalize them,’ he asserts.  The U.S. Air Force is discriminating against the Evangelical ministers in its ranks, Baugham forcefully maintains.” (Agape Press. 1/6/06.)

Air Force Religion Suit

     “Justice Department attorneys have told a federal judge that an Air Force Academy graduate has no legal standing to sue the Air Force over allegations of proselytizing by chaplains and asked that the case be dismissed. Government lawyers also said the military has safeguards in place against improper religious pressure. And they faulted the lawsuit for ignoring a distinction that a high-ranking Air Force chaplain drew between proselytizing and evangelizing. Mikey Weinstein, the lead plaintiff in the suit, recently call that argument preposterous. Weinstein’s lawsuit says the Air Force illegally pushed evangelical Christianity on service members, including cadets at the Air Force Academy. The case is in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Weinstein lives. The recent government motion again asked U.S. District Judge James Parker to dismiss the case. It said Weinstein and his co-plaintiffs haven’t shown they would be harmed by the alleged proselytizing and that their claims have no substance. Weinstein maintains that evangelizing is a Christian form of proselytizing. He said anytime a senior officer asks to discuss religion, a lower-ranking service member would feel coercion.” (The Gazette. 2/4/06.)

Diversity Discrimination

     “Advocates for an elective high school class that would use the Bible as its main text are undeterred by the Steamboat Springs School Board’s unanimous vote against it recently. Roger Johnson said he might make the class available to the public to gauge interest in the class and test the curriculum. ‘I would still like to see this considered on some level,’ he said. Johnson and another parent, Michelle Diehl, had proposed the class, ‘The Bible in History and Literature,’ to the school board as a history-based class that teaches about the Bible’s influence. The board rejected the class saying it clashed with the school’s mission of diversity. Board member Pat Gleason said it was a tough choice. ‘There is no doubt in my mind of the value of the Bible had in the founding of our country,’ he said, ‘The book’s value does not necessarily lie in a literary sense—it lies in a religious context.’” (The Gazette. 1/26/06.)
     Editor’s Note: What irony! That school is so diverse that they don’t want to tolerate the Christian history of our country being taught.

Nebraska Prayer Feud

     “A Nebraska minister caused an uproar in the State Senate recently when he delivered the morning prayer for that day’s session. Pastor Tim Swartley of Elm Creek says he was asked by his senator, Jim Cudaback, to deliver the invocation which left several senators outraged. ‘I did pray that God would forgive us for abortion,’ Swartley explains, ‘I prayed that God would forgive us for teaching our children the religion of evolution, which really does tell us its version of where we came from and why we’re here and where we’re going, just as the Bible does. It’s a competing philosophy of life.’ Rules have been established for those giving the Nebraska Senate’s morning invocation, the Elm Creek pastor acknowledges—rules that include not praying about what is on the day’s agenda and not praying about political issues. Swartley feels his prayer followed these directives. ‘I look at abortion and evolution as primarily moral issues,’ Swartley says. ‘Politics, I think, is secondary; and whatever party you are, if you’re going to support biblical values, I’m all for it. But I did not intend to support any political agenda.’ Senator Ernie Chambers claims he was ‘enraged’ by the prayer and has renewed his calls to get rid of the morning prayer altogether.” (Agape Press. 1/27/06.)

Christian at Work Harassment

     “Hello Tom, my name is Norman and I am an African-American. I work for a mortgage company where I have been told to remove my Bible verses from the board at my cubicle. I was told by the Human Resource director that it is a violation to our harassment policy. I had a poem of Jesus at my cubicle that was taken down by someone. Later an e-mail was sent stating that no religious items should be placed at a worker’s desk. I was advised not to exercise my religious or political values in the workplace, yet others are allowed to have inspirational quotes on their boards, calendars, pictures, fishes in water jars, ornaments, bamboos in water pots, people with pointed tattoos, body piercings and the like. I was told by my supervisor two things we do not talk about on the floor: religion and politics. Yet, sex and other topics are freely engaged in. I have been called a nigger. I was also advised by the management to not go up against them or I would lose. Since voicing my complaints, I have received bad reviews; prior to that I had great reviews. Just recently I received a formal letter from corporate headquarters stating: ‘We are committed to providing a comfortable workplace and do not allow anything in the cubical with respect to religion, race, sex, and the like. We do allow individuals to make their work area a little more comfortable by allowing personal items that do not fall into these previously mentioned areas. They call Christian items literature that harasses! I have filed a formal complaint with the EEOC and will be filling another with DEFH. I hope you can help or point me in the right direction.” (Norman J., E-mail to NAACD)

Indiana Judge Bans Christian Prayer in Opening House Sessions

     “For the first time in 189 years, the Indiana House of Representatives did not open its session with prayer recently. That is because of a federal judge’s ruling last year which forbid praying in the name of Jesus. Although the judge’s ruling is being appealed, House Speaker Brian Bosma said ‘We are a nation of laws—even laws we disagree with.’ TV station WTHR reports, however, that prayer was held at the back of the chamber, before the gavel fell.  Federal District Judge David Hamilton reaffirmed his earlier ruling that Indiana lawmakers must no longer pray in the name of Jesus when they open the legislative session. Hamilton declared such a prayer a violation of the alleged separation of church and state. The ruling was a result of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU.” (Agape Press. 1/4/06.)

Air Force Chaplain Rules

     “The Air Force’s top chaplain. Major Gen. Charles Baldwin, said new religious guidelines grant military clerics the freedom to pray according to their faith without compromising their duty to provide spiritual support for all airmen. Previously revised guidelines, which banned most public prayer and required chaplains to minister to those of all faiths, set off an outcry among evangelical groups. The groups, including the Colorado Springs-based National Association of Evangelicals, said the rules stopped chaplains from freely practicing their beliefs. Rabbi Joel Schwartzman, a retired Air Force chaplain, is critical of Baldwin, and agrees with Mikey Weinstein, a Jewish academy graduate who is suing the Air Force to seek a ban on evangelism. Weinstein’s suit, filed last fall, is pending in U.S. District Court in New Mexico.” (The Gazette. 2/25/06.)

Mikey Whinestein Speaks Out!

     If you have followed the media interviews of Mikey Weinstein (really, his last name should be “Whine-stein”), you’d quickly realize that he is not for the separation of church and state as he so proudly proclaims. He is for the separation of church from state. In fact, his anti-christian bigotry is so intense, that it is rather shocking. While he “restrains” himself (verbally, not emotionally) on television and radio interviews, he really lets it rip when interviewed by a liberal media outlet. The following is some of his logic and reveals the “character” of this man. “People say this is a Christian country, founded on Christian principles. The real essential aspect of this country is one concept above all others, which is tolerance
of diversity. The biggest crime I accuse the religious right of—and it’s a blood libel, a crime against humanity—is torturing that concept, by bludgeoning it and assaulting it, so that what it comes out as ‘tolerance of diversity’ equals ‘intolerance of us in the majority.’ My response is: (Fornicate) you! Again, f--- you!! How dare you?! Every single time radicalized Christianity has engaged the machinery of the state and the armed forces, we have ended up not with puddles and little streams, but with oceans and oceans of blood. I’m not laying down; I’m going to kick ass, take names and leave chest wounds. We are at war!” (The Independent. Colorado Springs, CO. March 2-8, 2006.)

Army Chaplain’s Faith Limited

     “Presidential press secretary Scott McClellan didn’t seem concerned recently about a report that an Army chaplain was forbidden to preach in Iraq, referring a question about the incident to the Pentagon. On Page 1 of the Washington Times (2/14/06) reports, ‘Army silences chaplain after prayer criticism,’ for which Republican Congressman Walter Jones is demanding an investigation into whether Chaplain Jonathan Stertzbach was illegally forbidden to preach in Iraq. And my question: How long will the spokesman of a devout Christian like President Bush go on dodging the question of why the commander in chief is allowing Christian chaplains to be ordered not to mention Christ?’” (WorldNetDaily. 2/14/06.)

Campus Military Recruiting Permitted

     “Conservative observers are praising a recent ruling handed down from the Supreme Court requiring colleges that accept federal money to allow military recruiters on campus. In a unanimous decision, the high court has rejected a free-speech challenge from law school professors in the latest battle over the military’s ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy on homosexuals. Professors who object to that policy said they should not be forced to associate with military recruiters or promote their campus appearances. They said their own free-speech rights were being violated. But the court did not see it that way, in an opinion written by new Chief Justice John Roberts in Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights. ‘A military recruiter’s mere presence on campus does not violate a law school’s right to associate, regardless of how repugnant the law school considers the recruiter’s message,’ wrote the chief justice. Roberts said there are other, less drastic ways to protect the policy. Under the 1996 Solomon Amendment, the Secretary of Defense can deny federal funding to institutions of higher learning if they prohibit or prevent ROTC or military recruitment on campus. The court’s ruling has effectively upheld that amendment.” (Agape Press. 3/6/06.)

Judge Alito Gets Judged

     “What Senator Wayne Allard considers ‘nice manners’ has prompted debate about the proper correspondence between a Supreme Court justice and a politically influential conservative Christian leader. At issue is a thank-you note from recently appointed Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson, one of the many notes Alito wrote in response to congratulatory letters. The note thanks Dobson and his listeners for supporting Alito during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearings. Barry Lynn, executive director of the liberal Americans United for the Separation of Church and State said, ‘Alito is not sounding like a fair and independent judge but like a political candidate doing a victory lap and thanking his backers. It sounds like he’s carrying a right-wing agenda.’ Eleanor Smeal, former president of NOW and now president of the liberal Feminist Majority, which opposed Alito’s nomination, said the note was unusual. ‘What’s happening is, the courts are becoming more politicized. So much of it is about private conduct and the agenda of the right wing,’ according to Smeal.” (The Gazette. 3/2/06.)

Text of Alito’s Letter

Dear Dr. Dobson:
   This is just a short note to express my heartfelt thanks to you and the entire staff of Focus on the Family for your help and support during the past, few, challenging months I would also greatly appreciate it if you would convey my appreciation to the good people from all parts of the country who wrote to tell me that they were praying for me and for my family during this period. As I said when I spoke at my formal investiture at the White House last week, the prayers of so many people from around the country were a palpable and powerful force. As long as I serve on the Supreme Court I will keep in mind the trust that has been placed in me. I hope that we’ll have the opportunity to meet personally at some point in the future. In the meantime, my entire family and I hope that you and the Focus on the Family staff know how we appreciate all that you have done.
Sincerely yours,
Samuel Alito

AFA of CO Letter to the Editor Response

     “Regarding the article in the Gazette (Alito’s Note to Dobson Debated—3/2/06), there is substantial political irony now coming from the Left. During the confirmation hearings of Judge Alito, many well-known liberal organizations made an all-out effort to politicize and demonize Samuel Alito. Whether it was the American Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way, National Organization for Women or Barry Lynn’s Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, these secularist juggernauts despised the supposed conservative renderings of this nominee. But now, they have the gall to whine about a ‘thank you’ note from Judge Alito and say it’s political? Eleanor Smeal of the radical Feminist Majority can state that ‘the courts are becoming more politicized...so much of it is about the agenda of the right wing’ and say it with a straight face? The verbal firestorm coming from the Left is rather disingenuous and laced with bitter irony.” (Tom Pedigo. AFA of CO State Director. The Gazette. 3/5/06.)

Judge Scalia’s Views

     “People who believe the Constitution would break if it didn’t change with society are ‘idiots,’ U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says. In a speech recently sponsored by the conservative Federalist Society, Scalia defended his long-held belief in sticking to the plain text of the Constitution ‘as it was originally written and intended.’ ‘Scalia does have a philosophy, it’s called originalism,’ he said. ‘That’s what prevents him from doing the things he would like to do,’ he told more than 100 politicians and lawyers. Scalia criticized those who believe in what he called the ‘living Constitution.’ He said, ‘That’s the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to change with society, like a living organism, or it will become brittle and break. But you would have to be an idiot to believe that. The Constitution is not a living organism, it is a legal document. It says something and doesn’t say other things. Proponents of the “living constitution” want matters to be decided “not by the people, but by the justices of the Supreme Court.” They are not looking for legal flexibility, they are looking for rigidity...they want it embedded.” (Associated Press. 2/15/06.)

Homosexual Activists Warring Against Christianity

“All churches who condemn us  will be closed.” That was what Michael Swift, a “gay revolutionary,” declared in a February 1987 issue of Gay Community News, Michael Swift: was a pseudonym, and the first line of the now-infamous homosexual rant—which was even reprinted in the Congressional Record—claimed that the entire piece was a “cruel fantasy” that explained “how the oppressed desperately dream of being the oppressor.”
   This “dream” was filled with a nightmare scenario that seemed like something out
of a fascist coup d’etat: “All laws banning homosexual activity will be revoked...We shall make films about the love between heroic men...The family unit—spawning ground of lies, betrayals, mediocrity, hypocrisy and violence—will be abolished…All churches who condemn us will be closed.”
   Whether or not the ravings of this “gay revolutionary” were intended as satire, what is striking is the remarkable success of the plan found within the article. Who can doubt that the legal system—especially following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) striking down sodomy laws—has been brought to heel by gay activists? Or that Hollywood has freely committed its tremendous resources to the fight for homosexual legitimacy? Or that the family unit will virtually cease to exist in any traditional sense should gay adoption and same-sex “marriage” become legal everywhere? While they claim to want only equal protection under law, the real agenda of homosexual activists is simple: the complete alteration of American society to fit the homosexual view of human sexuality, marriage and family. This is not an over-exaggeration!
   For homosexual activists to convince the American people to change their mind on this issue, the foundation of our culture must be shifted to a new way of perceiving reality that rejects the Judeo-Christian view. However, that leaves one major institution standing in the way: the Church. Christians who still hold to the Judeo-Christian views of human sexuality, marriage and family are called by religious faithfulness to resist the homosexual movement. That makes Christians the enemy. In 1987 Steve Warren, a spokesman for the controversial homosexual group ACT UP, wrote an article for The Advocate, a magazine for the gay community. Titled “Warning to the Homophobes,” Warren spoke of “the mean-spirited nature of Judeo-Christian morality.” As the “gay movement” has gained momentum, Warren promised that “we are going to force you (Christians) to recant everything you have believed or said about sexuality.”
   Concerning the Bible, Warren said it would especially require a face-lift. “Finally, we will in all likelihood want to expunge a number of passages from your Scriptures and rewrite others,” he said, “eliminating preferential treatment of marriage and using words that will allow for homosexual interpretations of passages.” So a homosexual utopia awaits these activists, if only they can deal with those pesky Christians! But if removing the obstacle of the Church is the strategy, what are the tactics through which this victory might be achieved?
   Kirk & Madsen in their book entitled After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the ‘90s, said there should be a two-pronged approach to neutralizing the threat of a vigorous Christian-led opposition. First, gays should muddy the moral waters by publicizing support for gays by more moderate churches. And secondly, by “raising theological objections of our own about conservative interpretations of biblical teachings.” This has been done with amazing success in mainline Protestant denominations! (Ed Vitagliano. News Editor of the AFA Journal. Adapted from the February 2006 issue.)

Activist Pro-Homosexual Leaders for De-christianization

     My newsletters have put an emphasis on our religious freedoms being violated in the United States. Christianity is slowly being purged and large numbers of believers are being persecuted for their faith and moral convictions. Here is one such letter I recently received from a lady who used to be on the editorial board of The Indianapolis Star:
   “Reverend Tom, I have a short story to relay to you. In my view, and I’ve seen it firsthand, media control is the No. 1 reason for the dechristianization of America. Over the last decade or so, mega-communications monopolies such as Gannett Company, which owns roughly 100 newspapers and 22 television stations in the United States alone, are installing homosexual and/or atheistic/secularist publishers, executive editors and managers at their media outlets. I believe the goal is to ensure that broadcasters and writers who are Christian no longer have public voices, forums or positions of influence at their respective media venues.
   A good friend of mine, James P., and I both used to be editorial board members at The Indianapolis Star. We wrote editorials and bylined columns for years; I’ve personally published nearly 2,000 pieces. Despite stellar performance reviews just a few months earlier, and years of excellent performance reviews (and no published errors in all my years at the paper), I was bumped from my position and demoted in October 2003. James was fired about a year and half later. We’ve both won numerous awards and had more than 30 years of combined experience with the paper as writers and staff members. We now know why our employment situations were adversely impacted: our belief in the Bible’s view of homosexuality in the face of activist gay and radical, pro-homosexual management. Certain events brought those views to the forefront and prompted the adverse employment actions against us.
   Last summer, we filed a Title VII lawsuit against Gannett Company, who now wishes to ‘settle’ out of court. To be honest, I don’t want to settle. I want the truth to come out regarding what is happening to the media in this country, and I want all Gannett managers nationwide to undergo Title VII Religious Discrimination training.  My vocational demise after nearly 14 years with this paper came after I’d written the first column of a series on the public health and economic ramifications of sodomy. I’d written and researched the series in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s then-recent decision nullifying all state laws banning sodomy. The court ruled it was a privacy issue (Lawrence v. Texas). My series was in seven parts dealing with the AIDS epidemic, Center for Disease Control reports, male homosexual sex and HIV, and the like. The series was killed outright by The Star’s executive editor, whose twin brother is ‘gay.’ Also, the newly hired managing editor is gay!
   As you may know, Christians are society’s newest scapegoat. They say we are the ‘intolerant bigots.’ Everyone else is protected in the workplace and elsewhere except for Christians, or so it certainly seems. I don’t want to see anyone treated unfairly in the workplace, especially Christians. But the anti-Christian bias continues: Media giant Gannett (which owns USA Today, the country’s largest circulation newspaper) has sponsored the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for years and is using this organization as a feeder group for new hires at its various news outlets. The mentioned homosexual group is well-organized if you’d like to view their activities and agenda, go to:www.nlgja.org. As you may know, we no longer have a truly free, independent press. We have a tightly-controlled secular press run by a shrinking handful of mega-media companies with their own morally relativistic agendas. What this means for present and future generations is mind-boggling in terms of brainwashing.” (Lisa Coffey. E-mail to NAACD)

ACLU & The Ten Commandments

     “A simmering legal dispute over whether a Ten Commandments monument should be placed on the grounds of the Kentucky Capitol grounds is heading back to court. The ACLU says state officials should be held in contempt of court if they go ahead with plans to return the six-foot-tall granite monument to the statehouse lawn in Frankfort. A federal judge ruled in 2000 that displaying the monument on government property was an unconstitutional government religious endorsement. In its filing, the ACLU asked the judge to require state officials to show why returning the monument to the Capitol would not violate the court order. Legislators passed a law earlier this year directing that the monument, now on display in Hopkinsville, be returned to Frankfort and displayed publicly. Governor Ernie Fletcher signed the measure into law in March. Kentucky has been at the center of legal fights in recent years on the posting of the Commandments.” (Agape Press. 5/5/06.)

Penalized for Cross Display

     “The City of San Diego recently was ordered by Judge Gordon Thomason, Jr., to remove the cross from La Jolla’s Mt. Soledad or be penalized $5,000 a day after 90 days. Attorney James McElroy, representing his atheist plaintiff, sees this as the end of his client’s 17-year battle to remove the cross from atop Mt. Soledad. In December 2004, Congress approved, and President Bush signed into law, a measure designating the Mt. Soledad property, including the cross, as a national war memorial. The signed federal legislation asked the city to transfer the land to the National Park Service. Last summer 76% of the city’s voters agreed that San Diego should transfer the property to the federal government, but within months a district judge overturned the vote of more than 197,000 San Diegans. Charles LiMandri, the West Coast director of the Thomas More Law Center, is asking President Bush to sign an executive order to transfer the property into the federal government’s hands. An executive order can effectively take the property out of the hands of the city and transfer it to the National Park Service as a national war memorial.” (Agape Press. 5/4/06.)

Persecuted Navy Chaplain

     “A chaplain stationed at Naval Station Norfolk says he could face court-martial for praying in uniform outside the White House. Lieutenant Gordon Klingenschmitt says he prayed at a March 30th protest opposing Department of Defense rules forbidding military chaplains from invoking the name of Jesus Christ. He is accused of violating an order not to appear in uniform at news conferences in support of personal or religious issues. The issue seems to hinge on whether his praying at the event was permissible participation at a bona fide religious service. Klingenschmitt is filing a complain against the Navy, claiming the threat of punishment against him amounts to religious harassment.” (Agape Press. 5/4/06.)

The Ten Commandments & Tulsa

     “The 8-foot granite slab planted in the Haskell County (Tulsa, OK) courthouse lawn makes the Ten Commandments easy to read and hard to miss from the state highway that doubles as this town’s main thoroughfare. The monument, erected with private money in 2004 with the county’s approval, doesn’t stop traffic, and courthouse visitors on a recent morning barely gave it a glance. Still, it has drawn national attention, and county officials have been preparing to defend it in a trial that began on May 1st in federal court. The lawsuit, filed by the ACLU, challenging the marker’s location comes amid national debate over displays of Ten Commandments on public property. Court challenges have yield mixed results. The ACLU filed the complaint against the Haskell County commissioners on behalf of James Green, a longtime resident. The lawsuit seeks no damages—only that the monument be declared unconstitutional and ordered removed from public property.” (The Gazette. 5/1/06.)

In God We Trust Anniversary

     “The year 2006 marks a special anniversary for America’s national motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ and supporters want the saying’s official status reaffirmed. Like many religious traditions in the U.S., the national motto is under attack. Defenders, however, are fighting back. Supporters want congress to officially recognize and adopt this phrase.” (Agape Press. 5/2/06.)

Workplace Faith Must Go!

     “A San Francisco federal appeals court has thrown out a First Amendment lawsuit by Daniel Berry, an evangelical Christian worker who argued that  he had a right to practice and talk about his beliefs at his place of employment. According to the Pacific Justice Institute, Berry was told he could not discuss his faith with clients, was forbidden the use of a workplace conference room for voluntary prayer meetings, and was prevented from displaying religious items in his employee work-space.” (Agape Press. 5/2/06.)

Legislative Anti-christianism

     “A Christian law firm is defending the 188-year-old tradition of opening prayer in the Indiana Legislature. Liberty Counsel says legislative prayer is not unconstitutional and should be permitted. Last year a federal district court ordered the Indiana Legislature to halt the tradition of opening sessions with prayers. The court said if the tradition continued, the prayers had to be non-sectarian. That decision came after a lawsuit by a state resident who was offended by prayers that mentioned the name of Jesus Christ. Now Florida-based Liberty Counsel has filed a brief in the case, arguing that legislative prayer predates the First Amendment. The group’s general counsel and president, Mat Staver, says such prayers are not unconstitutional – but that efforts to censor them are. ‘Prayers are part of who we are as Americans,’ said Staver. The case is now on appeal. The first legislative prayer dates back to at least the Constitutional Convention in 1787. And as recently as 1983, the Supreme Court upheld Nebraska’s tradition of legislative prayer.” (Agape Press. 4/20/06.)

The Sidestepping Supremes!

   “The Supreme Court on 4/24/06 sidestepped a contentious church-state dispute, declining to hear a case concerning a public school district’s refusal to display a picture of Jesus submitted by a kindergarten student in response to an assignment to design a poster on the environment. The justices offered no comment in turning down the case. The Supreme Court has not directly addressed this issue nor elementary school students’ free-speech rights.” (The Gazette. 4/25/06.)

Homosexuality In; Christianity Out!

     “A constitutional attorney is denouncing a ruling by a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that bars a San Diego high school student from wearing a T-shirt displaying Christian messages in opposition to homosexuality. With a 2-1 decision, the Ninth Circuit upheld a lower-court ruling against Chase Harper, who was suspended by Poway High School for wearing a T-shirt displaying the messages: ‘Homosexuality is shameful’ and ‘Our school embraced what God has condemned.’ Harper had worn the shirt—without incident—during an annual pro-homosexual event in 2004 known as the ‘Day of Silence.’ But when he wore it to school the next day and was ordered to remove it, he refused. The lawsuit emerged from that confrontation. Judge Stephen Reinhardt—the same judge who has ruled previously that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional (2002) - held that, in this case, the school did not violate Harper’s constitutional rights because the message on his shirt was offensive to homosexual students.” (Agape Press. 4/26/06.)

A Ten Commandment Victory

     “A federal judge has recently ruled that a Ten Commandments monument that’s stood on an Ohio courthouse lawn for almost 50 years does not promote religion and can remain in place. Judge James Carr said the monument can stay because the motives for placing it outside the Lucas County courthouse were secular and not an endorsement of a specific belief. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio sued Lucas County in 2002 to have the display removed, saying it was unconstitutional and promoted religion. Carr’s decision followed a ruling last year by the U.S. Supreme Court that Ten Commandments are permissible if their main purpose is to honor the nation’s legal, rather than religious, traditions, and if they do not promote one religious sect over another.”(Agape Press. 4/20/06.)

Condemning Catholic Morality?

     “Last month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a measure condemning Catholic moral teachings on homosexuality, calling it ‘hateful’ and ‘insulting to all San Franciscans.’ It also urged the archbishop or San Francisco to defy church directives on homosexual adoptions. Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel for the Thomas More Law Center, says it is this bigotry that prompted them to file a federal lawsuit on behalf of two Catholic citizens. Thompson says this case could be precedent-setting because, in this case, the city actually attacked the Catholic Church rather than a policy of the church, and attempted to meddle in church affairs. This resolution clearly violates, in our opinion, the establishment clause of the First Amendment.”(Agape Press. 4/12/06.)

A County Punishes a Church

     “Officials in one Minnesota county are punishing a church for taking a stand against sexual deviance. Anoka County leaders are refusing to send any more clients to Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Francis because they denied day care to a trans-sexual client. Officials want the church to sign a non-discrimination policy before they send them any more clients.” (Agape Press. 4/12/06.)

Christian “Retaliation” Forbidden on Campus?

     “Warning him that ‘retaliation in any form is prohibited,’ Ohio State University recently officially informed a Christian librarian that charges of sexual harassment leveled at him by two homosexual professors—just for recommending The Marketing of Evil book to the freshman class—were without merit. In what has been widely reported as one of the most bizarre cases of campus mistreatment of Christians, Scott Savage was condemned by a 21-0 faculty vote (with nine abstentions) on March 13 to be formally investigated for sexual harassment. Several professors had become extremely upset over Savage’s nomination of David Kupelian’s acclaimed but controversial best-seller, which includes a chapter exposing the marketing strategies and tactics of the ‘gay rights’ movement. In an inter-faculty e-mail, Professor Buckley, one of the accusing teachers, had this to say in response to the suggestion of Savage’s book: 
     ‘As a gay man I have long ago realized that the world is full of homophobic, hate-mongers who, of course, say that they are not. So I am not shocked, only deeply saddened—and THREATENED—that such mindless folks are on this great campus...You have made me fearful and uneasy being a gay man on this campus. I am, in fact, notifying the OSU-M campus, and Ohio State University in general, that I no longer feel safe doing my job. I am being harassed.’
   ‘What boggles my mind,’ said David French, lead attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund, which has taken up Savage’s case, ‘is that nobody voted against accusing a librarian of sexual harassment for recommending a book.’ Also, Savage was warned not to take action against the schools accusations. T. Glenn Hill. of the university’s Office of Human Resources. appears to end a letter with a warning to Savage who had been falsely accused  saying: ‘Keep in mind that retaliation in any form is prohibited, per university, state and federal law.’ But Savage’s attorney says the damage to his client’s reputation and career has been done.” (WorldNetDaily. 4/20/06.)

Graduation Prayer Campaign

     “The ‘Friend or Foe’ Graduation Prayer Campaign was launched on May 4 by Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, and me (Jerry Falwell). The concept behind the campaign is similar to the successful ‘Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign’ that we initiated last year. It is appropriate that we announced this campaign on the National Day of Prayer. The new campaign is designed to educate, and if necessary, litigate to ensure that prayer and religious viewpoints are not censored from graduation ceremonies across this nation. Liberty Counsel, which has written a legal memo outlining current law in such cases, will defend any school who follows the law. On the other hand, when school officials censor prayer or religious speech, Liberty Counsel will file suit. Liberty Counsel has been defending graduation prayer since Mr. Staver founded the group in 1989. In Adler v. Duval County School Board, Liberty Counsel won the right of students to pray or give religious messages during graduation. The case went before a federal court of appeals five times and to the U.S. Supreme Court twice. The precedent-setting case against the ACLU established the legal principle that public schools are safe when they adopt an equal access policy for graduation where students or other speakers may present either secular or religious messages, including prayer. Commenting on the campaign, Mr. Staver said: ‘Speakers do not lose their rights to free speech when they approach the graduation podium. If schools tell graduates they cannot pray now, they will pay later. Public schools should respect our national heritage and obey our Constitution.’” (Rev. Jerry Falwell. Falwell Confidential newsletter—The Moral Majority Coalition. “Friend or Foe Graduation Prayer Campaign Launched.” 5/4/06.)

8th Circuit Discrimination

     “A civil liberties attorney is objecting to a federal appeals court’s decision to side with a former teacher who complained about prayers at a graduation ceremony in an Arkansas school district. The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of Steve Warnock in his dispute with the De Valls Bluff School District. John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, believes the ruling discriminates against Christians.” (Agape Press. 4/17/06.)

The War On Christians from a Jewish Perspective

     “During March 27-28, the group Vision America convened a War on Christians conference in Washington, DC. It was the first to address escalating attacks on Christians from Hollywood, the news media, academia, the courts and activist groups like the ACLU and Anti-Defamation League. Speakers included scholars, authors, clergy (among them an Orthodox rabbi), lawyers and members of Congress. I, Don Feder, was the conference coordinator, as well as a speaker on two panels (“Jews Confront the War on Christians” and “Hollywood: Christians through a Distorted Lens”).
   You will be shocked—shocked!—to learn that the mainstream media did its best to trivialize and marginalize the conference—to present a thoughtful examination of the rising tide of anti-Christian bias and persecution as the work of hysterical, paranoid, whack-doodles who are manufacturing a crisis to generate some donations and mobilize Republican votes. If this is the case presented by the media, then apparently a majority of Americans are equally hysterical, reckless and disrespectful of real persecution. According to a FOX News poll taken in December 2005, 59% of the American people agreed with conference organizers that ‘Christianity is under attack’ in the United States today. In reality, you have to be dogmatic, blind and biased—which pretty much describes the mainstream media—to miss the obvious here.
   The news and entertainment media, public education, higher education, the judiciary and a fair number of corporations and foundations are in the hands of ideologues who despise Bible-believing Christians, and who rarely miss an opportunity to smear them, to foment hatred against them and to circumscribe their activities. The war on Christians is real. So too is the media’s thoroughly biased coverage of same.”
(Don Feder. FrontPageMagazine.com. “Media Spins War on Christians Conference.” 4/7/06. President of Jews Against Anti-Christian Discrimination. )

An Atheist Wants to Debate the Director of NAACD

     “My name is Patrick G. I am an atheist who is anti-Christian. And for sure, I am not an agnostic...I am a 100% atheist. I feel for certain in my heart and mind that there is no supreme being. I would like to discuss this matter with you and tell you why, and if you are interested, I would like to debate you.  I decided that there was no God at the age of 12. My parents were very, very devout Christians. I just overdosed on that stuff from church when I was very young. It was so far-fetched that it was silly to me. An invisible man who supposedly loves all his creation—and yet, he allows his precious animals to be sacrificed to him. That is animal cruelty! Then he supposedly tells his only son to suffer torturing to death. That is the ugliest and most sadistic thing I can think of. First, he allows animal sacrifice and then human sacrifice. That is NOT love. That is something we would lock anyone else in prison for. You see, Tom, you have your truth and other religions have their truth. And it is all opinion. Mine is opinion, But, when you think so highly of your truth, that you demand that it be put into law, to the harm of others, that is really immoral. And that is what fundamentalist Christians demand. No gay marriage, even though they are citizens like you and me. I believe in sodomy, And yes, so do every other married couple in America. I defy you to name a couple, man and wife married couple, who has not tried sodomy many times. My first wife and I did. We are not gay but we loved to have sex anally. Whose business is that? Nobody’s! From reading your comments, you must live in a coma. I knew dozens of men in the Air Force who loved to have anal intercourse. And no, I don’t look at pornography at all. I am 55 years old and haven’t looked at it since I was 17 years old. My wife and I live moral lives. We don’t harm animals. I don’t hurt my body with alcohol or smoking. I don‘t belong to any atheistic organization. I never have. I can’t afford them. I couldn’t stand Madelyn Murray O’Hare. All she did was insult people who believed in God. Actually, she and you are a lot alike. Your web page blames atheists for almost everything wrong in the world. My REAL problem is that Christians think they have the ‘truth’ about life and everything. And they are very loud and obnoxious about it. I have been in many debates and would like to have one with you.” (Patrick G., San Antonio, TX. E-mail to the NAACD)

My Response to the Agitating Atheist

     While I desperately wanted to debate with the local chapter of  the ACLU but their board voted against it, I have no desire to debate with this freelance atheist from Texas. The venues are different as well as the forum. I corresponded with this “gentleman” several times and each time he wrote back, he never answered my questions but kept adding on more problems he had with Christianity. His “dialogue” was a like a train pulling dozens of box cars with no caboose in sight. Not one time did he deal with the questions I had about the contents of the box cars he was pulling around. Therefore, I told him that I had no desire to debate him. As you can tell by his e-mail to me, he has double “standards” and is quite hypocritical. He especially enflamed me when he “defied” me to find one married couple that has never sodomized each other. Well, I’ve been married for over 33 years and guess what?... we’ve remained undefiled by that particular act. So, feel free to contact him by e-mail yourself if you’d like to continue the “debate.” Here are some excerpts of what I wrote to him:
   “Patrick, you seem to be a master at deflection. I’ve argued with a variety of atheists like you and they do the same thing. I would be more apt to want to debate you if you would answer some of my simple questions. But this is my fourth correspondence with you and it doesn’t seem like a straight answer is in the cards. You bemoan the fact that Christians are putting ‘morality’ into law. Patrick, some one’s morality or lack of it determines the laws of this land. How else can you explain that we legalized the killing of pre-born babies or that we recently abolished sodomy laws? In my worldview, it’s the secularists that are cramming their immorality down the throats of mainstream America and are the ones changing the legal and moral fabric of this country. You think so highly of your relativism and intolerant liberalism, that you force “your” belief system into law. You talked about one of your own fellow atheists insulting people and then you compared me to her. Is that not insulting me, Patrick? You want to talk about the pot calling the kettle black?! Of course Christians believe they have the “Truth” about life...and death. And yes, some Christians can be “loud and obnoxious” in their presentation. But Patrick, look in the mirror, please!” (Tom Pedigo. AFA of CO State Director. Colorado Springs, CO)

The Passion or the Perversion of the Christ?

     Even though it’s just a novel...even though it’s just a movie...even though it’s supposed to be just fantasy fiction...The Da Vinci Code has swept this nation and world by storm...and it is leaving destructive damage in its path. Since the novel was first released in 2003, Dan Brown’s book has sold more than 36 million copies and has been translated into 44 languages...and counting! In Josh McDowell’s book The Da Vinci Code: A Question for Answers, he says: “Around the world, those who have been fascinated by The Da Vinci Code—whether by the book, the movie, or both—are interested in delving deeper into artistic, historical, and spiritual mysteries. For many, Dan Brown’s intriguing characters and conspiracies have opened new doors, posed new questions, and launched them on an exhilarating quest for answers.”The bottom line is that this book, now turned movie, is destructive and deceptive. It is purely fiction and conjecture although throughout the book it proclaims that many of his statements are facts. The Da Vinci Code ultimately denies the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and has him married to Mary Magdalene (who is the true Holy Grail and designated head of the Church) and Christian history (as most believers know it) has been revised by a bunch of patriarchal sexists which has been preserved in a variety of secret organizations throughout the years. It wasn’t that long ago when people were flocking by the thousands to see Mel Gibson’s movie production The Passion of the Christ which became a runaway blockbuster. Gibson presented Jesus accurately as the Son of God who died on the Cross for our sins. People were moved to a hushed silence during, and after, this powerful presentation of the last hours of Christ’s passion. It seemed that American people, and others around the world, were spiritually hungry to know who the real Jesus was all about. Contrast this biblical film to the recent perversion that mocks our Christian heritage and revises the history and nature of Jesus of Nazareth. Instead of pushing people closer to the Savior, The Da Vinci Code pushes people away from Jesus and our Christian faith. There are reports of thousands of people whose faith has been weakened or shattered because of this novel made into a movie—especially in Western Europe where their Christianity is only an eggshell existence anyway. I find it ironic that in 1988, Martin Scorsese produced a controversial film called The Last Temptation of Christ. During the crucifixion scene, everything goes mute and a supposed guardian angel (Satan in disguise) shows Jesus what his life would be like if he chose not to be the Messiah. The sequence is vivid and shows Jesus having sex with Mary and he has three kids. We see the Apostle Paul preaching about Christ’s death and resurrection and Jesus saying, “No, no, no...it didn’t happen that way at all.” What I find even more interesting is that Muslims hold to a similar story. That’s right! Ask any person of the Islamic faith and they will pointedly tell you that “Jesus did not really die on the Cross!” No wonder that many Muslims, and especially atheists, find this novel and movie appealing. According to Agape Press, the chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission says The Da Vinci Code is an anti-Christian and anti-Semitic film that was financed by a British Muslim. Ted Baehr says, “Mohammed Yusef’s Invicta Capital put up most of the estimated $200 million it cost to make the film version of Dan Brown’s novel. He said the financial backing for The Da Vinci Code reveals ‘a terrible double standard’ by Muslims who erupt in violent protests when they believe their own faith is being attacked.” Dan Brown has become America’s Salman Rushdie (The Satanic Verses, 1989)...and movie producer Ron Howard has become Brown’s heretical foot soldier.  But they know that Christians don’t proclaim fatwas or death sentences; we love and pray for our enemies! (Tom Pedigo. AFA of CO State Director.)

Under God License Plates

     “In February an Ohio auto license plate became available with the phrase ‘One Nation Under God’ inscribed under the regular plate number. The plate came on the scene after a campaign by Moms for Ohio political action committee. ‘We wanted families who wanted to show their support for keeping God in the Pledge of Allegiance to have a simple and affordable way to do so,’ said Theresa Fleming of the group. ‘The bill was passed in December.’  Most specialty license plates are also a means by which purchasers contribute to the cause promoted on the plate. In this case, however, there is no fund raising attached. The plate is available as long as one thousand people purchase it each year.” (American Family Journal. June 2006.)

Air Force Rules Overruled!

     “The House passed a $513 billion defense authorization bill on May 11 that includes language intended to allow chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus at public military ceremonies, undercutting new Air Force and Navy guidelines on religion. Air Force and Navy rules issued in recent months allow chaplains to pray as they wish in voluntary worship services. But the rules call for nonsectarian prayers, or a moment of silence, at public meetings or ceremonies, especially when attendance is mandatory for service members of all faiths. Focus on the Family, the Christian Coalition and other evangelical Christian groups have lobbied vigorously against the Air Force and Navy rules, urging President Bush to issue an executive order guaranteeing the right of chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus under any circumstances. Because the White House has not acted, sympathetic members of Congress stepped in. ‘We felt there needed to be a clarification’ of the rules ‘because there is political correctness creeping into the chaplains corps,’ said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C. The National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, a private association of religious groups that provide more than 70% of U.S. chaplains, also objected to the language.” (The Gazette. 5/12/06.)  Editor’s Note: I am so frustrated that the President was so silent on this vital issue!

Graduation Prayer Blocked

     “A federal judge recently blocked a southern Kentucky high school from including prayers in its graduation ceremony, prompting students to begin reciting the Lord’s Prayer during the opening remarks. About 200 students interrupted the principal’s comments with the prayer, drawing thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Earlier in the day, a judge banned prayers from the ceremony in response to a lawsuit filed that week by the ACLU. The lawsuit sought a restraining order on behalf of an unidentified student at Russell County High School in Russell Springs.” (The Gazette. 5/20/06.)

Judge Rules Against Pledge

     “A federal judge has ruled that a state law requiring Florida students to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. The decision resulted from a lawsuit by Cameron Frazier, a 17-year-old Boynton Beach High junior. Although the law has been ruled unconstitutional, U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Ryskamp’s ruling does not specifically require other school districts in the state to comply. A request for a statewide injunction is still pending, said James Green, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who represented Frazier.” (The Gazette. 6/2/06.)

9/11 Steel Cross Will Stay!

     “The foundation in charge of developing ground zero’s memorial and museum pledged to permanently display the two pieces of steel left standing in the shape of a cross after the World Trade Center collapsed. WTC Memorial Foundation President and CEO Gretchen Dykstra agreed to find a place for the artifact at the site, though acknowledged it’s a delicate issue and viewers should be allowed to draw their own conclusions about whether it has religious significance. During recovery efforts in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, the two intersecting beams were treated with reverence by some rescue workers. The artifact was interpreted by some as a sign of hope. Religious services were held near where it stood in the smoking rubble. It remains at the site more than four years later.” (The Gazette. 5/14/06.)

Rockies Christian-Based Code

     “No copies of Playboy or Penthouse are in the clubhouse of the Colorado Rockies. There’s not even a Maxim magazine. The only reading materials are daily newspapers, sports and car magazines and the Bible. Music filled with obscenities, wildly popular with youths today and in many other major-league clubhouses, is not played. A player will curse occasionally, but usually in hushed tones. Quotes from Scripture are posted in the weight room. Chapel service is packed on Sundays. Prayer and fellowship groups each Tuesday are well-attended. It’s not unusual for the front office executives to pray together. On the field, the Rockies are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons and the second time in their 14-year history. Behind the scenes, they quietly have become an organization embracing a Christian-based code of conduct they believe will bring them focus and success. From ownership on down, it’s an approach the Rockies are proud of—and something they are wary about publicizing. Manager Clint Hurdle, 48, who said he became a Christian three years ago, said of the team’s devotion: ‘We’re not going to hide it. We’re not going to deny it. This is who we are.’ Rockies executives made clear they believe God has had a hand in the team’s improvement from the second-worst record in major-league baseball last year.” (The Gazette. 5/31/06.)

Liberal Ruling Appealed

     “A pro-family attorney says a San Diego school district violated the free-speech rights of a California high school student by prohibiting him from expressing his Christian viewpoint against homosexuality. In 2004, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed a lawsuit challenging the Poway School District’s decision to suspend student Chase Harper for wearing a Christian T-shirt. Harper’s shirt had the phrases ‘Homosexuality is shameful’ and ‘Our school embraced what God has condemned.’ Recently, two judges with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the U.S. Constitution does not permit Harper to wear the shirt. ADF attorney, Tim Chandler, is appealing the ruling. ‘They’ve been incredibly hostile to Christians in a number of different rulings ranging in topics that are affecting believers.’” (Agape Press. 6/2/06.)

Changing History – the B.C. & A.D. Correctness

     “Secularists are making another sweeping attempt to minimize the influence of Christianity in Western civilization. This time, they want everyone to use the terms B.C.E. and C.E. in reference to historical dates. This is in place of the traditional B.C., which stands for ‘Before Christ’ and A.D., which is Latin for ‘Anno Domini,’ and means, ‘In the year of our Lord.’ C.E. stands for ‘Common Era.’ The designations correspond exactly to B.C. and A.D., but simply eliminate Christ from the center of modern history. This usage has been common among politically correct academics for a decade or more, but now secularists want to force it on school children. The change is incorporated into a new 600-page guidebook for Kentucky teachers. A final version being considered by the state board will be voted on that would use all four acronyms, rather than taking a stand against secular views. Lisa Gross, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education, told the Lexington Herald-Leader that C.E. and B.C.E. are coming into widespread use, and Kentucky students need to be exposed to the terms in case they encounter them on college placement tests. Martin Cothran, a policy analyst for The Family Foundation in Lexington, said, ‘This is an attempt to religiously sterilize the teaching of history in our schools.’ Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher said he opposed dropping the B.C. and A.D. dating system. The issue is expected to influence votes in the upcoming Kentucky elections.”(JesusJournal.com, Bluegrass Policy Blog & AFA of Kentucky updates. April 2006.)

“In God We Trust” Resolution

     “Recently Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and Democrat Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia introduced a U.S. Senate resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the national motto, ‘In God We Trust.’ The measure, Senate Concurrent Resolution 96, resolves ‘to commemorate, celebrate, and reaffirm the national motto of the United States on the 50th anniversary of its formal adoption. ’Brownback, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, says it is important, as the U.S. marks the golden anniversary of its motto, to ‘recognize the past and future role of America’s reliance on Divine providence and fight attempts to remove God from the public square.’ Senator Byrd observes that ‘an abiding faith in the Creator has helped to shape our country from its very beginning,’ and the nation’s founders relied on that faith throughout their struggle for freedom. Byrd added that moral principles have ‘shaped what America is today, and they should guide what America will be in the days and years to come.’ While ‘In God We Trust’ was officially adopted by Congress in 1956, the phrase was the nation’s unofficial motto from the time of the Civil War, when Secretary of the Treasury Samuel P. Chase ordered that coins bear a motto expressing the American people’s trust in God. The first coins carrying the motto were minted in 1864, and in 1955 the words were required for all new coins.” (Agape Press. 5/31/06.)

ACLU & Graduation Prayer

     “The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit to stop officials at a Louisville, Kentucky, high school from saying a prayer during this week’s graduation ceremony. The organization filed the suit on behalf of an unidentified Russell County High School senior. An ACLU attorney says the student ‘doesn’t’ feel he should be forced to sit through a prayer,’ but the principal refused to guarantee that nobody would pray at Friday’s ceremony.” (Agape Press. 5/17/06.)

Atheist Newdow Attacks

     “Michael Newdow, who may be the most widely known atheist in America, is challenging the constitutionality of the motto ‘In God We Trust’ as its golden anniversary approaches. Newdow, the man who was almost successful in his bid to have the Pledge of Allegiance declared unconstitutional when recited by school children in California, has filed a 162-page complaint against Congress and the President, seeking to have the motto declared unconstitutional. The Thomas More Law Center says Newdow has no constitutional ground to stand on and the law center has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Sacramento asking the federal district court to dismiss the case. ‘Newdow’s attempt to eliminate the mere acknowledgement of our religious heritage by our  National Motto has no basis in constitutional law,’ states chief counsel, Richard Thomas. ‘Even the Supreme Court, in past decisions, has understood there is an unbroken history of official invocations of Divine guidance beginning with our Founding Fathers and continuing to our present-day leaders.’”(Agape Press. 5/10/06.)

NASA Reverses Course

     “A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research facility in the San Francisco Bay area recently backed down after an initial attempt to censor employees’ announcement of a National Day of Prayer event. Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) , a Christian legal defense organization, intervened on the California workers’ behalf. Twice a week the NASA facility sends out an e-mail message to all of its employees with announcements of a variety of events. However, when a group of employees sought to announce a National Day of Prayer event, they encountered unexpected opposition. Supervisors censored the announcement by removing the time and place the event was to take place. Several employees contacted PJI, which sent a legal demand letter informing NASA officials that their actions violated both the First Amendment and federal law protecting workers’ religious rights. After negotiations, NASA reversed their actions and published the announcement.” (Agape Press. 5/17/06.)

Anti-God Yearbook Modifications

     “Parents in suburban Fort Worth, Texas, are expressing anger over an elementary school’s decision to remove the phrase ‘In God We Trust’ from its yearbook cover. Officials at Liberty Elementary School in Colleyville deliberately omitted the words ‘In God We Trust’ from a large image of the new ‘Liberty’ nickel appearing on the cover of the school’s inaugural yearbook. The coin features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the cursive ‘Liberty’ inscription in Jefferson’s own handwriting, and the national motto along the right edge—except, that is, along the edge of the coin’s image on this elementary school’s yearbook. Janet Travis, principal of Liberty Elementary School, explains that in making the determination, she wanted to avoid offending students of different religions. But for those who preferred, the yearbook came with a sticker that allowed students to put the phrase ‘In God We Trust’ back on the Liberty nickel. Debi Ackerman, whose ten-year-old daughter attends Liberty Elementary, says despite the school’s intentions, it succeeded in offending ‘people who believe in our country and what it stands for.’ The decision to remove the motto from the coin’s image, says Ackerman, is another example of political correctness run amok.’” (Agape Press. 5/30/06.)

Rev. Falwell Wants Fair Fight

     “Eight Virginia public school districts are being accused of taking part in an illegal boycott against a Christian school and its sports teams. The private academy, which was founded by Dr. Jerry Falwell and Thomas Road Baptist Church, is prepared to sue if the other schools refuse to play fair. For several decades now, Liberty Christian Academy (LCA) in Lynchburg, Virginia, has taken part in athletic competitions, training camps, and other activities along with student athletic teams of high schools in the city and within eight area counties. However, if the public school districts have their way, all that is going to change. Recently, as LCA prepared for the upcoming academic year’s sports seasons, the athletic departments of the eight districts informed the private academy that its players are no longer welcome and will not be allowed to participate in any of the coming year’s sports activities. It appears that some district officials have been upset with LCA’s winning record in a number of sports. Instead of competing in the sports arenas, now it’s court.” (Agape Press. 5/18/06.)

Christless Council Prayers

     “The director of the Christian Defense Coalition says one Virginia pastor should be commended for standing up for his free-speech rights after being told how to pray at public meetings of the local city council. Hashmeal Turner, a pastor who resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia, was on a rotating list of clergy who were called on to open the city council’s meetings with prayer. Before he was scheduled to pray, however, officials old him he could not pray in the name of Jesus or mention the name of Christ during the invocation. Turner has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, claiming that his First Amendment rights are being violated. Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition (CDC), said, ‘Our position is this: No governmental body, no civil authority, should tell any American citizen how they are to pray. That should be left up to their own conscience, to the dictates of their faith tradition and the practices of their faith.’ If Pastor Turner wins his case, this may make it easier for Christians to express their faith in the public arena. The CDC leader has organized rallies in the Fredericksburg area in support of the pastor and his fight for free speech and religious freedom.” (Agape Press. 5/31/06.)

Illegal Distribution Policies?

     “Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is continuing to pursue its lawsuit against the Montgomery County Public School System in Maryland. The legal action was  filed after the school district refused to send students home with flyers promoting the Christian group’s Good News Bible Clubs. Two years ago, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that barring the CEF flyer distribution violated the group’s free speech rights. The Montgomery County school district then adopted a ‘revised’ literature distribution policy. However, Christian Legal Society senior litigation counsel Kim Colby, who represents CEF, claims the new policy is also unconstitutional. Officials at the school system took the position that they wouldn’t give CEF permission to distribute the flyer unless CEF ‘first got approval from other approved groups from within the school system.” (Agape Press. 5/30/06.)

Gunned Down by the ACLU

     “A perceived war on Christians in America is a myth driven by politics, a top official from the American Civil Liberties Union told cadets and professors at the Air Force Academy recently in Colorado Springs. Addressing an issue that has generated controversy at the academy, Jeremy Gunn said many falsehoods are fueling a pro-Christian backlash. Mr. Gunn challenged the role of chaplains in the military, saying that they must balance their faith against the needs of the service. Those who put evangelism first, he said, ‘need to find another career.’” (The Gazette. 5/12/06.)
   Editor’s Note: I debated with this Jeremy Gunn , Director of the ACLU’s Program on Religious Freedom, on the radio for about five minutes. He shared so many falsehoods and untruths with the listening audience that I didn’t know where to begin. First, he said that “Most of the Founding Fathers were Deists.” My response was, “You just made an overgeneralization that  some atheists and Free Thinkers promote. You just said ‘many’ were Deists. So, please name them for me.” He said, “Well, of course, there is Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison.” I said, ‘Thomas Jefferson was not a proclaimed Deist—in fact, he went to church frequently. James Madison believed in Christian principles. And Benjamin Franklin was a modified Deist in that he believed that God could and would intervene in the affairs of men. Now, two of the men you mentioned are in question...nevertheless, does three men constitute ‘many Founding Fathers?’ Who else in your belief is a Deist. This graduate of Harvard could not come up with any!! I then asked him if he knew about his founders’ beliefs (ACLU’s Roger Baldwin). He said, “No, I haven’t read much about the past history of the ACLU. What matters is what we believe now; not what we believed back then!” I ended my debate by saying, “Why in the world should I or any listener believe a word you have to say? You revise history according to your own prejudiced beliefs and agenda and you admit to not even knowing about the history of your own organization!” Then, I was cut off by the radio talk show host. Dohhh!!!!

Christian Prison Program Now Unconstitutional

     “Evidently it matters not what a well-known and highly successful prison ministry believes one of its premier programs is constitutional and well within the guidelines of the First Amendment, or that statistics bear out the effectiveness of the program. A federal judge has ruled the program is unconstitutional—and now the program that equips prisoners to successfully re-enter society is in jeopardy. A federal judge has ruled that an Iowa prison program that involves inmates immersing themselves in evangelical Christianity is unconstitutional and must be shut down. Associated Press reports that Judge Robert Pratt, in a ruling expected to have national implications, said Prison Fellowship’s InnerChange Freedom Initiative amounts to a government establishment of religion.” (Agape Press. 6/5/06.)