First Amendment: Flushed Away by Hate Crimes?

While some men were arrested for distributing religious books, another has been charged for flushing one. In a bizarre case at Pace University, former student Stanislav Shmulevich has been accused of taking two copies of the Koran from a "meditation room" and throwing them in toilets. While no one could legitimately defend his actions, it likewise seems indefensible that University officials bowed to demands by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and charged Shmulevich with a hate crime in addition to the initial charges of "criminal mischief." The Islamic community has every right to express disdain for Shmulevich's actions, but not to insist on extra criminal punishment for his thoughts, which is what "hate crime" laws provide for. Supporters of the proposed federal hate crime bill defend it as targeting only acts of violence. Yet New York's law apparently targets vandalism as well. How long will it be before mere speech expressing disapproval (be it of Islam, or of homosexuality) is also criminalized, as in several other countries? This is the slippery slope of the "hate crimes" mentality, and we shouldn't take even one step down it. When Andres Serrano submerged a crucifix in urine and called it "art," Christians condemned the act but demanded only that the taxpayers not pay for it, not that he be jailed for a "hate crime."

Going the Extra Mile - In the Wrong direction!

Officials in Key Largo, Florida were apparently living by the old adage of "going the extra mile" (Matthew 5:41). In January, two Gideons were arrested for distributing Bibles on a public sidewalk outside a local elementary school. They were charged with trespassing. With the help of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which represented the men, the charges were dismissed a short time later. However, the men were then notified that other charges were being filed this time under a different statute which prohibits anyone from being within 500 feet of school property without permission. As ADF's statement suggests, "Does the state [believe] that its citizens will be safer if 'protected' from Bibles? In a country founded on religious freedom, the actions of the state are a disgrace." As were the actions of the local police, which allegedly mocked the Gideons after handcuffing them, saying, "Now you can pray to Jesus all the way to jail." As it turns out, the officers shouldn't have been so quick to ridicule the prayers because they worked! Thanks to ADF, common sense prevailed in court and, for a second time, all charges against the Gideons were dropped. This victory for the Bible is an elementary reminder that we can still prevail when we are willing to take our stand in the face of growing intolerance and even outright hostility toward Christianity.

Breyer's Remorse

A new poll by ABC has found that only fifty one percent of liberals see the Supreme Court as "too conservative" Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is definitely one of them. In a speech last week, Schumer lamented the influence of new Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito. "Alito shouldn't have been confirmed," Schumer said. "There is no doubt we were hoodwinked." To avoid an even more conservative court, he said the Senate shouldn't confirm another Bush Supreme Court nominee "except in extraordinary circumstances." Although no high court vacancies are imminent, Schumer has been known to seize on opportunities like this one to raise money for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which he chairs. Meanwhile, he seems to have an unusual partner in judicial skepticism Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.). After conversations with liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, Specter has said that he'll use his power as ranking member of the Judiciary Committee to "study the decisions of the Roberts Court" to see if the new justices have ignored precedent after promising to respect it. Most legal scholars agree that the Roberts court's first full term was a mixed bag that mostly avoided partisan labels. However, the comments by Senator Specter, who has been an outspoken ally in the GOP's battle to confirm more judges, can certainly be seen as lending a hand to Schumer's calculated attack on the U.S. Constitution.

Corn Town Gives ACLU an Earful

Although "Tangipahoa" is Indian for "corn gatherers," most Louisianans have probably wondered if the town's modern meaning is "source of ACLU frustration." In the last 13 years, Tangipahoa School District has been the target of five ACLU lawsuits, most recently over whether the school board was violating the Establishment Clause by opening its meetings with an invocation. Although the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to rule on the constitutionality of the prayers, the judges did decide to vacate an adverse lower court ruling by the slimmest of margins, 8-7. The town celebrated the victory on Wednesday, knowing full well that the ACLU and perhaps even this case will be back. For now, however, it does send an important message to Americans that these left wing Goliaths can pick a fight in every school yard, but it doesn't mean the bullies will win.

Reading, Writing, and Ramadan

While some American schools are rushing to ban "Christmas" parties and Bible clubs, others are going out of their way to promote prayer in schools. That is, if the prayers are to Allah. In a world where the ACLU is suing Christian students faster than you can say "10 Commandments," it may surprise some that there's a new movement of religious tolerance afoot. Unfortunately, as USA Today points out, this type of religious expression seems to be a one-way street open only to Muslims. As part of this wave of preferential treatment, at least 17 universities have made special arrangements to build foot baths and prayer rooms for Islamic students. In San Diego, an elementary school created an extra recess for Muslim children to pray. The University of Michigan has gone so far as to provide facilities for Islamic students to wash their feet before prayer all at taxpayer expense! In California, another school hosts a curriculum called "Becoming a Muslim" as part of world history class. Yet when the families of these seventh graders sued the school for violating the ban on religious establishment, they lost. Sadly, this is all part of broader paranoia in America, in which people are more concerned about offending someone than they are about violating the law. This same fear is one of the driving elements in the "hate crimes" debate. ACLU's silence on the matter exposes their anti-Christian agenda. The group, which is all too willing to sue when a Christian student prays silently, seems completely unfazed when another public school uses taxpayer dollars to ensure that Muslims can pray openly on school time during class. America may be the Mecca of diversity, but when it comes to certain schools promoting true religious tolerance, one thing's become clear the Christian faith need not apply.

No Such Thing as Free Speech, Eh?

As the U.S. considers adopting more stringent "hate crimes" laws, our Canadian neighbors are reaping the consequences of their government's stifling "hate speech" code. In yet another case of attempted censorship, the Canadian Human Rights Commission has threatened a conservative website with criminal charges for editorializing on the Islamic opposition to homosexuality. The investigation, based on a single complaint by a private citizen, is yet another example of how the law has been twisted in a campaign to bully Canadians into silence. One of the site's content providers, Connie Wilkins, said that the Commission is making it "a crime to offend someone." While the action seems extreme, it's eerily similar to the message that U.S. Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sent last month in a letter to the Commerce Department, urging a federal hunt for "hate crimes" in the telecommunications industry. If Dingell gets his way, this wave of intolerance threatens to make its way across the Canadian border into the U.S. As my good friend Pastor Scott says,"what is lawful can be awful".

Is a Vegetarian Diet Healthier?

Evidence has been building for two decades that people who eat a mostly vegetarian diet have the upper hand. Numerous studies from around the world have shown that plant-based diets not only extend life spans but also protect people from a number of diseases that plague heavy meat-eaters. The longest-lived peoples in the world all consume a mostly vegetarian diet, with a small percentage of protein derived from meat. Research has shown that vegetarians are healthier than those who consume a lot of animal protein. More.

Persistence

Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? Our vigilance is an expression of our faith that God answers our prayers. Faith shouldn’t die if the answers come slowly, for the delay may be God’s way of working his will in our lives. When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present, always listening, always answering maybe not in ways you had hoped, but in ways that he knows are best. Persistence, or boldness, in prayer overcomes our insensitivity, not God’s. To practice persistence does more to change our hearts and minds than his, and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our need. Persistence in prayer helps us recognize God’s work. Are you waiting for God’s timing? Trust his judgment for your best interests.

Ahmadinejad: It will be a 'hot' summer

It's going to be a "hot" summer in the Middle East, said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following a surprise meeting with Hizb'allah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah in Damascus. Nasrallah allegedly entered Syria via an underground tunnel. "We hope that the hot weather of this summer will coincide with similar victories for the region's peoples, and with consequent defeat for the region's enemies," Ahmadinejad added, in an apparent reference to Israel. During his one-day trip to Damascus, Ahmadinejad held talks with counterpart Bashar Assad which focused on the Iraq situation, Palestinian territories and Lebanon, where both Teheran and Damascus wield influence...[ More]

Where is Europe when real refugees are in need?

There is a major four-year-old refugee crisis resulting from the Arab cleansing of ethnic Africans from Sudan’s Darfur region, and I am wondering: Where are the offers of aid from European nations that were more than ready to give asylum to Palestinian killers? The poor, oppressed souls pouring out of Darfur are being forced to take up residence in ill-equipped tent camps, or to seek refuge in Egypt and Israel. But Egypt is not treating them much better than the Arabs of Sudan did, and Israel is unable to absorb any great number of these refugees. So why are the nations of Europe, who pretend to care so much about Palestinian refugees and other dispossessed peoples around the world, not opening their gates to the Sudanese? Why are they not offering to help?.

Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Nominated

It may be summer, but Senate Democrats haven't taken a break from their judicial grandstanding. After six months, the new majority in the Senate has confirmed just three of the President's nominees to the appellate court bench. As The Wall Street Journal notes, this animosity is unprecedented even in modern politics. Despite facing Congresses run by the opposite party, both Presidents Reagan and Clinton confirmed 16 and 15 judges, respectively, in their last two years in office. In 2000 during the last year of the Clinton presidency, Patrick Leahy grumbled about the slow pace of confirmations, saying that approving one judge per month was "not acceptable." How times have changed! He now appears completely content to leave parts of the country flailing in judicial emergencies, where circuits are overwhelmed and important cases languish. The backlog is partially to blame on the liberals' concerted effort to obstruct nominee Leslie Southwick, who, in 2006, they considered thoroughly uncontroversial when he was confirmed for the federal district court. Now that groups like People for the American Way have started pulling the strings on the new majority, Southwick, a veteran of the Iraq war with 11 years of judicial experience, is being judged unacceptable.

Avoid this Draft!

I understand the role of the military, it is to fight and to win wars in defense of Americans and our way of life. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that some in Congress do not see the military's role in the same way.

While the generals plead for time to complete their mission, politicians talk of deadlines and pull outs. What do you do with a military if its mission is not to fight and win wars? Monday night's Democratic presidential debate combined with legislation being advanced by the new majority on Capitol Hill provides some insight.

In response to a YouTube question, (this one from an actual person not an animated snowman, one of the video novelties on display Monday night) All of the Democratic candidates who had a chance to answer the question saluted the idea of expanding any future draft to include young women. In Congress yet another bill was introduced to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, a compromise instituted by former President Clinton in 1993 when Congress rebuffed his effort to lift the ban on homosexuals serving in the military.

It appears that the new majority would prefer to draft the military into fighting the liberal's war on traditional values rather than allow our all-volunteer forces to defend those values as they have so bravely done through the years.

Giving God the Credit

That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. (Daniel 2:19 )

What do you do on the heels of God's mercy and provision? You praise him for his kindness.

Daniel understood that principle. When king Nebuchadnezzar had a horrible dream, God not only told Daniel what the dream was but he provided the interpretation. Because of it, the king spared the lives of his advisers the once wise men, who had come inches from becoming dead men. Daniel's intervention in the matter was the only thing that saved all of them from the king's wrath.

When God revealed the king's dream to Daniel, the first thing he did was bless God for his goodness. The king could wait for the interpretation; Daniel had more important matters to attend to first. "Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power …. He reveals deep and mysterious things …. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength" (Daniel 2:20-23 ).

The secret to Daniel's wisdom and strength was that he never forgot where it came from. He knew that if it weren't for God he would have no reason to boast. And because of it, he boasted only in God's power, never in his own ability.

There are times when I find myself pretty impressed with the things I do. When people compliment me I feel the compliments going to my head sometimes and quickly I have to remind myself that I had little to do with it. God is the strength and wisdom behind all I do. In my heart I know that, though I'm tempted so often to take credit.

Money Grows on Family Planning Trees

Last week, while Congress was busy bickering about the price of abstinence education, a new study was establishing just how important those programs are. Although the rate of teen sexual activity has gone down since 1991, a federal analysis of the latest data suggests that in the last six years the percentage of young people having sex has stayed at nearly the same level. Unfortunately, after a decade of decline in the nineties, teenagers are no more inclined to delay sex until after high school today than they were in 2001. Liberal groups like Advocates for Youth (AFY) have been quick to blame this plateau on the rise of abstinence education, claiming that Congress has spent an unprecedented amount on the "save" sex message. Pointing to last week's House vote to slightly increase Title V abstinence funding and reauthorize $141 million in Community Based Abstinence Education grants, AFY President James Wagoner said that [Congress] "turned its back on public health." What Wagoner fails to admit is that while abstinence has experienced a long-deserved influx of federal funds, value-free sex education continues to out pace spending on conservative programs by hundreds in millions of taxpayer dollars. Case in point while the House approved an additional $28 million for abstinence programs in Title V, liberal programs received the same raise, adding another $28 million to its bulging $310 million budget! Perhaps the biggest culprit for the stagnancy on teen sex front is confusion. The federal government continues to subsidize a mixed message on sexual activity. It promotes programs that tell kids not to have sex, yet funnels money to groups that offer nothing more than a "how to" lesson in promiscuity. Abstinence may well be making a significant difference in the rate of teen sexual activity, but how can it expect to compete with the near-billion spent undermining that message? Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) did his best to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving any more Title X money, but his amendment fell just shy of passing. The rates of teen sex will resume their decline when leaders realize, as Pence has, that when it comes to the government's abstinence message accept no substitutes!

The joke's on us

'It's all a joke. It's just a joke." That's how the Palestinian terror commanders in Judea and Samaria explained the show they made of handing in their weapons to Fatah commander Mahmoud Abbas's official militias over the weekend. "This is all a big joke," they told reporters while posing for pictures. "Abbas asked us to sign a declaration saying we won't attack Israel and so we are." And why not? The Palestinian Authority Chairman agreed to pay them thousands of dollars in exchange for the photo opportunities. There is also the non-financial incentive. In exchange for their propaganda photos and their signatures on declarations not to engage in terror anymore, Israel has pledged to take these murderers off of its wanted list. So just for participating in a satire, these men get to walk without fear for the first time in years...[ More]

Picking a Winner

But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself. (Daniel 1:8 )

How would you define a winner? If you had to pick someone out of a crowd and hold him up as an example of what it takes to get ahead in life, what would you look for? What would it be that sets that person apart?

In Biblical times we see that King Nebuchadnezzar decided that he knew winners when he saw them, and those were the kind of people he wanted around him. He didn't want any slackers serving in his court, so he commanded his chief palace official to bring him the best and brightest he could find from among the Jewish royal family and nobility. "'Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,' he said. 'Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good sense, and have the poise needed to serve in the royal palace'" (Daniel 1:4 ). Then when his guards rounded them up, he instructed them to treat the young men like kings. They were to eat the best foods and drink only the finest wines from his own kitchens. They were to be taught Babylonian history and literature by the greatest professors around. They were to "be all that they could be," and serve as a reminder to all Babylon what kind of people the king admired. These were the winners in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzer.

Among the ones chosen was a young man named Daniel, but he wasn't about to let it go to his head. He saw himself as a child of God, not a protégé of the king, so he immediately set himself to a different standard. "Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead" (Daniel 1:8 ). Much of the food the king wanted them to eat was forbidden by Jewish law, so Daniel convinced his handler to let him and his four friends eat only vegetables and water. Good old Daniel was a vegetarian. "At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other[s]" Daniel told him (Daniel 1:13 ). The king's attendant agreed and soon saw that they were healthier than the rest.

Because of Daniel's obedience, God gave him a special measure of wisdom and knowledge as well as the gift of interpreting dreams and visions. In the eyes of God, Daniel was a winner. It wasn't because he was strong or intelligent or good-looking. It was because of his loyalty to his King. His willingness to stand up for his beliefs. His obedience to his God in spite of the pressure and temptation to go along with the crowd.

Washington Wrap-Up

It was a busy week in the Capitol with a host of family and life issues at stake. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) attempted to add thought crimes legislation to the Department of Defense Authorization, but the bill was pulled after Democrats failed to force a troop withdrawal from Iraq. The bill will be back though. A Senate committee passed a bill advocated by Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and sponsored by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to enforce regulations penalizing media indecency. Late last night, during debate on the College Cost Reduction Act, Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) was able to add an amendment that protects unborn children by preventing any government from carrying out a death sentence on a woman while she carries a child in the womb. The House passed one of its largest annual spending bills, the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill, with all of the pro-life riders intact. Also, an increase in funding to $141 million for the Community Based Abstinence Education programs was included. As I said yesterday, the Smith/Davis amendment was added to this bill and would increase cord blood stem cell funding to $15 million. Unfortunately, funding for the Title X "family planning" program, much of which goes to Planned Parenthood, was increased. Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.) offered an amendment to prevent any Title X funding from going to Planned Parenthood, but it fell short by a margin of 231-189, enough to give us hope for next time. On the positive side, bill language essentially containing Representative Joe Pitts's (R-Penn.) Post-Abortion Depression Act was adopted as part of Rep. Bobby Rush's (D-Ill.) Post-Partum Depression Act. The purpose of Mr. Pitts' bill is to further study the mental health harms from terminated pregnancies, including miscarriage and abortion

Prompted to Pray

And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20 )

Does God wake you up in the middle of the night as he sometimes does me? Does he nudge you awake from a perfectly good dream at two in the morning and then keep you wide-awake? Does he bring a friend or family member to mind almost out of the blue? Maybe someone you haven't heard from or thought of for quite a while? Does he urge you to pray for them? If so, are you obedient?

At times I will receive notes or e-mails from friends who say that they've been praying for me. Often they will say that God put it on their hearts to pray for me. I covet these prayers. Just knowing that God is urging people to pray for me gives my heart a renewed sense of joy and purpose. It tells me that God is interested in what I do and that he wants my life to remain obedient and on track. There is nothing my friends could do to invigorate my soul more than to cover me in their prayers. And there is nothing God could do to make me feel more loved.

When the Spirit prompts us to pray, it is a powerful testament to God's active participation in our life "Prayer starts with God," says Lloyd John Ogilvie. "It is his idea. The desire to pray is the result of God's greater desire to talk with us …. He is the initiator." Throughout Scripture we see God's desire to engage with his people. He wants to speak to us, and he wants us to speak back. When you are prompted to pray, know that the dialogue has begun and the ball is in your court. It's your turn to speak back even if it's two in the morning.

Ethical Stem Cell Research Advanced

Great news, an amendment passed on a House spending bill to increase ethical stem cell research for treatments. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Artur Davis (D-AL) offered an amendment to increase funding for the National Cord Blood Inventory program from $4 million to $15 million, the amount the law currently authorizes each year. Cord blood stem cells are treating patients for a host of diseases, from sickle cell anemia, to leukemia and genetic diseases. While the debate over funding unethical embryonic stem cell research continues, we are making positive strides in advancing research using ethical adult stem cells. Representatives Smith and Davis are to be commended for offering this ethical, pro-patient amendment. Now we need to make sure the Senate does the same.

Read Full Article here.

Mrs. Edwards Backs Unequal Justice

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, is diligently protecting his left flank. She promised that her husband's health care plan would cover abortions with taxpayer dollars. She's also recently exhibited the fuzzy thinking behind "hate crimes" laws. Mrs. Edwards said that President Bush (who has signaled he would veto a federal "hate crimes" law) "doesn't seem to recognize the evil in hate crimes," adding, "The right to live without the fear of being murdered for whom we love is not a special right." Of course, all violent crimes are "evil," and "the right to live without the fear of being murdered" is something that should belong equally to everyone. Yet equal protection is exactly the principle violated by "hate crime" laws. Edwards alluded to the death earlier this month in Sacramento of a man who allegedly was the target of "anti-gay slurs" before being assaulted. Blame for the murder is being laid upon evangelical Christian Slavic churches in the area solely because assailants were heard speaking Russian. Those who say that "hate crime" laws won't lead to infringements of religious liberty but then blame "hate crimes" on peaceful religious opposition to homosexual conduct are talking out of both sides of their mouth.

Don't Cover Up Link Between Child Porn and Molesting

The New York Times today reports on a study that documents the link well known to prosecutors with experience in the field between the use of child pornography and actual child sexual abuse. Psychologists at the Federal Bureau of Prisons studied 155 prisoners who had been sentenced for possession or distribution of child pornography and had volunteered for treatment. At sentencing, only 26% were known to have been active child molesters but in confidential surveys, a shocking 85% admitted to abusing at least one child. Furthermore, at sentencing 75 victims had been identified among these molesters but in the surveys, they identified a shocking 1,777 victims. This study was accepted for publication by the Journal of Family Violence but then withdrawn at the request of higher-ups in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. They reportedly were concerned that incarcerated offenders in treatment might not actually be representative of all child pornography users, but such a basic caveat about the study's sample is no reason not to publish the data. Similar research on the relationship of illegal adult pornography to sex crimes would also be useful. This is further evidence that pornography is no "victim less" crime and should be a high priority for law enforcement. If the Bureau of Prisons has a gag order on this study, the Department of Justice should lift it.

Read New York Times Article here.

Tell Congress to Stop Giving Your Money to Planned Parenthood!

According to their own 2005-2006 Annual Report, Planned Parenthood received over a third of their income $300 million from government funding. Although the government monies are prohibited by law from being used for abortions, that funding still helps Planned Parenthood in its overall operations.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) is offering an amendment to the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations bill that would prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to fund Planned Parenthood or its affiliates. Your support on this crucial amendment is needed.

Call your Representative TODAY and tell them to stop the flow of taxpayer money that is being funneled to the nation's largest abortion chain. Click the link directly below to get the phone number for your legislator. (Please be patient, page may load slowly.)

Call Your Representative and Tell Them to Support the Pence Amendment

If Not Human, What?

In the age of ultrasound technology and a time in which a 21-week unborn child can be saved in an incubator, the Supreme Court of South Korea issued a verdict declaring that an unborn child will not be considered human until the mother goes into labor. The ruling was based on a 2001 case involving a pregnant woman who consulted a midwife at a facility in Seoul as the expected birth date approached and she had no labor pains. The midwife advised the mother to wait two weeks, but during that time the baby died of cerebral damage. The Supreme Court cleared the midwife of "negligent homicide" charges ruling that the mother did not have labor pains so the unborn baby cannot be recognized as a human being. Therefore, no human, no homicide. Father Lee Dong-ik, professor of medicine at the Catholic University of Korea, called the ruling an "extremely shocking and deplorable verdict." He said, "Every country has slightly different legal grounds on when to consider an unborn a human being, but no country has such a definitive ruling that an unborn baby is not a human being. When a 21-week unborn child can survive with an incubator, it is unacceptable to see a verdict where a 42-week unborn is not considered a human being."

No-Fault Divorce at Fault for Divorce Increase

Between 1960 and 1980, most states adopted some version of no-fault divorce - and the U.S. divorce rate roughly doubled. As Maggie Gallagher, president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, concludes in a new report, the connection is no coincidence. Gallagher examined all the empirical research since 1995 that looked at the impact of no-fault divorce laws on divorce rates. She found that 17 of 24 recent empirical studies find that the introduction of no-fault divorce laws increased the divorce rate. Most studies estimate no-fault divorce increased divorce rates on the order of 5 to 30 percent. Gallagher also notes that couples respond to the increased divorce risk from no-fault divorce law by delaying or forgoing marriages altogether. This might be considered a positive outcome if unilateral divorce merely discouraged divorce-prone couples from marrying. But the real result is that couples are choosing to cohabitate and have children out of wedlock rather than enter into a union that can be so easily broken. As Gallagher concludes, "The premise of many family law scholars--that legal change is only a response to underlying cultural shifts and never an independent cause--is difficult to reconcile with either economic theory or existing empirical research. Changing divorce law can affect the divorce rate, and likely the rate of unmarried childbearing and cohabitation as well."

Pols Pander to Planned Parenthood

The top Democratic presidential candidates claim they want to appeal to voters with faith-based values. But such appeals are inconsistent with their continued pandering to hard-left activists. Next month, they will debate before the pro-homosexual Human Rights Campaign and the homosexual cable TV network LOGO. And last night, they bid for the support of the Planned Parenthood Political Action Fund. Elizabeth Edwards, speaking for her husband, promised a "universal health-care" plan that would include coverage for "pregnancy termination." Yet 74% of the public opposes federal financing of abortion. Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke of her concern for American servicewomen not that they be given the tools to succeed in their military mission, but that they should be provided with "emergency contraception." Sen. Barack Obama lambasted the U.S. Supreme Court for its recent ruling upholding a ban on partial birth abortion, even though 72% of Americans agree this gruesome procedure should be illegal. Obama backs what we might call "the Oprah test" for Supreme Court nominees, saying, "We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom" or "poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old." Obama dismissed the "culture wars" as "just so '90s"--but Senator, unlike some, we're not about to cut and run.

The Three-Parent Family?

In a Newsweek article last March, polygamist Mark Henkel explained the basis of his argument for "polygamist rights": If Heather can have two mommies, she should also be able to have two mommies and a daddy. At the time, even gay activists scoffed at the premise. But as family scholar Elizabeth Marquardt explains in an op-ed today for the New York Times, the courts are redefining parenthood in a way that makes the legal acceptance of that argument all but inevitable. On April 30, a Pennsylvania Superior Court panel made history by becoming the first court in the United States to rule that a child can have three legal parents. The case involved two lesbians who were the legal co-parents of two children conceived with sperm donated by a friend. The panel held that the sperm donor and both women were all obligated to financially support the child and were all equally entitled to visitation. By ruling that a child can legally have three parents the court not only severed the legal ties between biology and parenthood but provided a basis for the legal recognition of polygamous marriage. "If more children are granted three legal parents, what is our rationale for denying these families the rights and protections of marriage?" asks Marquardt. "America, get ready for the group-marriage debate."

Read the Full Story Here.

It's RIP for PBA in Louisiana

Life just got a little safer for late term unborn children in Louisiana. On Friday, Governor Kathleen Blanco approved legislation that makes the state of Louisiana the first state to outlaw partial birth abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold a federal ban in April. The new law criminalizes this gruesome procedure in all cases except to preserve the life of the mother. Doctors who practice partial birth abortion can be fined between $1000 and $10,000, and face prison terms of 1-10 years. The legislation, which was passed overwhelmingly by Louisiana lawmakers, strengthens the federal protection and sets a precedent for other states to follow. While there remains much more work to be done in protecting innocent life, this is a major victory that shows the ripple effect of the Supreme Court's decision. Other states are expected to follow suit, and I encourage you to contact your own state's elected officials and urge them to likewise outlaw this grisly threat to human life.

Tell North Korea to Free Christian Marked for Death

International inspectors reported this weekend that North Korea has shut down a key nuclear reactor, making it eligible for international economic aid. But the world should insist that the North Koreans show progress in another area that of religious liberty. Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry on behalf of persecuted Christians, is publicizing the case of Son Jong Nam, a North Korean who faces possible execution for sharing his faith. Last week, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) joined Mr. Son's brother at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington to draw attention to the case. In 1998, Mr. Son defected from North Korea to China, where he became a Christian after meeting a South Korean missionary. But in 2001 the Chinese deported him back to North Korea because of his evangelistic work. He was imprisoned and tortured for three years, paroled in 2004, but then re-arrested in January 2006. Mr. Son has reportedly been sentenced to public execution as an example to the North Korean people. As was the case with Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man charged with a crime last year for converting to Christianity, raising your voice can make a difference. Visit the Voice of the Martyrs website for detailed information on how you can encourage this brother in Christ and pressure his captors to free him.

Gathering storm against the Jews

Not since the Nazi menace rose to annihilate European Jewry in 1938 have the Jewish people faced the threat that confronts them today. This is according to former Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, in a sobering message at a conference in Jerusalem Tuesday. But while he warned that "there is a gathering storm" against the Jews, Cotler believed the end result need not spell disaster for them. "We have some powerful historical assets at our disposal," he said. Just what those assets are that can act to stay mushrooming antisemitism and anti-Israelism is unclear. Cotler did point to Israel's diplomatic relations with two "emerging superpowers," India and China, as a reason to be encouraged. Again, his reasoning was not clear. Meanwhile, former US State Department envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross told the conference – which was organized by the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute (JPPPI) – that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Iran "believes in the destruction of Israel and they’re developing the means to actually do it."

New York Times Journalistic Bias

The photo accompanying a New York Times' TV-film review showed the smiling face of Ahlam Tamimi. Underneath it, the caption read: Ahlam Tamimi in a scene from the HBO documentary 'Hot House.' Ms. Tamimi is among about 10,000 Palestinians being held in Israeli jails. What the Times failed to inform readers was that this young, cheerful-looking woman was the unrepentant female terrorist who assisted in the suicide bombing of a pizza shop which killed 16 people, mostly teenagers and children. She smuggled explosives in a guitar case into Jerusalem and helped provide cover for a fellow terrorist who used the bomb to murder those who stopped by the Sbarro Pizzeria for lunch, including 15 year-old Malki Roth. Upon seeing the smiling photo of one of his daughter's murderers in the New York Times, Arnold Roth, Malki's father, wrote to the Solomonia blog, pointing out that "neither the New York Times nor HBO are likely to give even a moment's attention to the victims of the barbarians who destroyed the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem and the lives of so many victims" More.

The Palestinian Issue

Israelis must learn from the mistakes of their leaders. Superficial solutions do not resolve their problems. Just as aspirin temporarily masks the pain of an infected tooth, the propagation of the false hope of a Palestinian state only prolongs the bloodshed and violence in the region. Israel has taken enough aspirin. They need a root canal to cure the infection that is causing them so much pain. Their attention must be focused on solving the problem of the Palestinians, not the “Palestinian Problem”. Arab states do not want a resolution, which is why they refuse citizenship to Palestinians and why they pressure UNRWA to preserve the refugee problem. There are many dismal characters masquerading as potential peace partners and Israeli leaders cannot afford to choose the wrong ones again. The fact that Hamas in Gaza overthrew the PLO militia, does not make Abbas or Dachlan possible partners with Israel. They are gangsters, and terrorists. Israel cannot negotiate with them. Israel has to correct the tragic mistake that they made by offering Yasser Arafat and his terrorist disciples an independent state...More.

Another War this Summer?

If Israel doesn't vacate the strategic Golan Heights before September, Syrian guerrillas will immediately launch "resistance operations" against the Golan's Jewish communities, a top official from Syrian President Bashar Assad's Baath party told WND. The Baath official, who spoke on condition his name be withheld, said Damascus is preparing for anticipated Israeli retaliation following Syrian guerrilla attacks and for a larger war with the Jewish state in August or September. He said in the opening salvo of any conflict, Syria has the capabilities of firing "hundreds" of missiles at Tel Aviv. "Syria passed repeated messages to the U.S. that we demand the return of the Golan either through negotiations or through war. If the Golan is not in our hands by August or September, we will be poised to launch resistance, including raids and attacks against Jewish positions (in the Golan Heights)," the Baath official said. More

Sad Anniversary

One year ago, on July 12, 2006, the Second Lebanon War began when Hezbollah terrorists attacked Israel Defense Forces patrolling the Lebanon border. Eight Israeli soldiers were killed, and two were kidnapped and continue to be held to this day.

This act of aggression plunged Israel into war. By the time a United Nations brokered ceasefire was in place a month later, Hezbollah had fired nearly four thousand rockets at Israel, causing great suffering and widespread devastation in the northern part of the country. One hundred and fifty nine Israelis were killed. Over four thousand were injured, and hundreds of thousands displaced. More than one million Israelis were forced to live in bomb shelters that had been unused for years and were terribly run down. Conditions in many were nearly unbearable.

Today, there is again the possibility of war. Gaza is now a radical Islamic state, ruled by Hamas. Iran continues to provide arms to radical Palestinian and Islamist groups and persists in its aggressive and hostile rhetoric against Israel. Syria is positioning its military for a possible strike. In Lebanon, the United Nations’ “peacekeeping” force has proved utterly ineffective in preventing Hezbollah from rearming. Clearly, there is now much more than just a remote chance of war erupting it is a real possibility.

While physical preparation is essential, spiritual preparation is also important. War unleashes chaos, destruction and suffering. It is precisely at this time that we need to recommit ourselves to pray daily for Israel and her people, and to remind ourselves that we can always trust in God. The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2). Thus we are assured that, even in times of greatest crisis, when the world seems to be falling apart around us, God is present, and hears His people’s cries for help.

No Surprise Here

How would you describe an accomplished litigator, a staunch family man, a veteran, a judge with a long record of being fair and distinguished? The man in question is 5th Circuit Court nominee Leslie Southwick and if you are People for the American Way (PFAW) or one of their toadies you would describe, with no evidence, Judge Southwick as a racist homophobe. Unfortunately PFAW's hold over the Senate Democrats is so strong they have thrown away all principle to attack this Iraq war veteran using boilerplate talking points by Ralph Neas and his cohorts to be applied to any judicial nominee a Republican might put forth. By attacking a man like Judge Southwick the Left has gone too far. Earlier this year Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) made promises to their Republican counterparts that Judge Southwick would get a fair up or down vote - but now, according to Senate Judiciary ranking member Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), they are reneging on that promise. As Gomer Pyle used to say, put in "Surprise, Surprise!"

Prayer to Whom?

Today, Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain, delivered the first Hindu prayer in the chamber of the United States Senate since the formation of that body in 1789. According to the Senate Chaplain's office, Zed came at the invitation of Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV). The full text of his prayer will be included in the Congressional Record. In the United States, prayer before legislative debates or meetings dates back to June 27, 1787 when the Constitutional Convention meeting in Philadelphia was at a standstill. Ben Franklin, the eldest member at the Convention at the age of 81, stood and said, "I've lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: That God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?" No one can legitimately challenge the fact that the God America refers to in the pledge, our national motto, and other places is the monotheistic God of the Jewish and Christian faith. There is no historic connection between America and the polytheistic creed of Hinduism. I seriously doubt that Americans want to change the motto, "In God We Trust," which Congress officially adopted in 1955, to "In gods we Trust." That is essentially what the United States Senate did today.

Kennedy/Smith vs. the Constitution

Yesterday, in close alliance with the Human Rights Campaign, Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) filed their "hate crimes" legislation for consideration as an amendment to the Department of Defense reauthorization that is currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. The "hate crimes" amendment has numerous problems that should raise concerns for all Americans. First off this bill would usurp the jurisdiction of state and local governments and would federalize each and every state and local crime of violence, so long as there exists the possibility that the crime was motivated by "hate," as defined under this bill. Secondly this bill attacks religious liberty. Current federal law allows an individual to be prosecuted as an "accessory" to a crime, or if the individual somehow "incited" violence. Thus, if a preacher were to denounce the act of homosexuality as a sin and someone who heard him committed a violent crime towards a homosexual it is plausible that the pastor could be charged with inciting violence or as an accessory to the crime. Lastly, but far from least, the concept of "hate crimes" destroys the principle that all men are created equal, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. All human beings should be valued the same regardless of what "category" that person defines himself in. Please contact your U.S. senators TODAY and tell them to vote against the Kennedy/Smith hate crimes amendment.

Care About Poverty? Let's Fight State Lotteries

"Faith-based" liberals claim conservatives don't do enough to fight poverty. Actually, evidence shows that preserving strong marriages and families is one of the most effective anti poverty programs. However, if those who claim to speak for the poor really want to find "common ground" with us, a good place to start might be with opposing state sponsored gambling. Gambling addiction is a serious social problem that ruins lives and destroys families. The desire to get something for nothing also raises moral and spiritual questions. A study released last week by the Tax Foundation shows that state lotteries are bad fiscal policy as well. Legislators who want to increase government spending without paying a political price for raising taxes will point to the "voluntary" nature of lottery tickets, but taxing people's greed this way is a legal form of larceny by trick. Lotteries are often supposed to be earmarked for public education, but they end up replacing other revenue for that purpose rather than adding to it. They're not even effective at keeping taxes down, since lottery states actually have a higher tax burden than the eight remaining non lottery states. Most tragic, though, is the fact that lotteries are a regressive tax that hits the poor the hardest. Both liberals and conservatives should agree, state lotteries are a bad bet for the poor.

Sin in The City

Pornographer Larry Flynt and others who despise pro-family values are using Louisiana Senator David Vitter's admission that he hired an escort service and committed a "serious sin" as an opportunity to say that those who advocate for traditional moral values are hypocrites. Their statements leave me to conclude that the immoral behavior itself would be OK with them had the individual involved not taken a stand against immorality. Their hope, of course, is that Senator Vitter will be shamed into never picking up the pro-family banner again. I can't and won't defend the senator's behavior. I will, however, say that it is refreshing to see someone actually take responsibility for their "sin," a word we don't hear used anymore in this country. Senator Vitter represents a state that is overwhelmingly pro-life and where almost 80% of voters voted in favor of traditional marriage two years ago. His support of pro-family measures is simply a reflection of the voters he represents and of ideas that transcend politics. No doubt he will have to regain the trust of voters, as he has of his wife since these events occurred a few years ago. Part of regaining that trust will be maintaining his personal integrity and continuing to provide leadership on family and social issues even though the adversaries of the family will seize every opportunity to criticize him.

Congressmen Question PBS on Film Censorship

Kudos to the six members of Congress who recently signed a letter calling on the inspector general of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to investigate the Public Broadcasting Service and WETA television station for their questionable practices in the airing of the taxpayer-funded film, "Islam vs. Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center." Specifically, for reasons that have yet to be publicly explained, the national public broadcasting system failed to show this film, which was intended to be a segment of an eight-part series on Islam.

Frank Gaffney, Jr. co-produced the film and has some harrowing stories of censorship and harassment by WETA. Gaffney and another co-producer documented in this film that Muslim radicals are pushing to establish parallel societies in America and Europe governed by courts applying Sharia law rather than civil courts. The film is clear eyed about the ideology of radical Islamists but focuses attention on the views and activities of moderate Muslims who offer a path of reason and reconciliation. Senators Jon Kyl, Tom Coburn, James Inhofe and Representatives Trent Franks, Peter Hoekstra and Peter King are to be commended for their efforts to make sure that this film, which cost $675,000 in tax dollars to make, is not swept under the PBS rugs but gets the American audience it deserves.

If My People Will Humble Themselves and Pray (2 Chron. 7:14)

A recent MTV commissioned poll suggests a decade-long trend among America's youth toward more liberal political and moral values. But the future impact of the growing youth prayer movement wasn't taken into account. On Saturday, over 70,000 young people (some joined by their parents) converged at the Titan Stadium in Nashville to spend 12 hours under the hot Tennessee sun, repenting, praying, and covenanting with God to live lives of moral purity, wholehearted devotion, and prayer for our nation and their generation. The event was organized by Lou Engle, who similarly brought 400,000 young people to our nation's capital in the fall of 2000 to pray for America and America's youth. Lou later founded the Justice House of Prayer (JHOP) in Washington, D.C. JHOP trains young prayer warriors to keep vigil 24/7 and deploys teams to pray silently outside the U.S. Supreme Court crying out to God to end abortion in America. Lou has planned a "march" across America solemn assemblies in Las Vegas, Iowa, Kansas City, Atlanta, Orlando, Berkeley, and Detroit, to culminate in The Call DC in August of 2008 (08.08.08). They expect this national solemn assembly (patterned after Joel 2:12-19) to bring over a million Christians, young and old, for a day on the National Mall, to plead with God for our nation.

Is There a Doctor in the Car Bomb?

Terrorism has visited us in so many unexpectedly horrible ways in recent decades that it's hard to imagine it has anything new in its repertoire. Then come the recent attacks in London and Glasgow to dispel that thought. British authorities have now arrested what a reporter has described as a "multinational circle of medical workers," all men, all Muslim, a number of them doctors in Britain's National Health Service. Full Story Here.

ACLU Targets Courthouse Jesus Painting

Mayor Ben Morris in Slidell, Louisiana is pledging to fight a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the ACLU seeking the removal of a courthouse painting that contains a depiction of Jesus along with messages promoting equal justice under the law. The Alliance Defense Fund's (ADF) Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson spoke out against the ACLU attack as he agreed to defend the city in court, saying the picture was there legally and that it sends a message of equal justice under the law.

I thank ADF for fighting back and believe Mike is exactly right. The ACLU may be offended by our religious heritage but this does not give it the authority to strip any acknowledgment of God from public buildings. Whether it's silencing student-led prayer, attacking the display of crosses, or removing Ten Commandment displays, the ACLU has been on a relentless rampage to remove any vestige of Christianity from the public square.

The ACLU reaps millions of taxpayer dollars by going after local governments that recognize our nation's religious history in any form or fashion. It's time that we put an end to the ACLU's money grab by enacting the Public Expression of Religion Act, now before Congress. Contact your Members of Congress and ask them to sponsor this bill, which would ensure that no monetary damages are awarded to litigants who bring cases against a local or state official who expresses or accommodates religion.

Happy Independence Day

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. There are parades, family picnics, cookouts, and homemade ice cream. It's a time for softball games, fireworks, and patriotic songs. It's a time to celebrate freedom; it's a day to once again proclaim our liberty. This year, it has greater poignancy. For there are those who, in the course of their duty to our nation, have willingly paid the ultimate price to preserve our liberty. Too often we neglect liberty and take freedom for granted, thinking both are synonymous with America. It is important that we understand that America did not create the blessing of freedom and liberty freedom and liberty created America. There is a basis for that liberty and it is reflected in the words of many of our nation's founders and subsequent leaders. As Thomas Jefferson said, "Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?"

This Fourth of July, take a moment in the midst of your celebration to reflect on how God has blessed this nation, how the founders pursued that blessing, and how we have been entrusted with the responsibility to maintain it and pass it on to the next generation.

News Flash: Moms, Dads, and Marriage Still Matter to Americans

There's both good news and bad news in a Pew Research Center poll on marriage, parenthood, and other issues involving family and sexuality that was released over the weekend.

A lopsided majority of Americans 69% still believe that a child needs both a mother and a father. Large majorities also still believe that having children out of wedlock is a big problem for society. Americans still oppose same-sex "marriage" by a 57-32% margin, while opposition to the marriage counterfeits called "civil unions" has once again surpassed support for them.

These views reflect the continuing common sense of the American people. However, other study findings were more troubling. The Washington Post chose to emphasize the sharp drop since 1990 in the percentage of people who consider children very important to a successful marriage, from 65% to only 41%, along with the 65% who believe that "mutual happiness and fulfillment" (rather than "bearing and raising children") is the "main purpose of marriage." Yet while an individual couple may not have children as their top priority, there's no question that providing an optimal setting for bearing and raising children is the most important public purpose of marriage one same-sex unions can never fulfill.

Sen. Patrick Leahy: Hearing Impaired?

Whoever invented the adage, "Good things come to those who wait," has obviously never met one of President Bush's judicial nominees. Many of them have endured months even years of waiting for their hearings to be scheduled. If by some miracle the hearings do take place, few nominees escape the proceedings with their skin unflayed.

Those who are fortunate enough to survive the liberals' smear campaigns are forced to wait even longer for a full Senate vote. In an effort to avoid the partisan standoff, President Bush and GOP leaders agreed to a judicial truce, promising to nominate men and women whom the Democrats would not find controversial. It turns out there is no such person. Last week marked the one-year anniversary of Peter Keisler's nomination, a man who even liberals said has "excellent legal credentials." Yet Keisler continues to sit as liberals ponder his "commitment to advancing civil rights or the environmental... protections." However, it is not Keisler's, nor any judge's job, to advance a political agenda. They are simply asked to uphold the law.

Another nominee, Leslie Southwick, was said to be on the fast-track to confirmation until groups like People for the American Way leaned on Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to invent a controversy over Southwick's record. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is laying blame on the Senate for the historically low approval ratings of Congress. While she and her friends should look at the plank in their own eyes, the petty games played by the Senate Judiciary Committee are certainly not helping matters.