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 Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Alliance Defense Fund is defending a college student in Georgia who was told she must change her beliefs on homosexuality or leave school.  This reveals how the homosexual agenda is not about equality or discrimination but rather forcing their radical secular morality on others.  Religious freedom has no place in this agenda.

posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 2:16:27 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, July 12, 2010

Attorney Mike Whitehead explains how the recent Christian Legal Society court case is a huge step backwards for religious liberty and equal access.

posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 2:17:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, July 09, 2010

The Christian Law Association reports.

posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 3:27:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, July 02, 2010

The Orlando Sentinel reports.

posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 6:18:06 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, June 30, 2010

CNN reports on the recent Supreme Court ruling that trampled on religious freedom by ruling that the Christian Legal Society may not restrict its officer positions to professing Christians and may not prohibit of homosexuality (or other forms of sexual immorality) for its officers.  ACLJ comments on the case.  Excerpt:

 

In a dissent written by Justice Samuel Alito, and joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia and Thomas, Justice Alito concluded that the majority decision "is a serious setback for freedom of expression on this country."

 

From Justice Alito's dissent: "Our First Amendment reflects a 'profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.' New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U. S. 254, 270 (1964). Even if the United States is the only Nation that shares this commitment to the same extent, I would not change our law to conform to the international norm. I fear that the Court’s decision marks a turn in that direction. Even those who find CLS’s views objectionable should be concerned about the way the group has been treated - by Hastings, the Court of Appeals, and now this Court. I can only hope that this decision will turn out to be an aberration."

 

In its amicus brief filed at the high court, the ACLJ contended that religious groups are constitutionally protected in following their religious beliefs.

posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 1:37:06 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, June 21, 2010

Last Wednesday a federal court in California heard closing arguments in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's recent voter-enacted constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.  This is an attempt by radical liberal activists to subvert the democratic process and force their radical anti-marriage agenda on the citizens of California.

 

Maggie Gallagher comments.  Excerpt:

 

This is the trial that never should have been, by a judge who has systematically telegraphed his sympathy for one side.

 

The lawyer for the plaintiffs is Ted Olson, once a GOP advocate for judicial restraint. Yet this week, he will be pleading with the judge to nullify the votes of 7 million Californians -- and, by extension, the votes of millions of Americans in other states who have exercised their right to vote for marriage as the union of husband and wife.

posted on Monday, June 21, 2010 9:13:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, June 03, 2010

Dennis Prager explains.

posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:47:38 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, May 03, 2010

The Telegraph reports.

posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 7:58:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Ken Klukowski reports.

posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 7:56:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, April 19, 2010

FoxNews reports.

posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 10:09:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, March 29, 2010

ABC News reports.  This case would be laughable for its whacky political correctness if it wasn’t so sad and pathetic.

posted on Monday, March 29, 2010 9:53:42 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, March 05, 2010

Maggie Gallagher explains.

posted on Friday, March 05, 2010 6:55:50 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, January 04, 2010

MSNBC reports.

posted on Monday, January 04, 2010 4:52:38 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, November 27, 2009

The Christian Post reports.

posted on Friday, November 27, 2009 8:46:05 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, November 02, 2009

Author and activist Star Parker explains.

posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 11:04:46 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, October 26, 2009

OneNewsNow reports.

 

Also, the Examiner reports on hate crimes passage.

posted on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 12:33:42 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Harry Reid (D-NV) has filed on the Department of Defense funding bill which contains the dangerous hate (thought) crimes expansion legislation.  This means that the full Senate could vote very soon on dangerous hate crimes legislation that threatens religious freedom and the constitutional principle of “equal justice under law.”  It’s also an insult to our brave troops fighting overseas to sneak such controversial social engineering into troop funding legislation.

 

Call both your senators today and urge them to vote against hate crimes!

 

Also, sign FRC’s petition against hate crimes.

 

HT: FRC

posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:59:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, October 08, 2009

While the nation is consumed with health care “reform” and the war in Afghanistan, Congress today snuck through special “protections” for sexual orientation in the Department of Defense funding bill.  Once the Senate approves this bill, sexual orientation will be a protected status under Federal hate (thought) crimes law.  The AP reports.

 

Such hate crimes legislation threatens religious freedom because it could be used to prosecute motives, and it threatens the principle of “equal justice under law” because it creates special protections based solely on sexual behavior.

 

See how your representative voted on hate crimes expansion (NOTE: a “yes” vote is against hate crimes expansion and a “no” vote is for expansion).

 

Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) spoke out against the shameful tactic of attaching such controversial social policy to an essential Defense funding bill (which our troops in Afghanistan desperately need).  See the video here.

posted on Friday, October 09, 2009 2:00:13 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, September 25, 2009

Get up to speed on the threats posed by hate crimes legislation with FRC’s hate crimes page.

posted on Friday, September 25, 2009 6:28:05 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, September 14, 2009

ABC News reports that Congressman Barney Frank is pushing legislation that would force employers to accommodate homosexuals and cross-dressers.  Despite supposed religious exemptions in the legislation, this bill would force many employers to legitimize sexual behavior that they might find offensive or inappropriate.

posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 1:16:42 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Saturday, September 12, 2009

As if there was any doubt that the radical homosexual agenda is completely incompatible with religious liberty, World Net Daily’s report that a man is suing a Bible publisher because certain passages of Scripture disturb his mental state (i.e. conscience) should dispel such doubts.

posted on Saturday, September 12, 2009 11:56:04 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, August 31, 2009

World Net Daily reports.

posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 9:56:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, August 10, 2009

OneNewsNow reports.

posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 8:18:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, August 07, 2009

The Hill reports that several senators have introduced legislation that would require businesses to accommodate and legitimize many forms of sexual deviancy in the work place.  Similar legislation in several states has allowed male cross dressers to enter women’s restrooms.  Although fighting workplace discrimination always sounds good, ENDA would pose a huge threat to religious liberty and public safety.

posted on Friday, August 07, 2009 9:46:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Richard Cohen explains.  Excerpt:

 

The real purpose of hate-crime laws is to reassure politically significant groups -- blacks, Hispanics, Jews, gays, etc. -- that someone cares about them and takes their fears seriously. That's nice. It does not change the fact, though, that what's being punished is thought or speech. Johns is dead no matter what von Brunn believes. The penalty for murder is severe, so it's not as if the crime is not being punished. The added "late hit" of a hate crime is without any real consequence, except as a precedent for the punishment of belief or speech. Slippery slopes are supposedly all around us, I know, but this one is the real McCoy.

 

hat tip: FRC

posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 7:49:29 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, July 31, 2009

Debra Saunders explains the folly of the current hate crimes legislation.

posted on Friday, July 31, 2009 6:30:05 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, July 27, 2009

ADF reports.  News like this shows why conscience protections for doctors and other medical personnel are so necessary.

posted on Monday, July 27, 2009 8:32:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, July 21, 2009

On Thursday, July 16, the Senate voted on an amendment by Sen. Leahy which added dangerous and unnecessary hate crimes legislation to a Department of Defense funding bill.  See how both your senators voted on adding this hate crimes amendment to defense spending legislation.

 

Thank your senators if they voted “No,” and if they voted “Yes” respectfully share your disappointment.  You should also keep this vote in mind the next time your senators face reelection.

UPDATE:  Here's the vote tally.  Follow the link to see the vote details.

Senate Vote on the Leahy Amendment (S.A. 189) to add hate (thought) crimes legislation to the Dept. of Defense funding bill
July 16, 2009
Full Results

 

Yeas

Nays

PRES

NV

Republican

5

28

7

Democratic

57

2

Independent

1

TOTALS

63

28

9

 


posted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 5:43:35 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Saturday, July 18, 2009

As the New York Times reports, the Senate has passed into law dangerous hate crimes legislation into a Defense Department funding bill.  Excerpt:

 

The Senate has agreed to expand the definition of hate crimes to those committed because of a victim’s sexual orientation and gender identity as part of a Pentagon policy measure that is becoming a magnet for tough social issues.

 

Ironically, President Obama has threatened to veto the bill because it sets aside funding for the new state-of-the-art F-22 Raptor fighter jet.

 

FRC explains why “hate crimes” laws are a threat to religious freedom.

posted on Saturday, July 18, 2009 4:26:30 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, July 13, 2009

The Caucus blog of the New York Times reports.  Excerpt:

 

Senate Democrats said on Monday that they would seek to broaden the federal hate crimes law to protect victims of attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disabilities.

 

To lift the chances of passage, Democrats said the legislation, known as the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would be attached as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill – a must-pass measure.

 

Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT) published a helpful analysis and criticism of the hate crimes bill in The Spectrum.  Excerpt:

 

The House passed a hate-crimes bill on April 29, and a similar bill has been introduced in the Senate. Both would create a new federal crime for willfully causing bodily injury (or attempting to do so) because of the victim's actual or perceived "race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability." A person unfamiliar with the hate-crimes debate reading these provisions would likely respond by asking, "Wait, isn't that already a crime?" At that point, they'd officially be one step ahead of the proponents of these bills.

 

. . .

 

Both bills introduced this year would also expand the definition of a hate crime to cover offenses motivated by a victim's "gender identity."

 

At best, this legislation unnecessarily intrudes on the efforts of state governments and creates crimes that are impractical, if not impossible, to prosecute. At worst, it would be unconstitutional.

 

Also, while both bills ostensibly prohibit prosecution for any activities that are protected by the First Amendment, the fact that they punish certain motives on the basis of political and social viewpoints calls their constitutionality into question.

 

Read Hatch’s full analysis here.

posted on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:01:05 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

OneNewsNow reports.  Excerpt:

 

"This is a clear affront and a violation of the fundamental religious convictions of the owners of pharmacies," he contends. "No pharmacist owner should ever have to choose between saving a human life and keeping their shop and business."

 

Many consider the Ninth Circuit to be the most liberal court in the U.S.

 Brad Dacus PJI

"This radical decision by the Ninth Circuit gives the green light to liberal state legislators and regulators to be able to clamp down on medical and other professionals with sincere religious convictions against supporting abortions," Dacus adds.

 

If the decision is upheld, pharmacists and owners with a conscience will have to choose between violating the law or going out of business. Dacus hopes the case will be accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court.

posted on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:49:57 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, July 10, 2009

CNS News reports.

posted on Saturday, July 11, 2009 12:22:25 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, July 01, 2009

CitizenLink reports.  Excerpt:

 

President Barack Obama opened the White House to hundreds of gay activists Monday, promising them that by the time he leaves office they would "have pretty good feelings" about his administration.

 

During an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of what gay activists consider the launch of their political movement – several nights of violent riots in and around a New York gay bar – Obama rattled off several policies he plans to implement to please his homosexual constituency.

 

"I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises my administration keeps," he said. "We've been in office six months now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over … you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration."

 

Among those promises the president is pursuing, he said: Overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act, passing a law to mandate health-care and other benefits to homosexual domestic partners, repealing "don't ask, don't tell" and even "rescinding the discriminatory ban on entry to the United States based on HIV status."

 

OneNewsNow also reports.

posted on Thursday, July 02, 2009 12:48:15 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Robert Knight explains.  Excerpt:

 

Among its many defects, the proposed federal hate crimes bill virtually ensures that some defendants will face double jeopardy, whatever the outcome of their cases. It all depends on the whims of the folks occupying the Attorney General’s office, who may want to score political points at a defendant’s expense.

 

The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909) now before the Senate, establishes “thought crime,” violates equal protection by making some victims more important than others, elevates “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to be equivalent to civil rights categories like race, and greatly expands the federal role in criminal law.

 

In short, it’s a grab bag of ways to violate genuine constitutional rights while addressing a non-issue. There is no compelling evidence that bias-motivated crimes are not being handled properly and perpetrators punished.

 

Keep reading the full article here.

posted on Thursday, July 02, 2009 12:43:33 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, June 26, 2009

The President of the Family Research Council submitted excellent testimony to a recent Senate committee held to discuss hate crimes legislation.  Excerpt:

 

Hate crime laws force the court to guess the thoughts and beliefs which lie behind a crime, instead of looking at the crime itself, in order to prosecute and convict someone of a hate crime. Violent crimes are already punishable by law. "Hate crime" laws put the perpetrator's thoughts and beliefs on trial. Hate crime laws are tantamount to federally prosecuting "thought crimes." The Family Research Council believes that all crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that every violent crime has some form of hate behind it. All around the country, crimes are being prosecuted in the state justice systems. American justice is being done. There is simply no need for a federal hate crimes law.

posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 10:59:13 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, June 24, 2009

CitizenLink reports.  Excerpt:

 

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., sent a letter to key leaders in the religious community asking them to oppose the bill.

 

"Please tell your congregation this legislation is not about 'hate' (all violent crimes are hateful); it is about taking away your freedom to speak and preach biblical truth," DeMint wrote. "It will take away your right to say that some things are wrong. We need millions of Americans to call and email their Senators, especially Democrat Senators who are pushing this legislation."

posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:08:44 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

CitizenLink reports.

posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:03:56 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, June 22, 2009

OneNewsNow reports.  Excerpt:

 

"The crimes that took place [Tiller murder and Holocaust Museum shootings] have absolutely nothing to do with the content of the hate crimes bill, which only really is focusing on the special treatment and special privileges of protection to be granted to people because of their homosexuality or transsexual status," he contends.

 

Dacus adds that "the bill is not about providing equal treatment -- it's providing unequal treatment," which he believes is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.

 

"The hate crimes bill accomplishes nothing except to intimidate and silence legitimate, peaceful opposition to the never-ending demands of the gay and transsexual activists," he concludes.

posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 9:53:08 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The AP reports.

posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 9:48:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, June 19, 2009

CitizenLink reports.  Excerpt:

 

The commission [U.S. Commission on Civil Rights], not known for being on the side of social conservatives on policy issues, has an ally in Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. He pointed out that hate-crimes legislation fundamentally changes the idea of equal justice under law to arbitrary justice based on the race, religion or sexual orientation of the victim or the criminal.

 

"It really forces our courts and our judges to begin to anticipate what people were thinking when they committed a crime, rather than whether they committed the crime or not."

 

But he said the worst part of the hate-crimes bill is it could restrict free speech, "because if a pastor stands up and preaches that the Word of God says that homosexuality is wrong, that pastor could be accused of hate speech and could even be accused or charged with inducing someone to commit a crime against a homosexual."

 

Urge your member of Congress to oppose hate crimes!  Also, visit FightHateCrimes.com to find out how you can help oppose this dangerous threat to religious freedom and “equal justice under law.”

 

Click here to view the Democrat press conference in support of hate crimes.

posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 10:05:41 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

WorldNetDaily reports.

posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 9:46:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, June 17, 2009

CitizenLink reports.  The following excerpt quotes Ashley Horn of Focus on the Family Action:

 

"As we've seen in other nations where such laws are passed, they can have a chilling effect on the free speech of those who would simply share from the Bible God's views on issues such as homosexuality," she explained. "Hate-crimes laws are unnecessary in a civil society like ours based on the rule of law.

 

"All crimes are hate crimes," she added, "To give special status to certain groups of people allows courts to reach beyond punishing people for the illegal acts they commit and judge them for what they may or may not be thinking as they commit those acts."

 

Our sources on the Hill assure us that Congress will try to push hate crimes through before the August recess.  Hate (thought) crimes are a tool of legitimizing sexual deviancy and offering special legal benefits based on sexual behavior.  It also poses a serious threat to religious liberty and “equal justice under law.”

 

Call your representative today and urge him or her to vote AGAINST dangerous and unnecessary “hate crimes” legislation!

posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:17:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, June 12, 2009

CNS News reports.  Some of our readers will remember that many conservatives were concerned about the opening of the new Capitol Visitor Center and whether our nation’s important religious heritage would be ignored or distorted.  The provisions on this bill reflect assurances given to concerned conservatives so let’s hope Congress lives up to their commitments to accurately represent our heritage.

posted on Friday, June 12, 2009 5:38:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Southern Voice reports.  Apparently proponents of expanding hate (thought) crimes protections to “actual or perceived” gender identity and sexual orientation are concerned about conservative backlash to dangerous hate crimes legislation.  According to the homosexual activist group HRC, hate crimes legislation could be sneaked into other legislation as an amendment.  This hate crimes bill would endanger religious liberty and also violate the constitutional principle of “equal justice under law,” and must be opposed by vigilant and active citizens.

posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:03:19 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, June 08, 2009

CitizenLink reports.  Despite a supposed “religious exemption” in the newly passed “gay marriage” law in New Hampshire, religious liberties are still gravely threatened.  The truth is, state sanctioned same-sex marriage is inherently dangerous to religious liberties.  There is no “religious exemption” that could change that fact.

 

And as OneNewsNow reports, NH legislators who voted for the same-sex marriage law could face serious political repercussions in future elections.

posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 3:46:32 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

CitizenLink reports.  Excerpt:

 

Two years ago, the United Kingdom passed a law that forced adoption agencies to consider placing children with homosexual couples. An exemption that protected religious groups has just expired, forcing several faith-based adoption agencies to close rather than violate their convictions.

posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 3:42:41 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, May 29, 2009

Fox News reports on this disturbing infringement on religious liberty.  Normally, stories about the state clamping down on “house churches” come from places like Communist China, not the United States of America which is supposed to guarantee “free exercise of religion.”  Chanel 10 San Diego also reports.

posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 6:36:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Matt Barber explains.  Excerpt:

 

This underscores the fact that all hate-crimes laws, both state and federal, inarguably advance "unequal" protection of the laws. This flies in the face of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 6:34:33 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

LifeNews reports.

posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 6:32:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

CitizenLink reports.  As does Fox News.

posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 6:27:37 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

CitizenLink reports.

posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 6:25:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, May 21, 2009

New Hampshire

 

In a surprising but welcome twist, it appears the New Hampshire same-sex marriage bill might be stopped in its tracks, at least for now.  Governor Lynch had promised to veto the original same-sex marriage bill if some protections were not inserted for religious freedom.  The NH Senate quickly adopted the changes, but the NH House rejected the bill by a vote of 188-186.  Maggie Gallagher explains today’s events at NRO as does CitizenLink.

 

California

 

The Supreme Court of California is expected to soon announce its ruling on whether the recently passed ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage will be upheld.  Not only is traditional marriage at stake, but whether judges will be allowed to usurp their Constitutional power and overrule the clear will of the people regarding the definition of marriage.

 

Washington, DC

 

Though it is not a state (although some would like to treat it like one through unconstitutional means), the District of Columbia has become an epicenter of the growing rift over the definition of marriage.  The DC City Council recently voted to institute same-sex marriage in the District and its resolution will become law if Congress fails to act.  While many African Americans in the District are outraged over the prospect of “gay marriage,” a bi-partisan group of Congressmen proposed legislation to preserve the traditional definition of marriage in the District at a press conference today.

 

Maine

 

Voters in Maine might get the chance to vote on the traditional definition of marriage if enough signatures can be gathered.  The Maine Marriage Alliance and others are hoping to collect 70,000 signatures or more so the recent law enacting same-sex marriage in Maine can be overturned.  Click here for more information on the signature campaign.

posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:18:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The Pew Forum takes a look at the conflict between same-sex marriage and religious liberty.

posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:15:59 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Boston Herald reports on the grassroots effort to overturn the recently passed same-sex marriage law by the Maine legislature.

posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 7:36:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, May 15, 2009

CitizenLink reports.

posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 8:17:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

World Net Daily reports on this good news for the rights of religious leaders to speak out on political issues.  This is a victory for religious freedom and free speech.

posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 8:10:46 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

One News Now reports.

posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 8:06:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Please contact both your senators today and urge them to oppose the hate crimes bill (S. 909)!

 

Dangerous hate (thought) crimes legislation will soon be considered in the Senate Judiciary and then the full Senate.  Expanding hate crimes to include “actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation” would allow the government to prosecute people for their thoughts opening up dangerous threat to religious freedom, free speech, and “equal justice under law.”

 

And if that wasn’t bad enough, it appears that pedophilia and many other disturbing practices could be considered “sexual orientations” protected by hate crimes law.

 

Our friends at FRC have a website where you can get involved to fight hate crimes.

 

Contact your senators today!

posted on Thursday, May 07, 2009 3:27:54 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, April 30, 2009

Reuters reports.  And CitizenLink reports on how the bill establishes a special legal status for homosexuals.  Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) voiced his concerns that the bill “could have a chilling effect on the religious expression and the religious freedom of millions of Americans.”

 

See how your representative voted on this dangerous bill here.

 

Thanks to all who contacted their representatives on this issue!  Stay involved as this bill now heads to the Senate.

posted on Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:14:40 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, April 28, 2009

David Limbaugh explains.  Excerpts:

 

Homosexual activists aren't easily deterred. Unable to persuade even the people of California to change the definition of marriage to legitimize their lifestyle, they're resorting to a backdoor approach to accomplish the same thing: pushing federal hate crime legislation while few are paying attention.

 

 

“…I think the main purpose of this bill is to demonize and criminalize thought, especially the politically incorrect belief that homosexual behavior is either abnormal or sinful. It is to make an emphatic societal statement that this belief constitutes "hate" and possibly to lay the groundwork for outlawing speech expressing this belief, including from the pulpit.”

posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:23:33 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:10:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

CitizenLink reports.

posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:06:58 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, April 23, 2009

Today the House Judiciary Committee considered dangerous hate crimes legislation which would add additional penalties to crimes based on the motivation of the criminal.  This legislation poses a serious threat to religious freedom and equal rights.


AdvanceUSA staff attended or watched much of the hearings today.  Democrats on the committee claimed the bill posed no threats to religious freedom because the bill only deals with violent crime, and compared the move to include sexual behavior as a protected status similar to the protections against crime motivated by race.  Republicans pointed out the nebulous nature of many of the categories labeled in the legislation, and made the case that the bill would take action against “thought crimes” because it adds penalties based solely on the perpetrator’s perceived motivation.


Several amendments were proposed which would have attempted to clarify the definitions, speak the truth about the nature of the bill, or try to mitigate the danger to religious freedom and free speech.  These substantive amendments were rejected.


The House Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on the hate crimes bill until 10:00am Thursday (April 22).  If the bill passes committee, which is likely, concerned citizens will need to contact their representatives and urge them to oppose any expansion of hate crimes.

posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:17:13 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Matt Barber explains why the hate crimes legislation now in the House Judiciary Committee is so dangerous.  Excerpt:

 

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) have quietly re-introduced the federal thought crimes bill, H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. As has proved to be true in both Europe and Canada, this Orwellian piece of legislation is the direct precursor to freedom killing and speech chilling “hate speech” laws. It represents a thinly veiled effort to ultimately silence – under penalty of law – morally, medically and biblically based opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. The bill is expected to be marked up Wednesday before the full House Judiciary Committee.

posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:09:10 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Concerned Women for America has issued a helpful press release on the dangerous hate crimes legislation being considered by the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow.  It shows how the hate (thought) crimes bill would create a “caste system of victims,” with some being more equal than others.

 

OneNewsNow also reports on the danger this bill holds for religious freedom.

posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:18:23 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, April 17, 2009

The Christian Post reports that Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has announced that the House Judiciary Committee will consider dangerous “hate crimes” legislation that would endanger religious freedom and would create special rights based solely on sexual behavior.  Such hate crimes constitute punishing people for their thoughts and should rightly be called “thought crimes.”

 

CitizenLink reports on one specific example of a Christian being persecuted for holding traditional Christian views on homosexuality under the guise of hate prevention.  A Christian in Britain lost his job for answering truthfully about his personal beliefs regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage.  Excerpts:

 

A charity worker has been suspended after telling a colleague about his Christian beliefs on homosexuality, the London Times Online reported.

 

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst at Focus on the Family Action, said the incident highlights what's beginning to show up in America.

 

"Where laws granting special rights to homosexuals bump into religious freedoms and freedom of speech, religion and speech lose," he said. "Christians are being bullied into silence simply for voicing disagreement with the homosexual agenda."

 

Call your representative today and urge him or her to oppose any expansion of hate crimes legislation, especially when based on homosexuality or “transgender orientation.”

Correction: This article originally indicated that Rep. Frank was a member of the House Judiciary Committee.  This is incorrect.  He is not a member of the committee, but is a co-sponsor of the legislation and was likely one of the first to announce that the bill would be considered in committee.

posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 7:48:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, April 10, 2009

The Washington Post reports.

posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 2:35:01 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

LifeNews reports.  As does CitizenLink.

posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 2:33:47 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

LifeNews reports.

posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 2:32:30 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The Union Leader reports.  What happened in Colorado is now happening in New Hampshire.  Under these laws, cross dressing men can use the same bathroom as your wife and daughter.  Many liberals would like to see these kinds of “bathroom bills” enacted in other states and nation-wide.

posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 2:29:49 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Maggie Gallagher explains.

posted on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 9:19:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Find out more about how the rights of doctors and other medical workers to refuse to participate in unethical procedures (such as abortion) are being threatened, and find out how you can help defend “a doctor’s right” at ADoctorsRight.com.

posted on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 9:15:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

LifeNews reports.

posted on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 9:08:07 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, April 06, 2009

LifeNews reports.

posted on Monday, April 06, 2009 5:03:24 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, April 03, 2009

OneNewsNow reports.

posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 9:02:18 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, April 01, 2009

AdvanceUSA has learned that liberal groups have begun pushing for so-called “hate crimes” legislation which would create special privileges based on sexual behavior, violate the constitutional principle of “equal justice under law,” and would pose a subtle threat to religious freedom since “hate crime” and “hate speech” laws have often been used to prosecute Christians for lovingly proclaiming Biblical truth regarding sexuality.  It is possible that hate crimes legislation could be discussed in Congress soon after the Easter recess.

Call your representative and both your senators and urge them to oppose any legislation that expands hate crimes laws!

posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2009 7:00:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Alan Sears explains why the conscience rights of medical personnel to refuse to perform abortions or other unethical procedures must be protected.  Excerpt:

 

“Always let your conscience be your guide,” Jiminy Cricket used to sing to Pinocchio. Sounds like good advice, but then…Jiminy had his ulterior motives. To his mind, he was the voice of that puppet boy’s conscience – so he himself would be doing the guiding.

 

That’s pretty much seems to be the philosophy of the Obama administration when it comes to the “rights of conscience” of medical professionals. The team now pulling the strings at the Department of Health and Human Services has decided that preserving religious liberty – much less life in the womb – is a luxury the nation can’t afford.

 

And they expect health care providers to take their moral cues from the government…not their own convictions.

posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 6:27:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, March 23, 2009

LifeNews reports.

posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 4:59:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The Concord Monitor reports.

posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 4:51:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Jurist reports.

posted on Thursday, March 19, 2009 7:28:23 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Newt Gingrich and Rick Tyler explain how the Obama administration is seeking to remove crucial conscience protections which allow medical personnel to refuse to partake in procedures they find morally objectionable such as abortion.

 

CitizenLink explains how you can take action and encourage the Health Department to continue to respect the civil liberties of health care workers.

posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 7:37:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The Sun Sentinel reports.

posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 7:33:52 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, March 13, 2009

LifeNews reports.

posted on Friday, March 13, 2009 8:40:34 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, March 06, 2009

Mark Hemingway at NRO explains why “Obama will invite discrimination against doctors who choose not to perform abortions.”

posted on Saturday, March 07, 2009 12:47:59 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   

St. Louis Today reports.

posted on Saturday, March 07, 2009 12:45:40 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, March 04, 2009

The Washington Post reports that President Obama is planning to overturn important conscience protections which allow medical personnel to refuse to perform operations or dispense drugs which they find unethical (such as abortions and abortion drugs).  The New York Times also reports.  Excerpt:

 

The Obama administration moved Friday to undo a last-minute Bush administration rule granting broad protections to health workers who refuse to take part in abortions or provide other health care that goes against their consciences.

posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 3:14:11 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Our friend Tom McClusky at FRC has a helpful blog post explaining what “pro-life riders” are and how we need to be watchful over every piece of legislation (especially the massive omnibus spending bill Congress is now considering) to ensure that each of these important pro-life provisions are preserved.

posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:52:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, February 20, 2009

LifeNews reports.

posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 9:04:05 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, February 16, 2009

Star Park reports on this troubling story.  Excerpt:

 

A black pastor awaits sentencing, which could amount to two years in prison and $4,000 in fines, for standing outside an inner city abortion clinic holding a sign saying "Jesus Loves You & Your Baby, Let Us Help You," and offering pro-life literature.

posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 4:29:34 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, February 09, 2009

OneNewsNow reports.

posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 9:21:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, February 04, 2009

The Brody File reports.

posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 8:54:35 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, January 30, 2009

CitizenLink reports.

posted on Friday, January 30, 2009 10:13:57 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Alan Sears of Exodus International explains.  Excerpt:

 

No sooner had he finished speaking of his fellow Americans in his inaugural address as a people who “have chosen hope over fear [and] unity of purpose over conflict and discord” than his staff posted, on the White House Web site, a virtual declaration of war against those who oppose the demands for special rights and privileges by those who engage in homosexual behavior.

posted on Thursday, January 29, 2009 3:33:46 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Daniel Herbster reporting

Wesley J. Smith is an influential writer and commentator who has dedicated his career to preserving human dignity and educating his fellow man on the principles of bioethics and justice.  He is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and a special consultant to the Center for Bioethics and Culture.  He has also written a number of books, and he blogs at Secondhand Smoke.  Smith was kind enough to share with AdvanceUSA’s readers about important bioethics issues facing our society today and about his work.


DH:  Why are bioethics issues so important?

 

WJS: Bioethics is a contraction for “biomedical ethics.” It is a field that has profound influence over core areas of human endeavor that help establish and define the morality of society, and indeed, the meaning of human life itself. Should elderly people have their health care rationed?  Is assisted suicide a proper medical service?  Is it right to create cloned human embryos for use in research or to bring to birth?  Is it wrong to abort fetuses because they test positive for Down syndrome? Should parents be able to genetically enhance their children? Are there morally relevant differences between humans and animals?  What should happen if a nurse refuses to participate in an abortion or a physician wants to cut off wanted life-sustaining medical treatment because the patient has a poor “quality of life?”  These and other equally important bioethical issues are much larger than the sum of their parts because they establish philosophical norms that exert tremendous influence upon society beyond the policies themselves.  Indeed, I can think of few fields more important than bioethics in determining the kind of society we shall become in the 21st century.

 

DH:  What is “human exceptionalism” and how does it relate to issues of life and justice?

 

WJS: Human exceptionalism refers to the sheer moral importance and unique value of being human.  I believe strongly that adhering to human exceptionalism is the predicate to defending universal human rights. Indeed, whether we accept or reject human exceptionalism may be the most important issue we face as a culture. For if we say that simply being human is not what gives value to life, we have to ask a second question: What does?  That second question leads directly to a system wherein those with power decide which of us has greater--and which lesser—value, and who decides those who don’t make muster. Thus, many in bioethics support “personhood theory,” which denies the objective moral value of being human and claims that what matters morally is being a “person,” a status earned by possessing minimal cognitive capacities. In this view, there is such a thing as a human “non person,” such as fetuses, newborns, and people who have lost these capacities, such as Terri Schiavo.  Worse, because the human non person is defined as having lesser value, they lose the right to life and, can be used instrumentally such as in medical experimentation or as sources of organs.  Indeed, there is much agitation in bioethics and within the organ transplant community to redefine death to include a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state—meaning that if this view prevails, severely compromised people could essentially be killed for their organs.  This isn’t happening—yet—but the only way to make sure that such policies are never instituted is to adhere to human exceptionalism.

posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 7:27:46 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   

The Star Tribune reports.  Only time will tell what will happen to Bush’s important pro-life regulations after the Obama administration “reviews” them.


New White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 6:12:19 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Here’s another helpful paper from our friends at the Heritage Foundation.

posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:17:19 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, January 13, 2009

OneNewsNow reports on warnings from Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. about the danger to religious liberty from expanded “hate crimes” legislation and urges Christians to stand up against expanding hate (thought) crimes to cover “perceived or actual” sexual orientation or gender identity.

posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:10:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, January 12, 2009

Ken Connor explains.

posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 7:24:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   

OneNewsNow reports.

posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 7:22:35 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, December 29, 2008

FoxNews reports on this hopeful sign for religious freedom in Iraq.

posted on Monday, December 29, 2008 8:04:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, December 19, 2008

The Washington Post reports.

posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 7:31:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, December 17, 2008

LifeNews reports.

posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:22:47 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, December 12, 2008

Human Events reports.

posted on Friday, December 12, 2008 9:37:36 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The Washington Post reports.

posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 8:12:28 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, December 08, 2008


posted on Monday, December 08, 2008 8:37:15 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Jonah Goldberg exposes the ugly attacks on Mormons by upset proponents of “gay marriage” in California.  If anyone really doubts that the radical “gay rights” agenda threatens religious liberty, this case should be a wake up call.

posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:06:18 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Baptist Press reports.

posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 10:44:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Daniel Herbster reporting

Citizens for Community Values of Indiana is one of the many great organizations in our nation fighting to protect family values and to oppose pornography and sexually oriented businesses.  I had the opportunity to interview Patrick Mangan, the Executive Director of CCV of IN, about his work enabling people to take back their communities.

DH:  Patrick, I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and your organization better over the last few months, so it’s a pleasure to introduce you to our readers here at AdvanceUSA Blog.  I’ve seen first-hand how your work affects the state of Indiana and especially my home town of South Bend.  Tell our readers what kinds of issues Citizens for Community Values works on?


PM:
 Well our mission is to protect men, women, and children from the misinformation of sexual activists, and the harms of sexual addictions, sexual predators, sexually oriented businesses, materials harmful to minors, broadcast indecency, and the porn/sex industry in all of its forms, by promoting the principles of the Judeo/Christian ethic which is the foundation of our nation.

Our vision is to empower concerned citizens and community leaders to significantly reduce sexual exploitation, promiscuity, and abuse in Indiana and beyond by:

posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 5:13:12 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, November 14, 2008

CitizenLink reports.

posted on Friday, November 14, 2008 6:57:33 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Thursday, November 13, 2008

CNS News reports.

HT: FRC

posted on Thursday, November 13, 2008 7:00:53 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, November 12, 2008

CitizenLink reports.

posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:35:11 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, October 29, 2008
posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 4:36:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The New York Times reports on this important development for the religious hiring rights of faith-based organizations.

posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:57:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, October 09, 2008
posted on Thursday, October 09, 2008 4:41:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Saturday, October 04, 2008

Newsmax reports.  Excerpt:

 

Six of 17 Virginia State Police Chaplains have resigned over a request they not reference Jesus Christ at public events.

 

Instead, they've been instructed by the Superintendent to offer non-denominational prayers, a decision made following a recent ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

posted on Sunday, October 05, 2008 1:14:28 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 30, 2008

This New York Times letter to the editor explains why conscience protections for doctors are so important.  Let’s hope HHS produces regulations which will protect these conscience rights.

posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 12:24:23 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, September 25, 2008
posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:19:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, September 19, 2008
FRC has a resource available which allows you to encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt proposed guidelines which would protect the rights of doctors and other medical workers to refuse to participate in procedures or treatments which conflict with their religious or ethical beliefs.  These regulations would especially protect doctors from having to participate in abortions or abortion related practices.

As LifeNews reports, the many misconceptions in the general public about the conscience rights of doctors suggests that these protections are necessary.

posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 7:55:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Daniel Herbster reporting

Faith-based organizations across the country are doing great work providing social services far more effectively and often more efficiently than the government.  In order for faith-based groups to continue this crucial work, their religious liberties must be protected.  Requiring Catholic adoption agencies to place children in the homes of homosexual couples or prohibiting religious organizations from hiring people of like-minded faith in order to receive funding are a few of the threats to religious liberty that faith based groups face.  One organization seeking to advocate for religious liberty and the effectiveness of faith-based organizations is the Center for Public Justice.  AdvanceUSA was able to interview Stanley Carlson-Thies about his work at CFPJ and the effort to protect crucial religious liberties.

DH:  Stanley, I have great memories of attending Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom meetings with you when I was in DC, and I really appreciate the intellectual firepower you brought to the fight for religious freedom and the work CFPJ does to stand up for faith-based organizations.  Tell our readers briefly what the Center for Public Justice does?  What is its mission?

SC: The Center for Public Justice (CPJ) is a Christian “think tank” that works to educate Christians and others about public policy and citizenship, helps to develop Christian leaders in public affairs, and acts in coalition with others who are serious about religious freedom to influence public debates in favor of a robust public role for faith and faith-based organizations.  We speak and write about a wide range of issues—national security and the Iraq war, different ways that various American Christian groups articulate a Christian perspective in politics (see the important book by James Skillen, Scattered Voice), a defense of historic marriage, and so on.  We have been particularly active in the areas of school choice as a fundamental school reform, welfare reform, and the faith-based initiative.  A major interest is understanding and showing how government and private organizations can best be related to each other.  We offer a one-week intensive summer course in the Christian faith and public affairs, called the Civitas program. 

DH:  Could you explain to our readers the concept of “religious hiring rights” and why it is so important for faith-based organizations especially?

SC: Since the 1964 Civil Rights Act (and similar state and local laws), it has been illegal for employers, except for very small ones, to discriminate in hiring on the bases of race, color, national, origin, sex, or religion.  People shouldn’t be excluded from jobs for irrelevant reasons—that’s just bias.  But convictions and a certain standard of behavior are very important to most faith-based organizations—to churches and other houses of worship, and also to religious social-service and educational institutions.  Imagine trying to maintain an evangelical drug treatment ministry if you couldn’t insist that new employees be Christians!  Most people accept the need for this kind of religious hiring freedom.   But many think this freedom ought to be given up if the organization agrees to help the government serve the needy by accepting a government grant to provide some service.  How can it be right that the government would support religious job discrimination, they say.  But, of course, it is not illegal discrimination for religious organizations to hire on the basis of religion (but they can’t exclude people for reasons of race, etc.). And it is just as important to a faith-based organization to be able to have a staff committed to its beliefs and standards when it is working with government as when it is using only private money. 

DH:  What are some of the chief threats to religious hiring rights in our nation today?

posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 3:47:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Erik Stanley explains the ADF campaign to challenge IRS code regarding permissible church political speech and tax-exempt status.  Excerpt:
The truth is, the Pulpit Initiative is not about serving any candidate or political party or turning a church into a political action committee. The initiative is about restoring the constitutional right of pastors to speak freely from the pulpit without any fear of punishment by the government for doing what churches do: speak on any number of cultural and societal issues from a biblical perspective—and that includes commenting on the positions of electoral candidates, if they so choose.

posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 7:18:52 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, September 08, 2008
The Washington Post reports that some pastors are planning to violate IRS regulations which prevent pastors from endorsing candidates from the pulpit.  The penalty for violation is the loss of a church’s tax-exempt status.  The Alliance Defense Fund is encouraging pastors to take this step and is willing to take the U.S. Government to court in order to overturn the IRS policies on First Amendment grounds.

This is a fascinating case for students of constitutional interpretation, and it will be interesting to see its result. 

Many Americans may be surprised to know that current tax-exempt restrictions on church political activity are only as old as the 1960s.  For years pastors and churches had much more latitude to speak on political issues.  For much of our history pastors would even endorse or criticize candidates from the pulpit.

posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 6:29:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
CitizenLink reports.  Excerpt:

 
Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives took up a bill that would have enshrined homosexuality and "transgenderism" in federal law. The legislation passed only after language to include "gender identity" was taken out. The Senate has not taken up the measure, but it is expected to resurface in Congress next year.

posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 6:26:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, September 04, 2008
A New York court has conspired with the governor of New York in bypassing the legislative branch by declaring that “gay” marriages must be recognized despite the fact that the elected representatives on New Yorkers have declared that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.

posted on Thursday, September 04, 2008 6:43:16 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Daniel Herbster reporting

Did you know that legislation could be passed in your state or on the national level that would allow cross dressers or even sexual offenders to use women’s restrooms?  The state of Colorado recently passed such a law in the misguided desire to prevent “discrimination” against “transgendered” individuals.  AdvanceUSA interviewed Jim Pfaff (who now works for Americans for Prosperity) back in April about his work at the Colorado Family Institute.  We’ve decided to touch base with him again about Colorado’s Senate Bill 200 and how it could be a grim harbinger of things to come nation-wide.

DH:  Senate Bill 200, recently signed by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, claims to protect against “discrimination.”  Do you think that is true?

JP: It really doesn't protect anyone from discrimination. The legislation was intended to protect homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgendered individuals from so-called discrimination. But really no such discrimination existed. The proponents of the bill claimed that there were a multitude of homosexuals being systematically discriminated against, but we looked at the numbers and found out that at best approximately 175 cases of such discrimination were ever brought forward. And of those, less than 3 to 4% had any validity to them. On the other hand, we maintain that this bill actually will have the effect of imposing by government Fiat a new form of discrimination against those of sincere religious belief. And as I said in our previous interview, one example we have is a Christian couple in Albuquerque New Mexico who owned a photography company and was hauled into a civil rights court because they refused to take pictures of a lesbian same-sex commitment ceremony based on their sincerely held religious belief. We believe many more cases like this will begin to emerge here in Colorado, and in our opinion this bill therefore does nothing to protect anyone from discrimination and, to the contrary, will likely cause new forms of discrimination.

DH:  What are some of the scary implications of this bill?  What could happen as a result of its passage?

JP: Well, the first and the most scary application of this bill is the fact that based on the wording of this law, any man, for example, can of legal right to enter a woman's restroom by merely stating that he perceives himself to be a woman. That's the first and most concerning aspect of this new law. But secondly, as I stated before, this bill could be used to discriminate against people of sincere religious belief became merely refuse to appropriately accommodate homosexuals, bisexuals and transgendered individuals based on a sincerely held religious belief.

DH:  Is there a push to enact this kind of legislation on the national level or in other states?

posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:33:17 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Saturday, August 23, 2008
Andrew C. McCarthy at NRO reports on the recent California Supreme Court decision which forbad doctors to refuse to perform in-vitro fertilization for lesbian couples.

posted on Saturday, August 23, 2008 7:43:33 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
posted on Saturday, August 23, 2008 7:39:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
LifeNews reports.  As does NPR.

posted on Saturday, August 23, 2008 7:37:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Saturday night’s presidential forum at Rick Warren’s church provided a clear distinction between the major candidates on various issues, especially on social conservative issues such as abortion, judges, and the rights of faith-based organizations.  To read a transcript of the event click here.  To view the entire broadcast via online video click here.

posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 5:39:40 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
CitizenLink reports.  Excerpt:

 
In a unanimous ruling today, California's high court said the rights of gays and lesbians trump the religious beliefs of doctors.

posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 5:34:12 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Saturday, August 09, 2008
posted on Saturday, August 09, 2008 7:11:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, August 04, 2008
posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 7:07:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, August 01, 2008
posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 6:09:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 6:00:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, July 17, 2008
The New York Times reports.  Excerpt:

 
The Bush administration wants to require all recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and … certain types of birth control.

posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 6:43:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Some are pushing to make the state of Massachusetts the “Las Vegas of gay marriage.”  The Massachusetts legislature will soon vote on whether to keep the 1913 law which forbids Massachusetts from recognizing the marriages of out-of-state couples that are not recognized in the couple’s home state.  The enforcement of this long-forgotten law by former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney prevented the Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling instituting same-sex marriage in Massachusetts from spreading to other states.

Liberal activists will stop at nothing to establish so-called “gay marriage” in every state in the country.  This is why it is so important to pass an amendment to amend the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman only.  Call your representative and both your senators today and urge them to cosponsor and vote “Yes” on the Federal Marriage Protection Amendment.

posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:20:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:05:37 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:48:18 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Tune in tomorrow (Thursday, July 10) at 10:00 a.m. to see an important panel discussion on how “gay marriage” is a threat to religious liberty.  You can view this discussion online here via live streaming.

Also, be sure to check out FRC’s updated blog.

posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 8:19:16 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, July 07, 2008
McClatchy News reports on the recent Congressional hearings on “transgender employment discrimination.”  So-called anti-discrimination legislation would be a dangerous restriction on religious liberty.  Excerpt:

 
Opposing the legislation, Glen Lavy, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said it would be a mistake to define gender identity or gender expression as a protected class. He said that objections to "the concept of transgender" are based on religious beliefs and that forcing the idea as a valid concept "is like forcing an Orthodox Jew to eat pork." And he said that employers would have difficulty enforcing dress codes and assuring privacy.

 

"With gender identity being totally subjective, who could challenge any male who says he wants to use a woman's restroom?" Lavy asked.

 

Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, the top-ranking Republican on the committee, questioned whether Congress needs to get involved at all.

 

"We have numerous federal and state laws and employer policies already on the books that help prevent discriminatory practices," he said. "Do we need yet another federal law?"

posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 1:03:16 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, June 27, 2008
posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 5:44:52 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, June 26, 2008
The House Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee is now holding hearings entitled “An Examination of Discrimination Against Trangender Americans in the Workplace.”  View the live video here.

One of the goals of these hearings is to advance legislation which would require businesses and religious organizations to hire cross dressers and sex-change operation recipients despite any religious or moral convictions which would be violated.

posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 3:23:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, June 23, 2008
As this gay publication reports, Congress will hold hearings on dangerous legislation such as ENDA which would endanger religious liberty at the expense of a misguided notion of “gay rights.” 

posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:40:56 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, June 17, 2008
As this NPR article demonstrates, when “gay rights” and religious liberty conflict, religious liberty usually loses.  This is an important fact to emphasize as gay couples are now obtaining marriage licenses in California.

A few examples cited by NPR:

A few cases: Yeshiva University was ordered to allow same-sex couples in its married dormitory. A Christian school has been sued for expelling two allegedly lesbian students. Catholic Charities abandoned its adoption service in Massachusetts after it was told to place children with same-sex couples. The same happened with a private company operating in California.

 

A psychologist in Mississippi who refused to counsel a lesbian couple lost her case, and legal experts believe that a doctor who refused to provide IVF services to a lesbian woman is about to lose his pending case before the California Supreme Court.

 

And then there's the case of a wedding photographer in Albuquerque, N.M.

posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 2:26:40 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
CitizenLink reports.  If the dangerous “hate (thought) crimes” and ENDA legislation now in Congress gets passed into law, we could see similar persecution in the United States.

posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 2:14:07 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, June 12, 2008
Brian Fitzpatrick explains how the modern push for “gay rights” endangers religious liberty.  He catalogues the outrageous international cases of religious discrimination and demonstrates how legislation currently being pushed in Congress will bring such restrictions to the United States.

Our friends at FRC have also been sounding the alarm.  If you don’t want churches, private schools, and businesses to be forced to hire homosexuals or “transgendered” people and you don’t want Christians to be persecuted for their religious convictions contact Congress today.  Call both your senators and your representative and urge them to vote against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act or any legislation giving “domestic partnership” benefits to homosexual couples.

posted on Thursday, June 12, 2008 6:29:56 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, June 10, 2008
LifeSite reports this sad news of what can happen under “non-discrimination” laws.

posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 7:40:40 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Two preachers in England were threatened with arrest for “hate crimes” for witnessing to Muslims.  Let’s hope “hate crimes” legislation doesn’t spread to America.

posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 3:20:13 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, May 30, 2008
It appears the Colorado Legislature is trying to keep up with California for nuttiness.  As the Colorado Springs Gazette reports, Gov. Ritter signed a bill into law which would allow the “transgendered” to use whichever restroom they prefer and no private business is allowed to prohibit this activity, all in the name of so-called “non-discrimination” and “equality.”  Excerpt:

 
One aspect of the law enables transgenders - those who were born one gender but identify with the other - to use public restrooms in which they feel most comfortable.

 

Focus founder James Dobson said Thursday:

 

"Who would believe that the Colorado state Legislature and its governor would have made it legal for men to enter and use women's restrooms and locker room facilities without notice or explanation?

 

"Henceforth, every woman and little girl will have to fear that a predator, bisexual, cross-dresser or even a homosexual or heterosexual male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence."

Don’t think this kind of legislation won’t be coming to a state near you in the near future.  Liberal activist are pushing for similar legislation on the federal level such as ENDA and other items.

Keep checking AdvanceUSA Blog for the latest news on these important issues.



posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 1:55:41 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, May 22, 2008
CitizenLink reports on the outrageous “non-discrimination” legislation in Colorado which would make “open to men, women, bisexuals, transsexuals and ‘transgendered’ individuals.”  If ENDA or similar legislation is passed in Congress, the entire country could be subjected to these kinds of policies.


Graphic source: CitizenLink
posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:22:17 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, May 21, 2008
posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:30:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, May 07, 2008
As AdvanceUSA reported last June, when Jim Holsinger was nominated by President Bush to be surgeon general, radical homosexual interest groups smeared his reputation and convinced the U.S. Senate to stall his nomination because of his religious convictions concerning homosexuality and for sound medical reports he issued on the health dangers of homosexual activity.  Holsinger is a Methodist and has taken public stands in defense of Biblical teaching on homosexuality while serving his church in leadership positions.

It appears Jim Holsinger has been vindicated by the United Methodist Church as that body recently upheld the traditional definition of marriage and biblical teaching on sexual morality at its recent global conference.  The Institute on Religions and Democracy explains.

It has been a full year since George W. Bush first nominated Holsinger, and his nomination is still stalled in the U.S. Senate.  It is a shame that a man’s religious convictions can be used to smear his reputation and prohibit him from serving his country.

posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:29:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, May 06, 2008
A so-called “anti-discrimination” bill in the Colorado legislature is very similar to the proposed ENDA legislation in the U.S. Congress both of which would award special privileges to homosexuals and transgenders based on their “actual or perceived” sexual behavior.  Concerned citizens must be vigilant to oppose this kind of dangerous legislation.  The Alliance Defense Fund gave testimony against the bill which is also very relevant to the federal version.  Excerpt:

 
“The government shouldn’t cater to the agenda of political activist groups and then use the strong arm of the law to force it on the public,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks.  “This law would not protect rights but would grant special privileges based strictly on someone’s sexual behavior.  Further, those privileges would have a significant impact on the constitutional rights of Coloradoans who have a moral objection to homosexual behavior.”

posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:47:06 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, April 30, 2008
CitizenLink warns us of this serious and dangerous issue.  Hate crimes legislation is misguided and a very real threat to religious freedom and “equal justice under law.”

posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 7:49:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, April 25, 2008
CitizenLink reports on this troubling sign of things to come.

posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 8:33:17 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, April 22, 2008
CitizenLink’s Stewart Shepherd takes a humorous yet pointed look at the recent court decision which forbad a high school football coach from even appearing to be praying with his team.

If you’ve never seen “Stoplight” before you are in for a treat.

posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:38:55 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, April 18, 2008
posted on Friday, April 18, 2008 4:22:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Homosexual activists gathered in our nation’s capital from a few days ago until Tax Day (today) lobbying for what they call “family values.”  Their agenda includes supposed anti-discrimination legislation like ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) and instituting laws which provide what substantively amount to marriage benefits to same-sex couples.

Concerned citizens must be careful to clearly state that we do not hate homosexuals or wish to persecute them, but that we strongly object to creating special rights and privileges based on sexual behavior and we believe that organizations and companies should have the right to deem certain behavior unacceptable for their employees.

If these legislative goals proceed they will likely include some sort of “religious exemptions” which only protect churches and other explicitly religious organizations, but which do not cover individual employers such as private companies and certain non-profits.  For example, while a Catholic church might be exempted from being forced to hire or accommodate homosexuals or same-sex couples, a Catholic businessman or leader of a faith-based charity would not be protected.  The religious freedoms of individuals should be protected, not just the religious freedom of large organizations.

The bottom line is that sexual behavior should not be given preferential treatment under law under the guise of anti-discrimination.  Also, the crucial institution of marriage should not be undermined by offering special marriage benefits to same-sex couples.

ACTION: We do not yet know when Congress will consider such legislation, but we encourage you to contact your representative and both your senators to urge them to oppose ENDA and other attempts to give substantive marriage benefits to same-sex couples.

posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 7:33:38 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
William J. Federer provides some important historical context to the oft-quoted but seldom understood phrase “separation of church and state.”

posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 7:12:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Washington Times reported in February on the case of Elaine Huguenin, a Christian photographer in New Mexico, who refused to take pictures of a lesbian civil ceremony.  Elaine is being prosecuted under anti-discrimination laws and the Alliance Defense Fund is now coming to her assistance.  This case is a chilling reminder of why anti-discrimination laws based on “sexual orientation or gender identity” should be opposed, especially on the federal level (i.e. ENDA).  Here’s an excerpt from the Times:

An evangelical Christian photographer was brought before the New Mexico Human Rights Commission after she declined for religious reasons to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony.

 

When Elaine Huguenin of Albuquerque, N.M., declined in September 2006 an e-mail request from a lesbian couple to photograph their ceremony, one of the lesbians responded by lodging a human rights complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Division, the state agency charged with enforcing state anti-discrimination laws and sending cases to the commission to be adjudicated.

LifeSiteNews also reported on this case.

posted on Thursday, April 10, 2008 9:37:48 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, April 01, 2008
CitizenLink reports on this troubling development.  AdvanceUSA has also been informed of likely moves to undermine marriage by offering special rights and benefits to same-sex couples, and will be watching federal legislation that relates to this issue closely.

posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:46:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, March 07, 2008

The Pew Forum has provided this helpful resource for churches to know what political activities are permitted under IRS non-profit restrictions.

You can find this and other helpful resources at AdvanceUSA’s Church Involvement Page.  Pastors and churches are often too intimidated speak out on important political issues for fear of losing tax-exempt status.  Christians have a responsibility to act as “salt and light” in our society and culture, and must be armed with accurate information about what the law allows.

posted on Friday, March 07, 2008 9:36:36 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Thursday, February 28, 2008
posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:11:31 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, February 20, 2008
One would expect that Catholic organizations should be able to hire only Catholics or that religious ministries (a church soup kitchen for example) should be able to fire or refuse to hire people who violate that religion’s moral teachings on sexuality.  These common sense assumptions could be in danger if “charitable choice” is not protected in the upcoming SAMSHA vote in the Senate.

Charitable choice is what allows religious charities to accept federal funding while taking religious/moral beliefs into consideration when hiring employees.  Without these protections religious charities would be forced to compromise their most cherished beliefs in order to continue to minister effectively.  Allowing Catholic charities to only hire Catholics or to refuse to hire someone who is an openly practicing homosexual are examples of charitable choice protection.

The Center blog reports on the latest efforts to restrict this important religious liberty in the statutory provisions governing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  Senators should be urged to support charitable choice in SAMHSA.

Excerpt from Washington Post story:

Under the Civil Rights Act, religious groups are allowed to only hire people of their particular faith. The battle erupts over what should happen when these groups accept federal dollars.

 

Supporters of charitable choice said before it was in place many faith-based groups were treated poorly by government agencies and shied away from applying for federal money, fearing they would have to change their religious nature. Many of these groups are highly effective in helping the addicted and mentally ill, supporters said, and without charitable choice, many of them won't apply for federal aid, perhaps dropping out.

posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:05:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA) has introduced a bill (H. RES. 888) which would make the first week in May “America’s Religious History Week.”  Much of the text of the bill would make a great history lesson in America’s rich religious history.  Read the full text here.  Excerpts:

Whereas political scientists have documented that the most frequently-cited source in the political period known as The Founding Era was the Bible;

 

Whereas the first act of America’s first Congress in 1774 was to ask a minister to open with prayer and to lead Congress in the reading of four chapters of the Bible;

 

Whereas in 1777, Congress, facing a national shortage of “Bibles for our schools, and families, and for the public worship of God in our churches,” announced that they “desired to have a Bible printed under their care & by their encouragement” and therefore ordered 20,000 copies of the Bible to be imported “into the different ports of the States of the Union”;

 

Whereas in 1782, Congress pursued a plan to print a Bible that would be “a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools” and therefore approved the production of the first English-language Bible printed in America that contained the congressional endorsement that “the United States in Congress assembled . . . recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States”;

 

Whereas, in 1864, by law Congress added “In God We Trust” to American coinage;

To read these quotes and many more click here.  Or for a version that includes the historical documentation check the PDF version at Rep. Randy Forbes’ website.

posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:00:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, February 11, 2008
The Wall Street Journal mentions the dangerous Employment Non-Discrimination Act in an article on several anti-business bills that could progress in the current Congress.  Another concern with ENDA, besides restrictive government regulation of business, is the threat that non-discrimination laws based on “actual or perceived” sexual preferences could pose to religious freedom.

Excerpt:

…the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, passed the House of Representatives last fall. It would prohibit discrimination on the basis of "sexual orientation." In short, private-sector employers who have religious or other objections to homosexuality would be told their moral views lack legitimacy.

 

The Bush administration has announced its opposition, noting that the bill raises constitutional problems and "turns on imprecise and subjective terms that would make interpretation, compliance, and enforcement extremely difficult" and is "virtually certain to encourage burdensome litigation." Sen. John McCain is opposed to such legislation; Sens. Obama and Clinton are supporters. Sen. Edward Kennedy is expected to introduce the bill later this year in the Senate.


For more information on ENDA click here.

posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 9:07:19 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
“Charitable choice” is what allows religious charities to maintain their non-profit, tax-exempt status while being able to take religious or moral beliefs into consideration when hiring employees.  Without these protections religious charities would be forced to compromise their most cherished beliefs in order to continue to minister effectively.  For example, charitable choice is what allows a Catholic charity to only hire Catholics while refusing to hire someone who is an openly practicing homosexual.

The Center blog reports on the latest efforts to restrict this important religious liberty in the statutory provisions governing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 8:49:04 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Thursday, February 07, 2008
CitizenLink reports.  More great work from ADF.

posted on Thursday, February 07, 2008 6:40:33 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, February 06, 2008
AdvanceUSA applauds this small but important victory for religious freedom won with the help of the Alliance Defense Fund.

posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:08:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, February 05, 2008
CitizenLink has two stories that illustrate the dangers to religious freedom implicit to “hate crimes” and “non-discrimination” laws that pertain to sexual orientation.

·         Dangerous legislation could force charities that run soup kitchens and homeless shelters to hire homosexuals

·         Teachers in U.K. Told to Avoid Saying 'Mom' and 'Dad'

posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:44:52 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Last night President Bush delivered his final State of the Union address to a combined gathering of both houses of Congress.  His speech touched on a number of important pro-life, pro-family, and religious liberty issues.

The president threw down the gauntlet on stem cell research, telling Congress that we must continue to fund ethical research because human life must be respected.  He highlighted the recent breakthrough in obtaining pluripotent stem cells from skin cells as proof that unethical research was unnecessary.  The President championed the role of faith-based organizations in providing services and changing lives far more effectively than government alone can do.  He called on Congress to allow more flexibility and local control for schools under the No Child Left Behind Act.  He also encouraged Congress to maintain “charitable choice” provisions in federal law which protect the religious hiring rights of faith-based organizations (ex: allowing a Catholic charity to hire only Catholics who share that organization’s mission and standards). 

The White House website has provided the text of the president’s address along with video links that allow you to watch the address.  To read a helpful fact sheet provided by the administration about the agenda outlined in the president’s speech click here.  To read helpful summaries of the various topics see below:

posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 3:34:40 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, January 18, 2008
The Becket Fund reports.

Here’s an informative YouTube clip about the situation, courtesy of the Becket Fund.

posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 9:15:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Liberty Counsel has prepared a helpful resource for pastors and churches to understand their freedom to speak out on political issues.  Many religious leaders and institutions feel pressured to avoid commenting on any political issues for fear of losing tax-exempt status.  Pastors are eligible to receive free informative DVDs and anyone can watch this important presentation online for free  thanks to the American Family Association.

For more news and precise information on what pastors can and cannot do in the political realm check out AdvanceUSA’s church involvement page.

posted on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 7:58:24 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, January 15, 2008
posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 10:16:26 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
In honor of the 222nd anniversary of the passage of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, President Bush has declared tomorrow (January 16) “Religious Freedom Day.”  To read the official proclamation click here.

For more information on religious liberty check out AdvanceUSA’s pro-religious freedom page.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial graphic source: ThisNation

posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:02:28 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, January 14, 2008
KCRG reports.

A federal appeals court says it won't reconsider a ruling that the state cannot fund a Christian prison ministry program in Newton.

 

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says the ruling from its three-judge panel was correct because state funding of the program violates the Constitution's separation of church and state.

For more information on the IFI case check the AdvanceUSA pro-religious freedom page (scroll to the bottom of the page).

posted on Monday, January 14, 2008 8:12:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Thursday, December 13, 2007
This eye opening video shows why we should pray for Iraqi Christians who are experiencing persecution.  Our thanks to the Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC) for making this video available.

posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 12:34:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, December 07, 2007
Our friends on the Hill informed us yesterday that the House and Senate conferees working on the Department of Defense authorization bill have removed the dangerous and unrelated hate (thought) crimes extension language.  The Associated Press reports here.  As The Hill reports (subscription required):

House and Senate votes on the 2008 defense authorization bill could be held as early as next week after conferees agreed Thursday to strip from the bill a controversial provision extending hate-crimes protections to gays.

This is an important victory for religious freedom, and AdvanceUSA thanks all those who contacted their elected officials and voiced their views.

posted on Friday, December 07, 2007 2:42:44 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, December 04, 2007
The eighth circuit court delivered a mixed ruling yesterday which allows IFI (the InnerChange Freedom Initiative) to continue its ministry in Iowa prisons (without public funds) and does not require the ministry to pay exorbitant fines but said the original version of the program was unconstitutional.  As the New York Times reports this should be a concern for advocates of faith-based initiatives and religious freedom.

InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) is a faith-based prison ministry, affiliated with Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship Ministries, that has had phenomenal success in changing lives resulting in the vast majority of its participants not returning to prison. Inmates join the program on a voluntary basis and are free to leave the program at any time. On June 2, 2006 a federal judge in Iowa ruled that the program was unconstitutional and that the state had to terminate the program as well as require IFI pay back $1.5 million.

Visit IFI's Ruling website to find the latest news and legal status of the case and find out more about IFI's faith-based prisoner re-entry program. 

For more information on similar religious liberty issues check the AdvanceUSA religious freedom page.

posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:01:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
NBC 11 (California) reports on the latest efforts of atheist Michael Newdow remove the phrase “under God” from the pledge of allegiance. 

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly comments on the case here.

posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:59:11 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:03:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Monday, December 03, 2007
posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 9:41:55 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Wednesday, November 21, 2007
As the Hill reports, wrangling over the dangerous hate (thought) crimes provisions in the Senate version of the Dept. of Defense reauthorization bill are delaying final passage of that important funding bill.

posted on Thursday, November 22, 2007 12:40:12 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, November 16, 2007
This article from Human Events explains the latest developments regarding dangerous hate crimes legislation and its current status.  Excerpt:

The Massachusetts Democrat [Sen. Kennedy] smeared the military to win votes for his “hate crimes” amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill for 2008.  The ploy, unfortunately, worked.  Sixty senators supported his “hate crimes” amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill, which is now in conference committee. 

posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 7:17:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
AdvanceUSA has learned that ENDA, after having passing the House of Representatives recently, will likely be put on the Senate “calendar” within a week.  This means that it could be considered at any time.  However, there are about a hundred total bills on the Senate calendar, so it is not certain that the Senate vote on ENDA is imminent.  It could even be pushed back to next year.

Be assured AdvanceUSA will keep a watchful eye on this dangerous legislation.  For more information on ENDA click here or here.

posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 7:10:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. voices his concerns with a number of issues he sees as a threat to religious freedom.  Doubtless the ENDA bill and hate crimes legislation are clear and present dangers to free religious expression, and the movement to resurrect the discredited “fairness doctrine” is a blatant affront to free speech.  Read Jackson’s full column here.

For more information on religious freedom click here or here.

posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:28:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Friday, November 09, 2007
In a victory for religious liberty and freedom of conscience, the AP reports:

A federal judge has suspended Washington state's requirement that pharmacists sell "morning-after" birth control pills, a victory for druggists who claim their moral objections to the drug are being bulldozed by the government.

The “morning after pill” (Plan B) can act as an abortifacients (abortion-causing drug) and has serious unaddressed health concerns.

posted on Friday, November 09, 2007 7:08:55 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Thursday, November 08, 2007
Yesterday the House passed ENDA by a vote of 235 - 184.  Check the vote box below or on the Congress Vote Watch page to see how your representative voted on this dangerous legislation.  An amendment proposed by Rep. George Miller (D-CA) to broaden the religious exemption for churches and other religious institutions passed, but the bill still ignores the threats to the religious freedom of regular employers.  Furthermore, the underlying bill sets a dangerous precedent by elevating sexual behavior as a civil rights issue akin to race, religion, or gender.  Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) had an excellent article Tuesday in Human Events which explains the serious religious freedom and litigation concerns with ENDA.  Fortunately, the President has vowed to veto the legislation.

For more information on this threat to religious freedom which is also an open door to wasteful and malicious litigation, check the AdvanceUSA home page or the ENDA category at AdvanceUSA Blog.

House Vote on H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (Passed)
November 7, 2007
Full Results | News Story

 

Yeas

Nays

PRES

NV

Republican

35

159

6

Democratic

200

25

8

Independent

TOTALS

235

184

14

posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 2:49:40 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Tuesday, November 06, 2007
posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:36:51 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
Christians in Iraq are often victims of intense religious persecution in their homeland.  Many chose to flee to nearby countries to escape with their lives.  Unfortunately, as this Newsmax article reveals, Christian refugees are often discriminated against by embassy and UN refugee officials.  Pray Congress and the Bush administration become aware of the needs of these persecuted believers and take steps to protect them.  Also, pray that the Lord would protect the believers in Iraq and give them grace and peace.

posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 7:38:24 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
H.R. 3685, the dangerous Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), will likely be voted on today in the House of Representatives.  While liberals may attempt to whitewash it with religious freedom and marriage protections ENDA is still a dangerous step toward special federal protections based on sexual behavior.  ENDA is part of the overarching homosexual strategy to undermine traditional marriage and legitimize deviant sexual behavior.  For more information on ENDA click here or here.

House Minority Leader Roy Blunt (R-MO) has a very helpful article today in Human Events which explains the serious religious freedom and litigation concerns with ENDA which would be well worth your time to consider.  Excerpt:

One thing, however, is certain: Passage of this bill would effectively create a brand new market for litigation, and set up the opportunity for billions of dollars for trial lawyers.  Another bill, another Democratic payback to their special interests, more burdens on American small businesses, more attempts to limit religious speech -- well, just another day under this Democratic Congress. 

AdvanceUSA will post the vote results of the House vote on ENDA as soon as they become available.  Be sure to see how your representative voted on this dangerous bill.

posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:21:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #   
 Thursday, November 01, 2007
WNDU reports on this reversal of a controversial prayer ruling in Indiana.  The Alliance Defense Fund comments here.

posted on Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:32:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Washington Blade (homosexual news publication) explains the strategy of the “gay rights” agenda while offering critique to help proponents obtain the ultimate goal of same-sex marriage.  The article suggests a “incremental” approach in which marriage and civil unions are not discussed until the public is “ready.”

A suggested plan of attack includes these stages of building in this order:

  1. Hate Crimes
  2. ENDA
  3. Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
  4. Permanent Partners Immigration Act
  5. Civil Unions
  6. Repeal Defense of Marriage Act and Overturn State Marriage Amendments

Click here to read the full explanation.

posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 9:55:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
Star Parker has an excellent column explaining the problems with the dangerous ENDA legislation and exposes the hypocrisy of many radical homosexual organizations.  Excerpt:

We've got legislation moving through Congress, pushed by gay activists, that would make it illegal for an employer to not hire, or to fire, someone because of their sexual orientation. But the head of the nation's largest gay-activist organization asks Obama to fire a man because he is a Christian and an advocate of traditional values?

For more information on ENDA click here or here.

posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 9:52:53 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
Lawyer and author Wendy Kaminer has a very helpful piece in the Wall Street Journal exposing the dangers and misconceptions relating to hate crimes legislation now in Congress.  She also makes the case that civil libertarians wary of government intrusion into personal rights should support their social conservative cohorts in opposing hate crimes.

She addresses the charge that the current hate crimes bill does not deal with speech but only violent crime.  She explains this view but then concludes:

Still, distinguishing hateful bias crimes from other hateful acts of violence punishes ideas and expression, no matter how scrupulously the legislation is crafted. When someone convicted of assaulting one woman is subject to an enhanced prison sentence or a more vigorous prosecution because his assault was motivated by a hateful belief in the inherent inferiority of all women, then he is being punished for his thoughts as well as his conduct.

Hate crimes should really be called “thought crimes” or “bias crimes” as noted here:

…without directly criminalizing speech, the proposed Matthew Shepard Act (like other hate-crime laws) does effectively and intentionally criminalize bias, when bias is shown to bear a direct relationship to a violent crime.

The hate crimes bill could also threaten the important constitutional principle prohibiting “double jeopardy;” being prosecuted twice for the same crime:

But freedom of thought is not the only liberty at stake in this debate. The Matthew Shepard Act would also subject defendants to double jeopardy for a single offense. The bill expressly states that defendants prosecuted in state court may be prosecuted for the same crime in federal court, if federal officials determine that "the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to state charges left demonstrably unvindicated the federal interest in eradicating bias-motivated violence."

She concludes her piece noting that the killers of Matthew Shephard were tried and convicted to the full extent of the law.

Matthew Shepard's killers were convicted of homicide and kidnapping by the state of Wyoming and are serving consecutive life sentences. His torture and murder remain awful to contemplate, but civil libertarians ought not be squeamish about questioning the consequences of the law that would bear his name.

How would a hate crimes law have punished them any more?

For more on hate crimes click here or here.

posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 8:21:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, October 29, 2007
Those who would like to remove all reference to God from public life have been very busy lately as these three stories illustrate.

  1. Flag folding at National Cemeteries: Apparently the traditional flag-folding ceremony entitled to veterans is being forbidden because of its reference to God.  Full story from the Associated Press and One News Now.  Excerpts:

Complaints about religious content have led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all 125 national cemeteries.

 

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller of Temple Beth El said he understands the ban. "It is a perfect example of government choosing to ignore religion in order to avoid offending some religions," Miller said. "To me, ignoring religion in general is just as problematic as endorsing any one religion."


  1. Certificates for Capitol Flags: As reported earlier the Architect of the Capitol denied a Boy Scout from referencing God on the certificate of a flag flown in honor of his grandfather over the Capitol.  The acting Architect of the Capitol has reversed the decision and will allow Congressmen to chose what wording is permitted on each certificate, but some conservative activists are encouraging the White House to nominate a new Architect of the Capitol to serve a ten-year term.  This way the policy could not be overturned by the next administration regardless of party affiliation.
posted on Monday, October 29, 2007 9:32:58 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
posted on Monday, October 29, 2007 9:21:46 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Daily Mail reports on this outrageous case.  This is an example of what can result from laws dictating “tolerance” and “non-discrimination” towards homosexuals.  Congress would do well to consider cases like this when they vote next week on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3685).

More on ENDA here and here.

posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 9:05:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A gay publication is reporting that the dangerous ENDA bill has been postponed until next week so members can be polled to see if an amendment including “transgendered” individuals in the legislation would pass.

Also, President Bush issued a veto threat for ENDA (H.R. 3685) in a statement of administration policy issued today.  AdvanceUSA applauds the President’s bold leadership in opposing this legislation.

For more information on ENDA click here or here.

posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:35:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr., (Chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition and author) has written an article criticizing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) because it endangers families and is an insult to the real civil rights movement.  First he draws a distinction between this attempt to mandate privileges based on sexual preference and the civil rights movement seeking to prevent racial discrimination.  Then he gives five reasons to oppose ENDA.  Click here to read the entire article or see below to read Jackson’s five reasons to oppose ENDA.

1. ENDA would overturn the historical basis of protected class status by adding “actual or perceived sexual orientation.” While every other federally-protected class embodies three standards: an obvious, immutable characteristic; a history of discrimination evidenced by economic disenfranchisement; and political powerlessness, “sexual orientation” falls under none of these criteria. It is an insult to African Americans to grant special protections for “sexual orientation.”

2. ENDA expands civil rights protections on the vague basis of perception. An employee or potential employee could sue an employer for his or her perception of their sexual orientation. Yet unlike the currently-protected classes of race, age, and gender in employment, sexual orientation is not scientifically verifiable. It is an offense to African Americans to equate “sexual orientation” with skin color.

3. ENDA infringes on the religious liberties of our parishioners. As shepherds of our flock, we cannot stand by while our parishioners are forced to ignore their convictions when they leave church on Sunday. ENDA requires people of faith to lay down their religious freedom at the office door. This opposes our beliefs and it is not practical – faith cannot be segmented into only one part our lives.

4. ENDA puts the integrity of our ministries in jeopardy. Many African-American churches run outreach ministries separate from the church to care for our communities. My local church runs a daycare which cares for over 200 children daily and the potential to serve another 100+ children in extended care for those who are in school. ENDA provides unclear protection for schools, while leaving ministries such as childcare, after school programs, and food and clothing banks vulnerable to ENDA mandates.

5. ENDA is a direct attack on our freedom of religion guaranteed in the First Amendment. The Free Exercise Clause in the First Amendment grants all Americans the freedom to practice their faith. ENDA stands in direct opposition to this liberty and must be rejected as a result.

posted on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:51:12 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The Rutherford Institute reports on these restrictions and the illegal surveillance of a rabbi’s home.

posted on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:16:55 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, October 22, 2007

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on this example of liberal intolerance and persecution directed at the Boy Scouts.

posted on Monday, October 22, 2007 9:06:48 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3685) was favorably reported out of the House Education & Labor committee by a vote of 27 – 21.  Four amendments were offered to the legislation in order to highlight the severe danger it poses to religious liberty and to illustrate the litigation nightmare that would ensue if enacted into law.

ENDA will be voted on soon (most likely early next week) so keep calling your representative and urging him or her to vote “No” on ENDA (H.R. 3685)!  Also, an amendment will most likely be offered on the House floor which would add “transgender” people (cross dressers, sex-change recipients, etc.) to the special privileges and regulations established by this law.

Continue reading for more information on the amendments offered and some of the statements made during committee markup today.

posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 1:31:55 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, October 16, 2007

ENDA is scheduled to be marked up in committee on Thursday, October 18.  CitizenLink reports that a House vote on ENDA could be just around the corner.

Please call your representative TODAY and urge him/her to vote "No" on ENDA!  For more information on ENDA check the AdvanceUSA home page or the ENDA category here at AdvanceUSA Blog.

posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 8:46:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, October 12, 2007

Our friend Tom McClusky at FRC has an insightful article at WND in which he exposes the gradualist strategy of the radical “gay rights” movement and how it threatens religious liberty.

posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 9:48:27 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) has introduced the Pledge Protection Act (H.R. 699) which denies federal courts the jurisdiction to hear cases involving the Pledge of Allegiance.  Radical secularists like Michael Newdow and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have shown a clear intent to do away with any reference to God in the pledge of allegiance.  This legislation proactively prevents activist federal courts from declaring the phrase "under God" an unconstitutional establishment of religion.  Under Article I Section 8 and Article III Sections 1 and 2, Congress has the authority to determine the jurisdiction of federal courts.  Please call your representative today and urge him or her to support The Pledge Protection Act of 2007 by signing on as a cosponsor and by eventually voting “Yes” on H.R. 699.

posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 8:45:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, October 11, 2007

Attorney and author John W. Whitehead shares his insights on the danger of hate crimes legislation, especially the recent hate crimes legislation passed by the Senate.

posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 7:01:09 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The Washington Times reports on this example of banishing references to God from public life.


UPDATE: After the outcry of conservatives over the refusal of the Architect of the Capitol to allow “religious expressions” on the certificates accompanying special flags flown over the Capitol and a letter from Minority Leader Boehner, members of Congress will now be allowed to write whatever they want on flag certificates granted to constituents.  It may seem like a small issue, but it is a clear victory in opposing the steady trend to remove all reference to God from the public sphere.

posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 9:29:14 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, October 05, 2007

Fox News reports on a tangled murder case that illustrates the confusion and nonsense that hate crimes laws can cause.  Criminals should be prosecuted for what they do, not what they think.  CitizenLink also explains how this case relates to the hate crimes legislation recently passed by the Senate.

posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 6:47:53 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, October 04, 2007
Marvin Olasky gives a helpful explanation of the recent case of federal prisons removing religious texts from prison libraries in his article at Townhall.  The decision is good news for religious freedom in America.  After the Bureau of Prisons reexamines their policy hopefully they will institute a sensible policy that merely prohibits texts that incite illegal activity (such as violence and terrorism) and does not even bring religion per se into the picture.

posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 9:53:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Alan Sears does an excellent job explaining what is wrong with hate (thought) crimes legislation and what is specifically so dangerous about the current version passed by the U.S. Senate.

posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:30:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Chuck Colson paints an alarming but accurate picture of what could happen in America if the dangerous ENDA bill becomes law in his column at Townhall.

Excerpt:

Imagine you own a small business—let’s say a donut shop—and you have an employee who is late for work everyday and is rude to customers. When you fire him, he claims it is really because he is gay—and sues.

 

Or imagine you run a daycare center in your church basement. One day a homosexual applies for a job. When you turn him down, he says you broke the law.

 

Today, both of these stories are simply scenarios. But by the end of the week, they could be reality.

For more information on ENDA check the material on the AdvanceUSA home page or the other blog posts in the “ENDA” category.

posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:29:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
In a letter entitled “Constitutional Protections for Pastors: Your Freedom to Speak Biblical Truth on the Moral Issues of the Day” several organizations concerned with religious freedom are offering legal advice to pastors and congregations regarding permissible issue-oriented political activity.  Pastors, churches, and Christians should understand their rights and responsibilities to be politically active and involved on the issues facing our nation.

Excerpt from letter:

As the 2008 elections approach, various groups have launched intimidation tactics in an effort to silence churches and pastors about the great social and moral issues of our time.  Churches and pastors need clear guidelines for permissible political activities to answer to these attacks.

CWA has also prepared a helpful resource entitled “Political Guidelines for Churches and Pastors.”

For more information on church involvement in political issues check the AdvanceUSA church involvement page.

UPDATE: Baptist Press has published this helpful article explaining “what can churches do during elections.”

posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:27:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Excerpt from Online Union-Tribune article:

 

Two San Diego court employees are suing the Superior Court because they say they have been prohibited from holding a lunch hour Bible study in the courthouse.

 

The federal civil rights suit claims court officials unfairly denied the group's request to meet in an empty courtroom or jury deliberation room.

 

The Bible study group had met in the courthouse regularly since 2000, but in April 2006, the suit said, court officials banned the meeting, saying it violated court policy.

posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:14:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, October 02, 2007

The Rutherford Institute reports (excerpt):

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit will hear arguments on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, regarding the right of the high school football coach to silently bow his head and bend his knee while members of the football team engage in the time-honored practice of student-initiated pre-game prayer. A federal court ruled in July 2006 that officials at East Brunswick School District in New Jersey violated Coach Borden's constitutional rights when they forbade him from bowing his head or "taking a knee" during pre-game student prayers. However, the school district appealed the decision with the assistance of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 9:39:55 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The latest version of ENDA no longer includes “gender identity” as a protected class and contains a broader exception for religious institutions.  However, the legislation still recognizes “real or perceived sexual orientation” as a protected class and adds a two-part test that religious organizations must pass in order to have their beliefs on sexual morality protected.  Furthermore, the legislation still burdens businesses with unnecessary regulation which could cause a litigious nightmare and harm work force morale.  The committee markup originally scheduled for today has been postponed.  AdvanceUSA will continue monitoring the situation closely.

UPDATE: Fox News reports on the delay in ENDA legislation due to concerns over “transgender” protections.  The article includes quotes from liberal LGBT activists.

posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 8:57:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, September 28, 2007

The New York Times reports that the Bureau of Prisons has announced it will reconsider its policy regarding the approval of religious texts in the nations’ prisons and will immediately restore the confiscated books back to prisons (except for books deemed obviously to incite violence) until the policy can be reevaluated.

Rather than having a government agency determining what acceptable religious texts are, a sensible alternative would be to have the Bureau of Prisons prohibit any text which is deemed to incite violent or illegal activity.  In this way the government would not be seen as “establishing” a particular religion but would be merely enforcing a sensible measure to prevent violence and terrorist recruitment in our nation’s prisons.  Religion would no longer be the issue.

posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 2:55:36 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, September 27, 2007

The United States Senate voted this morning on an amendment to the Defense bill that would make hate (thought) crimes based on “perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity” a federal matter.  Unfortunately the amendment passed by a vote of 60 - 39.  Fortunately, there appear to be sufficient votes to sustain the veto the president has promised. To see how your senators voted see the vote chart below.

For more information on hate crimes click here or check the other blog posts in the hate crimes category.

Senate Cloture Vote on the Kennedy Amendment (S.A. 3035) adding federal hate crimes language to a war funding bill (60 votes needed to pass - PASSED)
September 27, 2007
Full Results | News Story

 

 

Yeas

Nays

PRES

NV

Republican

9

39

 

1

Democratic

 

50

Independent

 

1

TOTALS

 

60

39

1

posted on Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:40:37 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Terence Jeffrey’s article at TownHall is a startling reminder of what could happen if Congress passes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  He explains the case of a male bus driver in Utah who decided he wanted to use women’s public restrooms while undergoing hormone treatments to supposedly “change his sex.”  He sued his employer after they refused to allow his behavior, and the 10th Circuit Court upheld the decision of the employer to forbid his use of women’s restrooms.  CitizenLink comments on this case and clearly explains how ENDA could cause such cases to multiply across the country and would likely force employers everywhere to comply with such outrageous demands.

For more information on ENDA click here.

posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:46:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Startling new developments have arisen regarding the hate (thought) crimes bill.  Today Sen. Harry Reid offered hate crimes legislation as an amendment to the Defense Department reauthorization bill.  Because of the method he used to offer this amendment, it could be voted on as early as Wednesday but certainly by Thursday.

Please make every effort to call both your senators today and urge them to vote "No" on Senate Amendment 3035 (i.e. "hate crimes amendment") to the Department of Defense reauthorization bill! 

Hate crimes laws are unjust, constitutionally questionable, and a subtle, yet very real, threat to religious freedom.  For more information on hate (thought) crimes legislation check the AdvanceUSA home page or the hate crimes category at AdvanceUSA Blog.

To protect equal justice under the law and religious freedom, please call your senators today!

posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:27:41 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

This CitizenLink article powerfully explains some of the practical problems with the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which makes “actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity” a privileged legal status (on the same legal footing as race or religion) in employment matters.

For more information on ENDA check the AdvanceUSA home page or past blog posts in this category.

posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:21:38 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The Associated Press reports on this story of outrageous anti-God sentiment in Madison, Wisconsin.  Apparently liberal groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation will not rest until all public recognition of God is forbidden.

posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:19:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, September 20, 2007

AdvanceUSA has obtained an email by the radical liberal group Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU) calling on charter schools to cease religious activity.  Apparently the AU would rather protect the total “separation of church and state” which cannot be found in the Constitution, rather than the First Amendment which can be found in the Constitution.  Here is a press release from AU.

Below is the text of the AU email:

September 19, 2007


Americans United Calls on Washington, D.C., Charter School to Cease Religious Activities

 

School-Sponsored Religion At Washington Latin School Violates Constitution, Says Church-State Watchdog Group

 

A Washington, D.C., charter school that conducts graduations and other school gatherings in a church sanctuary and whose headmaster leads students in prayer is running afoul of the First Amendment, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

 

Americans United has warned that school-sponsored religious activities at Washington Latin School violate the principle of church-state separation and urged officials to cease conducting school gatherings in church settings and leading students in prayer.

posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:08:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, September 19, 2007

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Refusing to allow gay couples to hold civil unions in a boardwalk pavilion has cost a Methodist church group in Monmouth County its state tax exemption for the property.

 

The state Department of Environmental Protection on Monday stripped the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of a property tax exemption for the boardwalk pavilion…

Tax exempt status today, ____________ tomorrow.

UPDATE: Maggie Gallagher covers the story in a piece called “Can New Jersey punish Methodists for marriage?” at TownHall.

posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:03:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

AdvanceUSA Blog recently reported on the move by federal prisons to ban all non-approved religious texts from prison libraries.  AdvanceUSA has learned that RSC Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), VAT Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), and Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) have sent a letter to Mr. Harley Lappin, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to ask that an inquiry be made into this possible breach of the free exercise of religion.

Click here to view the letter.  An RSC press release relating to this incident can be found here.

posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 8:21:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) today tried to offer his hate crimes bill as an amendment to the Department of Defense (DOD) reauthorization bill.  Fortunately, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was on hand to object to the unanimous consent motion required to consider the amendment “pending.”  After this objection Sen. Kennedy (D-MA) stormed onto the Senate floor vowing to get the hate crimes bill onto the DOD bill and said the hate crimes bill related to military funding because it sought to combat “domestic terrorism” supposedly aimed at homosexuals.  Here is an excerpt from Sen. Kennedy’s remarks:

I have every intention, with Senator Smith, at some time of offering the hate crimes legislation. I know the question comes up why are we offering hate crime legislation on a defense authorization bill? Well, the answer is very simple. the defense authorization bill is dealing with the challenges of terrorism and the hate crimes issue, to try and get a handle on the problems of hate crimes, we're talking about domestic terrorism, domestic terrorism.

Apparently Sen. Kennedy thinks those who oppose the federal prosecution of suspected thoughts and beliefs, who seek to uphold “equal justice under law,” and who oppose granting special legal privileges to sexual preference, are terrorists akin to Al-Quaida and the Taliban.

posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:25:40 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, September 17, 2007

CitizenLink link reports in this news article about why American business owners should oppose the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which slaps them with more government regulation and establishes legal privileges based on sexual behavior.  Focus on the Family has also released this helpful document which gives real-world accounts of how laws similar to ENDA have led to serious problems for businesses.

UPDATE: This LA Times piece (even though it attempts to paint a sympathetic picture) offers a startling glimpse of some of the difficulties and dangers (especially for small businesses) that will arise from legislation like ENDA which creates special privileges for sexual behavior including transgender issues (cross dressing, sex-change operations).

posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 10:00:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, September 14, 2007

This informative and very creative video by CitizenLink explains the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 2015) and shows why ENDA is a threat to religious freedom and patently absurd.

posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 7:07:41 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

A federal court in California recently ruled on the propriety of jurors consulting scripture when conducting death penalty deliberations.  Fortunately the death penalty verdict was not overturned because of one of the jurors quoting scripture during deliberations, but the court’s evident animosity to the scriptures shows the influence of secularism in our legal system.

posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 7:04:16 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Alliance Defense Fund, which works on religious freedom cases, is assisting in both these cases.  For more information on religious freedom check the AdvanceUSA religious freedom page.

posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 6:15:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 11, 2007

The New York Times reports that prison chaplains are being forced to remove thousands of religious books from prison libraries out of a fear of extremist texts inciting people to terrorism.  Excerpt:

“It’s swatting a fly with a sledgehammer,” said Mark Earley, president of Prison Fellowship, a Christian group. “There’s no need to get rid of literally hundreds of thousands of books that are fine simply because you have a problem with an isolated book or piece of literature that presents extremism.”

posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:42:52 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, September 10, 2007

The infamous 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is continuing to maintain its reputation for judicial activism and hostility to religious expression.  As CitizenLink reports the Court ruled against measures that would have preserved a cross displayed in the Mojave National Preserve.

posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 9:18:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, September 07, 2007
posted on Friday, September 07, 2007 7:10:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, September 06, 2007
On September 5 hearings were held in the House Education and Labor Committee on ENDA.  The hearings were rather one-sided as 6 witnesses and 3 Representatives supported the bill, one witness merely expressed concerns with the legislation, and only one witness opposed ENDA.  For transcripts of witness’s testimony from the hearings click here.

For more information on this dangerous assult on religious freedom and simple fairness check our ENDA blurb on the AdvanceUSA home page.

posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:12:09 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, September 04, 2007

This story is from the Alliance Defense Fund:

“a parent [was] barred from reading the Bible in her child’s classroom as part of a school assignment where parents were invited to read their child’s favorite book.  The child, a kindergarten student, asked his mother to read from the Bible as part of a Social Studies assignment that had no content restrictions.  On May 31, a federal district court sided with the school, and the case is now on appeal.”

And

“the teacher permitted another parent to discuss the Jewish religious holidays of Passover and Hanukkah with the class.  In place of the Bible, Wesley’s teacher suggested that Mrs. Busch read a book “about witches and Halloween” to the class.”

posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 10:05:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, August 31, 2007

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), introduced in April and scheduled for a hearing on September 5, would create new privileged classes under the guise of prohibiting employment discrimination based on "sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”  Far from guaranteeing constitutional rights to a discriminated race or gender, this bill would grant special privileges to those who participate in homosexual activity and heap more intrusive regulations on businesses and organizations, including some religious organizations.

There are a number of serious problems with ENDA.  Many employers who have religious objections to hiring homosexuals or transgenders would be prohibited from refusing to hire such a person based on those beliefs.  Furthermore, many who have suffered real discrimination based on immutable characteristics such as race or gender, see adding sexual orientation as a protected class as an insult to what they suffered and achieved in the civil rights movement.  Finally, if passed, ENDA could help make gay marriage and civil union legislation all the more likely.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), one of the most liberal members of Congress, has introduced the bill in the House (H.R. 2015), and it is now in several House committees.  With heavy support from labor unions a similar bill will surely be proposed in the Senate so concerned citizens should be watchful.  While churches are exempt from ENDA, other religious organizations are not, resulting in serious assaults to freedom of religion.  Call your representative today and urge him or her to vote “No” on H.R. 2015, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)!

posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 6:26:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, August 30, 2007

Once again the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has objected to religion in the public square.  It ruled against a Christian club seeking to get started at a Seattle high school.

posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 9:41:48 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, August 27, 2007

Mike S. Adams at Townhall exposes a case of blatant religious discrimination at a well-known university.  Check back for part two of his series.  AdvanceUSA will link to it as soon as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Here is part II of Mike S. Adams account of college campus religious discrimination.

UPDATE: Here is part III.

UPDATE: Here are part IV, part V, part VI, and part VII (the conclusion).

posted on Monday, August 27, 2007 6:43:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, August 24, 2007

This video tells the story of Joe and Helen Roberts in Britain who were given a stern warning by police for politely voicing their opposition to the active promotion of homosexuality by their local government.  Their story is frightening evidence of why hate crimes laws such as S. 1105 (now in the Senate) should not be passed in America.  Though S. 1105 may or may not directly threaten speech in the pulpit (there is still some debate among legal experts), hate crimes laws will no doubt lead to the adoption of “hate speech” monitoring or laws which would directly obstruct the rights of Christians to share biblical truth.  

Hate crimes laws also violate the principle of “equal justice under law” by prosecuting criminals who commit the same crimes differently based solely on perceived internal beliefs.  For more information on hate crimes click here.


posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 6:49:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
Our friend Joe Carter (from FRC and Evangelical Outpost) critiques the recent CNN series entitled “God’s Warriors” which incorrectly insinuates that politically active Christians want to institute a “theocracy.”

posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 6:42:23 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Tony Perkins, President of FRC, comments on the dangerous hate (thought) crimes legislation in the U.S. Senate using evidence from Congressional hearings.

posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 1:28:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, August 23, 2007
Tuesday afternoon AdvanceUSA, along with educators, community leaders, and education advocates, attended the “Compassion in Action Roundtable” sponsored by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.  The topic of the roundtable was “Real Choices for Educational Improvement: How Faith-Based and Community Organizations Help Bridge the Achievement Gap.”

A number of government, church, educational, and community leaders shared success stories of rising test scores and parental satisfaction because of the intervention of faith-based and community organizations.  Among the speakers were Bishop William Lori who spoke about the dramatic improvements in inner city schools in Bridgeport, Connecticut as well as Sally Sachar, Virginia Walden-For, and Chris Kelly who highlighted the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program which benefits low income families in the nation’s capital.

AdvanceUSA was pleased to hear several speakers emphasize the need for school choice.  Two general categories of school choice were discussed.

Vouchers are direct payments by the government to parents or schools in order to provide for students’ private or public education thus providing more options than just the local school district.

 

Tax Credits allow parents to deduct some or all of their tuition payments from their taxes, or they give individuals or businesses a tax credit for contributing to a non-public school scholarship fund.  Some school choice advocates prefer this method as it minimizes government involvement in private school affairs.

The U.S. Department of Education’s new report entitled “Education Options in the States: State Programs that Provide Financial Assistance for Attendance at Private Elementary or Secondary Schools” was also highlighted at the event and can be read online here.

AdvanceUSA hopes this interesting and inspiring meeting will help advance the cause of school choice for parents and further improve the state of education in America through the efforts of faith-based and community initiatives.

For more information on school choice ideas check the AdvanceUSA pro-family page.

posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 2:57:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Much has been made of the tragic story of Matthew Shepherd.  The Senate hate (thought) crimes bill in Congress has even been named after him.  But a recent article by Peter Sprigg from FRC explains how Shepherd’s murder, citing an ABC news investigation, probably had nothing to do with his homosexuality at all.  Sprigg also compares the Shepherd case to a similar one in the same town just three months later in which a woman was sexually abused and left to die in the cold while her killer was only given a few years in prison rather than the life-sentences given to Shepherd’s killers.

For more information on hate crimes check the AdvanceUSA pro-religious freedom page.

posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 6:26:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

This excerpt from a Newsday article says it all:

“A New Jersey church group is suing the state over whether the organization should be required to allow a lesbian couple to hold a civil union ceremony at a beachfront pavilion owned by the group.”

Stories like this clearly demonstrate how the gay agenda can often clash with religious liberty.

posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 6:24:29 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, August 10, 2007

Apparently “separation of church and state” doesn’t apply across the board.  The New York Times reports on the trend among universities to install footbaths in order to better accommodate Islamic students.

posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 4:01:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Several high ranking officers at the Pentagon are facing criticism for appearing in a fundraising video for an evangelistic/discipleship ministry called “Christian Embassy.”  Some people just won’t rest until all religious influence on government is removed.

posted on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:15:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, August 07, 2007

A court in Georgia has dismissed charges against Frederic Baumann who was arrested for passing out religious literature on public property.

“Christians have the same First Amendment rights as anyone else in America and cannot be treated as second-class citizens. The government should not force them to get special permission before practicing their constitutional right to free speech.  The fact that the court dismissed the charges against Mr. Baumann is not just significant for him but for all citizens who cherish their First Amendment rights.”

-  David Cortman, ADF Senior Legal Counsel

AdvanceUSA last reported on this story on July 17.

posted on Tuesday, August 07, 2007 6:27:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, July 27, 2007

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that Tangipahoa Parish School Board could continue to open its meetings with prayer.  The ruling overturned a lower court ruling that held that opening prayers at the meetings were unconstitutional.  The Alliance Defense Fund helped protect the school board’s rights from the ACLU’s lawsuit.

posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 7:18:14 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, July 17, 2007

A Georgia man (Frederic Baumann) who passed out tracts on a public sidewalk near the City of Cumming fairground was arrested and jailed under a “parade” law that doesn’t even apply to his circumstances earlier this year.  Fortunately the highly-competent legal organization Alliance Defense Fund will advocate on Baumann’s behalf.

For more news and information on religious freedom click here.

posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 6:39:23 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, July 13, 2007

Do you think the federal government should be able to prosecute people for their beliefs?  Do you think some citizens should receive more legal protection than others?  All these things could happen if the Senate passes S. 1105, the hate (thought) crimes bill.  Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and Smith (R-OR) have proposed adding this legislation to the Defense Reauthorization bill (H.R. 1585, currently being debated) as Amendment 2067.

Besides the important “equal justice” concerns, there is reason to believe that hate crimes laws such as S. 1105 could infringe on our cherished rights of religious freedom as similar laws have been used to prosecute Christians for proclaiming a Biblical perspective on homosexuality.

Call both your senators today and urge them to vote “No” on Amendment 2067!


For more information on hate crimes and this particular bill, check the hate crime material on the AdvanceUSA home page.

posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 8:16:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, July 11, 2007

This article from the National Review discusses threats to religious freedom around the world and emphasizes that international religious freedom is vital to American national security.

posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 10:04:34 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, July 03, 2007

CitizenLink reports that faith-based organizations are doing great work training the underprivileged to complete their education and enter the workforce.  In many ways, faith-based organizations can do work cheaper than other organizations and can also solve problems government alone could never address.

posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 7:13:42 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, June 25, 2007

A federal court has again ruled that Brittany McComb should have her day in court.  In 2006 Brittany had her microphone turned off during her valedictorian address when she began to speak of her personal faith in Christ.  Brittany filed a civil rights lawsuit, and the recent federal court ruling rejected the attempt by Clark County School District officials to dismiss that lawsuit.

 

To see the video of Brittany’s speech click on the video below or click here.


posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 7:07:38 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

Today George Will writes about the outrageous case in Oakland, California in which government employees were forbidden to mention such “offensive” words as “natural family,” “marriage,” and “family values.”  This is a blatant assault on First Amendment rights of free speech.  Unfortunately, many in American political discourse have sought through legislation or the courts to silence the views of their ideological opponents rather than engaging them in open debate.

posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 4:15:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The Supreme Court today ruled that a tax-paying citizen with a grudge against religion cannot bring a faith-based organization to court without just cause.  This is a great victory for faith-based organizations.  Hopefully this will overcome a barrier to effective faith-based ministry, allowing such groups to flourish and benefit our nation in ways only they can.


To read the Court’s decision click here.

posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 3:47:21 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Randy Thomas mentions this outrageous court ruling on his blog.

posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 9:51:40 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

The High Impact Leadership Coalition (a coalition of black religious leaders) has just released this exceptional advertisement that seeks to awaken people to the very real dangers of hate (thought) crimes legislation.  Stopping “hate crimes” sounds like a noble goal but in actuality it would pose serious threats to religious freedom.  Furthermore, the whole concept of hate crimes is inherently unjust and unconstitutional because if violates our cherished principle of “equal justice under law.”

Thought crimes bills are a clear and present danger to constitutional principles and religious freedom.  For more information on thought crimes
click here or visit AdvanceUSA’s religious freedom page.

Note: The current hate crimes bill (
S. 1105) is now in the Senate, but it is unclear when the Senate will actually consider the legislation.  AdvanceUSA will be watching carefully for any further developments.

posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 8:17:56 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, June 12, 2007

A troubling development is coming to light regarding religious freedom in our nation's prisons.  It has been reported that religious books (including Christian texts) are being removed in mass from prison libraries across the country.  While we acknowledge that convicted criminals are not entitled to the same privileges as ordinary citizens, and we understand the advisability of restricting inflammatory religious material which advocates violence, this sweeping book removal is very disconcerting for the precedent it sets for religious freedom.

posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:05:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, June 08, 2007

Here’s a troubling update on religious liberty in Malaysia, or the lack thereof.  With the sounds of Islamic protestors outside shouting “Alah is great,” a Muslim lady was forbidden by a Malaysian court from officially registering her religion as “Christian.”  This is another reminder of how we should cherish the religious liberty we still have in the United States.

posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 6:38:37 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, June 07, 2007

Ken Blackwell offers his insightful perspective on the hate crimes bill recently passed by the House.  The Senate is now faced with the bill and is expected to consider it this year, perhaps within the next month or two.

posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 9:38:38 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, June 04, 2007
CitizenLink reports on this shining example of liberal “tolerance.”


UPDATE:

 

Exodus International is defending statements by President Bush’s nominee for Surgeon General on the medical dangers of homosexual activity and in support of the rights of self-determination for ex-gays.  The whole fiasco bares witness to the rampant “intolerance” and outright bigotry of many in the radical homosexual movement.  A PFOX press release on the issue can be read on NewsWire.  An informative email exchange between a Human Rights Campaign employee and an ex-gay usefully illustrates the harassment and bigotry faced by those who have walked away from homosexuality.

posted on Monday, June 04, 2007 8:34:51 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   

When junior high students in Oswego, Illinois were given the opportunity to create puzzle pieces that would be pieced together to form a school mural, Melissa Yates decided to paint a cross.  Her puzzle piece was immediately erased out of the misguided belief that the cross somehow violated the “separation of church and state.”  Fortunately, the Alliance Defense Fund contacted the school on Melissa’s behalf advocating for her rights of free speech and religious expression, and the cross was once again allowed in the school mural.

Though it may seem like a small victory, little steps like these help combat the anti-religious freedom sentiment that has gradually crept into our culture.

To see a picture of Melissa’s cross click here.

posted on Monday, June 04, 2007 8:15:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Friday, June 01, 2007

Shannon Spaulding's graduation speech in Jacksonville, Florida, in which she spoke at length about her faith in Jesus Christ, received broad support from the audience at the time, but now a fire storm is erupting over her comments about sin, hell, and Jesus Christ.  ABC News reports here.

posted on Friday, June 01, 2007 8:12:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The school board of Odessa, Texas decided to institute a basic Bible literacy course as a required elective for high school students.  The school board has now been sued by some Odessa residents with the help of the ACLU.  Once again, the ACLU's crusade to eradicate Christianity from the public square continues.

posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 9:39:06 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, May 24, 2007

During yesterday's House Judiciary Committee hearing, a former Dept. of Justice employee named Monica Goodling was giving testimony in the fired U.S. attorneys kerfuffle. What is significant for Christians and defenders of the First Amendment is how Rep. Stephen Cohen turned the hearing into an inquisition on the nature of Regent University, a Christian university and Monica Goodling's alma mater. You can view video of the questioning (skip to the 2:45 mark for the exchange) or read the transcript (excerpts below or look for Rep. Cohen's name half-way through the link). 

Later in the hearing representatives Forbes and King discussed the successes of Regent and the Christian foundings of both Harvard and Yale. See the excerpts below.

UPDATE: Byron York at National Review Online has a summary of the hearing with Cohen's comments highlighted.

TRANSCRIPT EXCERPTS

REP. STEPHEN I. COHEN, D-TENN.:Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Goodling, I've read your vitae and it says that you grew up and you mostly went -- you went to public schools.Is that K through 12?

GOODLING:Yes.

COHEN:And it says you went to Christian universities in part because of the value they placed on service.

What was the other part, that you chose Christian universities?

posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 9:46:51 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Wendy Kaminer takes an insightful look at what kinds of "free speech" the ACLU will and will not defend. The same organization that defended the rights of neo-Nazis in Skokie, IL will not defend a young man with a religious opposition to homosexuality.

posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:13:27 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Monday, May 14, 2007

Hate (thought) crimes are wrong/dangerous/foolish on so many levels.  In this piece George Will applies some common sense to the issue. 

For more information on the dangers of thought crimes click here.

posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 8:41:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, May 10, 2007

Would that more people would stand up to the ACLU like these two counties did.

posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:04:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #   
 Thursday, May 03, 2007

Unfortunately, the dangerous, unnecessary, and unconstitutional thought crimes bill (H.R. 1592) passed in the House of Representatives and will eventually be considered by the U.S. Senate.  Fortunately, President Bush has indicated that he will veto the legislation.

For more information on the important topic of hate (thought) crimes click here.

posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:18:13 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #