 |
          
  |
|
|
|
The Second District Court of Appeals has dealt a setback to good efforts of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect children by combating broadcast indecency on the publicly-owned airwaves. AdvanceUSA is happy to report that friends at the FCC have given assurances that the fight must and will go on.
The U.S. House of Representatives will likely vote Wednesday on a bill that claims to “ban” human cloning but would, in reality, protect the cloning of human embryos, as long as they are killed for their stem cells. In essence, the phony "ban" would allow "therapeutic" cloning while prohibiting "reproductive" cloning. Advocates of unethical research have often used this strategy of proposing “phony cloning bans” to deceive people into supporting unethical research (particularly in Missouri in 2006).
For more important information on the dangers of human cloning click here (helpful diagrams and educational resources are near the bottom of the page).
While the recent Supreme Court partial birth abortion ruling was not a total reversal of Roe vs. Wade, it was an important step in the right direction for the pro-life cause. This LifeNews column seeks to defend the ruling from pro-lifers upset with its limits.
Radical gay groups are trying to equate opposition to homosexual marriage with opposition to racially mixed marriages. The left has no shame.
UPDATE: To see the groups' advertisement, which uses a picture Jeb Bush and his wife (a racially mixed marriage), click here.
John Piper has asks an intriguing question about partial birth abortion and legalised abortion. WARNING: He describes explicit abortion procedures.
New research by British doctors confirms what pro-lifers have long suspected: undergoing abortions can be extremely traumatic for women. Of course, let’s not think about how traumatic it is for the unborn child.
The Miami Herald reports on the “religious left” movement to woo Christians away from conservatism with a new focus on poverty, privacy, and environmentalism. Will conservative Christians trade the crucial life and family issues for fluffy liberalism? Only time will tell.
Article excerpts:
''They will completely lack credibility if they turn a blind eye to the sanctity of life and marriage,'' he [John Stemberger] said. ``They can have their little conference in Washington, but they're never going to attract serious-minded Christians.' "
''They're really ramping it up because they've seen what value voters accomplished in the last race,'' said Stemberger, whose group recently hosted 600 people at an Orlando fundraiser. ``I don't think it's sincere . . . You can't hire consultants to learn how to talk to Christians.''
UPDATE:
Frank Pastore provides a helpful critique of the recent discussion about liberalism and religion at TownHall.
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.
The U.S. House of Representatives will likely vote on an embryonic stem cell research bill (S. 5) this Thursday. Earlier this spring, on April 11, the U.S. Senate voted 63-34 to pass S. 5, which calls for increased public funding of research that destroys human embryos (read text here). Embryonic stem cell research is both immoral and unnecessary. Unfortunately many in Congress want to spend your tax dollars on it anyway. To see how your senator voted check the Vote Watch page. Call your representative today and urge him or her to vote “No” on S. 5, and keep your tax dollars from supporting unethical research! In January the House passed a similar bill seeking to overturn President Bush's ethical guidelines for embryonic stem cell research funds. Proponents of the measure frequently exaggerate claims about the necessity and usefulness of embryonic stem cells, but in addition to its highly questionable usefulness the fundamental problem is that such research destroys human lives. For important information on stem cell research and other bioethics issues visit the stem cell page and adult stem cell page. To see how your representative voted on the House version of this bill check the Vote Watch page.
Because of minor alterations to the bill made by the Senate, S. 5 will be voted on by the House after which the President has promised to veto the legislation. The bill would then go first to the Senate and then to the House (if necessary) for a veto override vote. Pray that this bill never becomes law and that liberals in Congress will not try to sneak this type of unethical stem cell language into other legislation.
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.
According to this exclusive ABC news report, it appears President Bush would pick a strong “judicial conservative” if a vacancy opens up on the Supreme Court this summer. This is great news since, with the increased influence of the Courts and the length of judicial terms (for life), Supreme Court appointments are some of the most important decisions U.S. presidents make.
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.
Wesley J. Smith has a great article in the National Review today that exposes the depraved agenda of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. "Dr. Death" was released from prison today and despite likely media attempts to lionize him, the facts of what this man stands for must be known.
Expect "assisted suicide" and other aspects of the "culture of death" to become prominent issues in the near future.
Recent scientific research has shown that adult stem cells (in this case from umbilical cord blood) can be used to produce insulin. This is great news for diabetics. Adult stem cell research does not involve destroying human embryos so no ethical concerns are raised. Despite all the claims of the media, liberal activists, and selective scientists, adult stem cells continue to show much more promise at treating diseases and injuries than the more ethically suspect stem cells taken from human embryos.
For more information check the AdvanceUSA stem cell page or adult stem cell page.
A parental custody case of sorts could have drastic effects abortion law. After producing three embryos through IVF, the parents of the embryos divorced. The father wants the embryos destroyed or frozen indefinitely, and the mother wants to have the embryos implanted into her womb to give the children a chance to be born. Now the courts must decide if the embryos are "people" or "property." America will be watching.
Marriage statistics in Massachusetts reveal that the number of "gay marriages" has been falling sharply. Perhaps even homosexuals themselves aren't too excited about "gay marriage."
Next week the House of
Representatives will likely vote on the stem cell bill
recently passed by the Senate. The Senate bill (S. 5) would overturn President
Bush's ethical guidelines on embryonic research and require your tax dollars to
be spent on research that destroys human embryos.
Unfortunately the House will probably pass the unethical legislation, but the
President has promised to veto the bill. In that case, the bill would
then go back to the Senate for a vote on whether to sustain or override his
veto.
For more information on this issue, check the AdvanceUSA stem cell page and adult stem cell page.
Governor Sonny Perdue recently signed a bill into law
which would set aside funds for research involving stem cells from umbilical
cord, placental tissue and amniotic fluid.
It’s nice to see that the state of Georgia realizes that adult stem
cell research offers the best hope for treatments without crossing ethical
lines.
For more exciting news on
adult stem cells click
here.
This article
gives a timeline of major events in the “career” of Dr. Jack Kevorkian
promoting assisted suicide. Dr. Kevorkian
is scheduled to soon be released from prison.
New information reveals that
abortion rates in Scotland
continue to rise despite the widespread availability of the “morning after”
pill (Plan B).
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.
Tom McClusky from FRC in this telling
article on Planned Parenthood's real agenda reminds American citizens that
they unwittingly support the abortion industry through their tax dollars. Planned Parenthood
is the biggest abortion provider in the world and should not be supported with
federal, state, or local tax dollars.
A new study finds that the "morning after pill" (Plan B) can sometimes cause abortions. LifeNews reports here.
For more information on the dangers of Plan B check the pro-life page.
The Cannes Film Festival awarded it's top prize to director Cristian Mungiu for his low-budget film that advocates "abortion rights" by dramatizing a botched abortion in the old Soviet Union. This is yet another example of the media trying to desensitize society to abortion by emphasizing emotionally charged scenarios that distract from the seldom-mentioned needs and rights of unborn children. Story here.
The California State Senate recently passed SB 777, which would require school children to be taught about transsexuality, bisexuality and homosexuality at grades as early as kindergarten. The radical homosexual agenda has nothing to do with equal rights and everything to do with forcing a deviant lifestyle on others.
Even thought the left often claims to have a monopoly on intellectual debate and appreciation for nuance, this article by Peter Berkowitz shows how conservatism is the true fertile ground for intellectual debate. He also touches on the intellectual heritage of conservatives through the works of notable conservatives Burke, Kirk, Strauss, and Hayek.
For the past few years the United States military and intelligence agencies have been scrutinized for the methods of interrogation used in the War on Terror. Recently U.S. forces came into possession of Al Qaeda torture manuals and devices. The graphic and disturbing pictures are a sobering reminder of the dangers our military, the Iraqi forces, and sympathetic allies in the region face.
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?
|
|
| | |