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AdvanceUSA
had the privilege of attending a lecture last week by John West (Senior Fellow
at the Discovery Institute) at the Heritage Foundation at which he explained
the effects of scientific materialism on American culture and political
thought. In his lecture West highlighted 5 specific effects of scientific
materialism evident today.
- technocracy elevated above
democracy
- pursuit of utopianism
- dehumanization
- moral relativism
- stifling of free speech and
free debate
To hear
an audio recording of this very insightful lecture click here
or here.
For more information about this and other Heritage Foundation events click here.
 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.
LifeNews reports. Rep.
Mike Pence (R-IN) is championing similar legislation in the House.
The
Telegraph reports that for the first time scientists
have successfully cloned monkeys. The
ability to clone primate embryos indicates that the unethical cloning of human
embryos for research is a real possibility. Once again, scientists have
shown what is possible. It is now up to mankind as a whole to demand what
is ethical. Do we believe that human lives can be used for scientific
experimentation, or do we believe science should be subservient to ethics?
As
another UK
paper, the Independent, reports:
A technical breakthrough has enabled scientists to create
for the first time dozens of cloned embryos from adult monkeys, raising the
prospect of the same procedure being used to make cloned human embryos.
For more
information on human cloning click here.
 Some couples
unable to have children naturally are choosing to adopt unwanted IVF embryos
(snowflakes). The Columbia Missourian reports on the case of Chad
and Tanya Tatro and others who chose embryo adoption because of their religious
convictions. Their stories belie the oft repeated excuse by embryonic
stem cell proponents that “leftover embryo will only be discarded if we don’t
use them for research.” Note: The graphic to the left is an actual
photograph of the Tatro’s adopted embryos. Excerpt from story:
Embryo adoption is a growing phenomenon, especially among
Christians whose faith has put them in the middle of the debates over abortion
and stem-cell research. For people like the Tatros, this relatively new,
controversial form of adoption is as much a moral issue as it is a personal
decision. Moreover, many conservative Christians are re-focusing their energy
on the culture wars in a way that emphasizes adoption and foster care as part
of a solution. Embryo adoption is an option created by the explosion of in
vitro fertilization, which often results in embryos that are subsequently
destroyed or donated to stem-cell researchers. Stoddart, the executive director
of California-based Nightlight Christian Adoptions, established Snowflakes in
1997 to give leftover frozen embryos a chance at life. A year later, the first
stem cells were extracted from a human embryo, and Stoddart said the new
science and the ethical debate it has generated have helped his business. “If
it weren’t for that, trying to get the word out would be much harder,” he said.
“Embryo adoption is more relevant when juxtaposed to the embryonic stem-cell
debate.”
Embryo
adoption raises a number of legal questions which are discussed in another
article in the Columbia Missourian.
Check out
the Snowflakes website
to find out more about this exciting program. Click here for more
information on stem cell research.
 AdvanceUSA attended a recent lecture on the Hill at
which Greg Koukl, Christian thinker and radio host, spoke about the secular
reasons to oppose same-sex (gay) marriage. Koukl made the point that
Christians must not be content to refute same-sex marriage simply theologically
but also must make substantive public policy arguments to show that protecting
traditional marriage is indeed a “compelling public interest” based on data and
plain reason. His material is well worth reading.
Koukl has
generously made his lecture notes available and our friends at Faith & Law
have kindly posted
them online. To find out about articles, audio files, and video by
Greg Koukl click here.
For more
information from AdvanceUSA on protecting traditional marriage click here or here.
 In an insightful piece entitled “Two
forces combined to blindside stem cell champions” Susan K. Livio explains
how social conservatives and fiscal conservatives united to defeat the recent
New Jersey ballot initiative that would have spent hundreds of millions of tax
dollars on unethical embryonic stem cell research. Here’s hoping the
strong union of so-cons and fiscal-cons will be maintained around the
country. Excerpt from the Star-Ledger:
With polls reporting wide support for stem cell research
and expectations that low voter turnout would help them, proponents of a $450
million bond thought they had reason to be optimistic about Tuesday's
referendum.
But these and other miscalculations helped doom the
measure, political scientists, conservatives and elected officials said
yesterday. Supporters failed to grasp an unintentional alliance of two forces:
public discontent with the state's borrowing, and the work of conservatives and
religious leaders who opposed the ballot question's passage.
Unfortunately,
as LifeNews reports, the proponents of spending tax-payers’ dollars on unethical and unproven research will
continue despite the clear demonstration of
the will of the people of New
Jersey.
A USA
Today story reports on the successes of
using adult stem cell injections to treat damaged or diseased hearts.
The article tries to downplay the progress but cannot deny that adult stem
cells have shown real benefits while unethical embryonic stem cell research
promises only theoretical benefits.
Some
scientists would have you believe that we need to experiment on human embryos
in order to study diseases and how to treat them. But as the BBC reports,
scientists in the UK
are learning about the development of a serious, commonly occurring bone cancer
which often afflicts children by studying stem cell
development in dogs.
For more
information click here.
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.
 Originally known as Armistice Day because it
commemorated the peaceful conclusion of “The Great War” (World War I) in 1919,
Veterans Day, as it is now known, is a time to remember those who serve and
have served in our armed services. To honor those who risked their lives
in the service of our nation, AdvanceUSA would like to share the following.
A recent
Wall Street Journal article urges Americans to show respect to our fallen
soldiers regardless of their views on particular wars. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has
posted numerous Veterans Day resources on its
website for citizens to know how and where to celebrate this important
holiday. Click
here to read President Bush’s 2007 Veterans Day Proclamation.
Take time
this weekend to thank the Lord for the men and women who selflessly served our
country and be sure to thank the veterans you know for their courage and
sacrifice. Their dedication preserved our freedom.
Accuracy
in Media warns that upcoming Senate
hearings could be a vehicle for instituting the so-called “fairness doctrine”
which would force broadcasters to give equal time to all political views.
The
Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2007 would prohibit the FCC or any future president
from reinstituting this ill-conceived policy. Upon proposing H.R. 2905, Rep.
Mike Pence (R-IN) said:
The American people love a fair fight, especially where
the issues of the day are debated. In a free market, fairness should be
determined based upon equal opportunity, not equal results. As some voices are
calling for Congress to enforce their idea of ‘fairness’ upon the American
people, it would be good for us to proceed with caution whenever some would
achieve their ‘fairness’ by limiting the freedom of others.
Congressman
Pence has also posted on his blog a helpful resource entitled “Myths
vs. Facts On the Fairness Doctrine.”
 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
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|
|
Yeas |
|
Nays |
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PRES |
|
NV |
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Republican |
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35 |
|
159 |
|
— |
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6 |
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Democratic |
|
200 |
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25 |
|
— |
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8 |
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Independent |
|
— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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TOTALS |
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235 |
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184 |
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— |
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14 |
Yesterday
former Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the
highest civilian honor the president can bestow. To read President Bush’s
remarks about Hyde click
here and scroll to the bottom of the speech (video and audio available as
well). The editors at National Review Online also report
on this much deserved award.
Robert Hyde received the Medal of Freedom
on behalf of his father, Henry Hyde. Source.
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.
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.
 The House Foreign Affairs Committee held hearings yesterday on the Mexico City Policy which prohibits taxpayer dollars from going to international organizations that either provide or support abortions. It appears likely that these hearings were called as an excuse to challenge the Mexico City Policy and provide justification for overturning it in stalled appropriations bills. The policy is THE pro-life battle of this session of Congress!
To see a video of yesterday’s hearings CLICK HERE or visit the Committee’s website, go to the “testimony & transcripts” section, and click on the video link for the hearings on October 31.
AdvanceUSA monitored much of yesterday’s hearings. Continue reading for some notes:
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