Friday, September 28, 2007 “Democratic Candidates Say They're OK With Second-Grade Teacher Reading Gay Prince Fairy Tale” Fox News reports that in a Wednesday night debate the three Democrat frontrunners (Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards) revealed that they thought the homosexuality-promoting children’s book “King & King” was acceptable curriculum for second graders. Election 2008 | Marriage | Pro Family posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 7:47:41 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      "Clarence Thomas: My Confirmation Hearings Were Really About Abortion" In an in-depth interview for “60 Minutes” Clarence Thomas recounts that the reason his nomination received such vitriolic opposition was his strong pro-life stance on abortion.  The interview will air this Sunday night on CBS at 7:00pm Eastern.  Justice Thomas is also promoting his new autobiographical book entitled “My Grandfather’s Son.” UPDATE: See the video of Justice Thomas’ interview on “60 Minutes” here. Abortion | Pro Justice | Pro Life posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 7:44:19 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “Federal Abstinence Funding Running Out” CitizenLink reports: The clock is running out on federal abstinence funding. If grants to the states are not renewed by Sunday, abstinence-based sex education will be a rare commodity in public schools. A letter to members of Congress by the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) thanks Congress for extending abstinence funding even for three short months but urges a much longer reauthorization to ensure that these effective programs continue. Abstinence | Pro Morality posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 7:42:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Wesley J. Smith: No Brakes on the Runaway Embryonic Stem Cell Research Train Wesley J. Smith comments on the current state of unethical embryonic stem cell research and the multiple deceptions used by proponents. Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 7:41:12 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “Ruling Allowing New Jersey Abortion Practitioner to Mislead Women Appealed” LifeNews excerpt: An attorney for a woman victimized by an abortion is appealing the decision of the New Jersey Supreme Court, which determined that an abortion practitioner didn't mislead her. Rosa Acuna says she was incorrectly told by abortion practitioner Sheldon Turkish that she was not aborting a human life when she had an abortion in 1996. The case could eventually come before the U.S. Supreme Court. Abortion | Pro Life posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 7:38:14 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “Prisons to Restore Purged Religious Books” For Now 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. Pro Religious Freedom posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 2:55:36 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “General Pace Causes Stir at Senate Hearing Over Homosexual Remarks” Fox News article excerpt: Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, caused a stir at a Senate hearing Wednesday when he said he believes homosexual activity is immoral and should not be condoned by the military. It’s amazing that uproar ensues from simply saying homosexual behavior is immoral. posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 2:53:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Thursday, September 27, 2007 Vote Results from Hate Crimes Vote This Morning 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 Hate Crimes | Pro Religious Freedom posted on Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:40:37 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Traditional Marriage Still has a Chance in Oregon AdvanceUSA is happy to report that the efforts to protect marriage in Oregon have seen success.  Earlier this year the Oregon legislature passed two laws which overturn the 2004 voter-approved state marriage amendment.  These laws, among other things, would award marriage benefits to same-sex couples.  The group Restore America announced Wednesday that they have collected 63,000 signatures, approximately 7,500 more than needed, to halt the enforcement of the laws and allow them to be overturned by a vote of the people next year. Below is the Restore America press release announcing the signature collection success: Read more ... Marriage | Pro Family posted on Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:27:07 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Wednesday, September 26, 2007 “Get the ACLU Out of Our Bathrooms”: Workplace Problems Will Worsen if ENDA Passes 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. ENDA | Pro Religious Freedom posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:46:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “Poll Shows Abortion Important to Voters” LifeNew reports. Abortion | Pro Life posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:44:33 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Research: Adult Stem Cells Could Make Liver Transplants Unnecessary The UK’s Telegraph reports that new research suggests that adult stem cells could be used to regenerate damaged or disease liver tissue possibly eliminating the need for liver transplants. For more news on the exciting successes of adult stem cell research click here. Adult Stem Cells | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:43:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “House Legislation Would Curb School Choice” CitizenLink reports that the latest version of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, which is due for reauthorization in the House, undermines important school choice provisions. Pro Family | School Choice posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:42:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Tuesday, September 25, 2007 A Hate Crimes Surprise Today in the Senate! Urgent Action Needed! 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! Hate Crimes | Pro Religious Freedom posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:27:41 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “ENDA: Workplace is the Wrong Place for Sexual Politics” 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. ENDA | Pro Religious Freedom posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:21:38 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Public Prayer Cancelled At Ceremony Honoring Murder Victims 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. Pro Religious Freedom | Religion in Public posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:19:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “Wait A Minute” Says Pro-Life Law Suit Over New Jersey Cloning Scam LifeNews article excerpt: A New Jersey court will hold an initial hearing on Monday on a lawsuit pro-life advocates have filed to stop a bill that would make taxpayers fund embryonic stem cell research.  They are challenging the bill Gov. Jon Corzine signed asking voters to approve borrowing $450 million to fund grants over the next 10 years.  The lawsuit says the bill fails to disclose that the money will also pay for human cloning. For the rest of the story click here. Human Cloning | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:18:14 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Monday, September 24, 2007 New York Times on the Dangers of Egg Donation for Cloning Many supporters of human cloning would have us believe that it is totally harmless.  This New York Times pieces reveals that cloning scientists are having a hard time recruiting women to donate their eggs because of the dangers and discomforts of egg harvesting procedures.  This has resulted in the increased demand for human/animal hybrid embryos (called chimeras) in order to make up for the lack of human eggs.  When human life begins to be looked upon as a commodity for the use of others, such unethical procedures will be increasingly in demand. Human Cloning | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Monday, September 24, 2007 9:33:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Grandmother Fights Blood Cancer with Adult Stem Cells The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports on the encouraging story of Dixie Sisk who after years of agonizing cancer treatment for her multiple myeloma finally resorted to adult stem cell therapy.  Unlike embryonic stem cell research (which requires the destruction of human embryos and has not met with clinical success in medical treatments) adult stem cell research is ethical and has frequently shown real-world results. Excerpt: Dixie Sisk was almost 70 when she became a new woman.   After fighting cancer for 11 years, enduring 89 radiation treatments and surviving repeated rounds of chemotherapy, the Mercer County mother and grandmother decided it was time to try a controversial, cutting-edge treatment that could give her a chance at living cancer-free.   Doctors were skeptical of her chance for success, but Sisk agreed to a stem cell transplant in hopes of seeing her grandchildren grow up.   “I’ve got two grandsons, a 6-year-old and a 14-year-old. When I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, all the doctors said they could give me was a band-aid. A band-aid doesn’t cover much,” she said.   Her cells were harvested from her own body, so Sisk never had to wait for a match or worry whether federal guidelines would allow research on the line of cells she needed. For more exciting stories of adult stem cell successes check the AdvanceUSA adult stem cell page. Adult Stem Cells | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Monday, September 24, 2007 9:30:34 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Friday, September 21, 2007 “Ultrasound Before Abortion” Bill Proposed by Brownback Senator Brownback (R-KS) has proposed a bill which would require women seeking an abortion to have the opportunity to see an ultrasound of their unborn baby before going through with the procedure.  The bill does not force women to view the ultrasound but simply requires that she be able to see it.  AdvanceUSA applauds this attempt to foster a culture of life by providing women with important information about the unborn human lives within the womb. Abortion | Pro Life posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 6:22:27 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Another 5th Circuit Nominee Passes Out of Committee: Backlog of Nominees Growing AdvanceUSA has learned that Jennifer W. Elrod, one of President Bush’s nominees for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, has been recommended by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a voice vote.  Now two 5th Circuit Nominees (Leslie Southwick and Jennifer Elrod) await confirmation by the Senate and given the Senate’s dismal record on confirming judges (only 3 Circuit Court nominees this year) immediate action should be taken. The following is an excerpt from Roll Call (subscription): “Republicans are salivating over a fight with Democrats on judicial nominations, which they view as an ideal vehicle to charge the majority party with ‘obstructionism’ and rally their conservative base heading into the 2008 election year.” Judicial Nominations | Pro Justice | Southwick posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 3:10:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Thursday, September 20, 2007 “Americans United Calls on DC Charter Schools to Cease Religious Activities” 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. Read more ... Pro Religious Freedom posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:08:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Adult Stem Cell Therapy Breakthrough for 64-Year-Old Heart Patient Deutsche Welle reports: Cardiologists at Düsseldorf University Hospital said they have been the first in the world to use [adult] stem cell therapy to save a patient who suffered from a severe heart attack. Adult Stem Cells | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:06:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      “Bill Would Punish Fleeting Expletives on Broadcast TV” CitizenLink reports: The Protecting Children from Indecent Programming Act that was introduced in the U.S. House Tuesday would make it clear that fleeting expletives should not be allowed on radio and TV stations. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in June that Congress really didn't mean for such expletives to be considered indecent, and reversed fines levied by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).   Rep. Charles "Chip" Pickering, R-Miss., said he introduced the bill to set the record straight. Broadcast Indecency | Pro Morality posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:05:21 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Wednesday, September 19, 2007 OUTRAGE: Methodists Lose Tax Exemption for Refusing Lesbian Civil Union Ceremony 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. Marriage | Pro Religious Freedom posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:03:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      President’s Plan to Support Ethical Stem Cell Research Begins Implementation From the NIH website: National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced today that it will begin implementing President Bush's Executive Order to explore methods to expand the number of approved pluripotent stem cell lines "without creating a human embryo for research purposes or destroying, discarding, or subjecting to harm a human embryo or fetus." AdvanceUSA applauds the pursuit of cures and treatments from ethical and effective adult stem cells which have shown much better results than the unethical and uncontrollable kind derived from destroyed human embryos. For more information check the AdvanceUSA stem cell page and adult stem cell page. UPDATE: Read the NIH press release for a quick summary of the new policy. Adult Stem Cells | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 8:59:01 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      House Members Look Into Removal of Religious Texts from Federal Prisons 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. Pro Religious Freedom posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 8:21:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Tuesday, September 18, 2007 Inside Scoop: Kennedy Vows to Force Hate Crimes Legislation on the Senate 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. Hate Crimes | Pro Religious Freedom posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:25:40 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Doctor Supports Missouri Anti-Cloning Initiative A doctor who specializes in spinal cord injuries has come out in support of Missouri’s “Cures Without Cloning” ballot initiative to fully ban human cloning in the state’s constitution.  Excerpt: Those who allege human cloning is necessary in the pursuit of these cures and treatments are providing false hope.   The Cures Without Cloning initiative would only prohibit research involving human cloning - nothing more, nothing less. There are plenty of promising research methods, including many forms of stem-cell research, that do not involve human cloning. For more information on this important pro-life cause in Missouri check the Cures Without Cloning website or the AdvanceUSA human cloning page. Human Cloning | Missouri | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 7:59:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)      Gov. Schwarzenegger Intends to Veto California “Gay” Marriage Bill It appears Gov. Schwarzenegger will uphold the clear “will of the people” and veto a bill that would establish same-sex marriage in California.  The blog Newser also reports on this story. UPDATE: On Monday Governor Schwarzenegger made his intentions regarding the “gay marriage” bill very clear.  Excerpt: “It would be wrong for the people to vote for something and for me to then overturn it,” Schwarzenegger said. “So they can send this bill down as many times as they want, I won't do it.”