The Pulpit Initiative-"Historically, churches have emphatically, and with great passion, spoken Scriptural truth from the pulpit about government and culture. Historians have stated that America owes its independence in great degree to the moral force of the pulpit. Pastors have proclaimed Scriptural truth throughout history on great moral issues such as slavery, women’s suffrage, child labor and prostitution. Pastors have also spoken from the pulpit with great frequency for and against various candidates for government office. All that changed in 1954 with the passage of the “Johnson amendment” which restricted the right of churches and pastors to speak Scriptural truth about candidates for office. The Johnson amendment was proposed by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson, and it changed the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit churches and other non-profit organizations from supporting or opposing a candidate for office. After the Johnson amendment passed, churches faced a choice of either continuing their tradition of speaking out or silencing themselves in order to retain their church’s tax exemption. The Internal Revenue Service, in conjunction with radical organizations like Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have used the Johnson amendment to create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear for any church that dares to speak Scriptural truth about candidates for office or issues. It is time for the intimidation and threats to end. Churches and pastors have a constitutional right to speak freely and truthfully from the pulpit – even on candidates and voting – without fearing loss of their tax exemption.We are seeking pastors to stand with us and once again reclaim their constitutional right to speak the Truth. Learn more about how you can stand with us."-Great 7 and a half minute video on link.
Erik Stanley on Jerry Johnson Live with Penna Dexter: Gus Booth and ADF’s Pulpit Initiative-"ADF attorney Erik Stanley and Pastor Gus Booth appeared on Jerry Johnson Live with Penna Dexter to discuss ADF’s Pulpit Initiative. Due to length the show has been placed in two separate files. ADF Attorney Erik Stanley: The mp3 file is here and it runs just over 10 minutes.
Pastor Gus Booth: The mp3 file is here and it runs just over 11 minutes. Related: ADF Pulpit Initiative
IRS Should Investigate Minnesota Church For Electioneering, Says Americans UnitedAmericans United for Separation of Church and State has issued this press release. It begins:Americans United for Separation of Church and State today urged the Internal Revenue Service to investigate a Minnesota church whose pastor insisted that Christians cannot vote for presidential candidates Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. Pastor Gus Booth of Warroad Community Church [...]"
The Tax Man Cometh ... To Church?-"Should churches be able to campaign directly on behalf of candidates, while maintaining their tax-free status? The socially conservative group, Alliance Defense Fund, thinks so. The group, according to the Washington Post, is recruiting pastors to endorse political candidates from their pulpits on Sept. 28, "in defiance of Internal Revenue Service rules."
Rick Garnett: Politics and Preachers-"The Washington Post has a piece today (here) about the campaign by the Alliance Defense Fund (from which, I should disclose, I have in the past received payment for legal work) to urge pastors and clergy to “endorse political candidates from their pulpits,” in “violation” of “I.R.S. rules.” Worth a read."
Sunday, September 28: A Historic Day For Religious Freedom In America-"Pulpit Freedom Sunday” is an Alliance Defense Fund-sponsored event designed to challenge a 54-year-old and utterly unconstitutional IRSregulation that has muzzled pastors for over five decades. Despite the plain meaning of the First Amendment, which denies to the federal government any right to interfere with the free exercise of religion, the IRS has for half a century been dictating sermon content to the pastors of America by threatening to cancel their tax exempt status if they talk frankly about the public policy positions of candidates for public office."
100% of donations by law faculty at Harvard, Chicago, Michigan, Stanford, Texas, Berkeley, and Penn went to Democrats-"Brian Leiter’s Law School Reports indicate: “This data–contributions to political candidates during the 2008 Presidential election by law faculty–is hardly decisive, but it certainly fits with what I know about the faculties in question. 100% of donations by law faculty at Harvard, Chicago, Michigan, Stanford, Texas, Berkeley, and Penn went to Democrats, 0% to Republicans.”
From JillStanek.com
Sarah Palin interview-"Here is ABC's Charlie Gibson's interview with Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin last night, in 4 parts."-4 videos of entire interview from Thursday night with comments. Again, when is Charlie Gibson going to sit down and ask Obama hard questions concerning his inexperience (which in the primaries every candidate running against him brought out in the debates) and misrepresentation of his voting record on infants born alive surviving an abortion and when exposed by the pro-life community of this misrepresentation his misrepresentation of the pro-life community in smearing them as liars and his pastor's and church's connection to the hospital and nurse that this all began with in the first place. (See New Documents Revealing Obama's cover up on Born Alive Infant Protection, Factcheck.org confirms Obama misrepresented his position for 4 years on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act in Illinois! and Jill Stanek vs Obama. Obama caught on tape arguing against giving medical attention to aborted babies...)
More on Palin and McCain
Palin’s Comment on NATO Mutual Defense Causes Stir-"ABC News carried a headline Thursday “Gov. Sarah Palin warns war may be necessary if Russia invades another country,” but later in the day changed it to, “Palin takes hard line on national security, softens stance on global warming.” Palin’s stance of supporting NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine also made headlines on Thursday. The position is little different from that of Sen. Barack Obama."
Half of Americans See McCain, Obama as Change Agents-"Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama hasn’t cornered the market on change, according to the latest Gallup poll. Republican presidential candidate John McCain was successful in convincing voters that he would change the way the government works with his selection of Washington outsider Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate. Obama convinced 59 percent of independent voters polled that he would be an effective change agent, compared to McCain, who had 52 percent of independents convinced he would be effective at change."
Same Sex Marriage
41% in GOP say marriage important to their vote, up from 39% in 2004-"MSNBC reports:
Conservative activist Gary Bauer claims the decision by CA to legalize gay marriage could help the GOP. “The Pew poll found that 41 percent of Republicans say same-sex marriage will be ‘very important’ to their vote this year, which is remarkable considering that 39 percent felt as strongly in 2004.” ADF attorney Glen Lavy is also quoted."-(See Marriage Amendment/African-Americans were determining factor for Bush in 2004? Is this why liberal media silent about this issue?)
California
“Episcopal Bishops Join Effort to Defeat True Marriage in California”-"In the process the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion is clashing with a huge interfaith coalition, including Christians, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Hindus and Sikhs, which is simultaneously launching a campaign to promote the proposition...The Orthodox Union (O.U.), one of the largest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States, points out that what appears to be freedom for homosexuals in fact means that religious people will ultimately incur the penalty of law for voicing any public opposition to the homosexualist agenda. "Religious institutions and people face charges of bigotry and could be denied government funding and more if same-sex marriage becomes the law of the land," said the O.U. in a statement. (See http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/sep/08090304.html)....Although the California Supreme Court has assured religious objectors that same-sex "marriages" would not "impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization," many recall historical precedent that prove that the courts tend to define "religious freedom" very narrowly when such freedom has been viewed as a possible offense against recognized civil rights. (See L.A. Times article "Will Gay Rights Trample Religious Freedom?" http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-stern17-2008jun17,0,5628051.story) Accordingly, members of religious communities across California have banded together to support Proposition 8 in an interfaith political advertising campaign on a scale unsurpassed in California's history....The growing strife over such issues caused Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Primate of Nigeria, to conclude at the Global Anglican Future Conference that "There is no longer any hope, therefore, for a unified Communion" (See http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08061908.html)....
Orthodox Jewish-Catholic Statement: Nature of marriage is dependent on the truth of human nature-"The USCCB has issued this statement on marriage in conjunction with the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America. It concludes: While others have the freedom to disagree with us, we hope that even those outside of our common religious traditions will recognize that we speak from the truth of human nature itself which is consistent with both reason and the moral life. We also call upon our local faith communities to consider carefully the long held traditions of Jews and Christians on the nature of marriage as built upon the commitment of a man and a woman desirous of establishing a family for contributing to the common good of humanity."
Florida
Palin Supporters and Black Obama Voters will Help Pass Florida’s Ban on Homosexual Marriage-"Black Christian News reports: The ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage in Florida continues to be in trouble, a new poll released Monday by Quinnipiac University found, so promoters are now pinning their hopes on presidential politics to push them over the top . . . Supporters say that both Sarah Palin, the right-leaning Alaskan governor credited for firing up the Republican’s conservative base, and the historic candidacy of Democrat Barack Obama will bring out more proponents of Amendment 2 . . ."
Arizona
Arizona: 160 donors back state marriage measure-"The Arizona Republic reports: While many of the citizens initiatives on Arizona’s November ballot have been bankrolled by special interests, a measure to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman has received an influx of campaign contributions from individuals in recent weeks. The Yes for Marriage campaign pulled in more than $2.3 million from 160 donors across the state since the secretary of state’s reporting period that ended Aug. 13. That brought the campaign’s total to about $3 million . . . Yes for Marriage"
Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands pass law defining marriage as one man, one woman-"The CayCompass reports: Cayman Islands lawmakers voted in favour of a ban on same sex marriages following a debate Friday in the Legislative Assembly. The Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2008 still requires the legal formality of a third vote before passing, but lawmakers unanimously approved a key second vote on the measure Friday afternoon. The formal third vote is expected sometime this week. The ban, accomplished simply by defining marriage as “the union between a man and a woman as husband and wife,” will be added as an amendment to the Marriage Law (2007 Revision) when Governor Stuart Jack signs it . . .
UK
Homosexual U.K. Documentarian Says Gay Lifestyle a "Sewer" of Casual Degrading Sex, Drug Abuse and Misery-"A British homosexual journalist admits that his documentary on the London gay scene is likely to "burn every bridge in the gay world I've got." Simon Fanshawe is a writer and broadcaster who created the documentary "The Trouble With Gay Men" after becoming increasingly alarmed at the shallowness and destructiveness of the "gay lifestyle." The film, made for BBC 3 television, questions the emotional and psychological immaturity, narcissism, nihilism and self-destructive tendencies of many in the homosexual community. Fanshawe says he wants homosexual men to "grow up" and get beyond their state of "extended adolescence." Fanshawe, who was involved in the early homosexualist political movement, says, "We've fought discrimination and prejudice, only to wreck ourselves with drugs and wild sex."
HIV/AIDS among Men Who Have Sex with Men-"The report in yesterday’s ADF Alliance Alert on increasing syphilus rates among men with same-sex partners prompted a reader to forward these reports to us:
1. HIV resurges in men who have sex with menCases climb 12 percent among group of U.S. boys and men ages 13 to 24updated 2:39 p.m. PT, Thurs., June. 26, 2008http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25398121
2. Global AIDS rates up for drug users, gay menReport: Marginalized groups are refused care in some developing nationsupdated 5:28 p.m. PT, Wed., June. 25, 2008http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25379330/
3. FIRST-PERSON: HIV ‘is a gay disease’Baptist Press, Kelly Boggs, June 20,2008http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=28338&ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0620
4. CDC Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS Among Men Who Have Sex with Menupdated June 2007http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/resources/factsheets/msm.htm
Canada
Canada: “Gay community united in stance against conservatives”-"James Cowan, writing at Canada’s National Post: While gay men tend to vote Liberal and lesbians back the NDP, Canada’s homosexual population is united in its opposition to the Conservatives, according to a new report. A study conducted by the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (LISPOP) found just 7.3% of homosexual men and 10.4% of gay women supported the Conservatives in the 2006 election. By comparison, 40.7% of straight men and 32.4% of straight women voted for the Conservatives."
Brazil
Brazil: Offend a homosexual … Go to prison for 5 years-"WorldNetDaily reports: “Christians will face prison for speaking out against homosexuality if Brazil’s Senate passes a bill approved unanimously by its House of Representatives.”-See What do 52 members of US Congress and Brazilian President Luiz Lula have in common?.
