[Active-l] (NEWS) Today's Cultural Warfare Update

[R'ykandar Korra'ti]

Focus on the Family on Alito: "It's all over now but the voting";  
includes the usual ACTION ITEM to support;

FotF ACTION ITEM to send "encouraging notes" to Alito via an email  
collector they're running;

FotF plugs Monday as "Religious Freedom Day" instead of Martin Luther  
King, Jr.'s birthday, of which no mention is made;

FotF demands "yes" vote from Sen. Landrieu (D-Louisiana) after she  
complains about their radio ad barrage in Louisiana;

Virginia House of Delegates passes anti-marriage amendment; sends to  
Senate;

Another article on the measure as passed by the Virginia House of  
Delegates; it appears to ban civil unions as well, though this article  
does not have the text; attempts to amend to limit to the "marriage"  
word and to protect contract rights defeated overwhelmingly;  
Govenor-elect Tim Kaine (D) supports it, opposes CUs, pledges to sign;

Text of Virginia's anti-marriage-rights amendment; it is ambiguously  
written enough that it could be read to limit governmental recognition  
of private contracts; this wouldn't be the first time Virginia's done  
that to queers;

Bill filed in Virginia to prohibit reproductive medical aid for  
unmarried woman; a second bill would also prohibit same-sex couples  
from being listed as parents for children adopted in another  
jurisdiction;

Focus on the Family news item on DC Domestic Partnership recognition;  
they describe in detail the process that Congress can use to override  
it; expect more on this soon;

FotF supports Virginia anti-gay bills, of course;

FotF ACTION ITEM to generate "grass roots" support for Alito in a  
shortlist of states;

FotF criticises questioning of Alito, sends ACTION ITEM to support  
Alito, and specifically to get a QUICK VOTE on him so that he'll be on  
the bench for some anti-abortion cases and anti-gay cases coming up to  
the court soon; they want him on the court, not O'Connor, for those  
cases;

FotF attacks Brokeback Mountain again, and Brokeback Mountain-watching  
audiences, plus "ex-gay" group "Love Won Out";

Pope condemns marriage rights for GBLT-folk, RU-486, to political  
leaders in Rome;

Utah legislature likely to pass parental-notification law;

Concerned Women for America and "Project 535," a fundamentalist  
legislation lobby group, work all January on pushing Alito's  
confirmation;

CWA: Alito "Awesome," "A+";

Agape Press: fundamentalists ("Pro-family") groups are pissed off at  
Ford; American Family Association wants response from Ford by January  
20th;

LifeNews.com article on support for a quick Alito confirmation from  
anti-abortion fundamentalist groups, specifically calling  
abortion-rights court cases as the basis for the need for urgency; says  
1985 comments are "as valid today as then";

American Family Association/Agape Press newsbriefs: President Bush's  
support for a Palestinian state is a result of FAULTY THEOLOGY,  
specifically "replacement theology," and that he needs to be better  
educated to see "the biblical significance of Israel today"; meanwhile,  
Canadian "pro-family activists" are pleased with strong Conservative  
polling, even as (not mentioned in this article) Harper distances  
himself as hard and as fast as he can from US theoconservatives -  
however, Tory numbers are certainly climbing. But who would they form a  
coalition with? The Bloc Quebecois? Certainly not the Greens or the  
NDP;

Traditional Values Coalition ACTION ITEM to support Alito;

RenewAmerica/Christian Underground: science is a religion; uses all the  
usual buzzwords;

Alan Keyes: "Why Bush picks stealth nominees";

Family Research Council: Stop picking on Alito, you meanie Democrats;

FRC calls Alito "One of Us," urges quick confirmation;

Harper defends himself over eight-year-old remarks to US conservative  
group;

Harper pledges not to re-open abortion debate in Canada, saying the  
matter has been "put to rest".



----- 1 -----
COLLEAGUES CALL ALITO A 'FIRST-RATE JUDGE AND MAN'
It's all over now but the voting -- and the politicking.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
January 13, 2006
by Pete Winn, associate editor

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039199.cfm

President Bush reportedly telephoned Judge Samuel Alito
from Air Force One today to congratulate him "for doing a
great job during the hearings."

Alito, Bush's pick to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
on the Supreme Court, survived a tough week in the hot
seat during his Senate confirmation hearings.

Media pundits are saying Alito, a 15-year-veteran judge on
the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, could be approved
by the Senate Judiciary Committee next week -- followed by
an up-or-down vote in the full Senate. Unless, of course,
the Democrats are successful in delaying the votes.

[...]

TAKE ACTION: Contact your U.S. senators and let them know
you want a timely up-or-down vote on the floor of the
Senate on Samuel Alito. You can find contact information
and send e-mail through the CitizenLink Action Center. We
also encourage you to send faxes.

http://www.family.org/cforum/action_center.cfm?capwizurl=http:// 
www3.capwiz.com/fof/dbq/officials/

[More at URL]


----- 2 -----
Send Samuel Alito an Encouraging Note
Editor's Note
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
January 13, 2006

[Received in email; no URL]

Several of you have written asking whether we could
publish an address for Judge Samuel Alito so you could
send him an encouraging note. We liked the idea, but after
discussing it, we realized he might not find an inbox
flooded with e-mail to be all that encouraging.

So, we came up with an alternative plan: If you would like
to write him a note, send it to us at the address below.
We will print them all out, put them in a box and mail
them to him on Tuesday.

encourage.alito at fotf.org


----- 3 -----
STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AS CHRISTIANS
Religious Freedom Day is Monday.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
January 13, 2006
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039200.cfm

Across the country, schools and churches are educating
students about their constitutionally protected religious
liberty as part of Religious Freedom Day, which will be
observed on Monday.

Colton High School in Colton, California held an assembly
today titled "A Celebration of Freedom -- an open forum
discussing the freedoms, as established by the Bill of
Rights, including religion, speech, press, assembly and
petition."

Dr. Luis Gonzales, a band teacher at the school, attended
a workshop at Apple Valley Baptist Church last fall that
was headed by Eric Buehrer, president of Gateways to
Better Education. From that experience, he was inspired to
bring greater awareness of religious liberty into the
public schools.

"For many years I have pondered the effect of my Christian
walk on my students," he said. "I wanted to be able to
give my students some concrete information so they, in
turn, can make knowledgeable decisions on their beliefs
and actions in the school setting."

[More at URL]

 From religiousfreedomday.com's guidebook (downloadable here:  
http://religiousfreedomday.com/images/RFD_Guidebook.pdf )

Religious Freedom Day is not "celebrate-our-diversity day." Freedom  
means the freedom to respectfully disagree. Freedom Day is first and  
foremost a time to acknowledge one of our most important civil  
liberties. Schools that promote students’ freedom of religious  
expression are not promoting religion but are promoting civil  
liberties. The main message students need to hear is that they should  
not feel inhibited to express their beliefs at school.

[More at URL]


----- 4 -----
Focus Action Calls for Louisiana Senator to Support Alito
Sen. Landrieu's spokesman responds with an unfounded accusation.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
January 13, 2006
from staff reports

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039191.cfm

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is not happy with Focus on
the Family Action for running a radio ad calling for her
to support a fair up-or-down vote on Supreme Court nominee
Samuel Alito.

In a statement from the senator, spokesperson Brian
Richardson complained that Focus could better use its
funds on hurricane relief.

"If James Dobson's Colorado group is so concerned with
helping the people of Louisiana," he said in an interview
with the Bayou Buzz, "perhaps he could do more helping us
recover from (hurricanes) Katrina and Rita and stop
wasting money on negative, unproductive propaganda."

Tom Minnery, vice president of Focus on the Family Action,
took issue with that charge.

[More at URL]


----- 5 -----
Virginia Lawmakers Want Marriage Protected
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 13, 2006

[Received in email; no URL]

The Virginia House of Delegates voted today in favor of a
constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a
union between one man and one woman, The Associated Press
reported.

Republican Del. Kathy Bryon said it's necessary to clarify
where the state stands in regard to same-sex marriages and
civil unions performed in other states.

She said, without the amendment, "marriage as we know it
today could be redefined through the judicial process."

The people of Virginia should be allowed a vote, she said.
"Ultimately, it is their values that will define our
culture."

The measure now goes to the Senate. If approved, it will
be placed on the November ballot.


----- 6 -----
Va. House approves gay
marriage ban amendment
Less severe language rejected
By ELIZABETH WEILL-GREENBERG | Jan 13, 5:27 PM

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=4540

The Virginia House voted 73 to 22 to approve a constitutional amendment  
banning equal marriage rights for gays. The proposal must be voted on  
by the Senate and signed by Gov.-elect Tim Kaine (D) before it can go  
to voters in November.

Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said that the governor-elect will  
sign the bill to call for a referendum. Kaine supports the amendment  
and opposes civil unions, she said. She added that he is interested in  
discussing measures “to make sure people can still be able to contract  
with each other.”

However, efforts to limit the scope of the vaguely worded amendment  
were defeated. Del. Kristen J. Amundson’s (D-District 44) amendment,  
which received only 35 votes, would have eliminated all language except  
for: “Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage  
valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political  
subdivisions.”

[More at URL]


----- 7 -----
Equality Virginia
January 13, 2006

http://www.equalityvirginia.org/site/pp.asp?c=dfIIITMIG&b=1353917

Text of the Virginia Marriage Amendment

That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid  
in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.

This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or  
recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals  
that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or  
effects of marriage.  Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political  
subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other  
legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations,  
qualities, or effects of marriage.

[Voting record and other details at URL]


----- 8 -----
Equality Virginia
January 13, 2006

Gay Families Under Attack in General Assembly: Conception and Adoption  
Targeted

http://www.equalityvirginia.org/site/pp.asp?c=dfIIITMIG&b=132638

(Richmond, January 13th) -- Having failed to convince his colleagues in  
the General Assembly to ban gay and lesbian adoption by co-patroning  
last year's anti-gay adoption bill, Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) has  
now proposed a law to limit childbearing to married women.

Marshall's new bill (House Bill 187) would prohibit doctors and other  
licensed health professionals from assisting unmarried women with  
becoming pregnant. This law would preclude lesbian couples from  
conceiving through artificial insemination; it would prevent gay men  
from conceiving through unmarried surrogate mothers. It is a direct  
attack on Virginia's families.

Yet another bill (Senate Bill 414), patroned by Emmett Hanger, Jr  
(R-Mt. Solon), would prohibit both parties of a same-sex couple from  
being listed on a Virginia birth certificate following the adoption of  
a child in another jurisdiction. In 2005, the Virginia Supreme Court  
ruled that the names of both adoptive parents could be listed.

Tell your elected officials how you feel about these discriminatory  
bills.

[More at URL]


----- 9 -----
D.C. Passes Broad Domestic-Partner Ordinance
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 13, 2006

[Received in email; no URL]

The Washington, D.C., City Council has unanimously
approved one of the nation's most sweeping
domestic-partner ordinances, according to the San
Francisco Bay Times.

The Domestic Partnership Equality Act of 2005 grants
registered domestic partners a wide range of benefits.
They include extending full inheritance rights to
registered partners and their children, ensuring partners
the right to make medical decisions for each other and
granting legal standing to sue in wrongful death cases.

The most far-reaching facet of the ordinance: Opposite-sex
couples of any age, as well as blood relatives, can also
enter into domestic partnerships.

Once signed by D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams the ordinance
must, like all ordinances passed in the District, go to
the U.S. Congress for a 30-day review. Any member of the
House or Senate can then challenge it; to be overriden,
the disapproval resolution must then go through the normal
hearing process in committees, pass a floor vote and be
approved by both the House and Senate. Finally, for the
ordinance to take effect, it must be signed by the
president within the 30-day review period.

The 30-day review refers to "legislative days," not
business days, and as such could take as long as three
months.


----- 10 -----
Virginia Legislative Session Will See Pro-Life Bills
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 13, 2006

[Received in email; no URL]

Several pro-life measures are on the agenda in the
Virginia House of Delegates this legislative session, the
Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Up for consideration: a bill that would keep doctors from
aiding unmarried women in getting pregnant, a
parental-notification bill, two measures that place
regulations on abortions performed on minors and a bill
that would make it a separate crime if a preborn child is
harmed in the commission of a crime.

Republican Del. Robert Marshall filed a bill that would
prohibit physicians from providing reproductive services
such as in vitro fertilization to unmarried women.
Marshall is also championing legislation that would put
greater restrictions on abortion clinics and would allow
wrongful-death suits to be brought on behalf of a preborn
baby.

Republican Sen. Ken Cuccinelli hopes to ensure that, when
a girl under the age of 15 undergoes an abortion, the
fetal tissue is tested to see whether the pregnancy was
the result of criminal behavior.

Republican Del. Steve Landes is seeking to make it a
separate crime to kill a preborn baby.

Other pro-life measures are up for consideration include a
bill that would require parents to be told when their
minor child was being treated for a sexually transmitted
disease, suicidal thoughts or substance abuse.  They would
also have to be notified of pregnancy or a request for
emergency contraception.


----- 11 -----
Focus on the Family Action
Focus on the Family
January 12, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/pdfs/Alito_memo_to_grassroots_leaders.pdf

Memo to:  All FPC and grassroots leaders in Arkansas; Colorado; North  
Dakota; South Dakota;  Montana; Louisiana; Wisconsin; West Virginia and  
Florida

From:    Peter Brandt, Sr. Director, Government and Public Policy

As the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Samuel  
Alito for the Supreme Court  wind up, we have seen an unprecedented  
level of obstruction, reputation-smearing, and desperate  tactics by  
committee Democrats aimed at derailing this able jurist's nomination.  
This reprehensible  conduct has embarrassed the Senate and the nation.  
It now appears that the liberal KennedyDemocrats on the committee and  
in the Senate are geared up to further delay a committee vote and   
floor vote on Judge Alito.

The overwhelming majority of the American public deplores such  
theatrics and obstruction and agrees  that Judge Alito is both  
qualified and worthy of a fair vote on his confirmation.

You are receiving this memo because your senator is likely to  
contribute to this ongoing obstruction.  Now is the time for the  
grassroots in your state to be heard – please activate your telephone  
tree, fax  network and e-mail list. In turn, ask your grassroots  
network to pass this message along to their own  respective contacts.

Alito has lived up to his reputation as one of the most qualified  
nominees for the Supreme Court in  over 70 years. Enough information is  
known about Alito. It is time for the Judiciary Committee to bring   
Alito to a vote and begin the full Senate debate. Any delay at this  
point is about nothing less than cheap political posturing.

The following senators need to hear from their constituents.

[More at URL]


----- 12 -----
'Enough is Enough; Vote Already!'
by Pete Winn, associate editor

SUMMARY: The inquisition may be over, but stalling tactics
may be ahead.

The long inquisition of Samuel Alito came to a close
today. The man President Bush picked to replace Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court faced a final day
of relatively subdued questioning before being excused
from the spotlight.

After he was excused, members of the Senate Judiciary
Committee heard from a bevy of judges, lawyers and law
professors who told them that Alito was as qualified to
sit on the Supreme Court as any one of the justices who
are already there.

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst at Focus on the Family
Action, called it a frustrating week.

"Liberals didn't really have anything to discuss with him
on the substantive issues," he said, "so they went after
the minor issues where they thought they might be able to
grab a good sound bite."

[...]

Conservative groups like the Coalition for a Fair
Judiciary (CFJ) say it's time for a fair up-or-down vote.

"Enough is enough, vote already!" said CFJ President Kay
Daly. "After months of waiting for this opportunity, Judge
Alito clearly demonstrated his strong sense of character,
extraordinary judicial experience and remarkable
temperament -- this, much to the deep disappointment and
consternation of Senate Democrats who were clearly
frustrated by Alito's keen performance."

[...]

Hausknecht agreed there is no justification for a delay --
but noted there is certainly a reason why liberals would
find it important to keep O'Connor on the bench as long as
they can.

"At the moment, there are several key cases where Justice
O'Connor might be the swing vote in favor of the liberal
agenda," he said. "The first one that comes to mind is
Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood, the New Hampshire
parental-notification statute. It is anticipated that she
would strike this statute down, and a Justice Alito would
uphold it."

In addition, he said, there are other key cases involving
abortion protest and the military's 'don't ask, don't
tell' policy regarding open homosexuals serving in
uniform, which Hausknecht said will soon be up for review
by the Supreme Court.

"If they can't stop him from getting on the Court, they
can at least keep him from voting on some key cases," he
said.

[...]

TAKE ACTION / FOR MORE INFORMATION: Opponents of Alito are
reportedly flooding the Capitol with calls. Now is the
time for you to contact your senators and let them know
you want an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate on
Samuel Alito. You can find contact information and send
e-mail through the CitizenLink Action Center. We also
encourage you to send faxes.

http://www.family.org/cforum/action_center.cfm?capwizurl=http:// 
www3.capwiz.com/fof/dbq/officials/

[More at URL]


----- 13 -----
'Brokeback' Conviction
by Gary Schneeberger, editor

SUMMARY: The "gay cowboy" movie everybody is talking about
is a reminder of what we're called to do as Christians --
and how we're called to do it.

It's been a little more than a month now since I saw
"Brokeback Mountain," the "gay cowboy" movie that
continues to generate headlines -- on front pages as well
as entertainment pages -- and I've been feeling morally
superior ever since.

Why? Mostly because of one scene, in which the lead
characters reunite several years after their initial tryst
atop the mountain of the movie's title. Ennis (Heath
Ledger) runs to greet Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal), and is so
overcome that he pulls him into a stairwell and kisses him
passionately. Even though the duo thinks they're out of
eyeshot, Ennis' wife catches a glimpse of their embrace --
and director Ang Lee's camera lingers on her devastated
reaction.

That reaction, in the Denver theater in which I saw the
film, was greeted with a mix of laughter and applause from
the largely-gay audience that shared the auditorium with
me (and I've heard and/or read similar reports from across
the country).

That's been the fuel for my feelings of moral superiority.

[...]

I am fortunate to work each day alongside men and women
who grasp these basic, but crucial, truths better than
most. The Love Won Out team, led by Mike Haley, reaches
out daily to scared and confused people like the
characters in "Brokeback Mountain." Sometimes it's men and
women struggling with their own same-sex attractions;
sometimes it's the friends and family members of those men
and women. But every time, the counsel and the prayer Mike
and his team offer is authentically, unrelentingly
Christlike. They extend love and hope to those told by the
world their only choice is to love a life of hopelessness.

I've always admired my Love Won Out friends, but I've been
convicted of my need to better emulate them now that I've
seen "Brokeback Mountain." It'd be a lie to say that I
enjoyed the movie, but an ever greater one to say I'm not
grateful I saw it.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about Love Won Out,
visit the ministry's Web site.

http://lovewonout.com/

[More at URL]


----- 14 -----
Pope Speaks Out on Gay Marriage and Abortion
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 12, 2006

[Received in email; no URL]

Pope Benedict XVI, in a speech to political leaders in
Rome today, condemned both homosexual marriage and the
abortion pill, ABC News reported.

Speaking in defense of marriage, Benedict said the union
of one man and one woman was "not a peculiarity of
Catholic moral teaching, but part of an elementary truth
regarding our common humanity."

He said it would be a "grave mistake" to recognize gay
marriage.

Franco Gillini, a homosexual member of the parliament, was
disappointed.

"The pope is interfering heavily in Italian politics," he
said.

But government minister Roberto Calderoni spoke in
support.

"What the pope said is the most sacrosanct thing in the
world," he said.

Benedict also said politicians should not "introduce
pharmaceuticals that in one way or another hide the grave
nature of abortion," referring to the use of the abortion
pill known as RU-486.


----- 15 -----
Utah Lawmaker Seeks Parental-Consent Law
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 12, 2006

[Received in email; no URL]

A bill that would require parents to be notified if a
minor daughter was seeking an abortion has wide support in
the Utah Legislature, the Deseret News reported.

Rep. Kerry Gibson, a Republican from Ogden, introduced a
bill Tuesday that would require doctors to obtain a
parent's permission at least 24 hours prior to performing
an abortion on a girl under the age of 18.

"We've decided as a society there are certain things a
minor doesn't have the ability to do," Gibson said.
"Making the decision to have an abortion without telling a
parent is one of them."

Karrie Galloway, executive director of Planned Parenthood
of Utah, said the proposed legislation disregards family
dynamics.

"This is parental interference," she said. "This is the
Legislature of Utah, who continually discuss issues of
government not interfering in the family, telling me as a
parent how I have to handle the notification that my
daughter is going to have an abortion."

According to the Utah Department of Health, in 2004 there
were 148 girls between the ages of 15 to 17 who received
an abortion, plus 10 who were younger than 15.

Gibson said the decision to have an abortion should not be
made without a parent's input.

"I feel this is truly a parental rights bill," he said.
Parental consent "puts the decision back where it needs to
be, which is at home in the living room with the
families."


----- 16 -----
Project 535 Volunteers Lobby for Judge Alito
Amelia Wigton
January 13, 2006

http://www.cwalac.org/article_293.shtml

Judge Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings this week in  
the U.S. Senate have been marked by tough questioning, tense moments  
and political spinning of unprecedented proportions.

Nonetheless, Judge Alito’s remarkable history of integrity and  
accomplishment gave Concerned Women for America (CWA) good reason to  
stand up and support him by holding Project 535, its volunteer lobbying  
program, on Wednesday, January 11.

In addition, CWA worked with a coalition of  pro-family groups in  
Washington, D.C., and launched a nationwide effort to support this  
admirable judge.

Each month, Project 535’s trained lobbyists from around the country  
come to the nation’s capital to work with CWA’s Legislation Department  
to help push key bills through Congress.  Instead of focusing on a  
piece of legislation, January’s 535 worked for Judge Alito’s  
confirmation to the Supreme Court.

[More at URL]


----- 17 -----
CWA: Awesome-Alito-A+ -Appoint
Concerned Women for America
1/12/2006

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/9896/MEDIA/misc/index.htm

Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women for America (CWA) agrees with the  
many Americans who have concluded that Supreme Court nominee Judge  
Samuel Alito has done a superb job despite blatant partisan attacks by  
some members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“If ever there’s a pictorial dictionary, under ‘judge,’ it should  
simply display a photo of Samuel Alito,” said Jan LaRue, CWA’s Chief  
Counsel. “I knew he was brilliant and possessed a deep knowledge of  
constitutional law, but he’s left me with a greater appreciation of  
that and his numerous outstanding qualities. If anyone ever questioned  
the meaning of judicial temperament, they’ve seen him display it in the  
midst of baseless attacks on his record and character. Political  
commentators on the right and left concur that despite the left’s  
relentless attempts to sink his nomination, they haven’t laid a glove  
on him.

“He has conducted himself with dignity and honor, confirming his strong  
character. Led by Senators Kennedy, Feinstein, Durbin and Schumer,  
liberals have failed miserably in their attempt to discredit this  
outstanding nominee. If anything, they only proved that Alito has  
nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of, and everything to be admired  
for.”

"Judge Alito lived up to¯and beyond¯his outstanding reputation,” said  
Wendy Wright, CWA’s Executive Vice President. “His intellect and  
knowledge of the law were on display for all to see, and his judicial  
temperament placed him above despicable accusations. Senators would  
only be living up to their duty when they vote for him; any vote  
against squarely places a senator in opposition to judges who are  
intelligent, fair, unbiased, and beholden to the law and justice  
instead of special-interest demands."


For Information Contact:
Stacey Holliday
(202) 488-7000
media.cwfa.org


----- 18 -----
Ford's Ongoing Support for Homosexual Agenda Has Pro-Family Crowd Fuming
By Allie Martin
AgapePress
January 12, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/122006a.asp

(AgapePress) - A national coalition of pro-family organizations has  
asked Ford Motor Company to stop funding either side in the culture  
war. The Tupelo, Mississippi-based American Family Association (AFA) is  
spearheading an effort by these groups to encourage Ford to honor its  
previous commitment to stop supporting homosexual groups and causes.

Late last spring AFA began a boycott of Ford because of the company's  
contributions to homosexual rights groups and advertisement in  
homosexual publications, its policy of offering benefits to same-sex  
domestic partners, and its recruitment of homosexual employees. The  
boycott was suspended for six months while company officials and  
pro-family leaders tried to work out a compromise.

Following a meeting with AFA and other pro-family officials, Ford  
announced it was pulling its ads in homosexual publications. Now,  
however, the company is being accused of reneging on that commitment  
and on other promises company representatives made to stop supporting  
the homosexual agenda.

[More at URL]


----- 19 -----
Pro-Life Groups Largely Supportive of Samuel Alito's Hearing Comments
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 12, 2006

http://www.lifenews.com/nat1988.html

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life groups are largely supportive  
of the comments Judge Samuel Alito made on abortion and are continuing  
their support for his nomination to replace pro-abortion Justice Sandra  
Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.

[...]

Looking to his comments on abortion issues, John Jakubczyk, the  
president of Arizona Right to Life and an attorney, said Alito's  
"comments when he was an advocate in 1985 on the lack of any legal  
legitimacy for Roe v. Wade are as valid today as then."

"He should be confirmed. His presence on the bench will provide hope  
for those who believe in the role of law and the sanctity of life,"  
Jakubczyk told LifeNews.com.

Nikolas Nikas, the president of the Bioethics Defense Fund, agreed that  
Alito should be confirmed in light of pressing pro-life issues.

“Given that important human rights issues such as human cloning to  
produce children and human cloning for biomedical research may end up  
at the high court, it is important that Supreme Court Justices be  
appointed who respect the rule of law and understand the precise and  
limited role of judges in our constitutional system," Nikas told  
LifeNews.com.

[More at URL]


----- 20 -----
Commentary & News Briefs
January 13, 2006
Compiled by Jody Brown

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/afa/132006h.asp

...The head of a pro-Israel ministry says she believes there is a  
reason why President Bush and many in his administration don't have a  
problem with continually forcing Israel to give up its covenant land.  
Jan Markell is founder and director of Minnesota-based Olive Tree  
Ministries. Markell shares the frustration of many Evangelicals who  
love Israel and oppose the president's support of a Palestinian state.  
She says it is a theological problem. "He is the product of replacement  
theology churches all of his life [and the teaching] that the Church is  
the new Israel and that literal, physical Israel has no relevance  
whatsoever anymore," she asserts. According to Markell, Bush advisors  
like Karen Hughes, Andrew Card, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice  
are proponents of replacement theology as well. So someone else, she  
says, needs to educate the president. "He and his advisors do not see  
the biblical significance of Israel today," Markell says. "There are  
many trying to get the message to him, but he's got 60 years of false  
teaching into his head, so it's kind of hard to get it out." The Olive  
Tree Ministries founder is convinced the United States faces serious  
spiritual consequences if its national leaders continue to follow  
replacement theology. [Chad Groening]

[...]

...A Canadian pro-family activist is pleased with recent poll numbers  
that show a growing Conservative lead in the final weeks leading up to  
the national elections. A recent survey for the Globe and Mail  
newspaper showed that Stephen Harper's Conservatives have opened up an  
eight-point advantage over the Liberals, with the other two parties  
even further behind. Dr. Charles McVey, president of the Canada Family  
Action Coalition, says this is just one of several polls he has seen  
that look good for the Conservatives. "From the outset of this  
campaign, the Conservative polling numbers have been increasing  
gradually but steadily," McVety observes, "and now there have been  
several polls that show a solid lead for the Conservatives going into  
the last two weeks of this campaign." McVety says it is easy to figure  
out why Conservatives are fairing so well. "The Canadian citizens are  
fed up -- fed up with this campaign or agenda of extremism," he says,  
"and the Liberal Party has tried to force down the throat of the  
Canadian people things that they are opposed to such as the  
redefinition of marriage." McVety says voters are also unhappy with the  
Liberals' efforts to legalize prostitution. The election is on tap for  
January 23. [Chad Groening]

...Having legalized homosexual "marriage," Canada is now considering  
removing polygamy from its law books. A taxpayer-funded study done for  
the Federal Justice Department there is recommending that polygamy be  
legalized. The study, conducted by three law professors, argues that  
the polygamy law serves no useful purpose and, in any case, is rarely  
prosecuted. The Globe and Mail newspaper quotes one of the professors  
as arguing that because there is no law against adultery, there should  
be no law against someone having multiple spouses. [Fred Jackson]

[More at URL]


----- 21 -----
ACTION ALERT: Contact Senators Today In Support Of Judge Alito
Traditional Values Coalition

http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2566

January 12, 2006 – Judge Samuel Alito is well qualified to serve on the  
U.S. Supreme Court. TVC is urging its readers to send an email letter  
today to their two U.S. Senators in support of a fair up or down vote  
in the full Senate next week.

Senate staff has informed TVC that MoveOn.org, People for the American  
Way and other radical liberal interest groups began flooding Senate  
offices on Jan. 11 with calls and emails opposing Judge Alito. As you  
can see, it is very important that your Senators hear from you as soon  
as possible. Use TVC’s CapWiz to contact them: Urge Your Senators To  
Confirm Judge Samuel Alito To The Supreme Court.

If you’re in a state of a Senate Judiciary Committee member, it is  
extremely important that you email and call them! The Senate Judiciary  
Committee membership list is posted here: United States Senate,  
Committee on the Judiciary.

These emails and calls should flood the Senate offices every day  
through Jan 17, when the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Judge  
Alito. The full Senate vote is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 20.

[More at URL]


----- 22 -----
The religion of science
Nathan Tabor
January 13, 2006
Renew America
Also reprinted on Christian Underground

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/tabor/060113

We've all heard the argument, evolution is a 'science' and therefore it  
is somehow more valuable or respectable than religion. This same  
argument won the right of evolution studies in our public school  
classrooms, and helped build the wall around so called non -scientific  
'creationism' and to this day keeps it from being taught in our public  
schools. It seems that labeling something as a science is a one way  
ticket to popularity and acceptance. Deeming something to be of a  
religious nature practically guarantees objection, often ridicule.  
Could these labels be less than honest? Could we have been sold a bill  
of goods when they say that evolution is a science? Could it actually  
be a religion? Evolution and Creationism couldn't BOTH be religions,  
could they ?

Absolutely.

When we take a closer look at the definitions of science and religion,  
we find that evolution is based on the same premises as any religion,  
and isn't a science at all.

[More at URL]


----- 23 -----
Why Bush picks stealth nominees
October 29, 2005
Alan Keyes

http://www.renewamerica.us/news/051029keyes.htm

Many conservatives cannot understand why President George W. Bush has  
taken the stealth approach in his selection of nominees for the Supreme  
Court. After all, we have what appears to be a Republican majority in  
the U.S. Senate. If the Democrats trash highly qualified nominees  
because their thinking reflects the president's judgment instead of the  
Democrat Party platform, it won't be hard to convince the public that  
they are simply trying to achieve through intimidation what they  
couldn't achieve at the ballot box in the last presidential election.

[...]

The broad conservative reaction against the Miers nomination is now  
being characterized by the mainstream media as the work of right-wing  
extremists. This provides cover for the real culprits in this scenario  
– the eight or so abortion-minded Republican senators who will be put  
in the spotlight if the president nominates an impressive conservative  
jurist. Will Arlen Specter and the other Republicans like him stand  
firm with the president, or join the abortion minded Democrat minority  
to provide the margin that derails such a nominee? The administration's  
stealth approach allows these Republicans to avoid taking a stand that  
would outrage the Republican grass roots, while it camouflages the  
leftist priorities that separate Sen. Specter and the others from the  
majority of their fellow Republicans.

You're wondering: Why would anyone in the White House care enough to  
implement a strategy that protects these left-leaning Republicans? I  
think the answer lies in the well-known but little discussed fact that  
the issue of truly conservative judicial nominees stands athwart the  
fault line dividing the money powers of the Republican Party from the  
grass-roots providing most of its voting power at election time.

It's not just the Democrats who froth at the prospect of a nominee who  
will overturn Roe v. Wade or vote against the wishes of the homosexual  
lobby. Many big contributors to the Republican Party also look sour at  
such a prospect. While the preponderance of Republican grass-roots  
voters are undoubtedly pro-life moral conservatives, the preponderance  
of Republican money movers – the people who can mobilize the networks  
of donations from the corporate world – are indifferent or hostile to  
the moral agenda. I call these folks the "money-is-god" Republicans,  
MIGs for short. This is appropriate, since money is the key to media  
access in our politics today, i.e., to the crucial and generally  
determinative air power in the political wars.

The MIGs prefer candidates like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christie Todd  
Whitman or Rudy Giuliani. They may have the personal name ID, public  
popularity and marketing "brand" to offer good prospects of electoral  
victory, but they believe that issues like abortion and homosexual  
marriage should be compromised or left off the political agenda  
altogether. If someone like this can gull moral conservatives with a  
little pious rhetoric, so much the better, so long as they put moral  
issues on the back burner when it really matters.

[...]

Against the background of maneuvering for the 2008 battle over national  
control of the Republican Party, the stealth strategy makes sense. That  
background also brings out concern over the possible damage the  
strategy may already have inflicted on the forces of moral  
conservatism. Nationally prominent moral conservative leaders who  
stepped out in support of the Harriet Miers nomination have reportedly  
suffered a setback in terms of credibility with their grass-roots  
supporters. To recover, such leaders need only reaffirm the integrity  
of their principled discernment by helping properly to focus moral  
conservative attention and support during the Republican presidential  
primary process. Their restored influence will then help to  
counterbalance MIG dominance of access to media buying power. The  
situation is not as bad as it would have been had Harriet Miers'  
liberal mindset become clear in her votes after reaching the Supreme  
Court. But the damage wrought by compromise and confusion is  
nonetheless real – and needs a remedy more convincing to the moral  
constituency than the media fig leaf about defending "executive  
privilege."

[More at URL]


----- 24 -----
'Good Faith' Of Senate Judiciary Committee Broken
Family Research Council
January 13, 2006 - Friday

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR06A13&f=PG03I03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2006 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy, (202)  
393-2100

"The 'good faith' agreement that was entered into by both Democrats and  
Republicans this past November has been broken by liberal Democrats  
committed more to the theatrics of their extreme base than to a fair  
and timely process," says Tony Perkins, President of Family Research  
Council.

Washington, D.C. - As the confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito  
came to a close, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee,  
Patrick Leahy (D-VT), signaled Democrats intent to hold the committee  
vote over one week.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following  
statement:

"The 'good faith' agreement that was entered into by both Democrats and  
Republicans this past November has been broken by liberal Democrats  
committed more to the theatrics of their extreme base than to a fair  
and timely process. While it is quite clear how committee members will  
vote on the nomination, this latest development merely reaches out to  
the radical left determined to destroy this well-qualified nominee.

"In the November 3rd press conference outlining the confirmation  
schedule, Senator Leahy entered into the 'gentlemen's agreement' with  
Chairman Specter, pledging he would stick by it unless 'something  
extraordinary comes up that neither...anticipate nor expect.' The  
burden lies with Senator Leahy to justify breaking this 'gentlemen's  
agreement,' and why he should receive our trust in the future.

"After a grueling confirmation hearing, this recent development is yet  
another sad statement on the decline of the judicial confirmation  
process. Judge Alito and the nation deserve better."

To speak with a Family Research Council judicial expert, please contact  
the
FRC press office at 202.393.2100.

-30-


----- 25 -----
'One of Us': Radio Ad for Judge Sam Alito, Jr.
Family Research Council

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AD06A01

Ad Transcript:

Sam Alito, Jr. has been nominated to the United States Supreme Court.  
He's an American success story. His late father, Sam, Sr., immigrated  
to the United States from Italy in 1914 [music under]. His mother,  
Rose, age 91, lived to see this day.

Imagine their pride. Their son studies at Princeton, goes to Yale,  
serves President Reagan, then enjoys 15 distinguished years on the  
federal bench.

Now a handful of special interest groups say that's not enough. They  
say they'll do "whatever it takes" to stop him. They question his  
commitment to civil rights. They say there are too many Catholics on  
the court. Haven't we been down this ugly road before?

Sam Alito is one of us. He's a fair judge who will make a great  
justice. Call Senator Lincoln Chafee at 401-453-5294 and tell him Sam  
Alito deserves a fair hearing and a fair vote.

That's 401-453-5294.

A message from the Family Research Council.


----- 26 -----
Harper defends remarks to U.S. conservative movement
Last Updated Thu, 12 Jan 2006 21:09:45 EST
CBC News

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canadavotes2006/national/2006/01/12/harper- 
quotes060112.html

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper faced questions over past remarks he  
made to an American conservative movement, comments the Liberals claim  
prove his allegiance to a radical right-wing agenda.

The comment is quoted in one of a series of controversial ads the  
Liberals released earlier this week. One quotes a speech Harper made  
eight years ago to a conservative American think-tank.

"America, and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and  
an inspiration to people in this country and across the world," the ad  
quotes Harper as saying.

[More at URL]


----- 27 -----
Harper slams ads, denies plan to reopen abortion debate
Last Updated Wed, 11 Jan 2006 23:02:49 EST
CBC News

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper slammed Paul Martin over a Liberal  
attack ad suggesting the Tories would station armed soldiers on the  
streets of Canadian cities, saying it is an insult to the army and  
raises question's about the party's credibility.

[...]

Many soldiers and retired officers said they were insulted and outraged  
by the ad that warned Harper would put "soldiers with guns" in Canadian  
cities. The Liberals say that ad, which appeared on the party website,  
was pulled before it was ever broadcast.

[...]

Harper also dismissed Martin's speech Wednesday accusing the Tories of  
having a secret agenda to trample minority rights including a right to  
an abortion.

"I thought we'd hear today positive ideas from Mr. Martin," Harper said  
during a campaign stop in Fredericton.

"Instead, we got yet another negative attack speech. And I think that's  
one of the difficulties with his campaign."

Harper also insisted that he would not reopen the abortion debate.

"A Conservative government will not be bringing forward, will not be  
supporting, and will not be debating the abortion laws in this country.  
I've been clear on that and, frankly, I think that's put the matter to  
rest."

[More at URL]