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

[R'ykandar Korra'ti]

A lot of interesting things to note today, particularly for Canadians -  
see the asterisked stories below about the Canada Family Action  
Coalition.

One interesting US item doesn't need a story with it, really, but:  
Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell won the GOP nomination in  
Ohio for governor. He's the preferred candidate of the fundamentalist  
right, and got contributions from every US state and most US  
territories - see the previous CWU for an article Concerned Women for  
America linked to about that and him.  Also, I haven't been linking to  
them, but there's a huge, and I mean _huge_ uproar in various parts of  
the fundamentalist community about the movie _The Da Vinci Code_, on  
both sides of the border. As in warnings, alerts, and church classes  
"preparing" the religious community for it.

Interestingly - and again, this isn't something I'm linking to - Focus  
on the Family Canada is mailing its (presumed Canadian) subscribers all  
sorts of the more virulent anti-gay stories they put up on their  
American website, but don't/aren't putting up on their Canadian  
website. Clearly, they're sure that their mailing-list readers are a  
lot more anti-gay than anyone who might come across their website and  
are tailoring their message accordingly. Meanwhile, and also  
importantly, the _Canada Family Action Coalition_ has just exploded  
with activity, with a series of action items for a bill with a series  
of anti-marriage provisions, endorsement of the AFA boycott against  
Ford, and other items as well.

Also of note: The American Family Association has gotten up the nerve  
to start listing Paul Cameron by name as an authoritative source;  
thanks a lot, Cambridge); this is part of their normal cycle of  
rehabilitate-and-recycle; somebody who says the things they want to  
hear gets discredited; they stop quoting them for a while, wait a bit,  
then start quoting them again when they think nobody's listening  
anymore; this is the third time Paul Cameron has made it back up to the  
quotable-by-name level that I'm aware of. Creationists are similarly  
put through a wash/rinse/repeat cycle.

And finally, I really do plan to put together that analysis piece of a  
very disturbing new effort on the part of Focus on the Family; their  
_explicit_ intent with this effort is to replace the rational worldview  
with a non-rational one based upon religion, that they declare to be  
the "Biblical" worldview. They've been working towards this for a  
while, of course - it's very much in line with the Christian  
Reconstructionist movement - but they haven't come out and said so much  
of it as they're starting to do now, at least, to people on their  
mailing list.

But now, today's news.

Iraqi GBLT community under increasing attack after Ayatollah Sistani's  
call for them to be executed in the "worst, most severe way of  
killing";

Focus on the Family joins up with the Family Research Council on their  
"Values Voters Summit" conference this fall - it's basically all the  
theoconservatives getting together to plan religious political action,  
plus a big pep rally;

Louisiana House passes comprehensive, South Dakota-like abortion ban;  
however, this one is stayed until Roe v. Wade is overturned - at least,  
so far; really, that's not much of a difference, since South Dakota's  
is too, whether it's written into the bill or not;

Focus on the Family notes teen pregnancy rates are down in Georgia,  
claims that it's due to abstinence-only education;

Focus on the Family outrage over a Supreme Court decision not to hear  
an appeal after a case where an anti-abortion activist group printed  
wanted posters of local doctors who provided abortions, proclaiming  
them guilty of crimes against humanity and listing their addresses and  
phone numbers;

FotF warns about the _Harry Potter_ books and says churches aren't  
doing enough to "address" them;

FotF has guns out against a filibuster against D.C. Appeals Court  
nominee Brett Kavanaugh; it's all part of an attempt to break the "Gang  
of 14" compromise, as he was one of the three nominees who the group  
included as worthy of filibuster;

***** As required by Kansas law, a judge has now ordered an  
investigation of Dr. George Tiller; he's a high-value target for the  
anti-abortion activist movement. He had a patient die in his care; the  
Kansas medical board cleared him of wrongdoing, so they got a _petition  
drive_ going to force an investigation anyway. This is part of a  
heightened strategy of legal harassment against abortion providers;

FotF has another one of the anti-gay "ex-gay" conferences, this weekend  
it's in Florida; protests are expected;

The head of Faith and Freedom Network, sponsour of an effort to repeal  
LGBT civil rights protections in Washington State, at the White House  
for National Day of Prayer; part of a delegation meeting with President  
Bush;

Faith and Freedom Network: Grays Harbour College student senator votes  
against allowing Gay/Straight Alliance club; receives hail of protest  
over her vote; FFN outraged that anyone would dare criticise her  
position;

Family Research Council condemns decision by Senator Specter to delay  
Kavanaugh nomination again;

***** REHABILITATION WATCH: American Family Association is now listing  
notorious fraud Dr. Paul Cameron, a famous anit-gay "researcher," by  
name as an authoritative source again; this is a normal part of the  
cycle; fundamentalists bring him up; we go through the rounds of all  
the faked data, all the fraud, the expulsion from the APA for fraud,  
and eventually he goes away again - until the next rehabilitation  
cycle; here, he appears to be lying about research done by other  
people, which is one of his standard fraud mechanisms, and is what  
first got him in trouble with the APA;

AFA pushing for "Indecency Enforcement Act," to ramp up FCC fines and  
increase anti-"indecency" enforcement in broadcasting; note that  
"indecency" is not "obscenity," which is a very different standard;

I've decided to pull in one of the many, many Da Vinci Code stories  
going around; this one's from the AFA;

The AFA links to a Focus on the Family story pushing the anti-marriage  
Federal amendment;

AFA reports that the Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee  
chair is not a big fan of the Exodus Mandate initiative;

United Methodist women's group protests lesbian speaker at Methodist  
Women's Quadrennial;

Anti-abortion groups working to get "Choose Life" plates approved in  
Massachusetts;

AFA, other fundamentalists condemn Alan Guttmacher report stating that  
abortion does not, in and of it self, pose significant health risks  
above that of pregnancy;

Apparently the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is running  
some PSAs on CBS; Traditional Values Coalition is outraged;

TVC ACTION ITEM against CBS for running the GLAAD spots; they demand  
"equal time" to run spots condemning GBLT people; includes a contact  
form though CapWiz to send nastygrams to CBS;

TVC updates their war against the judiciary page with a new  
recommending reading list attacking "our black-robed masters";

Concerned Women for America thank Bill Frist for trying to get the  
Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 though the Senate, but it got  
blocked on a procedural move;

LifeNews ACTION ITEM to get signatures for California Initiative 73, a  
parental-notification initiative; they're short on time and low on  
signatures but still hope to meet their goals by deadline;

National Review writer Ramesh Ponnuru (who also wrote the book _The  
Party of Death: The Democrats, the Media, the Courts, and the Disregard  
for Human Life_), condemns the Guttmacher Institute report on abortion;

American Family Association's Agape Press article on two challenges to  
New York State's marriage laws;

LifeNews, Concerned Women for America condemn Harvard report showing  
"virginity pledges" to be ineffective as public policy;

CWA article condemning "another case of discrimination against  
Christians" by a university for not allowing a student group to  
register as official; the reason is that the group wants to violate the  
school's nondiscrimination policies and discriminate officially on both  
religious and sexual orientation grounds. (They want to officially  
discriminate against all GBLT people of any faith, and all people not  
Christians.) They call the nondiscrimination policy a violation of  
their religious freedoms. You would have seen this exact same path -  
the right to be anti-(people) is a mandate of our religion - in earlier  
decades, traditionally targeting people of colour; this is the latest  
iteration;

***** Canada Family Action Coalition ACTION ITEM to support Bill 208 in  
Alberta; I could support this bill if it only applied to religious  
groups, but it also allows public officials to refuse to marry same-sex  
couples, and specifically exempts them from any consequences for  
refusing to carry out the marriage law requirements of their post for  
same-sex couples; it also had a broad public-schools section where any  
material that includes marriage between people of the same sex has to  
post notice, provides exemption rights for students, _and_ allows  
teachers to refuse to participate without penalty of any sort;

***** Canada Family Action Coalition press release calling for  
unanimous passage of Alberta Bill 208; see previous item for details;

***** CFAC condemns Edmonton Journal editorial against Bill 208;

***** CFAC endorses AFA boycott of Ford, asks its own supporters to  
join in the boycott; AFA claims credit for Ford's financial troubles;

***** CFAC calls for revocation of GBLT marriage rights.


----- 1 -----
Sistani's Pogrom
Andrew Sullivan
05 May 2006 11:48 am

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/05/sistanis_pogrom.html

The religious head of Iraq's Shiite population, Ayatollah Sistani,  
recently issued an edict calling for the brutal murder of all gay  
people in Iraq. "The people involved should be killed in the worst,  
most severe way of killing," this spiritual leader declared. Shiite  
militias are apparently making good on the fatwa.

[More at URL]


----- 2 -----
'Values Voter Summit' Set for Fall
You're invited to Washington, D.C., to learn about pressing issues.
by Pete Winn, associate editor
Focus on the Family
May 2, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/extras/a0040339.cfm

Pro-family leaders and top policymakers want you to come to the  
nation's capital this September for a three-day conference on important  
conservative issues.

Connie Mackey, senior vice president of FRC Action, the non-profit  
legislative action arm of the Family Research Council, said the idea  
for "The Washington Briefing: 2006 Values Voter Summit" grew out of a  
concern among pro-family groups that elected officials are becoming  
complacent.

[More at URL]


----- 3 -----
Louisiana Moves Toward Abortion Ban
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
May 2, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/briefs/a0040340.cfm

The Louisiana Senate passed a bill last week that would outlaw all  
abortions with the exception of those performed to save the life of the  
mother, The Daily Reveille reported.

The bill, which passed by a 37-to-7 vote, would mean any doctor who  
performs an abortion could face 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

[More at URL]


----- 4 -----
Teen Pregnancies Down in Peach State
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
May 2, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/briefs/a0040338.cfm

The number of teen pregnancies in Georgia declined over the last 10  
years -- an indication that programs such as those that teach  
abstinence are working, WTVM-TV reported.

The State Division of Public Health reported that from 1994 to 2004 --  
the last year for which the state has complete records -- the rate of  
pregnancy for girls ages 10-to-19 dropped from 50 per 1,000 to just  
under 35 per 1,000.

[More at URL]


----- 5 -----
Supreme Court Refuses Abortionist "Wanted Poster" Case
Pro-lifers are left owing millions in damages.
from staff reports
Focus on the Family
May 3, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/supreme.html

The Supreme Court earlier this week turned down a case involving  
"wanted posters" that featured doctors who perform abortions.

The ruling leaves pro-life activists owing punitive damages to doctors  
and clinics. But the real harm may be what the case does to pro-life  
free speech.

[...]

"There's a lot of filth and foul stuff going on that the courts are  
protecting. Is this a right decision? Probably not, based on the fact  
that far more foul things are being protected," he said. "This is  
certainly going to chill the free speech rights of those activists, so  
from that standpoint, this is a decision we ought to be concerned  
about."

[More at URL]


----- 6 -----
Churches Are Not Addressing Harry Potter
Survey shows a large majority of Christian teens have read the books or  
seen the movies.
Focus on the Family
from staff reports
May 3 , 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/churches.html

Nearly four out of five church-going teenagers have been exposed to the  
wizard-in-training legend, Harry Potter. But, according to a George  
Barna survey, only four in 100 say the Harry Potter themes have been  
challenged in their churches.

The survey found that 78 percent of Christian teens have read J.K.  
Rowling's Harry Potter books and or seen a Potter film. David Kinnaman,  
vice president of the Barna Research Group, said churches are not doing  
a good job of offering insight about the series.

[More at URL]


----- 7 -----
Threat of Filibuster Clouds Judicial-Nomination Process
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
May 3, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/briefs/threat.html

Democrats are again threatening to corrupt the constitutional process  
by implementing a filibuster against D.C. Appeals Court nominee Brett  
Kavanaugh.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced Tuesday that, as  
the Senate Judiciary Committee votes, a filibuster may be the  
Democrats' response.

[More at URL]


----- 8 -----
Judge Orders Investigation of Late-Term Abortionist
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
May 3, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/briefs/judge.html

A Kansas judge on Tuesday ordered a grand jury investigation later this  
month concerning the case of a mentally disabled woman who died after  
receiving an abortion from late-term abortionist George Tiller.

According to LifeSite News, the order came after more than 7,000 people  
signed petitions calling for the grand jury. A little used Kansas law  
allows residents to call for an investigation through petition if they  
feel justice has not been served.

[More at URL]


----- 9 -----
Florida Hosts Conference on Homosexuality This Weekend
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
May 3, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/briefs/florida.html

Focus on the Family's international Love Won Out conference will be in  
Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday despite attempts by gay activists to disrupt  
the event.

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church is hosting the one-day conference  
designed to present the truth about homosexuality.

[More at URL]


----- 10 -----
President Bush Calls the Nation to Prayer
Faith and Freedom Network
Thursday, May 04, 2006

http://www.faithandfreedom.us/weblog/2006/05/president-bush-calls- 
nation-to-prayer.html

This morning a number of leaders from around the nation met with  
President Bush at the White House for the National Day of Prayer. Among  
them was Dr. Joseph B. Fuiten, Chairman of the Board of Faith & Freedom  
Network and Foundation.

[...]

Dr. Fuiten said he was deeply touched by the President's reminder that  
our ability to communicate directly with our Heavenly Father is a gift  
from Him, a gift given to us through the death and resurrection of His  
Son, Jesus Christ.

[More at URL]


----- 11 -----
College Student is Ridiculed Because of her Faith
Faith and Freedom Network
Friday, May 05, 2006

http://www.faithandfreedom.us/weblog/2006/05/college-student-is- 
ridiculed-because.html

Check this out! A Grays Harbor College (Aberdeen, WA) student senator  
who voted against the charter for a new gay-straight student alliance  
is being ridiculed by fellow students. Some members of the student body  
believe she should be censured or lose her senate seat because she  
believes being gay is “bad behavior.”

Amanda Plumb, a Christian and student leader, simply felt she could not  
vote in favor of the club for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender  
and straight students.

[More at URL]


----- 12 -----
FRC: Today's Concession by Chairman Specter is Deeply Troubling
Family Research Council
May 4, 2006 - Thursday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: JP Duffy or Bethanie Swendsen, (202) 393-2100

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR06E04&f=PG03I03

Washington, D.C. - Today when the Senate Judiciary Committee was  
scheduled to vote on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the DC  
Circuit Court of Appeals, Chairman Arlen Specter acquiesced to the  
"Gang of 14" and decided to schedule another hearing on the nomination  
for Tuesday, May 9. Kavanaugh was first nominated nearly three years  
ago, in July of 2003, and he has gone through three nominations without  
a fair vote.

Tom McClusky, Family Research Council's Vice President of Government  
Affairs, issued the following statement:

"Today's concession by Chairman Specter is deeply troubling. In  
following assurances from the Democratic members of the Senate  
Judiciary Committee that further hearings on the Kavanaugh nomination  
would not result in any changed votes, Chairman Specter has allowed  
this nomination, already three years in the making, to linger again.

[More at URL]


----- 13 -----
Commentary & News Briefs
May 5, 2006
Compiled by Jenni Parker

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/afa/52006h.asp

...A Family Research Institute spokesman says the homosexual lobby's  
own research has negated its past claims regarding the impact of  
homosexual parents on adopted kids. Recent studies by homosexual groups  
have discovered that a third of the children parented by homosexuals  
have become homosexuals themselves, despite claims to the contrary by  
the "gay" lobby. Dr. Paul Cameron, who directed the Family Research  
Institute's analysis of the homosexual influence on children, says for  
young children, typically, "their parents are their universe -- their  
total universe." Therefore, he says, the behavior the parents model  
profoundly affects what their children learn. And homosexuality,  
Cameron asserts, "is most of the time a learned activity, a learned  
taste -- a learned predilection." The FRI analyst says while  
homosexuals make up less than three percent of the population, their  
own studies find that 33 percent of the kids who live with them become  
homosexual. [Bill Fancher]

[More at URL]


----- 14 -----
Pro-Family Media Monitors Pushing for Senate Vote on Indecency  
Enforcement Act
By Jody Brown
American Family Association
May 4, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/afa/42006a.asp

(AgapePress) - It's apparent that at least two pro-family groups are  
losing patience with Senate lawmakers -- one in particular -- who are  
sitting on a piece of legislation the groups say will protect children  
and families from vulgarity and obscenity on television.

The Parents Television Council (PTC) and the American Family  
Association (AFA) are calling on their supporters and others to voice  
their dissatisfaction with Republican Senator Ted Stevens. Why? Because  
in their opinion, the lawmaker from Alaska -- who chairs the Senate  
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation -- has held  
"hostage" for well over a year the Broadcast Indecency Enforcement Act  
(HR 310), which would greatly increase fines to broadcasters for  
violating current indecency laws.

[More at URL]


----- 15 -----
Baehr Calls Blasphemy, Sexual Immorality Good Reasons to Miss Da Vinci  
Code
-- Also, Christian Critic Says Pre-Release Press Conference Will Reveal  
Sacrilegious Film's Backers
By Mary Rettig
American Family Association
May 4, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/afa/42006c.asp

(AgapePress) - A well-known pro-family media critic advises Christians  
to forego seeing the movie screen adaptation of Dan Brown's novel The  
Da Vinci Code, and he says they should warn others to avoid the film as  
well.

Dr. Ted Baehr is chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission  
(CFTC) and publisher of Movieguide, a biweekly journal that reviews and  
rates films according to their values and family-friendly -- or  
unfriendly -- content. And when it comes to the kind of content viewers  
will find if they decide to go see the upcoming theatrical release, The  
Da Vinci Code (rated PG-13), the Christian movie reviewer says,  
"There's a lot of good reasons for people not to."

On May 17, two days before the movie's general release, a group of  
Christian leaders are going to hold a press conference in Washington,  
DC, to address the issues surrounding the controversial film. Baehr,  
who will be part of that group, says there is a lot more to The Da  
Vinci Code's plot than just the assertion that Jesus married Mary  
Magdalene. That is minor, the critic says, compared to some of the  
other blasphemous ideas presented in the story.

[More at URL]


----- 16 -----
Marriage Amendment Efforts Heat Up
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Josh Montez
May 5, 2006

http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0040369.cfm

In one month, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on the Marriage  
Protection Amendment, and religious leaders are lining-up in support.

Efforts encouraging Congress to put a stop to activist judges  
redefining marriage are ramping up. Forty-three religious leaders  
signed an open letter voicing their support of the Federal Marriage  
Amendment. The letter says, “As leaders in our nation's religious  
communities we call for a constitutional amendment to establish  
marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman.”

[...]

On another front, Focus on the Family Action and the Southern Baptist  
Convention are encouraging concerned Americans to send one-million  
post-cards to their elected officials urging support for the Federal  
Marriage Amendment. Amanda Banks is with Focus on the Family Action.

[More at URL]


----- 17 -----
SBC Official Questions Wisdom of Public School 'Exit Strategy' Proposal
By Jim Brown
American Family Association
May 4, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/afa/42006b.asp

(AgapePress) - The chairman of the Resolutions Committee for next  
month's Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is  
being careful not to throw his support behind the idea of developing a  
plan to remove Baptist children from public schools.

Members of the Resolutions Committee will begin meeting June 7, a week  
before the SBC meeting, to compile a list of proposed resolutions they  
deem relevant to this year's convention. One of the submitted proposals  
calls on the denomination to resolve to develop an "exit strategy" from  
the public schools, giving "particular attention to the needs of  
orphans, single parents, and the disadvantaged."

[...]

Personally, the SBC Resolutions Committee chair questions whether  
urging a church-wide exodus from all public schools across the U.S. is  
a wise idea. "I think that we have to look at each system," he says.

[More at URL]


----- 18 -----
Group Protests Lesbian Activist as Speaker at Methodist Women's  
Quadrennial
By Jim Brown
American Family Association
May 4, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/afa/42006e.asp

(AgapePress) - A coalition of evangelical United Methodist women is  
protesting a keynote speaker at a large event for Methodist women  
beginning tonight in Anaheim, California. The denomination's Women's  
Division is being accused of defying church law by inviting a lesbian  
activist to address the gathering.

On Saturday morning, lesbian activist and musician Emily Saliers of the  
group "Indigo Girls" will speak to more than 8,000 women at the United  
Methodist Women's Assembly. Saliers will appear with her father, Don, a  
professor at Candler School of Theology. The event takes place every  
four years and is a gathering of female leaders with the United  
Methodist Church (UMC).

Fay Short heads RENEW, a network for evangelical women with the UMC.  
Short says the United Methodist Women's Division (UMW) rejected her  
group's request that the invitation to Emily Saliers be withdrawn.

"The Methodist Federation for Social Action and Reconciling Ministries,  
both of which favor the acceptance of homosexual practice, also began  
to send messages to the Women's Division asking that the Salierses be  
retained as speakers," she explains. "So, in light of that, the Women's  
Division at their last board meeting decided that they would not  
withdraw that invitation."

[More at URL]


----- 19 -----
Massachusetts Woman Wants to Bring Choose Life Plates to Bay State
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 5, 2006

http://www.lifenews.com/state1641.html

Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) -- A Massachusetts woman is leading an effort  
to bring Choose Life license plates to the Bay State. Merry Nordeen is  
putting together supporters to allow state residents to purchase the  
plates for their cars -- with proceeds from the plates funding adoption  
centers.
However, as has happened in other states, abortion advocates may file a  
lawsuit seeking to block the state from selling them.

The Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts told AP that the state  
government should not be sanctioning plates that have what it considers  
a controversial and one-sided political message.

[More at URL]


----- 20 -----
Critics Suggest Guttmacher's Pro-Abortion Report Ignores Negative  
Evidence
Consider the Source, Say Pro-Life Leaders
By Bill Fancher and Jody Brown
May 4, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/afa/42006f.asp

(AgapePress) - Pro-lifers are condemning a pro-abortion report being  
released today by the Alan Guttmacher Institute. They say the report,  
titled "Abortion in Women's Lives," attempts to deny the mounting  
evidence that abortion harms women both physically and psychologically.

According to its website, the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) began as  
a "semiautonomous division" of Planned Parenthood Federation of America  
-- and today remains a "special affiliate" to the taxpayer-supported  
abortion-provider. The Institute's namesake actually served as  
president of PPFA for more than a decade in the 1960s and 1970s. AGI's  
mission? To advance "sexual and reproductive health" -- buzzwords  
typically used by organizations that promote abortion.

Consequently it should come as no surprise that the Institute would  
release a pro-abortion report. Concerned Women for America (CWA) is not  
surprised, saying a Guttmacher report on abortion should be taken as  
seriously as a "tobacco industry report on nicotine."

[...]

The report says there is virtually no risk in first-trimester abortions  
and that there are no long-term mental effects of abortion. Newman  
suggests the Institute is releasing the report as a last-ditch effort  
to salvage what he says is a dying pro-abortion industry.

[More at URL]


----- 21 -----
TVC Urges CBS Affiliates Not To Run GLAAD PSAs
Traditional Values Coalition

http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2714

May 4, 2006 - Washington, DC – “I am calling upon TVC supporters to  
contact their local CBS affiliates to ask that they refuse to air any  
public service announcements by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against  
Defamation (GLAAD) next week during ‘As The World Turns,’” said  
Traditional Values Coalition Executive Director Andrea Lafferty today.  
“The underlying message of GLAAD’s PSA is that anyone who opposes  
homosexual conduct is prejudiced or intolerant. This is propaganda, not  
accurate information.”

Lafferty is responding to news that CBS has joined with GLAAD to place  
a PSA in “As The World Turns” to reinforce the message in the show  
about a boy who tells his parents he’s a homosexual. “GLAAD is using  
free advertising to push a message about homosexuality that is not  
true,” said Lafferty. “The homosexual condition is not in-born or  
unchangeable. Thousands of ex-homosexuals can attest to this fact and  
their testimonies are well documented by Exodus International.

[...]

“The underlying anti-religious bigotry of GLAAD must be rejected by all  
Americans and CBS affiliates should refuse to run their inaccurate PSAs  
next week,” said Lafferty.

[More at URL]


----- 22 -----
CBS/GLAAD Scandal Heats Up
Traditional Values Coalition

http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2709

May 4, 2006 – On May 2, TVC issued a call to action to supporters to  
contact CBS to ask that they provide equal time for opposing viewpoints  
on homosexuality. CBS has announced it will help the Gay and Lesbian  
Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) air Public Service Announcements  
promoting the normalization of homosexuality—and condemning critics as  
intolerant and bigoted.

CBS and GLAAD announced a joint venture to air PSAs on “As The World  
Turns” on May 9. This episode will feature a teenager who tells his  
parents that he’s a homosexual.

GLAAD is a notorious anti-Christian group that exerts a powerful  
influence over what we read and see on TV and in movies about  
homosexual conduct. GLAAD has issued a Media Guide that instructs  
reporters on how to report on homosexuality and how to avoid giving  
critics a fair hearing. GLAAD also meets with script writers, casting  
directors, and producers to create pro-homosexual programming on TV and  
in films.

[More at URL]


----- 23 -----
CBS And GLAAD Use PSAs To Label Critics Of Homosexual Sex As Bigots
Traditional Values Coalition

http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2706

May 2, 2006 – CBS and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation  
(GLAAD) have teamed up to produce a series of Public Service  
Announcements (PSAs) that will be dropped into a day-time soap opera  
promoting teen homosexuality.

The CBS/GLAAD PSA will be included in the CBS daytime soap opera “As  
The World Turns” on May 9. This particular show includes a teenager who  
tells his parents that he is a homosexual. The PSA will tell viewers  
that they should take a stand against “discrimination” and “prejudice”  
faced by homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgendered people  
(cross-dressers, transsexuals, and homosexual drag queens).

This PSA is part of GLAAD’s propaganda campaign called “Be an Ally and  
a Friend” effort to promote homosexuality, bisexuality and  
transsexuality as normal sexual behaviors.

GLAAD is one of the most dangerous organizations in America. It has a  
powerful influence over Hollywood and the print media. The group has  
published its 7th edition of a “Media Guide” that tells journalists  
what terms they should use in describing homosexuality. It also tells  
them to avoid giving fair treatment to organizations that are critical  
of homosexual behavior. In short, this media guide teaches journalists  
to censor opposing viewpoints. Read this GLAAD media guide to  
understand why you do not get an accurate portrayal of homosexuality in  
the mainstream media. GLAAD is controlling what you read and see.

GLAAD also meets with script writers, directors, and other powerful  
Hollywood executives to shape the kinds of messages Americans receive  
in TV programming and in movies about homosexuality.

Your voice matters! Send a strong message to CBS. It is important for  
Hollywood and network executives to hear your concerns. In 2002, for  
example, TVC exposed the efforts of Nickelodeon to promote the  
homosexual agenda. More than a quarter of a million emails went to  
Nickelodeon to protest the promotion of homosexual “families” by Linda  
Ellerbee and hosted by Rosie O’Donnell. They were forced to tone down  
the show because of the incredible public outrage.

GLAAD and groups like the Gay, Lesbian and Student Education Network  
have done their job well in censoring accurate information about  
homosexual behavior in the media.

The Hollywood Reporter noted in April, 2005 that “GLAAD and others who  
carry out its mission meet with editorial boards, casting directors,  
producers, writers and directors, where they discuss what they are  
thinking about, what they are working on and offer suggestions on ways  
to accurately reflect the lifestyle.”

GLAAD is serving as a censor and a gatekeeper on what information  
Americans receive in the mainstream media about homosexual behavior! It  
urges journalists and Hollywood producers to promote homosexuality,  
while condemning any organization or individual who is critical of  
homosexuality.

GLAAD equates opposition to homosexuality as bigotry, prejudice and  
discriminatory attitudes—and now CBS is joining with them in promoting  
their homosexual agenda—to normalize homosexual sex for teenagers!

TVC Urges CBS To Provide Equal Time
Traditional Values Coalition Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon has written  
a letter of concern to Mr. Leslie Mooves, President and CEO of CBS  
asking that he provide TVC with equal time to respond to GLAAD’s PSA.

Rev. Sheldon told Moonves: “Most major religions denominations consider  
homosexuality a sinful and disordered behavior. GLAAD calls these  
Americans discriminatory and hateful because of their religious  
beliefs.

“At the very least, I believe CBS should apply an equal time standard  
to this sort of activity. My organization, Traditional Values  
Coalition, would be willing to discuss some sort of message which would  
provide the balance lacking from GLAAD’s anti-religious attacks.”

TAKE ACTION: Use TVC’s CapWiz email system to write a letter of concern  
to Mr. Moonves asking for CBS to give equal time to TVC to present an  
alternative viewpoint on homosexual behavior. Forward this alert to  
your friends!

GLAAD only wants a positive portrayal of homosexuality presented to the  
American people over public airwaves. This is a betrayal of the public  
trust. CBS should be willing to present a fair and balanced message on  
homosexuality—and not promote only one viewpoint on this controversial  
topic.

Go to TVC’s Media Guide section and click on CBS News to create your  
letter to Mr. Moonves: Traditional Values Coalition -- Media Guide.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS.

[More at URL]


----- 24 -----
TVC Publishes Recommended Reading List On Judges, Constitution
Traditional Values Coalition

http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2707

May 4, 2006 – A reading list of high quality books on judicial tyranny,  
the Constitution, and religious freedom has just been added to TVC’s  
“Battle Plan To Take Back Our Courts” web site.

This reading list is directly below our special reports: ..:: Our  
Battle Plan ::..

Purchase these books and learn more about why federal judges must be  
restrained from issuing rulings that have no basis in the Constitution  
or in law. Judges who view the Constitution as a “living document” have  
rejected the concept of issuing decisions based upon the original  
intent of the writers of the Constitution or laws. Activist liberal  
judges issue rulings based upon their feelings and political  
philosophies—not upon the Constitution or the original intent of the  
Founding Fathers. This is judicial tyranny—and must be stopped.

Please also read our various reports on judicial tyranny and the  
importance of putting judicial conservatives on the federal bench:  
Reports.

[More at URL]


----- 25 -----
Plan for Vote on Decency Legislation Thwarted
Amelia Wigton
Concerned Women for America
May 5, 2006

http://www.cwalac.org/article_325.shtml

The long-awaited vote on the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005  
(H.R. 310) seemed imminent late Tuesday when Senate Majority Leader  
Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) attempted to pass it through unanimous  
consent, but unnamed senators put a last-minute “hold” on the bill,  
thwarting its passage for now.

Concerned Women for America (CWA) heartily applauds Sen. Frist for  
hearing the pleas of the American people to help clean up the offensive  
content that has been spilling into homes, particularly during the  
Family Hour of 8-9 p.m.

H.R. 310 would raise current Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  
fines against violators from the current slap-on-the-wrist of $32,500  
to a painful $500,000.  It would also fine performers based on their  
premeditated efforts to commit decency violations and would require  
that networks with more than three violations go through a license  
renewal hearing.

[More at URL]


----- 26 -----
California Pro-Life Group Has Four Days for Abortion Notification Sigs
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 4, 2006

http://www.lifenews.com/state1638.html

Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) -- In California, a girl who is under 18  
year-old can't get a flu shot, a cavity filled, or an aspirin from the  
school nurse without her parents knowing. But, she can get a secret  
abortion if she wants one. Pro-life groups are hoping to change that  
and have four days left to get signatures on a petition for a state  
vote to do so.
The Parents’ Right to Know group is collecting signatures on a petition  
to have a second chance at a vote to require parental notification  
before a teenager can get an abortion.

For anyone wanting to sign the petition, May 8 is the last day to mail  
them.

The initiative will require that an abortion practitioner notify in  
writing a parent or guardian at least 48 hours before performing an  
abortion on a minor girl.

[...]

ACTION: Visit the web site and sign the petition today. Petitions can  
be mailed to Parents’ Right to Know, 1703 India St., San Diego, CA  
92101. Visit www.parentsright2know.org or www.YESon73.net for more  
information.

[More at URL]


----- 27 -----
Data Failure
Misreporting from the Guttmacher Institute.
National Review
By Ramesh Ponnuru

http://article.nationalreview.com/? 
q=MjBkYzVkMDFjMWU5YWMzZDYxYTJjMGU4YWZjMDgyMjY=

The Alan Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood,  
has done a lot of good and careful work over the years. The report it  
is releasing today is not among that work. The new report attempts to  
put social science behind Planned Parenthood's agenda. It pretends that  
the latest studies all vindicate the view that parental-consent laws on  
abortion, for example, are "bad public policy." In addition, it claims  
that abortion almost never has any adverse effects on women and  
suggests that the only way to reduce abortion rates is to increase  
access to contraception.

[More at URL]


----- 28 -----
Attacks Continue on NY's Marriage Laws
Liberty Counsel Files Briefs in Defense of Traditional Marriage
By Allie Martin
Agape Press
May 2, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/22006a.asp

(AgapePress) - A Christian law firm is defending traditional marriage  
in New York's highest court. Florida-based Liberty Counsel has filed  
two separate briefs at the New York Court of Appeals defending that  
state's marriage laws.

In the case of Hernandez v. Robles, a judge declared in February 2005  
that New York's marriage laws are unconstitutional. Judge Doris  
Ling-Cohen ruled at that time that individuals have a "fundamental  
right to choose one spouse," that same-sex marriage "would cause harm  
to no one," that there is "no legitimate purpose, let alone a  
compelling interest" in the marriage laws, and ordered that the terms  
"husband," "wife," "groom," and "bride" be construed as "spouse." The  
First Department of the Appellate Division later reversed that ruling  
and upheld the marriage laws.

In the second case -- Samuels v. New York State Department of Health --  
Judge Joseph Teresi upheld the state's marriage laws against a  
challenge brought by 13 same-sex couples. Upon appeal, the Third  
Department of the Appellate Division also upheld the marriage laws.

Both cases are now before the New York Court of Appeals, the state's  
highest court. On behalf of the New York Family Policy Council and  
Concerned Women for America, Liberty Counsel has filed a brief in each  
of the two cases. Mat Staver, president of the legal group, says  
marriage laws in the state of New York are clear.

[More on URL]


----- 29 -----
Harvard Report Bashing Abstinence Education Relies on Decade-Old Data
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by Janice Shaw Crouse
May 4, 2006

Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse is a senior fellow of Concerned Women for  
America's Beverly LaHaye Institute.

http://www.lifenews.com/nat2237.html

A report released this week by a Harvard University student, and  
published in the online edition of "The American Journal of Public  
Health," purports to show that virginity pledges are ineffective. This  
major hit at abstinence pledges contains several problems: The data is  
a decade old, there are no data comparisons, and the report relies on  
self-responses of adolescents.

Clearly, the left is at it again -- taking or manufacturing any  
possible "evidence" in order to slam abstinence programs.

Plainly put, it is a matter of survival for the left because the  
network of consultants and experts for comprehensive sex education  
subsists on government contracts. And, we are talking about big money.  
For example, in 2002, abstinence programs received only $102 million in  
federal funding compared to at least $427 million allocated to  
comprehensive sex education and contraception programs. Last year, when  
the president proposed increasing funding for abstinence-until-marriage  
programs, more than 200 left-wing groups lobbied Capitol Hill to oppose  
the increase.

[More at URL]


----- 30 -----
Christian Student Group Rejected at Cal State – San Bernardino
Concerned Women for America
5/4/2006

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/10652/CWA/misc/index.htm

Across the nation, it is becoming almost common for the religious and  
academic rights of students to be trampled in the name of tolerance.  
Pro-life and pro-family speech and beliefs are most often targeted.  
Ryan Sorba, a senior at California State University – San Bernardino  
studying psychology, joins CWA policy analyst Martha Kleder and Bob  
Knight, Director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute, is discussing the  
difficulties he has faced trying to establish a Christian Student  
Association on campus. Click here to listen.

For more information on the case visit:  
http://www.thefire.org/index.php/case/696.html

["Another case of discrimination against Christians" is the CWA summary  
on the audio.]

[Ed. Note: okay, here's the deal: this is another group that isn't  
allowed to have official status at a university because they want to  
violate the school's nondiscrimination policy. As usual, and I'm pretty  
sure I've reported on this particular group a few times before, they  
want to officially discriminate on the basis of religion and sexual  
orientation, barring non-Christians and GBLT people of any religion  
from being members and holding positions of authority.]


----- 31 -----
Alberta Action Alert - May 3, 2006
Bill 208
Online as of May 5, 2006

http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/issues/family/marriage/05-03-2006- 
ABActionAlert.htm

Bill 208, Protection of Fundamental Freedoms (Marriage) Statutes  
Amendment Act, was introduced in Alberta Legislature by MLA Ted Morton.  
The Bill may be viewed here - Bill 208 Alberta. MLA Morton stated that  
Bill 208 was needed to “ensure that creating the new right to same-sex  
marriage does not lead to restrictions on the rights and freedoms of  
those who disagree with same-sex marriage." Due to the failure of  
proper legislating by the previous federal Liberal government the need  
for such protection is now REALITY in provinces.

It is incumbent upon all Albertans who want protection of their values  
and views on marriage as “one man and one woman” to tell their MLA to  
vote in favor of this legislation. It May be voted on as early as May  
15 so act NOW! It is very unfortunate in Canada that we would have to  
have such legislation brought in but based on evidence of what courts,  
human rights commissions and activists have been doing , it is  
absolutely necessary.

See CFAC's May 3, news release here: Bill 208 News Release).

If you do not know who your MLA is : find out and call them. They must  
hear from those who support freedom and protection of average citizens  
like us. Teacher’s Union and activists are already crying foul. That  
kind of “ cry” is the very proof that we need this Bill. Previous court  
cases and human rights complaints are also reasons. And the prosecution  
of Canadians, mainly Christian, who oppose homosexual marriage, (which  
has already occurred), is a huge reason for this legislation.

find your MLA at www.gov.ab.ca ( click on - contact your MLA). This is  
very crucial at this time in Alberta’s history and will influence  
Canada also.

[Ed. Note: text of bill here:  
http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=bills_bill&selectbill=208 ]


----- 32 -----
Canada Family Action Coalition is calling for EVERY Alberta MLA to  
support Bill 208
Protection of Fundamental Freedoms (Marriage) Statutes Amendment Act
CFAC News Release
Canada Family Action Coalition
May 3, 2006

http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/issues/family/marriage/05-03-2006- 
NewsRelease.htm

CFAC is calling on every Albertan to make known your views on this  
matter to their MLA. That what democracy allows.

“It is unfortunate that we have to have such an Act in Canada and  
Alberta but due to the injustices of Courts, Human Right tribunals and  
the previous federal government is an absolute necessity”, say Brian  
Rushfeldt Executive Director CFAC. MLA Morton stated the need this way,  
to “ensure that creating the new right to same-sex marriage does not  
lead to restrictions on the rights and freedoms of those who disagree  
with same-sex marriage."

The previous PM, Martin’s promise of “ protection” when the marriage  
definition was altered by Parliament was a hollow deceptive promise. It  
had no jurisdiction in provincial matters. Martin and the Liberals knew  
that but Canadians fell for their lie.

Now it is time for Albertans to protect ourselves against the attacks  
by activists who misuse the courts and so called human rights  
commissions. It is also protection from judges who allow themselves to  
be misused.

[More at URL]


----- 33 -----
CFAC Commentary on the Edmonton Journal article on Bill 208:
Canada Family Action Coalition
Online as of May 5, 2006

http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/issues/family/marriage/kill-bill 
-208.htm

It is quite amazing to see thoughtful half truths of some media. The  
argument in the story below leaves out the pieces that cannot fit the  
agenda and arguments of the Journal on marriage/education.

Educators are there to educate children, not to promote certain social  
causes based on philosophy or fiction. As a parent I do pay taxes, and  
yes I do have a say as to what the public monopoly tells my children.  
The questionable marriage law is not “hard fact” as the Journal seems  
to infer. Laws change yearly, even weekly with some judges. Do the hard  
facts of biology and natural reality mean anything? Modern marriage may  
be a man made idea but the union of a man and woman is not man made. Of  
course if you ignore the sexual union aspect of marriage then you can  
argue marriage on a whole different basis. That seems to be what the  
Journal and most homosexual activists want to do.

To tell children ( sorry- teach children) that two things are equal  
when logic and fact proves otherwise is false and misleading. In fact  
teaching children information that is knowingly wrong should be  
considered illegal. Perhaps parents can rather than signing an opt-out  
form (if they ever see one) have schools, teachers and even the  
Education ministry charged for providing inaccurate, incomplete or  
misleading information. Is there not a law that requires accurate and  
truthful teaching by tax paid educators?

[More at URL]


----- 34 -----
Ford Headed toward Bankruptcy, but Support of Homosexual Groups  
Continues
Canada Family Action Coalition
May 4, 2006

http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/issues/sexuality/boycott-ford-5-4 
-2006.htm

Canadians, To those of you who have boycotted Ford, thank you. If you  
were unaware of what Ford is doing , read the following. Then make the  
decision, can you support such an anti-family, anti-child philosophy as  
we see in the details. -- CFAC

American Family Assocation
Action Alert - May 4, 2006
Ford Motor Company continues to give money to help finance homosexual  
organizations pushing homosexual marriage.

Chairman Bill Ford evidently is willing to take Ford into bankruptcy in  
order to continue support of homosexual groups and homosexual marriage.  
Ford's sales dropped 5% in March and 7% in April. Ford's stock has  
dropped more than 14% since the boycott began to the lowest price in  
nearly 20 years. Some feel the stock, now at $6.78, will be at $3 in a  
matter of months and are bailing out now rather than lose more money on  
Ford stock.

Ford is a "Platinum Sponsor" of the Human Rights Campaign, a leading  
advocate of homosexual marriage. In order to be a "Platinum Sponsor" of  
HRC, Ford had to give HRC $150,000. Other homosexual organizations  
getting financial support from Ford include GLAAD, Michigan Pride,  
Triangle Foundation, GLSEN, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund,  
and PFLAG to name only a few.

[More at URL]


----- 35 -----
Marriage for Children’s Sake is but One Form	
Canada Family Action Coalition
May 5, 2006

http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/issues/family/marriage/marriage- 
for-childrens-sake.htm

The quote from the below mentioned article is important to Canada and  
the whole unsettled issue of marriage. The French report that is  
referenced below is available here (PDF) and an English summary is  
available here (PDF) and on preservemarriage.ca.

Since the debate about altering the institution of marriage never had  
proper debate nor study this report, by France, of all countries is  
very significant. Children’s best interests were not debated and really  
never considered by the Liberal government before they jammed through,  
by forcing MP votes, Bill C 38.

Children got the short treatment on many fronts from the Liberal  
government. Child porn laws were never “fixed”, age of consent for sex  
with children was held at 14 by Liberals, ND and Bloc. Internet luring  
laws that Liberals devised are not effective, and minimum sentences to  
keep perverts out of society were refused totally by the former  
government.

[More at URL]