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

[Dara (R'ykandar Korra'ti)]

I've got a lot of catching up to do on these. Here's a start.

MASSACHUSETTS ANTI-MARRIAGE AMENDMENT DEAD: CANNOT ATTAIN 25% IN  
LEGISLATURE! It only needed 50 votes to go forward and failed; this  
is a _serious_ defeat for the theoconservative movement as they put a  
lot of money into stopping this kind of equal treatment. They will,  
of course, fight on;

A firsthand report from the Creationist pseudonatural history museum  
- no, they don't call it that, but I do - in Kentucky. According to  
this attendee, they _actually tell you_, "Don’t think, just listen  
and believe." I like this picture:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p125/cubswin39/Creation%20Museum/ 
526992467_5344a63a40.jpg

....particularly a lot, where they draw a (minimalist, to put it  
mildly) timeline of the "human reason" universe in the shape of a  
snake, evoking the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Don't tell me  
that's not intentional, I do graphic design. That's clever being used  
for evil and stupidity;

Almost 70% of the Republican party are Creationists. Those of you  
still thinking that the theoconservative movement has not taken over  
the party should, um, well, not sure what I can say at this point;

Even Christian Broadcasting Network bloggers - while thinking it key  
that voters require Christian religious faith from their candidates -  
are a getting a little leery about how nitpicky it's getting, asking,  
"Are we going tos tart comparing church attendance records?" Well,  
hey this is what you guys have been driving the political process for  
the last 30 years, what do you expect;

Focus on the Family/New Jersey Right to Life opposing New Jersey bill  
funding embryonic stem-cell research;

FotF article against New Jersey plan to require all licensed  
pharmacists to dispense all legal medications - including,  
specifically, Plan B, the emergency contraception pill, which, as  
always, they falsely claim "can sometimes cause an early abortion,"  
presumably as part of their attempt to blur birth control and RU-486,  
the actual chemical abortion pill;

FotF ACTION ITEM to condemn bill that would repeal the international  
gag order banning discussion of abortion by groups receiving American  
aid; Chief Executive Mr. Bush promises a veto;

FotF ACTION ITEM condemning sex education that is not abstinence- 
only, saying that it "gets [a] failing grade" from a government study  
set up by Senator Rick Santorum (formerly R-PA) and Tom Coburn (R- 
OK), reporting that such education fails in its "overemphasises" of  
birth control and by not delaying sexual activity; disease- and  
pregnancy-prevention do not seem to be important Focus on the  
Family's view, but, well, we already know that;

Heritage Alliance runs anti-gay robo-calls against Dallas mayoral  
candidate Ed Oakley (Mr. Oakley is gay); the calls include  
"homosexuality" as a top issue for the campaign and encourages votes  
for opponent Tom Leppert specifically on the basis that Mr. Leppert  
is heterosexual and Christian. The Heritage Alliance founder claims  
to be an associate of Focus on the Family's James Dobson;

FotF's last ACTION ITEM supporting the now-DEFEATED anti-marriage  
amendment in Massachusetts;

FotF article against embryonic stem-cell research claiming that it is  
"unnecessary";

FotF: Utah voters will vote on a "universal school choice" bill that  
will allow government money to be spent on religious instruction;

FotF: New York State Assembly may pass marriage-rights bill;

FotF supports Louisiana bill to ban so-called "partial birth"  
abortions; as per the Federal ban, to which this ban is redundant, it  
carries no health exemption - you can read previous commentary of  
mine on that here ( http://solarbird.livejournal.com/512890.html )  
and here ( http://solarbird.livejournal.com/513269.html ); Focus on  
the Family wants it passed so that state prosecutors can prosecute  
cases the Federal government doesn't;

New Hampshire legislature repeals parental-notification law; it's  
never been enforced; it goes to the governor for a signature now;  
Focus on the Family hopes for a veto;

Focus on the Family ACTION ITEM to support abstinence-only education  
funding, which got out of subcommittee with a funding _increase_ this  
year;

Focus on the Family ACTION ITEM against a bill restoring legal online  
gambling; FotF highlights Barney Frank (D-MA)'s role, and criticises  
him for not using government power to protect people from their own  
vices;

Kalamazoo, Michigan drops domestic-partner benefits as part of the  
anti-marriage amendment passed in 2004 and in response to a state  
Supreme Court ruling showing that - as was intended - any form of  
GBLT partnership recognition was in violation of the state  
Constitution. Focus on the Family is happy, and the American Family  
Association of Michigan praised the city for giving fags a kick in  
the stomach;

Focus on the Family condemns another bill to prohibit individual  
pharmacists from refusing to dispense birth control - plan B, the  
emergency birth control pill, which they again incorrectly label as  
an abortifacient;

FotF reports on upcoming Southern Baptist Convention, and talks about  
Exodus Mandate again; Exodus Mandate wants a mass withdrawal from  
public schools in favour of fundamentalist religious instruction;

FotF's book ad for a book on how tolerance is destroying "You, Your  
Faith, And Your Children";

FotF's Tom Minnary writes a WorldNetDaily column defending James  
Dobson against attacks that he's not anti-abortion _enough_; what's  
interesting is that the defense centres around something I pointed  
out in an earlier post - that the key element of _Gonzalez vs.  
Carhart_ was that the Supreme Court, courtesy Justice Alito, _upheld_  
the idea that you can write a law purely on _moral_, not rational,  
grounds, and have it be constitutional. And they specifically talk  
about _Lawrence v. Texas (2003)_ in that context. The MSM media may  
not understand why _Gonzalez v. Carhart_ was so important, but the  
fundamentalist leadership _certainly_ does.


----- 1 -----
Legislators vote to defeat same-sex marriage ban
By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff
The Boston Globe
Thursday, June 14, 2007

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/06/ 
legislators_vot.html

A proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was defeated today  
by a joint session of the Legislature by a vote of 45 to 151,  
eliminating any chance of getting it on the ballot in November 2008.  
At least 50 votes were needed to advance the measure.

[...]

Opponents of gay marriage face an increasingly tough battle to win  
legislative approval of any future petitions to appear on a statewide  
ballot. The next election available to them is 2012.

[More at URL]

----- 2 -----
Fun at the Creation Museum!!!!
BlueGrassRoots
June 9, 2007

http://crazytalk.typepad.com/bluegrassroots/2007/06/fun_at_the_crea.html

This Saturday, I made my much anticipated field trip to the Answers  
in Genesis Creation Museum, a $27 million monstrosity devoted to  
religious fanaticism, disguised as “science”.

Two of my heretical friends and I ventured an hour north up I-75 from  
Lexington, just short of Cincinnati, to discover a museum full of  
shocking idiocy and unintentional humor.

Early in the museum, the visitor is given advice on the proper mind  
frame to have for your visit: “Don’t think, just listen and believe”.  
As you can see in the picture below, Human Reason is the enemy and  
God’s Word is the hero. Descartes represents Human Reason, saying “I  
think, therefore I am”. But God tells us there no need to waste your  
beautiful mind, for God says “I am that I am."

So logic, reason and science are Bad; blind faith is Good.

[More at URL]


----- 3 -----
Religion—our maelstrom of ignorance
Category: Creationism • Religion
Posted on: June 11, 2007 4:38 PM, by PZ Myers

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/06/ 
religionour_maelstrom_of_ignor.php

We've got a new Gallup poll on evolution to agonize over. It's  
nothing but bad news—we are a nation of uneducated morons. Gary chose  
to weep over the political correlation: look how membership in the  
Republican party is tied to ignorance about science.

[Ed. note: On the web page here is a chart showing 68% of Republicans  
are creationists; 30% state that they support evolutionary theory.  
Independents and Democrats both have non-Creationist majorities,  
though the Democratic party is at 40%, which is bad enough.]

The clear majority of Republicans are screwed up. And you know, I'm  
not too happy with the Democrats, either. These results tell us that  
the population across the board is messed up, confused, lied to, and  
festering in ignorance—it's just that right now the Republican party  
is a magnet for the stupid.

[More at URL]


----- 4 -----
Are We Going to Start Comparing Church Attendance Records?
June 12, 2007
David Brody
Christian Broadcasting Network

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/175028.aspx

Do you care if the President of the United States attends Church? My  
bet is the majority of Americans would say yes.

There's a WorldNet Daily article out about Fred Thompson's lack of  
church activity. The article suggests Thompson is just not a very  
active Church member. Almost non existent. Here's part of the article:

_Is the Hollywood star-turned-politician a true believer? Thompson's  
chances at capturing the GOP primary may rest on the answer, thanks  
to the growing electoral clout of Christian conservatives. Professor  
Mark Elrod of Harding University said he doubts Thompson is "filling  
out an attendance card at a Church of Christ on Sundays."

The political scientist says he hasn't been able to find any  
information regarding the former senator's actual membership in a  
local congregation in his home state of Tennessee. "In our  
tradition," Elrod said, "that's called 'being out of fellowship' or a  
'lapsed member.'"_

[...]

Read all of it here. I'm not going to start judging another person's  
walk with the Lord. I have no desire to do that. Plus, I'm not saying  
I agree with the WorldNet Daily article either.

I bring it up because this topic is going to come up in the future.  
My sense is Fred Thompson will have to discuss his faith more in  
depth than he ever has before. Why? Because like it or not, the topic  
of faith is bigger this year. From Romney and his Mormonism to  
Giuliani and Catholicism to McCain and his relationship with  
Evangelicals, religion has become an issue. Also, let's not forget  
that the Democrats are talking about God too.

[More at URL]


----- 5 -----
N.J. Voters to Decide on Stem-Cell Funding
Focus on the Family
6-13-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLBriefs/A000004839.cfm

In November, New Jersey voters will decide whether to use $450  
million in taxpayer money to fund stem-cell research, including  
research that destroys human embryos.

[...]

Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, told the  
news service that "taxpayers should be outraged."

[More at URL]


----- 6 -----
N.J. Lawmakers Seek to Force Pharmacists to Dispense Plan B
Focus on the Family
6-13-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLBriefs/A000004838.cfm

The New Jersey Assembly passed legislation Monday that would require  
pharmacists to dispense all medications – even drugs that would  
violate moral or religious beliefs, LifeNews reported.

The same bill passed the state Senate last year, and pro-abortion  
Gov. John Corzine has indicated he will sign it.

Under the legislation, pharmacists could not refuse to dispense drugs  
such as Plan B – the so-called morning-after pill – which can  
sometimes cause an early abortion.

[More at URL]


----- 7 -----
House Committee OKs Bill That Would Fund Abortions Overseas
Social liberals work 'to strip away virtually every pro-life  
protection.'
by Jennifer Mesko, associate editor
6-13-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000004843.cfm

[Graphic: Using YOUR Money to Destroy Life]

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed a bill Tuesday that  
includes language aimed at ending the president's prohibition on tax  
dollars going to groups that fund or promote abortion overseas.

The full House is expected to vote June 20.

"This is why elections matter," said Ashley Horne, federal policy  
analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "Social liberals in Congress  
are doing what we knew they’d do if elected. They are working hard to  
strip away virtually every pro-life protection included in past  
spending bills."

The Mexico City policy, which bars U.S. funding from going to  
international groups that support abortion, was implemented by  
President Reagan, rescinded by President Clinton and reinstated by  
President Bush. The appropriations bill seeks to kill the policy.

In May, in identical letters to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and  
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Bush wrote, “I will veto any  
legislation that weakens current federal policies and laws on  
abortion, or that encourages the destruction of human life at any  
stage.”

Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee told CNS News  
that "the fur may fly" over the committee action, but "we expect the  
president's policy to remain intact."

"This is (Rep. Nita) Lowey's personal hobby horse," he stated, adding  
that she and her allies "hate the Mexico City policy and are going to  
take a shot at it, even though they've got a steep hill to climb."

TAKE ACTION
Urge your representative to oppose the State/Foreign Operations  
Appropriations Bill because it includes language to kill the Mexico  
City policy. If you are a CitizenLink Daily Update subscriber, click  
on the blue "Take Action" button in the e-mail to be automatically  
logged in to our Action Center. Otherwise, click on this link.


----- 8 -----
Comprehensive Sex Education Gets Failing Grade
Two-year government study shows most programs contain medical  
inaccuracies, emphasize contraception.
by Jennifer Mesko, associate editor
Focus on the Family
6-13-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004842.cfm

A government report on the effectiveness of comprehensive sex  
education shows the most popular programs mention condoms and  
contraception nearly seven times more often than abstinence, have  
little effect on sexual activity or use of contraception, and contain  
medical inaccuracies.

In 2005, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the  
Department of Health and Human Services was tasked by Republican  
Sens. Rick Santorum and Tom Coburn to review and evaluate  
comprehensive sex education programs supported by federal dollars.

The National Institutes of Health defines comprehensive sex education  
as “teaching both abstinence and the use of protective methods for  
sexually active youth.”

Over the next two years, ACF studied the nine most common programs  
across the nation. The 40-page report was released Tuesday.

"It was found that there was virtually no effect on delaying sexual  
debut in children using these sex education curricula, and no long- 
term effects," said Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst for Focus  
on the Family Action. "In other words, they don’t work."

The curriculum review consisted of four components: Each curriculum  
underwent an extensive content analysis; the stated purposes of the  
curricula were compared to the actual emphases of the curricula, as  
demonstrated by the content analysis; curriculum content was  
evaluated for medical accuracy, primarily the accuracy of statements  
about condoms; and evaluations of each curriculum were located and  
summarized.

One curriculum, called "Positive Images," asks for 10 volunteers and  
has the students arrange a set of cards in proper order to illustrate  
effective condom use.

"Reducing the Risk," another curriculum, asks students to identify  
the following as either a truth or a myth: “Teenagers can obtain  
birth control pills from family planning clinics and doctors without  
permission from a parent."

It's true.

"You do not need a parent’s permission to get birth control at a  
clinic. No one needs to know that you are going to a clinic," reads  
the curriculum.

Findings from the "Reducing the Risk" review:
• No impact on frequency of intercourse.
• No impact on initiation of first sex at six months.
• No overall impact on unprotected sex at 18 months.
• No impact on pregnancy rates.

Meanwhile, the federal Title V program, which provides $50 million  
for abstinence education, is set to expire June 30.
The federal Community Based Abstinence Education program (CBAE) is  
set to receive $141 million for fiscal year 2008. It still must face  
the full House, which could vote this week.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the government report.

Watch Stuart Shepard's Stoplight video commentary: "Defending  
Abstinence."

TAKE ACTION
Urge your U.S. representative to support funding for abstinence  
education. If you are a CitizenLink Daily Update subscriber, click on  
the blue "Take Action" button in the e-mail to be automatically  
logged in to our Action Center. Otherwise, click on this link.


----- 9 -----
Conservative group sponsors anti-gay robo calls attacking mayoral  
candidate Ed Oakley
By David Webb Staff Writer
Jun 7, 2007, 20:28

http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_5766.php

Anti-gay robo calls denouncing gay mayoral candidate Ed Oakley and  
praising his opponent, Tom Leppert, spread across Dallas over the  
weekend.

The recorded phone messages, attributed to the Heritage Alliance’s  
political action committee on the recordings, told voters the three  
top issues of the mayoral runoff race are “crime, education and  
homosexuality.”

[...]

The Heritage Alliance’s mission, according to its Web site  
(www.txvote.com), is to “empower the handful of citizens necessary to  
restore principles of free enterprise, limited government, limited  
taxation and our traditional Judeo-Christian heritage in government.  
The group was founded by Dallas resident Richard Ford, who counts  
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson as one of his associates,  
his Web site notes.

[More at URL]


----- 10 -----
A Call to Prayer: Marriage Under Fire in Massachusetts
Key vote on amendment could come Thursday.
by Jennifer Mesko, associate editor
Focus on the Family
6-12-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000004825.cfm

Massachusetts lawmakers will meet Thursday in a special joint session  
that could decide the future of marriage in the state. Focus on the  
Family is asking its constituents to spend Wednesday in prayer.

In 2003, Massachusetts became the only state to legalize same-sex  
marriage. The Legislature will decide whether voters will get to  
define marriage in the future.

A constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and  
one woman needs the support of at least 50 representatives in two  
consecutive legislative sessions to reach the ballot in November  
2008. It won approval in the previous session.

"The opposition has decided to use their considerable power and  
influence to see that the marriage amendment is defeated," said Mona  
Passignano, state issues analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "And  
the people of Massachusetts who want the opportunity to vote on  
marriage need our help — and they desperately need God’s intervention.

"We need to stand with our brothers and sisters in Massachusetts and  
pray for victory, pray that the family will be restored in that state  
and we need to pray that — above all — God will be glorified through  
this process."

According to the State House News Service, last week Gov. Deval  
Patrick said that he and the leaders of the House and Senate would  
postpone the vote until they get enough support for gay marriage.

Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which  
is associated with Focus on the Family, said postponing the vote is  
unnecessary and unfair.

"I think the Legislature is going to have significant credibility  
problems if it continues to hold our amendment hostage," he said  
after the vote was postponed last month.

Lisa Barstow, spokeswoman for VoteOnMarriage.org, said the pressure  
in Massachusetts is unbelievable, and prayers are appreciated.

"We are doing all that we can to urge a vote on this. The citizens  
have waited long enough to have this matter resolved," she said.

"We appreciate the support and prayers from around the country. What  
happens in the Statehouse in Boston will certainly continue to impact  
the country. There is definitely a need for national prayer support  
for movement on the marriage issue here."

A CALL TO PRAYER
Please pray Wednesday, specifically during evening church services,  
that God's purposes will be accomplished in Massachusetts and that  
his people would stand up for the truth. Pray also for the  
Massachusetts Family Institute as Kris Mineau and his team battle for  
the restoration of marriage.


----- 11 -----
Science Again Proves Embryonic Stem Cells Unnecessary
Mouse skin cells offer moral alternative as controversial bill goes  
to Bush.
by Jennifer Mesko, associate editor
Focus on the Family
6-12-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004824.cfm

Last week Congress passed, for the third time, an attempt to water  
down the president’s pro-life stance on embryonic stem-cell research.  
President Bush has promised a veto of the legislation. Also last  
week, researchers discovered that skin cells can be converted into  
embryonic-like cells without destroying a life. Coincidence? Similar  
breakthroughs were discovered around the same time as each vote by  
Congress.

[More at URL]


----- 12 -----
Utah Voters Will Decide If School Choice Program Stays
State Supreme Court calls for a November vote.
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
Focus on the Family
6-12-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004823.cfm

After education board attorneys, the state attorney general and  
legislators spent weeks fighting over whether Utah had or had not  
officially passed the nation’s first universal school choice law –  
the Utah Supreme Court settled the fight on Friday by handing it back  
to voters.

State lawmakers voted last spring to allocate up to $3,000 for every  
school-aged child that could be used toward private school tuition.

Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said  
the court's decision means that voters will decide in November  
whether Utah becomes the first state to allow universal school choice.

[More at URL]


----- 13 -----
New York Assembly Poised to Pass Gay-Marriage Bill
Focus on the Family
6-12-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLBriefs/A000004822.cfm

The New York Assembly is set to pass legislation to legalize gay  
marriage within the next two weeks, The New York Sun reported.

"It's very likely that we will pass it this session," said  
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, chairman of the Health Committee.

In April, Gov. Eliot Spitzer introduced a program bill that would  
legalize same-sex marriage. Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, brother of  
Rosie O'Donnell, is the main sponsor of the Assembly bill.

[More at URL]


----- 14 -----
Louisiana Lawmakers Move to Ban Partial-Birth Abortion
Focus on the Family
6-12-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLBriefs/A000004821.cfm

The Louisiana state Senate voted unanimously Monday to outlaw partial- 
birth abortion. It is the first state to do so since the U.S. Supreme  
Court upheld the federal ban, KATC-TV reported. The bill now moves to  
the House.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Ben Nevers, allows one  
exception: if the life of the mother is at stake.

Nevers called the procedure "the most gruesome practice ever  
performed in the United States."

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family Action,  
said even with the parallel federal law, there are several reasons  
for states to implement their own bans.

"By relying on the federal government to prosecute violators," he  
said, "you are putting your state at the mercy of overworked federal  
prosecutors and future administrations in Washington with different  
priorities."

[More at URL]


----- 15 -----
New Hampshire Legislature Repeals Parental-Notification Law
Effort to remove protections for pregnant teens goes to governor.
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
Focus on the Familiy
6-8-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004807.cfm

New Hampshire lawmakers have voted to overturn a state law that  
requires parents to be notified at least 48 hours in advance if a  
minor daughter seeks an abortion.

The Parental Notification Law, passed in 2003, has never been  
enforced. Pro-abortion advocates have tied it up in court.
The U.S. Supreme Court eventually ordered a lower court to try to  
salvage the law.

[More at URL]


----- 16 -----
House Subcommittee Increases Abstinence Funding
Compromise saves key program, but boosts Planned Parenthood role.
by Jennifer Mesko, associate editor
Focus on the Family
6-8-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004808.cfm

In an about-face, a Democratic-led House committee voted Thursday to  
increase funding for a key abstinence-education program.

The Community Based Abstinence Education program (CBAE) is set to  
receive $141 million for fiscal year 2008. That's more than President  
Bush requested ($137 million) and more than in FY 2007 ($109 million).

The action, although promising, still must face the full House, where  
it could be struck or amended. Another source of federal funding,  
Title V, which allocates $50 million for abstinence education, is  
still set to expire at the end of this month.

"We are cautiously optimistic with this preliminary decision," said  
Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst for Focus on the Family Action.  
"This allocation of funds would continue to provide our  
schoolchildren with the primary public health message of abstinence- 
until-marriage education."

Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association  
applauded the vote, telling The Washington Times that abstinence  
education "is a public health message that deserves to be continued."

According to CQ Today, Democrats hope the increase in funding for the  
Community Based Abstinence Education Program will garner support from  
Republicans on spending bills. With bipartisan support, Congress  
hopes to override any veto from Bush.

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, pointed to a  
recent Zogby poll that found 83 percent of parents favor educating  
their children to wait until marriage to have sex.

“Parents want abstinence education for their kids,” Wright said in a  
statement. She noted that the government spends $12 to promote  
contraceptives for every $1 spent on abstinence.

The subcommittee voted to increase Title X family planning funding by  
$27.8 million to $311 million. A good percentage of that goes to  
Planned Parenthood, the nation's No. 1 abortion provider.

Klepacki said family advocates need to get involved.

"Please continue to contact your lawmakers to voice your support for  
abstinence education," she said. "Ask them to vote in favor of this  
appropriation of funds until these funds are secure."

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Watch Stuart Shepard's Stoplight video commentary: "Defending  
Abstinence."

TAKE ACTION
Urge your representative to support funding for abstinence education.

(Paid for by Focus on the Family Action)


----- 17 -----
House Committee Considers Online Gambling
Bill would make online gambling legal again.
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
Focus on the Family
6-8-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000004809.cfm

Congressman Barney Frank told House members he is aware that some  
people struggle with gambling addiction, but he doesn't want to  
protect them.

"Do you prohibit some adults from doing something because a small  
number of adults are going to abuse it?" the Democrat asked. "It is a  
terrible mistake to say the government has an obligation to protect  
adults from making poor choices in matters that affect them."

Frank, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services,  
introduced a bill earlier this year that would make online gambling  
legal.

Frustrated by the passage last year of the Unlawful Internet Gambling  
Enforcement Act (UIGEA), online poker players and foreign Internet  
gambling operators – who stand to lose more than $6 billion a year  
under the UIGEA – are pushing to reverse the law.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the committee, introduced the  
Internet Gambling Regulations and Enforcement Act, H.R. 2046, earlier  
this year. Unlike what the title seems to suggest, it would make  
gambling online legal.

Chad Hills, analyst for gambling research and policy at Focus on the  
Family Action, said Frank was looking for support for his proposal –  
one that would open the 230 million households with computers to the  
assault of predatory Internet gambling operators.

"This invasive legislation again opens the door for thousands of  
Internet casinos to access every Internet-connected home in the  
United States," he said, "without state or voter approval."

The bill would override all federal and state gambling regulations,  
Hills said.

"In 2006 Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement  
Act in order to protect children and households," he said. "Now  
Barney Frank wants to undo that protection and, instead, protect the  
predators."

The Rev. Greg Hogan, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Barberton,  
Ohio, testified about his son who became addicted to online gambling  
– an addiction that led to bank robbery.

"What could have put my son in the state of mind to do that act?" he  
said. "The answer has to do with illegal Internet gambling."

Hills said Frank couldn't be more off-base in wanting to expand  
gambling.

"The National Gambling Impact Study Commission estimates that 15  
million Americans have a problem or pathological addiction to  
gambling, and more underage children are addicted than adults," he  
said. "Counselors today calculate that the number of people with  
gambling addictions averages closer to 20 million. Imagine 285 NFL  
football stadiums filled to capacity – that's how many men, women and  
children have a problem or pathological gambling addiction in the  
U.S. alone."

TAKE ACTION
Ask your representative to oppose Rep. Frank's effort to make online  
gambling legal. If you are a CitizenLink Daily Update subscriber,  
click on the blue "Take Action" button in the e-mail to be  
automatically logged in to our Action Center. Otherwise, click on  
this link.

(Paid for by Focus on the Family Action)


----- 18 -----
No More Gay Benefits in Michigan City
Focus on the Family
6-7-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLBriefs/A000004795.cfm

Kalamazoo, Mich., will discontinue benefits for same-sex partners of  
city employees at the end of June.

The benefit program for gay couples was established in 2002; however,  
in 2004 Michigan residents voted in favor of a constitutional  
amendment to define marriage as solely the union of one man and one  
woman. In March, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled benefits for same- 
sex partners illegal.

[...]

Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan,  
applauded Kalamazoo for being the first city in the state to abide by  
the law.

"We urge Governor Granholm and other state and local government and  
university officials to follow Kalamazoo's lead," he said, "and honor  
the will of the voters and obey the Supreme Court's order."


----- 19 -----
Bill Would Force Pharmacists to Dispense Plan B
Refusal could bring $500,000 fine.
from staff reports
Focus on the Family
6-7-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004799.cfm

Pharmacists who refuse to dispense Plan B, the so-called morning- 
after pill, are being targeted by a bill introduced Wednesday in the  
U.S. House and Senate. The Access to Birth Control Act – the ABC Act  
– would force pharmacists either to dispense the controversial drug  
or face up to a $500,000 fine.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Sen.  
Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

Some pharmacists have refused to give out Plan B because it sometimes  
can cause an early abortion. Wendy Wright, president of Concerned  
Women for America, said medical professionals should have the right  
to opt out.

“It makes no sense to require that pharmacists have to hand over  
drugs without using their professional judgment," she told Family  
News in Focus. "Pharmacists are respected professionals, they are not  
vending machines.”

Planned Parenthood and NARAL back the bill, claiming that pharmacists  
jeopardize women’s health and safety by refusing to dispense Plan B.  
Karen Brauer of Pharmacists for Life International said the pro- 
abortion groups are placing their agenda ahead of pharmacists' judgment.

“Planned Parenthood is out to increase its own business," she said.  
"They are going to trash the health of Americans.”

Joe Giganti, a columnist for Renew America, called the ABC bill  
outrageous, at best.

“The concept of forcing a pharmacy and a pharmacist to prescribe  
something that goes against their moral and scientific beliefs is as  
un-American as one can be.”

(Paid for by Focus on the Family Action)


----- 20 -----
Southern Baptists to Discuss Evangelism and Public Schools
Annual convention is next week.
from staff reports
Focus on the Family
6-7-2007

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004798.cfm

The annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention kicks off next  
week. Leaders will consider a resolution that calls for an exodus  
from public schools and an evangelism plan.

At the 2006 meeting, the past president of the Southern Baptist  
Convention, Bobby Welch, challenged attendees to "witness, win,  
baptize a million people in 12 months."

[...]

The SBC allows members to bring resolutions on issues of importance,  
but not all get a vote on the convention floor. One item that's  
drawing attention is the ongoing effort by Exodus Mandate to ask  
Southern Baptists to pull their kids from public schools. Hall said  
he's doubtful it will make the cut this year.

“Each time that it has been addressed, the resolution committee and  
the convention as a whole has chosen to go in a different direction,"  
he said, "and reject an exit strategy in favor of engaging the culture.”

[More at URL]


----- 21 -----
The New Tolerance
How A Cultural Movement Threatens To Destroy You, Your Faith, And  
Your Children
Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
Focus on the Family

http://resources.family.org/product/id/101899.do?code=CE07FCZL#

How Much "Tolerance" Can We Tolerate?
Best-selling author Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler unmask the true  
nature of the cultural movement of "tolerance" in this powerful  
release. It will not only help you to understand it, but equip you to  
counter its insidious effects on your faith and your children. In  
addition, the authors teach you how to: neutralize this threat by  
discerning truth from error, teach your children to discern between  
acceptance and approval, and lovingly respond to a hostile culture  
that seems willing to tolerate just about anything except biblical  
truth.


----- 22 -----
In defense of Dr. Dobson
WorldNetDaily
Posted: June 7, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Tom Minnery

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56048

In the wake of the Supreme Court's April 17 decision in Gonzales v.  
Carhart, which upheld the federal law against partial-birth  
abortions, a furor broke out after my boss, Dr. James Dobson, praised  
the ruling on the grounds that it will save the lives of preborn  
children.

He was attacked ferociously by a small group of pro-lifers who say  
the ruling did no such thing, because the justices explained how  
other methods of late-term abortion could be used to replace the one  
they had just thrown out.

Now if I tell you that a road to town is partially washed away, will  
you call me a liar if there are other roads that still take you to  
town? You won't unless you want to purposely misrepresent what I told  
you. And that's the nature of the attack on Dr. Dobson. He rightly  
pointed out that for the first time since 1973, one road to abortion  
has sustained legal damage, and truly that is a tremendous  
encouragement, for until Carhart, no Supreme Court ruling has upheld  
an attempt to close such a road to abortion. We all understand that  
other roads exist, and we know that new ones can be built.

[...]

Carhart was significant for yet another reason. The court  
acknowledged for the first time since 1973 that an abortion procedure  
could be prohibited because of "ethical and moral concerns,"  
including the observation that "some women come to regret their  
choice to abort the infant life they once created and sustained."

By accepting and defending Congress's right to base an abortion law  
on moral concerns, the Court punctured the hot air balloon that has  
carried the abortionists' lie since 1973 – that a preborn baby is a  
blob of tissue that the mother needn't think about in human terms.  
One need only read Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's outraged dissent on  
this issue or the dozens of editorials written by abortion advocates  
since the decision to realize just how deeply this part of the  
Court's opinion cut. Pro-lifers have been waiting a long time to hear  
such moral concerns validated in a Supreme Court opinion.

Liberals have been hoping since the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision  
that morals-based legislation was dead, and that abortion, assisted  
suicide, pornography and the like would no longer be a valid concern  
of legislatures or Congress. The Carhart decision should be an  
encouragement to all Americans that we have not plunged into that  
abyss after all.

[More at URL]