[Active-seattle-l] [Active-l] (NEWS) Today's Cultural Warfare Update
Dara (R'ykandar Korra'ti)
kahvi at murkworks.net
Tue Jan 17 18:47:02 PST 2006
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I haven't been getting my Focus on the Family updates lately. I don't
know why; maybe they've sussed me out! I hope not. If they have, well,
it's not like I can't get another email address and sign right back up.
@whee. Today's FotF main broadcast is all about why Alito needs
confirming and now; I haven't transcribed any of it because I'm so late
already. I'll poke at that later. Tomorrow is Part 2, I'll give it a
listen and see whether there's anything interesting in it. But now,
today's news:
Eastside fundamentalist pastor Ken Hutcherson to seek national boycott
of Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard over their support for GBLT rights
protections; to announce boycott on Focus on the Family's main daily
broadcast;
Focus on the Family calls for stronger anti-"indecency" legislation,
including higher fines;
FotF unhappy with US Supreme Court ruling on Oregon assisted-suicide
law;
FotF action item to mail legislators just in general about
anti-abortion issues;
Massachusetts wants churches to have same accounting requirements as
other non-profits; FotF calls it a violation of the first amendment;
FotF wants laws against "drive-by porn"; I actually think that video
screens should be positioned in such a way that they can't be seen by
other drivers, too, because god _damn_ those things are distracting. I
think they're hazards to navigation;
Monday's Family News in Focus;
Washington Times: theoconservatives mostly divided or staying out of DC
Republican Majority Leader race, though the Discovery Institute prefers
Rep. Boehner for his pro-creationism actions in the past; really,
they're happy with all of the candidates;
Concerned Women for America condemns Golden Globes over awards for
_Brokeback Mountain_, _Desperate Housewives_, other shows and films
they hate;
LA Times article on fundamentalist groups working with the Bush
administration to push their agenda overseas;
CWA applauds Laura Bush for pro-abstinence comments;
Family Research Council demands immediate vote on Alito;
FRC ACTION ITEM to get anti-marriage petitions in to your churches by
Sunday, January 22nd so they can be gotten to the Secretary of State on
time;
FRC unhappy with Supreme Court over assisted-suicide ruling;
American Family Association applauds Ohio decision to keep "Intelligent
Design"-related "Teach the Controversy" materials in their science
classes;
AFA's AgapePress newsbriefs upset that a gay actor played a Christian
missionary in "Tip of the Spear"; also criticises Golden Globe awards
for _Brokeback Mountain_, plugs Hutcherson's anti-Microsoft/HP boycott,
and includes a note on a possible Conservative revisiting of marriage
rights in Canada;
Focus on the Family interview with Jan LaRue, Concerned Women for
America; includes a pro-Alito ACTION ITEM;
Democratic senator Ben Nelson (Nebraska) to vote for Alito; ACTION ITEM
to thank him;
FotF complaints about delay in Alito committee vote;
FotF: "Intelligent design loses in California";
San Francisco reacts badly to anti-abortion poster campaign.
----- 1 -----
Boycott sought over bill backing gay rights
By RACHEL LA CORTE
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
The Associated Press
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/
2002744288_gayights17.html
OLYMPIA ? A pastor has called for a national boycott of Microsoft,
Hewlett-Packard and other businesses that have come out in support of a
gay civil-rights bill, saying Monday that the companies have
underestimated the power of religious consumers.
The Rev. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church of Redmond ?
also home to Microsoft ? said he would officially make the call for the
boycott Thursday on a national conservative talk-radio show, "Focus on
the Family."
"We're tired of sitting around thinking that morals can be ignored in
our country," he said. "This is not a threat, this is a promise. Check
out the past presidential election. We made the moral issue the No. 1
issue."
[...]
Hutcherson said he has the support of several national organizations,
including the Family Research Council, Southern Baptist Convention and
Focus on the Family. Several of those organizations' offices could not
be reached after hours Monday.
The Rev. Joseph Fuiten, a Bothell pastor who is chairman of Faith &
Freedom Network, an organization that opposes the bill, said the
boycott is a signal "that we're out here, too."
"These companies should stick to their business, make their widgets,"
he said. "Why are they trying to engineer social policy for America?"
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
Senate Needs to Consider Broadcast Indecency Legislation
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Pete Winn, associate editor
January 16, 2006
Overwhelming support has not equaled passage.
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039212.cfm
It has been nearly two years since billions of viewers watching Super
Bowl XXXVIII saw singer Janet Jackson's breast exposed during a raunchy
half-time performance.
In the months following that incident, thousands of people called for a
crackdown on broadcast indecency. Congress even obliged with
legislation.
So, what happened to it?
"We've seen several good bills come up through both the House and the
Senate, but none of them have been passed yet," said Daniel Weiss,
media and sexuality analyst at Focus on the Family Action.
----- 3 -----
Federal Government Can't Stop Oregon Assisted Suicide
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Pete Winn, associate editor
January 17, 2006
Supreme Court says the U.S. attorney general does not have the
authority.
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039227.cfm
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the attorney general does not
have the power to keep doctors in Oregon from using federally
controlled substances to kill their patients.
In a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the high court
upheld a lower court ruling which barred the attorney general from
enforcing federal law against Oregon doctors who help their patients
commit suicide under the state's 1994 assisted-suicide law.
Justice Antonin Scalia was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and
Justice Clarence Thomas in dissenting from the majority in the case,
which is known as Gonzales v. Oregon. Thomas also issued a separate
dissent.
[More at URL]
----- 4 -----
Take a Stand for the Sanctity of Human Life
Send a clear message to your federal and state elected officials
Focus on the Family
January 16, 2006
http://www.family.org/cforum/action_center.cfm/
This is Sanctity of Human Life Week -- the perfect opportunity to take
a public stand for the value and dignity of all human life.
We've made it easy for you to do that. Just fill in the blanks below
and click the "Send Message" button to send a simple message to several
of your state and federal elected officials.
We've even written the message for you: "During this Sanctity of Human
Life Week, I wanted you to know that I believe all human life is sacred
-- and that I intend to cast my votes in the future only for men and
women who share that conviction."
Of course, if you'd like to create your own message, or add to ours,
you can edit what we've written.
Thank you for taking a stand for righteousness on this important issue.
[More at URL]
----- 5 -----
Massachusetts May Get Access to Church Financial Record
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Josh Montez
January 17, 2006
Churches tell lawmakers it isn't necessary, it'll be expensive, and
it's un-constitutional.
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0039211.cfm
In an effort to restore people?s faith in the Catholic Church, after
sex abuse scandals caused church closings and changes in organizational
structure, lawmakers want all churches to disclose their financial
records to the state?s Attorney General. Laura Everett with the
Massachusetts Council of Churches doesn?t think the bill is necessary.
?Churches around the Commonwealth are committed to financial
transparency that?s not what?s up for debate here. The question is how
and where that happens ? there are internal mechanisms and they vary by
church theology and polity.?
The bill could cost some churches up to $10,000 annually for accountant
fees. Everett says it also requires them to inform the attorney general
if they intend on passing the offering plate to collect tithes.
?What it really does do, is it removes the exemption from churches. In
terms of the state you?re no longer a church, you?re a non-profit and
so you?re subject to all the non-profit statutes.?
[More at URL]
----- 6 -----
Laws Lacking in Prosecuting Porn on Wheels
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Terry Phillips
January 17, 2006
Waiting for a stoplight can make you a victim of what they call
"drive-by porn."
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0039210.cfm
The continuing march of technology brings us many good things? some of
which can veer into the bad. The growing phenomenon begins with the
latest on-board car-toy?the DVD screen. They're great at keeping the
kids occupied with cartoons on a long drive?. but Daniel Weiss, an
analyst at Focus on the Family, says now they've gone somewhere else.
"Where Law Enforcement pulls someone over because they're displaying
obscene material in their car."
And sometimes, those drivers are sharing it?.perhaps unknowingly?with
those in the cars around them, which may mean you and your kids.
[More at URL]
----- 7 -----
Family News in Focus (Broadcast)
Focus on the Family
January 16, 2006
http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Family_News_in_Focus/Archives.asp
* Pro-family groups step up pressure on lawmakers to pass broadcast
indecency bill
* Sex offenders pose serious threat to churches?.we?ll look at the
problem
* Sunday is 33rd anniversary of Roe v Wade. Pro-life groups and
churches around country are commemorating event
* New poll reveals that today?s teens aren?t as liberal as many people
think
[Transcription unavailable; their server isn't up. Maybe this is
related to why I haven't gotten mailings, either]
----- 8 ----
Conservatives divided on leader's race
By Amy Fagan and Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
January 16, 2006
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060115-115033-6384r.htm
Conservative activists and interest groups who were instrumental in
supporting Rep. Tom DeLay are split on whom to back or whether to
choose sides at all in the race to succeed the Texas Republican as
House majority leader.
Paul Weyrich, founder of the Free Congress Foundation, and Morton
Blackwell, founder of the Leadership Institute, said Rep. Roy Blunt's
efforts at cultivating conservatives will pay off for the Missouri
Republican.
"I am very much in favor of Roy Blunt. I think he's done an excellent
job as the acting majority leader, and I don't see any reason to change
that," Mr. Weyrich said.
[...]
Bruce Chapman, president of the Discovery Institute think tank, would
not endorse a candidate but praised Mr. Boehner for his efforts to
allow students to hear evidence both for and against evolution.
[...]
Michael Franc, vice president of government relations for the Heritage
Foundation, said his group might have endorsed a candidate if the race
were between a conservative and a more liberal Republican, but said
that each man is a strong conservative.
[More at URL]
----- 9 -----
CWA?s Crouse says, ?Golden Globes Goes Political?
Concerned Women for America
1/17/2006
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/9916/MEDIA/misc/index.htm
Washington, D.C. ? Concerned Women for America (CWA) says that by
winning four awards, Brokeback Mountain was the clear victor at last
night?s Golden Globes award ceremony. About male homosexual
sheepherders who hide their affair for decades, the movie has garnered
critical accolades with limited showings in selected theatres, while a
massive public relations campaign paves the way for more mainstream
success ? and, seemingly more important, spreading acceptance of
homosexuality.
Other nontraditional movies also captured awards: Felicity Huffman, a
star in the television series Desperate Housewives, won best actress
for her role as a male who undergoes a sex change operation in the
movie Transamerica. Philip Seymour Hoffman won best actor for his
portrayal of homosexual Truman Capote, author of Breakfast at
Tiffany?s, in the movie Capote.
[More at URL]
----- 10 -----
Conservatives Step Up Activities Overseas
By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer
9:50 AM PST, January 14, 2006
latimes.com : National News
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-exporting-
culture-wars,1,1990693.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines
NEW YORK -- From Peru to the Philippines to Poland, U.S.-based
conservative groups are increasingly engaged in abortion and
family-planning debates overseas, emboldened by their ties with the
Bush administration and eager to compete with more liberal rivals.
The result is that U.S. advocacy groups are now waging their culture
war skirmishes worldwide as they try to influence other countries' laws
and wrangle over how U.S. aid money should be spent.
[...]
Liberal activists believe long-term trends, notably the empowerment of
women through education and jobs, work in their favor throughout much
of the world. But they acknowledge that U.S. conservatives have gained
clout overseas -- and intimidated some foreign advocacy groups --
because of their influence on Bush administration policies.
"The collaboration of right-wing NGOs and the Bush administration far
exceeds any collaboration between pro-choice family groups and the
Clinton administration," said Frances Kissling, president of Catholics
for a Free Choice. "We never had that kind of hand-in-glove
relationship."
She said the Bush administration, with limited power to impose
conservative social policies at home, has implemented some foreign-aid
restrictions demanded by the religious right -- such as the so-called
"global gag rule" that denies federal family-planning money to any
foreign group that even discusses the possibility of abortions for
clients.
[More at URL]
----- 11 -----
First Lady Laura Bush Speaks Out for Abstinence
Concerned Women for America
1/17/2006
By Janice Shaw Crouse
http://www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?
id=9913&department=BLI&categoryid=education
How refreshing!
First lady Laura Bush is currently in Africa to talk about the human
rights of women and to promote the President?s agenda to eradicate
HIV/AIDS. When reporters tried to push her into a corner to get an
anti-abstinence response from her, this is what happened, according to
The Washington Times:
"I'm always a little bit irritated when I hear the criticism of
abstinence, because abstinence is absolutely 100 percent effective in
eradicating a sexually transmitted disease," Mrs. Bush said, before
tying her answer in with one of the major themes of her trip, women's
rights in Africa.
"In a country or a part of the world where one in three people have a
sexually transmitted deadly disease, you have to talk about abstinence,
you really have to," she said. "In many countries where girls feel
obligated to comply with the wishes of men, girls need to know that
abstinence is a choice."
[More at URL]
----- 12 -----
Alito Vote Now
Family Research Council
January 16, 2006 - Monday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2006 CONTACT: Jessica Prol
202-393-2100
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR06A14&f=PG03I03
"We support an up or down vote sooner rather than later."
~ FRC President Tony Perkins
Washington, D.C. - Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council,
released the following statement regarding the Senate confirmation
hearings:
"Democrats must stop their stalling tactics and prepare to vote on
Alito as planned. Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA), has stated that he is
ready for the full committee to cast its vote as early as Tuesday,
January 17th.
"In a January 6th press conference, ranking Committee member Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) agreed to a good faith intention to have the full
committee meet on the 17th. The commitment to vote on Tuesday was one
that left room if something extraordinary came up.
"Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Leahy are
threatening to delay the vote. This despite Senator Dianne Feinstein's
(D-CA) comments over the weekend that she sees nothing 'egregious'
coming from Judge Alito to justify a delay.
"Senators on the committee have known about their responsibility since
November and have grilled Judge Alito to obtain the information needed
for a responsible decision. It should not be extraordinary for Senators
to complete the job for which Americans pay them. We support an up or
down vote sooner rather than later."
-30-
----- 13 ----
Take Action: Florida Marriage Petitions Must Be Submitted ASAP!
January 17, 2006 - Tuesday
Forward to a Friend!
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AL06A02&f=PG03I03
Monday, January 23, 2006 is the final mailing deadline for submitting
petitions to protect one-man, one woman marriage in the Florida
constitution. To get all of the petitions submitted to Florida's
Division of Elections office before the legal deadline (February 1,
2006), every Florida4Marriage.org petition must be mailed on or before
Monday, January 23, 2006. After this date petitions should be sent via
overnight or express mail to 4853 South Orange Avenue, Orlando FL 32806
and not to the Longwood, Florida address listed on the petition.
Remember these two important dates:
Sunday, January 22, 2006:? This could be the last day for churches to
collect petitions in time to get them mailed in before the deadline
above.? While we do not recommend waiting this late to collect
petitions, any petitions collected in church services on Sunday,
January 29, must be sent by overnight mail to the above Orlando
address.
Wednesday February 1, 2006:? This is Florida's ultimate legal deadline
for all 67 county Supervisors of Elections to receive, count, verify
and report the total number of signatures to the State Division of
Elections in Tallahassee.? Please turn in all petitions as soon as
possible and do not hold any petitions until the deadline.
[More at URL]
----- 14 -----
The Supreme Court gets it wrong again
Family Research Council
by Bill Saunders
January 17, 2006
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WL06A137
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Today the Court issued its holding in Gonzalez v. Oregon.? Writing for
the majority, Justice Kennedy held that the Federal Controlled
Substances Act did not prohibit Oregon from allowing its doctors to
prescribe such substances in order to cause the death of a patient, in
accordance with Oregon's law allowing physician-assisted suicide.
[More at URL]
----- 15 -----
IDN Spokesman Urges Teaching Students Criticisms of Darwin's Theory
By Jim Brown
January 17, 2006
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/afa/172006d.asp
(AgapePress) - A leading intelligent design (ID) proponent is
applauding a decision by the Ohio Board of Education to retain a lesson
plan that teaches biology students about the debate over evolution and
the scientific criticisms of that theory. The board's recent vote is
the latest development in a three-year dispute over what to teach
sophomore biology students about the origins of life in the state's
public schools.
The Ohio Board of Education voted 9-8 to keep the science lesson
curriculum called "Critical Analysis of Evolution," which encourages
students to examine the scientific strengths and weaknesses of Charles
Darwin's theory of evolution. John Calvert of the Intelligent Design
Network (IDN) once testified before the board in favor of the lesson
plan.
[...]
When schools teach students only the evidence in favor of evolutionary
theory, Calvert contends, they are effectively promoting atheism,
agnosticism, and deism -- ideologies of which evolution is a
fundamental tenet. He believes the Ohio Board of Education's decision
is important from a religious standpoint because students would
otherwise be presented with only a dogmatic atheistic perspective on a
central human question.
[More at URL]
----- 16 -----
Commentary & News Briefs
January 17, 2006
Compiled by Jenni Parker
American Family Association
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/afa/172006h.asp
...Hollywood's promotion of sexual immorality was on full display last
night (Jan. 16) at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, where Brokeback
Mountain -- a film about two homosexual cowboys -- won four awards,
including best drama. Many critics believe the win positions the
controversial film for an Academy Award. Meanwhile, homosexual and
gender-bending themes abounded during last evening's Golden Globes
presentation, which also featured key wins by Philip Seymour Hoffman
for his portrayal of homosexual author Truman Capote in the film Capote
and by Felicity Huffman for her role as a pre-operative male-to-female
transsexual in Transamerica. [Fred Jackson]
...Questions and concerns have been raised over the fact that an actor
playing the dual role of a slain evangelical Christian missionary and
his son in the fact-based film End of the Spear is an openly homosexual
"gay rights" activist. Television, stage and film actor Chad Allen came
out publicly as a homosexual in a 2001 issue of the gay publication The
Advocate and has since been outspoken on a number of homosexual issues,
including taking part in a Larry King Live forum on same-sex marriage
-- all of which leaves some Evangelicals surprised at his selection to
play a dual role as two Christian characters in End of the Spear.
[...]
...A Seattle-area pastor is calling for a national boycott of
Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Nike and other companies that support a
homosexual civil rights bill in Washington state. Rev. Ken Hutcherson
says he will issue the boycott Thursday on Focus on the Family's radio
broadcast. He's targeting companies that signed a letter urging the
addition of "sexual orientation" to a state law that bans
discrimination in housing, employment and insurance based on race,
gender, age, disability, religion, marital status and other factors.
Hutcherson says homosexuality is none of the above, but rather a
question of morals. Spokesmen for Microsoft and Boeing say they do not
plan to withdraw their support for the bill. [AP]
...A Canadian evangelical leader says his country's legalization of
homosexual marriage could be reversed if the Liberal government loses
next Monday's national election. Rev. Tristan Emmanuel says Canada's
Conservative Party has said it is "prepared to revisit the marriage
issue, so that it's not a done deal." New polls show the Conservatives
with a double-digit lead. Emmanuel, who heads the Equipping Christians
for the Public-square Centre in Ontario, says Canadian Christians have
traditionally been disengaged from politics, and docile in the face of
Liberal government initiatives. He says, "The hope is that the church
in Canada wakes up, gets engaged." [AP]
----- 17 -----
A Christian 'Street Fighter' Battles for Life
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
January 17, 2006
SUMMARY: An interview with Jan LaRue, a veteran pro-lifer.
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0039226.cfm
Jan LaRue knows firsthand that the decision to kill a
preborn child leaves a scar forever. The chief counsel for
Concerned Women for America also wants people to know
there is grace to be found in Jesus Christ.
The Washington Post paid homage to her in a recent
article. The generally left-leaning paper described LaRue
in a favorable article as a Christian "street fighter" who
is "armed with a law degree."
"LaRue took the long road to Washington, arriving by way
of darkness and light," Post reporter Marcia Davis wrote.
"Her life story is a dramatic one that includes
molestation, self-described heavy drinking and
promiscuity, and dropping out of high school. And she will
tell you, with great regret, she had an illegal abortion.
She eventually ended up a divorcee and a single mom before
she found another man to love and a God to save her."
[...]
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0039226.cfm#jump
TAKE ACTION: Let your senators know that Judge Samuel
Alito deserves an up-or-down vote on the floor of the U.S.
Senate. You can find contact information in the
CitizenLink Action Center.
http://www.family.org/cforum/action_center.cfm?capwizurl=http://
www3.capwiz.com/fof/dbq/officials/
[More at URL]
----- 18 -----
Democratic Senator Announces Support for Alito
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 17, 2006
[Received in email; no URL]
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., who has been receiving a stream
of calls from constituents asking him to back the
nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court,
today became the first Democrat to publicly announce his
support.
?I have decided to vote in favor of Judge Samuel Alito to
serve as the 110th Justice of the United States Supreme
Court," he said. "I came to this decision after careful
consideration of his impeccable judicial credentials, the
American Bar Association's strong recommendation and his
pledge that he would not bring a political agenda to the
Court.?
Nelson had been the target of advertisements by Focus on
the Family Action calling for him to back the nominee.
TAKE ACTION: Call or e-mail Sen. Ben Nelson and thank him
for taking a stand and announcing his support for Alito.
You can contact him through the CitizenLink Action Center.
http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/bio/?id=10748&lvl=C&chamber=S
----- 19 -----
Democrats Delay Committee Vote on Alito
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 17, 2006
[Received in email; no URL]
Democrats have succeeded in delaying a vote of the Senate
Judiciary Committee on the nomination of Judge Samuel
Alito to a position on the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a statement, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the ranking
Democrat on the committee, said he and Chairman Arlen
Specter, R-Pa., had reached an agreement to schedule a
committee vote on Jan. 24 -- one week from today.
The vote had been set for today.
"In our conversations over this weekend, Chairman Specter
and I reached an agreement regarding how the Committee
should proceed to consideration of the Alito nomination.
We agreed to proceed on Tuesday, January 24.
"This allows all senators, Republicans and Democrats, to
conclude Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday events without
having to rush back to Washington before the Senate
returns to session," Leahy said. "In accordance with our
discussion, there is no need to proceed with a business
meeting . . . January 17. This arrangement accommodates
Republicans and Democrats."
Leahy said he had assured Specter that no Democratic
Senator will hold the matter over on Jan. 24.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Judiciary
Committee and former Texas Supreme Court justice, was
furious.
"The delay is clearly not because more time is needed to
consider his nomination," he said, "Many of us wanted to
begin Judge Alito's hearings in December, but we agreed to
delay them until this month -- as part of the 'good faith'
understanding -- in order to give every member of the
committee more than enough time to consider the
nomination. The committee has now had far longer to
consider Judge Alito's nomination than it had to consider
either of President Clinton's nominees, Justices Ginsburg
and Breyer.
"I am therefore left to conclude that committee Democrats
breached the good faith understanding because they have
acceded to the 'you name it, we'll do it' tactics of the
hard-left groups who have been intent on defeating Judge
Alito's nomination from the moment it was announced."
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, will meet in caucus Wednesday
to discuss the Alito nomination. One issue reportedly on
the table for consideration is whether the Democrats will
filibuster the nomination.
----- 20 -----
Intelligent Design Loses in California
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 17, 2006
[Received in email; no URL]
California's El Tejon school district canceled an elective
course on intelligent design after a group of parents
filed a lawsuit charging the class was a violation of the
separation of church and state, Fox News reported.
Rather than go to trial, Frazier Mountain High agreed to
eliminate "Philosophy of Design" from the choices offered
at that school. In the settlement, officials agreed never
to offer a "course that promotes or endorses creationism,
creation science or intelligent design."
"This sends a strong signal to school districts across the
country that they cannot promote creationism or
intelligent design as an alternative to evolution, whether
they do so in science class or a humanities class," said
Ayesha Khan, legal director for Americans United for
Separation of Church and State.
John Wight, superintendent of the El Tejon school
district, said the course was suitable for a philosophy
class. The potential financial burden of a long drawn-out
court case deterred the district from a fight.
Last month a school district in Dover, Pa., lost a battle
to teach intelligent design alongside evolution in biology
classes.
----- 21 -----
Bay Area Rejects Pro-Life Message
Focus on the Family
Newsbriefs
January 17, 2006
[Received in email; no URL]
Some San Franciscans, unhappy with a series of pro-life
ads on display at train stations, have tried to disrupt
the message with vandalism, San Francisco Gate reported.
The ads, placed by the Roman Catholic group Respect Life
Ministry, carry the message, "Abortion: Have we gone too
far?" People are directed to a Web site for The Second
Look Project.
Respect Life Ministry paid $43,200 for the ads, which were
placed the day after Christmas and are slated to run
through the end of January.
Abortion activists have demanded the ads be removed, but
officials said there is no reason to.
"We're not in the business of censorship and don't believe
a government agency should be in the business of
censorship," said Linton Johnson, spokesperson for Bay
Area Rapid Transit (BART). "It shouldn't be up to a
government official to determine whose opinion is right
and whose is wrong."
Monika Rodman, coordinator for Respect Life Ministry, said
hundreds of ads have been defaced with markers, had
stickers placed over them or simply been torn down.
"The defacement has taken to religious epithets, profanity
-- everything you can think of," she said.
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