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 Student gets F grade for mentioning God 'He told me you might as well write about the Easter Bunny' Bethany Hauf, a freshman at Victor Valley Community College near San Bernadino, wrote the G-word 41 times in a paper titled "In God We Trust," examining the role of religion in government. She included "God" despite being told not to by adjunct English instructor Michael Shefchik. "He said it would offend others in class," Hauf, 34, told the Daily Press. "I didn't realize God was taboo." The mother of four from Apple Valley, Calif., is now demanding an apology from the school, as well as a regrading of her 10-page report. "I don't lose my First Amendment rights when I walk into that college," she said. Ten Commandments Disallowed in Courthouses WASHINGTON -- A sharply divided Supreme Court on Monday upheld the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government land, but drew the line on displays inside courthouses, saying they violated the doctrine of separation of church and state. Sending dual signals in ruling on this issue for the first time in a quarter-century, the high court said that displays of the Ten Commandments _ like their own courtroom frieze _ are not inherently unconstitutional. But each exhibit demands scrutiny to determine whether it goes too far in amounting to a governmental promotion of religion, the court said in a case involving Kentucky courthouse exhibits. In effect, the court said it was taking the position that issues of Ten Commandments displays in courthouses should be resolved on a case-by-case basis. Battle on Teaching Evolution Sharpens By Peter Slevin WICHITA – Propelled by a polished strategy crafted by activists on America's political right, a battle is intensifying across the nation over how students are taught about the origins of life. Policymakers in 19 states are weighing proposals that question the science of evolution. The proposals typically stop short of overturning evolution or introducing biblical accounts. Instead, they are calculated pleas to teach what advocates consider gaps in long-accepted Darwinian theory, with many relying on the idea of intelligent design, which posits the central role of a creator.
Court backs atheist mother in scout case The 6-3 decision is the latest development in a long-running battle by an atheist mother to prevent the Boy Scouts from recruiting in Portland schools because the organization requires a belief in God. The new ruling sends the case back to the state school superintendent for conciliation efforts to resolve the dispute. The district, meanwhile, is considering adopting a policy that could ban Scouts from recruiting during school hours. Christian group at IRCC can show 'Passion' film By Sandra Hong FORT PIERCE — Under threat of a civil-liberties lawsuit, Indian River Community College officials announced Wednesday that they will lift the college's ban on campus groups showing R-rated movies. The change will enable a Christian student club to show The Passion of the Christ, which the college barred the club from showing on campus last fall because of its R rating. At the same time, IRCC officials said they will continue to set an "appropriate atmosphere" on campus by requiring all student activities requests to be reviewed by a 12-member committee. This committee — which would include a student member and two community members not affiliated with the college — would ensure all public exhibits, activities and events on campus are consistent with "college mission and community involvement." "We want to have a campus where everyone feels comfortable here," HenriSue Bynum, associate dean of arts and science, said Wednesday. "We want to make sure those wanting to express their ideas are able to do so and those not wanting to hear those ideas don't have to." Philadelphia accused of 'abuse of power' The attorney for the Christians known as "the Philadelphia 4" who were arrested for protesting at a homosexual event last year defended his clients on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" last night, saying city officials are guilty of "abuse of power." Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney at the American Family Association's Center for Law & Policy, appeared on the program to talk about the case. Also appearing was Charles Volz, a legal adviser to the homosexual "OutFest" event. Christmas music banned, then unbanned from bus Is Christmas music the target of a school district in Illinois? Some parents believe it is, and they went to bat last night looking to overturn a new ban silencing music from the radios of school buses. Sandy Hartogh says she found out about the no-music policy when her children rode the bus home last Friday, and she and her husband retained a lawyer to challenge the edict. The attorney, Andy Norman, sent a letter to officials of the school district stating: Your order that no Christmas carols may be played under these circumstances constitutes an illegal suppression of the rights of our clients' children under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also reflects illegal hostility directed against Christianity. Respectfully, demand is made that you immediately rescind this order and allow Christmas carols to be played in the buses along with other music. Christmastime event is no-Christian zone In the latest skirmish over Christmas in America, a Christian group is not allowed to participate in Denver's annual Parade of Lights, because church members sought to sing yuletide hymns and proclaim a "Merry Christmas" message on their float. However, the event, now in its 30th year, will include homosexual American Indians, Kung Fu artisans, belly dancers and, of course, Santa Claus. Activists take issue with churches, flags By BILL THOMPSON
When it was learned that the attacks were executed by Muslim extremists, many closely tied to and wholeheartedly supportive of the theocratic regime that ran Afghanistan, questions emerged in the Western world about how strong a role of religion plays in running the government. Three years and two wars hence, patriotism still runs high, as
American flags blanket the landscape. And many wonder about Islam's role not
only in shaping the future of Afghanistan and Iraq, but in influencing Western
countries through violence. Federal judge in Seattle delays Ten Commandments ruling THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE -- A judge has put off a decision on a lawsuit seeking removal of a Ten Commandments monument outside the Everett police headquarters until the Supreme Court rules on two similar cases. U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik announced the delay Tuesday shortly after the high court said it would review rulings on a Ten Commandments monument at the Texas Capitol and a framed copy of the commandments in a Kentucky courthouse. Opponents say the displays violate the First Amendment ban on government endorsement of any religion. Federal court rulings around the country have been split on the issue. Christian Group Settles With Fla. Transit Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. - A conservative Christian group will be permitted to promote its anti-homosexuality conference on bus shelter ads under a settlement reached in a federal lawsuit, the group said Tuesday. Focus on the Family had sued the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority over its refusal to advertise the February 2000 "Love Won Out" conference, which promoted a theory that homosexuality can be "prevented" or overcome through prayer and religious practice. The group, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., was refunded nearly $5,000 it paid to have posters installed in bus shelters before the seminar. It sued, arguing the government cannot limit advertising because it fears the message might offend some people. Falwell wins lawsuit over Web site name
RICHMOND — A federal judge has ruled that a homosexual activist
must stop using a variation of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's name in the address
for a Web site critical of the conservative television evangelist. Google bans Christian ad Google has banned a Christian organization's advertisements promoting its stance against homosexuality, saying the group promotes "hate." Stand to Reason, a nonprofit apologetics organization, says its "AdWord" advertisement on Google recently was pulled down. Specific AdWord ads are listed in the right-hand margin of search results on the popular site when key words an advertiser submits match with those put in by a Net user. A company promoting hats, for example, could have their site displayed when a user searches for information about hats. MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH Two pro-life advocates have filed a federal lawsuit claiming one was berated as a "Jesus freak" and "extremist" and the other kicked out of Connecticut by state troopers because of their provocative anti-abortion signs. Pro-life advocates use "Truth truck" to speak out against abortion. After five days in Boston to demonstrate at the Democratic convention, Michael Marcavage and Dennis Green were driving a truck with panels that display large photographs of aborted children when they were pulled over by trooper David Febbraio as they approached Bridgeport, Conn., July 29. Anti-hate regs discriminate against Christians? Some Christian employees of American Airlines think the company's anti-harassment policies – which include a warning not to place a Bible in a Muslim's cubicle – discriminate against them. The warning was included in a written reminder of the company's workplace policies. One of the examples of what might be "considered to be harassment under company policy" was: "Placing a Bible in a Muslim co-worker's cubicle, which could support a claim for harassment." Christian video gamers temper violence with virtue By Sarah Linn PORTLAND, Ore. — In the world of Christian video games,
players sport the armor of God, the best weapon is a ball of holy energy known
as a "smite," and demon-possessed Roman soldiers drop to their knees
in prayer when they are hit. Just how to make the jump to the mainstream, finding producers for Christian games and getting them on store shelves will be the focus of a small conference this month in Portland that about 100 people are expected to attend. Christian platform ripped as offensive
President Bush and the Republican Party in his home state of
Texas are being criticized by Democrats on the touchy issue of whether America
is a Christian nation. An official of an organization affiliated with the Democratic National Committee castigated the action. ACLU warns La Mesa to stop religious invocations SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES LA MESA – The American Civil Liberties Union sent a warning
letter to the La Mesa City Council today, urging the panel to discontinue invocations
that include specific references to Christianity. The letter asks Mayor Art Madrid and members of the council to adopt a policy ensuring that future invocations are non-sectarian, according to the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. "A person's religious beliefs should not be a barrier to participating in government activities," said ACLU attorney Watson Branch. Family gets to have faith set in stone April 30, 2004 BY NATASHA KORECKI Staff Reporter After fighting nearly a year in court -- and with some neighbors -- a Chicago family won the right to place a religious phrase on a Chicago Park District brick, a federal judge ruled Thursday. U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo ruled the Chicago Park District violated the First Amendment rights of Robert and Mildred Tong when officials refused to allow the phrase "Jesus is the Cornerstone" on a brick the family bought for a park fund-raiser. 'Bible as hate speech' signed into law © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com Canada's governor general, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, signed into law yesterday a controversial measure opposed by religious believers and free-speech advocates who say it will criminalize public expression against homosexual behavior. The bill, passed 59-11 by the Senate on Wednesday, adds sexual orientation as a protected category in Canada's genocide and hate-crimes legislation, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. Roy Moore loses appeal Posted: April 30, 2004 A special court unanimously upheld the decision of the Alabama Supreme Court to oust Chief Justice Roy Moore for his refusal to remove a Ten Commandments monument. The Special Alabama Supreme Court, which voted 7-0, will issue its opinion today, according to a spokeswoman for Moore, Jessica Atteberry. Pope's stance on life support leaves Catholic hospitals in limbo A statement by Pope John Paul II that health care providers are morally obliged to provide food and water to patients in persistent vegetative states has left church officials uncertain what impact it would have at the United States’ more than 600 Catholic hospitals. The statement, made March 20 but only translated into English on Thursday, raised major questions in the church’s decades-long debate over how far health-care providers should go to keep alive people who have been in deep comas for long periods. Move afoot in Florida to protect Ten Commandments in constitution By DAVID ROYSE TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Fearing the Ten Commandments and other religious staples are under attack, a group of conservative Florida lawmakers are joining a national push to amend the U.S. Constitution to allow posting of the commandments in schools, courts and other public places. The move comes in the wake of several court fights across the country over the biblical commandments' place in American public life. Last week Alabama's chief justice was thrown off the bench for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state Supreme Court. Texas judges OK 10 Commandments © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas, has ruled a Ten Commandments monument on the state Capitol grounds does not violate the U.S. Constitution by establishing a state-sponsored religion. Thomas Van Orden, a homeless man, had sued, claimed the monument was a government endorsement of Judeo-Christian values. In its ruling, the appeals panel agreed with the state, which argued the Ten Commandments are historical in nature because they provide a foundation for Western law. Alabama chief judge suspended MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended
by a judicial ethics panel yesterday for his refusal to obey a federal court
order to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Judicial Building
rotunda. Supreme Court to Consider Case on 'Under God' in Pledge to Flag NY Times The Supreme Court added the Pledge of Allegiance to the docket for its new term on Tuesday, agreeing to consider whether public schools violate the Constitution by requiring teachers to lead their classes in pledging allegiance to the flag of "one nation under God." The justices, who begin their daily sessions with heads bowed as the marshal intones "God save the United States and this honorable court," accepted a case that, like the affirmative action and gay rights cases of the last term, places the court at the center of a public controversy. Justice Antonin Scalia, who has made clear his view that the pledge is constitutional, will not participate, raising the possibility of a 4-to-4 tie.
Swim Coach Punished for Sharing His Faith A swim coach in the suburbs of Colorado was forbidden to teach swimming at a public facility after he was accused of using "offensive language." The "offensive language" in question was the Gospel. According to the coach, he felt that it was his duty, in addition to teaching the children how to swim, to also give them important life lessons as well. Included in this, was sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In mid-October 2001, the coach received a letter from the Northglenn
city recreation director stating that he would no longer be permitted to be
on the premises of the city recreation facility where he taught. Many parents
were upset by the banning and petitioned the city to find out why he was banned.
The city responded that the coach had used "offensive language." The
disconserted father knew that the coach was Christian, and he talked with the
aquatic director who told him that the coach was always "preaching."
The father contacted Alliance Defense Fund and on December 5, 2001, a U.S. district
judge granted a motion for a preliminary injunction that allows the swim coach
to return to work at the pool.
Is it ever right for a person of faith to ignore a court order? Eventhough the Ten Commandments Monument is out out public sight in Alabama, the debate over it is far from over. The stand made by Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore over the Ten Commandments monument leaves us with a major question, is it appropriate — or even necessary — for Christians to disobey a court order? There are many scholars who feel that the situation demands that Justice Moore defy the court order. among them is former United Nations ambassador Alan Keyes. "Roy Moore has an obligation under the Alabama Constitution, under his oath of office to the people of Alabama, but also under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution," said Keyes, who wrote his Ph.D dissertation from Harvard on constitutional theory. The 14th Amendment basically prohibits state officials from any action that infringes upon the rights of citizens. Section 1 specifically states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Keyes was quoted as saying that: "One of those rights, guaranteed by the first and tenth amendments to the Constitution, is the right of the people in and through their states and state governments to reverence God according to their constitutionally determined choice, that is by the vote of the majority in their state." Ambassador Keyes feels that since that is what the people of Alabama have done, Moore is now morally and constitutionally obliged to defy the order to remove the monument. Some do not take such a defiant view though, as they fear the erosion of democracy. Wendy Wright, senior policy director at Concerned Women for America, whom herself has been arrested six times for her pro-life activities. She said Christians must ask themselves: "Will (violating the law) just cause anarchy or will it promote the better following of God's law?" GM's Diversity Policy Excludes Religious-Based Employee Groups (CNSNews.com) - General Motors' corporate policy of allowing employees to create "affinity groups" is the target of a discrimination complaint after one employee says his request to organize fellow workers for Christian-related activities was rejected. Click
here to read the full story at CNSnews.com Prayer in Jesus’ Name Gets Top Executive Fired Religious discrimination is showing up in one of the most unlikely of places. A top executive from the Christian-friendly conservative organization Parents Television Council (PTC) has been fired after three months of employment. It is Dennis Mansfield's claim that he was terminated over a prayer that used the name of Jesus. At a fundraiser for PTC president and founder L. Brent Bozell III, who had suffered a heart attack days earlier, Mansfield asked Dr. Ted Baehr, director of the Christian Film and Television Commission, to end the evening with a prayer for Bozell's health. He ended this prayer with the line, “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Dr. Baehr later said that “I wouldn't think of closing a prayer -- especially a prayer for healing -- without the name of Jesus.” It was reported that several people walked out during the prayer, and Mr. Mansfield went to find out why. “They said, ‘How dare you bring up Jesus in a environment like this. How dare you do that. Don’t you know that offends me?’ ” he recalled. “I went to work the next day and the consultant for the PTC, a longtime friend of Mr. Bozell's, just (berated) me. (The person said) ‘How dare you bring that man up? How dare you speak in Jesus’ name. Don’t you realize that you just caused a huge rift in Hollywood because of Jesus' name?’ ” The next day Mr. Mansfield went on a scheduled vacation. When he returned he said he received an e-mail from Brent Bozell that he had been fired. The PTC later denied he had been fired for the prayer at the fundraiser, because Mr Bozell does not oppose the mentioning of Jesus.
A recent brutal murder in Chicago displays the hypocritical double standard
that surrounds "hate crime" legislation. In this case, a homosexual
male killed a female co-worker after she told him God would not approve of his
lifestyle. It is highly doubtful the police will consider this a crime motivated
by hate, or that the media will portray it as "anti-Christian." Relatives of the victim say she was only trying to help by witnessing to Gutierrez. Prosecutors dismissed a hate crime charge as irrelevant because they are charging
Gutierrez with murder and are considering the death penalty. Click here to read reaction of the murder from the 'Gay' community! NPR Station Bans the Mention of God from its Airwaves A Colorado National Public Radio station has bitten the hand that feeds it by telling a dentist he can’t use the word “God” in his sponsorship announcements of its programming. Dr. Glenn Rutherford has the phrase “Gently restoring the health God created” appear on all the materials for his Pagosa Springs, Colo., practice. So it seemed only natural to include it in his spots sponsoring the programs on KSUT-FM. But he was informed the station’s staff universally agreed it could not air continue airing his theme with the word “God” in it. “I was a little incensed the station could run gay and lesbian coalition sponsorship spots — but I couldn’t mention God in mine?” Rutherford said. KSUT station manager, Beth Warren, wrote a letter claiming in part: “The station is bound by (Federal Communications Commission) rules for public broadcasting, and works daily to comply with lots of regulations set forth by Congress.” However, current FCC rules do not prohibit public broadcasters from mentioning God on the air. |
