BMAT
Moral Action Committee
Watchman Report
#59 11/25/2005BMAT
Moral Action Committee
Watchman Report
#59 11/25/2005
Click on an article to view OR scroll through the document:
1. U.S. seen vulnerable to a space 'pulse' attack
2. Analyst: Military's Proposed Quashing of Religious Expression Could Be Contagious
3. Religion is Under Attack in America
4. Roe v. Wade Not 'Super-Duper Precedent,' Legal Panel Says
5. Crime-Fighting Icon Urges Congress to Act for stringent sex-offender registry
6. U.S. Congress Pass Analog to Digital TV Conversion bill Without "Multicast/Must-carry Provisions"
7. Congresswoman Introduces H. Con. Res. 302, a Resolution Supporting the National Motto
8. People of Massachusetts Want to Vote for Marriage
9. Court Says Schools Can Make Students Imitate Muslim Practices
10. No Litmus Tests for Judges--So Long As they're Liberal
11. Republican House Leader wants Tax Relief for Casinos Liquor stores
12. Hollywood starting to hit the Mark with Christians
13. Thousands of Protest Letters are delivered to the ACLU
14. Soldiers Not Sold on 'Mecca' Merchandise on U.S. military bases
15. Hindus Target Christians in India
16. President Bush's Visit to Beijing Church Emphasizes Religious Freedom
17. Kidnapped House Church Pastor Released after US President Left Beijing
18. AFA Founder Urges Pro-Family Holiday Season Shoppers to Shun Target
19. Its amazing what your clicks can do for home schooling
20. Blue law: professional schools of Law and journalism have become a one party state
21. College Course Equates Creationism with Mythology
22. Seattle conference Trains Gay Leaders
23. Pro-Gay-Marriage Jewish Leader called not Jewish
24. Pastor is Punched in the Eye during Service
25. Coach Sues Over Right to Pray With Team
26. Family Advocacy Group Succeeds in Pulling 91 Advertisers from Playboy TV Show
Nov. 23 2005 Prophecy Watch
The
United States is highly vulnerable to attack from electronic pulses caused by a
nuclear blast in space, according to a new book on threats to U.S. security.
A single nuclear weapon carried by a ballistic missile and detonated a few
hundred miles over the United States would cause "catastrophe for the nation" by
damaging electricity-based networks and infrastructure, including computers and
telecommunications, according to "War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take to
Prevail in the War for the Free World."
"This is the single most serious national-security challenge and certainly the
least known," said Frank J. Gaffney Jr. of the Center for Security Policy, a
former Pentagon official and lead author of the book, which includes
contributions by 34 security and intelligence specialists.
An electromagnetic-pulse (EMP) attack uses X-rays and gamma rays produced in a
nuclear blast in three separate waves of pulses, each with more damaging
effects, and would take months or years to repair, the book states. The damage
to unshielded electronics would be irreversible.
The EMP danger was highlighted recently by a special congressional commission
that has received little public attention and is considered a unique way for
rogue states such as North Korea and Iran, or other enemies such as al Qaeda, to
use nuclear weapons in the future.
Al Qaeda is known to be seeking nuclear weapons, according to documents
uncovered at the terrorist group's facilities in Afghanistan.
The group could use a freighter equipped with a short-range ballistic missile to
fire a nuclear missile over the United States, the book said, noting that North
Korea sells its own version of the Scud for around $100,000.
North Korea, in recent nuclear talks in Beijing, threatened to export its
nuclear weapons, and Iran already has tested a Scud-missile launch from a ship.
An EMP attack would damage the national power grid, unprotected computers and
all devices containing microchips, from medical instruments to military
communications, and knock out electronic systems in cars, airplanes and those
used in banking and finance and emergency services.
"An EMP attack potentially represents a high-tech means for terrorists to kill
millions of Americans the old-fashioned way, through starvation and disease,"
the book said.
"Although the direct physical effects of EMP are harmless to people, a
well-designed and well-executed EMP attack could kill indirectly far more
Americans than a nuclear weapon detonated in our most populous city."
November 21, 2005 Chad Groening Agape Press
A
military analyst and West Point graduate is concerned that the draconian
restrictions that could be imposed on Air Force chaplains could also spread to
the entire Defense Department community. The proposed sanctions on Christian
proselytizing, has prompted more than 70 members of Congress to ask the
president to intervene.
Four Air Force officers have joined a lawsuit filed by two other plaintiffs claiming that senior officers and cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy illegally imposed Christianity on others at the school. The suit has prompted Air Force officials to consider a new set of guidelines on religious conduct in the Air Force. But U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bob Maginnis is concerned that this could lead to religious intolerance in the military.
Maginnis says the "draconian sanctions" that would be imposed under the proposed guidelines "could very easily go across the entire armed services so that the entire Defense Department would be completely void of any open expression of one's faith."
That is why Maginnis says he is pleased that more than 70 members of the House and two senators want President Bush to take action in the matter. He says a letter signed by those individuals, calls on the president to issue an executive order "protecting the right of people of faith to be open about their faith."
Maginnis says he has no doubt that restrictions of religious expression will spread if not sanctioned now. "And that's why those ... congressmen are calling for the president to provide an executive order saying that you can't do this," he says. "You have to give these people the right to speak out, especially chaplains." He asserts that if chaplains are prohibited from doing that, it makes one wonder why the military even has chaplains.
The letter signed by the national lawmakers stated they had learned that in all the military branches "it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying" -- and that "the current demand in the guidelines for so-called 'non-sectarian' prayers is merely a euphemism declaring that prayers will be acceptable only so long as they censor Christian beliefs." They described such guidelines as restrictive and suppressive.
Nov. 22, 2005 Bobby Eberle GOPUSA News
A
new poll released this week reveals some disturbing findings, yet the results
can hardly be called surprising. Americans, by a clear majority, feel that
religion is “under attack” in America. From schools, to department stores, to
public display, more and more, the religious is being replaced by the secular.
According to the poll American Attitudes toward Religion in the Public Square, sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, 64% of those surveyed agreed with the statement that “religion is under attack” in America. Only 32% disagreed with that statement. Among those who consider themselves fundamentalist / evangelical / charismatic Christians, the result rose to 80%.
As covered in a news story by CNSNews.com, the ADL national director, Abraham H. Foxman, said the poll implies that “American public opinion is starkly divided when it comes to the role of religion in the public square.” The story goes on to quote Foxman as saying:
Unfortunately, too many people believe that religion is under attack in America, when in fact according to all measurements, religion is stronger in the United States than in any other Western country.
In this case, Foxman seems to take two facts and use them to draw a false conclusion. Religion may indeed by “stronger” in the minds of individuals of faith, but that doesn’t mean that religion isn’t under attack. All one has to do is go shopping in any store and see that even the words “Merry Christmas” have disappeared, being replaced by the bland “Season’s Greetings.”
According to the poll, 64% agree with the statement that “it is important that religious symbols like the Ten Commandments be displayed in public buildings such as court houses,” while 32 percent disagree. Again, when the poll focused on fundamentalist / evangelical / charismatic Christians, the number rose to 89%.
56% of the overall respondents favor the teaching of the biblical story of creation alongside evolution in public schools as “equally valid explanations for the origins of human life,” according to the poll results found on the ADL web site. The number rose to 70% among evangelical Christians.
In comments following the release of the poll, Foxman added:
It is unfortunate that those who would like to Christianize America seek to use the concerns reflected in this survey toward goals which would turn America into a very different place than the one that has been so open to all religious perspectives.
Open to all religious perspectives? Did I read that correctly? What about the Christian perspective. Christians across America are not looking to shut out religious perspectives, and we are certainly not looking to force or impose our beliefs on others. However, what is clear in today’s society is that many groups seem to be “open to all religious perspectives” except Christian ones. Muslim studies are being allowed, but displays of Christianity are not. I could go on and on.
Despite what Foxman may call “starkly divided” public opinion, it is clear that most Americans are on the same page when it comes to religion our country. We are seeing the slow erosion of religious symbols, practices, and even holidays under the direction of left-leaning groups. This year, let’s all consider putting “Season’s Greetings” in the closet and wish our Christian friends a very Merry Christmas.
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Quoteworthy: --- "We must never forget that no government schemes are going to perfect man. We know that living in this world means dealing with what philosophers would call the phenomenology of evil or, as theologians would put it, the doctrine of sin. There is sin and evil in the world, and we're enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might." —Ronald Reagan |
Nov. 22, 2005 Randy Hall CNSNews.com
A
panel of conservative and libertarian lawyers Monday dismissed the concept that
the Roe v. Wade decision is a "super-duper precedent" that should not be
re-examined even if Judge Samuel Alito sits on the U.S. Supreme Court.
"I think it's ridiculous for anybody to say that there is some 'super-duper
precedent' in Roe v. Wade that is absolutely inviolate," Janet LaRue,
chief counsel with Concerned Women for America, said during the discussion,
which focused on "Conservative Perspectives on the Alito Nomination."
The Supreme Court "does and should consider its precedents very seriously
because we do need stability and predictability in the law," she stated.
"However, the truth is that the Supreme Court has reversed itself on numerous
occasions."
LaRue pointed to the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation ruling
"when the Supreme Court came to its senses and finally recognized that the very
text of the 14th Amendment should make it clear to anybody who can read that
separate isn't equal." LaRue said that decision overruled a precedent which had
been in place for nearly 60 years.
"Precedent is not as settled as the left would have us believe, especially if
they poured the concrete," LaRue added. "It depends on the issue and the court,"
though LaRue said she considers Roe v. Wade "an embarrassment to the
Constitution."
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, who served as moderator of the event, noted
that the concept of Roe v. Wade as a 'super-duper precedent' was first
articulated by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) during his questioning of John
Roberts, who was then President Bush's nominee for chief justice of the Supreme
Court.
Manuel Miranda, chairman of the Third Branch Conference, a coalition of more
than 200 judicial watchdog organizations, said the Supreme Court has made
"super-duper errors" that were later reversed.
"The notion of a 'super-duper precedent' suggests that some precedents work
their way into other decisions so that when you go after that precedent, you end
up moving the foundation of a series of decisions," Miranda said. "It doesn't
mean you have to abide by the same error that created so many problems.
"It's not just that Roe was a bad decision, but ultimately, the peace that was
supposed to arrive when everyone settled down and accepted this decision has
never come," he added.
Instead, the issue of abortion "has contaminated the entire political process,
contaminated the entire federal judicial process, even contaminated the
nomination of an assistant secretary of state to Foggy Bottom," Miranda said.
"All these things are now influenced by a person's views on abortion."
Roger Pilon, vice president for legal affairs at the libertarian Cato Institute,
noted that liberals' respect for precedent is fairly recent: "Now that they have
jiggered the Constitution into a shape of their liking, they're all for" letting
earlier decisions stand.
"This is purely disingenuous," Pilon said, although he said he expects to hear
Democratic senators state that position again and again during the Alito
confirmation process.
Miranda said he expects liberals to spend a great deal of time in the hearings
discussing the letter Alito wrote in 1985 that stated he did not believe the
Constitution protected a right to abortion.
"I view the 1985 statement and how he's handling it a little bit like I view my
marriage," Miranda added. "I learned when I got married that my personal views
really don't matter much. That's how a judge approaches a decision as well. His
personal views don't matter much."
Fitton said he's come to the conclusion that the hearings don't matter much,
either.
"I'm beginning to think the only useful thing about the confirmation process is
the FBI background check," Fitton said. "At least that assures us that the
nominee is ethical and of good character."
"Hearings of the kind we have are a new phenomenon," Pilon said. "Through most
of our history, the president sent the name of his nominee up to Capitol Hill
and, in some cases, the person was voted on that very day.
"That was all there was to it because they understood the difference between
politics and law," Pilon added. "We have lost that distinction."
Nov. 22 2005 Citizen Link
John
Walsh, host of "America's Most Wanted," appealed to Congress today to sign into
law more stringent sex-offender registry guidelines before year's end.
Walsh, whose son was abducted and murdered in 1981, is co-founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC is a key contributor to H.R. 3132 and S. 1086 -- identical bills that would create a national system for sex-offender registry and community notification.
"How many more children and other victims need to suffer before our elected officials do the right thing and pass this legislation?" Walsh said. "Enough is enough. We see what these predators do and we know how easily they disappear."
Currently lawmakers are set to adjourn without sending a bill to President Bush. Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC, said keeping the ball rolling on such an important bill is critical.
"We can't wait another week, another month, another year, for this legislation to become law," Allen said. "Statistics from the U.S. Justice Department show that 67 percent or reported sexual assault victims are children.
This is powerful testimony to the fact that children are at risk and we must do something to stop it. Passing this legislation, this year, will be a step forward in helping to reduce the risk."
Walsh agreed that lawmakers need to act quickly. "They owe it to Carlie Brucia, Jessica Lunsford, Shasta Groene and all the other precious children who were abducted, abused and murdered by repeat sex offenders," he said.
Nov. 19 2005 Christian Coalition of America
Bill Which Makes $50 Billion in Budget Cuts Wins by Margin of 217-215 on Party-line Vote
This
morning, two hours after midnight, the United States House of Representatives
passed the Deficit Reduction Act, H.R. 4241, ("bill to provide for
reconciliation" on the budget for Fiscal Year 2006) by a margin of 217-215 with
$50 billion in budget cuts with all 200 Democrats voting no (Democrat
Congressmen Boswell and Towns did not vote at all). Also after midnight, the
United States Senate by a margin of 64-33, voted for S.2020, their version of
the bill "to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 (b) of the
concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006."
Both bills included legislation regarding the conversion from analog television to digital television, but both bills did not include the "Multi cast/Must-carry" legislation to protect religious broadcasters from discrimination.
Christian Coalition of America is putting together a national grassroots campaign working to ensure a vote on "Multicast/Must-carry". The House leadership has promised to pass "Multicast/Must-carry" legislation. Senator Lindsey Graham, (R-SC), will lead the effort to attach the "Multicast/Must-carry" legislation in a second digital television bill.
Please continue to ask your representatives to support "Multicast/Must-carry" and religious broadcasters. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard 202-225-3121 or you can go to http://www.cc.org/contactcongress.cfm and call your Congressman and 2 Senators (202-224-3121) to insist on a "Multicast/Must-carry" Amendment to any Digital Television transition bill.
Nov. 19 2005 Christian Coalition of America
Atheist
Michael Newdow -- who successfully got the Pledge of Allegiance removed from all
public schools in the Western States under the ruling by the 9th Circuit Court
of Appeals in San Francisco -- filed a lawsuit to get rid of America's national
motto: "In God We Trust". He wants to remove "In God We Trust" from all U.S.
Coins and dollar bills. He says that it is an unconstitutional endorsement of
religion and "excludes people who don't believe in God."
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis,(R-VA), in introducing H. Con. Res. 302, a Resolution supporting the national motto of the United States of America, "In God We Trust", said, "In God we trust is an expression of confidence in our future. We should not let those four powerful words be stripped from our buildings and currency."
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Quoteworthy: "It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors."-- George Washington (Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789) |
Nov. 22 2005 Citizen Link
A
signature-collecting campaign to allow voters to decide the definition of
marriage in Massachusetts has well exceeded the 65,825 signatures required,
according to VoteOnMarriage.org.
Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, said the group set out to get 120,000 signatures and is on target to reach that number. The excess would help ensure that the secretary of state will certify enough signatures to qualify the petitions. A stray pen mark, a coffee stain or a minor misspelling can eliminate an entire sheet of signatures from consideration.
"I credit this phenomenal effort," Mineau said, "to thousands of citizen volunteers and over 1,200 communities of faith -- including Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim -- who have worked tirelessly to give every citizen in the commonwealth a voice in how marriage is defined."
Mona Passignano, state issues analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said in every state where people have had the opportunity to constitutionally define marriage, they have done so overwhelmingly.
"The remarkable success of this petition drive will send a strong message to the Legislature that the people of Massachusetts want the opportunity to vote on a state marriage amendment," she said.
The hurdle in Massachusetts is set high: The marriage amendment must pass both houses in two consecutive sessions by a 25 percent margin before it can be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.
"Whether the Massachusetts Legislature listens to the voice of the people will be determined in the next two sessions," Passignano said. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has said lawmakers must make sure the issue of same-sex marriage "never, ever appears as a question on the ballot."
Mineau said that kind of representation is unacceptable. "Citizens must insist that their elected representatives act honestly and ethically and allow this vote to occur," he said. "Then, and only then, will the matter of marriage be settled in Massachusetts."
Nov. 22 2005 Pete Winn, associate editor
Pro-family attorneys say ruling would have been different if it was about Christianity.
The
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is at it again. A three-judge panel has
rejected a lawsuit brought by two California students and their parents, who
challenged the way a northern California school district taught about Islam.
The decision was not "published," meaning it will not serve as precedent, although it certainly gives insight into how the judges on the 9th Circuit are thinking.
The parents accused the Byron Union School District, in Byron, Calif., of unconstitutionally endorsing a religious practice, according to Edward White, a Thomas More Law Center attorney who represented the parents.
White said his clients did not object to their seventh graders learning about Islam — they objected to what amounted to indoctrination.
"The students were put in the position of being more like trainees of Islam, rather than students learning about a particular religion," he said.
The materials handed to the children informed them that during the simulation they would "become Muslims."
"The materials had, in bolded letters, statements such as, 'Remember Allah always so that you may prosper,' " White said.
As part of the two-week instruction, the students took Islamic names, wrote those names on ID tags that carried a star and crescent and wore them around their necks.
"They memorized prayers and recited them in front of the teacher," White said. "They made these banners which said, 'In the name of God, the most gracious, most compassionate. Praise be to God,' and put them on the walls of the classroom."
Students also had to memorize parts of the Quran, and play a dice game called "The Jihad."
"They also engaged in the Five Pillars of Faith," White said, which included fasting during the month of Ramadan, "in which students were encouraged to give up candy; for extra credit they could give up a sandwich for lunch or TV."
The tasks, he said, were presented directly — and not prefaced by saying, "Muslims believe thus and so."
"The school district tried to say that the parents didn't want Islam taught in the schools," White said. "That's not true. They had no opposition to the materials being taught.
"The classroom went from being a place where students learned about the religion to a place where students actually learned the religion," White said, calling what went on "a catechism class in Islam."
Crampton said the textbook in the Byron case -- "Across the Centuries" -- is also problematic, and he is pursuing a case with another parent in California who was shocked when she read the textbook in question.
Eric Buehrer, president of Gateways to Better Education, said "Across the Centuries" is both confusing and misleading.
"Frankly it miss educates students," he said. "For instance, the textbook flat-out says that the God of Muhammed -- Allah -- is the same God worshipped by Christians and Jews. Now I don't think any of the three religions -- Christianity, Islam and Judaism -- would agree with that statement, and yet that's what's being taught."
White, meanwhile, said he plans to appeal the case to the judges of the entire 9th Circuit -- and may go to the U.S. Supreme Court, if needed.
Peter Brandt, senior director of Government and Public Policy for Focus on the Family Action, said this decision is just another reason why the 9th Circuit -- the most overturned judicial district in the country -- needs to be scrapped and rebuilt.
"We're aware of what the House did in voting to split apart the 9th Circuit, but it really doesn't go far enough," he said. "That would simply leave the same bad judges in place. Congress has the power to tear it down and start over. The time has come to explore that possibility."
TAKE ACTION: Please contact your senators and ask them to support efforts to scrap the 9th Circuit and completely reorganize it. For help in contacting your lawmakers, please see the Citizen Link Action Center.
http://www.family.org/cforum/action_center.cfm?capwizurl=http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/dbq/officials/
Nov. 21 2005 Family Research Council
Senator
Joe Biden (D-Del.) is rumbling and grumbling. He's saying he may filibuster the
nomination of Judge Sam Alito. Oh, he wouldn't filibuster over abortion, Biden
suggests, but over apportion. Yes, it seems that Judge Alito in that
now-famous 1985 letter to Ed Meese expressed some reservations about the Supreme
Court's rulings on legislative apportionment. No one has fought against the
Supreme Court's "one person, one vote" rulings of the early 1960s in 30 years.
It's highly doubtful Judge Alito would seek to overturn Baker v. Carr
(1962) now. kicking up a fuss over that long-ago issue can give the chin-pulling
Biden an opportunity to look "thoughtful." Meanwhile, Senator Ted Kennedy
(D-Mass.) recently told NBC's Meet the Press, "I am opposed to any litmus
tests for any nominee."
According to research by majority Judiciary Committee staffer Tom Jipping,
however, Kennedy's voting record shows he has taken part in 1,896 judicial
confirmations since coming to the Senate in 1962. Of the 812 judicial nominees
presented by Democratic Presidents, Kennedy did not opposed one. To him,
JFK, LBJ, Carter and Clinton never proposed a single judge who was less than
fully qualified or frankly too liberal to sit on the bench. But Ted Kennedy
voted against 27 nominees offered by Republican Presidents. Ted Kennedy
has voted against more nominees for the federal judiciary than any other
senator in history! He has no litmus tests, though. He'll vote to confirm
liberals of both parties.
Nov. 21 2005 Family Research Council
House
Majority Leader Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) has announced that the House of
Representatives will not consider H.R. 4297, the Tax Relief Extension Act
of 2005, this week. As it stands now, this bill does not contain tax
breaks for casinos, liquor stores, massage parlors, etc. That's not the way it
should remain.
Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) are appealing to the House leadership to keep such tax breaks for questionable outfits out of the bill that finally goes to a House-Senate Conference Committee. I commend both of these gentlemen for their efforts. What we can do is to continue to let our Members of Congress hear from us--loud and clear--that we want no tax benefits for such sleazy companies. They never had them before. Katrina should not change that. Katrina was an ill wind--she should not blow these characters any good.
Nov. 18 2005 Candi Cushman Citizen Magazine
When
you paid to see The Passion of Christ, you sent a signal that
even Disney could hear. That's just one reason why The Chronicles of
Narnia will open big on Dec. 9.
It's not often that conservative churchgoers and Hollywood movie producers share a common interest. But they will on Dec. 9—when The Walt Disney Co. debuts its movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in theaters nationwide.
Based on the beloved children's classic written more than 50 years ago by the celebrated Christian apologist C.S. Lewis, the movie is a much-anticipated event—not only in religious circles, but also among Hollywood's top brass.
The Chronicles, a series of seven books, has sold more than 85 million copies. The first book in the series, upon which the Disney movie is based features a Christ like character—Aslan the lion king—who sacrifices his own life to save another. Aslan is resurrected, freeing his kingdom from a witch-induced winter and prompting a spring thaw.
While the movie is made to appeal to all audiences, the "Gospel message" still "rings loud and clear in our film," Rick Dempsey, one of Disney's senior vice presidents and also a member of Biola University's Studio Task Force, assured Citizen.
The fact that any major movie studio—much less Disney, which was boycotted by pro-family groups for the last eight years— is willing to bankroll a story with Christian symbolism is evidence of a thaw in Hollywood, according to several industry insiders.
They told Citizen that religious subjects once considered taboo are now being discussed as profitable projects. But how long will this sunny climate last?
The answer could depend on moviegoers like you.
The announcement of Disney's release of The Chronicles coincided with Southern Baptist leaders' statement this June that they were calling off their eight-year boycott of the Magic Kingdom. The boycott was launched in 1997 after Disney began hosting "gay days" at its theme parks and funding crude, violent movies through its controversial Miramax label.
But now, "we believe the boycott has made its point," and the Narnia movie is "one of several steps that have been taken [by Disney execs] to clean up their act," said Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
In addition to releasing Narnia, this year Disney parted ways with the founders of its Miramax label, who were known for controversial films like Pulp Fiction. Then there was the departure of Disney CEO Michael Eisner, whom Land blames for pushing Disney away from its family-entertainment base.
Eisner left the company this September, after being ousted through a no-confidence vote by Disney's shareholders. "The princeling of darkness has exited the building," Land said. "And we have seen a change in direction, more family friendly fare coming from Disney. And I would say, particularly, the poster child for that is The Chronicles of Narnia."
Meanwhile, Land, who represents some 16 million Southern Baptists nationwide, is getting phone calls from Hollywood. "I've had contacts with entertainment studios and corporations that have said, 'We'd like to talk to you about some projects...and we don't want to needlessly offend your constituency," he said. "They've always done so on a condition of anonymity. And you can understand why—because they would face withering ridicule in their own communities."
November 21, 2005 Citizen Link
Liberal
group is being urged to back off.
Union (ACLU) on Thursday, but was not allowed to deliver them at the front door.
The letters carried a strong message that many Americans are tired of the group's efforts to snuff religion from the public square.
The Rev. Rob Schenck, chairman of Faith and Action, went to the ACLU's headquarters in New York to hand the letters to the group's president. But once he got there, he was told to take them to a loading dock at the back of the building.
The ACLU did not return calls for comment.
Schenck objects to how the ACLU regularly treats people of faith.
"They go in, they harass communities, they use up taxpayer dollars by filing lawsuits over everything from nativity scenes to displays of the Ten Commandments to crosses, or any other vestige of our Judeo-Christian heritage," he said.
Schenck said the incident that pushed him over the edge was a suit to remove a Ten Commandments display from a small Ohio school district. After it won, the ACLU sued for legal fees.
"The ACLU doesn’t need any reimbursement. The ACLU took in $150 million in contributions last year," Schenck said. "They have now demanded $80,000 from the school district there. We said that’s enough."
Alan Sears, president of the Alliance Defense Fund, agreed it's time for the ACLU to get the message.
"It’s ridiculous what the ACLU has done to the people of this country," he said, "and what they’ve done to especially small towns and small school districts officials with their campaign of fear, intimidation and disinformation."
November
21, 2005 CNSNews.com
Some U.S. military
veterans are upset that bases across the country are selling a clothing line
called "Mecca: Since Day One," which is made in Pakistan.
Many veterans and active military interviewed by Cybercast News Service view the
name and slogan on the civilian hip-hop clothing line as a direct reference to
the Islamic holy city in Saudi Arabia, and they do not think it is appropriate
for such items to be sold at the military's Post Exchange (PX) System on U.S.
military bases.
"What’s going on here?" asked one active duty soldier about to be deployed to
Iraq, after seeing the name of Mecca and the slogan "Since Day One" on numerous
pants and shirts at a U.S. Army base inside the U.S.
"Guys are getting shot at in the Middle East, and the wives and kids of the
military veterans have to come to the base and buy this stuff?" explained the
army soldier, who did not want to be identified for this article. He also noted
that he believed the military would probably not sell any clothing lines that
could be construed to be Christian-themed.
"Being a Marine, of course I believe that the Army has sold out to political
correctness," said Marine Lt. Col. Rick Miles after being shown a Mecca t-shirt
purchased from an Army PX. Miles is currently home on leave from Fallujah, Iraq.
Mary Nagle, whose daughter is with the U.S. Army Reserve Military Police
stationed in Qatar, said her first impression was to think of Islam when viewing
the Mecca t-shirt.
"I think people would think of Islam, and it's something that they would not
want to be involved with," Nagle said. "What we have seen so far in the foreign
land having to do with Mecca [is that it] has to do with killings," Nagle added.
The clothing manufacturer Mecca USA, claims that the name was derived from the
hip-hop slang term for the Manhattan borough of New York City and has no
affiliation with the holy city of Islam.
However, Cybercast News Service discovered that the hip-hop slang term for
Brooklyn is Medina, the other holy city of Islam.
Hip-hop music is said to have a heavy Islamic influence dating back to at least
the 1960s, having become very influential by the late 1980s. And the
substitution of the name "Mecca" for Manhattan may have its roots in an Islamic
group known as the Five-Per-centers, a breakaway sect of the Nation of Islam.
Nov. 21 2005 Gary Lane CWNews
India
is the world's largest democracy, yet Christians are persecuted there in greater
numbers than just about any other country. One mission organization says at
least 30 acts of persecution and violence take place against Indian Christians
every month. Yet Indian missionaries are pressing on, despite the costs.
Hindu radicals caught on amateur videotape attacking Christian students at a train station in Kota, India. The students were peacefully on their way to a Bible School graduation ceremony. Yet, the Christian victims of this attack—not the Hindu perpetrators—were taken to the police station and held overnight for questioning.
In another incident widow Satyaveni Raju cries, mourning the loss of her pastor husband, Isaac Raju. Pastor Isaac had introduced many Hindus, who were willing, to Christ. But, last summer, he was maimed and murdered by radicals opposed to his evangelistic efforts.
Satyaveni explained that her husband "went to the bus stand, and then disappeared for several days. We did not see him again until my son and I were called to the mortuary. I could not identify him. Because his face was totally peeled off. They brutally killed him. I was only able to identify him by his clothes, undergarments and the scars on his legs."
In yet another incident, Hepsibah's husband Daniel was martyred about a week before Pastor Isaac. Pastor Daniel had also won many willing Hindus to Christ, yet his outreach caused militant Hindus to make numerous threats against him.
But Daniel's murder took Hepsibah by surprise. She said, "I never thought it would happen like this. I thought they would just beat him, or threaten him, but I never imagined they would kill him."
Daniel's death has caused great hardship for Hepsibah and her family. Yet she believes her husband's murder was God's will, not an unjust act.
Hepsibah told us, "God will never do injustice. My husband is in Heaven. Now, let God's will be done in my life, as well. There can be no greater happiness and blessing than to know my husband died a martyr for Christ."
While most Indian Christians look to God for eternal security, they still expect their government to do all it can to protect them from attack while here on earth.
Christians had high hopes and great expectations when the Congress Party returned to power here in 2004. It was thought the Congress Party would better protect the rights of minorities.
But that hasn't been the case. Already, this year alone, more than 200 acts of violence have been perpetrated against Christians. It's not happening in big cities, like here in Delhi, but in the remote areas of India.
Jay Kumar is an Evangelist, and he told us, "I am very happy because I prayed for this gift and God has given me this gift."
The ‘gift’ missionary Jay Kumar speaks of is the ‘gift of persecution.’ Here is how he received it.
Jay and five other students from the Gospel for Asia seminary were attacked, early this year, in a remote area of India's Kerala State. A mob of militant Hindus were angry because Jay and the other evangelists shared the Gospel with Bangladeshi. They are immigrants, workers at a brick kiln factory. Surprisingly, Jay says he was rejoicing and praising God as the Hindus were beating and kicking him. The beating was bad enough that Jay was hospitalized.
Jay said, "...That particular moment, when I was beaten, I was praising God because he counted me worthy to suffer for Him!" Other evangelists told us of similar experiences.
Am Gopal is also an evangelist. He explained, "…They just caught me by my shirt and my collar and pulled me down, and then started to hit me with blows and kicks. Some people from the crowd were screaming and saying, ‘Bring the gun, bring the revolver and shoot him’."
Evangelist Ram Gopal is with the New Delhi based India Evangelical Team. They train missionaries and send them into the harvest field. Most of them will serve in remote, rural villages—in dangerous, un-reached areas and Hindu strongholds.
Pastor Shaji Verghese is with the India Evangelical Team, IET. He says the goal is to plant nearly 8,000 churches throughout India by 2010. So far, more than 4500 churches have been started.
Pastor Varghese added, "We are growing because God is with us. And the Bible says ‘If God is with us, who can be against us?’ So, we don't care about the persecution. Let it grow. The souls will be saved, even more, at a higher speed."
Those coming to Christ in the greatest numbers are the Dalits—commonly referred to as ‘the untouchables." Many are poor, uneducated and jobless.
Christian missionaries offer them a way out of their misery—a hope they cannot find in the Hindu caste system.
Despite restrictive laws, beatings and even death, Indian missionaries are determined to press on—ignoring both risks and costs.
Pastor Varghese told us with confidence, "India will become a Christian country in the days to come. So, keep praying for our nation. We have taken up the challenge. No matter what happens, we will go and lovingly conquer this India for our Christ."
November 21,
2005 CNSNews.com International Editor
(CNSNews.com)
- President Bush ended a visit to China on Monday, making freedom to worship a
dominant theme by putting a visit to church ahead of meetings with Chinese
leaders.
The president and First Lady Laura Bush attended a morning service at one of
Beijing's handful of state-sanctioned Protestant churches, Gangwashi,
accompanied by a U.S. evangelist, Luis Palau.
"He wanted to set a framework for his discussions then about religious freedom
and human rights with his Chinese counterparts," Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice said of the visit.
The overwhelming majority of Chinese Christians belong to illegal churches -
Protestant "house" churches or underground Catholic congregations loyal to the
Pope.
The communist authorities only tolerate a "patriotic" Protestant organization,
the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), and a Catholic equivalent that does
not recognize papal authority.
The Gangwashi Church falls under the TSPM, and is reported to be one of only
five such churches allowed in the Chinese capital, a city of almost 11 million
people. A 2004 survey cited by the State Department says that there are 30,000
registered Protestants in Beijing, but more than 100,000 others who are illegal.
Nonethless, presidential advisor Mike Green earlier defended the decision to
attend that particular congregation.
"The church where he will worship is a church that is often called a
state-sponsored church, but it's a real church and people really do worship," he
told reporters. "The parishioners are real people of faith who are congregating
to express that faith."
Previous high-level American visitors to Gangwashi include President George H.W.
Bush and Rice, who attended a Palm Sunday service there this year.
Bush made it clear when speaking outside after the service that he had found the
worship genuine.
"The spirit of the Lord is very strong inside your church," he told Pastor Du
Fengying, whose sermon he had listened to via a translation headset.
Bush also suggested that such openings that exist in China should be welcomed.
"It wasn't all that long ago that people were not allowed to worship openly in
this society."
But, he added, "My hope is that the government of China will not fear Christians
who gather to worship openly. A healthy society is a society that
welcomes all faiths, and gives people a chance to express themselves through
worship with the Almighty."
Nov. 21 2005 Christian Wire Service
MIDLAND,
Texas: China Aid Association learned pastor Zhang Mingxuan was released at
9:30am on November 21, 2005(Beijing Time). He and his son were put into a car
and driven from Beijing by several security agents from Henan province on
November 18. They were detained and being closely monitored in a government
guest hotel of Sheqi County, Henan until President Bush left China. Neither of
them was treated brutally. Pastor Zhang's cell phone wasn't returned until he
was released. Pastor Zhang refused to take any food offered by the government.
He is in good spirit." I had been sharing the Good News to all of the officials
who were watching me at the same hotel room." Pastor Zhang said.
CAA learned hours after CAA sent out a press release about the imprisonment of eight house church leaders in Henan, the Chinese authority released all of them at about 6am November 19, 2005. None of the confiscated church property was returned. Among the eight released, pastor Huang Hailiang (40 year-old) and pastor Wei Lin (20s) were tortured with their legs wounded by the interrogators on November 3, 2005. According to CAA reporter on the field, all of the released are in good spirit with a thankful heart to God and to those who are praying and helping for their release." They feel very happy and honored because they are the blessed who are persecuted for the righteousness." said one of their church leaders interviewed by Rev. Bob Fu.
China Aid Association learned Beijing House Church activists Mr. Hua Huiqi and his wife Wei Jumei(full-time evangelist) were allowed to return to Beijing today but they were forced to stay in a hotel without being permitted to go back their home in Beijing. In order to avoid any potential contact with US President Bush, the Xuanwu District PSB office of Beijing purchased them air tickets to Sichuan province on November 17.
November 18, 2005 Agape Press By Ed Thomas
The
American Family Association (AFA) wants help from the shopping public in using
the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend to keep sending a message to Target
Stores about the national chain's faith-and-family-unfriendly practices.
AFA chairman Donald E. Wildmon says it is important that the organization's current boycott against Target, which started in October, keep hurting the company's bottom line -- that is, the amount of money made -- especially during the biggest shopping weekend of the year. He is hoping a strong message from the pro-family shopping public will help convince Target to change some of its policies.
The reasons for the boycott are valid ones, Wildmon asserts, and they include Target's "refusal to let the Salvation Army put their kettles in front of the stores," and the company's policy "banning all use of 'Merry Christmas' in their internal store operations and in their advertising." He says Target wants the profits from Christian families' spending, but the retailer does not want their holiday message or the spirit of their charities -- including faith-based service organizations like the Salvation Army.
That is why the AFA spokesman feels it is essential that projected sales at Target stores nationwide and the value of the company's shares continue dropping, as a recent USA Today report indicates they have. He says the newspaper article revealed that Target's new store revenue and stock value have both taken a hit over the last year.
"They are a good bit lower in their sales in November than they had expected," Wildmon notes. "In fact, it's so bad that on Tuesday of this week, their stock dropped seven percent in one day." The Christian activist believes these low numbers are likely due in large part to the boycott, and he wants to see the trend continue.
It is important, Wildmon asserts, that the upcoming monster Thanksgiving shopping weekend and Christmas season be used to show Target that it cannot get Christians' purchasing revenue while rejecting their beliefs and their charities. He is encouraging pro-family shoppers to take their money elsewhere until Target gets the message and changes its policies.
While it is too late to make changes this year, we have already sent letters to several major retailers we have identified as participating in banning "Christmas," asking them to put Christmas back into their in-store promotions and retail advertising next year. We have sent letters to the chairmen of Target, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Kmart/Sears, Costco, Kohl's and Lowe's about their practice. (Lowe's even refuses to promote their trees as Christmas trees, but calls them "Holiday Trees." Their toll-free number is 1-800-445-6937.)
|
QUOTEWORTHY: -------- "There is an anti-Christian bias in this country, and it is more on display at Christmas season than any other time." – Bill O'Reilly, Fox News Channel (Speaking about the decision of Target and other stores to ban the use of "Merry Christmas" in their stores and advertising.) |
Nov.23 2005 Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
If
you plan to fill your Christmas wish lists by shopping online, why not benefit
homeschoolers at the same time?
By shopping through our Clicks for Home schooling program, up to 27 percent of every dollar you spend gets passed on to the Home School Foundation. So far this year shoppers have raised more than $16,000 by simply adding a click to their online shopping.
The Home School Foundation uses this money to help widows, families with special needs children, and other home schoolers in difficult financial situations.
One widow who was helped this year by the Home School Foundation wrote: "My children and I are truly blessed to receive this scholarship. I don't know how I would be able to buy books and curriculum without it."
Shopping through Clicks for Home schooling is free and easy. Simply use the links to participating online retailers listed below, or go to our Clicks for Home schooling website at: http://www.hslda.org/clicks4hs/default.asp
November 21, 2005 Campusonline.com
A
recent study by David Horowitz found that of 18 elite law and journalism
schools, Republicans made up only a small minority of professors. These findings
are representative of similar studies dealing with the political affiliations of
professors, including a recently released study by the Center for the Study of
Popular Culture. According to Horowitz’s research, the findings are stark and
straightforward, “America’s professional schools of journalism and law have
collectively become a one party state.”
Horowitz looked at the party affiliations of 568 faculty members from schools including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, University of California (Berkley) and New York University. The study relied upon self selection, marking individuals registered as Republicans as Republican and those registered as Democrats to be Democrats. Those faculty members who registered as third party members, including the Green Party, were not counted in this study. Where political party affiliation was unavailable, the study relied on primary voting behavior to identify the individual as Republican or Democrat. Only individuals who voted consistently in the primaries were taken into account in the study.
The findings of this study suggested that of the 18 professional schools examined, the ratio of Democrats to Republicans ranged from 2:1 at the University of Kansas to 28:1 at Stanford University. The average ratio in law schools was 10:1 and it was 7:1 at journalism schools. According to Horowitz, this is not representative of the Blue State/Red State parity in this nation, and is therefore problematic. Horowitz noted, “…when it comes to interpreting the law or reporting on public affairs, everyone will agree that ideology and political pre-disposition matter…this has far-ranging implications for the training of future lawyers and judges…[and] members of the nation’s press corps.”
Horowitz also discounts previous assumptions that political views on these campuses roughly mirror the political landscape of the United States. According to his report, with only a handful of Republicans teaching on campuses, intellectual diversity is limited. Of this, he says, “When the training institutions of entire professions…fail to honor their commitment to academic freedom and intellectual pluralism, they and the nation at large have a serious problem.” He further criticizes these schools for not making a commitment to embrace academic freedom and provide diverse points of views but instead conforming to the ideas on one end of the political spectrum. Horowitz concludes that, “When a school promises a diverse and inclusive education, it has an obligation to provide it.” This obligation extends to ensuring that schools have a variety of members on their faculty that represent various intellectual and academic approaches.
Nov. 22 2005 Citizen Link
The
University of Kansas will offer a course in creationism next semester, but
before you encourage your student to sign up, check out the title: "Special
Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious
Mythologies."
Paul Mirecki, chairman of the religious studies department, said one motivating factor was the recent
Kansas Board of Education decision: to teach the flaws in the theory of evolution.
"The KU faculty has had enough," he said. "Creationism is mythology, intelligent design is mythology. It's not science. They try to make it sound like science. It's clearly not."
Though the Board of Education teaching standards do not even mention intelligent design, opponents have attempted to characterize the battle as one of religion versus science, and news outlets around the country have obediently echoed that loaded theme.
John Calvert, an attorney and managing director of the Intelligent Design Network, said Mirecki is making a fool of himself.
"To equate intelligent design to mythology is really an absurdity," Calvert said. "It's just another example of labeling anybody who proposed it to be simply a religious nut. That's the reason for this little charade."
Seattle event: a how-to session on running for office.
A
weekend conference in Seattle highlighted gays and lesbians serving in public
office; topics included diversity, human rights and campaigning. Scheduled
speakers included Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, and openly gay U.S. Reps.
Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.
Sponsors of the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Conference declined to comment, but have been quoted as saying that "gays in public office put a human face on homosexuality."
Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, said one goal was to encourage closeted officials to "come out" about their homosexuality.
"Our common bond is that we are (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) citizens of the country and the world who have decided to enter the arena of public life," he said. "By doing so there is a special obligation to bring forth resolutions for those who are silenced by inhumane laws and for those who fear voters will not accept the truths about their lives."
Joe Glover, president of the Family Policy Network, called it the same old dog-and-pony show.
"When you look down the list the itinerary of speakers and participants, it's a who's who in gay activism for the last 15 to 20 years," he said.
Glover told Family News in Focus that shining a light on homosexuals in public office is all part of a grander plan.
"This is just another example of homosexual activists wanting to push their private, immoral behavior into the public realm and make a statement with it," he said. "What we're seeing now is a willingness to codify those cultural norms that are emerging into law."
That may be one reason for a conference on how to "come out" and still get elected to office. Caleb H. Price, a social research analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said getting more homosexuals elected translates into more gay-friendly legislation.
Nov. 21, 2005 Hilary White LifeSiteNews.com
HOUSTON,
Nov. 21, 2005 LifeSiteNews.com Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the president of the
ultra-liberal Union for Reform Judaism, has lashed out at conservatives on the
"religious right" who defend traditional morality and the family. He made his
remarks in a speech Saturday, to about 5,000 during the movement's national
assembly in Houston.
With unconscious irony, Yoffie attacked those who hold to traditional religious
moral values about marriage and sexuality equating them with the murderous Nazi
regime.
He said, "We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933 one of the
first things that he did was ban gay organizations," Yoffie said. "Yes, we can
disagree about gay marriage. But there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that
fuels the hell fires of anti-gay bigotry."
Yoffie avoided direct references to Christianity or evangelicals, the usual
targets of accusations of bigotry, using instead the term "religious right"
which he said was intended to include conservative Jews.
He said, "Religious right" leaders believe "unless you attend my church, accept
my God and study my sacred text you cannot be a moral person."
Isaac Levy, spokesman for the conservative Jewish organization, Jews for
Morality, said that Yoffie's claims could be refuted by "any 13-year-old child"
studying the Torah. "He should try at least to look into the English version of
the Torah and he'll find that he's full of hot air," said Levy.
Levy
said that Judaism cannot simply be anything, it has specific tenets and
teachings that are found in the Torah, the five books of the Law, and a movement
that denies them has ceased to be Judaism.
"The Reform religion is a different religion." Levy told LifeSiteNews.com. "It's
not the Torah that Moses brought down from Sinai."
"Reform rabbis do not keep the Sabbath; they eat pork; they eat shellfish.
Therefore any statement from any Reform rabbi is not the indigenous Torah
perspective that we inherited from our forefathers and Moses our teacher," said
Levy in comments to LifeSiteNews.com.
The Reform Jewish Union represents 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues across the United States and Canada. The Reform movement is the only branch of Judaism that sanctions gay ordination and supports same-sex civil marriage.
Nov. 23 2005 Prophecy Watch
One
of Tulsa's best-known ministers was attacked Sunday while giving the altar call.
News Channel 8's Mark Bradshaw spoke with Billy Joe Daugherty of Victory
Christian Center, who was almost knocked out in church.
Daugherty has preached in more than forty countries, many of them dangerous,
third-world countries. And, he was in Russia last week. In all of his travels
around the world, he has never been physically attacked. That changed Sunday in
of all places, right in front of his own congregation at Victory Christian
Center.
"Standing like this, he went 'POW', and that knocked me back and I spun like
that and he grabbed my coat."
It was an altar call Billy Joe Daugherty will never forget. The pastor is now
sporting a black eye and stitches two days after the altercation at the altar
that was caught on tape.
"I had been preaching on praise and Thanksgiving in every situation," he says.
"And this guy walked forward. I thought he was coming to receive the Lord, but
he had another plan."
He sure did. As the music played, without warning, the man punched Daugherty in
the face. And, before he could land a knockout blow, he was yanked away.
"The first time I was hit, what went through my mind was, did he just hit me? I
mean it was bam, bam."
With blood pouring down his face, Daugherty kept on preaching and forgiving.
"We don't forgive because we feel like it," he says. "We forgive because it's
the right thing to do."
Daugherty wasn't going to press charges. But, 50-year-old Steven Rogers was
hauled off to jail after allegedly hitting two more people, including a security
guard.
"Did you ever think I'm going to smack this guy?" "I never once thought of
even hitting back."
"So are you going to get back on the saddle Sunday?" "Yeah, that's
right."
So, why was the pastor punched? Daugherty doesn't know, but he says the man, who
was bussed to the church from a local mission, definitely has some issues.
Rogers was picked up for simple assault, but we found out there was also a
warrant out for his arrest for violating a protective order.
Nov. 23, 2005 Michael Schmidt New York Times
The East Brunswick High School football coach who was barred by his school district in New Jersey from praying alongside his players has filed a lawsuit alleging that the district's action infringed on his constitutional rights.
Marcus Borden, who quit as head coach in October when the school district threatened to fire him if he continued to pray with his team, is asking the state Superior Court in Middlesex County to allow him to bow his head in prayer over pre-game meals and to kneel in the locker room with the team before games.
A week after quitting his post, Borden agreed to stop praying with the team and returned to coaching. He then hired Ronald Riccio, a constitutional lawyer to represent him.
Riccio filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of Borden against the school district. The suit was first reported by The Star-Ledger of Newark.
The lawyer representing the school district, Martin Pachman, said the school district was enforcing the rulings of the federal courts on the issue of student prayer. The courts have ruled that staff members may not participate encourage or lead student prayer, Pachman said. Student-led and initiated prayer is permitted, he said, as long as no faculty members are involved.
Pachman said that Borden and Riccio "believe that the current state of the decisions is too restrictive in terms of what faculty can do when praying with kids." Pachman declined to further discuss the case because he had not yet seen the lawsuit.
Riccio contends that the actions of the football team are not necessarily religious because he said some prayer was secular. "The event of a high school football team saying a prayer is such a part of the culture of our country that it is not a religious event," he said. "Even if it is a religious event, the coach is allowed to show respect for the event by bowing his head or bending his knee."
Nov. 22, 2005 LifeSiteNews.com
TAMPA, A Florida family advocacy group’s e-mail campaign has succeeded in deterring 91 companies from advertising on Playboy’s “Girls Next door” television show, but the group cautions that the battle is not over.
“This severe loss of advertisers appears to have influenced the Entertainment Channel (E!) To reduce the number of times the program airs each week from 20 to six,” said Florida Family Association Executive Director David Caton. “Fourteen episodes representing seven hours of air time have been cut from this show. Your emails to advertisers have influenced a 70% reduction in the number of times this pornographic show airs each week.”
Some of the more recent additions to the list of companies that have favorably responded to the campaign since it began August 8 include the Home Depot, Allergan, and Avon, however a significant number of advertisers still use the pornographic medium to sell their wares. Some of the new companies who have signed on to advertise on the Playboy’s “Girls Next Door” show include: Panasonic Corporation of North America, Barr Pharmaceuticals (Seasonale), Sepracor (Lunesta), Church & Dwight Co. Inc. (First Response) and Samsung. Repeat advertisers include: Columbia Sportswear Company, Anheuser-Busch, LG Infocomm U.S.A., Inc., Best Buy and Sprint Nextel.
“It is important that we continue sending emails to companies that currently advertise on this program,” emphasized Caton. “Playboy’s new unrestricted, advertiser supported television show must be opposed now before it is accepted in the market place, allowed to become more explicit and copied by other porn companies. Please send your emails to encourage these companies to stop supporting Playboy’s ‘Girls Next Door’ with their advertising dollars.”
Follow this link for more
information on sending e-mails to these advertisers:
http://www.rallysoft.com/ffa/TakeAction.asp?id=1273
Howard Wilson Hwilson@texasmoralaction.org