BMAT
Moral Action Committee Watchman Report
#66 01/13/2006
BMAT
Moral Action Committee Watchman Report
#66 01/13/2006
Click on an article to view OR scroll through the complete document:
1. Ohio Abortion Ban Bill to Test Roe v. Wade
2. An Abortion Warning From New Zealand
3. Ann Richards Daughter Chosen for Planned Parenthood Boss, for Her Name and Style; Not Her Skill
4. Pro-family groups target 'Book of Daniel' advertisers
5. What Works in Preventing Teen Sex
6. Parents TV Council Statistic of the Week
7. Senate Continues to Stall on Higher Fines for Indecent Broadcasts Urgent Action Needed
8. Church Report Magazine Poll Results Indicate Overwhelming Support for Judge Alito
9. Update from Judge Alito's Confirmation Hearings
10. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Results Fabricated
11. Italian Court to Rule on Whether or Not Jesus Ever Existed
12. Join the Texas Rally for Life on January 28
13. Chaplain can pray in Jesus name, ends Fast, but continues Call for Religious Freedom in Military
14. Federal Court Allows Pacific Justice Institute to Intervene to Defend “In God We Trust”
15. The ACLU Loss of Commandments Cases silences National Media
16. Florida Supreme Court Blocks School Vouchers
17. US Department of Labor and Mexican Foreign Ministry Agree to Protect Illegal Alien Workers
18. Texas Gubernatorial tangle
19. Republicans Abandon Ship on another Leader
20. Democrats Stalling in Search of Mud on Alito?
21. Poll: Public Supports Alito's Nomination
22. Rev. Herb Lusk of Greater Exodus Baptist Church --in the Media Crosshairs
23. Scotland’s Western Isles Outlaws Homosexual ‘Weddings’
24. Suspected Political Activists Tire-slashing trial to begin in Milwaukee
25. Woman "Marries" Dolphin at First Animal/Human Wedding
26. Iranian Pilgrims in Mecca Shout "Death to America, the Great Satan" in an Anti-American Rally
27. Iran leader: Islam to 'rule the world' urges Muslims to get ready for coming of 'messiah'
28. British Airline bans Bibles and precluding crucifixes to avoid offending Muslims
Jan. 11 2006 Christian Newswire
C
OLUMBUS,
Ohio, Mark Harrington, Executive Director for the Center for Bio Ethical Reform
(CBR) Midwest, is leading a coalition of pro life groups, legislators, and
Pastors to raise awareness on legislation banning abortion in Ohio. Rep. Tom
Brinkman has introduced the Ohio Abortion Ban Bill (HB 228) in the Ohio House
which has been assigned to the House Health Committee.
Ohio Abortion Ban Press Conference
When: Jan. 18, 2006, 1 PM
Where: Ohio State House, 1st floor, Hearing Room 116
What: Press Conference on HB 228 – The Ohio Abortion Ban Bill
Who: Rep. Tom Brinkman; Chris Long, Christian Coalition of Ohio; Thomas Condit, ESQ; Rep. Ron Hood; Susan Dammann, Open Gate Pregnancy Center; Rep. Linda Reidelbach; Mark Harrington, Center for Bio Ethical Reform; Paula Westwood, Cincinnati Right to Life; Rep. Michelle Schneider; Lori Viars, Ohio Restoration Project; Greg Quinlan, Pro Family Network; Cindy Violet, Pregnancy Decision Health Center; Marjorie Daflucas, Champaign County Right to Life; Dr. Michael Parker, OBGYN.
CBR Statement
"The Ohio Abortion Ban (HB 228) provides the necessary constitutional challenge to Roe that could result in sending the abortion issue back to the states. The 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade is on Jan. 22, 2006 and that event represents the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about banning abortion in Ohio. It is time to return the abortion issue to the states." -- Mark Harrington, Executive Director of the Center for Bio Ethical Reform Midwest
For interviews or more information contact Mark Harrington at 614-419-9000 or CBRMidwest@cbrinfo.org.
Mark Harrington is the Executive Director of CBR Midwest and hosts Mark Harrington Live heard in 80 of Ohio's 88 counties.
Jan. 7 2006 Family Research Council
F
rom
Christchurch, New Zealand, we now have a new study of the lingering effects of
abortion on young women. Published in The Journal of Child Psychology and
Psychiatry--a peer-reviewed scientific journal--this study gives reason for
concern about the impact of abortion on the mental health of abortion patients.
It is a longitudinal study, which means the women are studied over time.
Researchers David M. Fergusson, L. John Horwood, and Elizabeth M. Ridder found
that young women who had abortions had "elevated rates of mental health
problems" when compared to a control group of women who did not have abortions.
The researchers found further that these mental health problems "persisted" over
time. Abortion prior to age 21, they found, "was associated with increased risks
of later mental health problems." It's interesting to note that in countries
like New Zealand, where legal abortion is not extensively debated, the
scientific community seems much more willing to tell the truth about health
risks. The fact that this study is longitudinal is important. Former U.S.
Surgeon General C. Everett Koop declined to issue a study of post-abortion
trauma because he said we didn't have enough studies of the long-term impact of
abortion. Now, we have added evidence from "down under" that abortion is
psychologically harmful to women. Americans should take note.
Additional Resources
Abortion
Researcher Confounded by Study
Jan. 12 2006 Christian Newswire
W
ASHINGTON,
Douglas R. Scott, president of Life Decisions International (LDI), today accused
the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) of “relying on name
familiarity and style” when it selected a new leader. Leftist political activist
Cecile Richards, daughter of former Texas Governor Ann Richards, “has no
qualifications to lead a group that touts itself as a ‘healthcare’ provider,”
Scott said. “Richards has been chosen because she will bring a fresh style and
recognized name to the pro-abortion movement. And more importantly, she will
move political activity to the forefront, just as was done under former PPFA
President Faye Wattleton.”
Richards, 48, has served as deputy chief of staff to Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, founded the Texas Freedom Network to fight the influence of conservative organizations in the state, and worked as president of America Votes, a coalition of leftist groups that seeks to increase voter registration among liberals.
“The selection of Richards should be a clear sign that Planned Parenthood can be expected to intensify the spread of its radical pro-abortion philosophy,” Scott said. “Since Planned Parenthood has chosen a leader who has been more involved in politics than in so- called healthcare, it is quite obvious that the group will become more active, more belligerent and even more out of the mainstream over the next several years. If the good people in the Pro-Family Movement think they have experienced the full impact of an activist Planned Parenthood, they are completely wrong. The biggest battles are yet to come.”
Scott said the pick proves that Planned Parenthood is far more interested in advancing a social agenda than it is in providing “healthcare.” He also said the group’s new boss can be expected to employ any and all means to achieve her radical agenda. “We are talking about a group of people who believe the ends justify the means. And they will not rest until their worldview has been imposed on all human beings.”
“Pro-family people can still win this fight. This will be a war of attrition. Victory will belong to those with perseverance and patience; those who are willing to sacrifice for the cause.”
Life Decisions International (LDI) is dedicated to challenging the Culture of Death, concentrating on exposing and fighting the agenda of Planned Parenthood. LDI's chief project is a boycott of corporations that fund the abortion-committing giant. To learn more about Planned Parenthood, please visit: http://www.fightpp.org/show.cfm? page=wrong
Pro-family groups
target 'Book of Daniel' advertisers
Jan 9, 2006 Erin Curry Roach Baptist Press
N
ASHVILLE,
Tenn. Assured that NBC has heard the voices of thousands of Americans who were
offended by the network’s controversial new drama “The Book of Daniel,” the
conservative watchdog group American Family Association is setting its sights on
the advertisers who endorsed the programming.
“Right now we’re pleased that NBC has gotten what it deserves, and that is a
basement rating in the Nielsen ratings for this program -- a 2.7 rating, which
is very low. It shows NBC it’s a failure,” Randy Sharp, director of special
projects for AFA, told Baptist Press Jan. 9.
“I think it was doomed to fail from the start. Advertisers for the most part --
the most nationally recognized advertisers -- avoided it like the plague because
it is a plague. This program is equivalent to leprosy to the Christian
community,” he said.
Sharp noted four that major national advertisers aired commercials during the
two-hour debut of the show Jan. 6: Combe Inc., makers of Just For Men hair
color; Mazda; H&R Block; and Burlington Coat Factory.
“Historically, H&R Block and Burlington Coat Factory are what we call ‘buzzard
buyers,’” Sharp said. “They buy the bargain basement shows.”
Another major advertiser told AFA that although they advertised during the
premiere of The Book of Daniel, they will not give money to the show in the
future.
“They told us that as late as last Thursday NBC was still trying to scrounge up
buyers for the show at deep, discounted prices and they were not familiar with
the content so they bought the bargain and it has come back to bite them,” Sharp
said of the advertiser, preferring to withhold the name because of its intention
to withdraw its support of the show. “NBC basically used them.”
The next step for AFA, Sharp said, is to enlist the help of its 3 million
supporters in persuading the four major advertisers who helped put The Book of
Daniel on the air to stop funding the controversial program.
And now that back-to-back episodes of the show have aired, Sharp said AFA is
receiving feedback from supporters who say it’s even worse than AFA warned.
Sharp said he tuned in for about 30 seconds Friday night but was forced to turn
it off because the part he caught included the main character, a priest, using
God’s name to curse another character.
“I didn’t want to stomach it,” Sharp said. “... It’s very disappointing.”
Meanwhile, Skeet Workman, an executive board member of the Southern Baptists of
Texas Convention, circulated an e-mail Jan. 7 saying, “Don and Tim Wildmon of
American Family [Association] got it right!” Don Wildmon is founder and chairman
of AFA, and Tim Wildmon is president.
“Everything they told us would be on this show was there!” she wrote.
Workman said she monitored The Book of Daniel and took note of the content and
the advertisers. The show carried “lots of profanity including a daughter who
used Jesus’ name in vain” and it “promoted the homosexual lifestyle constantly.”
“It showed Christians and especially the Episcopal priest and bishops as weak
and sinful,” Workman, of Lubbock, Texas, reported. “Jesus was weakest and seemed
to lack power and divine authority. He seemed to have no anger against sin.... [I]n
my opinion: it was a depraved show that did not fit this community’s standards
at all!”
Among the advertisers Workman took note of, in addition to those four mentioned
by Sharp are: Walt Disney World, the Olympics and Ashley Furniture.
After much criticism from potential viewers, at least four NBC affiliates used
their Federal Communications Commission-given right to not air the series.
KARK in Little Rock, Ark., WTWO in Terre Haute, Ind., KBTV in Beaumont, Texas,
and WGBC in Meridian, Miss., refused to run it, according to the Associated
Press.
The Book of Daniel averaged 9 million viewers during its two-hour debut, coming
in behind CBS’ dramas “Close to Home” and “Numbers” and ABC’s new “In Justice”
and “20/20,” according to Reuters.
Jan. 9 2006 Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D./ Concerned Women for America
Connections that Determine Teen Sexual Activity
M
y
heart aches every time I see the data about teen sex –– 114 women murdered by
intimate partners last year in Texas, another 15 million young people infected
with sexually transmitted diseases every year, 20 percent of AIDS cases
infecting college-aged young adults. We know what works in delaying teen sexual
activity and preventing promiscuity, but researchers are hesitant to keep
repeating the same simple recipe: parental involvement, good friends, strong
faith and participation in church activities.
But, a just released report from Child Trends and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy not only added their data about the connections that correlate with teens delaying sex until after age 18; they also review the vast body of previous scientific research that corroborates their findings.
Specifically, teens are less likely to have sex before age 18 if their parents hold strong religious beliefs and explain them to their children, attend services together regularly, and are affiliated with a denomination. Further, teens that worship with their family and have a strong mother-teen relationship are more likely to delay having sex. In addition, teens with a network of friends from their church are much more likely to resist early sexual activity.
The Child Trends research, of course, analyzes the data and shows the correlations, as is necessary and desirable for such analyses. The bottom line, though, is that parents and friends have tremendous influence on their children regardless of socio-demographic or economic background and characteristics.
The relationship that parents establish with their children determines –– to a very large extent –– the outcomes for children. Further, peer influence is vitally important; during the teen years, especially, having friends who attend the same church produces positive effects on teen sexual behavior.
The Child Trends brief ends with a statement that “future research should focus on gaining a better understanding of why parent religiosity affects teens’ decisions about sex.” In fact, general agreement on this point is so widespread that in 2001 the Lilly Endowment Inc. funded a four-year study to identify those religious, social and moral practices that so effectively shape young people’s lives.
Pending the publication of the Lilly findings, here are some possible explanations.
Parental Religious Beliefs: It is a “given” that parents influence their children’s outcomes. However, a 2000 study from the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology explains just how very important both doing and explaining are when it comes to influencing our children toward our own values and beliefs. The author of the study, Lynn Okagaki, reported that children are more likely to adopt their parents’ beliefs when they have a clear understanding of exactly what the parents believe and what are their values.
Further, the study reported that a child is more likely to adopt parental beliefs when they know that the beliefs are vitally important to the parents. In other words, if parents think something is unimportant or if parents say that many different religious attitudes and positions are equally important, the child is unlikely either to have strong religious beliefs or have those beliefs influence their behavior.
Religious Attendance: Abundant research –– from various top-level universities and government agencies to research institutions like the Barna Research Group –– documents that active church participation is the key to raising well-adjusted, happy children who have a life-long moral compass and avoid the typical pitfalls of the teenage years. When researchers try to isolate “what works” in terms of raising children, invariably they find this key: “active participation” in a “faith community.” In an analysis of the Adolescent Health Survey last year, the Heritage Foundation’s Patrick Fagan found that girls from intact families who attended church regularly averaged only .47 sex partners, whereas girls from broken families that never attended church averaged 1.55 sex partners.
Religious Activities: The aforementioned Barna study found that a “symbiotic partnership” between parents and the church is essential for children’s well-being. According to a study published in the American Journal of Sociology, the rate of couples living together without marriage is seven times higher for those who never attended church services than for those who attended church several times a week. Young people who are affiliated with a church have higher rates of marriage than those who substitute cohabitation for marriage.
Denominational Affiliation: A unique finding of the Child Trends and National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy study is that denominational affiliation is an important factor in delaying teen sex. Perhaps it should be obvious that churches and denominations with carefully delineated theology and worship rituals, including hymns that have stood the test of time, would more effectively impact families than churches or denominations that have more emphasis on feelings and emotions than doctrine, are driven more by a strong, dominant personality than by Biblical beliefs, and use less theologically orthodox music in worship.
Peer Religious Attendance: Numerous studies indicate that teens acquire friends based on similar sexual behavior. Numerous studies also indicate that peer influences are pivotal during the teen years. Obviously then, having a network of friends with similar values reinforces attitudes and behaviors consistent with those beliefs. But there are also studies indicating that the strength of peer influence is determined by the teen’s relationship with his or her parents. In fact, a 1993 study of seventh-graders showed that when the parent-child relationship is characterized as “distant,” the teens are more likely to associate with friends who are sexually active and to have sexually permissive attitudes and behavior. The Journal of Adolescent Health revealed that women who did not attend church in their adolescence were more than twice as likely to report having multiple sex partners compared with those who attended services regularly.
Positive Mother-Teen Relationship: While much has been written in the popular literature about the importance of parents and fathers in teen well-being, there has been little focus on the role of mothers. Yet, the scholarly research is plentiful that an adolescent’s relationship with his or her mother is pivotal in determining whether he or she engages in teen sex and other risky behaviors. A growing body of information is available about the ways that a mother socializes her children according to her personal beliefs, cultural norms and religious values.
For instance, numerous studies indicate that mothers communicate more often with their children than do fathers. Ideally, beliefs are based on a solid foundation of reason and logical consistency, but the motivation to internalize those beliefs is an emotional response. When a father and mother work together in parenting, children internalize both sound reasons for appropriate behavior and the emotional strength to withstand external pressures to conform to societal trends.
With overwhelming evidence about “what works” in protecting our children from the harmful results of early sexual activity, those who truly care about their children ought to make church involvement a priority. Far too many parents focus on providing material benefits and forget that they need to meet their children’s spiritual needs. If we as parents don’t feed their souls, they will seek to fill that emptiness with drugs, alcohol or sex –– or they will turn to the dozens of other ways teens mess up their lives seeking a parental and faith substitute.
Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse is Senior Fellow of Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute.
|
"One study demonstrated that TV habits of children in the 1960s were a significant predictor of adult aggression, even criminal behavior, regardless of children's initial aggressiveness, IQ, social status, or parenting style. In this study, which spans more than 20 years, boys who preferred and viewed more violent programming at age 8 were more likely to be aggressive as teenagers and have arrests and convictions as adults for interpersonal crimes such as spousal and child abuse, murder, and aggravated assault." (Kaiser Family Foundation's TV Violence Fact Sheet, Spring 2003.) |
Jan. 11 2006 Parents TV Council
Urgent Action Needed to Ensure Passage of this Important Legislation
I
n
2004 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Broadcast Decency Enforcement
Act, a bill that would finally allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
to impose meaningful fines for indecent television and radio broadcasts, but the
House and Senate could not agree on the same solution, and no legislation was
passed.
In February 2005, the House reintroduced and again approved (by a vote of 389-38) the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act (H.R. 310).
But 2005 came and went and again the Senate did nothing.
We cannot let another year go by without the passage of this important legislation. Two years ago - when it seemed that the FCC and Congress were serious about cracking-down on indecency - Hollywood took steps to reduce the amount of raw sex and language in their broadcasts. Emboldened by two years of inaction, broadcasters are once again trying to push the envelope.
That's why we urgently need you to contact your senators and tell them that America is demanding action. Pass H.R. 310!
Federal law prohibits the
broadcast of indecent material during certain hours of the day when children are
most likely to be in the viewing audience. In its Pacifica ruling, the
U.S. Supreme Court upheld the indecency law as constitutional. H.R. 310 would
increase the fines which the FCC could impose on a broadcaster who violates the
indecency law, and repeat violators would be subject to losing their broadcast
license.
Next week, the Senate will hold yet another hearing on indecency, with no
promises made about giving the FCC the enforcement tools it needs to protect
American families. Let's be sure when they go into that hearing that they
will be looking out for America's families and not the interests of a handful of
powerful media corporations.
If Congress doesn't hear from you, the fines won't be increased. And that's exactly what Hollywood is hoping for: that nobody will speak up, the measure will be defeated, and they can continue to pour graphically sexual and profane material into our homes every day.
Please don't let that happen. We urgently need you to take action today by sending a letter to your Senator. Please follow the link below and let your voice be heard.
Click here to send your letter now!
Jan. 9 Christian Newswire The
S
COTTSDALE,
The results of a six-week online poll of The Church Report magazine's readers
prove that Americans want and expect the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito.
With over 100,000 votes received, the poll results indicated that 86 percent of
all readers of the magazine and the e-newsletter, The CR Daily, expect the
confirmation of Judge Alito.
Jason T. Christy, CEO of Christy Media and publisher of The Church Report magazine and the CR Daily, added that it is important for Judge Alito to be confirmed as Chief Justice. Christy said, "Americans are growing weary of judges legislating from the bench. Judge Alito's record, which received the highest accolades from the American Bar Association, indicated that he will fairly interpret the Constitution and the laws set for the by the legislature."
Jan. 11 2006 Free market Foundation
C
onfirmation
hearings for U.S. Supreme Court justice nominee Samuel Alito began on Monday.
Free Market Foundation President Kelly Shackelford has been in the hearings in
Washington, D.C. providing support and handling media interviews. "Judge Alito
is doing an incredible job, especially in light of the silly attacks being made
on him." Shackelford said. "He is an unquestionably excellent judge with 15
years of judicial experience. Judge Alito is widely respected by people of all
backgrounds, and will be an excellent addition to the U.S. Supreme Court."
Senator Cornyn made a very powerful and strong opening statement at the hearings
on Monday.
CLICK HERE
to read his full opening statement.
Please
pray for Judge Alito and his family as they go through the confirmation process.
In addition, please call the two U.S. Senators from Texas and encourage them to
do everything in their power to progress the nomination of Judge Alito to the
U.S. Supreme Court. Please thank Senator Cornyn, who publicly supports Judge
Alito and has spoken boldly on his behalf. Although many expect Senator
Hutchison to support Judge Alito, she has yet to announce a definite position on
his nomination.
CLICK HERE
to use our Grassroots Action Center to quickly make the two phone calls.
Jan. 11 2006 Free market Foundation
L
ast
week, a report concluded that the South Korean doctor, who reportedly cloned
human embryos, fabricated his results. The final report from Seoul National
University (SNU) concluded that all of Dr. Hwang Woosuk's research was false and
that his team did not make any advances in embryonic stem cell research.
Consequently, the South Korean government has stripped Dr. Hwang of his title
and revoked the 3 billion dollars in funding to his research center. The fact
"that SNU found all 11 supposedly cloned embryonic stem cell lines were
completely fabricated has been a huge blow to embryonic stem cell research.
Scientists worldwide held Hwang's team in high esteem because it had appeared to
overcome a major hurdle. Now researchers [must] go back to the drawing board,"
stated LifeNews.com. Pro-life advocates are strongly against embryonic stem cell
research because it requires killing human embryos created solely for medical
experimentation. In addition, ethical alternatives are available, such as adult
stem cells and umbilical cord blood, which have proven useful in finding cures
for diseases and do not require the destruction of innocent human life.
Jan.
11 2006 Free market Foundation
A court in Italy must decide whether the Roman Catholic Church is breaking the law by teaching doctrine that Jesus existed on Earth. The lawsuit claims that the church broke two Italian laws: "Abuso de Credulita Popolare" (Abuse of Popular Belief) and "Sostituzione di Persona" (Impersonation). During the trial, the church must refute the arguments and prove the existence of Christ.
Jan. 11 2006 Free market Foundation
O
n
January 28, pro-life supporters and organizations throughout Texas will remember
the 33rd anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.
Over 46 million unborn babies have had their lives claimed, and millions of
women have been hurt by this tragic decision. Join thousands of Texans from
across the state for the Texas Rally for Life at the State Capitol in Austin on
Saturday, January 28, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Meet at Republic Square
at 4th and Guadalupe streets in Austin, march up Congress Avenue and rally at
the south steps of our State Capitol. Rally events include an invocation,
clergy, pro-life speakers and music.
For more information, visit www.texasrallyforlife.org or call the Texas Alliance
Jan. 10 2006 Chad Groening and Jenni Parker Agape Press
A
Navy chaplain says God answered his prayers this weekend when his superior
officers permitted him to wear his uniform while publicly praying in a manner in
accordance with his Christian faith. For 18 days Lieutenant Gordon James
Klingenschmitt conducted a hunger strike to protest the U.S. Navy's policy of
not permitting Christian chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus in public.
Klingenschmitt had been stripped of uniform and faced the possible termination of his 14-year military career, partly because he has defied military policy by continuing to pray publicly in the name of Jesus. On December 20, after nine months of being told he was ineligible for renewal of his military without a positive endorsement from his commanding officer, the chaplain began his hunger strike.
During his protest, the Navy chaplain made several public statements, including a speech in front of the White House and further comments during a number of subsequent media interviews. And within 24 hours of the Christian officer's December 21 appearance on national television, the Chief of Navy Chaplains renewed his contract.
Last Friday, Klingenschmitt received a letter from his base commander stating that prayers may be permissible at a "bona fide religious service or observance." It was gratifying news to the lieutenant, who remarks, "The Navy gave me back my uniform and let me pray publicly in Jesus' name, and so I did that in front of the White House on Saturday. In uniform, I prayed in Jesus' name, even in front of the TV cameras, and I broke my fast. I shared communion with 40 people."
That weekend Communion service in Washington, DC, marked the end of Klingenschmitt's personal protest -- two weeks and four days during which he ate nothing at all and drank only water, ultimately losing 14 pounds but gaining a moral victory. "The victory is that they let me pray publicly in Jesus name," he says, "and they even gave me a brand new three-year contract to let me stay in the Navy."
But the Naval chaplain understands that what he has won was only a battle, not the war. He insists that President George W. Bush still needs to intervene to protect every U.S. military chaplain's right to pray according to his or her own religious tradition.
"There are still 65 chaplains who are in a lawsuit because of this," Klingenschmitt points out. "They couldn't get promoted because they preached the wrong way when the government was trying to censor their prayers and sermons. So we still need the president to act."
Ministers in the American armed forces need their Commander in Chief "to lift his pen and to sign an executive order giving chaplains the right to pray according to their diverse faith," Klingenschmitt says. He is urging American Christians to contact the White House and express their concern over the current policies that many critics feel amount to religious persecution in the military, and he is asking the public to urge the Executive Branch to act immediately to stop this injustice.
Jan. 10 2006 Pacific Justice Institute
S
acramento,
CA—Federal District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. granted a motion to allow
the Pacific Justice Institute to intervene as a defendant in the lawsuit to
remove the national motto, “In God We Trust” from U.S. currency. The lawsuit,
naming the U.S. Congress as a defendant, was filed late last year by atheist
minister, Michael Newdow, 52, who is the founder and ordained minister of the
First Amendmist Church of True Science (FACTS).
The suit alleges that it would be “highly hypocritical” for FACTS to accept money that has “In God We Trust” inscribed on it. Newdow, who is also an attorney, stated that he feels like a “political outsider every time I see ‘In God We Trust’ on our coins and currency, on government documents, and on other governmental locales.” He also claims that when he travels to foreign countries and exchanges American currency he is being forced to “evangelize for a religious view I explicitly deny.”
Newdow also filed suit against a
California school to prevent children from reciting the pledge of allegiance
because of the phrase, “one nation, under God.” Following Ninth Circuit
precedent, a federal court found the phrase unconstitutional. “We do not want
the national motto to suffer the same fate as the pledge,” stated Pacific
Justice Institute’s Chief Counsel and attorney of record, Kevin Snider. “It is
important to take this challenge seriously,” Snider continued. As a result of
the Court order allowing the Pacific Justice to intervene as a defendant, PJI’s
in-house lawyers, along with deputies from the U.S. Department of Justice, are
the attorneys defending the use of the motto on money in federal court.
Please visit our website,
www.pacificjustice.org, to respond to our poll question: Does the
inscription, “In God We Trust,” on U.S. currency violate the First Amendment’s
Establishment Clause?
Jan. 4 2006
Christian Wire Service
W
ASHINGTON,
the ACLU lost several cases at the end of the year that were not reported by the
main stream media. The main stream media is for the ACLU and I guess they don't
want to acknowledge any of these ACLU loses.
The plain and simple truth is the ACLU LOST several important cases which were
not reported by the main stream media in late 2005.
One of the most important ACLU loses came on December 20, 2005 and involved a
Ten Commandments display in Mercer County Kentucky. This case involved the same
exact display from the McCreary County Kentucky case that was recently ruled
against by the US Supreme Court.
However, the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals handed the ACLU a significant
defeat when they ruled that this same exact display is CONSTITUTIONAL. The
difference between the two cases seems to be that Mercer County always included
other historical documents in their display and therefore it was more easily
determined to have a secular purpose.
The Court said, "Our concern is that of the reasonable person. And the ACLU, an
organization whose mission is to ensure that…the government (is kept) out of the
religion business, does not embody the reasonable person." The Courts opinion
also rejected the ACLU's "repeated reference to the 'separation of church and
state.' This extra-constitutional construct has grown tiresome. The First
Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state," the
Court said.
"This case represents a huge victory and may signal the beginning of the end of
dangerous, ridiculous rulings in favor of the ACLU. Whether the ACLU likes it or
not this nation was founded upon the principles of Christianity. We are better
off because of the principles taught in the Ten Commandments," said Don
Swarthout, President of Christians Reviving America's Values, aka CRAVE. "The
problem with the ACLU is that they do not offer anything concrete for us to
pattern our lives after. The Ten Commandments are a pretty simple pattern for us
to follow," Swarthout said.
Just as important was a case in the US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals who
ruled that the same exact display as the one in the Mercer County Case was
CONSTITUTIONAL in Elkhart County, Indiana. After the loss the ACLU has indicated
that they will not appeal this case.
On December 2, 2005 the ACLU also lost its case against New York City where they
were trying to stop random searches of passenger's bags who were boarding the
subway system.
The ACLU had sued the City of New York after they instituted random bag searches
on July 22, 2005 following the bombing of London's transit system. The ACLU's
contention was that random searches of passenger's bags were an unconstitutional
invasion of privacy.
The ACLU seems to favor protecting the rights of terrorists who want to kill law
abiding citizens. "The truth is obvious. Terrorists and all others who do not
respect the American way of life must be stopped in order to protect the life
styles of law abiding American citizens," said Don Swarthout, President of
Christians Reviving America's Values.
"The ACLU wants to protect the rights of criminals and terrorists. Why doesn't
the ACLU want to protect the rights of law abiding citizens," Swarthout asked?
"The main stream media never talks about these cases where the ACLU loses! They
seem to be quick enough to tell us about the cases where they have won, but they
will not even mention the many cases where the ACLU loses," Swarthout added.
"We represent a large number of average people from all across America and we
are fed up with the unfair treatment we receive from the media and from the ACLU
who is a real danger to our nation's well being. Therefore, we have now written
to every US Senator asking for an investigation into the activities and agenda
of the ACLU. The ACLU was investigated by Congress in 1931 and it is time for
that to happen again," Swarthout stated.
Jan. 6 SAM DILLON New York Times
I
n
a ruling expected to reverberate through battles over school choice in many
states, the
Florida
Supreme Court struck down a voucher program yesterday for students attending
failing schools, saying the State Constitution bars Florida from using taxpayer
money to finance a private alternative to the public system.
The 5-to-2 ruling orders state officials to end, at the close of this school year, a program that Gov. Jeb Bush has considered one of his chief accomplishments.
Known as the Opportunity Scholarship Program, it uses public money to pay tuition for 730 students who have left failing public schools and enrolled in private schools. But a prominent voucher proponent said yesterday's ruling could also endanger the state's charter school system and a voucher program for disabled students, which together serve nearly 100,000 students.
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the federal Constitution does not prohibit vouchers, but it also held last year that states were not obliged to finance religious education as well as secular education. Those actions left it to state courts to decide whether voucher programs were legal, and focused national attention on the battle over vouchers in Florida, which teachers' unions first challenged in 1999.
The Florida ruling cannot be appealed to the United States Supreme Court because no federal issues are involved, lawyers on both sides of the litigation said.
In its ruling, the Florida court cited an article in the State Constitution that says, "Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure and high quality system of free public schools."
The Opportunity Scholarships Program "violates this language," the court said.
"It diverts public dollars into separate private systems parallel to and in competition with the free public schools that are the sole means set out in the Constitution for the state to provide for the education of Florida's children," the ruling said. "This diversion not only reduces money available to the free schools, but also funds private schools that are not 'uniform' when compared with each other or the public system."
Governor Bush called the ruling "a blow to educational reform."
"It temporarily removes a critical tool for improving Florida's public schools and it also challenges the power of the Florida Legislature to decide as a matter of public policy the best way to improve our educational system," Mr. Bush said.
He said the state would explore all legal options including amending the Florida Constitution.
Jan. 11 2006 FAIR Immigration Report
The
U.S. Department of Labor, which is charged with the responsibility of ensuring
that government regulation are carried out and enforced in the workplace, has
entered into a collaborative agreement with Mexico’s foreign ministry to inform
illegal workers of their rights while they are breaking U.S. immigration and
labor laws. Questioned about this contradiction of its mission, DoL spokesman
Peter Accolla stated, “It’s not the policy of the Department of Labor to
penalize and expose workers,” adding, “We want to protect them regardless of
their status.”
Jan 7, 2006 Robert Novak Townhall.Com
W
ASHINGTON
-- The decision by State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn to run for governor
of Texas as an independent requires President Bush to oppose her and support
Gov. Rick Perry. Strayhorn is the mother of two trusted Bush aides, while
Perry's relationship with the president has been cool.
The White House had signaled it would not take sides in a Republican primary between Strayhorn and Perry. White House press secretary Scott McClellan and Bush administration Medicare and Medicaid administrator Mark McClellan are sons of Strayhorn.
Strayhorn decided to go independent when it became clear she could not win a Republican primary, according to Texas sources. Her opposition to Perry in the general election evoked outrage from state Republican leaders who claimed betrayal by Strayhorn, who in 1985 moved from the Democratic to the Republican Party.
January 9, 2006 Bobby Eberle GOPUSA
T
his
weekend, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) announced that he would not seek to regain his
post as Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. DeLay was forced
to step down temporarily from his leadership position because he is currently
under indictment by Texas Democrat District Attorney Ronnie Earle. DeLay has not
been convicted of anything, but the rules for the Republican Caucus in the House
are different from those of the Democrats, and the mere indictment is sufficient
for a Republican member to step aside from a leadership role.
Unfortunately for DeLay, the Republican Party has once again shown that when the heat is on, the first course of action is not to fight back against bogus charges by the Democrats or misleading spin by the media, but rather to throw current leaders overboard. Abandoning ship is a skill mastered by Republicans, yet it is not a winning strategy. For as long as Republicans continue to back down, Democrats will continue the attack.
As noted in the story DeLay Steps Down As Other Republicans Step Up, following DeLay’s announcement that he would permanently not seek to regain his post as majority leader, a number of House Republicans announced their plans (either publicly or behind the scenes) to seek the position. A number of Republican leaders commented that DeLay’s action was the “right thing to do.”
For the past 11 years, Tom DeLay’s
leadership has helped reduce taxes and expand our economy, strengthen our
national defense, provide hope to millions through welfare reform, and improve
our nation’s schools. Today’s decision, although difficult, continues Tom
DeLay’s commitment to put his nation, his constituents, his colleagues and his
party first.
– RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman
It would have been a pleasant surprise, to have the leader of the Republican National Committee actually spend his ink blasting the Democrats for their ongoing attacks and lack of vision rather than trite comments of putting the nation first. The fact of the matter is that Democrats don’t care about real trials or real verdicts. For them, it’s enough to throw out accusations in the court of public opinion, because they know that’s all it takes for Republicans to retreat.
When former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) made a few comments honoring Sen. Strom Thurmond on his 100th birthday, Democrats pounced on the “insensitivity” of the remarks and called for his ouster. What Republicans should have done was collectively say, “Give me a break!” but rather they let Sen. Lott twist in the wind until he had to step down. In this case, Republicans again allowed the Democrats to manipulate the system, and now we are facing yet another leadership void.
Republicans should denounce corruption at every turn. We should also learn to call the Democrats on their tactics and rally behind our leaders rather than using them as chum for the sharks. It’s time to fight back. That would be the action that would be put the nation and the conservative agenda first.
Jan. 7 Family Research Council
D
emocrats
announced yesterday they would delay a vote on Judge Sam Alito for a week,
pushing a floor vote to the end of the month. Judge Alito has been in public
service for thirty years. His 300+ judicial opinions have been part of the
public record over fifteen years. He was nominated to the Supreme Court on
October 31. Liberal "war room" commanders have had their files on Alito for
years. So, why do they need another week's delay in the scheduled vote?
"Because they're looking for new mud." You see, none of what they've thrown at
him so far has sullied his solid integrity. Most Americans still believe he
should be confirmed for the U.S. Supreme Court. Even the normally liberal
American Bar Association has unanimously voted Alito its highest rating:
well qualified. And if the stalling tactics are not enough, Alito has
been called "unethical" by Ted Kennedy. I'd call that a ringing character
reference. Committing to hearings and a scheduled vote only then to violate
that pledge just to appease liberal muckrakers leaves the Democrats with some
explaining to do. Remember, the initial effort was to have a vote prior to the
Christmas break, which liberal members of the Senate resisted, knowing that an
abortion-related case was coming before the court. Now they are stalling yet
again.
Back
Jan 10 2006 Citizen Link
Survey reveals 53 percent support his confirmation.
Americans appear to have made up their
minds on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito -- according to a W
ashington
Post / ABC News Poll 53 percent say he should be confirmed by the Senate.
Alito is enjoying public support similar to that of Chief Justice John Roberts on the eve of his hearings. Sean Rushton, an expert on judicial nominees with the Committee for Justice, told Family News in Focus he was not surprised.
"The American public, by and large, has an open mind unlike some of the partisan groups that have been attacking Judge Alito," he said. Danny Diaz with the Republican National Committee said attacks on Alito by Senate Democrats reflect the interests of activist groups more than the rank and file.
"The reality is this: Howard Dean and Ted Kennedy, Chuck Schumer and these Democrats that will say and do anything according to the liberal special interest groups that are pulling the strings," he said.
Diaz said the confirmation process has become so difficult that it may dissuade people from even considering top court positions.
"When you expect people of Judge Alito's caliber to apply for jobs like federal judgeships, they expect to be treated fairly," he said. "If they know they're not going to be treated fairly, which is what we're going to see from the other side, there are people that may decide not to take up that charge because they don't want to be slandered."
QUOTEWORTHY: ---- "Now the Senate is looking for moderate judges, mainstream judges. What in the world is a moderate interpretation of a constitutional text? Halfway between what it says and what we'd like it to say?" -- U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, Aug. 29, 2005
W
hen
liberal newspapers cover events in a church, we should be pleased. We should be
even more pleased when they acknowledge black and white Christians joining
together. But liberal reporting on Justice Sunday III can't resist the sly
innuendo. The New York Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer are
telling readers that Rev. Herb Lusk's Greater Exodus Baptist Church has hosted
President Bush in the past and that they're getting $1 million for social
services as part of the Bush faith-based initiative. They never tell
readers that Pastor Lusk's church has yet to see one penny of that
pledged amount, or that it is a matching grant that requires the community to
raise equal amounts up front. When was the last time The Times noted that
Planned Parenthood receives nearly $400 million every year in tax dollars? Does
The Times question Planned Parenthood's all-out opposition to Judge Alito?
It should be noted that Pastor Lusk has not endorsed Judge Alito.
(Neither, for that matter, has FRC.) What Pastor Lusk has endorsed is the
need for judges who will respect religious liberties and the institution of
marriage. Therein lies the threat: white and black evangelicals standing
together against judicial activism that threatens the very foundation of our
nation.
Jan. 10, 2006 Terry Vanderheyden LifeSiteNews.com
E
DINBURGH,
UK, Scotland’s Western Isles has banned same-sex civil ceremonies after Britain
brought in the marriage-like institution last month.
According to The Universe Catholic News agency, a campaign from church leaders of all denominations mobilized the people to oppose the civil services being offered by marriage commissioners elsewhere in the country.
Fr Malcolm MacLellan of St Michael’s parish on Eriskay Island told the Universe that most islanders were in favour of the ban. “Catholics here are loyal to the Church’s teaching that only a man and a woman may marry,” Fr. Malcolm said. “There is a danger in speaking out against the civil partnership because you are immediately accused of being homophobic. That is not the case.”
A priest who wished to remain anonymous added that “The Western Isles is not some Brigadoon backwater. It’s just that here politicians listen to the will of the people and people oppose these so called gay marriages.”
Normally, same-sex couples who desire to register their union apply at a registry office. The officials then offer the couples a ceremony to accompany the event. Although the Isle has not banned the granting of registrations, no ceremonies will be offered. Western Isles policy committee chairman Angus Campbell said, “It is a practical decision: our officers don’t want to do them.”
National scrutiny returns for 5 accused of waylaying GOP-rented cars
Fourteen months after President George W. Bush was re-elected without carrying Wisconsin, five men who worked for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, including the sons of two prominent Milwaukee politicians, go on trial today on felony counts of vandalism in the tire-slashing of more than 20 vehicles rented by Republican campaigners.
The incident, and the felony charges filed two months later, drew Milwaukee national attention from political partisans, against a backdrop of allegations of election fraud in the city. Only a handful of criminal charges of election fraud have been filed, and U.S. Attorney Steven M. Biskupic has said that no evidence of a conspiracy has been discovered despite an extensive investigation.
Yet the arrival of the tire-slashing trial in another election year could again draw scrutiny to the state of politics in Milwaukee.
Cable network Court TV is covering the trial, which, with five defendants being tried together, is expected to last two weeks. The witness list includes national AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), as well as 77 others, including political operatives from both major parties, FBI agents, Milwaukee police officers and a representative of a Firestone tire center.
Not all of them are certain to be called into Circuit Judge Michael B. Brennan's courtroom. A spokesman for Jackson's office said Friday that the office had not received a subpoena or other official notification that Jackson, who was in Milwaukee for Election Day 2004 and may have spoken with some parties involved in the case, would be required to testify.
"One of the problems is going to be finding people who are willing to give up two weeks of their life to sit for a trial," said Rodney Cubbie, defense attorney for Michael Pratt, son of former acting Mayor Marvin Pratt.
Cubbie's client, and the other four men charged in the case - Sowande Omokunde, the son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee; Lewis G. Caldwell; Lavelle Mohammad; and Justin Howell -face up to 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of felony property damage in the case.
The trial will ultimately turn on whether Assistant District Attorney David Feiss can tie the five men to $4,192.35 in tire damage, plus $1,125 in towing charges, inflicted outside Republican Party headquarters on W. Capitol Drive in the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 2, 2004.
Jan. 6 2006 Free Market Foundation
I
n
yet another attempt to debase marriage, Sharon Tendler of Britain "married" a
female dolphin at an eccentric wedding ceremony in Israel on Tuesday. Tendler,
who met the dolphin named Cindy 15-years ago, claims that it was love at first
sight. Tendler became the world's first person to ever "marry" a dolphin
according to the Associated Press. "When asked in the past if she had a
boyfriend, [Tendler] would always reply, 'No. I'm going to end up with Cindy. On
Wednesday, she made it official, sort of. While she acknowledged the 'wedding'
had no legal bearing, she did say it reflected her deep feelings toward the
bottlenosed, 35-year-old object of her affection." Tendler told the Associated
Press, "It's not a perverted thing. I do love this dolphin. He's the love of my
life.
Jan. 9 2006 the Middle East Media Research Institution
Following are excerpts from a rally of
Iranian pilgrims in Mecca, aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV, and o
n
Al-'Alam TV, on January 9, 2006.
Crowd: Israel is the enemy of Allah.
Man: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Crowd: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Man: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Crowd: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Man: (Chopped off) from the land of the believers.
Crowd: From the land of the believers.
Man: The Audience will now split into two groups: One group will settle the score with America, and the other will settle the score with Israel. This group now: Death to America!
Crowd: Death to America!
Man: Death to Israel!
Crowd: Death to Israel! Death to America!
Man: Death to America!
Crowd: Death to America!
Man: Death to America!
Crowd: Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel!
Man: All together now: Death to America! Death to Israel!
Crowd: Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel!
Speaker: Today, the impure world Zionism, in the modern Age of ignorance, has emerged with the same (polytheistic) ideology, but with new methods. It wants to take over the fields of economy, of culture, and politics, as well as the military, throughout the world.
We, the pilgrims who have come to the house of God, condemn the plots and the measures taken by the international Zionism – the deceitful Satan who spreads heresy, polytheism, and idolatry, enslaving human beings with a new method. It abuses the divine religion of Moses. It takes Satanic measures, and arouses the world's hatred towards this divine religion, and its true followers. We denounce these criminal acts. We call upon the world of Islam and the free peoples to take significant measures to thwart the Satanic policy of this camp.
Crowd: Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar.
Speaker: We, the pilgrims who have come to the house of God, strongly condemn the aggressive measures of "the global arrogance," led by the idol and center of evil, the criminal America. We condemn it for its aggression, war-mongering, its murder, plundering, torture, espionage, its abductions and its secret jails. We strongly condemn it.
We emphasize that the occupation forces must leave the lands of Islam. We express our hatred and our disgust at the mother of all corruption of this century, the Great Satan, and at its illegitimate offspring, the plundering Israel.
Crowd: Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar.
Speaker: My believing brothers, I will now read to you the text of the call of the leader of the Islamic revolution, Imam Khamenei, to the pilgrims who have come to the house of God:
...Today, the fleets of arrogance are, once again, using new methods of deceit, in order to perpetuate and strengthen their control over the Islamic world. Their slogans of spreading democracy and human rights is one of these methods of deceit. The Great Satan, who embodies evil and violence against humanity, raises the banner of defending of human rights, and summons the peoples of the Middle East to democracy.
The democracy that America wants to implement in these countries, however, means that general elections – which pretend to be popular, but are in fact American elections – will give rise, by means of conspiracies, bribery, and deceptive propaganda, to obedient American collaborators.
These collaborators will accomplish America's goals of arrogance, and first and foremost stopping the spread of Islam, and removing the Islamic values from the scene.
The fact that the slogan of democracy is being raised by the greedy people who for many years have supported the dictatorial regimes in Asia, Africa, and the American continent is completely unacceptable. Likewise, when the call to fight violence and terrorism by those who support Zionist terrorism, and who carry out the bloodiest kind of violent acts in Iraq and Afghanistan this is a mockery.
The American and British governments, which permit the torture of suspects, and the spilling of their blood in the streets, and the tapping of citizens' phone calls without a court order, do not have the right to claim they are defending civil rights.
The governments that have blackened the face of modern history with their production and use of nuclear and chemical weapons to not have the right to impose their patronage on the issue of preventing the spread of weapons of mass... on the issue of preventing the spread of nuclear technology.
January 10, 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
I
slam
must prepare to rule the world, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a
crowd of theological students in Iran's holy city of Qom, according to a report.
"We must believe in the fact that Islam is not confined to geographical borders, ethnic groups and nations. It's a universal ideology that leads the world to justice," Ahmadinejad said Jan. 5, according to Mehran Riazaty, a former Iran analyst for the Central Command of the Coalition Forces in Baghdad.
Ahmadinejad, who has drawn global attention recently for his contention the Holocaust was a "myth," said: "We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world."
Riazaty, in a post on the website Regime Change Iran, said the Iranian president emphasized his current theme that the return of the Shiite messiah, the Mahdi, is not far away, and Muslims must prepare for it.
According to Shiites, the 12th imam disappeared as a child in the year 941. When he returns, they believe, he will reign on earth for seven years, before bringing about a final judgment and the end of the world.
Ahmadinejad is urging Iranians to prepare for the coming of the Mahdi by turning the country into a mighty and advanced Islamic society and by avoiding the corruption and excesses of the West.
"We must prepare ourselves to rule the world and the only way to do that is to put forth views on the basis of the Expectation of the Return," Ahmadinejad said. "If we work on the basis of the Expectation of the Return [of the Mahdi], all the affairs of our nation will be streamlined and the administration of the country will become easier."
Riazaty pointed out that Iran's speaker of parliament, Mehdi Kahrubi, said Saturday that some people working closely with Ahmadinejad believe the Mahdi probably will return in the next two years, which means Iran needs to start building more hotels.
Jan. 9, 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
A
British airline banned its staff from taking Bibles and wearing crucifixes or
St. Christopher medals on flights to Saudi Arabia to avoid offending the
country's Muslims.
British Midland International also has told female flight attendants they must walk two paces behind male colleagues and cover themselves from head to foot in a headscarf and robe known as an abaya, the Mirror newspaper of London reported.
Teddy bears or other cuddly toys also are not allowed.
Airline officials, who have sparked outrage, the paper says, explain the Islamic kingdom's strict laws – enforced by religious police – prohibit public practice of Christianity and figures of animals.
BMI spokesman Phil Shepherd said: "In providing air services people want, demand and use, we have an obligation to respect the customs of the destination country."
An airline employee who asked not to be named told the Mirror: "It's outrageous that we must respect their beliefs but they're not prepared to respect ours."
The employee said his grandmother gave him a crucifix shortly before she died that he wears at all times.
"It's got massive sentimental value and I don't see why I have to remove it," he said.
The airline's staff handbook says: "Prior to disembarking the aircraft all female crew will be required to put on their company issued abaya. It will be issued with the headscarf which must be worn."
The employees' union wants staff members to be able to opt out of the flights, but the airline says the only option is to transfer from overseas staff to domestic flights, which could mean a loss of about $30,000 a year in wages.
About 40 staff members have filed complaints since the route began in September.
Some of the male members who are homosexual have called in sick, because they are afraid of traveling to Saudi Arabia, where homosexual activity is punishable by flogging, jail or death.
Howard Wilson hwilson@texasmoralaction.org