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Vol. 1 No.18
November
11, 2004
From the Desk of Pastor Rick
Scarborough
THE NEED TO BORK SPECTER
Arlen Specter, who’s in line to become the chairman of the
powerful Senate Judiciary Committee (which passes on judicial
nominations), is busy trying to remake himself.
Due to mounting pro-life opposition, Specter is desperately
trying to convince conservatives that he is reasonable and
wouldn’t dream of sabotaging Bush’s court appointments. This
comes after he told an interviewer that Roe vs. Wade was
“inviolate” and that no judge would be confirmed who wasn’t
willing to pledge allegiance to abortion on demand.
Now, he’s furiously backpedaling. In a recent interview on Sean
Hannity’s syndicated radio show, Specter said he didn’t have a
pro-abortion litmus test and would give Bush judges the fair
treatment they deserve.
The same fairness he showed Robert Bork? Specter was one of the
few Republicans to vote against Bork’s 1986 Supreme Court
nomination.
Following Specter’s interview, Hannity called Bork for his take
on the controversy. The former Yale law professor said Specter
is a cunning liberal who scurries to the right when it’s
convenient. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the
Pennsylvania Senator would be a disaster, Bork charged. Not only
will he not fight for Bush judges, he’ll probably lead the
charge against them, Bork observed.
If your state is represented by a Republican in the Senate, call
him/them immediately and urge them to vote against Specter for
this crucial chairmanship.
CLINTON SAYS GAY MARRIAGE DEFEATED KERRY
It’s now official. Former president Bill Clinton says the threat
of homosexual marriage, and the presence of 11 traditional
marriage amendments on state ballots, cost Kerry the election.
“Gay marriage was an overwhelming factor in the defeat of John
Kerry,” Clinton told a college audience recently. The issue led
to “an astonishing turnout among evangelical Christians who were
voting on the basis on moral values,” the ex-president observed.
Clinton revealed he urged his party’s nominee to support at
least a few of the referenda affirming traditional marriage. But
Kerry (who says he opposes gay marriage) adamantly refused.
Clinton says the Democrats must do a better job of explaining
their “values” to Christians. The trouble is we understand those
values -- abortion is a right, homosexuality is normal, adultery
is a private matter, etc. -- all too well.
The former president insisted, “ I do not believe either party
has a monopoly on morality and truth” -- this from a serial
adulterer who settled a sexual-harassment suit and lied under
oath. Amazing!
FREE SPEECH FOR SOME STUDENTS?
A federal district judge in San Diego will allow a suit by a
Christian student, alleging speech discrimination, to move
forward.
The Poway Unified School District suspended student Chris Harper
for wearing a T-shirt expressing the Bible’s perspective on the
school’s “Day of Silence” sponsored by the district’s
Gay-Straight Alliance. The front of Chris’ shirt read, “Be
Ashamed” and “Our School Has Embraced What God Has Condemned.”
In other words, the district allows students and teachers to
celebrate and promote homosexuality, but will punish dissent.
Our praise and prayers go out to young Mr. Harper, who’s ably
represented by the Alliance Defense Fund. Updates on his case
may be found at
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org
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A VICTORY FOR FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
The Christian Legal Society chapter and Washburn University
School of Law have reached a tentative settlement in a federal
civil rights suit. CLS will withdraw the suit and the law school
will resume funding the group.
Washburn U. revoked CLS funding based on the complaint of a
student who wanted to lead a CLS Bible-study group,
notwithstanding that, as a Mormon, his views contradict the CLS
articles of faith. The student filed a religious discrimination
complaint, and the university penalized CLS.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that private groups have a
right to determine their own membership. Still, on campus after
campus, Christian groups are told (in effect) to stop being
Christian, or lose university support.
Taking this position to its logical conclusion, a Buddhist could
demand the right to teach a catechism class at the Cardinal
Newman Society and a Moslem could insist on a leading a
discussion of the Talmud at the campus Hillel House.
Congratulations to the Washburn University School of Law
Christian Legal Society on its victory over politically correct
discrimination. CLS was represented by the Center for Law &
Freedom of Religion (http://www.clsnet.org )
ACTION TODAY
DR. FALWELL RETURNS TO THE FRAY
My good friend Dr. Jerry Falwell, who launched a revolution when
he started the Moral Majority in the late 1970s, is organizing a
new group to capitalize on Christian participation in the last
election.
The Faith and Values Coalition will mobilize evangelical
Christians for a three-fold mission: 1) Confirmation of
pro-life/original-intent justices for the Supreme Court and
lower federal courts 2) Enactment of the Federal Marriage
Amendment and 3) The election of another socially-fiscally-and
politically-conservative president in 2008.
A website for The Faith and Values Coalition is currently under
construction. In the meantime, inquires may be made by calling
(434) 582-2950 at Liberty University.
Dr. Falwell is the founding father of Christian political
activism. Our Patriot Pastor network stands ready to assist his
latest project in any way that we can.
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