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News: Seeds of Persecution - (2003-2004)

Today's growing hostility toward those who follow God

See also Preparing for Persecution 

Persecution | Ban truth - Reap Tyranny

Persecution Around the World | Persecution Today

Clinton's War on Hate Bans Christian Values

"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Tertullian, 1st century AD

December 2004

What is a chapel with no cross? "Just in time for Christmas, Regions Hospital has removed the cross from its chapel and placed it in the chaplain's office adjacent to the chapel so nobody will see it.... 'It's a natural evolution,' Rivard said. 'We have a more diverse population in St. Paul, with people having more diverse religious beliefs.' ...

     "Now, I know that we are supposed to be sensitive to all forms of religious belief and expression, even atheism and witchcraft and sticking pins in voodoo dolls. And, being the modern, caring, sensitive male that I am, I certainly understand that Christianity is not the official religion of the United States and that furthermore, the United States, bless her heart, does not have an official religion.... Why, our Founding Fathers even wrote it into the deal — 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.'...

     "City halls have to consult with lawyers before they dare to put up a tree.... We walk around on pins and needles saying 'happy holidays.' We bow so thoroughly to the diversity movement that we are virtually making it a state-endorsed religious belief to not express any beliefs."

 

The Beginning of the End of Christianity in Australia? "On Friday December 17 two Christian pastors were found of guilty of vilifying Muslims. The decision, handed down in Melbourne, could mark the beginning of the end of freedom of speech in Australia....

    "Judge Higgins said that the two pastors, Daniel Scot (who is a former Muslim), and Danny Nalliah, breached section 8 of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 which says a person cannot engage in conduct that 'incites hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of, that other person or class of persons'. ...Interestingly, section 9 of the Act says a 'person’s motive in engaging in any conduct is irrelevant'. If so, how can one be accused of acting in bad faith? Who decides what is reasonable here or unreasonable?

    "The Judge said that Pastor Scot "failed to differentiate between Muslims throughout the world, that he preached a literal translation of the Quran and of Muslims’ religious practices which were not mainstream." See Ban truth - Reap Tyranny and the next link -- a response from liberal Australian "faith communities" expressing their hostility toward those "extremist" who trust Biblical truth:

 

Letter from leaders and representatives of faith communities concerning the result in the religious vilification case: "Dear Editor, The finding today in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal that Catch the Fire Ministries has vilified Muslims will send a warning to far-right Anti-Semitic groups and extremist groups from both the Christian and Muslim communities in Victoria. These groups have been united in their opposition to the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001." See The Enemy of The People?

November

Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School: "A California teacher has been barred by his school from giving students documents from American history that refer to God -- including the Declaration of Independence....

     "'It's a fact of American history that our founders were religious men, and to hide this fact from young fifth-graders in the name of political correctness is outrageous and shameful,' said Williams' attorney... 'Williams wants to teach his students the true history of our country....There is nothing in the Establishment Clause (of the U.S. Constitution) that prohibits a teacher from showing students the Declaration of Independence.'"

      This strategic historical revisioning process began decades ago. See Brave New Schools: The International Agenda

 

Air Force cracks down on Christian 'coercion': "In a move that echoes the recent decision of the U.S. Department of Defense to deny Boy Scouts use of military facilities, the U.S. Air Force Academy is warning Christian cadets to curb their faith. Officials at the Colorado Springs military college have instituted a new training program, 'Respecting the Spiritual Values of People,' to teach the cadets, 90% of whom are from Protestant or Catholic backgrounds, tolerance toward non-Christians.... Now, cadets who are overzealous about religion are being targeted for transformation....

     "...cadets were advised by head chaplain Michael Whittington to not hold Bible studies in their dormitories, but he was overruled by Commandant Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida.... Longtime football coach Fisher DeBerry... was told to take down a locker room banner that carried the 'Competitor's Creed': 'I am a Christian first and last.... I am a member of Team Jesus Christ.' 

     "...academy officials have also removed a long-running ad from the academy's base newspaper, signed by hundreds of staff members and their families, that read, 'We believe that Jesus Christ is the only real hope for the World.' 'We're getting rid of it because it could be construed as proselytizing and divisive,' Col. Fox said." See Ban truth - Reap Tyranny

 

ACLU threatens abstinence program: "The American Civil Liberties Union has threatened to sue the state of Louisiana because a state website promoting abstinence mentions God....

     "On the site's message board, one teenager poster mentioned God in her testimony: 'Virginity is something very special which we have been given by God and we can only have it once.... I'm so thankful to God for being with me and giving me the wise choice...." Proverbs 3:5-7

 

Objections to the forthcoming movie 'Saved': "A few days ago I took my children to go and see the move 'Cinderella.' One of the trailers that were shown was of the upcoming movie 'SAVED.' I was utterly shocked to see the content of the trailer (especially as a trailer before a movie aimed at children!). In the trailer (and obviously the movie) Jesus is the main topic and followers of Jesus are bluntly and openly portrayed as crazy, dishonest and misled." See The Fall and Rise of Human Violence

 

Pupil refuses to answer Potter exam question: "A Johannesburg schoolboy appealed to education authorities after refusing to answer an exam question on Harry Potter because he believes the best-selling children's books promote witchcraft. Eighteen-year-old John Smit did not answer a comprehension question on a review of one of JK Rowling's books on the boy wizard, worth 30 percent of his English exam. 'He wouldn't answer it because it supports witchcraft, and we're against witchcraft, the Bible is against witchcraft,' [ said] Smit's mother....

     "African Christian Democratic Party MP Cheryllyn Dudley said South Africa needed a clear policy to avoid other pupils facing moral dilemmas during exams."

     The new education policy in South Africa -- as that of the Unesco and the UK -- is to make sure all children learn about and respect diverse religions. Following Biblical guidelines that warn against pagan practices will be unacceptable. USA is headed in the same direction. See Establishing a Global Spirituality

October

Report Details Hostility to Religious Expression in America: "In September, the U.S. State Department reported... that eight national governments are designated as being of particular concern as violators of internationally acknowledged religious freedom rights.... North Korea, China, Burma, Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Eritrea....

      "Now comes a report from the Liberty Legal Institute (LLI) in Plano, Texas, that reveals what the group describes as 'widespread religious hostility' across the U.S. That report, titled 'Examples of Hostility to Religious Expression in the Public Square', documents acts of hostility towards, and discrimination against, expressions of faith by students, faculty, government employees, churches, religious organizations, and ordinary citizens....

     '"The campaign to purge expressions of faith from the public square is pervasive, national, and well organized,' the senator states in a press release. 'The report... also notes how this effort to cleanse the public square of all religious expressions is carefully orchestrated and organized by some of the nation's leading liberal special interest groups.'"

 

Sri Lankan Buddhist Party Launches International Campaign: "Sri Lanka's JHU party, made up entirely of Buddhist monks, has apparently begun an international campaign to gain support from embassies and governments around the world for their anti-conversion bill.... There is concern that they may use this summit to gain international sympathy for their proposed religiously discriminatory legislation."

     They will find support among those who applaud Unesco's Declaration on Tolerance

11 Christians arrested at homosexual event: "...the Christian protesters were 'preaching God's Word' to the crowd of people attending the outdoor Philadelphia OutFest event and displaying banners with biblical messages. Not long after the group began their activity, members of the Pink Angels, which the statement describes as 'a militant mob of homosexuals,' confronted the protesters and attempted to drown out their message with whistles, while hiding the signs with large sheets of pink Styrofoam. "Even though the Christians obeyed all laws, city ordinances and lawful requests by the Philadelphia police officers on hand," said Life and Liberty Ministries, "they were promptly and without warning arrested and hauled off to jail, where they spent 21 hours before being released on Monday morning."

Eleven, jailed, and charged under hate crimes legislation [Photos & more information on the same story]: "On October 10, 2004, eleven Christians with the Philadelphia-based Repent America were arrested, jailed, and charged under hate crimes legislation during an evangelistic outreach at the annual 'OutFest' homosexual pride event held in the public streets of Philadelphia....

      ''This is one of the most remarkable and unlawful actions by police that I have ever witnessed.... Christians are now being labeled as ‘haters’ and any speech that homosexuals perceive to be intimidating, such as our Christian witness at OutFest, makes them a prime target for ‘hate crimes legislation.'" See Clinton's War on Hate Bans Christian Values

September

Small churches banned: "ADF files suit against Marietta, Georgia, for requiring churches to own at least five acres.... 'The city’s zoning ordinances are essentially an illegal scheme to discourage new churches,' said ADF Attorney Kevin Theriot, based in Kansas City, Missouri. 'The zoning restrictions target ‘religious institutions’ alone. No one else is required to meet them....  A city cannot apply one set of rules to churches and another set of rules to everyone else.... That is clearly unconstitutional and illegal.'” John 15:20-21

 

The Da Vinci Code and Other Deceptions: "The story is set against a backdrop of religious and 'historical' statements that are claimed to be 'facts.' These are a mixture of anti-Christian teachings, radical feminist theology, and goddess worship. For example, the book says that the early Christians did not believe in the divinity of Christ; the Resurrection never happened; our Bible is the result of a political power play by the Roman Emperor Constantine; and early Christians worshiped the 'divine feminine.' These statements are made by a likeable expert, a Harvard professor who (in the context of the novel) seems to be credible and authoritative.

     "Readers can become so engrossed in the fast-moving, suspenseful story that they swallow these so-called 'facts' without even realizing it. Storytelling can be a powerful tool for changing the way that people think. This is especially true with movies, and Hollywood is making 'The Da Vinci Code' into a movie." Deception

August

Christians face threat pushing Bible beliefs? "According to LifeSiteNews, churches are not only admonished against recommending certain candidates or political parties, but they also face crackdowns for speaking out on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage." Ban truth - Reap Tyranny

July

Appeals court rules S.C. council prayers unconstitutional: "A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a judge's ruling that prohibits the Great Falls, S.C., Town Council from opening its meetings with a prayer that mentions Jesus Christ. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that such prayers amount to an unconstitutional government advancement of one religion: Christianity. ....

     "Darla Kaye Wynne, a Wiccan high priestess, sued the town after its leaders refused to open meetings only with nonsectarian prayers or to allow members of different faiths to lead the prayers." See From U.S. Sovereignty to Global Conformity

 

God worse than terrorism? "Robert Reich, the former U.S. labor secretary under President Bill Clinton, believes people who follow God pose a more significant threat to the modern world than terrorists do....

     "Reich concludes his column by taking aim at those who believe in God: 'The great conflict of the 21st century will not be between the West and terrorism. ... The true battle will be between... those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that human beings owe their allegiance and identity to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is mere preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe in science, reason, and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma. Terrorism will disrupt and destroy lives. But terrorism itself is not the greatest danger we face." John 15:20-21

 

Student told: 'Leave your faith in the car': "...a school administrator told the student: 'Leave your faith in the car' when your beliefs might offend others.

     "'In this age of alleged tolerance, such a statement is disappointing, to put it mildly,' said Robert Tyler, counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund. 'Public school students don't surrender their First Amendment rights when they enter the building. When are public school officials going to learn they are not allowed to silence constitutionally protected student speech just because they disagree with the student?" John 15:20-21

French Jews are leaving, but why? "The Jewish Agency, the quasi-governmental body responsible for settling immigrants in Israel, reported a doubling in the number of French Jews who arrived last year ...as a result of attacks against Jews in France in the past three years, many Jews, particularly those whose religion is evident from their clothes, were feeling increasingly uneasy. Much of the tension has centered in working class suburbs of Paris where Jews and Muslims mingle." Matthew 24:7

June

 'Hate crimes' bill: Prescription for tyranny: "Such laws create a multi-tiered system of justice, in which some crime victims' cases are taken more seriously than others, thus violating the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. Seeking federal dollars, police and prosecutors will define more and more cases as 'hate crimes.'... But the real danger of 'hate crime' laws is that they criminalize thoughts and beliefs....

    "The federal 'hate crimes' bill lays the groundwork for persecution of Christians in this country. Homosexual activists have redefined any opposition to homosexuality as 'hate speech.'...

    "In Tulsa... someone wrote the words 'kill' and 'death' on the walls of a Catholic elementary school.... the perpetrator also wrote 'messages referring to devils and to sex with Christian girls. Pentagrams and the number 666 appeared as well. But the police said, 'It is not a hate crime per se. In order for it to be a hate crime, it has to be an act of malicious intention.'...

    "In Canada and Sweden, it is now a 'hate crime' to criticize homosexuality in any fashion. Canadian broadcasters are forbidden to air any critical discussion of homosexuality.... In Sweden, a pastor was arrested at his church after he read Bible verses about homosexuality. The 'gay' lobby is frank about its desire to persecute Christians in America in just the same way, and this 'hate crimes' bill is a key step in that strategy." Ban truth - Reap Tyranny

Protesters march in defense of cross: "The protesters carried signs reading: 'Jews for the Seal,' 'Anti-Christian Liberties Union' and 'Stop the Cultural Cleansing. Stop the ACLU...'" See The Cross: Feared, Banned, Trivialized... yet Triumphant

May

Principal bans lunch meeting for Christian student; Islam meeting okay (Canada) : "For the last three years, this group met every Friday at lunch to discuss various issues concerning their Christian faith. Last fall, however, the principal informed the group that they were no longer welcome to use the school property, even though students from other faiths, including Islam, have been allowed to continue daily prayers and weekly meetings with spiritual leaders during the school day. ... Since then, every Friday nearly fifty students pack up chairs and trek half a kilometre to meet outdoors, sometimes in rain or -36 degrees Celsius weather in a grassy patch away from school property. There they have been subjected to not only harsh weather conditions, but jeers from fellow students and passing motorists." Matthew 24:9

 

Homeschool Horror: "You know how there are terrorist cells embedded throughout the world? Well, in my neighborhood we have numerous 'homeschool' cells humming in the cul-de-sacs. They're almost as scary as the terrorist ones in some ways -- and they definitely have some traits in common with them....

     "What's scary is that a lot of the homeschooling faithful are as fueled by a fanatical, religion-based belief in their mission as Islamist terrorists, and seem to be just about as brainwashed....They're not only terrorist-like in their conviction that their calling is divinely ordained, homeschoolers also often have a broad martyr streak.... Beyond a certain age, children and mothers are just not meant to be isolated together. It's unnatural." See The Enemy of The People? and The Three Myths of Homeschooling

Teaching Assistant Under Fire For Christian References Returns To Work : "A teaching assistant placed on administrative leave after a parent complained about her references to Christianity returned to work Monday.... [Jean] Byce will be working with older students at the school.....Byce was placed on administrative leave earlier in the week while the district investigated possible insubordination stemming from incidents where she made references to Jesus and Christianity to students." The next link gives more details. Notice the attitude of the school and its attorney. Apparently, an honest Christian answer to a simple question is not "in the best interest of the child," since it would fail to show equal respect for all religions:

Religion In Classroom: "A student sang a song to me and asked me a question about Jesus being in heaven forever and believing in Jesus and going to heaven, and asked if I believed that, and I said 'Yes,' [Jean] Byce said.... '[The child's] parents were already upset because of another incident in which I told the children what the Christian fish symbol was and how it originated.'...

     "The attorney for the district... [said], 'In any situation, it is important all teachers put the students' best interest first. If a student asks a religious question like, 'Is Jesus in Heaven?' the best response is to give a factual statement like, 'People of the Christian faith believe that Jesus is in Heaven, but other religions don't believe that.' By speaking in general, factual terms, you can answer a child’s question and not profess your faith at the same time." See New Beliefs for a Global Village

 

Teaching Assistant In Trouble Over Religion: "I'm a school in a community like ours, where 99 percent of the people are Christians, children talk about Jesus a lot,' [Jean] Byce said. 'A student sang a song to me and asked me a question about Jesus being in heaven forever and believing in Jesus and going to heaven, and asked if I believed that, and I said 'Yes.' Byce said that comment upset the parents of another child, who complained to the school district.

    "Byce admitted it wasn't the first time she had been reprimanded for her Christian views. 'His parents were already upset because of another incident in which I told the children what the Christian fish symbol was and how it originated,' she said. 'Unfortunately, the people at the district level and the attorneys for our district see this as a violation of the law and as insubordination on my part.'" John 15:20-21

 

Those Unstable, Superstitious Christians: "Woodward reports that when Bush was in the process of deciding to attack Iraq he prayed 'for the strength to do the Lord's will.' This 'revelation' reportedly prompted Nader to tell the Christian Science Monitor, 'We are dealing here with a basically unstable president… a messianic militarist. A messianic militarist, under our constitutional structure, is an unstable office-holder. Talk about separation of church and state: It is not separated at all in Bush's brain, and this is extremely disturbing.'...

     "So why do liberal elitists recoil like snakes when Bush makes references to his faith? Why do they act like it's newsworthy when the highest officeholder in the land admits to being a practicing Christian in a nation where most citizens claim to be Christians? ... Oh, how far we've come in this nation since it was considered unquestionably noble to place our 'firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.'" Matthew 24:9 and John 15:20-21

April

Law of the Land: "Canada's governor general, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, signed into law yesterday a controversial measure opposed by religious believers and free-speech advocates who say it will criminalize public expression against homosexual behavior.... The bill... adds sexual orientation as a protected category in Canada's genocide and hate-crimes legislation, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. ....'Anybody who has views on homosexuality that differ from Svend Robinson's [The openly homosexual sponsor of the bill] will be exposed rather dramatically to the joys of the Criminal Code,' McKay said." Ban truth - Reap Tyranny  

February

The Underground University: "...this tenured faculty member casually stated that the university [North Carolina] had too many Christian organizations to manage. He claimed that it would soon be necessary to stop recognizing new Christian organizations and instead have students conform their religious beliefs to those of existing organizations." John 15:20-21

 

France's great paradox to pursue secularism with religious zeal: "It's on. The lower house of the French Parliament has overwhelmingly voted to make into law the proposal to ban wearing 'ostensible religious symbols' such as veils, yarmulkes and large crucifixes in public schools. The idea seems to be catching on elsewhere - Belgium and Germany have indicated they would consider a similar law....

     "It began in 1792, with the extremist Jacobins seizing power in France. Jacobinism is a paradox: a mix of revolutionary atheism and authoritarian republican statism.... In 1902, under another militant atheist, Emile Combes, it flared up again. Not content with closing down more than 2500 religious schools, Combes's government forbade all people from religious orders to teach." Romans 8:37

 

Attacks on Boy Scouts may expand to religion: "Various attacks against the Boy Scouts are 'merely a foretaste of what awaits religious organizations' unless the U.S. Supreme Court reverses a recent appeals court decision, the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and other organizations have told the high court....

      "'At its root, freedom of religion must mean two things: First, freedom to believe according to the dictates of one's own conscience and, second, freedom to associate with people who share those core religious beliefs,' Royce said. 'If these religious beliefs are to be judged inadequate by the government because they have become politically incorrect, religious freedom as we have historically known it is lost.'" See Preparing for Persecution

January 2004

 Religious Restrictions or Religious Censorship? "Burning the flag is considered free speech; erecting crosses as roadside memorials is not. The FCC allows the 'F-word' on television, but thanking God at a high school graduation is a no-no. And some schools freely dispense condoms to kids, but pencils that read 'Jesus loves little children' were confiscated from a first-grade class in Virginia."  Charts: Paradigm Shift

Religious Thought Police: "Christianity is under assault. A Swedish pastor was sent to jail for preaching what the Bible says about homosexuality. A Canadian judge forced schools to teach homosexuality in kindergarten classes. Australian Christians were prosecuted for handing out Christian literature, even though there are no laws against doing it. The Supreme Court of Vermont forced the state to legally recognize same-sex unions. Two Australian pastors have been prosecuted for teaching what the Koran says about Islam. A Canadian judge forced a Catholic high school to allow a gay boy to bring a male escort to his high school prom. In America, a Methodist bishop said that Christian evangelism is arrogant and it can lead to hate crimes. Canadian mayors have been fined up to $10,000 for not celebrating Gay Pride Week in their cities. The European Union is considering laws which might make some parts of the Bible illegal.

     "Many Christians are not aware of the extent to which the Church is becoming hemmed in because they have only seen bits and pieces of the picture." Matthew 24:9

 

The Media, God and Government: "A week before Christmas, it was reported that a panel of judges from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that wall displays that include framed copies of the Ten Commandments are unconstitutional and cannot hang in public buildings....

     "A public school second-grader in Louisiana recently had his Bible confiscated by his teacher when he was caught reading it during the daily 10 minutes of 'quiet reading time' in which children are allowed to bring books from home....

     "The media tell us that Thomas Jefferson believed in a wall of separation of church and state.... It doesn’t appear in the Constitution. The phrase reflects the view of the founders that the federal government shouldn’t establish a national church like they had in England....

     "Instead of using Bibles and hymnals, some schools today depict homosexuality as a legitimate alternative lifestyle and 'gay' student clubs are encouraged. But this is not a scandal for journalists who would prefer to write about the so-called 'separation of church and state.'" (Cliff Kincaid, 12/22/03) See Ban truth - Reap Tyranny

Christmas in America becomes battleground: "...news items from across the country this week indicate that the U.S. has become the new battleground for Christmas. Cases in point: A first-grade teacher in Sacramento Co., Calif., says her principal has prohibited instructors from uttering the word 'Christmas' in class or in written materials; A school superintendent in Yonkers, N.Y., banned, then unbanned, holiday decorations that contained religious themes more than the generic 'season's greetings'...." Persecution

 

Counselor suspended over 'religious advice': "A dropout-prevention counselor at a

North Carolina high school has been suspended for reportedly sharing Scripture with a student who was struggling with homosexuality.... The girl asked Pinto, who is active in First Baptist Church in Concord, N.C., for the Bible's take on the matter. Pinto reportedly responded by sharing specific Scripture with the girl....

      "Critics of this increasingly prevalent zero-tolerance stance on the part of public schools across the country argue the Constitution is being misconstrued." See Preparing for Persecution

 

YMCA fliers banned from school: "The local Y can no longer send fliers home with children because a recent one happened to mention the organization puts 'Christian principles into practice,' reports the Bakersfield Californian.... The basketball-camp flier included the words: 'To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build spirit, mind and body for all.'" John 15:20-21

 

Florida Teacher Blames Firing on Support for Disabled Woman: "I started hearing, 'Well, you don't fit in. Teachers with public opinions like that don't fit in.'

    "Cooper-Dowda said she was also called a 'religious wacko' on more than one occasion.... 'The principal, various teachers, my supervisor, aides, paraprofessionals, everyone was saying, 'Teachers aren't allowed to have opinions, especially about Terri Schiavo.... And I'm thinking, 'Wow! I thought this was America?" John 15:20-21

 

Hatred hits home: "The statistics are chilling to even those who don't want to believe them: The number of anti-Semitic attacks in the city last month was more than triple that of a year ago - an ominous sign of 'global anti-Semitism coming home,' Jewish leaders warn. ... 'It just gives you the shivers,' said Fraidy... a Holocaust survivor from Romania. 'This brings all the memories, all the stories we grew up with. It's coming alive.'" Persecution

November

'No Christian symbols at Christmas': Fearing they might offend someone, Red Cross stores in Britain have taken the Christian out of Christmas this year, banning any display of overtly religious decorations. "This is why, during Christmas and any other religious festivals, our volunteers are welcome to display and sell seasonal decorations and goods, including Christmas trees and cards, but not anything overtly religious." See Matthew 24: 9 and The Fall and Rise of Human Violence

 

Bill Pryor's Shocking Comments During Roy Moore's 'Trial' : "He was saying that in order for Chief Justice Moore to resume his duties, he must not acknowledge God. The posting of the Ten Commandments did not even come up. Roy Moore's 'crime' was acknowledging God. For this, he was removed from the bench. To require that a public official not acknowledge God not only violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but also Article Six of the Constitution that says, '…no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.'

      "To require Chief Justice Moore to not acknowledge God certainly violates this constitutional obligation! Therefore, federal judge Myron Thompson and Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor have plainly and deliberately violated Roy Moore's constitutional rights under the First Amendment and Article Six of the U.S. Constitution." From U.S. Sovereignty to Global Conformity

October

Free speech means sometimes saying you're sorry: "In a recent third case, Lt. Gen. William G. 'Jerry' Boykin, an evangelical Christian military/intelligence officer, upset many in the Arab-American world when he told a church audience that his God was bigger than the God of the Muslim warlord he fought in Somalia 1993. He also expressed the opinion that God put George W. Bush in office, that the reason Islamic extremists hate us is because /we're a Christian nation,' and that our 'spiritual enemy will only be defeated if we come against them in the name of Jesus.'  Off with his stripes! The Interfaith Alliance has urged Bush to issue a reprimand and the Council on American-Islamic Relations is demanding that Boykin be reassigned....

     "That these men's remarks have evoked such emotional responses suggests a censorious sensitivity that does not bode well for free speech." See Conforming the Church to the New Millennium

 

Cross-dressing Wiccan official sparks Christian mission probe: "A Christian mission serving homeless people since 1939 is under investigation for discrimination because its walls are adorned with crosses and other religious imagery. The probe was prompted by a city fair-housing investigator, who also happens to be a cross-dressing Wiccan openly contemptuous of mainstream religions....

      "Last year, the Charleston paper said, the mission provided a place to sleep for thousands of people and served more than 82,000 meals." See Faith-Based Compromise

 

Christian soldier, Muslim soldier: "There's something terribly wrong when an American soldier overseas can't receive Scriptures in the mail, but a Muslim chaplain can preach freely among al-Qaida and Taliban enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay...

      "Jack Moody tried to send his son, Daniel, a care package containing a Bible study and other Christian religious materials. Daniel is a 21-year-old Army National Guardsman serving in the Middle East. He had written home requesting spiritual support while he risked his life abroad....

     "According to U.S.P.S. postal bulletin 22097... Moody was forbidden from sending 'any matter containing religious materials contrary to Islamic faith or depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items.... The postal clerk informed Moody that the Christian contents of the package might be considered offensive to some Muslims overseas." See Preparing for Persecution

Human nature. Arnold's corruption of Republican Party: "...many so-called conservatives are eagerly surrendering to the political triumph of a man who aggressively advertises himself as an enthusiastic liberal on the most important of these issues, the matter of life and death.... The Schwarzenegger corruption of the Republican Party – and apparently, of a significant portion of the conservative leadership of that party – in the name of victory threatens to undermine the very reason for the party's existence." God's wisdom or man's foolishness

September

 It's the winter solstice, Charlie Brown! "In a public school in St. Louis, a teacher spotted the suspect, fourth-grader Raymond Raines, bowing his head in prayer before lunch. The teacher stormed to Raymond's table, ordered him to stop immediately and sent him to the principal's office. The principal informed the young malefactor that praying was not allowed in school.....

     "Before snack time in her kindergarten class in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., little Kayla Broadus held hands with two of her classmates and recited this prayer: 'God is good, God is great, thank you, God, for my food.' The alert teacher pounced on Kayla, severely reprimanded her, and reported her...." Brave children who suffered for Jesus

Court bans religious gifts to classmates: "Kindergartners and first-graders may not distribute to their classmates gifts that bear a religious message, according to a ruling by a federal appeals court. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of a New Jersey elementary school in forbidding a boy from giving out pencils with the message 'Jesus loves the little children' with a heart symbol substituted for the word love.... The school... has a 'legitimate area of control' regarding speech within school confines." New Beliefs for a Global Village

In Canada: 'Bible as hate speech' bill passes: "Canada's House of Commons passed a controversial bill yesterday opposed by religious believers and free-speech advocates who say it will criminalize public expression against homosexual behavior. The bill, passed 141-110, adds sexual orientation as a protected category in Canada's genocide and hate-crimes legislation, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. 'It's been a good week for equality in Canada,' said the bill's sponsor, Svend Robinson, an openly homosexual member of Parliament."

Atheists still fighting against WTC cross: "Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, told the Trentonian newspaper. 'This is a Christian religious advertisement, and allowing it to stay there is an insult to everyone who doesn't believe in that particular religion.'" See The Cross of Christ

 

Judge slaps library for barring cross pendant: "A federal court in Kentucky has ruled it was improper for a public library to fire an employee for wearing a necklace featuring a Christian cross pendant. ...'The fact that our client was fired for wearing a cross pendant on a necklace to work is not only absurd but unconstitutional as well,' said Manion. 'This decision sends an important message that employers cannot discriminate against employees who choose to express their religious beliefs in the workplace." 2 Cor 2:14

Pennsylvania teacher's aide suspended for cross: "...the Christian symbol violates the unit's policy, as well as the Pennsylvania Public School Code's prohibition against school employees wearing religious garb and insignia....  Mrs. Nichol refused to comply with the policy, saying that hiding or removing her cross would be acts of 'denying Christ as her Lord and Savior' in violation of her religious beliefs....

     "'The actions taken by this agency represent a serious violation of our client's constitutional rights,' said Vincent McCarthy, senior counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice... 'School personnel do not shed their constitutional freedoms when they enter the schoolhouse door.'" Matthew 24:9

 

Religion taboo topic on public bus: "If you're planning to ride public transportation in Broken Arrow, Okla., you better bring a book, because striking up a conversation with someone might land you curbside.... Regular passengers Vincenza Siano and her daughter, Lucretia Bacon, were handed a copy of the policy last month. It states: 'No public speech will be allowed on the bus, which may include but is not necessarily limited to religion, politics, economics or finance.'" Reinventing the World

April

Anti-Christian Bigotry Bites Rod Paige: "The intolerant advocates of tolerance are in full howl over comments by Education Secretary Rod Paige.... Rep. Jerold Nadler (D-NY) is demanding Sec. Paige apologize or resign. Good grief! What outrageous things could Mr. Paige possibly have said to have ignited such hysteria?...

      "Answering a question in a Baptist publication about his personal preference between secular and Christian universities, Sec. Paige said: 'All things equal, I would prefer to have a child in a school that has a strong appreciation for the values of the Christian community, where a child is taught a strong faith. Where a child is taught that, there is a source of strength greater than themselves.'" Matthew 24:9

 

Man sues after religious mail to Mideast refused: "Postal officials' refusal to ship Christian literature to an Army National Guardsman stationed in the Middle East is drawing legal attention.... Jack Moody... was told a U.S. Postal Service regulation prohibits the mailing of 'any matter containing religious materials contrary to Islamic faith.'" Clinton's War on Hate Bans Christian Values