Bishop Lori defends religious liberty in front of Congress

Yesterday, Bridgeport Bishop William C. Lori testified before the House Judiciary Committee on the subject of religious freedom. He is the Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) new "Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty."

Catholic League president Bill Donohue issued the following remarks today:

USCCB president Archbishop Timothy Dolan made an excellent choice when he selected Bishop Lori for this post. The Bridgeport bishop did not disappoint us yesterday. Indeed, he laid out, in exacting detail, the threats to religious liberty that exist today.

What is most disturbing about the nature of today's threats is that most stem from government, with the Obama administration leading the way. This is a condition that cannot be tolerated at any level of government, but it is particularly alarming when the federal government amasses its resources against the First Amendment. Because of its wide network of social agencies, the Catholic Church is feeling the pressure more than other religions, making this a critical issue for Catholics across the nation.

To read Bishop Lori's statement, click here

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Independence Day and freedom to pray together

Sometimes when I hear glowing speeches about the Founding Fathers, I get itchy to tell the speaker just how poorly Catholics fared when trying to practice their religion in the Colonies. This piece from Family Research Council reflects true religious tolerance; not banishing faith from the public square, but kneeling down together before the One True God.
THAT is tolerance!


The Glorious Fourth
In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams told her of the actions of the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. "The second day of July, 1776 [the actual day the Declaration was signed], will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever."

As we celebrate Independence Day, as John Adams so aptly predicted, we must not forget nor overlook the intense struggle our Founding Fathers faced. Their Christian faith played a critical role in an era that altered the history of the world. There is not a better example of this seamless devotion to God and country than Samuel Adams. In his time, Sam was far more famous than his cousin, John. Sam was known as the last of the great Puritans and the father of the Revolution. It was Sam Adams who organized the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence. (By the way, if you're going out to a Tea Party on Saturday, historians believe that the first tea party, the one in Boston, was organized by Samuel Adams. It was that Boston Tea Party that lit the fuse of the American Revolution).

When Sam Adams was elected to that First Continental Congress and traveled to the gathering of leaders in Philadelphia, he thought the Continental Congress needed to begin its work on its knees--in prayer. But when the motion was made to call in a local clergyman to lead the worship, John Jay of New York and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina objected. We are too diverse, they said. We could never agree on whose prayers to say.

Rising to his feet, Sam Adams spoke: "I am no bigot," he said, "I can hear the prayer of any man of piety and virtue who is a friend to his country." Deeply moved, the delegates voted to approve Sam Adams' idea. The next morning, amid reports of the British moving against the people of his hometown of Boston, Sam knelt in prayer with his fellow delegates, as the Rev. Jacob Duch? prayed. "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me, and fight against them that fight against me."

That inspired move by Sam Adams did much to overcome suspicions among the delegates. Joseph Reed of Philadelphia called that prayer "a masterly stroke." Those Founding Fathers could now work together for liberty. Soon, Sam Adams would sign the Declaration of Independence.

Alongside Sam Adams' name you can find that of Charles Carroll, a delegate from Maryland. Carroll was the richest man in Congress and the only Roman Catholic. Nowhere else on earth in 1776 could you find an Evangelical like Sam Adams pledge "his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor" alongside a Catholic like Charles Carroll. They both risked death by hanging for signing that great Declaration. But they served the King of Kings and had no fear of King George III.

In our efforts to maintain the freedoms won by our forefathers we must be like them--people of action and prayer. We must never sever our personal faith from our public stand for faith, family and freedom. After we celebrate our independence as a nation on Saturday, I invite you to join thousands of Christians from across the nation on Sunday as they fall on their knees in prayer as a part of FRC's Call2Fall, declaring their dependence upon God, just like our Founding Fathers.

Freedom speech and religious liberty to be curtailed by PBS

PBS doesn't fool me; whenever I see wonderful Catholic concerts like "The Priests" I know they are fundraising. Catholics are impressed and send money, then, the following week the gay and lesbian shows take the place of the Three Tenors. Bait and switch. This is how PBS really feels about religious content; it is to be eliminated.
from Focus on the Family

Take Action: PBS May Crack Down on Religious Content

Thirty-nine members of Congress have sent a letter to PBS Chairman John Porter expressing concern about a proposal that would strip affiliation from any station that carries “sectarian” content, such as local religious services. The board plans to vote on the issue June 16.
The lawmakers wrote: "There simply is no compelling reason for punishing these stations by forcing them to choose between programming that many depend on ... and the PBS affiliation."
The letter asks Porter to allow a 30-day public comment period.
"Forcing stations to ban religious programming or lose their affiliation treats religion like some kind of disease," said Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst at Focus on the Family Action. "That is absurd, considering 65 percent of Americans report that religion is important in their daily lives, and 3 out of 4 say Christianity is their religious preference."
TAKE ACTIONPlease ask PBS Chairman John Porter to allow affiliated stations to continue to air religious programming. You can e-mail him or call him.
(703) 739-5051
— Roger Greer

"homosexual acts are sinful" this phrase will soon be illegal

There I said it. Click here to watch a video of what can happen to me for saying that.
Hate crimes legislation which just passed the House will soon make that statement, a product of my Catholic beliefs, a crime. And I love homosexuals. With the love of Christ, which is why I beg them to stop sinning, repent, confess, and go to heaven. As I pray for myself, and all the other sinners out there, I pray for their conversion. Really.
But the activists will not listen: they keep telling us what we can and cannot say. As if silencing us would help their guilty consciences or their tortured lifestyles. According to the website Mass Resistance:
"Given the extreme dysfunctional nature of homosexual relationships, the Massachusetts Legislature has felt the need to spend more money every year to deal with skyrocketing homosexual domestic violence. This year $350,000 was budgeted, up $100,000 from last year."
Yet our homosexual activists won't allow priests and ministers to preach truth from the pulpit without fear.
"Legislators rejected a proposal that would have protected ministers, who speak of the Christian perspective of homosexuality, from being prosecuted for abetting a perceived "hate crime." Critics of the bill say that it threatens to chill free speech, arguing that similar legislation has done so in Canada, Sweden, and the U.K."

Thanks to hate crimes legislation, soon this entire post will have to be deleted if I want to avoid prison or a hefty fine.
Freedom of speech is only meaningful to the homosexual activists when it allows them to fund pornographic artwork with our tax dollars, or foist pornographic websites on library computers.
Read the entire story in Life Site News.

Hate Crimes legislation threatens the First Amendment

Democrats in Congress are pushing to create a new class of crimes based on the victim's "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity."
Under such "hate-crime" laws, pastors could be prosecuted for preaching the biblical view of homosexuality. Similar laws have been used to prosecute religious speech in the U.S. and abroad.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is expected to take up the legislation — H.R. 1913 — this week.
Tony Perkins, president of FRC Action, said the legislation "gives one set of crime victims a higher level of protection than it gives to (others)."
"All people deserve to be protected from crime, not just certain groups," he said.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, called the legislation one more assault on traditional values.
“A crime’s a crime; an assault is an assault," he said. "The penalty should be the same for the people doing those terrible things.”
TAKE ACTION
If your U.S. representative serves on the Judiciary Committee, please call the committee — (202) 225-3951 — as well as his or her office and request a vote against the hate-crimes bill.
If your representative does not serve on the committee, please call the committee line — (202) 225-3951.
If you have trouble getting through to Washington, try your lawmaker's district office.

President Bush to China: "Don't be afraid of religion"

I'm not above changing my opinion on something. When Rep. Chris Smith, a true Catholic politician, introduced a motion to boycott the Olympics in China, I was incensed that President Bush would be attending the games in a country with such an abominable record on human rights.
Now I see that perhaps his gentle but persistent efforts towards encouraging greater freedom of religion in China may be more effective when spoken directly versus through a boycott.
We'll know by the fruits if this approach was effective. There's such a long way to go.
"Sunday morning in Beijing, President Bush attended the Beijing Kuanjie Protestant Christian Church. After the government-established church service, the U.S. president gently encouraged the Chinese government to consider granting religious freedom to its citizens, telling them not to fear Christianity.
The president expressed that he and his wife experienced “great joy and privilege of worshiping here in Beijing, China.” Bush explained that the service showed “that God is universal, and God is love, and no state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.”
Read the entire story here.
HT CNA

Pastor fined $7,000 for comments on homosexuals

This Candian pastor is being fined for stating the Gospel truth that homosexuality is a sin. And his rights to free speech are being taken away. Is this a harbinger for things to come in the US?


Most disturbingly, says Boissoin, is that the ruling calls for him to "cease publishing in newspapers, by email, on the radio, in public speeches, or on the internet, in future, disparaging remarks about gays and homosexuals."


Boissoin wondered to what extent the right to freedom of expression in Canada will be deteriorated, stating, "I am not allowed to hold on to my views."
The pastor also maintained that his beliefs are founded not on hate or malice, but derive from a personal concern for the family and society rooted not only in faith, but also in science.
"I am not allowed to hold my views, but the Lunds of the world are allowed to bring gay ministers into schools, they are allowed to present scientifically baseless teachings to kids that people are born gay."


HT Life Site News

Catholic writers in danger in Canada

Pete Vere, Catholic who writes for the National Catholic Register and The Wanderer among others, has alerted the Catholic Writer's Guild of a dangerous trend in Canada: Catholic (and other traditional religious )writers who assert the morality of the Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" are in danger of being accused of hate crimes.

The issue before the CHRC, therefore, is whether Christian and Catholic teaching itself is considered under Canadian law to be “hate speech”.
Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary said the issue is whether Christians can continue to maintain their freedom of religious expression. Bishop Henry has also been through an Alberta HRC complaint by homosexual activists in 2005 after publishing a pastoral letter defending the traditional definition of marriage earlier that same year.
“I really feel that we are into a crisis situation here where we are experiencing a trumping of religious freedom,” said Bishop Henry.
Despite assurance from politicians that Canadian faith communities would not be affected when the government legalized same-sex marriage, the number of complaints against Christians have significantly increased since 2005.
Bishop Henry feels that Canada's human rights tribunals are censoring the expression of traditional Christian teaching: “The social climate right now is that we're into a new form of censorship and thought control, and the commissions are being used as thought police.”

Read entire story here.
HT Life Site News
Don't think it can't happen here in the USA. Remember that we didn't think gay marriage would happen here either, when it was approved in Canada. Canadian social trends are a bellweather for the USA, because the same activists at work in Canada, already have much in place in the US. How many times has hate crimes legislation been brought to the US Senate by Senator Kennedy?
Be vigilant or be sorry.

We're not going to take it any more: Pastors revolt against the IRS muzzle

Jill Stanek has a fascinating column on World Net Daily.
Did you know that the regulation of free speech of pastors is only 50 years old? It dates to the Senate career of Lyndon Johnson? He was being called soft on communism as his election for a second term came up, so he had the amendment passed to help him get re-elected, which eventually led to him becoming President when JFK was assassinated. He escalated the war in Vietnam and started the failed war on poverty. What a disastrous presidency!
Anyway, the Johnson Amendment caused a lot of unnecessary paranoia among conservatives. Liberals like Rev. Jeremiah Wright have no such fear.
What do they know? That there has only been one actual prosecution of a church for crossing the church/state divide, Pierce Creek Church in 1992 for running a newspaper ad opposing Bill Clinton. The Clinton's use of the IRS to prosecute their political opponents is legendary; just as Bill O'Reilly who was audited multiple times during the Clinton Administration. So, 50 brave pastors are signing up to give explicitly political homilies to challenge the unfair muzzling of traditional religious believers, and hopefully, bring the Johnson Amendment down. It's about time!
Here's the game plan:
"On Sept. 28, approximately 50 pastors the ADF has chosen from volunteers nationwide will preach sermons to provoke the IRS on this point. This would immediately invoke a lawsuit that would find its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a press release condemning the plan as "deplorable" and "worldly," AU's Lynn stated, "I assume the ADF will provide a list of congregations unwise enough to join this move, and we'll be ready to report those churches to the IRS."
Barry, ADF is planning one better – no, two better. It plans to give you and the IRS videotapes of the sermons."
What valiant leaders these pastors are! How I would love to be one of their congregants. If you are, be sure to give them a FAT check in the collection that day! They may need it for legal fees!
HT World Net Daily

For those who aren't concerned about that homeschool family

from my friend NY Mom who blogs over at Catholics for Huckabee:
I just came across this poem, written at the time of the Holocaust. I thought it so appropriate for the times we are living in, given the complete apathy of many Catholics and conservative minded people to the dangers rapidly approaching the family, especially that of the homeschool family:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

I think the parallels are clear.

America the Beautiful!

Fr. Bill Kuchinsky
It is fitting we celebrate Independence Day; the Birthday of our Nation!

We give thanks to Almighty God who in His Loving Providence raised up a Country which has long shone as a light of hope to the World.
The greatness of our republic stems from the sound foundation on which She was built: in accord with the “laws of nature and of Nature’s God.” The Declaration of Independence proclaims the key truths upon which our nation was established and by which it might long prosper: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Thomas Jefferson questioned: "Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?"
Another signer of the Declaration, Charles Carroll, recognized: “Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure . . . are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.”
As grateful Americans let us secure the survival of our Nation by being faithful to the Commandments and the Eternal Word. We must also ensure that Godly men and women in public office govern in accord with the “laws of nature and of Nature’s God.”
I share with you some words of a man who deeply admired the people of our beloved homeland and saw in us hope for the good of the entire World.
John Paul II on a visit to the U.S. said: “America, you are beautiful and blessed in so many ways ... But your best beauty and your richest blessing is found in the human person: in each man, woman and child, in every immigrant, in every native-born son and daughter… This is the dignity of America, the reason She exists, the condition for Her survival. Yes, the ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless ones. The best traditions of your land presume respect for those who cannot defend themselves. It you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life! All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning ONLY to the extent that you guarantee the right to life and protect the human person.”
Please remember the freedom God has granted to us is not a freedom to do as we want, but to do as we ought. Let us choose to serve the Lord, and in His Strength, we can hope to keep America the Beautiful.

Barbara Kralis Jesus Through Mary Foundation Avemaria@earthlink.net

Dangerous Hate Crimes Bill would Silence Clergy

This bill would make it a crime to say that homosexuality is a sin. Go to the link to American Family Association's petition to stop this nonsense and save our First Amendment rights.
This is from the American Family Association email:

"Message to pastors and other Christians: Just keep your mouth shut"
If pastors and other Christians don't aggressively oppose a bill now in Congress, in the near future they will be subject to huge fines and prison terms if they say anything negative about homosexuality.
The proposed law would make it a crime to preach on Romans Chapter 1 or I Corinthians Chapter 6. Or even to discuss them in a Sunday School class. If churches and individuals want to keep the government from telling them what they can and cannot preach and teach about homosexuality, they better get involved now!
House bill H.R. 1592 and Senate bill S. 1105 would make negative statements concerning homosexuality, such as calling the practice of homosexuality a sin from the pulpit, a "hate crime" punishable by law. This dangerous legislation would take away your freedom of speech and your freedom of religion. Consider what has already happened:
A California lawsuit which is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court would make the use of the words "natural family", "marriage" and "union of a man and a woman" a "hate speech" crime in government workplaces. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled in favor of the plaintiffs!
CNN and The Washington Post both reported that General Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was fired because he publicly expressed moral opposition to homosexual behavior."