OUR COLUMNISTS Can Elephants Forget? Guest Commentary by Joe Murray All indicators seem to point to the suggestion that President Bush has forgotten the roots from which his presidency was born. From social policy to foreign affairs to domestic policy, the president has been at the forefront remaking his campaign catch phrase of 'compassionate conservatism.' Win Now, Suffer Later Commentary by Brad Locke In sports, instant gratification -- the win-now attitude -- is the rule. It's nothing more than a reflection of our society, where patience is a vice. Christians can fall into a similar trap. Tarnished Image? Commentary by David Sisler Before the infamous 9th Circuit Court, Hugh Hefner's attorneys have argued that Netscape's use of certain keywords 'dilutes the Playboy brand name by associating its trademarks with inferior products.' You're kidding me, right? God's Purpose for Governing Authorities Commentary by Mark Creech From whence does all authority and dominion flow? To what end are all powers appointed and judged of Almighty God? Such questions introduce a concept, which is so far removed from the collective memory of Americans, it sounds like an intrusion of religion into the serenity of a nation that has almost become completely secularized.

...The city council of San Diego, California, has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union over public land that the city has leased to the Boy Scouts of America for decades. According to a SignOnSanDiego.com report, the city has agreed to pay the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties $950,000 in court costs and attorneys fees, and will ask a federal judge to enter a ruling voiding the lease that has allowed the Scouts to use land in Balboa Park for nearly 50 years. The ACLU sued the city and the Boy Scouts Desert-Pacific Council in August 2000 on behalf of two boys, one raised by a lesbian couple and the other by an agnostic couple. The ACLU has contended in its suit that the Scouts should be evicted from the park grounds because the organization discriminates on the basis of sexuality and religion. Last year, a U.S. District judge ruled that the Scouts' Balboa Park lease did indeed violate the state and federal constitution and that the case could proceed to trial. Although both the Scouts and the ACLU have been preparing for the court battle, this recent settlement decision in effect allows the City of San Diego to cut its losses and step aside, leaving the Boy Scouts to fight the ACLU alone. A deputy city attorney was quoted as saying "It's [the Scouts'] lease. The defense of the case properly rests with them." Scouts representatives have said they will continue to fight the ACLU, but added that they were staggered by the settlement amount, which will provide funding for the ACLU's continued attack on the Boy Scouts. [Jenni Parker]

...Conflict of interest questions are being raised in a court case involving a law that would have established what was supposed to be the nation's largest school voucher program. Colorado Judge Joseph Meyer struck down the law last month, ruling that it was unconstitutional. It seems that the judge's wife is a union member of the Colorado Teachers Association, which challenged the law in Judge Meyer's courtroom. She also teaches in a district that would be affected by the law. Scott Flores is with the Coalition for Latino Children in Education, a group that supports vouchers. "People start understanding how far-reaching the tentacles of the teachers union reach," Flores tells Family News In Focus, "and to discover that it possibly had influenced this judge's decision, I think, will have a far-reaching impact." At the time Judge Meyer ruled the program unconstitutional, there had been 70,000 applications for the 20,000 available vouchers. [FNIF]

...Eleven state attorneys general are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling that declared dinner prayers at Virginia Military Institute unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union, which got the prayers banned, says it is unnecessary for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. But Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore argues that the blessings are like those recited at the U.S. Naval Academy and in the military, and that no one was required to engage in prayer. While the prayers were voluntary, a federal appeals panel found that VMI's emphasis on conformity pressured cadets to participate in a religious exercise. [AP]

...A parents-rights group in Massachusetts says when it comes to protecting children from the homosexual agenda and defending traditional marriage, being nice to homosexual activists and lawmakers will not get the job done. Brian Camenker is director of the Parents' Rights Coalition, a group dedicated to stopping the forced deconstruction of marriage in Massachusetts. He says even some pro-family groups have been too quick to give up and settle for compromises with the homosexual agenda, such as homosexual "civil unions." Camenker says the situation is urgent. "The gays have started their PR campaign here. They're going after the state reps, and the state reps are caving in like you've never seen in your life," he says. But the traditional-values advocate says his group has learned which strategies are effective with legislators and which are not. "We've found that when we can approach them, not politely, but with fire in our eyes, that's what works. Legislators everywhere respond to two things: pleasure and pain; and unfortunately pain works better," he says. Camenker feels it is time for believers with traditional values to let lawmakers know that they intend to fight and not compromise. Camenker encourages anyone interested in getting involved in stopping homosexual marriage to visit his website. The pro-family activist says if homosexual advocates in his state are not opposed, same-sex marriage will be a reality in Massachusetts within 120 days. [Rusty Pugh]

...President George W. Bush is once again indicating a belief that all religions are recognized by God. Many born-again Christians have been troubled by Bush's statements and actions that suggest an endorsement of the idea that all religions are equal before God. These believers point to Bush's Ramadan dinners at the White House and his praise of Islam as examples. Associated Press reports that yesterday, in a speech at a New Orleans church, Bush told the crowd that God works through many of the world's religions. "Miracles happen as a result of the love of the Almighty, professed, by the way, taught, by the way, by religions from all walks of life whether it be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu," Bush said. The president went on to say that there is nothing better than a faith-based program to provide hope: "Again, I don't care what religion it is -- there's nothing more hopeful than the word." It was not clear from the report what "word" President Bush was talking about. [Fred Jackson/AP]

...As Democrats get closer to choosing a presidential candidate, many people are wondering whether one of the contenders, Wesley Clark, is really looking down the road to 2008. Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation believes Clark is being tested in this election to see if he is strong enough to run for vice-president on a ticket with Hillary Clinton in 2008. "I think that's a real possibility," Weyrich says. "If [Clark] should make a very good showing but not win, I think he might be a running mate with [Hillary Clinton], and that would be a very formidable ticket. I wouldn't write off that ticket." Clark has been hand-picked to challenge Dean by the Clinton political machine. Both the former president and first lady have endorsed Clark's candidacy and are working for his victory. [Bill Fancher]

...There is a good deal of skepticism over claims from U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad that there will be religious freedom in the largely Muslim country. Khalilzad was sworn in as ambassador November 24 in Washington and presented his credentials to President Karzai of Afghanistan on November 27, 2003. In an interview with The Washington Times, the U.S. ambassador said that Afghans will not be forced to practice Islam, even though the country's new constitution makes many references to Islamic supremacy. Those references worry Nina Shea of the Center for Religious Freedom. She says her organization is concerned because the new constitution "does make Afghanistan not only an Islamic state, but it makes it an Islamist state. The supreme law of the land is Islamic law." Shea says that could mean a future of serious persecution for Afghanistan's minority Christians. [FNIF]

© 2004 AgapePress all rights reserved.

E-mail this page to a friend

Printer-Friendly Version

Read all of our current headlines