OUR COLUMNISTS So, Now the Church Is the New Whipping Boy for the GOP? Commentary by Matt Friedeman While acknowledging GOP Senator Tom Coburn has courage to "slap around" the Religious Right, columnist Matt Friedeman questions the lawmaker's accusation that the church has played a role in food stamp fraud. Teaching the Value of Love Commentary by Jane Jimenez Many sex educators are fond of stating, "We don't teach values." If that's true, then aren't they admitting they're failing? A Cynic's Playground Commentary by Brad Locke The Olympics...NASCAR...spring training...March Madness.... Unfortunately, much of the current optimism will give way to the cynicism that has been infecting the sports world with alarming frequency the last few years. Rebuking the 'Clergy Letter Project' Commentary by Mark Creech It is most unfortunate so many Christian leaders have concluded that evolution is scientific, whereas creationism and intelligent design are simply religious -- when, in fact, evolution is incapable of being scientifically proven.

...A report out today says the IRS has recommended that three non-profit groups lose their tax-exempt status because of their involvement in political activities. Associated Press reports the action is part of an Internal Revenue Service review of more than 100 cases where churches, charities, and other non-profit groups have had complaints lodged against them. The report says in addition to the three that may lose their tax-exempt status, 37 churches and 19 other non-profits received letters of reprimand for violating rules dealing with involvement in politics. IRS Commissioner Mark Everson is quoted as saying that while the vast majority of churches and charities abided by the rules, there was a "disturbing" amount of political intervention in the 2004 elections. [Fred Jackson]

...Tens of thousands of Lebanese Shiites beat their chests in mourning Thursday and shouted anti-American slogans to protest Wednesday's bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, north of Baghdad. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah told tens of thousands in south Beirut that Shiites should limit their accusations to "the American occupation" in Iraq and to Sunni extremists. And the hard-line president of Iran, a predominantly Shiite nation, accused the U.S. and Israel of carrying out the bombing to divide Muslims because "they oppose God and justice." In Cairo, representatives to the Arab League condemned the bombings and the reprisals against Sunni mosques that followed, and are calling on Iraqi religious and political leaders to show self-restraint. President Bush says the bombing of the historic Shiite shrine is an "evil act" aimed at provoking sectarian bloodshed -- and he is thanking Iraqis and others who have called for calm. Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting, the president said the destruction of the Golden Mosque was a "political act intending to create strife." And he said America is serious about helping to rebuild the mosque. Meanwhile, the president says he is glad "voices of reason" in Iraq have appealed for restraint. However, there have been scores of reprisal attacks on Sunni mosques. [AP]

...With South Dakota moving toward the strictest limits on abortion in the nation, all sides on the question are preparing for a possible showdown in the U.S. Supreme Court. A South Dakota bill -- designed to spark a courtroom showdown over the legality of abortion by targeting Roe v. Wade -- would ban abortions except when the woman's life is in danger. Governor Mike Rounds says lawyers would take a close look at a bill which would ban most abortions. Rounds says he is pro-life and believes Roe will ultimately be taken apart "piece by piece" by the high court. But he says a lot of people in his state and elsewhere think it is worth trying a "full frontal attack" on the ruling. Opponents say it is too extreme and unconstitutional. Planned Parenthood, which operates the only clinic that provides abortions in South Dakota, pledges to challenge the measure if it becomes law. Pro-life advocates say with the recent appointments of John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, the chances for banning abortion have improved. Meanwhile, pro-life legislation was passed by the Oklahoma House Thursday and sent to the Senate, where the measures are likely to face strong opposition. In bipartisan votes, the House overwhelmingly approved bills that would require girls under 18 to get their parents' permission before they get an abortion, and that women who are 20 weeks or more pregnant be informed that their fetus could experience pain during an abortion. Both measures were opposed by the legislature's only physician, Representative Doug Cox, who said they would burden doctors with paperwork, interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, and bloat the size of government. He is also worried the parental consent bill would create problems for young women who are incest victims. Similar abortion bills in the Oklahoma Senate have died in committee. [AP]

...The FCC says it is ready to levy fines on major networks for broadcasting vulgar words and expletives -- and Tony Perkins of Family Research Council says it's about time. The FRC president says he applauds Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, for his "pursuit of a get-tough policy" toward broadcasters that air "indecent material" on the public airwaves. A measure currently stalled in a Senate committee for more than a year would increase FCC fines for indecency violations from a maximum of $32,500 per incident to half a million dollars per incident. Senator Sam Brownback's Broadcast Indecency bill was passed overwhelmingly by the House and has bipartisan support in the Senate. Perkins says "in a land where supposedly money talks, higher fines will help send a message -- clean up your act." Perhaps giving notice of its intention to be tough on broadcasters, the FCC just announced it will stick by its decision to fine CBS $550,000 for the infamous Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake "wardrobe malfunction" during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. The network had appealed the fine against 20 of its stations. [Jody Brown]

...A federal district judge who was successfully blocked from a seat on the court of appeals by a Democrat-led filibuster is speaking out on the "living Constitution" debate. Former Mississippi District Judge Charles Pickering says proponents of the idea that the Constitution is a "living organism [and] constantly changing" defeat the purpose of what is a legal document. "This concept of interpretation produces a 'mystery Constitution' because this theory ... presupposes a Constitution that changes meaning over time." And why, in those individuals' eyes, does it change? "Because the meaning has been hidden for years," the judge continues, "and is unknown to people of ordinary intelligence -- and is only known to members of the Supreme Court and not even to all of them," says Pickering. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia recently labeled as "idiots" those who hold to this interpretation. Pickering, meanwhile, has proposed a Constitutional amendment barring judges from creating law, or changing, amending, modifying, or otherwise adding to the Constitution without going through the proper amending process. [Bill Fancher]

...A Messianic Jewish believer who runs a ministry dedicated to supporting Israel says it's time for the civilized world to demand an end to the "temper tantrums" of Muslims who are offended by the publishing of cartoons depicting Muhammad as a terrorist. It is a story that refuses to die down. Students in Afghanistan recently demonstrated at a college, burning American and Danish flags, as well as pictures of President Bush. Jan Markell, founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries in Minnesota, says the West needs to stop being pushovers. "Some people call it the 'great media wimp-out' -- and I think that's fairly accurate," says Markell. "And I think there's political correctness at play [as well]. But I do think some of them are afraid of some kind of retaliation as well." She adds that "it doesn't help when the leader of our country actually calls Islam a noble religion." Markell is hopeful the West has finally had a wake-up call. "In a way I'm kind of glad to see some of these things that are erupting because it is giving the Western world a much clearer look at the antics of Islam, and the fact that they cannot tolerate anything. And yet they demand tolerance on us all the time." On Monday, even Iran's foreign minister said it is time to end the violence over the cartoons, saying "We should try to cool down the situation." [Chad Groening]

...A pro-family leaders says amidst all the positive images being portrayed in the media this week over the latest "Powerball" lottery winners, people need to be reminded just how devastating gambling is to American society. The eight Nebraska meat-packing company employees who will share the $365 million win became instant celebrities this week, with each painting a picture of all the good things their money will give them. But Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council says the media neglects to report the high percentage of lottery winners who go bankrupt, and to convey to the public that the odds of winning a lottery are less than being struck by lightning twice. Perkins also takes issue with politicians who promote lotteries as a way of generating funds for good causes such as education, only to see that money disappear into general expenditures. He notes that three of the Nebraska winners were immigrants from Vietnam and the Congo -- and that one of them reacted by saying, "What a great country!" As Perkins puts it: "How sad that this is the message we send to would-be Americans. Gambling corrupts no only politicians and politics, but it also corrupts the American dream." [Fred Jackson]

...An accomplished and admired gospel musician has passed away. Singing News reports that on Wednesday evening -- while performing aboard a Bill Gaither Homecoming cruise -- pianist Anthony Burger suffered a heart attack and collapsed. Just last month, the regular performer on Gaither Homecoming videos and tours was named the newest "Steinway Artist" by the famed piano maker, Steinway and Sons, putting him in the elite company of pianists such as Van Cliburn, Billy Joel, and the late Irving Berlin and Vladimir Horowitz. Burger, 44, leaves behind his wife LuAnn, three children, his parents, and two brothers. [Jody Brown]

...The Christian band Third Day has kicked off an eight-week tour that's meant to move audiences to worship. Tai Anderson, the band's bass player, just returned from Uganda and is urging fans to help World Vision rehabilitate children who escape from forced labor in a murderous rebel army. Anderson says worship without service is like faith without works. "There's something empty if our worship is just us getting excited or just us giving praise to God," the guitarist says, "because as we align ourselves with God's heart for the world coming out of times of worship, it should inspire us to go serve our neighbors." Anderson says Americans can be like the Good Samaritan who paid an innkeeper to care for the wounded victim. [Allie Martin]

..."We're not just another Christian T-shirt company." Those are the words of Rick Wade, CEO of the Second Coming Clothing Co. in Lake Park, Florida. Wade explains the company was started as a way for believers to "wear the mission" of preaching the gospel. In fact, the firm's trademarked slogan is: "Take Your Faith Out of the Closet, and Put Our Clothes Back In." Wade, who has a heart for evangelism, says believers' faith in Christ "needs to be taken out of our hearts and worn on the sleeves of our daily walk in life as we witness to others and take an affirmative stand in controversial issues before it is too late." And the Lord, he claims, has inspired him with more than 300 messages for T-shirts. Among the latest designs in the company's inventory is one that targets the controversial Oscar-nominated film Brokeback Mountain. According to Wade, 100 percent of the company's net profits are distributed worldwide to ministries delivering humanitarian aid. To further extend its evangelistic outreach, Second Coming Clothing includes a three-month devotional guide with every order. [Jody Brown]

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