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.

...The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit to stop the Gideons International from giving Bibles to fifth-graders at a public school. The ACLU is seeking an injunction barring South Iron Elementary School in Annapolis, Missouri, from allowing the Gideons into the classroom to distribute the Bibles. Last fall, the school board voted 4-3 to let the Bible distribution continue. But the ACLU's Tony Rothert says the giveaway happens during class time, which makes it look like the school is endorsing it. [AP]

...One year ago today a coalition of abortion proponents that included Planned Parenthood and the ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging a piece of legislation in Michigan that they said would violate the right to have and perform abortions. Yesterday the Thomas More Law Center, based in Ann Arbor, filed a brief on behalf of that measure, the Michigan Legal Birth Definition Act -- an initiative brought about by nearly half a million voters' signatures and passed by both of the state's legislative chambers, effectively circumventing the need for their pro-abortion governor's approval. According to the Law Center, the Act defines the moment when a human being is born and therefore a person under the law -- effectively banning partial-birth abortion in Michigan. "States have the right to draw the line between abortion and infanticide," says Robert Muise, the Law Center attorney handling the case. "[This Act] defines the point at which a child is a person under the law and therefore entitled to rights, including the most basic right to life." In its brief with the Six U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Law Center is asking that a lower-court ruling stopping the Act from taking effect be overturned. Both the Michigan attorney general and the petition drive sponsor, a group known as STTOP (Standing Together To Oppose Partial-birth abortion), appealed that lower-court decision last fall to the Sixth Circuit. [Jody Brown]

...Elsewhere on the pro-life front, the Missouri Supreme Court has upheld that state's 24-hour waiting period for abortions. It rejected arguments from pro-abortion Planned Parenthood, which argued the restriction deprived people of their rights. The law requires doctors to wait 24 hours after conferring with women before performing the abortion, and forces them to inform the women about the possible risk factors associated with killing an unborn child. [Fred Jackson]

...In an effort to enforce rules that have not been followed, organizers for the video game industry's trade show in Los Angeles this year -- the "E3 Expo" -- say they're adding tougher penalties to help clean up the show's image. Aisle after aisle of semi-clad models at display booths, known to industry insiders as "booth babes," have traditionally been nearly wall-to-wall at the Expo -- despite being prohibited by the Entertainment Software Association's handbook for the event. Reuters News reports that the handbook has been updated for this year's Expo, scheduled for May 10-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It now includes a potential $5,000 fine given on the spot for scantily-clothed models. That would follow an initial verbal warning. The industry has used sexually provocative women hand-in-hand with the unveiling of new games and technology for years at the Expo. But game makers may be sensitive this year to increased negative publicity -- and criticism from lawmakers -- over violent and sexually explicit games, including last year's controversy over the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." [Ed Thomas]

...Abstinence programs for teens promote preparation for stable marriage, improve life outcomes, increase the potential for avoiding high-risk behavior, and help develop discipline, self-awareness, and goal-setting -- and evidently SEICUS (the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States) thinks there is something wrong with those outcomes. That's the assessment of Dr. Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America's Beverly LaHaye Institute. "By any measure," she says, "the outcomes are more positive when teens save sex for marriage. Early sexual activity exacerbates any problem associated with teenagers." A recent SEICUS report labels new federal Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) programs as "extreme," a "magic elixir," and a "gross misuse of taxpayer funds." But Crouse asserts the report simply reveals how "out of touch" the Left is with American values. "Most people will read their complaints and wonder just what's the problem?" she adds. Crouse basically confirms that most people want teens to be taught traditional standards on pre-marital sexual activity, that a healthy marriage is beneficial to society, and that deciding to remain sexually abstinent until marriage strengthens a teen's personal character. And that, she implies, is what the CBAE programs do. [Jody Brown]

...A magazine published by Christianity Today International for Christian teens has just announced its readers' picks for top music awards -- and in a couple of categories, young artists have "dethroned" more established artists and walked away with a "Golden Ear Award." The magazine Ignite Your Faith -- formerly known as Campus Life -- has a circulation of 100,000, the majority of whom are between the ages of 14 and 18. Those readers have chosen, among others, Hawk Nelson as "Best Band," Switchfoot for "Album of the Year" (Nothing Is Sound), Stellar Kart as "Best New Group," and BarlowGirl's Alyssa Barlow as "Best Female Vocalist." The award for "Best Song of the Year" was a tie -- "Lifesong" by Casting Crowns (their album by the same name was runner-up to Switchfoot in the Album of the Year category) and "Stars" by Switchfoot. In all, the magazine recognized five entries in eight categories, all of which are printed in the March/April issue of Ignite Your Faith, which hit the stands in the last week. [Jody Brown]

...A funeral was held today for Anthony Burger, who played piano for the Bill Gaither Trio, Gaither Vocal Band and Gaither Homecoming events. Burger was only 44 when he died last week of an apparent heart attack while performing on a Gaither Homecoming cruise in the Caribbean. A family spokesman says he was playing piano just before he collapsed. Burger also performed at Billy Graham crusades. This afternoon's funeral was held at Christ Church in Nashville, with burial to follow on Friday in Charleston, Tennessee. Anthony Burger is survived by his wife and three children. [AP]

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