OUR COLUMNISTS Playboy's Message to America Guest Commentary by James L. Lambert Author and researcher Dr. Judith Reisman says Playboy has always been much more than a "girlie" magazine. She says for almost 50 years, it has been a "bully pulpit for a worldview that judges men according to their tally of sexual conquests." Contentment Commentary by David Sisler The joy of the Lord is not the strength of any disobedient Christian. Circumstances become the rule for that person's life instead of Jesus, who offers to rule over all of the situations life can bring. Santorum is Right Commentary by R. Cort Kirkwood Senator Rick Santorum has upset the homosexuals, and they expect the GOP to dump their No. 3 senator. What happens remains to be seen, but the one thing Santorum must not do is apologize. Several reasons come to mind, not least of which is that he's right. Death Penalty Moratorium Debate Commentary by Mark Creech Opponents of the death penalty equate execution and murder, believing if two acts have the same ending, then those two acts are morally equivalent. But this position isn't morally tenable.

...One well-known conservative voice is warning the public about the introduction of a new phrase that will likely be showing up in public discourse. Gary Bauer says Muslim special-interest groups in America, among them the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), have started using the term "Judeo-Christian-Islamic values" in their effort to mainstream the Islamic faith. Bauer says there are obvious problems with that terminology -- specifically, America was not built on Islamic values, nor was Western civilization built on an Islamic foundation. He points out that in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, "radical Islamic fundamentalists are at war with virtually every other religion as they attempt to impose Islamic law on everyone else." And he adds that in thousands of mosques around the world, "radical imams" continue to teach that the "infidels" -- Christians and Jews -- must be killed. But Bauer does not expect such facts to get in the way of the new phraseology. As he puts it: "You can bet that liberal multi-culturalists, who see all traditions as being equally valid, will join this parade." [by Jody Brown]

...Mainline Presbyterians remain divided over whether homosexual lifestyles are sinful or should be embraced by the church. At the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s General Assembly in Denver, delegates have approved a "gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender ministry" -- despite concerns expressed by some that it will further divide the denomination. The debate and vote followed a gathering of more than 70 men and women to form a new group of homosexual seminarians and their supporters. The luncheon included a drama about a seminarian who struggles with her love for God, her calling to the ministry, and a lesbian relationship. [See Related Story] [AP]

...As the debate rages over which type of stem cells to use in regenerating damaged or diseased tissue, research indicates successes will be greater by using adult stem cells -- as opposed to stems cells robbed from human embryos. Discovery Institute senior fellow Wesley J. Smith says medical literature is filled with successes using adult stem cells. He points out that embryonic stem cells cannot be used in human beings because they cause tumors. Consequently, he says, based on current science it would appear that the potential for using adult stem cells is greater than that using embryonic stem cells. Smith points to case after case of successful regeneration of damaged and diseased tissue using adult stem cells. And he says the ethical and moral issues involved in using embryonic stem cells are not present when adult stem cells are used. [by Bill Fancher]

...Virginia colleges and universities are following the lead of other schools across America that have begun handing out "morning-after" abortion pills to co-eds who think they may have become pregnant. State Delegate Robert Marshall opposes the practice and says the conditions under which the pills are distributed are not good at all. Marshall says the University of Virginia -- home to a teaching medical college -- does not keep medical records on when co-eds come back for the pills for a second, third, or fourth time. He asks rhetorically, that if someone would not go to a doctor who did not keep a record on diet pills taken, why would they do it for a regimen such as this? He says that chemically, it is akin to taking 30 days of birth-control pills in two dosages that are separated by twelve hours. Marshall says no long-range studies on the effects of this pill have been conducted, and accurate records are not being kept. He says this is a business in which the State of Virginia should not be involved. [by Bill Fancher]

...Outraged pro-family leaders have presented an ultimatum to the Federal agency charged with enforcing broadcast decency standards. Phil Burress is president of the Cincinnati-based group Citizens for Community Values. He was one of several prominent pro-family leaders who met recently with three commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Burress and the others are demanding that the FCC start doing its job, and respond to complaints that many radio and television stations are violating established decency standards. But he says that so far, talking to the FCC has been like talking to a brick wall. He notes that since television launched in the 1940s, not once has the FCC fined a television station for broadcasting indecency. He points out that according to FCC regulations, it is illegal to broadcast indecent material between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., but stations continue to violate those standards -- "and the FCC will not enforce the laws." Burress says the FCC complaint process is mired in red tape. He says when confronted with copies of tens of thousands of complaints to the agency about indecency, one FCC official remarked: "I've never seen those before." [by Rusty Pugh]

...An actor in a Christian movie which has been released on video says the film will make people think about their relationship with Christ. Time Changer is the story of Bible professor Russell Carlisle who has written a new book. The work by Carlisle, played by D. David Morin, is about to be endorsed by his peers -- until fellow professor Dr. Norris Anderson, played by Gavin MacLeod, states that he has difficulty with something Carlisle has written. Anderson uses a secret "time machine" to send Carlisle more than 100 years into the future to see where his thinking will lead. MacLeod says the movie shows how radically society has changed. He relates that one of his favorite aspects of the film is that it starts in 1890 -- when life was simpler. Carlisle's character is transported to the year 2001, where he is shocked to see the change in society. MacLeod says that revelation causes Carlisle to realize how important it is to talk about the "author" of morals. Time Changer will be available next month on video and DVD. [by Allie Martin]

...The first movie based on a novel by Christian author Frank Peretti is set for release in September. Hangman's Curse features a Christian family that works undercover at a high school where students become deathly ill after screaming the name of a legendary ghost. Peretti says he hopes Hangman's Curse, which is produced by Namesake Entertainment, raises the bar for Christian films. He says movies made by Christians have long been in a "growing process," resulting in "a lot of duds" over the years. But the famed author believes this movie project is "several levels above" what has been done so far. As he puts it: "I'm praying that it will be a vanguard for future films that have a strong Christian influence." He says the movie is a thriller that parents will not dread their kids seeing. Peretti says he would also like to see his novel This Present Darkness made into a movie, but he figures it will cost close to $100 million to bring it to life. [by Sherrie Black]

...A Wisconsin teen has won the right to sing a Christian song at her public high school's graduation ceremony. Officials at Winneconne High School initially told Rachel Honer that she could not sing the Sara Groves song "He's Always Been Faithful" unless she removed three mentions of God from the lyrics. Honer contacted the Rutherford Institute, which filed a federal lawsuit claiming that her free speech and religious rights were being violated. Winneconne School Superintendent Robert Reinke says both sides now agree that Honer can sing the song as written. He says it is constitutional as a "performance" rather than a school-endorsed speech. Honer's mother says Sara Groves heard about the controversy, and has arranged to talk with Rachel on the phone Friday. [AP]

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