OUR COLUMNISTS Ex-Homophobia: The NEA's Intolerance of Ex-Gays Continues Guest Commentary by Dr. Warren Throckmorton A college professor says that his father, a life-long public school educator and administrator, stood for values that have long been a foundation for American education. But he says his father would be out of step with today's National Education Association and its "ex-homophobia." Unto the Least of These Commentary by David Sisler Anyone can give a hungry man a meal, or a thirsty man a drink. It is not a question of doing something that will get us noticed. It is a simple case of giving assistance to the people we meet every day. Divorce, Unequal Yokes, and Redefining Marriage Commentary by Mark Creech For a believer to be yoked in marriage to an unbeliever is cruel. By definition alone, Christians and non-Christians are pulling in different directions. Marriage between the two is not only a poor working relationship, but inevitably becomes a source of anguish for both partners.

...President Bush says Administration lawyers are continuing to work on a definition of marriage that respects each individual but doesn't force people to compromise their values. At a Rose Garden news conference today, President Bush was asked about his views on homosexual marriage, given the growing concern among many of his supporters that the nation is about to legalize such relationships. He says American society ought to be such that it welcomes all individuals of "good hearts." But that does not mean, as he put it, that someone like him must "compromise" on an issue such as marriage -- and he said that is where the issue is headed in Washington. Bush says he believes in "the sanctity of marriage," that marriage is "between a man and a woman" -- and that that needs to be codified "one way or the other." The president said there are lawyers "looking at the best way to do that." Various pro-family groups have called for a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage being only between a man and a woman -- a solution that, at this point, the White House appears to be resisting. [Fred Jackson]

...Boston's Catholic community will install its new spiritual leader today, and the American Life League is hoping that Archbishop Sean O'Malley will take advantage of this opportunity to send a special message to some other prominent leaders in the church. League spokesman Joe Giganti wants to see O'Malley apply pro-life pressure at this most important function to urge certain Catholic politicians in Massachusetts to change their public stance on abortion. Giganti says he hopes the archbishop will come forward with the same boldness in the defense of the Catholic Church and its teachings that he has demonstrated previously in other dioceses, and that he will make clear to all -- especially to senators like Edward Kennedy and John Kerry -- that they cannot be considered Catholic if they support abortion in any way. These two members of Senate are part of "the deadly dozen," a group so nicknamed because they support and promote abortion. Giganti hopes the Archbishop will use his influence to urge these politicians to recant their beliefs and speak up for life. [Bill Fancher]

...An attorney with the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy (CLP) says it is time for police in one Florida city to be held accountable for their treatment of pro-life activists. This past weekend activist Jim Toma was taking part in a demonstration at a West Palm Beach abortion clinic when a patient began assaulting him. Witnesses say an off-duty police officer working as a security guard for the clinic broke up the fight, then arrested Toma for obstruction of justice. CLP attorney Mike DePrimo says the actions of the officer were unconstitutional. Although the off-duty official was wearing his city-issued uniform and had a marked police car with him, the attorney feels that this man acted in a manner inconsistent with the duties of a police officer when he failed to protect the rights of the pro-lifer who was being assaulted, instead arresting the nonviolent activist and letting the criminal go free. Deprimo says the West Palm Beach Police Department has a history of violating the rights of pro-lifers and needs to be held accountable. [Allie Martin]

...The Miller Brewing Company apparently underestimated the potential for public rancor over its highly controversial, sexually-oriented "Catfight" ad campaign, and has announced that it is discontinuing the series of spots. The ads featured women who disagreed about whether Miller beer tasted great or was less filling, and then proceeded to strip to their underwear and wrestle to settle their differences. A company spokesperson said the ads "got attention, but Miller doesn't want to be known strictly as the beer for people who want to watch women wrestling." On CNN, Adweek's advertising critic Barbara Lippert said, "I think there was a lot of backlash, more than [Miller] expected. People are tired of getting bombarded in their homes where children are with this soft-porn stuff." [AFA Journal]

...The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an amendment to an appropriations bill that will prevent the enforcement of two controversial court decisions. The amendment would prevent the government from spending this year's money to enforce the Ninth Circuit's "Pledge of Allegiance" ruling and the Eleventh Circuit's ruling on Alabama Judge Roy Moore's Ten Commandments monument. The bill's sponsor, Congressman John Hostettler of Indiana, says the legislation is his way of protesting judicial activism. He asserts that if there were more judges who construed the U.S. Constitution according what it says rather than according to the meaning they chose to apply to it, Americans would be a much happier people. There are other bills making their way through the legislature to deal permanently with the same issues, including Representative Todd Akin's (Rep.-MO) Pledge Protection Act. [FNIF/Bob Ditmer]

...The Episcopal Church begins a crucial meeting today with some very divisive issues threatening the future of the denomination. The church's leaders will decide on confirming the denomination's first openly homosexual bishop and will decide on whether to embrace the homosexual lifestyle. Diane Knippers of the Institute for Religion and Democracy says the vote is by no means a foregone conclusion, and in fact promises to be close. Knippers says this decision is a cliffhanger; that God has saved the denomination from "going over the cliff" in the last two conventions, and she believes in His sovereignty and power to preserve the church even now. The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican denomination, and this meeting is being watched closely by members of the Anglican Communion all around the world. Conservatives in the church are being supported by most Anglican congregations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. [Bill Fancher]

...The National Lutheran Youth Organization, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) official youth organization, voted by a wide margin to welcome as members people of all sexual orientations. Delegates also resolved to support the blessing of same-sex unions and ordination of non-celibate people of all sexual orientations in committed relationships. Currently the ELCA does not ordain non-celibate homosexuals. The youth organization also voted by a 91% margin to be listed with Lutherans Concerned/North America, an independent group of homosexual and transgender Lutherans, as a "Reconciling in Christ" organization. A Lutherans Concerned spokesperson commented that the youth are "clearly leading the way to full acceptance" of homosexual and transgender persons in the life of the denomination, and that they are "modeling the ELCA as it will be; the question is simply when." According to a recent Gallup poll, 61% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 support the legalization of homosexual marriage. Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission attributes the overwhelming support for same-sex marriage among young people to two factors: public school sex education programs and homosexual-friendly entertainment. [Soulforce/AgapePress]

...Cross-dressers and transsexuals are now a protected class of people in Pennsylvania. Governor Ed Rendell has signed an executive order barring state agencies from discriminating based on "Gender identity or expression." For example, a man who wears dresses cannot be kept from employment or fired. The order caught state Republicans by surprise. A spokesman says they did not even know discrimination based on gender identity had been an issue. [AP]

...A new poll taken since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state sodomy laws shows growing opposition to homosexual behavior. In a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll taken Friday through Sunday, 48% said homosexual acts should be legal and 46% said they should not. That is a significant change from early May, when 60% said such activity should be legal and 35% said it should not. Two separate Gallup polls this month detected a shift against homosexual rights, and found that those who recently changed their views tended to be conservatives, moderates, and people who attend church. The Supreme Court decision has raised prospects for legalization of homosexual marriage, which opponents hope to block with a Constitutional amendment that they say has 75 sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. [AP]

...An Israeli military and foreign affairs expert says it is imperative that the U.S. stay the course and not allow Iraq to fall into the hands of Islamic fanatics. Victor Mordecai is wrapping another tour of the U.S. in which he has been warning Christians about the threat Islam poses to America and to the Judeo-Christian way of life. The former Israeli military spokesman says despite almost daily casualties, the U.S. must continue on its present course of action in Iraq. He contends that many U.S. civilians may not understand the necessity of the military operations that continue to put American soldiers' lives at risk in Iraq. Mordecai points out that most people are probably unaware of the similar situation that existed after World War II, when British, French, and American occupation troops in West Germany had to go on fighting hard-line pockets of resistance for another two years after the war ended. Mordecai warns that pockets of Iraqi resistance have to be taken out, lest they re-emerge and usurp power. He says if the U.S. does not stay the course in Iraq, that country could end up like Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. [Chad Groening]

...A black conservative activist is unhappy with President George Bush's decision to address a liberal black organization that opposes his domestic agenda. Yesterday, the president outlined his domestic agenda before the National Urban League Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was the second time Bush has addressed the liberal group, while he has shunned the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). However, Jesse Lee Peterson, founder of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND), says it was a waste of time for the president to attend the meeting because there is nothing Bush could say or do that would cause the liberal organization to encourage any of its members to vote for him or any other Republican. While Peterson says the Urban League has done more to help African Americans become self reliant than the NAACP has, he feels both organizations are equally liberal and unlikely to support conservative candidates. [Chad Groening]

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