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AP: JAKARTA, Indonesia —

Thousands of Indonesian Muslims are rallying outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta to denounce a Florida church’s plan to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11.

The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., said it will burn the Islamic holy book on the ninth anniversary of the terror attacks.

Response: What a nightmare! This is just the beginning. Nothing good can come from this deliberate controversy. It fact look for violence, and maybe even worse before this is over. I hope this Florida pastor is proud of himself. However he should be condemned by other pastors and Christian leaders.

Here’s one response that you can join in on- a Facebook page: People Of Faith Opposed To The Burning of the Qur’an started by Rev. Chuck Currie..

We first posted in July about the plan of this Florida church to burn Qurans on the Sept. 11 anniversary and condemned it.  Here’s what we said at the time:

“…Not a good idea at all.

Jesus teaches us to treat others like we would want to be treated. Since this will unnecessarily offend thousands of Muslims it really doesn’t pass the ‘Jesus test’ as far as I’m concerned.

However, I do defend the right of that church to burn Qurans or even Bibles if they unfortunately choose too. Also I would condemn anyone would threaten or carry out acts of terrorism against the church and its pastor or members.

I believe that these type of actions end up reflecting poorly upon a church and a pastor. …It is no accident that the ‘church’ in this case is non-denominational. No regular Christian organization would tolerate this type of offensive publicity seeking event.”

Does anyone out there really think that burning Qurans reflects well on any group of Christians or even the Christian community in general? 

(Image by Robert Reed Daly via Flickr)

Today from BBC News, September 5:

An Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery now faces being whipped for indecency, her son says.

Iranian authorities sentenced Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani to 99 lashes after the Times newspaper published a picture purportedly of her without a headscarf.

The Times later published a correction, saying the photograph was of a different Iranian woman.

After an international outcry, Iranian officials temporarily halted Ms Ashtiani’s stoning sentence in July.

There are fears the death sentence could still be carried out by hanging.

Sakineh has already suffered from 99 lashes in May 2006 for being in the company of two men who were not relatives following the death of her husband. In this case it is not even certain that the woman published by the Times is even Ms. Ashtiani nevertheless she now faces an additional 99 lashes for reportedly being in a picture without a headscarf.

Meanwhile in a separate story Pope Benedict and the Vatican is said to be working through diplomatic channels to save the life of the woman.

Response: This is what happens when sharia rule trumps Constitutional law. All Muslims moderate or radical dream of the day when Islam becomes the dominant religion in the world and sharia law will be practiced in America and throughout the West.

This is an example of what that future will be like. Imams ruling that a woman should receive 99 lashes for a picture that is not even proved to be hers. Also if you really want to see Iranian sharia law up close and personal view the movie:  -The Stoning of Soraya M. (Now Available on DVD)            *Top of the Blog 

(Image via Wikipedia)

UPDATE: Today California’s 3rd Appellate District Court rejected the Pacific Justice Institute’s petition that sought to force attorney general Jerry Brown to defend the Prop 8 Traditional Marriage amendment.

Presiding Justice Arthur Scotland rejected the suit without comment. Brad Dacus  president of PJI responded to the denial:

“We are going to be appealing it to the State Supreme Court.”

Response: A set back for sure but one that will be appealed to the California State Court. It will be interesting to see how they rule on the suit since that court started the whole marriage mess in the first place by declaring the state limitation of marriage to between a man and a woman as being unconstitutional.

Same-sex marriages followed in the state and then Prop 8 –the marriage amendment was voted in by 7 million California voters to overturn the Supreme Court with an amendment to the state constitution supporting traditional marriage.  The prop was overturned by Judge Walker and the governor and state attorney general have refused to appeal the decision.

Now the PJI petition has been rejected but the whole mess is going back to the state Supreme Court once more.            *Top of the Blog

(Jerry Brown via Wikipedia)

The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) on Monday filed a lawsuit in state court in order to force California’s governor and attorney general to defend the Prop. 8 Marriage Amendment. 

So far Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown have both refused to appeal California Supreme Court Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling which overturned the  voter-approved traditional marriage amendment.

The lawsuit asks the court to enforce a state code that commands the attorney general to defend the state and its officials against any legal challenges. Commenting on the lawsuit Brad Dacus, president of PJI said:

“By refusing to do their jobs, the Attorney General Jerry Brown and Gov. Schwarzenegger are effectively vetoing the voices of seven million voters in California. This is an egregious violation of public trust and a direct violation of the law in the State of California. And, by doing this, they are aiding and abetting judicial activism.”

Response: Judge Walker set it up so that those who brought the original lawsuit did not have standing to appeal it to the 9th Circuit. According to the judges ruling only the Attorney General or Governor of the State could appeal his ruling.

The 9th Circuit itself could over-rule that understanding and view the case anyway. However, this suit is proactive and challenges the Governor’s and the Attorney General’s negligence in doing their duty.

By not taking action and letting the case go to the next level Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown have put their own opinions on marriage before their duties and the opinions of over 7 million voters.

This is a case that needs to be fairly heard and decided on its merits and not left to activism on either side. Judge Walker’s biased ruling has implications that could effect the entire country.

The case needs to be adjudicated by the 9th Circuit and eventually should properly go before the US Supreme Court. Otherwise the fix is obviously in and 7 million votes no longer mean anything in California or in the nation.             *Top of The Blog

(Image by Getty Images via @daylife)

This week Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi has been visiting in Italy and has caused a stir by giving away Qurans and telling everyone that Europe should convert to Islam:

"Islam should become the religion of all of Europe.”

“Islam is the last religion and if we are to have a single faith then it has to be in Mohammed."

In another speech Gaddafi suggested that Europe needed to pay Libya $billions or risk the onslaught of illegal immigration from Africa that would turn the whole continent ‘black’. Many European leaders considered this statement to be tantamount to blackmail.

Meanwhile the government of Italy did agree to spend five billion dollars to build a 1,700 kilometre (1,050 mile) highway in Libya and Gaddafi agreed to allow the Italian Navy to intercept illegal migrants at sea and return them to Libya.

Response: In essence Gaddafi threatened Europe to join Islam or give him a payoff.  The fact is that Muammar only responds properly to strength and the present Western leaders are far too ignorant and weak to properly deal with him.  

Gaddafi had been quiet for years after President Reagan authorized an airstrike against his personal residence. Up to then he had been a major supporter of terrorism and Libya was the training ground for thousands of terrorists over the years.  When President Bush went after Iraq and in essence declared war on terrorists and anyone who protected them Gaddafi got the message and immediately gave up his plans for atomic weapons and sued for peace with the USA.

However in the last year or two there has been a changing of administrations in the USA and in Europe and the new leaders have declared that the ‘war on terror’ is over. Then the Lockerbie bomber was released and received a ‘heroes’ welcome and since then Gaddafi has visited the UN in NY City and now Italy. He is no longer treated as ‘persona non grata’ on the international stage but he is now being treated as a regular ‘head of state’.

The fact is he is still the same old ‘terrorist’ leader that he has always been and all of the attention has now convinced him to be even bolder than he ever was in the past. Gaddafi now looks upon Europe as being weak and now demands that it joins Islam or else.

This is totally in line with how Muhammad suggests dealing with the enemies of Islam. The Prophet of Islam counseled that enemies should be given 3 options:

1. Join Islam

2. Pay a Ransom tax (Jizya)

3. Or fight

This week Gaddafi told Europe to join Islam and pay him $Billions in tribute or else. What do you think comes next?

I believe that Libya will become once more a major training ground for terrorists against Europe and the USA thanks to the weak leaders we now have in the West.             *Top of The Blog 

(Image by Oxfam International via Flickr)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, August 27 (CDN) — “Authorities on Wednesday (Aug. 25) recovered the bodies of three Christian relief workers who had been kidnapped and killed by members of the Pakistani Taliban in the flood-ravaged country.”

Response: Pakistan is in the midst of one of the greatest floods in recent history with over 21 million people affected and untold thousands probably dead. The country pleaded for help from international relief agencies and received an out pouring of humanitarian aid including food, medical care, and relief personnel.

Now comes the news that the Pakistani Taliban has kidnapped and killed 3 Christian aid workers who were helping the flood victims. Plus the Taliban has ordered all foreigners to leave and promised to carry out more attacks on any aid workers who remain, particularly those from Christian organizations and from Western nations.

Pakistan has responded by sending special army forces to protect the relief workers. Again the Taliban demonstrates that they don’t really care about people as much as furthering their own radical interpretation of Islam. The Taliban is said to be confiscating as many supplies from international agencies as they are able to and in turn are distributing the needed aid under their own banner.

Meanwhile another problem has surfaced and been noted. It is reported that Pakistani Christian flood victims are being discriminated against by government agencies and are not able to receive aid or shelter in Pakistani relief camps.

Christians and other religious minorities are reportedly only receiving aid in the UN camps and from international relief organizations and not from their own government. Again Pakistan demonstrates why they are considered to be one of the worst nations when it comes to religious liberty and the persecution of Christians and other minority religions.

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(Image by Getty Images via @daylife)

The Backers of the Ground Zero mosque are hoping to raise at least $70 million though tax-exempt public bonds to build the $100 million plus facility.

The bonds could be issued through a local development corporation created for that purpose and would be one of the least expensive ways to fund the Muslim center.

Scott Sieber, a spokesman for NY City Comptroller John Liu said on Friday that Liu supported the project and is willing to consider approving the public subsidy. Public subsidized funding like this is allowed for religiously affiliated non-profits if they can show that the facility will benefit the general public and if the religious activities are funded separately.

The center is supposed to house a number of recreational and educational facilities along with the worship center.

Response: It is really going the extra mile for the City to help get financing for the building of the mosque.  Approving the plans is one thing but helping to fund the Muslim center is going way beyond the pale.

Meanwhile 70% of the country opposes the Cordoba Center going up so close to Ground Zero and in a building that was partially destroyed by the landing gear from one of the planes on 9/11.

My only question is this –If the city can help put together financing for the Mosque what about doing the same thing for the church that was actually destroyed in the 9/11/01 attacks? 

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was across the street from the World Trade Center and had been there since 1922. They really should receive help from the city but have gotten nothing but grief instead. The City and the Port Authority have blocked the church from rebuilding on their own property. The authorities want to take the church property and build an underground parking facility for the new trade center building instead.

Somehow the mosque has become a cause celebre for the ‘Freedom of Religion’ in America but the church is facing eminent domain instead? This is outrageous!

Both should receive at least equal consideration if our freedoms still mean anything in this country. But since the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was and is still a functioning religious group in the City since 1922 it should receive priority over any new project like the Cordoba Mosque.            *Top of the Blog