From Catholic News Agency:

Washington D.C., May 21, 2012 / 10:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Forty-three Catholic dioceses and organizations across the country have announced religious liberty lawsuits against the federal government to challenge the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.

The announcement was applauded by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, who called it “a compelling display of the unity of the Church in defense of religious liberty.”   …

The lawsuits argue that a federal mandate issued by the Obama administration violates their fundamental religious liberty. The controversial mandate will require employers to offer health insurance plans that cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, even if doing so violates their consciences.

The new lawsuits join with 11 others previously filed against the HHS mandate by states, colleges, private employers and organizations throughout the U.S.

<Read the whole article> Also view the informative video.  

Response: This will not be the last for sure. Several Protestant organizations including the Southern Baptist Convention have also opposed the mandate and see it for what it really is- a ‘freedom of religion’ issue. Meanwhile the Obama administration has ridiculously framed the opposition as in a ‘war on women’ and the MSM has eagerly joined in that sham.

This is one of those issues that people of faith cannot ignore even if not directly affected by the mandate. In the long run if it stands, the freedom of religion will have been diminished in this country and set a precedence that all believers will come to regret. It is time to stand up now and be counted before it is too late.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Catholic Bishops: “Will Not Comply” with Obama Administration Contraceptives Order
2. -Obama Proposes an Expanded ‘Religious Exemption’ for Birth-Control Mandate?

A group of Black pastors has responded to President Obama’s recent support of same-sex marriage. In a formal letter they are asking him to reconsider his stand.

From Citizen Link News:

A national group of black clergymen is asking President Obama to reconsider his support for same-sex marriage.

In a formal letter issued on Tuesday, the Coalition of African-American Pastors (CAAP) wrote, “We cannot and will not remain silent while marriage, the most fundamental institution in our — and any — nation, is undermined by our own President while using Christian language and relating it to civil rights.”

CAAP also is taking issue with the “unacceptable” way gay activists continually link their issues with the Civil Rights movement.

“For activists, politicians — and now the highest office in the nation to link sexual behavior God calls sin to the righteous cause Martin Luther King gave his life for is abominable in and of itself,” Rev. William Owens, Sr., CAAP’s  founder and president, wrote in a statement. “There is no civil right to do what God calls wrong.”

The group also noted that the President was losing some support for his re-election among African Americans over this issue.

Response: The Coalition makes 3 important points in their letter to the President:

1. Marriage is the most fundamental institution in our nation or any other nation for that matter

2. President Obama added insult to injury by using Christian language and scriptures to support his change and new stand.

3. The President, politicians, and gay rights activists have continually linked their cause to establish same-sex marriage with the the Civil Rights movement which they not only find as unacceptable but rebellion against God.

The statement by Rev. Owen is particularly bold on this issue:

“There is no civil right to do what God calls wrong.”

This coalition of pastors leave no doubt where they stand on this issue in the strongest possible language.             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Obama Comes Out of The Closet for Gay Marriage
2. -Mixed Messages From Pres. Obama on Same–Sex Marriage

                                     (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s an article I just published on my Charismatica blog that is right on topic with what we have been discussing here lately:

-The Family, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Future of America

In the last several months there has been a dialogue going on in America concerning our direction and the future of this nation when it comes to the major building block of society- the family.

Sunday we celebrated motherhood but earlier in the week the topic of conversation was same-sex marriage as President Obama came out in support of it and ironically cited the teachings of Jesus and the Golden Rule as having a part in his decision.

In April one of the big topics on the political scene was a comment that was made by a Democratic operative that Ann Romney never worked a day in her life since all she ever did was stay at home and raise 5 boys. In March the big controversy revolved around contraceptives and abortives and whether the government would force insurance companies to pay for them -even self insured religious organizations who were opposed to their use. It really was a matter of freedom of religion but the mainstream media and one political party styled those who opposed that idea as being in a ‘war against women.’

However, the real war in America is against motherhood, parenthood, and God’s design for humanity and Creation itself. My question is this:

Can God continue to bless America the way we are going? I believe that the answer is no and that our very future is hanging in the balance.

<Read the rest of the article>

*Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Santorum: “We Honor Those Relationships But We Don’t Call Them Marriage”
2. -Pope Benedict: Gay Marriage is a Threat to Humanity

                                           (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last week, President Obama changed his mind and came out in support of same-sex marriage and cited the teachings of Jesus and the ‘Golden Rule’ in the process. Since then the issue has been front and center with all sorts of differing responses from American Christians.

Most conservative Christians cite the Bible and their Christian religion as the major reason they support traditional marriage between one man and one woman. Meanwhile, others also cite their Christian beliefs as the foundation of their support for Homosexual marriage. Two opposing views and both calling in their understanding of Christianity in support of their very different stands.

Here’s Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi claiming her Catholic faith demands that she support same-sex marriage –from LifeSiteNews.com:

“My religion has, compels me – and I love it for it – to be against discrimination of any kind in our country, and I consider this a form of discrimination. I think it’s unconstitutional on top of that,” she answered. Pelosi went on to praise President Obama for declaring support for the new marriage definition on Wednesday.

“So I think that yesterday was a great day for America because the president in a very personal, as well as presidential way, made history, and hopefully this will bring people together on the issue,” Pelosi said

Meanwhile the leaders of her faith- the Catholic bishops ironically say that they are compelled to oppose homosexual marriage:

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, had called Obama’s “evolution” on the marriage question this week “deeply saddening” and reaffirmed Catholic Church teaching that such social engineering is bound to harm both society and especially its most vulnerable members: children.

“The Catholic Bishops stand ready to affirm every positive measure taken by the President and the Administration to strengthen marriage and the family. However, we cannot be silent in the face of words or actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society. The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better,” said Dolan in a statement.

Here’s President Obama citing the teachings of Jesus and the ‘Golden Rule’ as contributing to his new understanding and support for homosexual marriage:

“We are both (Barack and Michelle) practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others.. But, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing Himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule.”

This is a change from his stand in 2008 and in 2004 when supported traditional marriage instead and also cited his Christian faith:

“I’m a Christian. I do believe that tradition and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”

Here’s an article with a number of black pastors responding to Pres. Obama’s coming out for Gay marriage –mostly in opposition to his new stand:

“Black Pastors Speak Out on Obama’s Gay Marriage Stance”

In addition to black pastors, an entire Pentecostal denomination -The Assemblies of God USA came out in a statement opposing President Obama and Homosexual marriage:

"The Bible clearly teaches that marriage should be a life-long commitment between one man and one woman," said Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies.

"Although it has become popular to quote Scripture grossly out of context to serve a personal or political agenda, it still doesn’t change what God’s Word clearly states."

Here’s one of the most interesting reactions to President Obama’s new position from one of the president’s own religious advisors -The Rev. Joel Hunter. He not only disagrees with his friend but opposes Obama’s use of the Golden Rule:

"The Golden Rule is in the Bible but it cannot be used to contradict God’s marriage pattern reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-5," Hunter shared in an interview with The Christian Post. "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and the two shall become one flesh?’"

Response: I believe that Pastor Hunter sums up the differing Christian responses rather well with this observation:

“… Christians have different ways of interpreting the Bible. Some think human love or struggle should take precedence over the plain meaning of the text. Others (like many of us evangelicals) try to follow what the moral law throughout the Scripture says no matter how uncomfortable that is. We believe the Bible is centered on God, not man."

The pastor has nailed it on the head. Many liberal Christians believe that the teachings of Jesus to love everyone should trump everything else. They see the human race and culture as progressing beyond the Bible which is primarily a text that speaks to the past. Meanwhile conservative Bible believers refuse to pick and choose but try to understand and follow all of the teachings of the Bible and the New Testament in particular.

The very different approaches to the scriptures result in very different ideas about same-sex marriage and the foundations of the Christian faith.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Obama Comes Out of The Closet for Gay Marriage
2. -Mixed Messages From Pres. Obama on Same–Sex Marriage

    (Getty Images via @daylife)

President Obama has now come out in favor of same-sex marriage. While running for president in 2008 he officially supported traditional marriage between and a man and a woman. However, in the wind up toward the 2012 election he admits a change of heart and now officially supports gay marriage.

Here’s the story from ABC News:

President Obama has abandoned his longstanding opposition to same-sex marriage but says the decision on whether or not to legalize the unions should be left up to individual states, which are "arriving at different conclusions at different times."

"I think that’s a healthy process and a healthy debate," Obama told ABC News’ Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview on "Good Morning America."   …

"This debate is taking place at a local level," he said. "And I think the whole country is evolving and changing. And, you know, one of the things that I’d like to see is that a conversation continue in a respectful way."

Thirty states now have constitutional amendments or statutes banning same-sex marriage. Six states plus the District of Columbia have legalized the unions. The issue will be put directly to voters in Minnesota, Maine, Washington and Maryland in November.

<Read the whole article> 

Response: This was an issue that was heating up with both sides demanding that the President come clean on the issue. While Pres. Obama said that he supported traditional marriage his administration obviously hasn’t.

The Obama justice department under Eric Holder went out of their way to condemn DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) which is the law of the land and have refused to support it in court which was actually their duty.

The actions of the administration are inexplicable if the President really supported traditional marriage. At the very least, President Obama has been lukewarm. However, I believe that we should take him at his word that his opinions on the matter have been in transition and have substantially changed just in time for the next election.

Also, I guess we should take him at his word that he sees this as a matter to be settled locally in the states rather than by some federal mandate. This runs counter to his usual mode of operation which is to run roughshod over the states with the use of executive orders and departmental policies.                   *Top

                                 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From the Weekly Standard:

In the wake of the Arab Spring, the Obama administration is grappling with how to handle Islamists, radical adherents to Islam. Particularly, the issue has come to the fore in regards to Egypt, which, as Reuel Marc Gerecht notes, "is now certain" to elect "an Islamist" as its leaders the next time the Egyptian people go to the polls.

But some in the Obama administration are now seeing things differently.

"The war on terror is over," a senior official in the State Department official tells the National Journal. "Now that we have killed most of al Qaida, now that people have come to see legitimate means of expression, people who once might have gone into al Qaida see an opportunity for a legitimate Islamism."

This new outlook has, in the words of the National Journal, come from a belief among administration officials that "It is no longer the case, in other words, that every Islamist is seen as a potential accessory to terrorists."

Response: Really? I wonder if anyone told the terrorists? Does that mean we can call off the TSA airport inspections? Right. Actually nothing has really changed except this administration has decided to define ‘Islamic terrorism’ out of existence and call them criminals instead.

The Obama administration from the very beginning shifted away from the Bush terrorist dictum that Islamists who sympathize with the terrorists are also enemies in a ‘War on Terror’. Now following last years Arab Spring, the new reality is that nearly the entire Middle East is getting more radical as Islamists gain the reins of power in Libya, Tunisia, and soon Egypt.

The President has made what he feels is a judicious decision to cooperate with the new leaders rather than oppose the new Islamist regimes. In many ways it can be said that the USA actually contributed to the downfall of the previous long time leaders by the naïve reaction of the Obama administration last year to the ‘Arab Spring’ and the false hope that it was really all about establishing Western style democracy. It wasn’t.

Soon the entire Middle East could be ruled by Islamists supporting the establishment of sharia law and the possible reemergence of an Islamic Caliphate. Fortunately they will probably have a hard time coming to any kind of agreement on a new Caliph and a capitol.

My concern with what is happening in the Middle East revolves around the current escalation of persecution of Christians and the destruction of churches. As the Middle East gets more radical, the environment for minority religions like Christianity becomes even more problematic.

It is quickly changing even in places like Turkey, Syria, and Egypt where Christians were treated well for many generations. Then there’s the example of Iraq where nearly half a million Christians have left the country because of Islamist persecution only to find themselves in difficult situations in their new homelands. Especially the hundred thousand or so who moved to Syria.

The Obama administration is now calling off the war on terror and unfortunately displaying a naivety and weakness that will eventually be taken advantage of in the future. At the very least, if the situation continues to get worse for Christians, one can expect that the new leaders will pay very little attention to any Obama administration protests.             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Obama Administration Finally Preparing for Post-Revolt Islamist Regimes in Middle East?
2. -Obama Proposes an Expanded ‘Religious Exemption’ for Birth-Control Mandate?

                                          (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Monday I searched the news for the usual radical Islamic response to a Christian holiday- which is to kill and maim Christians. I only found one incident and ‘only’ 50 Christians were killed. I found myself thinking- only one-not bad, not bad at all!

Obviously if you are one of the 50 and the hundreds that were injured in the car bombing in Nigeria along with their families, Easter was not a very good day at all. Plus for those folks, to say that it could have been far worse if the car actually exploded in the church during the service rather than outside, is not that helpful.

Nevertheless the pastor and several thousand worshippers that were miraculously spared when the car bomb prematurely exploded are rejoicing at God’s providence. It just shows how we have become conditioned to expect the worst from radical Islamists.

Here’s an article by Raymond Ibrahim of the Middle East Forum exploring this most recent act of terror and then cataloging some of the more recent holiday attacks on churches and Christians: “Death to Churches: Targeting Christian Holidays in the Islamic World”

Response: Ibrahim points out the duplicity of our own government (USA) in dismissing these events as motivated by poverty and political considerations rather than by ‘religion.’ Of course this is ridiculous since churches and Christians are the targets and they are timed to ruin Christian holidays.

Plus the radicals themselves, in this case the Boko Haram, say that they are motivated by their understanding of Islam and their goal is to establish an Islamic Sharia government to replace the current one. Poverty and political considerations may have a part but the terrorists proclaim that Islam is the foundation of their cause and the only reason for their existence.

Meanwhile, Western politicians want to ignore the obvious and refuse to identify radical Islam as the major motivation for these acts. Political correctness will not allow the truth to be spoken and if it is, CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) is always there to cry out in protest- ‘Islamophobia!’            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Ethiopia: Islamic Extremists Set Fire to 59 Churches and Burn 28 Christian Homes
2. -Pakistan Christians Burned to Death in Islamic Attacks