Why Does the NEA So Loathe Chastity?

Check out this LifeNews story about the NEA's latest outrage; namely, the attack on the only sex ed programs that effectively reduce STDs, teen pregnancies and abortions.

The dismal truth is that the NEA, like so many leftist organizations, cares more for an inept ideology than it does for people.

Won't They Ever Learn? Another Government School Flunky Threatens Bible Reader

On September 14, 2006, seventh-grader Amber Mangum, who was reading a Bible in the school cafeteria during her lunch period, was allegedly approached by an employee working at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School in Prince George’s County, Md. In stark opposition to school policy (and oh, yes, the United States Constitution), the nimrod school official informed Amber that reading a Bible was a violation of the school’s policy. She was told to stop reading her Bible immediately and was then warned that she would be subject to more severe disciplinary action if she were found reading a Bible at school again.

Here is the press release from the Rutherford Institute who has taken Amber's case.

Behind the "We Had Abortions" Campaign

You've heard the news about Ms. Magazine's upcoming promotion of abortion through its shameless "We Had Abortions" campaign. But did you know that the feminist publication has ignored scores of women who told Ms. Magazine editors that they deeply regretted having had abortions?

And did you know how you can register your opinions about this contemptible campaign?

Find out the answers in this LifeNews story.

Michael Schiavo Stumps for Lamont

Nat Hentoff covered the Terri Schiavo case for over four years and was one of the very best in underscoring that her plight was a disability-rights case, not a "right to die" case at all. In this JWR column, Hentoff reviews some of the most important points of the case and shows how they are relevant to Michael Schiavo's showing up to campaign for the radical leftist, Ned Lamont, in his Senate race against Joe Lieberman.

Ferlic vs Russell for NU Regent

Good friends Greg and Tracie sent along an e-mail yesterday which included the paragraphs I print below -- paragraphs with information very important to local pro-life advocates. Thanks for the "heads up," Greg and Tracie.

I would like to encourage my pro-life friends to spread the word about the University of Nebraska Board of Regents District #8 election. Randy Ferlic is running as the pro-life incumbent who was one of the minority to oppose embryonic stem cell research at UNMC.

His opponent is Carol Russell, who, according to Nebraska Right to Life, is the chairman of the board for Planned Parenthood in Nebraska and Nebraskans for Research (pro-embryonic stem cell research). Needless to say, it's hard to fathom a stronger opponent of the pro-life movement, and, to my astonishment she won the primary quite easily.

I can only conclude that people in this conservative area simply didn't not know about her so I hope that you will help spread the word to support Ferlic and not Russell for the Board of Regents.

Thanks for the "heads up," Greg and Tracie.

By the way, here is the link to Dr. Ferlic's campaign web site. There you can find this outspoken statement regarding his opposition to ESCR:

Randy also has high ethical standards for research and therefore does not support ending life in the pursuit of research. He favors stem cell research when the stem cells are derived from adults, not embryos. Not only has embryonic stem cell research been rejected by President Bush, Senator Chuck Hagel, Senator Ben Nelson, and Congressman Lee Terry, as well as countless faith leaders, it has not yet proven more promising than more acceptable forms of stem cell research, the forms which Dr. Ferlic supports.

Pass the word, won't you?

Russia Expands Its Retaliation Against Georgia

Clicking the title of this post will take you to the web site of the excellent organization Radio Free Europe. Among the many issues you can find covered there include the developing crisis between Russia and Georgia, a crisis precipitated by Georgia's detention last week of four Russian officers accused of spying. Since then the Russian government has retaliated in several serious ways. Below are a few of them as reported in RFE's daily updates (with a bit of editing on this end).

* Police officials from the economic-crimes unit in Moscow took a number of retaliatory steps against Georgia and Georgian economic interests on October yesterday. Police raided the Georgian Embassy's guest house in the city center, claiming that it was being run illegally and that the building in fact belonged to the state-owned Melodia music company. Moscow city authorities said they confiscated 500,000 bottles of Georgian wine that managed to evade a Russian import ban imposed earlier this year. Two popular Georgian restaurants in Moscow could be closed for irregularities concerning the wine they serve to customers. Police also closed a casino, Krystall, claiming that it was controlled by Georgian criminals and could not provide clear documentation for its gambling tables and slot machines.

* Lyudmila Alekseyeva, president of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, claims that police are arresting members of several Georgian families from their Moscow homes "simply on nationality grounds." The people targeted, Alekseyeva said, are members of families that fled the bloody conflict in Abkhazia at the beginning of the 1990s and have lived in the same building in Moscow since. Since the start of the current crisis between Russia and Georgia last week, there has been a flood of Russian media reports about Georgian criminality. Roin Konjaria, vice president of the Moscow Georgian Community, a social and educational organization, told "The Moscow Times" on October 3 that between 150,000 to 200,000 Georgians currently live in Moscow and some 500,000 throughout Russia.

* Georgian citizens in Russia have expressed concern over the worsening tension between the two countries. "The Moscow Times" quoted Georgian social activist Joni Kvaratskhelia, head of the Lazare youth organization in Moscow, as saying that "this affects every Georgian. We're having unfriendly relations with Russia, yet we have a lot of Russian friends. It's uncomfortable to view one another as enemies." Kvaratskhelia said the organization has received numerous calls from Georgians in Moscow looking for advice. Interfax on October 3 quoted State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov as saying that the Russian parliament is taking steps to block bank transfers between Russia and Georgia. The sanctions could severely disrupt trade between Georgia and its biggest trading partner and create enormous hardship for the families of Georgian and Russian citizens who regularly send money to their relatives in Georgia.

* Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has ruled out a rapid end to the sanctions Russia has implemented against Georgia. Lavrov said the suspension of transport and mail links was aimed in part at preventing money flows from Russia being used to fund a Georgian military buildup. Lavrov said Georgia is expanding its military so it can forcibly regain control of its two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which receive significant support from Russia, the New York Times reported. Lavrov said Georgia's seizure of the four Russian officers last week was only "one episode in an anti-Russian campaign" pursued by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, and that simply handing back the officers was not sufficient to change Moscow's mind about sanctions. Lavrov was quoted as saying that "we don't want everything to be as it was before, because everything was very bad." He added that money being sent from Russia to Georgia included the proceeds of organized crime, and had been used to fund arms purchases and pay for the call-up of military reservists.

* Foreign Minister Lavrov on October 4 also suggested that Georgia arrested the Russian officers with the tacit encouragement of the United States and NATO, which agreed last month on a schedule for negotiations on Georgia's potential membership in the military alliance. Russian and Western news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying that "the seizure of our officers immediately followed, I repeat, NATO's decision to grant Georgia an intense cooperation plan, 'Intensified Dialogue.'" Lavrov added that NATO's step followed a recent visit to Washington by Georgian President Saakashvili. Lavrov was quoted as saying that the Russian leadership "certainly makes note of the assurances of our American colleagues that they have constantly tried to keep the Georgian leadership from [committing] abrupt acts, but the chronology was the way I have just explained: A visit to Washington, NATO's decision, the taking of hostages."

* The deputy director of Russia's Federal Migration Service, Mikhail Tyurkin, said his country has asked the Belarusian authorities to introduce a visa regime for Georgian citizens wishing to travel to Belarus. The report said Belarus's Migration Service confirmed that Russia's request is being discussed. Since Russia enforced a transport blockade with Georgia earlier this week, Georgian citizens wishing to travel to Russia have had to do so via a third country, usually Belarus or Ukraine. The establishment of a visa regime with Belarus would further complicate travel.

Catholic Religious Denied Visas in Belarus

Fr. Yan Kuchynski, the Dean of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Grodno, Belarus, reported today on a new event in the increasing campaign of government persecution of Christians. 12 Polish Catholic priests and nuns in this northwestern region of Belarus have been denied their annual visa renewal with no reasons given for the unusual (and unwarranted) refusal. This is the first time this has happened but there are grave concerns that it is a step towards even more severe oppression of religious believers.

Here's more from Forum 18 News.

Planned Parenthood's New "Express" Clinics

...It seems odd to me that we have come to a point in our advanced societal attitudes where parents are viewed as the enemy and people who work or volunteer for organizations like Planned Parenthood are deemed the best thing that ever happened to a girl with a problem. Having sex is now not only acceptable but part of what many coeds anticipate. It seems that far too many college kids have tossed self-respect out the window.

Planned Parenthood is, of course, ecstatic. Over the past half century, this organization has been building this concept of health care. In leaner years, when Planned Parenthood was getting cozy with the old federal Health, Education and Welfare department, things were a bit more private and Planned Parenthood's agenda was seldom touted from the house tops. But that was then, and this is now...

Read the entirety of this perceptive column from pro-life heroine, Judie Brown, right here.

Remaking Mozart

For those of you interested in opera --- well, okay...that opening closes the issue for most of us so...ummm, let me try again.

For those of you interested in how the modern zeitgeist is transforming even the high artistic achievements of Western culture (there, that's better), do check out Dr. Al Mohler's commentary on a new production of Mozart's Idomeneo -- one in which 21st Century blasphemy is arrogantly shoved into a rich 18th Century classic.

"Stem Cell Research: Beyond Hype, Real Hope"

Here's an excellent, very helpful audio-visual from the Family Research Council. It is only 6 minutes long but this presentation can be a tremendous help in explaining both the scientific and moral issues related to stem cell research. Click on this link to view the presentation on your computer right now but then please consider using this link to order a free DVD copy from FRC in order to show it to your Sunday School, your friends, whoever.

Will England Change Abortion Limits?

While other parts of the world wrestle with the increasingly clear evidence of the humanity of the fetus (and thus the partcularly barbaric nature of later term abortions), the United States is stuck with the extremism of Roe v Wade.

Here's an article from today's BBC online report explaining how the "window to the womb" technology is creating new parameters of debate about when preborn kids can be protected.

A Sinister Threat Returns

Can you even guess what issue might bring together the likes of Senator Chuck Hagel, Senator Ben Nelson, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, Congressman Lee Terry, Congressman Tom & Nancy Osborne, Governor Dave Heineman, Attorney General Jon Bruning, Pete Ricketts, Hal Daub, Ron Brown, Warren Buffett, Ernie Chambers, and Archbishop Elden Curtiss?

Try a devout opposition to new efforts to expand “Keno Slot Machines” into over 600 locations in the state of Nebraska.

Now you might think that with such impressive solidarity that the fight will be an easy one. Think again. There's big money involved here and therefore there's heavy guns (both from in-state and out-of-state) being brought to bear by folks who want to line their pockets by stealing money from our citizens.

For more information check out the web site of Gambling with the Good Life.

Imagine? Please Don't.

Mark Shea has some engaging thoughts about rock music and especially about John Lennon's much-ballyhooed anthem, "Imagine." (Shea calls it a "hymn to original sin.") Click the title of this post to check it out.

Escaping Sex Scandal Repurcussions: It Sure Helps If You're Democrat

Debbie Schlussel's review of the double-standard used in the news coverage, reactions and punishments of politicians involved in sex scandals is insightful stuff.

Toughness and Spiritual Tenacity: Troy Polamalu Accepts the Challenge

Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu is not an NFL superstar who happens to be a man of faith. Rather, in his heart, he is simply "a Christian with a passion for Jesus."

Football, Polamalu said, "gives me confirmation of how I can carry out my faith. It's my way to glorify God."

And while he views his team's 2006 Super Bowl win as "really beautiful and a blessing," Polamalu notes that "success in football doesn't matter. Success in anything doesn't matter. As Mother Teresa said, God calls us not to be successful but to be faithful. My prayer is that I would glorify God no matter what, and not have success be the definition of it..."

Read the entirety of this Catholic News Service article here.

Yoduk Story: The American Debut

Chuck Colson's column today takes an inside look at Yoduk Story, the stage musical created by former North Korean political prisoner, Jung Sung-San. The play has its American debut this week. The column makes for very interesting reading and over here is the web site for the play itself.

Democrats Destroy the Child Custody Protection Act

Here's the sad story on Friday's disaster in the Senate in which Steven Ertelt from LifeNews describes how the Senate's noble solons strangled the Child Custody Protection Act.

It is one of the most grievous modern examples of how politics (to creatively recall Samuel Johnson) has become the last refuge of scoundrels. After all, the bill passed the House and the Senate. It would certainly be signed by the President. And the people want it.

But aha! The secret machinations of Senate rules have once again been used to turn justice inside out. Now, the measure that would have made it a federal offense to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion (in order to escape parental notification/consent laws) will effectively die.

For the record, 51 of 55 Republicans wanted a cloture vote, which would have forced a public debate on the bill. Only 6 of 45 Democrats supported such an eminently responsible, common sense move.

And the Democrats actually have the gall to resent being called the party of abortion!

Why Bother with Balance? I'm a Reporter!

Imagine you are a teacher of journalism and you want to show your students an apalling example of bias, disinformation and selective editorializing masquerading as news coverage. You would be hard pressed to find a better example than this tripe published by The Nation and then featured on the CBS web site. Not only is the reporting shameslessly slanted, the piece actually ends in a spirited call for readers to support the pro-abortion activities it highlights. Good grief.

Bestiality as a New TV Fad

This from the "It's Even Worse Than What I Thought It Was Department."

The sexual revolution turns to a new low --Bestiality has found its way into your living rooms (or anywhere else you've got a television) and its coming via ABC, Fox and cable stations.

Here's Brent Bozell's column which gives you the nauseating facts.

Calling Killing What It Is

Fr. Jerry Novotny, a Catholic missionary in Japan and a dynamic pro-life activist with a comprehensive and global vision, sent along these timely considerations:

The magic usage of words can lead to a "slippery slope". Here are three examples:

1. Harvest Embryos - this is a feel good word. "Bring in the crops." The end of a fruitful growing season. It falls pleasantly on our ears completely masking the reality of what is being done.

2. Destroy Embryos - Ah, this is better. But, we destroy things, like a broken chair. We don't kill a chair. So, to use this word, subtly dehumanizes these "things," thus, easing our conscience.

3. Kill Embroys - This is explicitly, exactly what is done. We only kill humans, so this abruptly identifies "the embryo" as a living human. The most accurate and pro-life wording here is "to kill a five day old living human embryo".