Live your faith - lose your job? (OneNewsNow.com)

Live your faith - lose your job? (OneNewsNow.com)

"University of Illinois Instructor Fired Over Catholic Beliefs"

clipped from www.foxnews.com University of Illinois Instructor Fired Over Catholic Beliefs URBANA, Ill. -- The University of Illinois has fired an adjunct professor who taught courses on Catholicism after a student accused the instructor of engaging in hate speech by saying he agrees with the church's teaching that homosexual sex is immoral. "Natural Moral Law says that Morality must be a response to REALITY," he wrote in the e-mail. "In other words, sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the same." An unidentified student sent an e-mail to religion department head Robert McKim on May 13, calling Howell's e-mail "hate speech." "Teaching a student about the tenets of a religion is one thing," the student wrote. "Declaring that homosexual acts violate the natural laws of man is another." says he was fired at the end of the spring semester after sending an e-mail explaining some Catholic beliefs to his students preparing for an exam.

"Pastor Yanked From Capitol Over 'Jesus' Prayer"

clipped from www.foxnews.com Pastor Yanked From Capitol Over 'Jesus' Prayer A North Carolina pastor was relieved of his duties as an honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives after he closed a prayer by invoking the name of Jesus. “I got fired,” said Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He had been invited to lead prayer for an entire week but his tenure was cut short when he refused to remove the name Jesus from his invocation. Baity’s troubles began during the week of May 31. He said a House clerk asked to see his prayer. The invocation including prayers for our military, state lawmakers and a petition to God asking him to bless North Carolina.” “When I handed it to the lady, I watched her eyes and they immediately went right to the bottom of the page and the word Jesus,” he told FOX News Radio. “She said ‘We would prefer that you not use the name Jesus. We have some people here that can be offended.’”

"Planed Parenthood Urges Supporters to Report Places of Worship"

clipped from www.worldviewweekend.com Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri (PPKM) has asked its supporters, through Twitter, to "Report Personhood petition activity! Be our Eyes and Ears, particularly at and near places of worship! http://tinyurl.com/y9fxz5r The link leads you to page where people are directed to watch for efforts to collect signatures for a Missouri petition drive to redefine personhood. I am ambivalent about this effort from Planned Parenthood to watch places of worship. On the one hand it is a bit chilling to know that a taxpayer funded organization is using those funds to watch and report what they see in church (presumably by peering over that wall of separation). On the other hand, anything that gets pro-choicers to attend a church service can't be all bad. Maybe this is just a brilliant attempt to win some more souls.

"Court: Christian group can't bar homosexuals, get funding"

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com Court: Christian group can't bar homosexuals, get funding Associated Press - 6/28/2010 9:50:00 AM WASHINGTON (AP) - An ideologically split Supreme Court ruled Monday that a law school can legally deny recognition to a Christian student group that won't let homosexuals join. The court turned away an appeal from the Christian Legal Society, which sued to get funding and recognition from the University of California's Hastings College of the Law. The CLS requires that voting members sign a statement of faith and regards "unrepentant participation in or advocacy of a sexually immoral lifestyle" as being inconsistent with that faith. Alito said the Court arms public educational institutions with a handy weapon for suppressing the speech of unpopular groups ...I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that today's decision is a serious setback for freedom of expression in this country."

Article Link: "Court won't hear appeal on Boy Scouts land rental"

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com

Court won't hear appeal on Boy Scouts land rental

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has let stand a ruling saying the Boy Scouts cannot lease city park land in San Diego because the group is a religious organization. The high court refused to hear an appeal from San Diego-area Boy Scouts.

The Boy Scouts maintain that they have no theology and only hold the position that children have a "duty to God" to become productive citizens.

The American Civil Liberties Union had sued San Diego and the Boy Scouts on behalf of a lesbian couple and an agnostic couple, each with Scouting-age sons.

The Boy Scouts have been the target of lawsuits since the Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the group can exclude homosexuals from serving as troop leaders and because Scouts must swear an oath of duty to God.

Christian Persecution: "Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin"

clipped from www.telegraph.co.uk

Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin

Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a
homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a
number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness
and same sex relationships.

The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Workington, Cumbria
for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon
from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he
believed it went against the word of God.

Police officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to
be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting
language, contrary to the Public Order Act.

“My freedom was taken away on the hearsay of someone who disliked what I said,
and I was charged under a law that doesn't apply.”

Article Link: "Law school policy labeled 'crazy'"

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com

Law school policy labeled 'crazy'

A spokesman for a conservative legal group is taking note of the significance of a Supreme Court justice calling a law school policy "crazy." The case in question deals with a club on campus that is fighting to maintain its Christian standards.

The high court last week heard arguments from the University of California's Hastings College of the Law and a campus chapter of the Christian Legal Society. CLS claims Hastings' policy forces them to accept as voting members and potential leaders, classmates who do not share their core religious beliefs.

Hastings says official campus groups may not exclude people due to religious beliefs or sexual orientation. But during arguments, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was reported as saying: "To require the Christian Society to allow atheists not just to join, but to conduct Bible classes -- that's crazy." (See earlier story)

The Supreme Court is expected to render its decision on the case by the end of June.

Article Link: "Good News: Court Rules in Favor of Pro-Life Student Expression"

clipped from www.citizenlink.org

Good News: Court Rules in Favor of Pro-Life Student Expression

A federal court has ruled that a New Jersey teen should not have been prevented from taking part in the national Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity.

The Bridgeton High School student was not allowed to distribute pro-life literature during non-instructional times or wear a red armband bearing the word "Life." School officials told her that public schools allowed nothing "religious."

David Cortman, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, said the ruling provides vital protection for free speech.

"When a student attends a public school, he or she retains their First Amendment rights, and that also pertains to religious speech," he said. "This particular school has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the state, and the highest teenage abortion rate in the state, and this young lady was being a faithful witness."

AZ homes forced to close doors to church events (OneNewsNow.com)

AZ homes forced to close doors to church events (OneNewsNow.com)

Christian Persecution: "Halt to church services questioned (OneNewsNow.com)"

Halt to church services questioned (OneNewsNow.com)

Christian Persecution: "Christian's speech deemed 'hateful propaganda' (OneNewsNow.com)"

Christian's speech deemed 'hateful propaganda' (OneNewsNow.com)

Christian Persecution: "City agency halts chruch services at public housing unit"

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com

City agency halts church services at public housing unit

DALLAS - A Dallas church that has held Sunday worship service at a public housing apartment complex for the elderly for 14 years has been ordered to stop.

Dallas Housing Authority president MaryAnn Russ told the Dallas Morning News that the church services violate separation of church and state and the agency's contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds public housing programs.

But Jerry Brown, a HUD spokesman based in Washington, DC, said there may be a misunderstanding.

He said the Fair Housing Act allows religious activity in common areas of public housing as long as it does not result in unequal treatment of residents.

Christian Persecution: "Judge rules against religious expression"

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com

Judge rules against religious expression

A judge in Montana has ruled against a high school valedictorian who wasn't allowed to speak at her graduation ceremony because she wanted to give God credit for her success. (See earlier article)

Rennee Griffith is now in her second year of college. She graduated from Butte High School in 2008 as one of the valedictorians, but when she submitted a draft of her speech to school authorities, her First Amendment rights were violated.

"She was asked, as were the other valedictorians, to speak about what helped them get through school. Some people wanted to thank the football coach or the track coach or their uncle or a particular teacher, and they were permitted to do that," explains Griffith's attorney, Bill O'Connor. "The only thing they would not permit, by their own admission, was...her to attribute any achievements to her belief in God."

Draw a pic of Jesus & get suspended

The Rutherford Institute Defends Second Grader Forced by School Officials to Undergo Psych Evaluation for Drawing Crucified Jesus

"Hate Crimes" bill passes Senate

clipped from www3.capwiz.com

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010

This bill includes the "hate crimes" amendment

Agreed to: 68-29

By 68 yeas to 29 nays (Vote No. 327), Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2647, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense. In a devious maneuver by Democrats, a "Hate Crimes" amendment was attached to this bill. Though AFA supports adequate funding for the military, this attachment is a poison pill that makes the bill unacceptable. Our military deserved a stand-alone vote on funding.

A vote in favor of this bill criminalizes thought, endangers freedom of religion and speech, and destroys the American principle of equality under the law.

Both Senators Hutchison & Cornyn voted for this bill. Needless to say, I sent them an email telling them of my disappointment in them. In case you don't know, this is a huge step in direction of Christian persecution. This will take our Freedom's of Religion, Speech, & Protest and throw them under the bus. Basically, if you speak out against homosexuality, call it a sin as the Bible does, you can be held responsible for another person's violence toward a homosexual. It shouldn't be ignored that this may eventually lead to making the Bible, written the way it is now, illegal. Already, certain verses (those that condemn homosexuality) are banned from public display in certain cities. And, don't for a second, think that the liberals won't push this as far as they can.

Speaking out against homosexuality is not "hate speech." Granted, I know some people do it in a hateful way, but that is also a sin & they should be counseled on that also. However, if Christians hated homosexuals, they would let continue in their sin & never try to help them see the light. God does not hate homosexuals, he does, however, hate homosexuality. If someone is standing on a train track & you see a train coming, if you love that person you will let them know that the train is coming. However, if you don't care for that person or hate them, you'll ignore the train. I heard one commentator that was talking about another topic but he said, "We are loving them into Hell." He wasn't talking about homosexuals but I think the same statement could be made in this situation.

Christian Persecution: "Raid on Full Gospel Church"

Pray that God encourage & strengthen these Christians and that He will send his angels to protect them. Pray that He use them whether they are in or out of prison. Pray that their persecutors & the rest of the community see their faith & ask what it is about this Christianity that causes them to risk their lives & make people hate them so much. Also, pray that when we begin to suffer persecution, that we will hold fast & never bend under the pressure of Satan & his emissaries.

A muscle does not grow unless stress it put upon it. It is the same with the church. Those Christians who suffer persecution are like no other Christian you will ever meet. Persecution against the Church is begging to grow. Every time the Church has been persecuted in the past it resulted in a stronger, more faithful Church.

Many times in the Bible, persecution has been compared to the threshing of wheat. Back before we had machines to do all of it for us, the farmers would place wheat on the ground & toss the wheat into the air. As the wind blew, the chaff (the useless part of the wheat) would blow away, leaving only the good, useful grain.

This is what happens when the Church is put under persecution. Persecution is a time of weeding out the weak & useless, a time for the chaff to be blown away.

You need to decide now. Are you going to be chaff or grain?

Just before Stephen was stoned (Acts 7), he looked up to Heaven & proclaimed that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Act 7:55-56).

I heard a preacher once preach on this & he commented that he couldn't find any other reference of Jesus standing next to God, he was always sitting next to God. So he asked, "Why did Stephen say he was standing? Did he make a mistake?" He went on to say that he believed that Jesus, seeing Stephen's faith & knowing what was about to happen to him, Jesus stood.

Just as when we are at a football game & the whole game depends on the last couple of seconds & your team is just slightly behind but has the ball. What do you do? You stand. You are excited.

This preacher thought it was a similar reaction with Jesus. He saw that his boy, Stephen had just stood up & witnessed to the Sanhedrin and knowing that because of what Stephen had just said he was about to die, Jesus stood up. He was excited, he was proud of him, & he was about to welcome his friend home.

When the gun or knife is pointed at you, are you going to cower away later to feel the shame that Peter felt at denying Christ, or when you die is Christ going to raise to his feet & say to God, "Father, just wait till you meet this girl/guy!"?

Good News: "Hospital chaplain's free-speech rights restored"

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com

Hospital chaplain's free-speech rights restored

A chaplain at a Michigan veterans' hospital has been invited to return and minister to patients.

Martin Colburn, a Christian chaplain of two veterans' organizations, had been meeting patients who gave him permission to do so, counseling them and praying with them. Daniel Blomberg is an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF).

"One day back in February he was just summarily thrown out of the hospital because he had a Bible in his hand and he had been meeting with a patient," Blomberg explains. "And on February 13, he received a letter saying he wasn't welcome to come back except to receive his own veteran's benefits because he was a wounded warrior himself."

Here are some interesting statistics. There is no way to accurately say that these increases are solely due to taking prayer out of school but the time in history when prayer was removed from schools marks a turning point in our history as a nation. Starting in the '60's, our country has taken a nose dive on the scale of morality. And, that is evident in these graphs. All the same, this info is interesting & extremely disheartening.

clipped from heartofwisdom.com

When Prayer Was Taken Out of School

David Barton graphically illustrates how America has plummeted from righteous living, prosperity, and success in the last quarter-century. Consider the following charts compiled from his publication, America: America: To Pray or Not to Pray

Since the 1962 removal of prayer:

SAT Total Scores

CASES OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Includes: Gonorrhea, Syphillis, Chancroid,
Granuloma Inguinale, Lymphgranuloma Venereum, and AIDS

PREGNANCIES TO UNWED GIRLS

Under 15 Years of Age

PREGNANCIES TO UNWED GIRLS

Under 15-19 Years of Age

BIRTH RATES FOR UNWED GIRLS

Under 15-19 Years of Age

PRE-MARITAL SEX

Percentage of U.S. Teenage Girls
Who Have Had Pre-Marital Intercourse

SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS

Female Head, No Spouse Present

UNMARRIED COUPLES LIVING TOGETHER

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA

VIOLENT CRIME: Number of Offenses

"Catholic Nurse Forced to Perform Abortion?"

clipped from www.creativeminorityreport.com

Catholic Nurse Forced to Perform Abortion?

The New York Post reports that a Catholic nurse from Brooklyn, New York is claiming that the hospital where she's employed ordered her to assist in a late term abortion or be fired.

Bosses told the weeping Cenzon-DeCarlo the patient was 22 weeks into her pregnancy and had preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure that can lead to seizures or death if left untreated.

But the nurse, the niece of a Filipino bishop, contends that the patient's life was not in danger. She argued that the patient was not even on magnesium therapy, a common treatment for preeclampsia, and did not have problems indicating an emergency.

She said she later learned that the hospital's own records deemed the procedure "Category II," which is not considered immediately life threatening.

Slightly more awful from a hospital called "Mount Sinai" named for the mountain where God gave Moses a list of commandments which included "Thou Shall Not Kill."