For a transcript of the Pew Forum event CLICK HERE.
Or click on the book title for more information on Michael Gerson's book Heroic Conservatism: Why Republicans Need to Embrace America's Ideals (And Why They Deserve to Fail If They Don't)
"Tax Cuts Matter":
Gov. Huckabee on Camera and Voice-over Graphics: “In a hundred and sixty years in Arkansas , we’d never really had a broad-based, wide-spread tax cut. I was able to sign the first ever. The economic policies that we did in my state, cutting taxes, streamlining government, resulted in the largest number of job creations. I cut taxes over 90 times. Balanced the budget every year I was governor. Left a surplus of nearly a billion dollars, and did it in the face of an overwhelmingly Democratic legislature. That's a pretty good record.”
"Our Values":
“The pro-life position was the one espoused by our Founding Fathers when they said that all of us are created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. The first one they listed was life. Nobody has a greater level of intrinsic worth or value than another person. Being unborn doesn’t make you less valuable. Maybe instead of having our values trampled all over every single day and night, we would express to America what those values are: family, life, freedom – those things matter to us. Always has, always will."
Huckabee Confounds Elites as Reagan Did
by Doug Patton
It is interesting to note that Democrats are not attacking Mike Huckabee now that he has surged to the top of the Republican polls. Perhaps Howard Dean, the Democratic National Committee and the leading Democrat presidential candidates all believe that Huckabee is a Republican they can easily defeat.
Huckabee’s national campaign chairman, Ed Rollins, was typically glib in his comparison of Mike Huckabee, circa 2008, and Ronald Reagan, circa 1980. Rollins, who managed the Gipper’s 49-state landslide re-election campaign in 1984, says he remembers Democrats salivating over the prospect of running against the former actor, both in his campaigns for California governor and for president.
“I remember them saying, ‘Please, let us run against Reagan,’” Rollins recalled.
(Read more . . . )
Dear Friend,
If you have not already made a commitment on whom to vote for in the January caucus, I hope you will consider Gov. Mike Huckabee. Let me share with you why I’ve endorsed Gov. Huckabee.
Gov. Huckabee believes in our values. He has spent a lifetime promoting them. We don’t have to go to bed at night wondering where he stands on the life issue or the marriage issue.
The next president will probably appoint three judges to the Supreme Court. With Gov. Huckabee as president, we don’t have to worry about the kind of judges he will nominate.
We will not be embarrassed by his personal life.
He is the person whom all social conservatives can rally around.
Do I agree with Gov. Huckabee on all the issues? No. But I do believe he would be the candidate who best could bring us together, and who best represents the values which helped make this a great nation.
One final point. I am sure that you have noticed that the media is making a big deal of Gov. Huckabee’s Christian faith. The impression is that it would be a bad thing for our country for a person who is a Christian to be President. I’m sure you will see more of this as the campaign progresses.
Thank you for considering Gov. Huckabee. I hope you will talk with your family and friends and encourage them to support Gov. Huckabee.
Thanks for caring enough to get involved.
Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon
Black Conservatives Voice Support for Huckabee
By Michelle Vu
Christian Post Reporter
Dozens of black conservative leaders nationwide are expressing support for Republican White House contender Mike Huckabee, who they believe best represents the values of American conservatives.
The African American leaders praise the former Arkansas governor’s track record on traditional values; his support for education and immigration reforms; his tax policies, which they say allows for economic growth; and his good relations with the black community.
“The fact that 47 percent of African-American voters supported the reelection of Governor Huckabee in 2002 is testament to this laudable achievement improving the lives of Arkansans across the entire economic range,” wrote Donald E. Scoggins, president of Republicans for Black Empowerment and organizer of the list, in a statement.
Scoggins, who is endorsing Huckabee as an individual, also pointed to the “unprecedented” number of appointments of African-Americans, about 300, to state boards, commissions and key executive level positions within the Arkansas state government under Huckabee’s administration.
“We are proud and honored to give our support to the bid of Mike Huckabee to become the Republican Party’s nominee as the next President of the United States of America,” the statement reads. (Read more. . . )
Click Here to see the video from Mike Huckabee's announcement that he will NOT be responding with the filmed counter-punch to Mitt Romney's smear campaign.
"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two negative ads recently launched by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who has spent more on advertising than any other candidate, either misrepresent his rival's records or include distortions, according to a CNN analysis of the commercials." (Read more . . . )
New Year's Day, 2008
As we enter this New Year, we reflect on the past and look forward to a promising year ahead.
A future of hope and opportunity begins with a robust economy. Thanks to America's workers and entrepreneurs, our economy grew at a vigorous rate last year. Keeping taxes low and exercising fiscal restraint helped ensure that the number of jobs increased and the deficit once again fell ahead of schedule. The underpinnings of our economy have proven strong, competitive, and resilient enough to overcome the challenges we face. In the coming year, we will continue to encourage growth in the economy so Americans have more money to invest in their businesses, spend on their families, and put aside for the future.
In addition to our efforts here at home, the United States continued its work to spread freedom and peace around the world. America is determined to defeat terrorists and extremists, and we will remain on the offensive against the enemies of freedom. In 2008, we will continue to stand beside our partners in the international community to lay a foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren.
America is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our Nation's troops and their families. During this hopeful time of year, we remain mindful of the courage and resolve of the fine men and women who protect our country and defend freedom's cause.
As we welcome this New Year, we move forward with trust in the power of the American spirit, confidence in our purpose, and faith in a loving God who created us to be free.
Laura and I send our best wishes for a happy New Year. May God bless you, may God bless our troops and their families, and may God bless America.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Mr. Snell was standing on a sturdy platform he had attached to the top of his vehicle in order to offer help to women over a fence that had been erected to prevent pro-lifers from speaking to them. Witness John McTernan said that a man who was escorting a woman into the abortion clinic, "leaped on the vehicle with Ed and catapulted him off of the vehicle and onto the ground." Mr. Snell struck the pavement with his head. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he was treated for multiple trauma, bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover the brain, compression fractures of four vertebrae, right scapula fracture, and fracture of the fourth and fifth ribs.
Three officers arrived to investigate but allowed the perpetrator to leave the scene. When Mr. McTernan objected and demanded an arrest, the female officer threatened to arrest him for interfering with a police investigation. (Click here to read the entire story.)
"It is unbelievable that an officer would allow an attacker to go free after inflicting life-threatening injuries on an elderly gentleman, then threaten to arrest the witness to the crime," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "That was not only unprofessional conduct, but it showed a fundamental lack of respect for Mr. Snell's life and beliefs. She should face serious discipline."
Mr. Snell was released from the hospital the following day. His recovery is expected to take a full 8 weeks. Meanwhile, upon learning the seriousness of Mr. Snell's injuries, the police finally arrested and charged the man with felony assault.
This incident adds to a growing list of attacks on pro-lifers in recent months, which have all included unprofessional police conduct. Operation Rescue recommends that pro-lifers establish regular communications with local police supervisors in order to educate them as to the peaceful nature of pro-life activities and their protection under the First Amendment.
Any concerns about Harrisburg Bureau of Police conduct may be addressed to:
Police Chief Charles Keller
Phone: 717-255-3103
E-mail: charleskeller@cityofhbg.com
Joe Carter at Evangelical Outpost has recently written three articles that are must reading for conservative evangelicals as we prepare to enter a brand new year with no mistakes in it, yet:
1. Conservatives Are Sheeple Too
2. A Pre-Caucus Candidate Quiz
3. Has National Review Jumped The Shark
Pro-Gay Romney Upsets Family Values Leader
ByMichelle Vu
Christian Post Reporter
WASHINGTON – A prominent pro-family leader is urging fellow conservatives to withdraw their support for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney over his recent expressed support for a “sexual orientation” non-discrimination law.
Romney during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” said he supports the contentious Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which adds “sexual orientation” to a list of federally protected classes that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
The bill upsets conservative leaders because it grants special protection to employees based on their “actual or perceived” sexual orientation. Moreover, it would force Christian organizations that oppose homosexuality to hire gay employees.
“Mitt Romney’s Christmas present to the homosexual lobby disqualifies him as a pro-family leader,” said Peter LaBarbera, longtime pro-family advocate and founder of the Republicans For Family Values website.
“Laws that treat homosexuality as a civil rights are being used to promote homosexual ‘marriage,’ same-sex adoption and pro-homosexuality indoctrination of schoolchildren,” he said. “These same laws pose a direct threat to the freedom of faith-minded citizens and organizations to act on their religious belief that homosexual behavior is wrong.”
The former Massachusetts governor responded on “Meet the Press” that ENDA “makes sense” at the state level. But LaBarbera warns that if Romney “openly” promotes homosexual agenda at the state level then he cannot be trusted at the federal level.
He pointed out that the state’s “sexual orientation” nondiscrimination law laid the groundwork for Massachusetts legalizing gay “marriage” – the first in the country to do so.
Moreover, the ENDA-like law forced Boston’s Catholic Charities to shut down its century-old adoption agency because it refused to place children in gay households against Catholic teaching.
“Given Romney’s extensive pro-homosexual record and willingness now to depart from principle on this crucial issue, should we trust a ‘President Romney’ not to reverse course again on federal pro-homosexual laws such as ‘Hate Crimes’ and ENDA?” LaBarbera posed. (Read more. . . )
From the Baptist Press article by Michael Foust
WASHINGTON (BP)--Presidential candidate Duncan Hunter of California is the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, one of the more powerful committees in Congress. He's also a Christian and a Southern Baptist.
A member of Congress since 1980 and a Vietnam veteran, Hunter was saved at the age of 14 during a revival meeting led by professional baseball player Albie Pearson. He remembers it well.
"He was five-foot-six. He was one of the original Los Angeles Angels," Hunter told Baptist Press. "A great Christian and a Christian minister, who now has a Christian home for kids who have suffered from drug abuse in California."
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from 2002 until the Democrats took control earlier this year, Hunter is one of nine Republican candidates for president. Some consider him a long-shot, but Hunter hopes his experience in the military and on the committee will serve to attract votes, particularly with America at war.
From MSNBC:
DES MOINES, Iowa - Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," Mike Huckabee called Mitt Romney a dishonest politician who can't be trusted with the presidency, turning up the heat Sunday in a close-and-getting-closer Republican race in Iowa. (Read more . . . )
* "[Romney] Told Reporters In Iowa That He Recalled His Father Changing His Mind, And Deciding To March Even Though It Was Sunday." (The Boston Phoenix, 12/21/2007)
* Romney National Press Secretary Kevin Madden Admitted Mitt Romney Never Marched With King. Matthews: "In 1978 … your candidate said, 'My father and I marched with Martin Luther King through the streets of Detroit.' Did Mitt Romney, your candidate, your client, march with Martin Luther King or didn't he?" Madden: "No, he did not." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 12/21/07)
* "Romney Spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom Acknowledged That Was Not True. 'Mitt Romney Did Not March With Martin Luther King.'" (The Boston Globe, 12/21/07)
* Grosse Pointe Historical Society Curator Suzy Berschback: "We're A Small Town ... Governors Don't Come Here Very Often, Except For Fundraisers.'" (The Boston Phoenix, 12/21/2007)
* Romney: "You Know, I'm An English Literature Major As Well. When We Say, 'I Saw The Patriots Win The World Series, It Doesn't Necessarily Mean You Were There -- Excuse Me, The Super Bowl." (The Associated Press, 12/21/07)
* In 2003, Romney Told The Boston Globe That He "Won't Be A Cheerleader" For Tax Cut Proposals With Which He Did Not Agree. "At the time of the [2003] votes, Romney was in his first stint in elective office, leading Massachusetts. The Boston Globe reported that year that during a meeting in Washington with the Massachusetts congressional delegation, Romney was asked about the tax cuts and said he 'won't be a cheerleader' for proposals he did not agree with." (The Associated Press, 12/22/07)
* Later Romney Admitted He Had Only Been Hunting Twice But Rushed To Add He Used To Shoot "Varmints" Like Rabbits. "When challenged, his campaign said that Romney had gone hunting just twice -- once when he was 15 and once last year, when he shot at quail on an outing with GOP campaign contributors. Romney subsequently argued that he'd done more than that: 'I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter,' he said. 'Small varmints, if you will. I began when I was 15 or so and I have hunted those kinds of varmints since then. More than two times.'" (Salon.com, 12/21/07)
* "The Gun Rights Group Did Not Endorse Either Candidate, And Gave A Higher Issues Rating To [Romney's] Democratic Opponent." (The Associated Press, 12/21/07)
* According To The New York Times, Romney's Boasts On Meth Were Misleading - Meth Legislation Never Passed The State Legislature. "But both the advertisement and Mr. Romney's claims on his record were misleading. Mr. Romney's office proposed legislation that would have toughened penalties on those in possession of methamphetamine and the chemicals to manufacture it, but the bill stalled in the state legislature." (The New York Times, 12/22/07)
* Romney Then Corrected The Record: He Did Not Get Tough But Rather "Proposed We Get Tough" On Meth. "After The New York Times pointed out Mr. Romney's misstatement in a posting on its politics blog, he made sure to correct himself before taking questions from reporters at his next campaign stop here. 'If I said this morning that we 'got tough' on methamphetamines, I proposed we get tough on methamphetamine, and I've corrected that right here for all of you,' he said.'' (The New York Times, 12/22/07)
* In Truth, Romney Declared His Candidacy For Govenor Two Days After Returning From The Olympics. "Romney returned to Massachusetts from Utah on Sunday, March 17, 2002. He declared he was running for governor on Tuesday, March 19." (The Associated Press, 12/21/07)
* Romney Roughly 48 Hours After Returning To Massachusetts: "I'm In. … The Bumper Stickers Are Printed, The Web Site's Going Up. The Papers Are Going In Today." (The Associated Press, 12/21/07)
* Parker: "We Haven't Seen A Politician Parse A Sentence Like This Since Bill Clinton Dissected The Meaning Of The Verb 'Is' And Explained That It Was Monica Who Had Sex With Him And Not The Other Way Around." (Human Events, 12/21/07)
* Parker: "How Ironic That Romney Chose To Insert This Apparent Whopper In His 'Faith In America' Speech. Perhaps The Governor's Idea Of Faith Is What Groucho Marx Had In Mind With His Line, 'Who Are You Going To Believe, Me Or Your Own Eyes.'" (Human Events, 12/21/07)
The Pew Forum invited Wilfred McClay, a distinguished professor of intellectual history, to speak on the historical relationship between religion and secularism in America. McClay argued for a distinction between two types of secularism.
Political secularism, he says, recognizes the legitimacy and even moral necessity of religious faith, while preventing any one faith from being established. Philosophical secularism, on the other hand, views religion more negatively and attempts to establish a common unbelief as a basis for government. McClay contends that the first understanding of secularism was at the heart of the founders’ vision and has resulted in a unique if imperfect mingling of religion and government in American public life.
For a transcript of Wilfred McClay's presentation CLICK HERE.
The following is an excerpt from the speech given by Stephen Prothero at the Pew Forum's biannual Faith Angle Conference on religion, politics and public life. Stephen Prothero, chair of the Department of Religion at Boston University, discussed the issue of religious illiteracy in the United States.
Prothero is the author of Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - And Doesn't. Prothero says the United States is one of the most religious countries on earth, but Americans know little about their own religion or the religions of others.
* * *
So instead of seeing religious illiteracy as a religious problem for religious people, I'm looking at it as a civic problem and I'm looking at it from two angles. The first is the domestic angle, where we have politics now where we used to have one religious party and now we have two religious parties, in the sense that Democrats have now joined Republicans in deciding that it's smart to talk about God and it's smart to talk about faith because that's the way you get elected.
And the way that the Republicans, over the last generations, were able to attach to the good words like God and family and values and the Democrats seem to be attaching to less good words or less resonant words like rights and reason, things like that. It didn't seem to be such a good strategy for the Democrats in a country with 96 percent of the citizens believing in God to be the non-God party against the God party. So basically we have a politics where politicians on both sides are being encouraged to talk about religion, about their own faith, but also to connect their public policy initiatives to religious ideas, particularly to biblical ideas and Jewish and Christian ideas.
So Hillary Clinton now, when she talks about immigration, she's quite likely to talk about the Good Samaritan story and to say why don't I think that an immigration bill, where we have to turn in people who come over the border illegally, why do I think that's wrong? Well, because the Good Samaritan story. You know, we're supposed to treat foreigners in a good way. We're supposed to treat them like our neighbors, according to the Bible.
In this kind of politics, it seems to me that it's imperative for citizens to know something about religion. How can you engage a politician who is rightly or wrongly invoking the Bible or invoking religion for political purposes on issues like gay marriage or abortion or the environment or poverty or euthanasia or capital punishment or war?
Mike Huckabee on the "establishment" quoted in the Weekly Standard:
"They don't mind having us vote for them. They don't mind having us empower them. They don't mind even coming and patting us on the head and telling us they'll think very seriously about taking to heart the issues we think important. But when they get elected, they forget who we are and they never push the issues we think are important. And they are scared to death that someone who isn't part of them might actually get elected and might actually go to Washington with a view saying "I do know where I come from and I haven't forgotten where I've been and I go for all those people whose odds are stacked against them 20 to 1."
Huckabee sees Iowa as nothing less than the beginning of the change he envisions. "Folks," he closed his speech in Marshalltown, "if we can do it, we'll change politics in this country and we won't turn it upside down but we'll turn it right side up, like it ought to. That's what America is supposed to be. Not a nation of a ruling class and a servant class. The way our Founding Fathers had it, the ruling class is the regular folks out there voting, the servant class is the one who gets elected. We're not elected to be the ruling class, we were elected to be the servant class serving the people who are the ruling class. Let's make that happen." (Click Here to read more . . .)
American Right To Life Action Launches its First 527 Political TV Ad
MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- American Right To Life Action, a new 527 political organization, is running its first political television ad statewide in Iowa starting today and through the Iowa Caucuses on January 3, 2008. "We have tested this ad with focus groups," said Steve Curtis, president of ARTL Action, "and it has everyone laughing, laughing with us, at Mitt Romney for being such an obvious liar about the most important issue for any leader in America: abortion."
Romney Fairytale ScriptOnce upon a time there was a man named Mitt who said a very bad thing:
Romney: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country"
Then he thought of campaigning in Utah and said something different. "I am NOT pro-choice!"
But when he came back to liberal Massachusetts:
Romney: "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose."
Then in 2004 he magically became pro-life, but only six months later:
Romney: "I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to law related to abortion and choice."
The spell must have worn off.
Now he's on the campaign trail again, and he's back to being pro-life.
Romney: "I was pro-choice; I'm pro-life." … "I changed my position" … "I never said I was pro-choice."
Narrator: BR: Mitt Romney, willing to sacrifice children, lying for your vote.
Paid for by American Right-to-Life Action.
According to their website, ARTLAction.com, "American RTL Action exists to provide leadership in the fight to advocate enforcement of God's enduring command, Do not murder (Luke 18:20), especially in the realm of government. For decades, the pro-life industry provided campaign cover for pro-choice candidates by deceiving well-meaning pro-lifers. ARTL Action is determined to end that ability to mislead Christians into supporting those who defend various forms of intentional child-killing. When it comes to child killing, exceptions are a window to the soul. ARTL Action will throw open that window so all well-meaning people can see where a political candidate actually stands. At ARTL Action, we expose the liberal in the conservative."
From CBS News' Joy Lin:
OSCEOLA, IOWA -– Gesturing to a wild turkey that had been taxidermied, Mike Huckabee joked, “I thought that was one of my opponents.” He paused during the laughter, “That’ll make the blogs.”
Huckabee continued his quest to set his record straight today, shifting to a strategy of calling out Mitt Romney, by name, for misrepresentation as well as going too far in putting up attack ads against John McCain, who Huckabee called a “rival” but a “honest, decent…American hero.”
“It’s like Mitt doesn’t have anything to stand on, except to stand against,” said Huckabee.
“And I’m saying enough is enough. Ladies and gentlemen, what I’m going to say to you today is, if a person is dishonest in his approach to get the job, do you believe he will be honest in telling you the truth when he does get the job?" (Read More . . . )
MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following statement has been issued by John Lofton, Recovering Republican; Editor, TheAmericanView.com; co-host of "The American View" radio show with Michael Anthony Peroutka, the Constitution Party's 2004 Presidential candidate. You may hear a radio show on this subject by clicking on http://www.theamericanview.com/index.php?id=965.
"And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him." -- Mark 12:17.
The religious significance of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is well known. But, what is not so well known and understood is that our Lord's birth is "the most important single political event in history," as Dr. R.J. Rushdoony says in his book "The Foundations Of Social Order: Studies In The Creeds And Councils Of The Early Church" (1968). He says the coming of God in the flesh "handed Statism its major defeat in man's history" because it established God as "the true sovereign and the true source of law."
Dr. Rushdoony notes: "Western liberty began when the claim of the State to be man's savior was denied. The State then, according to Scripture, was made the ministry of justice. But, wherever Christ ceases to be man's Savior, there liberty perishes as the State again asserts its messianic claims. Man is in trouble, and history is the record of his attempt to find salvation. Man needs a savior, and the question is simply one of choice: Christ or the State? No man can choose one without denying the other, and all attempts at compromise are a delusion.
"Thus, the key issue of our time is lordship or sovereignty: Who is the lord or sovereign, Christ or the State? Christmas reminds us once again of the birth of this world's only true Lord or Sovereign. We will either acknowledge Him or be judged by Him."
Amen!
Thus, all talk about "freedom" and "liberty," as if either may be obtained apart from the rule of King Jesus, is a lie. As God's Word tells us it is only when His Son sets us free that we are "free indeed" (John 8:36), free from the power of sin which is the Christian definition "freedom/liberty," a definition radically different from the modern definition which sees "freedom/liberty" as merely an absence of all restraints - which is license and not true liberty. See also II Corinthians 3:17 where God tells us that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
A footnote: All those candidates who say there should be no "religious test" by voters for public office are saying, in effect, that Jesus Christ is irrelevant to politics. They are engaging in Christ-denial. They are refusing to confess Christ before men which means that He will deny them before His Father (Matthew 10:32-33).
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Dec. 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- As China prepares to host the 2008 Olympic Games, a recent debate of whether athletes will have personal access to Bibles during their stay in Beijing sparked international controversy.
An announcement stated that the country intended to ban Bibles for security reasons, as well as all religious symbols in the Olympic Village -- a report that came on the heels of China's official pledge to encourage religion during the 2008 Games.
The news outraged human rights groups as well as U.S. politicians, including Senator Lindsey Graham, who contacted the Chinese ambassador for an explanation of the Bible ban, and House Representative Thaddeus McCotter, who introduced a resolution condemning the attack on Christianity.
But representatives from China have dismissed the report as an unfounded rumor, claiming that the government has not imposed any such rule and will guarantee religious freedom during the Olympic Games.
While the U.S. Olympic Committee has received confirmation that visiting athletes, journalists and tourists will in fact be allowed to bring Bibles into Beijing for personal use, the mere possibility of the ban's existence has been seen as yet another attempt by the Chinese government to suppress religious freedom within its borders, despite its repeated claims to the contrary.
Although the "underground" church in China has grown by the millions in recent years, the printing and distribution of Bibles in the communist nation remains severely restricted. Reports also indicate that more than 100 foreign Christians have recently been expelled from the country in a 90-day period -- one of the government's largest assaults on Christianity since 1954.
Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Michigan-based nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting persecuted Christians, is encouraging all believers to pray for the persecuted church in China.
As the international community keeps a watchful eye on a country still defending itself against a long history of religious and human rights abuses, even as it prepares to welcome the world to the 2008 Olympic Games, CFI is challenging Christians everywhere to remember those in China who routinely suffer harassment, torture and even martyrdom for their faith.
Under the direction of CFI president Jim Jacobson, a former White House policy analyst, CFI has "smuggled" thousands of Bibles into China since 1996. But with less than half of all Chinese Christians currently owning a copy of the Bible, and as the country's "underground" church continues to grow in record numbers, the demand for Bibles remains overwhelming.
To learn more about CFI's Bible deliveries in China, or to learn more about Christian persecution worldwide, visit www.christianfreedom.com.
Contact: Taun Cortado, 972-300-7777
ORISSA, India, December 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christians across India's Orissa state were terrorized this Christmas season by hate groups opposed to the Gospel. Anti-Christian extremists attacked Gospel for Asia native missionary Matish Junni on December 23. They also destroyed a newly-built GFA-related church building on Christmas Eve.
"This violence against believers in Orissa breaks my heart," said K.P. Yohannan, founder and president of Gospel for Asia. "This is the same state where missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were martyred. The believers know they will face opposition, but this outburst of persecution at Christmas time is especially disturbing."
Opposition began for Matish when his church decided to construct a building. As construction began, anti-Christian fanatics in the area threatened the missionary and the believers. Then, last Sunday, a mob of extremists surrounded Matish while he traveled to conduct worship services.
The mob beat Matish and shaved his head. Then they mockingly paraded him around the village, shouting slurs against him and other Christians. They also forced Matish to go to their religious temples. When the mob finally released him, they warned him not to continue the construction.
Anti-Christian radicals also destroyed a GFA-related church building in another area of Orissa on Christmas Eve. Although local police were there, the mobs were so out of control that the church received no protection. The extremists have completely blocked the roads to this village and are not allowing Christians to travel.
The church building stood for only one month before the militants attacked. Anti-Christian hate groups have also taken over another GFA-related church building in Orissa and plan to destroy it soon.
All across Orissa, political and religious extremists have been acting against believers and Christian organizations. According to news reports, the mobs disrupted Christmas services, destroying at least 14 church buildings. Gangs also attacked Christian relief groups, including World Vision's office. Several pastors and missionaries have been beaten as well.
The recent attacks began when believers prepared to celebrate Christmas. The extremist organizers saw an opportunity to bring more sadness and grief to the Christians by attacking them on their most joyous holiday. Tensions rose when one of the anti-Christian leaders was allegedly attacked.
One person was killed on Christmas day during an extremist "bandh," a form of protest in India in which activists force the entire community to strike from their daily tasks. Although formally outlawed, many extremist groups still conduct "bandhs" in an effort to persuade others to join their cause.
"I hope that the government in Orissa will do everything in its power to protect the believers and bring peace to the state," Yohannan said. "Please join with our leaders in Orissa as they pray for Matish and other missionaries during this time, that they will be examples of Christ's love to those who are persecuting them. Also pray that the anti-Christian extremists will come to know the Prince of Peace."
Gospel for Asia is a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in Asia's unreached regions. Currently Gospel for Asia supports more than 16,500 native missionaries in 10 countries. On average, these missionaries establish approximately 10 fellowships every day among unreached villages and people groups. Gospel for Asia is also committed to training native missionaries in its 54 Bible colleges.
Romney Fact Check on Preserving the Sanctity of Life
Contact: Press Office, 571-730-1010; www.Fred08.com
MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Romney's Claim: "...every piece of legislation which came to my desk in the coming years as a Governor, I came down on the side of preserving the sanctity of life." - Mitt Romney, Meet the Press 12/16/07
Fact Check
From Joseph Farah's article, "The Many Faces Of Mitt":
"First, from a logical standpoint, this makes no sense. If you can't see why stabbing an unborn baby in the head with a pair of scissors is an overtly evil act, I don't think any amount of study of embryonic stem cell research will awaken your sense of moral outrage. But that's what Romney would like us to believe. After all, he's got to explain why he discovered so late in his public life that people have an inherent right to life." (Read More . . . )
From Rasmussen Reports:
"Among the leading Presidential candidates, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney have the highest level of core opposition among voters. Forty-seven percent (47%) say they will vote against each of these candidates no matter who else is on the ballot." (Read more . . . )
In Pakistan Churches are Bombed and Believers are Murdered, Tragically the State Favors the Perpetrators Over the Victims
Contact: Amy Jo Jones, Christian Freedom International (CFI), 906-253-2336
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Dec. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- The murder of Benazir Bhutto highlights Pakistan's position as the most dangerous nation on earth, says Jim Jacobson, head of Christian Freedom International. The country "is an unstable nuclear weapons state, infiltrated by terrorists and hostile to the West," he explains.
With Bhutto's death, the dream of a democratic Pakistan recedes even further into the future. The most America can hope for in the short term, warns Jacobson, is that "Pakistan not explode, spreading nuclear weapons and terrorists throughout South Asia and the Middle East."
Since 9/11, Washington has invested $10 billion in Islamabad, but appears to have received little in return. The country remains an economic and political wreck.
Even before Bhutto's assassination, Pakistan remained far from true democratic rule. Worse, the Pakistani military has little control over the provinces bordering Afghanistan, which shelter the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces, perhaps including Osama bin Laden.
However, the problems in Pakistan run even deeper. "Like so many Muslim states, Pakistan persecutes members of minority religious faiths," Jacobson explains.
The basic issue is not democracy, "but a tolerant culture willing to protect vulnerable groups and individual conscience," he says.
Respect for other faiths is the proverbial canary in the mine, the true test of whether a society is ready for democracy. By that standard Pakistan lags well behind.
The government routinely discriminates against Christians, Hindus, and others. Those who question Islam are imprisoned for blasphemy while Christian communities are denied essential services.
Moreover, observes Jacobson, "Violence against religious minorities is rife." Churches are bombed and believers are murdered. "Yet the state favors the perpetrators over the victims," explains Jacobson, rarely bringing anyone to justice.
Thus, it should come as no surprise that Pakistan is an inconsistent partner in the war on terrorism as well as the crusade for democracy. Explains Jacobson: "Pakistan simply does not have the basic social building blocks upon which a liberal and free society is built."
The U.S. has little choice but to deal with Pakistan, given its strategic position. However, the abominable murder of Benazir Bhutto demonstrates that policymakers must look beyond political and military considerations in dealing with Pakistan and similar states.
Jacobson concludes, "Unless Americans can encourage the development of the sort of civic institutions that we take for granted in the West, countries like Pakistan will remain violent, unstable, and dangerous."
For more information about Pakistan, visit www.christianfreedom.org
Contact: Randall Terry, 904-461-0834
MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Rudy Giuliani is a Benedict Arnold. He wears the GOP uniform, while warring against its' most sacred principles and most revered heroes - like Ronald Reagan. He must be exposed, opposed, and soundly defeated in the next 40 days." Randall Terry
"Awake, and strengthen what remains as is on the point of death..." (Rev. 3:2)
Full Statement of Randall Terry Follows.
"From today - December 28, until February 5 - the staff and associates of The Society for Truth and Justice begin 40 days of activism, prayer, and fasting aimed at the demise of Rudy Giuliani's Presidential campaign.
"Our goal and prayer is to celebrate the 'funeral' of Giuliani's campaign on Super Tuesday, February 5. We are urging all faithful Republicans nationwide to reject Giuliani and his 'culture of death' agenda at the voting booth from now until then.
"Our actions have begun in earnest in New Hampshire (click to see video of arrests for peaceful protests) and will continue there until the election on January 5.) We will then spend the rest of January traveling throughout Florida, holding protests, literature drops at churches, sign holding at busy intersections, and dogging Giuliani at every campaign stop we possibly can until the January 29 primary.
We are working with leaders and activists in Super Tuesday 5 (Feb 5) states to follow this template of activism to expose and oppose Giuliani in every peaceful way possible.
We are frequently asked: Why are we - who are mostly Republicans - focusing so intently on Giuliani who is also a Republican, when Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama are in the race?
Answer: Rudy Giuliani is a wolf in sheep's clothing; a closet Democrat.
Giuliani unashamedly supports the killing of unborn babies by abortion; he has been a brazen supporter of special rights for homosexuals, including civil unions and 'homosexual marriage' in Massachusetts; he is a proven enemy of our God given right to self-defense, delineated in the Second Amendment.
Giuliani is a faithful practicing enemy of the Church. While he was Mayor of NYC, he revoked the Church's St. Patrick Day parade permit because the Church would not allow homosexual floats in a Christian parade. The Church had to go to federal court to get her permit back; Rudy in turn marched in successive 'gay pride' parades which are so lewd they cannot be shown on the evening news.
Ethically, socially, and politically Giuliani is the mirror image of the most debauched elements of the Democrat Party.
We are Christians first, Republicans second. To remain faithful to our Creator, His Laws, and the Culture of Life, we must expose and oppose an enemy like Giuliani.
As well as being a traitor to Eternal Laws, Giuliani is a turncoat to the Republican Party. He wears our uniform, while warring against our most sacred principles and most revered heroes - like Ronald Reagan. Rudy Giuliani is a Benedict Arnold - a traitor - to the core principles or the GOP, and therefore must be stopped.
Some ask: What about Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama?
We must not let our preoccupation with enemies outside the camp blind us to the enemies within. An enemy in the camp can cut our throats, poison our food, or engineer a 'palace coup' - a coup which could be far worse in the long run than the temporary victory of an enemy from without. We must cast out our own demons, then focus on the Democrats.
If devout Christians within the Republican Party sit silently by and Rudy ends up getting the nomination, they will soon find themselves begging for scraps from a tyrants table - or maybe worse. They may find themselves politically homeless, driven into exile by the treacherous they chose to ignore or embrace.
Besides acting decisively, we are praying and fasting for 40 days - beginning today, the Feast of the Holy Innocents when the Church remembers the children slain by Herod . We are asking God to wake the faithful from their stupor, and 'strengthen what remains and is on the point of death...' within the GOP and the religious right. We invite all who recognize our peril to join us.
Those interested in joining our efforts to expose and oppose Giuliani from the New Hampshire primary to Super Tuesday and beyond are invited to call our office at 904-461-0834 for a template of actions that can be easily done in any community in America. All you need is heart!
Randall Terry
President, Society for Truth and Justice; Founder, Operation Rescue.
To Schedule an Interview with Mr. Terry call 904-461-0834
Contact: Rev. CJ Conner, 651-373-9137
MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Mit Romney has enjoyed somewhat of a surge both in the polls and in popularity after his historic address on his Mormon faith.
Afterwards, Romney operatives were quick to take to the airwaves in a defense of Mormonism. The message driven home by hosts like Sean Hannity and Michael Medved was that Mormons are Christians too.
The only problem is, Mormons have far more in common with Muslims.
Mormons believe that Joseph Smith is the last chief prophet of God in the end times, come to restore the "true faith." Muslims believe that Mohammed is the last prophet.
Mormons believe that when you die, you get your own world, over which you reign as its god. Muslims believe that when you die, particularly in martyrdom, you get 72 virgins.
Mormons believe that Jesus was merely a spirit child, no more a son of God than any other Mormon believer. Likewise, to Muslims, Jesus was merely a prophet, lesser than Mohammed.
Joseph Smith espoused polygamy. Mohammed espoused polygamy.
The Mormon writings of Joseph Smith have been shown to be fraught with misquotes of the Judeo-Christian scriptures and history. The Koran is also full of similar mistakes, sharing with Mormonism an inherent ignorance of the faiths it claims to be built upon.
So why would any of this matter?
There's something altogether too slick about Mit Romney, something about him that is too rehearsed. Some have even called him phony.
Romney says that he has "evolved" politically, in some cases just in time for this presidential election. From gay marriage, to government run healthcare, unfettered access to abortion, and porous borders, Romney has worked hard to convince the nation that his positions today are solidly conservative. He has courted the evangelical vote with the promise that he shares their political priorities. After all, his campaign insists, he's a Christian just like them.
The truth is, he isn't.
You see, conservative Christians have no problem at all voting for a Mormon, but not for a man who would deceive a nation by telling us that Mormons are Christians too.
And if a candidate and his campaign can work so deftly to deceive us on matters as important as faith, in what other ways is he willing to pull the wool over our eyes?
Rev. CJ Conner is author of Jesus and the Culture Wars: Reclaiming the Lord's Prayer.
Mitt Romney's Christmas Present to the 'Gay' Lobby Should End Pro-Family Leaders' Support for his Candidacy
Contact: Peter LaBarbera, 630-717-7631, rffv@comcast.net
CHICAGO, December 26, /Christian Newswire/ -- Peter LaBarbera, longtime pro-family advocate and founder of the Republicans For Family Values website, is calling on pro-family leaders who have endorsed Mitt Romney to withdraw their support for his candidacy in light of his recent comments on NBC's "Meet the Press" supporting pro-homosexual "sexual orientation" state laws.
"Mitt Romney's Christmas present to the homosexual lobby disqualifies him as a pro-family leader," LaBarbera said. "Laws that treat homosexuality as a civil right are being used to promote homosexual 'marriage,' same-sex adoption and pro-homosexuality indoctrination of schoolchildren. These same laws pose a direct threat to the freedom of faith-minded citizens and organizations to act on their religious belief that homosexual behavior is wrong.
"Romney may have had a late conversion on abortion, but it appears his ninth-inning flip-flop on homosexuality is falling short due to his strong commitment to 'gay rights,'" LaBarbera said. (See the 'Mitt Romney Deception' report) "Now some pro-family leaders –– who have raised millions of dollars over the years opposing 'gay' activism –– will need to explain how they can go on supporting an openly pro-homosexual-agenda candidate."
LaBarbera said it is "inconceivable after Massachusetts' twin disasters involving homosexual 'marriage' and homosexual adoption that Romney now is recommending pro-homosexual 'orientation' laws –– long derided as "special rights" among social conservatives — to the rest of the nation.
"In Romney's own state of Massachusetts, the state 'sexual orientation' nondiscrimination law laid the groundwork for homosexual activists' campaign to legalize 'same-sex marriage' –– which then-Gov. Romney brought to fruition with his unnecessary and illegal directive granting marriage licenses to homosexual partners," LaBarbera said. "The same pro-gay state law also forced Boston's Catholic Charities to shut down its century-old adoption agency because it would not pledge to place children in homosexual-led households against Catholic teaching.
"Given Romney's extensive pro-homosexual record and willingness now to depart from principle on this crucial issue, should we trust a 'President Romney' not to reverse course again on federal pro-homosexual laws such as 'Hate Crimes' and ENDA (Employment Nondiscrimination Act)?" LaBarbera said.
The following is excerpted from Romney's "Meet the Press" interview December 16 with Tim Russert:
MR. RUSSERT: You said [in 1994] that you would sponsor [Sen. Ted Kennedy's federal] Employment Nondiscrimination Act. Do you still support it?
GOV. ROMNEY: At the state level. I think it makes sense at the state level for states to put in provision of this.
MR. RUSSERT: Now, you said you would sponsor it at the federal level.
GOV. ROMNEY: I would not support at the federal level, and I changed in that regard because I think that policy makes more sense to be evaluated or to be implemented at the state level.
Republicans For Family Values is a website dedicated to defending pro-life and pro-natural-family principles within the GOP. For identification purposes only, LaBarbera is also president of Americans For Truth about Homosexuality.
Chicago Tribune
December 25, 2007
Romney's big ad buys don't pre-empt foes
So far, he's getting little bang for buck
By Mike Dorning
The return on investment probably would not have impressed Mitt Romney in his former life as a cold-eyed venture capitalist.
As of Dec. 16, the Romney campaign had spent $16 million on television advertising -- more than the two leading Democratic candidates combined, according to data compiled by TNS Media Intelligence Campaign Media Analysis Group.
Yet the former Massachusetts governor is struggling in national polls against Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani, who had spent $600,000 and $2.3 million respectively, according to the same data. (Read More . . . )
