Religious Rights Watch

Secretary Salmon P. Chase Responsible for "In God We Trust" on Coins/Currency

Jim Backlin — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:54:31 -0500

During his sermon today entitled "In God We Trust -- Or Do We?" Pastor Chris Geeslin, of the Redeemer International Family Church in Frederick, Maryland, gave a little history lesson on how "In God We Trust" ended up on our coins and currency. He explained that during the Civil War, there was an increase in the interest in God on both sides of the divide. Many devout persons around the country urged the Treasury Secretary, Salmon P. Chase, to have the United States government recognize the Deity on American coins.

As a result of these letters to him, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint in Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861, in which he stated:

"Dear Sir:

No nation can be strong except in the strength of God,or safe except in His

Good News Clubs Win Yet Again in Court

Jim Backlin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:38:44 -0500

One would think that after the decision by the United States Supreme Court in June 2001 -- that religious clubs have equal footing in grade schools with other organizations -- schools around the country would get a clue they cannot discriminate against organizations such as the Good News Clubs in America.

But that is exactly what happened within just a few years of the Supreme Court's 2001 decision. San Diego, the southern city in the left-wing state of California, dictated to the families in the community that after-school "Good News Clubs" would be charged fees to hold their meetings in the San Diego public schools unlike all other groups such as the ever-increasingly left-wing group, the Girl Scouts of America, the 4-H Clubs, the Boy Scouts, etc.

The War on Christmas and the Loony Left's Governor Gregoire

Michele Combs — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:43:37 -0500

Each Christmas season, the loony left keeps trying to outdo it's previous ridiculous self. This year's champion of the loony left is Washington state's Governor Christine Gregoire who allowed a tiny group of radical atheists to post a display right next to a Nativity scene depicting the Christmas story. Between the two displays is a huge bust of George Washington who must be rolling in his grave at the thought of politicians like Gregoire.

The poster put up by the God-haters insulting Christians in the Washington state capitol building reads in part: "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

California theatre arts director calls it quits after being protested

Drew McKissick — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:49:18 -0500

The Art Director for the largest non-profit musical theatre company has quit after protests and boycotts resulting from the fact that he dared to give money to the "Yes on 8" campaign, which passed California's marriage amendment last week.

Scott Eckern stepped down from his job at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento after some gay and lesbian activists called for a theater boycott.

He said in a statement that he is leaving "after prayerful consideration to protect the organization and to help the healing in the local theater going and creative community."

Eckern said he "chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved" but had no idea his contribution would generate such controversy. He said his sister is a lesbian in a domestic partnership, which he understands to carry the same legal rights as marriage.

The boycott calls led by artists including "Hairspray" composer Marc Shaiman began after activists learned Eckern contributed $1,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Last week, voters approved Proposition 8, which changes the constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

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Navy Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who lost job because he prayed in Jesus name,organizes Rally for Police Chaplains

Jim Backlin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:56:57 -0400

Air Force Academy graduate and former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt who lost his job in the Navy because he refused to stop praying in the name of Jesus has now organized an event this Saturday for 6 Virginia police chaplains who were told to stop praying in the name of Jesus. Indeed, these courageous Christian chaplains were forced to resign because they prayed in the name of Jesus. Chaplain Klingenschmitt is the event organizer for Saturday's state-wide prayer rally outside the Democrat Governor, Tim Kaine's mansion at 10 a.m.

California first graders take field trip to gay wedding

Drew McKissick — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:30:30 -0400

With the vote on the California state marriage amendment just three weeks away, it's nice of the proponents of gay marriage to give the voters of that state another stark reminder of just what they could be in for if gay marriage remains legal in that state. Via Protect Marriage:

SAN FRANCISCO, October 11 â€“ In the same week that the No on 8 campaign launched an ad that labeled as â€œliesâ€ claims that same-sex marriage would be taught in schools to young children, a first grade class took a school-sponsored trip to a gay wedding. Eighteen first graders traveled to San Francisco City Hall Friday for the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The school sponsored the trip for the students, ages 5 and 6, taking them away from their studies for the same-sex wedding. According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the public school field trip demonstrates that the California Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage has real consequences. ...

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New support for marriage amendment in California

Drew McKissick — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:29:17 -0400

There's a new poll out of Californai voters re: the vote on that state's marriage amendment next month, and the results are encouraging.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) â€• A new CBS 5 poll finds that California's Proposition 8 has picked up support in the wake of a television ad campaign that features footage of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaiming same-sex marriage is here to stay "whether you like it or not."

The poll conducted for CBS 5 by SurveyUSA indicates that support for the measure to ban gay marriage has grown among voters in the state over an eleven day period â€” most especially among young voters.

According to the poll, likely California voters overall now favor passage of Proposition 8 by a five-point margin, 47 percent to 42 percent. Ironically, a CBS 5 poll eleven days prior found a five-point margin in favor of the measure's opponents. ...

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Traditional marriage supporter assualted in California

Drew McKissick — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:53:51 -0400

As mentioned previously, the folks supporting passage of the state marriage amendment in California, (proposition 8), which would define marriage as one man and one woman, have gained a good bit of momentum and support in the past several weeks...and their opposition has actually been helpful.

Well now we see some in the pro gay-marriage crowd are actually turning violent as they get desperate. From OneNewsNow:

A Proposition 8 volunteer in California was recently assaulted, evidently because he supports the proposed state constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The victim, Jose Nunez, was preparing to place Prop. 8 lawn signs when the attack happened. Chip White, a spokesman for the "Yes on 8" campaign, explains what happened.

"The attacker grabbed about 75 signs, [then] yelled at Mr. Nunez [asking] 'what do you have against gays?' And Mr. Nunez replied that he had nothing against gays -- but he was attacked anyway." ...

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Six VA police chaplains resign after being ordered NOT to pray in Jesus name

Jim Backlin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:22:39 -0400

According to yesterday's "The Washington Times," the state police Superintendent, Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, "requested" that his 17 police chaplains offer ONLY "nondenominational" prayers, i.e. effectively to NOT pray in the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, at least six of Colonel Flaherty's chaplains quit in protest for violating their First Amendment constitutional rights.

The Virginia House Republicans blasted the move by the state police superintendent as an attack on Christianity and a violation of the First Amendment rights of these chaplains. "The Washington Times" reported that one Republican delegate said chaplains were told they could no longer invoke the name of Jesus. House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith, a Republican from Salem, Virginia, said that "to require those troopers to disregard their own faith while serving violates their First Amendment rights and prevents them from serving effectively as chaplains. These men had little choice but to resign."

California outlaws "bride" and "groom"

Drew McKissick — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:42:27 -0400

Well, you may have wondered how long this was going to take. First, a one vote majority of the California Supreme Court (4-3) votes to legalize gay marriage in that state, and now the state begins to issue politically correct marriage licenses that not only make no reference to gender, but refuse to allow recognition of either "party" as "bride" or "groom".

From World Net Daily:

ROSEVILLE, Calif. â€“ "Brides" and "grooms" are no longer allowed to marry in the State of California.

That privilege is only extended to individuals who allow themselves to be called "Party A" and "Party B" on marriage licenses.

Pastor Doug Bird of Abundant Life Fellowship in Roseville, Calif., was alarmed to find the state now rejects the traditional terms after he officiated his first marriage ceremony last week following the California Supreme Court decision to overturn Proposition 22.

The couple had written the words "bride" and "groom" next to "Party A" and "Party B" because they wanted to be legally recognized as husband and wife.

However, the Placer Count marriage license was denied. ...

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