A no-brainer for bipartisanship

By Michele Combs and Timothy Karr

In early July, a number of conservative civil rights groups joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), in writing a letter to the superintendent of the Rappahannock Regional Jail demanding that his jail respect the religious freedom and First Amendment rights of one of his prisoners.  

In the letter sent to Superintendent Joseph Higgs, Jr., on July 9th, the ACLU - joined by Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship group, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and the Rutherford Institute, among others - wrote that "based on concerns brought to our attention by Anna Williams, whose son was detained at the Rappahannock Regional Jail (the "Jail").  Ms. Williams, a devout Christian, wanted to support her son spiritually during his confinement at the Jail by sending him religious language, including passages from the Bible".   

Religious rights in America continue to deteriorate. A San Diego pastor and his wife have been told by county officials to stop holding Bible studies in their home.  According to Fox News' Special Report on Thursday night, they have been subjected to interrogation and threatened with fines if they continue to hold Bible studies in their home. They have about ten to fifteen participants in their Bible studies.  

On Monday, a 3-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that the Texas law allowing moment of silence following the Pledge of Allegiance in school classes -- including the opportunity for silent prayer, reflection, meditation -- was constitutional. Besides Texas, 25 other states have moment of silence laws.

The Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott in a press release following the court's decision said: "The United States Constitution plainly protects young Texans' right to observe a moment of silence before school each morning. In an age where children are bombarded with distractions, beginning each school day with a moment of silence offers a welcome moment of quiet contemplation."

Americans' religious rights and First Amendment rights continue to be eroded as evidenced by the jailing of a black pastor from a Berkeley, California church last week. He was the first person convicted -- two months ago -- under Oakland's law preventing pro-life protesters from coming within 8 feet of anyone entering an abortion clinic.

The Union City pastor, Walter Hoye, received a $1,000 fine, 30 days in jail (although in the future pro-lifers can be actually be put in jail for up to two years) and 3 years' probation. This courageous pastor told the judge: "I believe that an unjust law is no law at all." Pastor Hoye even answered Alameda Superior Court Judge Hing's question of whether or not he would abide by an order to stay 100 yards away from the Oakland abortion clinic with a principled "No."

It was announced on Fox News last night that the House Administration Committee is considering a gigantic increase of $90,000 this year for the office budget of the average Member of the House of Representatives which now is over $1,200,000 per year. Staff salaries and other offices expenses come out of this annual budget. Normally, the annual increase in the budget is about $10,000 or so.

Democrat Congressman Ron Kind from Wisconsin opposes such a huge increase in the congressional office budget. Indeed, he believes the budget itself is too large. Ever since he became a Congressman some 12 years ago, he has returned some 10% of his annual budget back to the American taxpayers. Indeed, recently his total return to the American people went over $1 million.

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. 

Our children need a porn-free Internet service

The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC,) Kevin Martin, is to be applauded for pushing a pornography-free web site for children and others who do not want to be assaulted with the absolute smut which is prevalent on the Internet today.

During the past few years, there were three renegade state supreme courts which ruled that their state citizens could have homosexual "marriages."  Each of those dictatorial decisions were by one vote, in the states of California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.  There was little doubt that the citizens of at least two of those states strongly opposed such a measure (California and Massachusetts.) 

In an era when many pro-lifers are discouraged that the 1973  Roe v. Wade decision is never going to be overturned  --  especially since a new pro-abortion president is expected to appoint pro-abortion justices to the United States Supreme Court  --  pro-lifers can still be encouraged that the laws they help pass at the federal level and in state legislatures can make a difference in saving the lives of thousands of innocent unborn children.