Christian Coalition of America - Religious Rights Watch

Ronald Reagan, Christina Popa, and religious freedom

Jim Backlin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:32:02 +0000

"To those who would crush religious freedom, our message is plain: you may jail your believers. You may close their churches, confiscate their Bibles, and harass their rabbis and priests, but you will never destroy the love of God and freedom that burns in their hearts. They will triumph over you." These remarks were in President Ronald Reagan's speech to the National Religious Broadcasters on January 31, 1981, during his second week in office as president and a couple months before he was almost assassinated.

Undoubtedly, President Reagan was mostly speaking to the communist dictatorships in the world at the height of the Cold War. However, if he was president this year, he could well be speaking to Canada and Sweden, etc. which have thrown pastors in jail for preaching the Bible from their pulpits on politically-incorrect topics.

America is quite close to emulating these countries, so President Reagan could just as well be warning the ACLU-types and other left-wingers in America whose ultimate goal is to establish similar laws as Sweden, Canada, etc. using such laws as so-called "hate crime" laws to stifle religious freedom. Indeed, the United States Congress is very close to passing such a "hate crime" law which Barack Obama has promised to sign into law. read more »

High school students strike back at ACLU and political correctness

Roberta Combs — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:10:27 +0000

Thankfully in America, there are still young Americans who are not afraid to strike back at the left-wing's political correctness movement. And a great example of this occurred last Saturday when several hundred graduating high school seniors stood in protest during their graduation ceremony at Pace High School in Santa Rosa County, Florida because the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had filed a lawsuit against the high school administration claiming the principal and some teachers supported religion.

What these courageous hundreds of graduating high school seniors did was to recite the Lord's Prayer during their graduation ceremony. Some of the students carried the protest further by painting a cross on the top of their graduation caps. The ACLU and judges legislating from the bench should not be allowed to undermine religious freedom and the First Amendment rights of Christians in America. Unfortunately, the school district had agreed to a consent decree which prohibited school district employees from being involved in religious activities or offering prayers at school functions.

The "Northwest Florida Daily News" reported that the high school students' protest "was clearly a reaction to a court-approved consent decree that limits who can speak at graduation ceremonies. Now, only the valedictorian and salutatorian can speak - but not the class president or any other student body representative." read more »

"No Bible studies in your home," says California county

Michele Combs — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:08:28 +0000

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.

This San Diego county is unconstitutionally discriminating against people of faith because they are not going after similar groups who have poker nights or who have Tupperware parties. In an article on May 22, 2009 entitled "Faith Under Fire; Home: No place for Bible study; County demands pastor spend thousands on 'Major Use' permit to host friends" in WorldNetDaily.com (WND,) Drew Zahn reports that the San Diego pastor and his wife were interrogated by a county official -- on Good Friday at that -- and they were warned to stop holding Bible studies or they will face escalating fines. read more »

Here we go again: ACLU vs. American veterans

Jim Backlin — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:55:52 +0000

The most infamous organization in American, the so-called American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), is fighting against American veterans yet again in the United States Supreme Court. As reporter Audrey Hudson writes in today's Memorial Day edition of "The Washington Times," in an article entitled: "ACLU 'dead wrong' on cross," a 7 foot cross standing for 75 years in a California desert to memorialize war veterans is being threatened with removal by, you guessed it, the ACLU.

It is reported that the cross was first erected in the federally protected Mojave Desert Preserve by a group of veterans whose doctors told them that desert heat would help them recover from shell shock. In his column today in "The Washington Times," Glen Gardner, a Vietnam War veteran, and the national commander of the 2.2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. wrote that the United States Supreme Court will determine whether that gesture of respect violates the U.S. Constitution's separation of church and state.

As Mr. Gardner says: "The real issue behind Salazar v. Buono is whether the use of religious symbolism in veterans memorials on public property violates the Establishment Clause. If the High Court rules in favor of the plaintiff, every such memorial across the land will be in jeopardy of being torn down -- and the ultimate loser will be America. That's because veteran memorials help our nation remember what came before." read more »

IRS finally gets it right on religious rights

Billy McCormack — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:54:27 +0000

In a rare move, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) correctly ruled that ministers and pastors do not risk losing their tax-exempt status for engaging in political acts on behalf of issues such as traditional-values advocacy according to yesterday's "The Washington Times." That is good news for those who believe in constitutionally-guaranteed religious rights in America.

The IRS sent a letter to a group called the Niemoller Foundation which, like churches, is a 501(c)(3) organization according to the IRS code, saying that it did not violate its non-profit status by gathering together pastors for a series of public policy conferences. A left-wing group called the Texas Freedom Network had filed a complaint against the Nielmoller Foundation with the IRS. At these conferences, prominent elected officials and others urged these pastors to register their congregations to vote. The IRS in their letter found "no evidence of political intervention."

Many Democrats and their allies in the media complained that such massive efforts reaching clergy in the state of Ohio during the 2004 presidential election enabled President George W. Bush to win Ohio and therefore reelection. It is ironic that a liberal group brought the complaint to the IRS which forced the IRS to issue a ruling giving a First Amendment victory to non-profit organizations and pastors, thus helping conservatives and the Republican Party. read more »

April 29, 1607 and Obama's 100th day

Jim Backlin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:50:05 +0000

Ironically, while yesterday was Barack Obama's 100th day, what was far more significant yesterday was the 402nd anniversary of the first English settlers landing on the shores of Cape Henry, Virginia, planting a huge wood cross in the sand dunes, kneeling down in the sand, and dedicating America to Jesus Christ.

Although the Obama-adoring media has given their messiah more coverage than they gave to Bill Clinton and George W. Bush combined, you can believe that not one member of this establishment mentioned that important historical event. Indeed, the coverage they have given Obama during his first 100 days has been overwhelmingly positive, whereas the coverage they gave President Bush during his first 100 days -- indeed,during his 8 years -- was harshly negative.

Even more ironically -- considering the fact that those first settlers came to America to establish religious freedom -- those who believe in religious freedom lost to the Christian-bashing bullies in the United States House of Representatives yesterday, the 100th day of Obama's administration. The "Thought Crimes" bill, which liberals call the "Hate Crimes" bill, will go a long way to destroying religious freedom in America if Obama signs it into law, which he has promised to do. read more »

Many analysts say Conyer's "Hate Crimes" bill doomed to fail

Billy McCormack — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:30:53 +0000

Last week, Congressman Barney Frank, liberal Democrat from Massachusetts, put out a press release saying that the so-called "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act of 2009," H.R. 1913, of which he is an original co-sponsor, is expected to pass the House Judiciary Committee, populated by a majority of left-wing Democrats. Frank -- in his press release -- said that H.R. 1913 will most likely be on the House floor for a vote later this spring. The legislation was introduced into the House of Representatives on April 2 by the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI.)

However, many political analysts say that it will not pass on the floor of the House of Representatives, because the 40 some Democrats who were elected in Republican districts -- won both times by President George W. Bush and won by Senator John McCain last year -- will be very queasy about voting for the so-called "hate crimes" bill. The Employment Non-discrimination Act (ENDA) has a much better chance of passing Congress considering that in the past, a conservative Congressman like Paul Ryan, R-WI, voted for ENDA.
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Americans support conscience rights for doctors

Drew McKissick — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:08:13 +0000

Early last month the Obama Administration moved to rescind a current regulation the protects the conscience rights of America's health care workers. Meaning they would no longer be able to decline to perform health care related "services", (ie: abortion), on the grounds of their conscience and/or religious convictions.

So how do Americans feel about this issue? Well, thanks to a survey conducted on behalf of the Christian Medical Association, we now have a poll which answers that question.

From the survey:

"A sizable 87% of American adults surveyed believe it is important to 'make sure that healthcare professionals in America are not forced to participate in procedures and practices to which they have moral objections.'"

As far as Obama's current proposal to rescind those protections? By a margin of 2 to 1, (62% to 30%), those surveyd oppose the proposed changes.

Of course, Americans also oppose removing any and all restrictions to abortion as well, but that hasn't stopped the President from supporting FOCA. Which means this isn't an issue of being tone deaf, but rather one of having a clear agenda. read more »

Black Pastor jailed for excercising First Amendment rights

Roberta Combs — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:16:07 +0000

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."

Pro-life activists called the anti-constitutional Oakland City Council law passed in 2007 an intrusion on their freedom of speech. Pastor Hoye -- as do pro-life demonstrators all over America -- passes out literature outside abortion clinics and sometimes carries a sign saying: "Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help you!" Pastor Hoye asked women about to kill their unborn babies before they go into the abortion clinics: "May I talk to you about alternatives to the clinic?" read more »

Pro-life students charged with trespassing on their own campus

Drew McKissick — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:18:14 +0000

Normally, when one thinks of trespassing, you think of someone illegally being somewhere they have no right to be, or where they just don't belong. You don't think of college students being in a public area on their own campus.

It turns out the you can get charged with trespassing at the University of Calgary if you set up a pro-life display - even if you're a student. Six such students have been charged with trespassing after the University initially approved their display, then seemingly changed course after administrators didn't like the graphic nature of the display. In other words, the difference between trespassing and not trespassing is the nature of your views.

From Lifenews:

Pro-life advocates at the school have feuded with UC officials for some time about a display that includes graphic pictures.

UC authorities don't want students, faculty and others exposed to the abortion pictures, so it has instructed members of Campus Pro-Life to turn the pictures inward, which makes them not visible to people walking along the college grounds. ... read more »