Archive for September, 2010
The Engaging Essentials
Less than 2% of Britain – That’s how many folks self-identify as either homosexual or bisexual. Quite a fair bit less than the usually touted 5% to 7%.
Pro-Life Apologetic – Do you sometimes feel like you have no idea how to debate the issue of abortion? Try this flow chart on for size.
Divorce: An Evangelical Scandel – Al Mohler has some harsh words for the church regarding the issue of divorce. Snip:
Evangelical Christians are gravely concerned about the family, and this is good and necessary. But our credibility on the issue of marriage is significantly discounted by our acceptance of divorce. To our shame, the culture war is not the only place that an honest confrontation with the divorce culture is missing.
Divorce is now the scandal of the evangelical conscience.
Judge Walker Retiring – The judge who overturned 7 million voters who voted for Proposition 8 has announced his intention to retire. Convenient timing, don’t you think?
Pulpit Freedom Sunday – This past Sunday was the day. Our friend Erik Stanley gives a brief report on how it went.
Engage Family Minute – September 30
You Can Make 3 Votes . . . Legally!
I’m just dumfounded at the lack of people who confess Christ, but have, thus far, refused to submit to their government by registering to vote.
Would you do me a persona favor? Watch this video and then email it to 3 friends, or simply post it on your Facebook account. Maybe it’s just what they need as a reminder to register to vote on November 2.
Oh, and consider sending it to your pastor. Politely ask him to make time for it during Sunday’s gathering.
The Importance of Voter Registration
Manchin Campaign Silent on Important Social Issues
By Nathan A. Cherry, 09/29/2010
WV Gov. Joe Manchin
Martinsburg, WV – Oops! We made a mistake. We incorrectly posted the telephone number for Gov. Joe Manchin’s campaign headquarters and then asked you to call him. Sorry about that. The good news is that we now have the correct telephone number. And I can prove it.
Earlier I called the number and spoke with a real life campaign worker for Gov. Manchin. So I can confidently pass this number on to you: 304-205-5889. And I would like to once again ask you to call Gov. Manchin and ask him where he stands on the issues that are important to you.
In particular I would like you to ask him three questions:
- Do you support the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” the military policy that bans open homosexual conduct?
- Do you support government funding of abortion in any way?
- Do you support a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman?
These three questions are crucial in the shaping of our American culture and the freedoms we as citizens are proud to call liberties and rights. So the answer to these three questions is of utmost importance in determining who we send to Washington to represent us as West Virginians.
I have already spoken with the Raese campaign and found that John Raese holds to more conservative, traditional views on these important social issues; much like the views of many West Virginian’s.
In case you missed my last article detailing the views of Mr. Raese let me recap them for you. When asked these same questions Mr. Raese answered that he does not support the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” for several reasons, including the morale and cohesion of the troops. He also said he does not support government funding of abortion in any way. Finally, he said that he does support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman.
The Engaging Essentials
The Story of Lila Rose – I hope everyone will get acquainted with this young women. Lila Rose has almost single handily taken down Planned Parenthood – with little more than a camera and hair dye. Her picture is plastered on the walls of Planned Parenthood offices everywhere as something of a pro-life “most wanted” heroine. Young men and women, especially, need to learn from her dedication to defending life.
Is Religious Liberty Important? – Far beyond being a mere social concern to a few hobbled masses, religious liberty may well be the lynchpin of our society.
Senate Race is a Toss Up – Rasmussen – who just a week ago had Gov. Manchin leading by 6% now has John Raese leading by 2%, 48-46. Whoa.
The U.N. and Preborn Children – We often talk about abortion in isolation. That is, that it is a uniquely American problem. The reality is that it is as international as it can be. In fact, in some countries, it is far worse than even in America (though whatever is America’s experience is bad enough). This piece examines international law and the issue of abortion, probably from an angle you haven’t considered.
Keeping the Promise on Marriage – Except for his dedication to Notre Dame football, I love Chuck Donovan dearly. In this piece, Chuck offers his trademark straightforward evaluation of the GOP’s, “Pledge to America.” Especially on the issue of marriage, Chuck is cautiously hopeful, but understanding that there is much to be accomplished yet.
Regulation Elections – Two videos for you as we approach November 2. With WV’s spotty history in this regard, watch with interest and act accordingly:
Stoplight with Stuart Shepherd:
Colleague Kelly Shackleford (my counterpart in Texas):
Despite Critics Abortion Breast Cancer Link Grows
By Nathan A. Cherry, 09/28/2010
More women are learning the truth of the abortion, breast cancer link.
Martinsburg, WV – Much debate continues as to whether there is a link between abortion and cancer in women; in particular breast cancer. Many on the pro-life side believe that such a link is more than evident and plenty of empirical evidence proves the claim. Abortion advocates continue to shrug their shoulders and deny the reality of the deadly link.
Recently a microbiologist by the name of Dr. Gerard Nadal decided to post every study concluding the existence of the abortion-breast cancer link on his blog. He plans to post one a day until he has posted them all, according to a report from LifeNews.com.
What makes this so interesting is that he will publish studies by both abortion opponents and advocates alike. What is more interesting is that both groups are finding the link to be true.
The very first article he posted was a study by Julie Palmer and Lunn Rosenberg called “Induced and Spontaneous Abortion in Relation to Breast Cancer.” The conclusions of this study are remarkable considering that Drs. Palmer and Rosenberg are staunch abortion advocates. (Click here to read the article, “The ABC Literature #1”)The following is related:
Engage Family Minute – September 28
Are You Prepared to Give an Illegal Reason for the Hope You Have?
Are "religious reasons" illegal?
Last week, I wrote an open letter to Hoppy Kercheval after his disappointing commentary supporting the repeal of the so-called, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. One of the comments left on MetroNews.com said: “? Any religious reasons for enforcing DADT are illegal and so should not be considered.”
Interestingly, the commentator suggests that I made some valid, “non-religious” points, but, as a whole, dismissed the entire argument because, in his or her words, “his primary motivation is a religious one.”
Well, it’s true, my primary motivation is a religious one. As I said in my letter, that we pass laws that would support behavior that is unhealthy, immoral, and unwise is, at best, wrong-headed public policy, at worst, unloving to those living a homosexual lifestyle. Truly, when I say that my hope is that those leading a homosexual lifestyle will find their satisfaction in Christ – and not in anything else, including gay sex, I mean it!
The commentator is either mean spirited or ignorant when he or she calls such a motivation, “illegal.” That adjective certainly takes it beyond the scope of “consideration” and into the realm of pure censorship, does it not?
I should clear this up before going any further, religious reasons articulated for or against any issue of public policy are never illegal. Ever. The First Amendment and 200+ years of jurisprudence are clear on this point. The religious community is encouraged and welcomed to present their input into public policy debates. Any suggestion that it is illegal to offer a religious rationale in support of a public policy position upends the foundational elements of our democracy and the basic principles of religious liberty.
WV Senate Race Surprising Everyone – One Candidate Clarifies Views
By Nathan A. Cherry, 09/23/2010
WV Senate Candidate John Raese
Martinsburg, WV – A new poll out by the Public Policy Polling (PPP) institute shows John Raese leading Gov. Joe Manchin 46-43 percent, according to Lifenews.com.
The polling firm accurately described the climate in West Virginia when saying “The contest provides a fascinating choice for voters in the state who love their Democratic Governor but hate the party’s ranks in Washington DC that he would be joining.”
Voters in West Virginia are predominately Democrat, but tend to be more socially conservative than other Democrats. For this reason much of what is taking place in Washington with liberals and the Obama administration is not pleasing to West Virginians.
Proof of this can be seen in the majority of West Virginian’s opposing abortion on demand; and in most cases except for rape, incest, or the protection of the mother’s life. And, as we have continued to report, a super-majority of West Virginian’s supports the definition of marriage as one man and one woman. Earlier this year the FPCWV announced the findings of a poll we commissioned showing that “78% of registered democrat voters agree that marriage should be one man and one woman.” So it’s obvious that West Virginians have a long history of being Democrats that hold to the traditional, socially conservative values that our country was founded upon.
Now we are faced with the task of voting for a democratic candidate that is only sometimes pro-life and has refused to take a clear stand on the same-sex marriage issue in Gov. Manchin. Or a republican candidate that has a 100% pro-life record and believes, like the majority of West Virginian’s that marriage should be kept between one man and one woman; John Raese.
I suppose if we want to see our next state senator toe the party line and ignore the voice of the people, like Senator Rockefeller does, we could send Gov. Manchin to Washington. But that seems counter-productive in defending life and marriage in the way West Virginian’s hope to do.
