Engaging Weekend: WV Sen. Rockefeller Retiring, Pastor Disinvited from Inauguration Over Sermon on Homosexuality, AG Cuccinelli Says Jail Might Be A Good Protest of HHS Mandate

January 14, 2013 By

Engaging Weekend is a collection of articles you might have missed over the weekend. But we thought they were important and wanted to make sure you had a chance to read them.

West Virginia Sen. Rockefeller won’t seek re-election

Longtime Sen. Jay Rockefeller announced this weekend that he would not be seeking re-election in 2014. The 75 year old said it was time to spend more time with family. We hope he does. But it’s also true that after waging war on coal companies in West Virginia, Rockefeller’s popularity was fading and his seat was becoming more vulnerable. Conservatives in West Virginia have been eyeing the Democratic Senators seat for some time and are looking to fill it with a real conservative that will oppose measures like ObamaCare; a measure Rockefeller proudly supports to this day despite its declining popularity. This is an excellent opportunity to pro-life, pro-marriage conservatives to rally a victory for West Virginia by electing a true conservative that will accurately represent our state. Rockefeller has been a pro-abortion, social liberal for years that often toes the radical, liberal party line on issues of life, marriage, and religious freedom. Popular state representative Shelly Moore-Capito is rumored to be eyeing the Senate seat. Click here for original article.

Pastor Disinvited from Giving Inaugural Prayer Because of Sermon on Homosexuality

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

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Manchin and Rockefeller Support Bill Which Could Force Sterilization and Abortion of Disabled

December 5, 2012 By

A recent pro-life victory was celebrated as the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) treaty was not ratified by the U.S. Senate and will not become the law of the land. A recent article shares: “Now, that CRPD is defeated, we know that United Nations won’t have oversight of how we care for our special needs kids. This treaty would have given the U.N. oversight of the healthcare and education choices parents with special needs kids make. Had it passed, CRPD would have become the law of the land under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, and would have trumped state laws, and could have been used as precedent by state and federal judges.” 

The article goes on to comment on how this treaty, if ratified, could have harmed the pro-life movement in America: “This is a misleading measure in that it does nothing to protect life. It is disguised as a way to ‘help’ the disabled. Instead it intentionally sacrifices the most vulnerable – the disabled and the unborn – all in the name of population control…Many don’t realize that this international treaty could potentially supersede future attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade.” But these concerns did not stop WV Senators Rockefeller and Manchin from voting to support the bill. Evidently Manchin’s “pro-life” position is more words than actions. Click here for original article and to see how all U.S Senators voted.

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Engaging Essentials

September 22, 2010 By

Charleston City Council Removes Adultery Laws – In an effort to modernize their code, the Charleston City Council removed regulations that would outlaw adultery and fornication.  Mayor Danny Jones laughed, “How did they ever put something like this on the books?”  Perhaps the laws were in need of an update and overhaul, but the story goes on to explain that the City Council is now concerned about laws preventing the sale and resale of pornography and/or immoral books.  Mayor Jones, such laws were put into place to encourage good behavior and punish bad behavior.  Will you likewise chuckle when obscenity laws are tossed out the window as “old-fashioned”?

U.S. Senate Race is Neck and Neck – A left-leaning pollster, Public Policy Polling, has released it’s latest poll concerning the race to fill Sen. Byrd’s vacated seat.  PPP reports that John Raese has a 3 point edge over Gov. Manchin.  Meanwhile, Rasmussen reports that Gov. Manchin has a 7 point lead over Raese.  Hoppy Kercheval sorts much of it out in his daily commentary, but what is clear is this: this race is far from a guaranteed outcome.

Abortion and the UN – Here’s a good piece from a congressman with a warning to the UN as they meet this week to make sure the US does not export abortion.

Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, and George Washington – Jordan Lorence from ADF whimsically connects the dots between these cultural icons.

Rockefeller and Goodwin on DADT – MetroNews carries the statements from WV’s senators who voted in favor of opening the military to homosexual conduct and exporting abortion to our military bases.

About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

Filed Under: Engaging Essentials, Life, Marriage Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PRESS RELEASE: FPCWV Urges Senate Vote Against Defense Authorization Bill

September 21, 2010 By

S. 3494 would allow open homosexual conduct, threaten religious liberty, and fund abortion on demand

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Family Policy Council of West Virginia sent a letter on Monday to Sens. Rockefeller and Goodwin asking for their vote against the current form of the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 3494).  The letter signed by president and general counsel, Jeremiah Dys, read, in pertinent part:

Our men and women in uniform deserve our respect and ought never to be used to further a social agenda that will decrease unit morale or pose a major threat to the retention and recruitment of our voluntary military force.  S. 3454, unfortunately, does just that.

First, by repealing the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy – against the recommendations of most military commanders – you will expose our soldiers to open homosexual conduct within the corps.  Moreover, such action will lodge a significant threat to the religious liberty of our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines.

Second, for the first time in our nation’s military history, S. 3454 would revoke the protections for the pre-born on military bases throughout our nation and globe.  Through the use of the hard-earned tax dollars of West Virginians, future soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines will be deprived of life for any reason.  On behalf of our future generation of military men and women, we ask your opposition to S. 3454.

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About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

Filed Under: Life, Marriage, Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , , ,

ACTION ALERT: U.S. Senate to Vote on Military Funding Bill That Advances Liberal Social-Engineering Agenda

September 20, 2010 By

Sens. Rockefeller (202-224-6472) and Goodwin (202-224-3954) need to hear from you today.  Please call.  Here’s the update from CitizenLink:

With less than 50 days before the Nov. 2 elections – and the reality of a political power shift in both chambers –Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has decided to hold troop funding hostage by allowing controversial measures, such as permitting abortions on military bases and open homosexuality in the armed forces, to be added to that bill.

This will force senators to either vote to support our troops or to protect preborn life and military morale –a choice forced by political maneuvering at its worst.

A key agenda of gay activists for the past 17 years has been to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (DADT) – along with the underlying 1993 law that states that homosexuality is incompatible with military service.

President Obama is now trying to keep his campaign promises to gay activist before the upcoming election.

Repealing DADT isn’t just social tinkering with our armed forces; it threatens the safety and morale of the troops, as well as unit cohesion, by introducing more sexual tension in the barracks.

Endorsing open homosexuality in the military also endangers the religious liberties of chaplains and servicemen and women to share their beliefs about God’s design for human sexuality.

Majority Leader Reid also allowed a provision to repeal the long-standing ban on allowing abortion on military bases, except when the life of the mother is at risk or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

This amendment would allow abortions to be performed for any reason at military bases at home and abroad, a drastic shift away from the current life-affirming policy. Adoption of this amendment in the bill will result in more abortions performed and more preborn lives lost.

You can make a difference by calling your two Senators and asking them to vote against the Defense Authorization Bill (S 3454) – unless the DADT and abortion provisions are removed.

Again, the vote is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. (EDT). Please don’t wait.

Take action TODAY!

via U.S. Senate to Vote on Military Funding Bill That Advances Liberal Social-Engineering Agenda | CitizenLink.

About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

Filed Under: Marriage, Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , ,

AUL Memo: Kagan’s Political Advice to Pres. Clinton: Ignore Constitution

May 18, 2010 By

Pres. Obama's nominee to the SCOTUS provided political advice against the Constitution to Pres. Clinton.

Our friends at Americans United for Life (AUL) have been pouring over memoranda written by SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan.  Specifically, AUL is justifiably concerned about her commitment to innocent human life.

Their most recent memo raises concerns over Kagan’s advisory role to President Bill Clinton:

In 1997, while serving as an associate White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton, Elena Kagan advised the President on HR 1122, a bill to ban partial-birth abortions.[1] Kagan’s memo to the President containing her advice was selectively leaked to the press and has been spun to present Kagan as a moderate who would possibly be friendly to pro-life legislation.  The memo, however, does not support that conclusion.  Rather, Kagan’s advice to President Clinton indicates that she could be hostile to pro-life legislation.  Moreover, it raises questions regarding her respect for the Constitution.

via AUL’s Kagan File: The “Partial-Birth Abortion Ban” Memo | Americans United for Life | AUL.org [follow link for footnote references].

In 1997, the Congress passed legislation to abolish the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion, an act that births a baby up to his or her neck and then uses a glorified tin snips and shop vac to suck the innocent child’s brains out of it’s skull.  Pro-abortion senators and President Clinton were trying to navigate the politically tumultuous waters around this issue.  Then Sen. Tom Daschle and Sen. Diane Feinstein each introduced amendments to the House of Reprsentatives’ bill – each designed to provide political cover for pro-abortion senators – and, later, President Clinton – who were cornered on the issue.

Why were they stuck?  Because the House had passed the bill with 290 votes, well beyond the margin to overturn any veto by then-President Clinton.  So, rather than stand by their convictions that birthing a child 2/3′s of the way and then killing it was ok, the pro-abortion crowd sought political cover.

But, the Clinton administration and Kagan saw problems:

Kagan’s memo states, “The Office of Legal Counsel of the Justice Department similarly believes that both the Daschle and the Feinstein amendments, properly read, violate Roe because they countenance tradeoffs involving women’s health.”[7]

Whoa!  Did you catch that?

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About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Rockefeller: Public Option (Possibly) Back Next Year. What about abortion?

April 8, 2010 By

As West Virginia Watchdog reports, Senator Rockefeller met with constituents at Shoney’s today to chat healthcare.  As you can see in the video below, he suggests the public option could return as soon as next year via legislation.

Someone should ask Mollohan and Rahall if they think elective abortion coverage could return in legislation next year too (not that the phony compromise prevents it now)?

About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , ,

Life Imperils Planned Parenthood

December 4, 2009 By

My commentary in today’s Charleston Gazette:

After reading Michelle Wright’s recent commentary (“Abortion should not imperil heath-care reform,” Charleston Gazette, November 26, 2009), the Family Policy Council of West Virginia is all the more committed to standing against the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion on demand.

Ms. Wright is working to restrict the information people have about life within health care by using slight-of-hand rhetoric.  Making life-and-death decisions without all the facts leads to regret and disaster.

The fact is the Hyde Amendment, behind which Ms. Wright attempts to hide, depends on annual appropriations to be effective.  But, in the current version of health reform, the appropriations for health care are self-appropriating.  In other words, without the Stupak Amendment, the government can direct public monies to abortion services whether or not the Hyde Amendment is renewed annually.

That explains the necessity of the Stupak Amendment: it establishes – within pending health reform laws – an explicit directive that none of our tax dollars may fund elective abortion procedures.

Ms. Wright decries such as “sexual discrimination.” Her comment crystallizes why most Americans believe that no one should decide that innocent life is worthless.

We should not allow Planned Parenthood, or any other organization, to treat life as a commodity. Nor should we allow them to use our tax dollars to profit from an innocent person’s death.

And make no mistake; profit is the true face of Ms. Wright’s argument.  Annually, Planned Parenthood Federation of America – in the name of women’s health and reproductive rights – requires $330 million in taxpayer dollars to exist.  That sum, along with private funds, contributes to the more than $1 billion in annual revenue used by Planned Parenthood to abort black and minority babies, cover up statutory rape, and instruct young girls how to circumvent parental notification laws.

In short, Planned Parenthood treats life like a commodity with blatant disregard for laws meant to protect the sanctity of human life.  Rather than increase its coffers, Congress must cut off proponents of death like Planned Parenthood from using our hard-earned dollars like an unending supply of Monopoly money.

But this is no macabre game.  This is human life. Over the years Planned Parenthood and its comrades have deprived millions of innocent little girls of their most essential right: life. And, they’ve done so through the invented “right” to abortion on demand. In a lust for profit, Planned Parenthood has physically and psychologically scarred the millions of mothers of these children. But, it doesn’t end with little girls and their mothers. Abortion, as hailed by Planned Parenthood, has denied fathers the privilege of joyfully weeping over the birth of their children. What’s more, adoptive homes remain empty because of the abortionist’s curet.

The Family Policy Council of West Virginia joins the more than 61% of Americans – and more West Virginians – who oppose treating life like a commodity within health care reform.

Moreover, we call upon Sens. Byrd and Rockefeller to oppose any health-care legislation in the Senate that does not explicitly disallow the use of our taxpayer dollars for abortive services.  Likewise, we urge the West Virginia Legislature to propose – and Gov. Manchin to sign – similar legislation in West Virginia in 2010.

Every innocent life deserves protection.  Yet, a person’s potential – along with their health care – only matters if we, as a society, recognize their right to an opportunity to reach it.

Jeremiah G. Dys, Esq., is the president and general counsel of The Family Policy Council of West Virginia, a servant organization advancing, defending, and equipping WV’s families, www.familypolicywv.com.

About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , ,

WV Senators Vote to Fund Abortions Worldwide

January 29, 2009 By

Yesterday, the United States Senate had the opportunity to reject the President’s plan to use billions of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions worldwide.   On the question, “To restore the prohibition on funding of nongovernmental organizations that promote abortion as a method of birth control (the “Mexico City Policy“),” Senator’s Rockefeller and Byrd voted “Nay.”  Just to be clear, that means the good Senators voted in favor of using more taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, nationally and internationally.

In related news, President Obama appears poised to make good on his campaign promise to begin the funding of UNFPA – the United Nations Fund for Population Activities.  One might ask why the Bush administration ceased this practice.  According to LifeSiteNews.com,

President Bush halted funding for UNFPA when it was discovered by an independent investigation in 2001, and confirmed by a U.S. State Department investigation in 2002, that the UN group supported restrictive laws and coercive population control tactics in China, including forced abortion and sterilization.

In President Obama’s announcement that he was rescinding the Mexico City Policy, he noted his rationale:

I have directed my staff to reach out to those on all sides of this issue to achieve the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies.  They will also work to promote safe motherhood, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and increase educational and economic opportunities for women and girls.

In addition, I look forward to working with Congress to restore U.S. financial support for the U.N. Population Fund.  By resuming funding to UNFPA, the U.S. will be joining 180 other donor nations working collaboratively to reduce poverty, improve the health of women and children, prevent HIV/AIDS and provide family planning assistance to women in 154 countries.

Apparently, promoting “safe motherhood” is agreeing with the policy of some nations to force abortions on women.  I suppose, since most on the pro-abortion side of the argument conclude that the “fetus” is not an infant, that would achieve President Obama’s goal of reducing “infant mortality” as well.

I don’t think so.  

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About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , ,