Archive for December, 2008
Arizona Bar Proposes PC Lawyer Litmus Test
Arizona Bar Proposes PC Lawyer Litmus Test
Arizona’s State Bar is considering forbidding the licensing of lawyers who have a religious conviction against homosexuality from being able to practice law in that state. This is an outrageous litmus test against freedom of conscience.
Throwing out constitutional rights of free speech and freedom of association, the proposed revision to the attorneys’ oath of office would silence certain viewpoints on gay issues. The oath would be revised to add the language in red as follows:
“I will not permit considerations of gender, race, religion, age, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, or social standing to influence my duty of care.”
The pressure to present the homosexual lifestyle as a right not a choice has been stopped in Arizona government by the voice of the people, but the AZ State Bar is moving forward with this attempt to silence moral opposition regardless.
According to the East Valley Tribune, The move has provoked severe objections from 31 attorneys who sent a letter to state Bar President Ed Novak.
“Tim Casey, one of those who is unhappy with the proposal, said it raises all sorts of issues. Casey, who is Catholic, said the language of the oath is so broad that it could require an attorney to accept a case that goes against his or her moral beliefs.”
The State Bar of Arizona is a mandatory association for attorneys practicing law in Arizona, and they have the power to revoke the license of any attorney they believe has violated this provision. A clause like this has no place in an oath of office. Oaths are used generally to swear allegiance to the laws of the land and nothing more. Adding a controversial restriction on First Amendment rights in order to promote a politically correct agenda is an inappropriate abuse of power by the Bar.
Regardless of what you personally believe about homosexuality, this kind of limitation on religious liberty should not be tolerated.
—Beetle Blogger
‘Licensing’ morality out of the law
Charlie Butts – OneNewsNow
Could lawyers be thrown out of the profession based on their religious conviction against homosexuality?
The State Bar of Arizona is considering whether to require new attorneys to swear they will not let their views on sexual orientation get in the way of providing legal services. Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University’s Law School, is concerned.
“I believe that this is a major threat to the practice of law,” he contends. “This is an attempt to literally license those out of business and to revoke the license of those who, in fact, have traditional moral values.”
Staver believes the campaign is going nationwide and will be a tool used by homosexuals to hold back Christian lawyers. “If they then can hold over your head the license and the ability to practice law, that will be a devastating blow to those of us who believe in traditional family values,” he points out.
According to Staver, this is an issue that lawyers and law school students cannot ignore. “It’s a ticking time bomb,” he concludes. “It is a land mine just waiting for someone to step on them.”
The Arizona Bar plans to make a decision in January.
December 29, 2008
merry christmas: la familia sagrada
Several years ago I lived in Spain. I had the privilege of visiting gorgeous cathedrals and seeing many renditions of what they call in Spanish “La Familia Sagrada.” The Sacred Family. The nativity. Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus.
Barcelona’s cathedral, designed by Antonio Gaudi, is by far my favorite. The figures [shown above] are simple and beautiful. The baby Jesus looks like a real baby: sweet, innocent, sent from heaven.
The story of Mary and Joseph is interesting.
Mary did not ask to get pregnant. It was literally a miracle. Her response: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38). What would have happened if she had refused?
Joseph could have refused to marry. He had ample reason and justification. Yet he chose to sacrifice. He chose to marry his betrothed despite her condition and her incredible story. He chose to provide her baby with a mortal father. It’s remarkable that God (the Eternal Father/Creator of the universe) was so concerned that His only begotten Son have a mortal father. What if Joseph chose differently?
Today I celebrate the sacrifices Mary and Joseph made to create a family which provided the Son of God with a mother and father. I celebrate the sacrifices they made to create a family. And I celebrate the birth and sacrifice of the holy child. The son of God. Jesus Christ.
It’s Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Peace on earth goodwill toward men!
Yeah Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
December 25, 2008
Prop 8 Blacklist: McCarthyism the sequel?
Prop 8 foes turn to ‘blacklist’ tactics
By William M. Welch, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — After losing on Election Day, some supporters of gay marriage are using economic boycotts and Internet lists to focus ire on the financial backers of Proposition 8.
Some on the receiving end say the tactic amounts to a blacklist, a term that conjures memories of Hollywood’s refusal to hire screenwriters and others identified as communists in the late 1940s and 1950s.
“I just hate being pigeonholed as a hate monger or bigot,” says Robert Hoehn, who contributed $25,000 to the campaign for Prop 8, which amended California’s Constitution to exclude same-sex marriage. “I have friends in the gay community, and I don’t think any of them would say that.”
Hoehn has seen protesters outside his Carlsbad, Calif., car dealerships, his name and business have appeared on websites publicizing donors, and he has received “the most vitriolic kinds of e-mails, letters and phone calls.”
His discomfort is exactly what some have in mind.
[.....read the rest of the article here.....the end is the most interesting part]
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December 22, 2008
Campbell Soup Company promotes Gay Agenda
In the December 2008 and January 2009 issues of The Advocate, the Campbell Soup Company bought two 2-page ads in order to promote their Swanson line of cooking broth. The Advocate is one of the largest homosexual magazines in the country. One of the full-page ads features a lesbian couple and their son. Two other men are featured, but the lesbian couple has an entire story on one column of the page. Their story ends with these words:
This holiday season, serve a special meal no matter the size and structure of your family. The secret is Swanson.
While Campbell Soup Company is successfully advertising to their intended audience, as a consumer, I am concerned. The women featured in the ad are lovely women. They are doing good things. They are successful. However, the best place for children is in a family with a mom and a dad. Two moms do not equal a mom and a dad. Swenson broth does not equal a mom and a dad.
from the The Campbell Soup Company 2008 corporate Social Responsibility Report:
Our mission:
Together we will build the world’s most extraordinary food company by nourishing people’s lives everywhere, every day.
Consumers around the world are recognizing the importance of sound nutrition to their health and well-being, and those of their families and communities.
The best, most “nourishing” families across the board are the in-tact, traditional married unit. It seems to me that an “extraordinary” company would try to advertise the healthiest situation for the community it serves.
from Campbell’s Global Guidelines for Responsible Advertising:
We use very special care and consideration when advertising to children.
Campbell Soup Advertising Messages:
Show children in safe physical and social environments
If Campbell Soup is concerned for the welfare of children, then they should not be contributing to the normalization of same-gender couples with kids. The company has a social responsibility that extends beyond pleasing one group of potential customers. The ad profits from (and blatantly promotes) the gay agenda at the cost of the social/emotional/psychological health of society and its children.
View ad here
Email the president of the Campbell Soup Company here
Call the company to express your concern:
1-800-257-8443 & 1-800-442-7684 (Swenson Division)
December 20, 2008
Durex and Santa?
There is an interesting story going on over at Pearl Diver. Apparently santa has been handing out durex condoms on the Toronto streets. Good marketing campaing. Especially for kids.
Go here
and then go here
December 19, 2008
Gianna Gessen: A Story About a Birth
Why don’t we care about children’s rights before they are born?
Gianna Gessen survived an abortion.
She’s frankly Christian and unafraid to talk about God and sassy sassy.
Regardless of whether you are religious, it’s interesting that our society is okay with terminating life in the womb just because of “a woman’s right to choose.”
Right to choose… and where do the babies get to choose?
Gianna Gessen:
“To everyone’s great shock and surprise, I didn’t arrive dead but alive on April the sixth 1977 in a Los Angelos county abortion clinic”
“What’s fantastic about this, about the perfect timing of my arrival, is that the abortionist was not on duty yet. So he wasn’t even given the opportunity to continue on for his plan for my life which was death.”
“So a nurse called an ambulance and had me transferred to a hospital which is absolutely miraculous. Generally the practice at the time….and up until 2002 was to end the life of an abortion survivor by strangulation, suffocation, leaving the baby to die, or throwing the baby away.”
“I know along my journey I am already hated because I declare life. I say, You didn’t get me, the silent holocaust didn’t win over me.“
December 17, 2008
Digital Network Army (DNA): Join the Fight for Families
I joined the Digital Network Army a couple of weeks ago. I wish I’d known about them during the Prop 8 election. Their purpose is to help people know how to be involved in protecting the traditional definition of family.
Join the DNA
Read more at the DNA website.
Join the DNA at Google Groups.
Join the DNA Facebook group.
Get the Code–Put the button on your blog:
Small:
<a href=”http://www.digitalnetworkarmy.com/“><img src=”http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp287/digitalnetworkarmy/DNA_logo21-1.jpg“></a>
Large:
<a href=”http://www.digitalnetworkarmy.com/“><img src=”http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp287/digitalnetworkarmy/DNA_logo21.jpg“></a>
December 14, 2008
Newsweek “Article”: Our Mutual Joy
On Monday, Newsweek came out with an article explaining exactly how (after thousands of years) the Bible doesn’t condemn gay marriage or homosexuality.
The article is kind of hilarious. The author repeatedly asserts that there are no examples of traditional marriage in the bible, among so many other false claims– it’s blatant propaganda.
Here’s a short list of rebuttals to my favorite fallacies in the author’s argument:
1. There are very rare examples of traditional marriage in the bible:
Adam and Eve are a traditional marriage. Along with Mary and Joseph, John the Baptist’s parents, not to mention that the metaphor between Christ and his church is clearly using the husband and wife image. (there are too many other examples to list here).
2. Old testament figures participated in polygamy and this justifies different marriage arrangements. (interesting that the opposition claims that if gay marriage is allowed– there won’t be issues with polygamists wanting their marriages recognized).
Biblical Polygamy was commanded by God. People may disagree with this, but until someone finds God commanding or suggesting sodomy is a good/healthy idea, bibilical polygamy cannot be used as a supporting reason for Christian acceptance for same-sex marriage.
Bonus note on polygamy:
Polygamy is still a marriage between one man and one woman. It just allows for a man to be married to more than one woman. However his wives are not married to each other. Many many people disagree with polygamy, but technically each marriage still upholds the traditional definition. Biblical polygamy cannot be used as a reason for extending the definition of marriage.
If you read the article, make sure you also read this post which goes through the article’s points: InsightScoop
Thank You Ignatious Insight!
Also, as usual, Chairm, from the Opine Editorials has some useful commentary.
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December 11, 2008
Marjorie Christoffersen Resigns
I’m reposting this from BeetleBabee (original post here):
El Coyote Says Goodbye to a Sweet Lady
Many of my readers may remember Marjorie Christoffersen, the woman who was targeted by gay marriage activists for her $100 dollar donation. Marjorie resigned from her position at the El Coyote Restaurant rather than bow to pressure from gay activists to renounce her faith and belief. See part one of Marjorie’s ordeal here: Gay Rights Vigilantes Strike El Coyote.
A friend of mine who attended Margorie’s church yesterday sent me this email just as the news of her resignation broke:
“Our family attended the Wilshire Ward this morning to witness the blessing of my new baby nephew. While in that fast and testimony meeting, we had the unique opportunity to hear the testimony of Marjorie Christoffersen (El Coyote Restaurant). She expressed gratitude for all of the members of her ward and the church, who have been supportive of her since Prop 8. She specifically stated that she was grateful for this trial and that she was doing her best to find the joy in it all. But, what struck me the most was when she said that she hopes she has not disappointed any of us (meaning the congregation and larger, the church members as a whole). I was thinking that each month we sit in testimony meetings often hearing of people whose lives have been changed and even blessed because of their trials. And that sometimes we know of the trial that member is referring, and sometimes we don’t. But it made a distinct impression on me that in her case, her trial has been so public. That she has been made a sort of “example” (for lack of a better word) of what so many of us were feeling privately. I am no scholar, but I can’t think of anyone in the recent history of our church, whose trial has been almost a modern day scripture account. By that, I mean that by simply following the prophet, she has been publicly persecuted and no doubt has had to do an unfathomable amount of prayer, soul searching, etc . It was an inspiring testimony and it was a joy to feel of her spirit.”
Kudos to you Marjorie for standing for something you believe in, and for not backing down.
—Beetle Blogger
Restaurant manager to leave El Coyote over Prop. 8 controversy
BY CHRISTOPHER LISOTTA
Frontiers magazine learned Saturday Marjorie Christoffersen is stepping down as a manager at the Los Angeles restaurant El Coyote. Bill Schoeppner, a fellow manager at El Coyote who has been with the restaurant for 26 years, told Frontiers Christoffersen was also resigning as a member of El Coyote’s board of directors.
“She no longer works here,” Schoeppner said on Saturday. “She just told me tonight.”
Christoffersen created a firestorm of controversy for the 77-year-old L.A. institution after local blogs broke the news she had donated $100 to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. Long a popular destination for the LGBT community for its cheap Mexican food and generous Margaritas, El Coyote found itself the target of boycotts and demonstrations after Christoffersen’s donation went public. In a press conference hosted by the restaurant days after the news of the donation broke, Christoffersen tried to explain her donation did not have to do with animus for gay and lesbian people, but was instead tied to her Mormon faith. Christoffersen did not apologize for the donation and did not indicate she would support any No on 8 organization. Boycott organizers and demonstrators were not impressed, and have argued online and in the local news media that Christoffersen’s support for the ban of same-sex marriage was reason to shun El Coyote.
Schoeppner said Christoffersen tended her resignation to her mother, Grace Salisbury, who is described on the El Coyote Web site as the “matriarch” of the restaurant. Salisbury’s sister-in-law founded El Coyote in 1931.
“Everybody is kind of used to her walking around the restaurant with a water pitcher going from table to table to table,” Schoeppner said of Christofferson. “I guess that part is no longer going to exist.”
December 10, 2008
Gays Organize Pink “Christmas” in the Netherlands
“AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — A Dutch gay group said Monday it has planned a ‘Pink Christmas’ festival for the first time in Amsterdam, featuring a manger stall with two Josephs and two Marys.”
read the article here
Appropriation is the process of taking something or identifying with something to make it your own. Its dictionary definition #4 has interesting wording: “to take to or for oneself; take possession of.”
Dante stole/appropriated specific phrases, images, and words from other great works of writing not only because literary appropriation enriches the text, but because it put him on par with the very texts from which he was stealing: the Illiad, the Odyssey, you get the idea.
Dante is an example of how appropriation can be helpful to society (ie gorgeous works of written art). But appropriation can have destructive results as well. Groups often use appropriation as way of control (this has happened over and over throughout history). Currently, some homosexuals appropriate Jesus for their own purposes by claiming he was gay. There is no hint or suggestion that Jesus was/is/could be gay, yet, when they take his symbol and equate it with themselves–just by saying the words– it gives their cause more legitimacy, and directly counters the claim that homosexuality is a sin.
Saying, “Jesus was gay,” is much more persuasive than saying, “Homosexual behavior isn’t a sin.”
Jesus was gay = divine definition change
Homosexual behavior isn’t a sin= simply refutes bible passages
By using a religious symbol (in this case, Christ: also seen literally as God to millions of people) and literally changing its definition, they claim that their lifestyle is divinely supported, even exemplified. (regardless of whether they really believe in the divinity of Christ).
Whether you are religious or not, you can see how this claim could be extremely offensive and sacrilegious. But when it is said over and over, Newsweek may write a supporting argument.
In the fight to have homosexuality regarded as normal, healthy behavior (despite the many health risks, despite the arbitrary way it was dropped from the APA’s list of disorders), gay activists are very smart. They use appropriation all the time.
In Amsterdam, this tactic is now being extended to the entire Christmas holiday.
Not only are they appropriating the holiday but they are taking the traditional colors (red and green) and inserting their own symbolic color: they are planning a 10-day “Pink Christmas Festival” in Amsterdam.
List of activities:
Live nativities featuring two Marys and two Josephs
Iceskating
Religious services on Dec 25
Parties
Gay-themed films
The reason:
- Encourage people to think about homosexuality and religion .
- “…help promote Amsterdam as a gay capital after a decline in its reputation in recent years.”
- “Christmas is about more than religion, it’s also about love and families, not to mention shopping…” –Val Dalen (ProGay group chairman).
Read the article here
Christmas is a religious holiday. It’s the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ .
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Changing its symbols to promote homosexuality does not make same gender “marriage” a smart idea for society.
However, those who struggle with SSA are always welcome to participate.
Christ invites all to forsake sin and worship him.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
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December 9, 2008
