Category Archives: Culture News

Culture News, Homosexual Agenda, Law and Faith, Politics

Culture News: British teacher gets suspended after walking out on homosexual training

Charlie Butts – OneNewsNow – 5/6/2009 7:40:00 AM

A Christian teacher in England has been suspended after complaining about the use of classroom time to promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.

Kwabena Peat

Kwabena Peat was one of several teachers who walked out of the school’s compulsory indoctrination and training day, and he did so based on his Christian beliefs. LifeSiteNews.com reports Peat wrote a letter to three staff members who organized the session at Park View Academy, disagreeing with featured speaker and co-founder of Schools Out pro-homosexual program Sue Sanders, who said in her “aggressive” presentation that people who believe homosexuality is abnormal need to sort out their “issues.”

Following the letter, Peat was suspended with pay until the school decides his fate as an employee.

Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs at Liberty Counsel, says the incident is representative of the homosexual activist movement.

“They are not interested in just being left alone, as one of their most influential leaders in the homosexual community recently said,” he points out. “What they’re really after is silencing any opposition to the homosexual lifestyle — even if it’s rooted in seriously held religious belief — and they are willing to do anything to do that.”

Culture, Culture News, Current Events, Law and Faith, Politics, Promotionals, Testimonies

Miss California Shares Untold Story

Miss California Carrie Prejean

Miss California Shares Untold Stories with Her San Diego Megachurch

By Eric Young
Christian Post Reporter
Mon, Apr. 27 2009 04:29 PM EDT

Miss California Carrie Prejean appeared onstage Sunday at the San Diego megachurch where she is a member to share about the events of this past week.

Since the Miss USA competition on April 19, Prejean has gone from interview to interview discussing her highly publicized comments on same-sex marriage – comments that many agree likely cost her the crown.

During the pageant in Las Vegas, openly gay gossip blogger Perez Hilton had asked Prejean whether every state should follow Vermont’s recent move to legalize same-sex marriage.

In her response, 21-year-old Prejean said she thinks “it’s great that Americans are able to … choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage.”

“And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman,” she continued. “No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and a woman.”

Since then, Prejean has experienced a huge backlash from some liberal media outlets and some within the gay community, including Hilton, who fired back with a malicious video posting in his blog.

But more than criticism, Prejean has received a great deal of support, some of which has also come from members of the gay community, who told Prejean that people like Hilton are not a representation of who they are.

“I just want to thank everybody so much for your support, for the letters, e-mail, messages I’ve gotten,” Prejean said Sunday in front of her home church, The Rock Church in San Diego. “[And] I want to thank the gay community for their support, for apologizing to me on behalf of this man (Hilton) that said this to me and the personal attacks that he has on me.”

During her appearance Sunday, Prejean shared about her experiences from the time the politically charged question was asked to the several interviews that she went on to give, which included those on Fox News and NBC’s Today Show, among others.

[Continue Reading…]

Culture News, Current Events, Law and Faith, Politics, Theology

Are Pastor’s Going To Be Free To Preach Against Sin?

House agrees to muzzle pastors with ‘hate crimes’ plan
‘This is first time protected status given to whatever sexual orientation one has’

Posted: April 30, 2009
WorldNetDaily

===================

The U.S. House today approved a federal “hate crimes” bill that would provide special protections to homosexuals but leave Christian ministers open to prosecution should their teachings be linked to any subsequent offense, by anyone, against a “gay.”

The vote, 249-175, came despite intense from Republicans who argued the measure would create a privileged class.

Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. of the High Impact Leadership Coalition also condemned the action, offering a warning about the nation’s future.

He was interviewed on the issue by Greg Corombos of Radio America/WND.

Jackson said the action puts “sexual orientation” in a specially protected class under federal law.

“Based on history, it really isn’t something that needs to be protected,” he said. “There’s a problem that this is going to mark the first time that a protected class status is given to … whatever sexual orientation one has.”

He said the experience in other countries has led to prosecution of Christians. In Sweden, for example, a minister was sentenced to 30 days in jail for preaching from Leviticus.

Similar state laws have resulted in similar results. In Philadelphia several years ago, a 73-year-old grandmother was jailed for trying to share Christian tracts with people at a homosexual festival, Jackson said.

…

Under the specifications of the law, a Christian needn’t touch a homosexual to face charges, he noted.

“If the homosexual merely claims he was subjectively placed in ‘apprehension of bodily injury’ by the Christian’s words then, again, the Christian can be thrown in prison for a felony ‘hate crime,'” he said.

WND reported previously that the plan was introduced by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., who said, “The bill only applies to bias-motivated violent crimes and does not impinge public speech or writing in any way.”

Section 10 of the act states, “Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment to the Constitution.”

However, critics cite United States Code Title 18, Section 2, as evidence of how the legislation could be used against people who merely speak out against homosexuality. It states: Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.

Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, warned Christians to speak up before the legislation passes. He said they are acting like the proverbial frog in a slowly heating kettle that boils to death.

“They need to wake up and take action to oppose this threat to religious liberty.”

[Read Full Article Here]

Culture News, Law and Faith, Politics

Culture News: New UK “Sex Ed” Proposals Offer No Opt-Out For Religious Schools

From the Christian Post:

LONDON – Christians have spoken out against government plans to introduce new rules that would require schools to teach 11-year-old students about homosexuality and civil partnerships during compulsory sex education classes.

Until now, school headteachers have had the option of not teaching about homosexuality and civil partnerships, but if adopted, the rules will apply to all secondary schools, with no opt-out for religious schools.

A formal consultation needs to be completed before the rules can come into effect, but once they do, the new will apply in primary and secondary schools starting from the 2011-12 academic year. Along with sex education, classes on the dangers of alcohol, drugs and on financial education will be compulsory.

Under the proposals, 4- and 5-year-olds will be taught about different body parts and lessons on sex will be taught at the age of nine.

Between the ages of 11 and 14, students will be taught about contraception, pregnancy, sexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases.

The guidelines also state that “students should address the role and benefits of marriage and civil partnerships in stable relationships and family life.”

…The proposed rules also state that while religious schools will be required to teach lessons that may be against their beliefs, they will also be allowed to teach their faith position on the issue.

[Read Full Article Here]

Culture News, Current Events, History, Law and Faith, Politics, Roman Catholicism, Sacraments, Theology

Culture News: D.C.-Area Bishops To Enforce Communion Ban On Sebelius

Well, I cannot say that this is not relevant to our nations current historical setting. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is going to be a very important moment in the coming culture shift that grows stronger every day that newly appointed secularists and anti-Christs are confirmed into the Government’s leading ranks.

Here is the news story from The Bulletin:

Two Washington, D.C.-area Catholic bishops have instructed Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, D-Kan., President Barack Obama’s pick to Be Secretary Of Health and Human Services, to refrain from receiving Holy Communion on account of her stances on human-life issues such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

This comes as Ms. Sebelius undergoes Senate confirmation hearings before the Committee on on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

In May 2008, Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan. told Ms. Sebelius that she should not present herself to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. Last week, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. and Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, Va., both said that they would enforce Archbishop Naumann’s orders while Ms. Sebelius is in their respective dioceses.

Ms. Sebelius ran afoul of Catholic leaders for her strident support of abortion. She has been connected with late-term abortionist Geroge Tiller, who was found not guilty of violating Kansas’ late-term abortion laws at a trial earlier this week. Dr. Tiller still faces an investigation that could strip him of his medical license.

Ms. Sebelius was asked to refrain from the Eucharist in accordance with Canon 915 of the Catholic Code of Canon Law. According to that Canon, “those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”

[HT: In Light of the Gospel]

Culture News, Current Events, Law and Faith, Politics, Prayer Requests

Culture News: NC Judge’s decision threatens homeschoolers everywhere

From the Evangelical Examiner:

Many Christian families homeschool their kids all over the United States. Each state has different rules about homeschooling and the curriculum, what is happening in North Carolina is downright assault against all homeschoolers everywhere. On top of that, most homeschooled kids will far exceed Publicly Educated kids by wide margins when it comes to test scores.

Venessa Mills is fighting a legal battle for the heart and soul of homeschooling in North Carolina. As reported on World Net Daily, on Friday, March 6, Judge Ned W. Mangum stripped her of the right to homeschool, and ordered her three children to enter public school.

The Mills children; in testing, are as much as two years ahead of Publicly Schooled children of the same age. But even with abundant evidence showing the Mills children are well adjusted and well educated, Judge Mangum ruled overwhelmingly against Mrs. Mills on every point. Judge Mangum was unwilling to look at statistics and the children’s records in an unbiased way. A simple fact is that ‘most’ homeschooled children do much better than any Publicly schooled child.

When issuing his verdict Judge Mangum stated his decision was not ideologically or religiously motivated. However, he told Mrs. Mills public school will “challenge the ideas you’ve taught them.” In other words, Judge Mangum is a liberal judge who wants to retrain the children in a way that they succumb to the ways and teachings of “government”

What has emerged is a picture of a clearly liberal judge imposing his beliefs and striking down traditional values. Mangum, a Democrat appointee, disregarded the facts of the case in favor of his own agenda. Such anti-conservative prejudice is increasingly legislated from the bench, and appears to be encouraged by the Democratic Obama administration.  It’s just another way that Judge’s impose their Social Engineering on people.

On March 24th lawmakers in North Carolina will be reminded of the sheer numbers of homeschoolers in their state. As students and their parents descend on the capitol, organizers of the Capital Fest 2009 field trip will show they have a voice in North Carolina legislation regarding education.

Homeschoolers from across the nation are asked to fight back to defend their rights as Americans to educate their children. Many feel that the judge has been given a free hand to impose his personal opinions and needs to reexamine his decisions. You can find more information on how to participate at HSinjustice.com.

[HT: Paul Jones]

Culture News, Current Events, Debate, Law and Faith, Politics

Culture News: Ban Marriage in California… that will solve everything!

Prop. 8 Opponents Begin Effort to Strike ‘Marriage’ from Calif. Law

By Lawrence Jones
Christian Post Reporter
Wed, Mar. 11 2009 08:19 AM EDT

Proposition 8 opponents received permission Tuesday from the California Secretary of State’s office to begin collecting petition signatures toward a repeal of the state’s same-sex marriage ban.

The initiative would side step the issue of same-sex marriage by making all couples eligible for marriage benefits regardless of their sexual orientation. If approved, the initiative would strike the word “marriage” from all state laws and replace it with the term “domestic partnership.”

The measure would also repeal Proposition 8, California’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

State Attorney General Jerry Brown submitted the official title and summary for the measure on Monday, about a week after the state Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the validity of Proposition 8.

The official and title summary for the measure is as follows:

Substitutes Domestic Partnership for Marriage in California Law. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Replaces the term “marriage” with the term “domestic partnership” throughout California law, but preserves the rights provided in marriage. Applies equally to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. Repeals the provision in California’s Constitution that states only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

The proponents of the measure are two Southern California college students, Kaelan Housewright and Ali Shams. They must collect around 695,000 signatures, or 8 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2006 gubernatorial election, by August 6 in order to qualify for the 2010 ballot…

[Continue Reading…]

Culture, Culture News, Current Events, Denominations, History, Statistics

Culture News: Churches blame empty pews on fewer babies

Church Pews Not Full

From the Tennessean.com:

That’s what almost every major Christian denomination in the United States has in common — from Southern Baptists to Missouri Synod Lutherans.

In fact, 21 of the 25 largest groups in the United States reported a decline or flat line in membership last year, according to the 2009 edition of the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. In most cases, the so-called birth dearth is the reason.

Carl Royster, a Church of Christ statistician, says that churches are seeing the aftereffects of the baby boom.

For example, in the mid-20th century, conservative groups like the Southern Baptists and Church of Christ saw their membership spike. “You had humongous growth in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s,” Royster said. “Now, the baby boomers are beginning to die off.”

Those boomers had fewer kids than their parents, leaving fewer descendants to replace them in the pews.

Royster said that he’s not panicking about the church decline. But he’s worried about the future.

“The sky is not falling yet,” he said. “But in a few years, it might be.”

Paul Prill, professor of communication at Lipscomb University and the part-time preacher at Acklen Avenue Church of Christ, says the congregation once averaged about 120 but fell to 50 when kids in the church grew up and moved away and older members became too frail to attend.

In recent years, young married couples settling in the area have begun returning, at a trickle’s pace, bringing the congregation back to about 80 members.

But it’s a slow process, Prill said.

“It’s hard to reach people who are in their 20s and are not going to church,” he said.

[HT: Ed Stetzer]

Culture, Culture News, Current Events, History, Politics

How to Stimulate the Economy: Let the Elderly Die

Well, in typical Western Socialist footsteps, the new “economic” stimulus bill being passed through the Senate and back to the House has added a “wonderful” step toward universal health care (i.e. – selective population control). Here is an article by Betsy McCaughey on Bloomberg.com explaining what has been added to the stimulus bill over the weekend:

Tragically, no one from either party is objecting to the health provisions slipped in without discussion. These provisions reflect the handiwork of Tom Daschle, until recently the nominee to head the Health and Human Services Department.

Senators should read these provisions and vote against them because they are dangerous to your health. (Page numbers refer to H.R. 1 EH, pdf version).

The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.

But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.

….

Elderly Hardest Hit

Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt.

Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost- effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council (464).

The Federal Council is modeled after a U.K. board discussed in Daschle’s book. This board approves or rejects treatments using a formula that divides the cost of the treatment by the number of years the patient is likely to benefit. Treatments for younger patients are more often approved than treatments for diseases that affect the elderly, such as osteoporosis.

In 2006, a U.K. health board decreed that elderly patients with macular degeneration had to wait until they went blind in one eye before they could get a costly new drug to save the other eye. It took almost three years of public protests before the board reversed its decision.

[Continue Reading…]

Culture News, Current Events, Islam

Muslim Population in the UK Rising 10x Faster than the Rest

David Wood says,

If anyone was worried about the recent violent protests by Muslims in the UK, imagine what things will be like ten or twenty years from now. According to recent statistics, the Muslim population in the UK is growing ten times faster than the rest of society.

  • The Muslim population in Britain has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years, according to official research collated for The Times.
  • The population multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society, the research by the Office for National Statistics reveals. In the same period the number of Christians in the country fell by more than 2 million. READ MORE.