Veritas Rex

A Call to Unite: Our American Roots

 

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes

the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors

 is sinful and tyrannical.

-Thomas Jefferson

Politics too messy for Christians?...San Diego Pastor might have a different opinion.

Fox News is reporting that San Diego, California Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.  According to the report:

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.

If spiritually mature Believers were on that San Diego County Council would this even be an issue?  Of course not.  The problem is that too many of us believe that politics is too divisive for us.  We have been tricked into believing that if we really want to serve God we need only involve ourselves with certain "sacred" things like serving our local church, taking a mission trip or working at a soup kitchen.  Those outlets for service are great, but we must not limit the body of Christ to those alone. 

The institutions that are the darkest need Believers to shine the Light of Christ all the more.  Christ did not come for the healthy.  He came to redeem the sick...including sick institutions.  The more spiritually mature Believers take on the call to public service the more citizens will be able to enjoy a quite and peaceable life. 

Gallup Poll Shows Growing Majority of Americans Oppose Abortion

This gallup poll is a fantastic.  It shows that Americans are more pro-life (51% "pro-life", 42% "pro-choice") than they have been in a long time.  What's even more interesting to me is that those numbers are probably low.  When you take into account that many American's don't even know what "pro-choice" means, the real pro-life number is probably higher still. 

I'd like to do a man on the street interview session sometime and find out how many average citizens (who are not enmeshed in politics) believe that "pro-choice" means something other than allowing someone to pay an abortion doctor to murder an unborn child.  "Pro-choice" is a term that should be used when discussing the topic of where to go out to eat or which school to choose for your child...not whether to kill him or her. 

It's a shame that more moderate to liberal members of both parties have a tendency to see "social issues" as ugly stepchildren...unfit to discuss at their wine and cheese cocktail parties (though, to be fair, liberal Democrats do tend to make up the heart of the pro-abortion movement).  It seems they are growing out of step with the American people.

  

U.N. Undermining U.S. Sovereignty and the Family

IFI, along with many other Family Policy Counsels across the country, is co-releasing a study entitled, "How U.N. Conventions on Women's and Children's Rights Undermine Family, Religion, and Sovereignty" with authors Patrick F. Fagan, William L. Saunders, Michael A. Fragoso of the Family Research Council.  

You can download the study here: Download CEDAW Paper from FRC May 4_2009 - Final. 

This study highlights activities with the United Nations that are undermining American sovereignty, undermining the sovereignty of the family unit and diminishing our ability to live according to the dictates of our faith.

Here are some of the arguments by the other side on this topic and our responses:

FOTF Supports Miss California in her Stand for Marriage

Dr. Dobson had Miss California on his program recently to support her as liberals attempt to pull every skeleton out of her closet in response to her nationwide support of marriage.  Ann Coulter makes a great point in her recent column.  "Christians aren't people who believe they are without sin; they're people who know they're sinners and are awestruck by God's grace in sending his only Son to take the punishment they deserve."

People are trying to demonize Carrie because of the mistakes of her past.  It seems to me this is solely motivated by the good she is attempting to do in the present.  
 

Beauty Pageant Contestant Takes a Stand for Marriage

Thank you Miss California!

Speaker Bauer Turns A Deaf Ear To Iowa Warning

Below is the press release Rep. Eric Turner, the IN House author of the Marriage Amendment, put out regarding Iowa's Supreme Court decision redefining marriage. 

Rep. Turner is right on the money when he says:

"Speaker Bauer has said many times Indiana's statute is sufficient to protect the sanctity of marriage," Rep. Turner said. "If he believes in that sanctity, he needs to take the Defense of Marriage Amendment seriously."

There is overwhelming support for the Marriage Amendment within the Indiana House of Representatives.  There are many within Speaker Bauer's own caucus who support the Marriage Amendment, including co-author Rep. Dave Cheatham.  It's a shame that one man is holding back so many pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-life, pro-education, pro-limited government, pro-tax reform, etc. measures this year.

STATEHOUSE (April 3, 2009) - What happened in Iowa today is a perfect example of why Indiana needs the Defense of Marriage Amendment in the state constitution, Rep. Eric Turner (R-Marion) said.

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling today finding that the state's same-sex-marriage ban violates the constitutional rights of homosexual couples. Iowa now joins Massachusetts and Connecticut in permitting same-sex marriage.

"Indiana has a statute prohibiting same-sex marriage, but as we can see from Iowa's example, it is not safe," Rep. Turner said. "This decision comes from the Midwest, the country's heartland. It didn't come from one of the liberal coasts. The assault on family values is moving inland."

More on Iowa Marriage Redefinition

From Citzenlink:

Iowa Supreme Court Strikes Down Marriage Law

Seven judges in Iowa have changed the definition of marriage for the entire state by voting unanimously to ignore the state’s Defense of Marriage Act. Six homosexual couples had sued in December 2005, demanding marriage licenses. The court agreed today, thus ignoring the Legislature and a majority of Iowans.

“The Iowa marriage law was simple, settled and overwhelmingly supported by Iowans," said Douglas Napier, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund. "There was simply no legitimate reason for the court to redefine marriage."

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst at Focus on the Family Action, said the ruling took his breath away.

"The justices brazenly asserted that their role was not only to redefine marriage, but also to legislate whatever new social agenda they favored, 'free from the influences' of a society resistant to such change," he said. "Such an admission is breathtaking in its arrogance and scope."

Tony Perkins, president of FRC Action, called on Iowa to join the 30 states that have amended their constitutions to protect marriage.

"We need to remember that the marriage-amendment movement has been many times more successful than the same-sex 'marriage' movement," he said. "We urge Iowans to contact their legislators and urge them to move quickly to pass a constitutional amendment protecting marriage.

"We hope the Legislature will heed the powerful swell of statewide support for an amendment and reclaim from the High Court its rightful place as the state's policy-making body."

In Vermont, marriage advocates remained hopeful after the House failed to get the votes needed to override a promised veto of same-sex "marriage" legislation.
Gov. James Douglas has pledged to veto S. 115, which passed the House with a 95-52 vote and had already cleared the Senate in a 26-4 vote. One hundred House votes were needed to push the legislation through.

Thank you President Obama

No, this is not an April Fools joke.  In the midst of explaining a Biblical Christian's duty to government, the Good Book commands us to, "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."  I owe President Obama a "Thank you."  Not for using my tax money to fund abortions in foreign countries.  Not for his willingness to appoint activist judges like David Hamilton to the federal court of appeals.  Not for signing the economic porkulous bill or preferring principles of socialism over the free market.  Remarkably the list of liberal accomplishments goes on and on...however, I'm getting off track  *smile* 

President Obama deserves a "Thank you" for inviting Tony Dungy to join his White House Faith Council.  Plus, anytime you draw the ire of The Americans United for the Separation of Church and State you deserve praise.  In that way, President Obama, Tony Dungy and IFI are strangely connected.  Hmmm...think about that one too long and you might get a headache.

So, let me do this properly. 

Thank you, President Obama, for inviting Tony Dungy to join your Faith Council.  Thank you for ignoring Barry Lynn and not changing the "White House Faith Council" to the "White House Faith, Except for Christians...Or Anyone Else Who Actually Applies Their Faith, Council."  You are wise to select Coach Dungy.  The more you listen to folks like him and less to folks like Barry Lynn, the better chance you have of leaving the Presidency better off than you found it.

P.S. Hey Barry, you should probably stick with attacking guys like me.  Tony Dungy is WAY out of your league.

Pro-Life Policies Under Attack in Washington

With so many pro-life policies already under attack by liberals in Congress and the White House, this Focus Action Update helps to keep them all straight: