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marmar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:00 AM
Original message
The American Family Assn. calls on Newt and Jim DeMint to stop Dems from persecuting Christians
:cry: me a river. :nopity:



A call to action from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and U.S. Senator Jim DeMint to stop ACLU supported bill
Democrats vote to discriminate against Christians and people of faith


President Obama's stimulus bill discriminates against Christians and people of faith. The stimulus bans universities and colleges from using funds to renovate buildings where students engage in "religious worship."

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint made the following statement after Democrats voted 43-54 against his amendment to strike from the economic stimulus bill language that discriminates against people of faith. Senator DeMint's amendment would have eliminated a provision that bans any university or college receiving restoration funds, from allowing "sectarian instruction" or "religious worship" within the facility. This would in effect bar use of campus buildings for groups like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ, Catholic Student Ministries, Hillel and other religious organizations.

"This is a direct attack on students of faith, and I'm outraged Democrats are using an economic stimulus bill to promote discrimination," said Sen. DeMint. "Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for siding with the ACLU over millions of students of faith. These students simply want equal access to public facilities, which is their constitutional right. This hostility toward religion must end. Those who voted for this discrimination are standing in the schoolhouse door to keep people of faith from entering any campus building renovated by this bill.

"This is now an ACLU stimulus designed to trigger lawsuits designed to intimidate religious organizations across the nation. This language is so vague, it's not clear if students can even pray in a dorm room renovated with this funding since that is a form of 'religious worship.' If this provision remains in the bill, it will have a chilling effect on students of faith in America" he continued.

"Our culture cannot survive without faith and our nation cannot survive without freedom. This provision is an assault against both. It's un-American and it's unconstitutional. Intolerant and it's intolerable."

This funding restriction is unconstitutional. In the 2001 Good News Club v. Milford Central School Supreme Court decision, the court ruled that restricting religious speech within the context of public shared-use facilities (or schools) is unconstitutional.

Pages 164-165 of the stimulus contain the following prohibitions on the use of $3.5 billion available for renovation of public or private college and university facilities.

(2) PROHIBITED USES OF FUNDS. No funds awarded under this section may be used for - (C) modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities (i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or (ii) in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission; or construction of new facilities.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich urges Christian activists and other conservatives to e-mail and call their representative and senators demanding that the language discriminating against people of faith be removed.

Gingrich feels that if Christian activists would have enough courage and holy anger to e-mail and call their representatives and senators, a number of Democrats would vote no on final passage. We should demand that this anti-religious provision be removed.

Christians have not expressed enough outrage focused on the concept that people of faith are being taken advantage of by the stimulus bill during a time of crisis. They are being stolen from them when they are down and out and looking in good faith to the government for help. Instead of the stimulus we need, the liberals are getting the pork that they want -- for themselves, their families, and their friends. They are pickpockets and thieves preying on the down and out.

It's as if the Good Samaritan had come over to the man who was robbed and left for dead, bent over, and reached for his wallet and ran on his way instead of helping. It's like the looter who takes advantage of a natural disaster to steal."

The liberals are taking advantage of a crisis, just like Rahm Emanuel said. His quote: "'You never want a serious crisis to go to waste,' Rahm Emanuel, Mr. Obama's new chief of staff, told a Wall Street Journal conference of top corporate chief executives this week." - WSJ, Nov. 21, 2008.

America is in crisis, and the liberals are looting America's future to pay off their special interests. This is corruption of the highest order. E-mail and call your representative and two senators today!

Take Action

Enter your ZIP Code and click "GO" to send an e-mail and call your representative and two senators today! Tell them to remove the language discriminating against people of faith. In addition, please take the time to call your representative and two senators. The phone number where you can reach both your representative and two senators is 202-224-3121.

Help us get this important alert out by forwarding this to your friends and family.

Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small, tax-deductible donation to help us continue?

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association


http://www3.capwiz.com/afanet/issues/alert/?alertid=12633201&PROCESS=Take+Action


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ixion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:02 AM
Response to Original message
1. having been persecuted by extremist xians over the years, I have this to say to them:
go f**k yourselves.

Keep your stupid religion to yourselves.
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pnutbutr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:08 AM
Response to Original message
2. WTF? Seriously
(2) PROHIBITED USES OF FUNDS. No funds awarded under this section may be used for - (C) modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities (i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or (ii) in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission; or construction of new facilities.


That's just stupid. I'm not at all religious but come on.....
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sinkingfeeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:23 AM
Response to Reply #2
10. Why should tax dollars be used to repair or renovate facilities used by religions?
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pnutbutr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 10:21 AM
Response to Reply #10
16. the section is for
Edited on Tue Feb-10-09 10:21 AM by pnutbutr
funding renovations for institutions of higher learning. It actually specifies the funding for buildings used to provide instruction. It eliminates funding for renovation of any building that provides instruction or classes involving religion. I understand the places of worship part but not allowing renovation because of what classes are taught in a specific building is stupid and isn't funding a religion, it is funding education.
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specialed Donating Member (276 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:58 AM
Response to Reply #2
15. There is this thing called the Establishment clause in the constitution.....
dealing with religion. It's a no no.
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shaniqua6392 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:10 AM
Response to Original message
3. I am going to send an email to my state reps and senators.
I am going to tell them to keep the language in the bill. I am a Christian and a Democrat. I believe in the separation of church and state. This provision does not restrict religious activities, so using the legal precedent of the mentioned Supreme Court case does not apply. This states that our tax dollars should not be spent on renovation or repair of religious facilities.
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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:11 AM
Response to Original message
4. It is called the Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or
the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for
a redress of grievances.

BTW The churchs already have huge tax break.
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KharmaTrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:11 AM
Response to Original message
5. The Circular Firing Squad Aims...
I knew it was a matter of time that the fundies would join the battle for the "soul" of what's left of the repugnican party. The Wildmons and their ilk see a power void and picking their stalking horses in the upcoming battle.

Looks like they're going back to the old tricks of the late 70's and early 80's...hitting the reset button and hope that the old boogie men and fears will bring out "the faithful" as well as the donations. The persecution card is what helped make Wildmon a wealthy man. He sees his opening as does Newtie...2012...Game On!
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madrchsod Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:12 AM
Response to Original message
6. gee whiz kids, i did`t know i was persecuted!
well, i`m glad i don`t feel that way or i`d have a "persecution complex" :rofl:
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tom_paine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:15 AM
Response to Original message
7. In other news, Himmler asks Nazis to stop Jews from persecuting Christians.
Edited on Tue Feb-10-09 09:16 AM by tom_paine
Some things just don't change all that much, do they?

Actually, they change just enough so that monstrous Nazi-Bushie evil can get another shot at dominating the world.

Plausible Deniability.

Good marketing and rebranding strategy.
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tanyev Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:17 AM
Response to Original message
8. At least the American Family ASSociation is aptly named.
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nebenaube Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:23 AM
Response to Original message
9. Tax the damn churches already! n/t
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:35 AM
Response to Original message
11. I think they should allow it
and then earmark all of the money for synagogues, mosques and temples.
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Are_grits_groceries Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:37 AM
Response to Original message
12. Rachel Maddow pointed out on her show
that this language has been used since I think around 1965.
It isn't new and doesn't portend the Apocalypse.
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RJ Connors Donating Member (679 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:52 AM
Response to Original message
13. "This would in effect bar use of campus buildings for groups like
Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ, Catholic Student Ministries, Hillel and other religious organizations."

All of which are very find and very worthwhile groups to get rid of. Our children go to college to get and education, (allegedly), not to contend with hysterical cults. If they desire that I'm sure theres a place they can go which is close to campus.
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pnutbutr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 10:26 AM
Response to Reply #13
17. public buildings
can be used by any group no matter their religious affiliation. That the bill is punishing colleges and universities that allow that is frustrating as it is not the intent of the 1st amendment.
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wolfgangmo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 10:40 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. Read the amendment again.
It is about the substantial use of a building for religious uses. It has been used in funding language for over 4 decades. It only makes sure that no schools that receive public funds targeted for public education is not used for what is primarily religious purposes.
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pnutbutr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 10:46 AM
Response to Reply #18
19. I don't see
substantial or primary use in there.

(i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or


The way it is worded they could have one class per week on religion and the entire building is excluded from receiving use of the funds.


Still wouldn't make a difference as this restriction on funds is in no way the intention of the 1st amendment.
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RJ Connors Donating Member (679 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 10:49 AM
Response to Reply #19
20. Did you by chance make a wrong turn in the Cyber Cafe? n/t
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pnutbutr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 11:01 AM
Response to Reply #20
21. good
you agree

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Winterblues Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #17
23. This exact same wording has been used in every school funding bill
since 1963. It isn't anything new or different. It hasn't threatened Christianity in over forty years so why do you think it will now.
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pnutbutr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 12:39 PM
Response to Reply #23
25. I'm not worried
about it threatening anything. I just think it's stupid and has nothing to do with the first amendment so it's just a punishment on the schools for using buildings to teach religious classes etc...

I'd like to check out every school funding bill since 1963 for verification anyways. Can you link them?
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denverbill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 09:56 AM
Response to Original message
14. "holy anger"? Now there's a phrase I don't think Jebus ever used. n/t
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pipi_k Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 11:29 AM
Response to Original message
22. Well that's pretty damned inconsiderate of them, I must say!
Hell...I have lions out back that need to be fed at least once a day.

Unfortunately, they're sort of fussy and won't eat anything but Christian meat.
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krabigirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 11:42 AM
Response to Original message
24. Ugh. Churches get EVERYTHING in the US - don't have to pay taxes, get faith-based funding..
and they get to have much more influence in government than they should. So they should STFU about this.

Besides, it's college. Sorry, I just don't picture a bunch of college students getting upset because they have nowhere to pray. lol.
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petronius Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-10-09 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
26. Do they ever tell the truth? There's no way that language could
possibly ban dorm renovations or kick worshippers out of public buildings. But, this pity-me whining faux-victimhood will stir up the gullible and get a few more dollars into the AFA coffers, which is all that matters to them anyway...

:puke:
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