The End of Christian America

[vector7]

Companion Thread:

• Gays and The Military: A Bad Fit

It’s an Obama World… Gay Flag Flies at Afghan Base But the Christian Cross Is Banned

Posted by Jim Hoft on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 11:04 PM

It’s an Obama world.

The gay flag flew over a U.S. military base in Afghanistan this week.



A moment of solidarity.

But the Obama Administration banned the Christian cross from the worship tent. It was too offensive.



The Pentagon forced an Army post in Afghanistan to remove a cross on its worship tent in December. It was offensive to liberal atheists.

Hat Tip Ed

[American Patriot]

Pretty flag....

/sigh

[vector7]

Business Christian T-Shirt Company Faces Boycott & Investigation for Declining Service to Gay Pride Group

• Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:15am by Billy Hallowell

• Comments (148)

Logo for the gay rights t-shirt in question

A t-shirt business in Lexington, Kentucky has drawn the ire of critics after refusing to print shirts for the city’s annual gay pride parade. The company, called Hands On Originals, told parade organizers that its Christian beliefs are the reason that it has declined the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington’s (GLSO) request.

In response, GLSO has filed a discrimination complaint with Lexington’s Human Rights Commission. The commission works on the local level to ensure that discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation and the like doesn’t take place in employment, housing and public accommodations.

The gay rights group wants to make the community aware of the situation and, based on statements from the president of the organization’s board of directors, is hoping that the stand-off will, to some degree, impact how the community interacts with the t-shirt company. Here’s a copy of the complaint:



“Hands On Originals does a lot of business in this town, and people should be aware of the situation, so they can make an informed decision about whether they want to buy from them,” said Aaron Baker, who is president of the group’s board of directors. ”It came as a shock because many of us are Christians, too, and what’s that have to do with anything?”

The problem, of course, is that most Christian denominations, based on biblical principles, stand firmly opposed to homosexuality, gay marriage and other related social phenomena. Interestingly, the company’s web site does have a logo that says “Hands on Faith” at the bottom left-hand side of its front page; it links out to a Christian apparel portion of the Hands On Originals business.

In addition to the complaint, a Facebook page has been created called “Boycott Hands On Originals.” Already, the effort has over 1,200 supporters. Additionally, the Fayette County Public School District has placed a temporary hold on all orders from the t-shirt company, with the city’s mayor, Jim Gray, saying, ”People don’t have patience for this sort of attitude today.”

Here’s a screen shot from the Facebook page:

The Lexington Herald-Leader has more about the situation:

Baker said the organization had gotten quotes from a number of Central Kentucky T-shirt companies, including Hands On Originals, and had selected it as the best local bid. The T-shirts for the fifth annual event were to include a stylized number 5 on the front along with “Lexington Pride Festival” and the event’s sponsors on the back.

Baker said Hands On Originals co-owner Blaine Adamson told the GLSO in a follow-up call that the company was declining the order “because we’re a Christian organization” but had found another company that would honor its price.

While Hands On Originals has declined to speak about the situation, the company did release a statement to the Herald-Leader. In it, while stating that the business does, indeed, employ and do business with people of all stripes, the business owners also made it clear that endorsing a cause they disagreed with was not something they were willing to do.

“Hands On Originals both employs and conducts business with people of all genders, races, religions, sexual preferences and national origins,” the company’s owner, Blaine Adamson, said. “However, due to the promotional nature of our products, it is the prerogative of the company to refuse any order that would endorse positions that conflict with the convictions of the ownership.”

The complaint that GLSO filed will likely lead Lexington’s Human Rights Commission to send a letter to the business asking for a written response.

A formal investigation into consumer practices will then follow. If the parties don’t come to a settlement, the investigation could lead to compensatory damages being issued in GLSO’s favor, as there may be complications for the Hands On Originals in its fight, as it is a business and not a church or Christian group.

Recently, The Blaze asked you some questions surrounding this very important scenario. Should Christian business owners be able to turn gay customers away — and vice-versa? Here’s the original poll that allowed you to weigh in on the discussion.

(H/T: Kentucky.com)

[vector7]

Army Silences Catholic Chaplains

Posted in Top Stories | 821 comments


Feb 6, 2012
By Todd Starnes/TWITTER

The Obama administration has been accused of telling Catholic military chaplains what they can and cannot say from their pulpits after the Army ordered Catholic chaplains not to read a letter to parishioners from their archbishop.

The Secretary of the Army feared the letter could be viewed as a call for civil disobedience.

The letter called on Catholics to resist the policy the Obama Administration’s policy that would force institutions affiliated with religious groups to provide coverage for birth control, sterilization and “abortifacients.” The Catholic Church believes the mandate represents an unconstitutional violation of freedom of religion.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum told Fox News Sunday the Army violated its chaplains’ constitutional rights by barring them from reading the letter – calling for resistance to the contraceptive coverage mandate.

“The Army and the Obama administration said they couldn’t even issue the letter to complain about the Obama administration’s plan on this policy,” Santorum said, calling it a violation of freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

“This is the problem when government tells you they can give you things,” said Santorum, a Catholic. “They can take it away but even worse they can tell you how they are going to exercise this new right consistent with their values instead of the values guaranteed in the Constitution.”

On Jan. 26, Archbishop Timothy Broglio emailed a letter to Catholic military chaplains with instructions that it be read from the pulpit.
A portion of the letter was obtained by Business Insider. It reads:

“In so ruling, the Obama Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to either violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Obama Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.”

The following day, senior chaplains received an email from the Army’s Office of the Chief of Chaplains advising them that the archbishop’s letter was not coordinated with their office – and instructed chaplains not to read it from the pulpit.

The Chief’s office ordered that the letter was to be mentioned in the Mass announcements and distributed in printed form in the back of the chapel.

“Archbishop Broglio and the Archdiocese stand firm in the belief, based on legal precedent, that such a directive from the Army constituted a violation of his Constitutionally-protected right of free speech and the free exercise of religion, as well as those same rights of all military chaplains and their congregants,” read a statement provided to Fox News from the Archdiocese of the Military Services.

According to the AMS, Archbishop Broglio had a telephone conversation with Secretary of the Army John McHugh.

“It was agreed that it was a mistake to stop the reading of the Archbishop’s letter,” the statement read. “Additionally, the line: “We cannot-we will not-comply with this unjust law” was removed by Archbishop Broglio at the suggestion of Secretary McHugh over the concern that it could potentially be misunderstood as a call to civil disobedience.

The issue raises a question among critics: did administration official tell the Catholic Church what it could and could not say in the pulpit?

The Army confirmed that they asked Catholic chaplains not to read the letter, according to a statement released to National Review Online.

“The Army greatly appreciates the Archbishops consideration of the military’s perspective and is satisfied with the resolution upon which they agreed,” the statement concluded.

A source with knowledge of the incident told Fox News that no other branches of the military objected to the letter and to their knowledge was delivered “as-is” by chaplains in the other branches of the military.

[MinutemanCO]

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."

I think they should censor this guy too. He's gone too far with his Christian crap, especially in such an influential position in our nation's army. If they need to find him, his name is George Washington.

[vector7]

Police Chaplains Told to Stop Invoking Jesus



Jun 20, 2012
By Todd Starnes

For the past seven years Pastor Terry Sartain has ministered to police officers and their families in Charlotte, N.C. Whenever the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept. invited him to deliver an invocation, he prayed in “the name of Jesus.”

But not anymore.

Volunteer chaplains in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept. will no longer be allowed to invoke the name of Jesus in prayers at public events held on government property.

Major John Diggs, who oversees the chaplain program, told television station WSOC that the policy is a “matter of respecting that people may have different faiths and that it is not aimed at any one religion or denomination.”

Sartain, the pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship, told Fox News Radio he was scheduled to give an invocation at a promotion ceremony. Before the event, he received a telephone call from his superior major.

“I was told chaplains can no longer invoke the name of Jesus on government property,” Sartain said. “(He said) if I could refrain from that during the invocation he would appreciate that.”

Sartain said he was surprised by the telephone call. The pastor said he’s prayed “consistently” in the name of Jesus at past police department events without any issues.

“I’m very sad about it,” he said. “I’m a pastor and Jesus is the only thing I have to offer to bless people – his life and his person.”

“It brings about a very real concern about where we are heading as a nation,” he said. “I serve a God who loves people unconditionally, who died for their sins on the cross, who wants to reconcile himself to them and love them where they are at – and now I’m told I can’t bless people as a result of that.”

The police department said he could still pray – just not to Jesus.

So to whom was the Christian minister supposed to pray?

“That was my question,” Sartain said. “If I’m going to pray – what should I pray?”

More:
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes...ing-jesus.html

[MinutemanCO]

You can be absolutely certain that those fine individuals in North Carolina would do nothing to stop a Muslim cleric from praying on Government property in Allah's name. Nothing.

[vector7]

Indeed

[American Patriot]

I am going to take out an ad.

"Atheists are Assholes"

[MinutemanCO]

I think it's amazing that, at least for now, everyone in America can present their own ideas and beliefs in the court of public opinion. It's what makes this country great. Sad though. When God renders judgment - and it will be perfect judgment - each and every person, atheists included, will have to lie in the bed they've made for themselves. If a person doesn't want to know God before he passes through the veil, God isn't going to force that person to spend time with Him after. Enough said.

[American Patriot]

/chuckles


And well said it was.

I guess I ought not judge them lest I be judged, eh?

But you know what? We have to LIVE with those bozos. Between them, the Godless Commies and the Muslims.... SHEESH... patience is for SAINTS and I'm not saint.

[Ryan Ruck]

Ten Commandments Monument Coming Down After 50+ Years

September 7, 2012

A Ten Commandments monument that has been displayed at Connellsville Junior High School since 1957 is now covered up, and will soon come down.

Channel 11's Julie Fine talked with Connellsville Area School District Superintendent Daniel Lujetic about the display dispute, and the reasons behind the board's decision.

Dr. Lujetic said that he got a letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a group out of Washington, D.C., asking them to take down the monument. The group cited court cases.

"I counseled with the school board and solicitor, and he recommended that if we fought this -- which we considered doing -- we would spend a lot of taxpayer money on something we can't win," Dr. Lujetic explained.

"I was appalled," parent Robin Mowry said. "I was offended by the fact that I am driving past it, and it was covered up."

In addition to the first letter from D.C., the district also got the same written request from a local lawyer representing a parent.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State released the following statement:

"The Constitution allows parents -- not public school officials -- to direct their children's religious upbringing."

[Avvakum]

I think it's amazing that, at least for now, everyone in America can present their own ideas and beliefs in the court of public opinion. It's what makes this country great. Sad though. When God renders judgment - and it will be perfect judgment - each and every person, atheists included, will have to lie in the bed they've made for themselves. If a person doesn't want to know God before he passes through the veil, God isn't going to force that person to spend time with Him after. Enough said.

Absolutely true. As a Christian, I feel that my Religion is best served by Love and not Power or Coercion. And i'm not too concerned about the outcome in a way, because God IS Love and IS Power. It's all in His Merciful yet Just Hands.

[Ryan Ruck]

Kansas Town Forced to Remove Cross

November 27, 2012



A town in central Kansas that was founded more than 100 years ago by immigrants escaping religious persecution — is once again facing religious persecution.

The tiny town of Buhler is being forced to remove a religious cross from its town seal after a group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation complained that the symbol violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The group said the cross indicated government endorsement of Christianity.

The group also threatened to sue unless a large billboard featuring the cross was removed from a city park.

Mayor Daniel Friesen told Fox News that concerns over the lawsuit were the deciding factor in removing the cross and redesigning the seal.

“If we would have been sued, we would likely lose,” he said. “It’s not an issue of appeasing this fringe group. It’s a matter of protecting the community of Buhler from this organization. We’ve got to take the high road.”

Friesen said it was a matter of economics – and would be a waste of taxpayer money.

“We are frustrated,” he said. “Regardless of the decision we made, we think there’s going to be some good things to come out of it. Our community is too strong and we are too good to let this thing have a negative impact on our community.”

The mayor said the town seal was the result of a competition held in 1988 to mark Buhler’s centennial. The town of 1,350 people was founded by Mennonite immigrants who were seeking refuge from religious persecution.

The irony is not lost on the mayor.

“It’s a faith-based community — always has been,” he said. “The community has never pushed (their faith) on anybody else – but they felt the cross was a good representation.”

Residents were informed of the city’s decision by email.

“I believe I can speak for all of the members of the city council in saying that on a personal level we are utterly disappointed and frustrated by this matter,” the mayor wrote. “We recognize the significant and important history reflected in the current city seal and certainly want to do nothing to forget this history. At the same time, we as city leaders took an oath to uphold the Constitution. These same Constitutional rights which drew the first settlers to Buhler bring these changes to our city seal today.”

Many local residents expressed their frustration and their disappointment on the town’s Facebook page.

“It really saddens me that the minority has finally bullied their way into Buhler,” one resident wrote. “My husband and I chose Buhler when moving from Kansas City with a job transfer because of that sign in the park and the fact that it did have a cross on it because it showed us we were moving into a strong Christian community.”
“How sad,” another resident wrote. “I grew up there and have a hard time believing someone is doing this to Buhler.”

The mayor told Fox News he understands their frustrations and called it justifiable.

“A lot of people feel like the rich history of Buhler is being stomped on,” he said. “I know it disappoints some people but there are other ways to deal with this.”

[American Patriot]

It is high past time for them to fight back.

A city has a right to exist as it was founded. Time to poke the judges in the eye and tell them to fuck themselves.

[Ryan Ruck]

Yeah, I'd really like to see what happens when someone says, "No, make us."

[American Patriot]

Unfortunately, American men have been emasculated.

The "city fathers" are for the most part "City Sissies" and I dont see this city fighting back, do you?

[vector7]

Communist Manifesto/Agenda Minister Told He Will Face Potential Arrest for Reading Christmas Story from the Bible at Capitol Christmas Tree

• Posted by Brenda Battle Jordan on October 28, 2012 at 10:15am in Faith
• View Discussions

Minister Told He Will Face Potential Arrest for Reading Christmas Story from the Bible at Capitol Christmas Tree

• Communist Manifesto/Agenda

Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, 540-538-4741

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Patrick Mahoney to read the Christmas Story at the Capitol Tree on Thursday, December 22, at 12:00 P.M. The Capitol Christmas Tree is located on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol Building.

Rev. Mahoney met with Capitol Police officials telling them of his plans to sing Christmas Carols, read the Christmas story, pray for peace, justice and religious freedom, hold a small 5 inch Nativity Display and pray for political leaders at the Capitol Christmas Tree.

Police officials told him some of his activities may be prohibited or constitute an illegal demonstration. Rev. Mahoney contacted his attorney, Jim Henderson Senior Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, who in turn called the Office of General Counsel for the Capitol Police on Tuesday, December, 21. After talking with the Assistant General Counsel for the Capitol Police, Mr. Henderson sent Rev. Mahoney this email:

"Your use of the Bible or the ornament (Nativity Scene) would convert your activity, in the view of the Capitol Police, into a prohibited demonstration. If you failed to discontinue that activity on police direction you would be risking ticketing or arrest." Rev. Mahoney told Capitol Police officials he would still read the Christmas Story and hold the Nativity Display on Thursday even if it meant arrest or citation. This threat of arrest for reading from the Bible comes in the wake of national news stories reporting that the Capitol Christmas Tree has no ornaments depicting the Christmas Story, The Nativity or Jesus. Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states:

"It is hard to imagine that a minister, or any American, would face possible arrest or citation for reading the Christmas Story from the Bible or holding a Nativity Display in the palm of their hand in front of the Capitol Christmas Tree on the lawn of the United States Capitol Building.

"Yet, this is what I am facing on Thursday at noon.

"Sadly, we are seeing a growing hostility toward public expressions of faith in the public square especially during the Christmas Season.
"We are now seeing that at the Capitol Christmas Tree where there are no ornaments of Christ or the Nativity and a minister is facing arrest for reading the Christmas Story from the Bible.

"I was told I could hold sheet music, an instrument or camera in my hand, but if I hold a Bible or small Nativity Scene that would be considered a 'prop' and cause me to face arrest or citation.

"I want to make to clear that every American should have the right to express their faith in the public square free from government intimidation or harassment.

"If that means spending time in jail for reading the Christmas Story from the Bible, then I consider that a small price price to pay."
For more information or interviews call: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741

[MinutemanCO]

This trend will continue to progress until all public demonstrations of the Christian faith will be prohibited and punishable by imprisonment. At some point, the continual miscarriages of justice will escalate until society will believe they are doing everyone a favor by killing upstart Christians. These aren't my words but the words of prophecy from the Bible itself. It's a little creepy seeing biblical text transform into literal truth before my eyes.

[vector7]

Dem Party official makes students 'stomp on Jesus'

'Gee, I wonder if the instructor would dare do this with the name of Muhammed'

Published: 17 hours ago


Deandre Poole

A Florida college professor causing national outrage for requiring students to write “Jesus” on a piece of paper, then put it on the floor and stomp on it, turns out also to be a top official in the local Democratic Party – the latest in a string of acute leadership embarrassments.

Although one student who refused to participate claims he was punished by being suspended from the class, Florida Atlantic University is defending the controversial assignment.

The dissenting student, Ryan Rotela, told the local CBS TV affiliate WPEC that his instructor, associate professor Deandre Poole, told everyone in the class to write the word “Jesus” on a piece of paper in bold letters, then put it on the floor and stomp on it.

Rotela, a junior from Coral Springs, said some of his classmates complied, but he refused.

“Anytime you stomp on something it shows that you believe that something has no value. So if you were to stomp on the word Jesus, it says that the word has no value,” he told WPEC.

A religious Mormon who attends church every Sunday, Rotela complained to school officials but said they responded by suspending him from the class.
According to Florida Atlantic University, Poole was conducting an exercise from the textbook “Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, 5th Edition.”
A synopsis of the lesson plan in question, obtained by Fox News, goes like this:

“Have the students write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper Ask the students to stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment. After a brief period of silence instruct them to step on the paper. Most will hesitate. Ask why they can’t step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.”

Grove City College professor Paul Kengor, author of “The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis: The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor,” told Fox he wasn’t surprised by the “lesson.”

“These are the new secular disciples of ‘diversity’ and ‘tolerance’ – empty buzzwords that make liberals and progressives feel good while they often refuse to tolerate and sometimes even assault traditional Christian and conservative beliefs,” Kengor told Fox, saying classes like the one at FAU reflect “the rising confidence and aggression of the new secularists and atheists, especially at our sick and surreal modern universities.”

Kengor added: “Gee, I wonder if the instructor would dare do this with the name of Muhammed.”



It turns out, the “stomp-on-Jesus” professor, Poole, also has a prominent position in local politics. As Bizpacreview reports, Poole is vice-chairman of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party.

Moreover, this isn’t the local party’s first brush with negative publicity.

The former chairman of the county Democratic Party was forced to resign in September after comments he made at the Democratic National Convention last year in Charlotte, N.C.

As WND reported, Mark Siegel reportedly told an interviewer Christians who support Israel want to see Jews “slaughtered.”

Siegel was quoted as saying, “Oh no, the Christians just want us to be there so we can all be slaughtered and converted and bring on the second coming of Jesus Christ.”

And two months earlier, a Democratic Executive Committee member from Palm Beach County also slammed Israel. Evelyn Garcia sent an email accusing the Jewish state of atrocities, writing, “By supporting Israeli occupation with U.S. foreign aid, we are all complicit and guilty of their crimes against humanity.”

“And, I deeply resent U.S. taxpayer funds being used to continue Israeli aggression (yes, confiscating other peoples’ land and building illegal settlements is aggression), not to mention ‘incursions’ that kill PEOPLE, destroy civilian homes and infrastructure all over, mass concentration prison camps, etc,etc,etc,” she added.

Garcia quit her post after a public outcry.

In the meantime, still no word from Florida Atlantic University on whether it will discipline the professor who urged students to stomp on “Jesus” and whether Ryan will have his suspension from class lifted.

FAU did, however, email this press statement: “Faculty and students at academic institutions pursue knowledge and engage in open discourse. While at times the topics discussed may be sensitive, a university environment is a venue for such dialogue and debate.”