Theocracy Alert

Appeals Court Ends Prayer Suit

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in late October threw out a lawsuit challenging prayers to open sessions of the Indiana House.

A lower court had ruled in favor of the ACLU of Indiana that the nearly-exclusive Christian prayers overstepped constitutional boundaries. The house had dropped prayers when it was told references to Jesus could not continue.

The appeals court said taxpayers don't have the right to challenge the violation, since it originates with executive authority, not legislative action. Two of the three judges invoked the Supreme Court's Hein v. FFRF ruling to deny the claim.

The suit was sparked by an excessively Christian prayer in 2005 by Clarence Brown, selected as "Minister of the Day." Brown praised the decision, because "Jesus is the truth."

Bishops Threaten Catholic Voters

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Nov. 15 approved a "faithful citizenship" statement, to call "political responsibility" by Catholics to vote via Catholic dictates.

Claiming they were not telling Catholics "for whom or against whom to vote," they warned that eternal salvation might be at stake.

While averring that "Catholics are not single-issue voters," the bishops said Catholics must consider the church dogma against abortion, death with dignity, and stem cell research when selecting candidates. Their "individual salvation" and "spiritual well-being" are at stake.

The bishops have issued such edicts before every presidential election since 1976, but this call marks the first time spiritual consequences to voters were threatened. In saying that Catholic voters might be justified in voting for a candidate who "supports" abortion rights if that candidate follows most other Catholic teachings, the bishops seemed to tailor their policy for Republican candidate Rudolph Giuliani, a Catholic.

Giuliani Promises "Anti" Judges

Rudolph Guiliani, who won Pat Robertson's endorsement in early November, told the arch-right Federalist Society on Nov. 16 that he would appoint federal judges who adhere to their principles. He said Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and John Roberts (all Catholic) would be his models for the judges he would appoint to the federal bench. The speech appeared to be in code to signal he would toe the line in appointing an antiabortion justice to the Supreme Court, which is one vote shy of overturning Roe v. Wade.

Gov. Rick Perry, campaigning in November for Giuliani, promised Iowans that Roe v. Wade would fall under a Giuliani presidency.

Pope, Pope, Go Away!

Pope Benedict XVI announced plans to visit Washington and New York from April 15-20, to speak at the United Nations and visit "ground zero." The White House will host an official welcome reception on April 16. The pope will hold two public masses at stadiums.

Kentucky Gov. Displays Decalog

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, an ordained Baptist minister, issued a pre-election order to display the Ten Commandments in the Kentucky State Capitol. Fletcher's action followed a ruling in November by U.S. District Judge Joseph M. Hood lifting a previous injunction against displaying the Ten Commandments.

Despite the pandering, Fletcher, a GOP creationist, was defeated by Democrat Steve Beshear. A Ten Commandments monument outside the state capitol was removed in 2000 after a court challenge.

Catholic Condom Ban Spreads AIDS

A U.N. official in October attributed the rapid spread of the HIV virus in Latin America to the Roman Catholic Church and its work to prevent the use of condoms.

About 1.7 million Latin Americans have the HIV virus or full-blown AIDS. Latin America contains nearly half the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.

"In Latin America the use of condoms has been demonized, but if they were used in every relation I guarantee the epidemic would be resolved in the region," said Alberto Stella, the UNAIDS coordinator for Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Holy Redeemer Wholly Racket

Bishop Sedgwick Daniels, founder and head of Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, Milwaukee's largest pentecostal congregation, is rolling in . . . Rolls-Royces.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Oct. 19, 2007) reports that Holy Redeemer is a $25 million complex including a health facility, schools and credit union, thanks in part to $1.5 million in federal "faith-based" funds it has received. Daniels converted to ardent Republican under Bush and was an African-American presence at the 2004 GOP convention.

The inner-city church ministry owns a 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, one of only about 1,500 such cars ever produced. The church also owns a 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom, with a base price of $338,000, and a 2004 Maybach 62, an elite German import that can cost more than $500,000.

The state Tax Appeals Commission has demanded taxes for Daniels' new Mercedes S550, costing about $160,000. Daniels is appealing the matter to the appeals commission, claiming he and the church each own half. In August, the church reverted the title of the luxury Maybach from Daniels and Holy Redeemer to the ministry alone.

In 1997, Daniels transferred the deed on his swanky home to his ministry, to avoid paying taxes on it to the village of River Hills.

God-Crazy School District

Trustees of the nation's largest high school district voted 4-1 in November to require displays of the motto, "In God We Trust," and "other historical documents" in more than 2,300 classrooms and offices.

Kern County High School District Board president Bob Hampton voted against the posters because they reflect a "spiritual agenda," which "belongs at home and at church, not in the educational system."

Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan lobbied to get "In God We Trust" displayed over the city's seal in the Bakersfield Council meeting room five years ago. She says she has persuaded 25 other California cities to do the same.

"I believe all of us have a god except those who may be atheists, so it shouldn't offend anyone," says city council member Ginny Lambert.

Obama's S.C. Gospel Tour

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama launched a three-city gospel concert tour in South Carolina at the end of October. Although he stayed in Iowa, he sent greetings by video. The Washington Post reports his surrogates included Grammy-winning gospel singer Donnie McClurken, who claims he overcame homosexual thoughts and desires through prayer.

Religious Earmarks Increase

An analysis by Roll Call of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008 finds that "scores of religious organizations across the country are being singled out."

Although most money is specifically funneled for secular projects, some funds are targeted at organizations "whose primary mission is evangelical."

World Impact Inc., a Christian ministry, received $1.9 million this year in earmarked money from several members of the House and Senate. It describes itself as "a Christian missions organization dedicated to ministering God's love in the inner cities of America. Its purpose is to honor and glorify God and delight in Him in the inner cities by knowing God and making Him known."

Ob-Gyns Targeted in Iraq

A UN news office reported in November that male gynecologists are being targeted by Islamic extremists in Iraq for "invading the privacy of women." Two male doctors were reportedly killed in early November after leaving clinics. At least 22 male gynecologists reported being sent threatening letters to the Iraqi Medical Association.

"We are worried about women's health in this country," said the medical association spokesman Walid Rafi.

Rape Victim To be Lashed

A court in Saudi Arabia in mid-November sentenced a female victim of gang rape to 200 lashes and six months in jail. The 19-year-old, attacked by six armed men, initially was sentenced to 90 lashes for "being in the car of an unrelated male at the time of the rape." After a retrial, the judges decided to punish the woman further for "her attempt to aggravate and influence the judiciary through the media."

Pope: Force Feeding Tubes

The Vatican issued a declaration in September requiring Catholic medical facilities to force feeding tubes and other means indefinitely upon patients in a persistent vegetative state, even if against the patient's living will or family wishes.t