Week Ending April 18, 2008 - Washington, DC

The Pope, the President and dictatorial relativism / Pay ransom to get a kidnapped kid and get barred from entering the USA? / President Jimmy Carter and Hamas / Obama: Still "clinging to religion" / Senate looks at human-animal hybrids / Deal making for judges / Senator: "We just can't fix the roads" / McDonald's gay burger / Watch for Mother's Day?

NEW APRIL CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS AVAILABLE - The April, 2008 Chairman's Report from William J. Murray is now available online in PDF version. The Chairman's Report contains some material not seen in these updates. Click here to view

THE PRESIDENT

BUSH AND THE POPE - I sincerely believe that all of President Bush's public comments while with Pope Benedict XVI were heart felt. The President's message was one that all Christians want to hear, that every life is precious and that the "dictatorship of relativism" must be dealt with. During their meetings the Pope pushed President Bush to deal with the continuing persecution of Christians in Iraq. Since the US occupation began, more than half the Christian population has been forced to flee their homes. At the same time the Bush Administration has abandoned Christian refugees, forcing them to seek assistance from the United Nations or flee to Syria. (See next story)

BUSH ADMINISTRATION PUNISHES THOSE WHO PAY RANSOM In a bizarre twist the Christian families who have been forced to pay ransom to terrorists for the release of kidnapped loved ones are now being refused entry into the United States for "aiding terrorism." The Bush Administration logic is that by paying ransom instead of allowing their children to be killed, the family "assisted" the terrorists. Oddly, there are actually people (mostly at Fox News) who think the mastermind of this logic at the State Department, Secretary Condoleeza Rice, should he Senator McCain's pick for VP. Click here for a full report.

PRESIDENT CARTER AND HAMAS - The head HAMAS cleric declares that Rome will fall to Islam soon, as Jihad takes over Europe and then the United States. Former President Jimmy Carter's response to this outrage is to announce that he will meet with HAMAS leaders to discuss peace. The only "peace" HAMAS wants is the quiet graveyards of Christians and Jews. HAMAS CLERIC LINK

CLINTON SAYS OBAMA IS ELITIST - Senator Hillary Clinton has told the world what conservatives already knew: Harvard educated Barac k Obama is an elitist who looks down his nose at working class folks. There is something far more telling about Obama's remarks that poor rural folks "cling to religion." It shows that Senator Obama is an out and out fake who attends church while mocking church goers at elitist parties held at the homes of secularists and atheists in San Francisco.

THE HOUSE

JUST ABOUT NOTHING - Republican Whip Roy Blunt told insiders this week that Congress should be "arrested for loitering in the Capitol". He said virtually nothing is getting done under Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Last week the House dealt with the Community Beaches Protection Act - the tree hugger bill is to help beaches be healthy, not the people who use them. San Francisco radical Pelosi has done nothing about energy while gas prices rise. She promised to take action to lower gas prices when she took over the House. Since then the price of gas has gone up $1.05 a gallon.

THE SENATE

HUMAN ANIMAL HYBRIDS - Unfortunately, combining human and animal DNA in a fertilized egg has already occurred in the United Kingdom, where the vast majority of people (except Muslims) believe religion is "nutter." Several US Senators, including presidential candidate John McCain, have introduced the Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act of 2007 (S-2358) which would make it unlawful for any person to knowingly (1) create or attempt to create a human-animal hybrid; (2) transfer or attempt to transfer a human embryo into a non-human womb; (3) transfer or attempt to transfer a non-human embryo into a human womb; or (4) transport or receive for any purpose a human-animal hybrid. Contact your Senator and ask him to support S-2358

DEAL MAKING FOR JUDGES - Republican Leader McConnell (R-KY) has made a deal with Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) to allow confirmation of three Circuit Court judges in return for allowing technical changes in a 2005 transportation appropriations by passing a "Highways Technical Bill." The judges have not yet been named. Meanwhile, literally hundreds of other Bush appointments have been stalled to the point that some federal agencies cannot operate.

SPEAKING OF HIGHWAYS - A Senator who was instrumental to the passage of the 2005 transportation appropriations act that funded highways for five years, says the funds were so inadequate that they do not even keep up with repair. President Bush has threatened to veto greater funding. As a result, this Republican Senator told me, the interstate system may have to eventually be handed over to private companies to operate as toll roads in order to stay operational.

RELIGION AND SOCIETY

A MOTHER'S DAY WATCH? - Our online store had a new line of Christian watches that including on a pink, heart shaped "Time for God." These everyday, everywhere watches sport a very clean look and are very popular, whether for business or leisure. There are 40 other Christian watches to choose from. What great Mother's Day gifts! Click here or on image for more information.

MCDONALD'S GAY BURGER- At the Oak Brook, Illinois office of McDonald's restaurants a secretary reported that management has projections that joining the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will increase sales. Management believes there will be a huge increase in the number of gays visiting its stores during the hours right after school now that the restaurant chain has given its stamp of approval to homosexuality.

NEW APRIL CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS AVAILABLE - The April, 2008 Chairman's Report from William J. Murray is now available online in PDF version. The Chairman's Report contains some material not seen in these updates. Click here to view.

INTERNATIONAL

GERMANY MAY HELP IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Germany pressed the European Union to offer asylum to more Iraqi refugees, and especially Christians. "Capacities in the region are almost exhausted. But many thousands are still fleeing murder, violence and persecution. Among them are many people of the Christian faith," Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in an editorial in the Bild am Sonntag weekly.

MORE IRAQI REFUGEES IN A SWEDISH TOWN THAN IN ALL USA - The United States has admitted less than 5,000 Iraqi refugees between April 2003 and April 1st of this year. During the same time period, Sweden has accepted 34,000 according to Congressman Alcee Hastings, chairman of the Helsinki Commission. Mayor Anders Lago of Sodertalje, Sweden told the Helsinki Commission that his small city of about 80,000 has accepted 6,000 Iraqis. "More refugees than the United States and Canada together," he pointed out.

AFGHAN STUDENT DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL - An Afghan student journalist who was sentenced to death in January for spreading a document calling for women's rights under Islam, has been granted an appeal according to Bloomberg Reports. Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh, 23, was moved from a prison in Balkh to the capital, Kabul, according to the London-based Institute which is an international advocate for press freedom. I personally spoke with my White House contacts about the situation and was promised "quiet action." Unfortunately "quiet action" does not correct the root cause of death sentences for exercising free speech.

SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION

CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE - There are literally tens of thousands of Christian theme items available at our affiliate store including jewelry from the Holy Land. It is a great place to shop for gifts. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com. Please help us with our various projects on Capitol Hill and in the Holy Land by shopping at our affiliate Christian Superstore . Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.