Report From Washington - January 18, 2013

Editor: William J. Murray

In this issue: Obama: Protect children from guns and abort more babies / U.S. needs U.N. permission but French don't? / Does Nancy Pelosi run the House? / Pelosi appoints "Arab-American" as Chief of Staff / Senator Cruz on Obama's "exploitation" of children / Rupert Murdoch worse than Al Gore? / U.K. politician arrested for statement on Islam / Muslim vigilantes in London enforce sharia.

The Presidency
Obama: Protect children from guns and abort more babies - What a contradiction: Obama on the platform with four children telling the nation that kids need protection from guns, and using the massacre at Newtown, CT as an example. During the Obama Administration, the amount of money going to the abortion industry has reached new heights, with Planned Parenthood receiving 45% of their budget from the government. In the last three years Planned Parenthood has murdered about 1,000,000 babies.
U.S. needs U.N. permission but French don't? - The French government has begun bombing Islamists in Mali and has dispatched 2,500 troops so far. Rather than tell the French to get United Nations "approval," Obama has congratulated their move. This is the same Barack Obama who as Senator insisted that the United States receive UN permission for any military operations. The Al-Qaeda forces have been well armed by our Libyan "allies." The truth is the Arab Spring supported by Obama has created several failed states in North Africa that are now used by Islamists to attack "infidels." Weapons sales and give-a-ways to these nations need to stop now.
Congress
Does Nancy Pelosi run the House? - Since the 113th Congress was sworn in, the two most important votes were controlled not by Speaker Boehner but by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. In the first major showdown on taxes and spending, the Speaker was unable to get enough Republican votes to pass his compromise bill that including raising taxes on those making over one million dollars a year. Nancy Pelosi took over and with the help of a few GOP members passed Harry Reid's Senate bill. Next, the Speaker rejected the pork laden Senate bill for aid to the victims of Hurricane Sandy and offered a bill that did not send money to Alaska, Illinois and other states. GOP Tea Party Members still refused to vote for the bill as too costly. Again, Nancy Pelosi took control of the vote and managed to pass the much more expensive bill from Harry Reid's Senate. With a divided caucus, Speaker Boehner has grown silent as he has no bargaining chips to deal with Obama, without the support of his Members.
Pelosi appoints "Arab-American" to chief - Nancy Pelosi's office announced that her long-time chief of staff John Lawrence will retire and that his replacement will be Arab-American Nadeam Elshami who has served as her spokesman for years. Elshami, who has been a key advisor to Pelosi, was paid $172,500 by her last year. His mother, Zainab Elberry, is an activist for the Arab American Institute and worked to defend the construction of the mega mosque in Nashville.
Senator Cruz on Obama's use of human shields - Newly-elected Texas Senator Ted Cruz was on the Laura Ingraham show this week to express his outrage over Obama's shameless exploitation of children for his gun grabbing Executive Orders. Cruz told Ingraham that Obama was "exploiting the murder of children" and was "high on his own power" to push his anti-gun agenda. Read more
Religion and Culture
More taxpayer money, more abortions - Planned Parenthood reported receiving record taxpayer funding in the last reporting year, while also performing a record number of abortions. This was according to its new annual report released this week. The nation's largest abortion provider maintained its infamous title, performing 333,964 abortions --- a record for the organization, which received 45 percent of its revenues from taxpayer-funded government sources. Read more
Rupert Murdoch worse than Al Gore? - Fox News headliners have broadly attacked Al Gore for selling his TV network to Al-Jazeera, but their boss, CEO Rupert Murdoch, co-owns Al-Risala, an Arabic language network which is a full-throated supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood. This is because Murdoch owns an 18.97% stake in Saudi Prince Bin Talal's Rotana Media group. Al-Risala, the flagship "religious broadcasting" television network of Rotana, is an odious mouthpiece for Sharia supremacists, anti-Western radicals, and general xenophobia, and regularly spews forth hatred of Jews and other "infidels." Read more 
Religious Freedom Day - January 16th was Religious Freedom Day in America, commemorating the anniversary of the Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom, which passed on January 16, 1786. In the Act, Thomas Jefferson wrote in part, "Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man - shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion -" Read more
International
UK politician arrested for statement on Islam - Kevin Carroll, the Chairman of the British Freedom Party, was arrested in the UK for making a comment on Facebook. One might wonder what this dangerous comment was --- perhaps calling for killing someone, or inciting rebellion against Queen and country? Well, actually, no. It wasn't anything like that. Speaking of Islam, this is what Kevin Carroll said: "They are all backward savages, a devil-spawned death-cult worshiping all that is unholy and barbaric. Pure evil." Read more
UK: Muslim Vigilantes in London - Muslim vigilantes are approaching Brits and demanding they behave in an Islamic way - in the middle of London. The hooded men, who call themselves Muslim Patrol, have apparently filmed themselves loitering around English streets and intimidating people. See video 
Algeria: Islamist attack on Algeria - For several days the attack on a giant BP natural gas plant in Algeria has been on the front pages because hostages taken included Americans, British, French, Dutch and Japanese. After an attempted rescue in which 18 of the Islamists were killed, the Algerian government issued a report that they identified the dead men as being from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Mali and Algeria. Of course the United States is trying to say the continuing broad war against civilization by Islamists is caused by local issues including poverty.
More from the Religious Freedom Coalition
New Chairman's Report - Now available, the January 18th, 2013 edition of the Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman's Report. In the current issue: William J. Murray writes on hot tub multiculturalism / Obama's gay inauguration - no evangelicals allowed / Obama sends tanks to the Muslim Brotherhood / More social conservatives in Congress including two new Senators / Planned Parenthood got $542 million of your tax dollars last year / Al Gore and Rupert Murdoch make big bucks on Jew hating TV networks
My Life Without God - William J. Murray's first book, My Life Without God is now back in print as the 30th anniversary of his atheist mother's lawsuit to remove prayer form the schools approaches. Murray writes of his life in the dysfunctional home of infamous atheist/Marxist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair. Learn more

Thanksgiving, November 24, 2011 - Washington, DC

The real meaning of Thanksgiving - Read the first Thanksgiving Proclamation / Thanksgiving proclamations of Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and now Obama / Proclamation of the first Congress / Current Thanksgiving statement of the Speaker of the House / More This special Thanksgiving update replaces the regular end of week Legislative Update that would have been distributed on Friday, November 25, 2011

Thanksgiving - From the Pilgrims to Barack Obama
REAL MEANING OF THANKSGIVING - The documents below clearly show the meaning of Thanksgiving as intended by the nation's Founders. Today in most public schools God is not mentioned, and Thanksgiving becomes an historical event rather than a Christian celebration of thanks to God. Please pass the document links on to others or print them out for distribution

The First Thanksgiving Proclamation - Readhere
Continental Congress 1782 Thanksgiving Proclamation - Readhere
George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation - Readhere
Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation - Readhere
 

CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION - President Obama's proclamation this year is a history lesson stating: "The feast honored the Wampanoag for generously extending their knowledge of local game and agriculture to the Pilgrims, and today we renew our gratitude to all American Indians and Alaska Natives." Later in the proclamation he mentions that President George Washington changed the emphasis. See proclamation.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE 

SPEAKER'S THANKSGIVING STATEMENT - Unlike President Obama's proclamation which claimed Thanksgiving began as a politically correct diversity event, that of Speaker Boehner reflects the true nature of Thanksgiving. Referring to a painting in the Capitol Rotunda he writes: "The painting shows the Pilgrim leaders in 1620 kneeling in prayer around a Geneva Bible, appealing to God for safe travel aboard their ship Speedwell before their passage from the Old World to a new life in America. On the ship's sail is written 'God with us' and a distant rainbow symbolizes the promise of a better life." Read complete statement.
CONGRESS IN RECESS - The House and Senate is in holiday recess the entire week and will reconvene on Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

INTERNATIONAL
PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS - As we thank the Lord for His blessing to us let us pause and remember the persecuted and martyred Christians in lands such Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, and Indonesia.

A PSALM OF THANKSGIVING
1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100 -NKJV

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING?
OUR CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE - We have lots of great stuff for Christmas at our Internet store. Not only are there books and CD's, but everything from candy to jewelry and all of it has a Christian theme. Unlike Amazon and other major Internet stores we do not sell porn and satanic materials right beside Christian books. Ours is a real Christian store with tens of thousands of items. Please take a look. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com.

 

Report From Washington - July 29, 2011

Does Obama want a debt default? / How we paid the Taliban / Speaker Boehner meets the enemy and it is his own troops / Did the GOP commit suicide this week? / Atheists sue over Ground Zero Cross / Another Muslim attack on Ft. Hood / Norway bomber not a Christian / More Nigerian Christians die / New York City against a church at Ground Zero
 

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR JULY 20th, 2011 - William J Murray's Chairman's Report includes: Obama's Voice of America claims that Islamists want "reform." / Obama says no to Canadian oil but yes to Saudi oil / The State Department's Weiner problem / NBC apologizes for "under God" omission in Pledge / Military funding of same-sex marriage / Gays for Jon Huntsman / Honor killings in the West / Islamists want to take over UK cities / Pakistani Christian sex slaves / Islamic school has kids make bombs in Indonesia. Other international and domestic issues reported by William J. Murray

PRESIDENCY 

DOES OBAMA WANTS U.S. TO DEFAULT? - Speaker Boehner said it this way: "President Obama would not take 'yes' for answer." Every time a deal was near on the debt limit issue, Obama moved the goal posts. Why? He didn't want a deal. Obama knows under the current economic and social situation he cannot win re-election. He owns the bad economy. But, if he can create a crisis and blame Republicans he thinks he can win. Obama is willing to harm the economy even further by causing our nation to default, if he feels he can win votes as a result.

WE PAID THE TALIBAN - It is official. The Pentagon acknowledged that payments from a $2.6 billion dollar trucking contract were used as payoff money to the Taliban. With the U.S. funds, Afghan contractors paid local drivers, who in turn paid local security forces for safe passage. Just like in the old fashioned protection rackets in Chicago, the local "security" paid the Taliban to let the trucks through. Our brave men and women in uniform are fighting and dying for payoff rackets like this in Afghanistan to continue. Meanwhile, Christians in Afghanistan continue to be persecuted even worse than they are in Iraq.

THE CONGRESS 

BOEHNER UNDER ATTACK - Many conservatives, particularly Tea Party backers, have settled on Speaker John Boehner as the villain rather than President Barack Obama. Wednesday I witnessed a Tea Party rally in which the Speaker was called just about everything but a human being. Do these "conservatives" want Nancy Pelosi back in charge? Do they want Obama for another four years? Do they want Harry Reid to continue to be in charge of the Senate? Why is all this money and energy being spent attacking Speaker Boehner instead of the real culprits who want to spend the nation into oblivion? There are lots of areas I disagree with Speaker Boehner on, but he is 90% on my side of the issues and I would rather have him than Nancy Pelosi who is not with me on issues even 1% of the time.  
REPUBLICAN SUICIDE - Somehow the Republican Party has managed to seize defeat from the jaws of victory. On Capitol Hill this week I watched in slow motion as President Barack Obama surrendered to Republican leaders and walked away with his head down. Not knowing what to do with this victory on the budget, Republicans immediately began to attack each other. 

RELIGION AND CULTURE 

ATHEISTS SUE OVER GROUND ZERO CROSS - American Atheists filed a lawsuit this week to stop the display of the Ground Zero Cross stating that "no other religions or philosophies will be honored." The cross consists of two intersecting steel beams found intact in the rubble at Ground Zero. It was given a home at the Ground Zero site by the 9/11 Memorial Museum this week. The suit is meritless and a publicity stunt. The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a private non-profit organization with no affiliation with the government.

ANOTHER MUSLIM ATTACK ON FORT HOOD - This week local police, not the military, stopped a Muslim soldier from killing even more service men and women at Ft Hood. Far from investigating the Muslim soldier, the Army had given him "conscientious objector" status because he said he could not go to Afghanistan to fight Muslim terrorists. A gun shop owner notified the Killeen, Texas police of the Muslim's purchase of gun powder. Pfc. Naser Abdo, who was AWOL at the time, had weapons and bomb making materials in his motel room near Fort Hood when captured. The military actively recruits Muslims to prove its political correctness. The New York Times, which immediately claimed the bombing in Norway was a done by a Christian, has not as yet referred to Abdo as a Muslim, and probably never will.

NO 911 MOSQUE

NEW YORK STILL FIGHTING 9/11 CHURCH - Mayor Bloomberg and New York City are continuing to fight against the reconstruction of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church which was destroyed in the 9/11 jihad attack on the United States. Read the incredible story as Mayor Bloomberg continues to support a mosque at Ground Zero.
 

INTERNATIONAL 

NORWAY TERRORIST A CHRISTIAN? Not according to the mass killer himself. "As for the Church and science", he wrote, "it is essential that science takes an undisputed precedence over biblical teachings." Anders Behring Breivik also stated that he was a follower of Darwin and not of Jesus Christ. But the Washington Post and the New York Times proclaimed him a Christian the day of the attack. Why? On one of the 1,500 pages of his rambling "manifesto" he stated that like most Europeans he "could be considered a cultural Christian," in other words an atheist who is a cultural parasite. 
MORE NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS BURIED - Members of a church in Suleja, Niger state, ended a week of fasting and prayer on Saturday with a service for three Christians killed in a bombing by the Boko Haram. The All Christian Fellowship Mission Church members were leaving a Sunday worship service, when a bomb exploded. This is the third time this year bombs have targeted the Christian area of Suleja, just outside the capital. Read more

CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE 

VISIT OUR INTERNET STORE - Our Internet store has more than books and CD's. There is everything from candy to jewelry and all of it has a Christian theme. Unlike Amazon and other major Internet stores we do not sell porn and satanic materials right beside Christian books. Ours is a real Christian store with tens of thousands of items. Please take a look. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com

July 24, 2009 - Washington, DC

Obama says white cop is "stupid" / Why "Obama Care" is dead / Imam calls on Obama to declare Jews responsible for 9-11 / Stimulus money for this? / The GOP, Mike Pence and Planned Parenthood / GOP leader: "They want to kill us all" / Islam in California Public schools / Who really was Walter Cronkite? / More churches bombed in Iraq / Christian churches desecrated in Cyprus

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA SAYS THE WHITE COP IS STUPID -Can you just imagine the outrage if a black cop had arrested a white man in his home, and President George W. Bush, without checking the facts of the case, had called the black cop "stupid?" For weeks the mainstream media would have displayed screaming headlines calling Bush a racist. However, that is exactly what Barack Obama did on national TV. Without knowing any details, he sided with a black man who had been arrested by a white cop and called the white cop "stupid." This pretty much shows the racial bias of Obama. He sees everything through color and gender filters. "This post has to be filled by a woman and this post needs to be filled by a Hispanic," is now the thinking behind White House appointments. There is no such thing as searching for the best person for the job in the Obama Administration. Individuals such as Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are picked not for qualifications, but because of race and gender. Bishop Jackson, a black graduate of Harvard had a different take on Obama's comments ... Read here

WHY OBAMA CARE IS DEAD FOR NOW - The White House political machine is run by Rahm Israel Emanuel, who is Obama's Chief of Staff. His plan was to "flood" the Congress with Obama's full agenda all at once. He believed that hitting with the Stimulus, Cap and Trade, Health "reform," and gay issues all at once would overwhelm the Republicans and there would be instant victory. It didn't work. So much change so fast and without deliberation, scared the general public, particularly Independent voters, so much that the plan backfired. Now, virtually all of Obama's agenda is dead in the water. Although "Cap and Trade" passed the House, it is dead in the Senate. Meanwhile Senator Harry Reid has announced that he can't move forward with the "Health Reform." In the House, many of Obama's grand plans are stuck in committee with even Democrats afraid to vote for them because of the outcry from constituents back home. Meanwhile Obama is sinking in the polls. Rasmussen has his "strongly approve rating at 30% and his "strongly disapprove rating at 38%. See poll

IMAM CALLS ON "PRESIDENT HUSSEIN" TO SAY JEWS RESPONSIBLE FOR 9-11 -This is not something off the wall ... this is a major imam in an Islamic nation who refers to Obama as President Hussein. He insists that "President Hussein" examine the documents of 9-11, where the imam says there is proof it was a Jewish conspiracy. No aircraft were used, according to him, and the buildings were booby trapped. Sadly, most of the Islamic world believes this nonsense. See clip

STIMULUS MONEY AT WORK - The Department of Agriculture spent well over one million dollars of "stimulus" money to buy 760,000 pounds of ham. That breaks out to about $1.50 a pound. Ham can be bought retail at just about any supermarket in America for under $1.00, Locally in supermarkets it is usually at around 79 cents a pound. No, I don't know what the ham was used for, but I'll bet it wasn't shipped to GITMO. Anyway, the expenditure for ham is not as bad as it could be, when one considers that $541,199 went to install one traffic light. Sort of gives you an idea of why no jobs are being created with the "Stimulus" funds.

THE CONGRESS

WHY DID GOP FUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD? - Last week I reported that a powerful Republican leader, Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) had offered an amendment to the appropriations bill that funds the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). The amendment offered by Rep. Pence would end the funding of Planned Parenthood of America. (See his floor speech) Immediately I received dozens of e-mails pointing out that although the Republicans controlled the House for 12 years, no effort was made during that time to defund Planned Parenthood. In fact, when the Republicans controlled the House, the Senate and the White House they continued to fund Planned Parenthood. Is the GOP talk about conservative social values all for show? If social conservatives help them win next November, will the Republicans go back to their old habits of giving Planned Parenthood and ACORN money every year? Maybe you should ask Congressman Pence Note: The amendment failed today.

AN EXCITED GOP? - In the last five days I have met with Minority Leader John Boehner twice. I have also met with GOP House Conference Chair Mike Pence and several other congressmen and Senators. I can honestly say that the depression that followed the election of Barack Obama last fall has been replaced by a "we can do it" attitude. I have not seen the social conservatives in Congress this mobilized in some time.

THEY WANT TO KILL US ALL - At one meeting I attended this week, Minority Leader John Boehner said about the voters attending the tea parties held across the nation, "They want to kill us all." He continued that, "They think all of us up here need to get booted out. We need to convert that activism to kicking out just the Democrats." The GOP leadership may finally be getting the message. If they want back in office they are going to have to at least act like they are conservative.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS SAY ISLAM TREATS WOMEN EQUALLY TO MEN - And that is just he beginning of the nonsense. In California's public schools, more time is spent on Islam than on any other religion, and most of what is taught is Islamic propaganda written by "scholars" on the payroll of the Saudi government. Because of the concerns parents have expressed about what is being taught, the California public schools have put the teaching of Islam under review. Read more

WALTER CRONKITE A MAN WE COULD TRUST? - Most Americans alive today do not even remember newsman Walter Cronkite. But to read his obituary, you would think he was the only man in the news business that was even handed and universally trusted. However, I am old enough to remember him. Cronkite favored a one world government financed by global taxes. He said the US should renounce "some of its sovereignty." At a meeting of the far left People for the American Way, he denounced President Reagan. I am not the only one old enough to remember. Read the AIM column by Cliff Kincaid.

ALL NEW JULY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new July 15, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains more information about our work on Capitol Hill with the new 111th Congress, and also about our work on international issues. Help your Sunday School class understand these issues better. Print out and distribute the Chairman's Report to your class or fellowship this Sunday! Click here to view

INTERNATIONAL

DESECRATED CHRISTIAN CEMETERIES - On Thursday I attended a briefing on the continued destruction of Christian churches and other sites in Turkish occupied northern Cyprus. Because Turkey was a Cold War ally of the West, Europe and America have turned a blind eye to the ethnic cleansing of northern Cyprus since the 1974 invasion of the island republic by Turkey. Since the invasion, the Turkish military has allowed more than 40,000 ancient icons and frescoes to he stripped from Christian sites and sold in Europe and the United States. Buyers of the stolen items seem to have no guilt or remorse. At this week's briefing on this issue, the panel was moderated by former US Ambassador to Cyprus Donald Bandler. Read more

MORE CHURCHES BOMBED IN BAGHDAD - Since July 11th, at least seven churches have been bombed in Baghdad and at least 4 Christians killed and more than 30 injured. CNN reports six churches and my sources report as many as twelve. Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia has written a strong letter to Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki concerning the lack of protection of Christians in Iraq. See Rep. Wolf letter

PETITION TO HILLARY CLINTON ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Read and sign the Internet petition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The petition urges Clinton to direct our embassies to assist Christians who have fled Islamic terror in Iraq. The petition is located at www.iraqichristianrefugees.org.

FACEBOOK FOR IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The Religious Freedom Coalition has a Facebook page to expose the crisis faced by Iraqi Christians. If you have a Facebook account, please become our friend at this link. You can help Iraqi Christians directly by making a donation at the Facebook cause page! Learn more here!

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE How about birthday or anniversary gifts with a Christian theme? Our Internet Christian Super Store has tens of thousands of books, CD's DVD's, jewelry, food and more. AND ... Our store does not sell the atheist and satanist books that you will find on Amazon.com. When you buy from our store, you help our work. Please take a look at our store today at www.rfcstore.com

Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.

May 8, 2009 - Washington, DC

Obama distances himself from National Day of Prayer / Can Janet Napolitano tell the truth about "rightwing extremist" report? / Congressman Forbes on America's religious heritage / Congress and the National Day of Prayer / Thought crimes legislation moves forward / Abortion less popular and guns more popular / Archbishop of Baghdad visits Washington

PETITION TO HILLARY CLINTON ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Read and sign the new Internet petition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The petition urges Clinton to direct our embassies to assist Christians who have fled Islamic terror in Iraq. The petition is located at www.iraqichristianrefugees.org.

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM PRAYER - There was no National Day of Prayer event at the White House this year, and no one representing the White House participated in the events of the National Day of Prayer. President Obama did sign a proclamation for the National Day of Prayer. Oddly, the proclamation managed to mention God only once, a far cry from the first proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Read moreTwo African American ministers protesting Obama's lack of participation in the National Day of Prayer were arrested in front of the White House. Read more

WHAT IS THE TRUTH, NAPOLITANO? - After weeks of intense efforts by social conservatives, veterans, and gun rights groups, Republicans in Congress made a formal demand this week to investigate how and why Homeland Security sent a "rightwing extremist" report to all law enforcement agencies in the country. The report targeted virtually every one of the constituency groups of the Republican Party, except Wall Street. House Minority Leader John A. Boehner said, "She has not explained how this report came about, why she signed off on it, or why she defended it." Read more. The Leadership of the Republican Party acted after several organizations including the Religious Freedom Coalition, placed ads in the Washington Times demanding that Napolitano be forced to apologize or resign.

THE CONGRESS

AMERICA'S RELIGIOUS HERITAGE - Congressman Randy Forbes formed the Congressional Prayer Caucus from a small group of congressmen who met each day to pray in room 219 of the Capitol. The group grew until it turned into a major national "Room 219" movement that gave birth to the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation. As part of the National Day of Prayer, Congressman Forbes has introduced HR 397, a resolution reaffirming America's Religious heritage. I urge you to read and distribute the resolution which clearly outlines the Judeo-Christian heritage of our nation. The Religious Freedom Coalition is an integral part of the movement to pass HR 307. Read more

You must watch Congressman Forbes' impassioned plea for the Judeo-Christian heritage of our nation. The video of Congressman Forbes is just four minutes long. but it is power packed. Watch here

CONGRESS AND NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - Speaker Nancy Pelosi had not much to say about the National Day of Prayer, but Minority Caucus chairman Mike Pence did. See his one minute National Day of Prayer speech on the floor. Congressman Forbes (R-VA) made a direct reference to President Obama when he stated, "Hopefully we'll have millions of people around the country that will make up for the void we see at the White House on the National Day of Prayer."

THOUGHT CRIMES BILL - On April 30th the homosexual enforcement act (otherwise known as "Hate Crimes") passed the House by a wide margin and headed to the Senate. What can happen if this becomes law? Congressman Randy Forbes gave a striking example: "Had [Hilton] done what he said he would do and stormed that stage and pulled that tiara off [Prejean's] head and [inflicted] bodily harm when he did it, there would not have been one ounce of protection under this piece of legislation for that young girl. But after he did it, if she had in response made a statement back about the very sexual orientation that had led him to his hatred and dislike for her, and if she had responded by slapping him or any physical injury, she would have had the potential of a ten-year federal piece of legislation coming against her." In other words this law creates a special class of people who receive extra protection under the law because of the way they commit perverted sexual acts.Read more

CULTURE AND RELIGION

HELLO SARAH PALIN - At the same time that ultra-liberal pro-abortionist Barack Obama was elected president, the American people were actually becoming more conservative on the issue of abortion. Fewer than 50% of women now think abortion should be legal and for the first time the majority of men believe it should be illegal. A Pew Survey revealed that between April, 2008 and April, 2009 more people became anti-abortion. The survey showed that the number of Americans believing in the right to own a gun also increased. Can you believe that many pundits are now saying the Republican Party must become pro-abortion and anti-gun to win more voters? How nuts are they? See poll

ALL NEW APRIL 23RD CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new April 23rd, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains more information about our work on Capitol Hill with the new 111th Congress, and also about our work on international issues. THIS IS A NEW CR SINCE LAST WEEK! Help your Sunday School class understand these issues better. Print out and distribute to your class or fellowship this Sunday! Click here to view

INTERNATIONAL

ARCHBISHOP OF BAGHDAD SPEAKS OUT - This week I attended a small group roundtable discussion at the Hudson Institute with the Archbishop of Baghdad, Father Jean Benjamin Sleiman. The archbishop discussed the grim situation that exists for Christians in Iraq and made it clear that there was no true security to entice Christian families who had fled, to now return. He reaffirmed what we all already knew, that "...the laws of Sharia are not the same as the laws of democracy." He said that the government, not the church, must provide security for Christians. He explained that, "You can't eliminate the fear after your neighbors are killed". The United States provides no funds for religious minorities (that means Christians) in Iraq. Photo at left is of Archbishop Sleiman and myself.

IRAQI CHRISTIANS NEED HELP - The Religious Freedom Coalition is receiving virtually no funds for our Iraqi Christian Refugee Project from Internet sources. Just a few hundred dollars have been generated at our Facebook page. Virtually no funds are being received from the publication of this email update, even though thousands of people subscribe. Your help is genuinely needed. Please help. Donation link

CLINTON PETITION DRIVE - The Religious Freedom Coalition is conducting a petition drive asking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to formulate a policy to stop the persecution of Christians in Iraq and to aid those Iraqi Christians who have been forced to flee. More than 100,000 paper copies of the petition have been distributed, and an online version is now available. Click here to see petition! NOTE: This is part of a large petition drive and you may receive a copy in the mail.

FACEBOOK FOR IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The Religious Freedom Coalition has a new Facebook page to expose the crisis faced by Iraqi Christians. If you have a Facebook account, please become our friend at this link. You can help Iraqi Christians directly by making a donation at the Facebook cause page!

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

MOTHERS' DAY GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE How about Mothers' Day gifts with a Christian theme? Our Internet Christian Super Store has tens of thousands of books, CD's DVD's, jewelry, food and more. AND ... Our store does not sell the atheist and satanist books that you will find on Amazon.com. When you buy from our store, you help our work. Please take a look at our store today at www.rfcstore.com

Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.