Week Ending November 30, 2007

New Iraqi refugee policy? / Stem Cell vindication for President Bush / Passing of a great pro-life leader / Another GOP Senator leaves town / Atheist Newdow in court next week / Is "under God" in danger? / Jailed for a Teddy bear - the Islamic way / Have you visited our Christmas store?

THE PRESIDENT

NEW IRAQI REFUGEE POLICY- The Bush Administration has somewhat changed its policy toward Iraqi refugees who have worked for Coalition forces. As reported by the Religious Freedom Coalition fact finding mission in October, all Iraqi refugees had to go through the United Nations before being interviewed at one of our embassies. In other words the UN decides who should be interviewed for refugee status. Further, our embassy in Iraq would take no applications at all. Iraqis had to flee Iraq to apply to come to the USA. The Administration has now ordered that State Department employees in Baghdad can apply there. The policy will take effect in about one month and really only apply to a few hundred people. Unfortunately, all those who have fled Iraq or do not work for the State Department must rely on the United Nations for assistance.

STEM CELL VINDICATION- In 2001 I received a short note from President George W. Bush thanking me for being one of the few who supported his stem cell research policy. He refused to allow the continued creation of human embryos destined only to be destroyed in the laboratory and their stem cells extracted. This ban angered liberals, but the President's allowing the use of existing lines of stem cells angered many conservatives. Even Washington Post columnists now say he was right in his decision to allow what already existed while looking for alternatives. The alternative was found and stem cells can now be made from common skin cells. Click here to read Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer.

THE HOUSE

HOUSE IN RECESS - The House went into recess on Thursday for Thanksgiving and will not return until December 3rd.

GREAT PRO-LIFE CHAMPION PASSES - It was just last year that Congressman Henry Hyde left the Congress of the United States after 32 years of service. Following the Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion in the United States, he became the single greatest champion of the pro-life movement, giving eloquent speeches. Mr. Hyde's efforts against abortion began in 1976, when his amendment to an appropriations bill prohibited Medicaid from paying for abortions. Known as the Hyde Amendment, it is still the law today. The world will miss this great pro-life champion.

THE SENATE

ANOTHER GOP SENATOR LEAVES- Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) has announced that he is resigning his seat from the Senate. He did not intend to run for this current term, but did anyway to help get federal funds for his home state after the Katrina disaster. His own home was lost to Katrina and he is not a wealthy man as are most Senators. He will take a position with a lobbying firm in DC that pays probably triple his Senate salary. Republican Governor Haley Barber will appoint his successor.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

THE ATHEIST'S DAY IN COURT- On Tuesday, December 4, 2007 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, otherwise known as the Nutty Ninth, will hear atheist Michael Newdow's latest lawsuit to have "under God" removed from the Pledge to our flag. There will be a lot of publicity on this next week! Have you read my book, The Pledge, One Nation Under God! ?

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The November 21, 2007 issue of the Chairman's Report is now available online. This is the latest Chairman's Report and has new information on lawsuits filed by atheist Michael Newdow. The atheist Newdow has filed a new lawsuit against "under God" in the Pledge in New Hampshire. Click here to read the new Chairman's Report.

INTERNATIONAL

JUST PUT EVERYONE IN JAIL - A court in Sudan has sentenced a British elementary school teacher to 15 days in prison and deportation on charges of inciting religious hatred. British citizen Gillian Gibbons, who had been teaching in Sudan just since August, allowed her class of 7-year-olds to name a teddy bear "Mohammed" as part of a school project. UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed his "concern" and not much more. Gibbons could have faced longer jail time plus lashes on the back. Not a single feminist organization, teachers' union or liberal "civil rights" group has spoken up on this outrage. Click here for UK Times story.

VISIT OUR CHRISTMAS STORE

THE PLEDGE - My most recent book, The Pledge: One Nation Under God, has been released and is now available online and at bookstores. The book has a forward by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) who is the primary sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Please order The Pledge from the RFC bookstore, as the funds will be used to help fight to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Click here or on Image to learn more.

OUR CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE - We have lots of great stuff for Thanksgiving and 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. Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.

email: support@rfcnet.org
phone: 202.742.8990
web: http://www.rfcnet.org
William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom