Christmas Week, 2008 - Washington, DC

The staff of the Religious Freedom Coalition wishes you a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

White House Christmas ... BUT ... No Christmas message from Barack Obama / Congress and the Christmas tree / Crimes against Nativity scenes / Iraqi refugee program / Iraqi Christian refugee video / Hope for Hope School in the Holy Land?

THE PRESIDENT

WHITE HOUSE HOLIDAY- This final year for the George W. Bush presidency the White House Internet site features a "Red, White and Blue Christmas". Features include red, white and blue ornaments for the White House Christmas tree and the Christmas "Barney Cam." The White House Christmas Holiday site can be viewed here. President George W. Bush's final Christmas message features Luke 2:10-12. Click the ornament image to see all 50 state ornaments.

NO CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM BARACK OBAMA - Check for yourself at http://change.gov/ which is the official site of President-elect Barack Obama's transition to power. There is no mention of Christmas, there is no Christmas message and there is certainly no Scripture as of 11:30 AM EST on December 24, 2008.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE

HOUSE AND SENATE ADJOURNED- The House and Senate is adjourned for Christmas ("The Holidays" to Democrats) and will reconvene on January 6, 2009

CONGRESS AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - ( Reprint from 12/12/08) Following a Christmas tree lighting ceremony that included traditional Christmas carols played by a US Air Force band, Washington based Rev. Rob Schenck thanked Speaker Nancy Pelosi for keeping, "Christmas" at the US Capitol. Speaker Pelosi responded that she had been "mugged" for doing so. When asked again she repeated the comment. The Speaker was admitting that she had paid a political price for allowing the Christmas celebration to go on. The politically correct in her party were clearly unhappy. Read more

RELIGION AND CULTURE

CRIMES AGAINST CHRISTMAS - Nearly thirty acts of vandalism against Nativity scenes and other Christmas displays plus an assault against a pastor have occurred during this Christmas season, not in Iraq, but in the United States, according to the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Read more. Thefts of figures from Nativities scenes have become common and many of the crimes go unreported. Churches and businesses that display Nativities have begun planting GPS tracking units in the figures to locate them later. Read more.

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The December 4, 2008 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. Read more about Rev. George Docherty and "under God" in the Pledge. Also information on Barack Obama's pro-abortion cabinet and Hillary Clinton. New information on Muslim attacks in India and persecuted Christians. Click here to view PDF

INTERNATIONAL

IRAQI REFUGEE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM - Our outreach to Iraqi Christian refugees in Jordan continues. In December the Religious Freedom Coalition was able to transfer funds to Manara Ministries which operates the food program. The funds advanced will be used to purchase special Christmas time food baskets for Iraqi Christian families in need.

SPECIAL REQUEST: Please ask you Sunday School class to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer as refugees from Islamic terror in the Middle East.

IRAQI CHRISTIAN REFUGEE VIDEO- Thousands of people have viewed the video on the persecution of Iraqi Christians that is streaming from the Religious Freedom Coalition Internet site. Click here to view the 20 minute video prepared by the Chaldean Church. More information is available at www.christianrefugees.blogspot.com

HOPE FOR HOPE SCHOOL? - For more than a decade the Religious Freedom Coalition has stood by Hope School in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem. The small Christian charity school did well under Israel, but has faced serious problems since President Bill Clinton forced the handover of the area to the Palestinian Authority. All sorts of demands have been made on the school including the use of official public school textbooks that have Islamic verses in them. Now the Palestinian Authority is demanding thousands of dollars of "back taxes." This is an outrage in that Islamic schools are charged no taxes at all. This is just one more step to repress Christians in the Bethlehem, Beit Jala area. I have asked the White House to pressure the Palestinian Authority into dropping the demand for the money. Please pray for Hope School, for Headmaster Solomon Noir, and for the teachers and students.

VISIT OUR INTERNET STORE

OUR INTERNET STORE - We have lots of great Christian themed products at our Internet store. Not only are there books and CD's, but everything from candy to jewelry. Unlike Amazon and other major Internet stores we do not sell porn and satanic materials right beside Christian books. 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.

Week Ending December 19, 2008 - Washington, DC

Bush gives GM life support / Obama's first scandal / Obama and the pro-life preacher / Republican congressman rips Rice / Conservative icon Paul Weyrich dies / More war on Christmas / Iraq a "Country of Particular Concern" on religious freedom

In November, 2008, just days after receiving billions of our tax dollars for a bail-out, American Express canceled credit lines of all their small business customers, making it impossible to buy inventory for Christmas and causing layoffs. At the same time American Express canceled the credit lines of non-profit organizations including the Religious Freedom Coalition. As a result of the actions of American Express, we will no longer accept American Express cards at our Internet site.

THE PRESIDENCY

BUSH GIVES GM LIFE SUPPORT - President George W. Bush is leaving office during an unpopular war, and with the nation in the worst economic condition since the Great Depression. He did not want to add to that the collapse of the domestic automotive industry which could lead to the loss of over two million more jobs. As a result, he has authorized a "bridge loan" that allows GM and Chrysler to survive until March 31st. This gives the new Obama Administration about ten weeks to work up a longer lasting solution. Read more

OBAMA SCANDAL ALREADY? - It appears the future Chief of Staff in the new Obama Administration had direct conversations with the disgraced governor of Illinois, and pushed for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to Barack Obama's empty Senate seat. Rahm Emanuel had direct discussions with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This contradicts statements by President-elect Obama and opens the door to questions of ethics in the "pay to play" Illinois scandal. Read more

AND - President-elect Obama is in a lot of hot water with the homosexuals who gave him millions of dollars during his campaign. His pick of Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration has homosexuals hot, angry and calling names. To them freedom of speach is anything they agree with and nothing more. Read more.

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN RIPS INTO SECRETARY RICE - At a press conference in which the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom designated Iraq a "Country of Particular Concern" Congressmen Frank Wolf, a Republican, ripped into the Bush Administration and Secretary of State Rice. The congressman blamed the policies of Condoleezza Rice for enabling the persecution of Christians in Iraq. He said, ""We are spending billions of dollars and have shed the blood of some of this country's finest, and the U.S. government has not done a darn thing to protect the freedom and safety - forget freedom - the safety of Christians in Iraq. Secretary Rice has failed when it comes to this point." Read more about the USCIRF designation.

CONSERVATIVE ICON DIES - Read more about Paul Weyrich in the Culture and Religion section

THE CONGRESS

HOUSE AND SENATE IN RECESS - The House will reconvene at 11 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2009. The Senate may or may not reconvene on the same date.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

PAUL WEYRICH DIES - My good friend and a conservative icon died on Thursday, December 18, 2009. I have been a part of the famed invitation only "Weyrich lunch" for more than a decade, and I came to know and love Paul not only for his views, but for his personal courage. He continued to fight for social conservative views and common sense economic policies even after the loss of both his legs some years ago. He was on a first name basis with congressmen, senators and presidents. All conservatives, particularly this one, mourn his loss. Read more about Paul Weyrich. Video and slide show gallery.

WAR ON CHRISTMAS - An 11-year-old student in Hattiesburg, Mississippi wrote a poem about Christmas that included a mention of the Lord, but his teacher insisted that mentioning Jesus was not allowed and asked him to write a new poem. Read more.

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new December 4, 2008 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. Read more about Rev. George Docherty and "under God" in the Pledge. It also has information on Barack Obama's pro-abortion cabinet and Hillary Clinton. There is new information on Muslim attacks in India and persecuted Christians. Click here to view PDF

INTERNATIONAL

IRAQ DECLARED "COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN" - On Tuesday, December 16th the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom designated Iraq as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). This CPC designation from the USCIRF is a declaration that the Iraqi government is not protecting the religious freedom of Iraq's religious minorities. After six years of persecution in Iraq, an official body of the US government finally tells the truth about the effect of our invasion on the Christian minority. See USCRIF Internet site. Also, read RFC news release.

PERSECUTED IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The situation in Iraq has not improved for Christians and your assistance is still needed. if you need a reminder of the situation please watch the testimony video of those who have lived through the persecution. Please help today.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE - Order Christmas ornaments with Christian themes and tens of thousands of other Christian themed items at our affiliate store. We stock jewelry from the Holy Land, Bibles and lots of Christian books. It is a great place to shop for birthday gifts as well. NOTE: Amazon sells atheist and satanist books right along with Christian books. We don't. 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.

Religious Freedom: Iraq is a "Country of Particular Concern"

Today the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom designated Iraq was a Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) because of the continuing persecution of religious minorities, particularly Christians. The White House had lobbied the Commissioners intensely not to give the CPC designation to Iraq and won over some GOP appointees including Dr. Richard Land who voted against CPC status. The majority carried the day and the continued persecution of Christians and other minorities was spotlighted in a USIRF news conference on December 16, 2008. Click here to read more about the press conference and the report of the USCIRF.

Week Ending December 12, 2008 - Washington, DC

Bush and Obama fear GM failure / Obama and Gore plan for a "green" America / Congress and the automakers - What is good for some is bad for others / Nancy Pelosi and the Christmas celebration / Richard Cizik is finally fired by NAE / "Kill the Jews just like in 1929" says Jordanian Muslim leader / I appear on Fox and Friends to talk about the war on Christmas

In November, 2008, just days after receiving billions of our tax dollars for a bail-out, American Express canceled credit lines of all their small business customers, making it impossible to buy inventory for Christmas and causing layoffs. At the same time American Express canceled the credit lines of non-profit organizations including the Religious Freedom Coalition. As a result of the actions of American Express, we will no longer accept American Express cards at our Internet site.

THE PRESIDENCY

BUSH AND OBAMA FEAR GM FAILURE - The Bush White House and the Obama transition team are in a near state of panic trying to avert bankruptcy filings by Chrysler and GM before the end of December. Chrysler barely has the funds on hand for the next two payrolls, and suppliers are starting to demand that GM pay cash up front for parts.

I have been on White House conference calls with other social and economic conservative leaders concerning the automakers crisis. While the content of the calls is confidential, I can say that the economic outlook for the nation if there is a GM failure is bleak. Estimates are that a failure will bring down the GDP of the United States by 5% or more next year. President-elect Obama fears inheriting an economy that is in a literal free fall worse than the Great Depression.

OBAMA AND GORE - Barack Obama has already put plenty of pro-abortion people in key places of his staff. Could it get worse? Yes it can. This week Barack Obama met with Al Gore. It is Al Gore who wants to destroy what is left of the American economy by forcing American industry to buy carbon credits costing billions of dollars a year, from nations such as Russia that have vast forests. The two huddled for hours figuring out how to make America "green." Green being defined as broke. Read more

THE CONGRESS

CONGRESS AND THE AUTOMAKERS - This week the House and Senate met for three days to try to hammer out a rescue policy for Chrysler and General Motors. The plan passed the House and then stalled in the Senate when Senator Corker of Tennessee demanded that as part of the deal workers at their plants must agree to accept wages less than those of workers at Toyota plants in the US. In his home state of Tennessee, Volkswagen is slated to receive $577 million from the state to build a new plant there. The German government may now give Volkswagen funds to help the company through the financial meltdown there. Aides to Senator Corker said he sees no conflict in favoring aid for Volkswagen and opposing it for GM. The House and Senate adjourned with no action.

CONGRESS AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - Following a Christmas tree lighting ceremony that included traditional Christmas carols played by a US Air Force band, Washington based Rev. Rob Schenck thanked Speaker Nancy Pelosi for keeping, "Christmas" at the US Capitol. Speaker Pelosi responded that she had been "mugged" for doing so. When asked again she repeated the comment. The Speaker was admitting that she had paid a political price for allowing the Christmas celebration to go on. The politically correct in her party were clearly unhappy. Read more

CULTURE AND RELIGION

WAR ON CHRISTMAS - I APPEAR ON FOX AND FRIENDS - On Thursday of this week I appeared on Fox and Friends which is the morning show viewed by millions of people on the Fox News Network. The subject was the continuing war on Christmas, this time the removal of Christmas trees from a university library. I made the point that a few people should not have veto power on the views and traditions of others. See video clip here.

CIZIK GONE AT LAST- Richard Cizik has represented the National Association of Evangelicals in Washington, DC for more than a decade. During that time he has sought and found a home with social liberals, radical greens and even those who are pro-abortion. Despite that the NAE, which officially stands against most of his positions, stood behind him as their guy in DC. This week he went too far when he endorsed homosexual marriage on a radio show. Finally he was asked to resign, just about ten years too late. Read more

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new December 4, 2008 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. Read more about Rev. George Docherty and "under God" in the Pledge. Also information on Barack Obama's pro-abortion cabinet and Hillary Clinton. New information on Muslim attacks in India and persecuted Christians. Click here to view PDF

INTERNATIONAL

KILL THE JEWS LIKE YOU DID IN 1929 - That was the call of a Jordanian cleric to Muslims in Israel. Most believe Jordan to be a "moderate" Islamic state, but that is only because of the iron hand of the king. If left unchecked, the Muslim clerics would be as dangerous as those of Iran. Read excerpts here and see actual video clip.

PERSECUTED IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The situation in Iraq has not improved for Christians and your assistance is still needed. if you need a reminder of the situation please watch the testimony video of those who have lived through the persecution. Please help today.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE - Order Christmas ornaments with Christian themes and tens of thousands of other Christian themed items at our affiliate store. We stock jewelry from the Holy Land, Bibles and lots of Christian books. It is a great place to shop for birthday gifts as well. NOTE: Amazon sells atheist and satanist books right along with Christian books. We don't. 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.

Week Ending December 5, 2008 - Washington, DC

Muslim cleric to Obama: Convert to Islam / Obama says he will fix roads - just like Huckabee would have / The Obama birth certificate flap / Congress to return in rare December session / What happened to atheist "under God" lawsuit? / "Under God" pastor dies at 97 / CNN has digestive guru as terror expert / New York Times about India terror - no Muslims involved / More church arrests in China

In November, 2008, just days after receiving billions of our tax dollars for a bail-out, American Express canceled credit lines of all their small business customers making it impossible to buy inventory for Christmas and causing layoffs. At the same time American Express canceled the credit lines of non-profit organizations including the Religious Freedom Coalition. As a result of the actions of American Express we will no longer accept American Express cards at our Internet site.

THE PRESIDENCY

MUSLIM CLERIC'S MESSAGE TO OBAMA - "You, Obama, are among those who have pledged before Allah - Allah who created you, sustained you, and brought you to this position - to be a Muslim who believes that Allah is the one God, especially since you have some kind of roots in Islam. Convert to Islam, and you will be saved. All glory and honor lie in following Allah and His messenger Muhammad. Know that the true religion is the religion of Islam, and all other religions are fabricated religions, which are null and void - religions that were abrogated by the shari'a of Muhammad. ..." See the whole message which tells Obama there are those ready to fight to the death against him if he doesn't convert to Islam. Welcome to the real world Barack Obama!

OBAMA SAYS HE WILL BUILD ROADS -During the primary election Republican candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee pushed a plan to build back the infrastructure of the United States including our decaying Interstate system. His Republican rivals including Senator John McCain preferred to "stimulate the economy" by sending cash rebates to people to buy Chinese junk at discount stores. Taking a page from the Huckabee campaign, Barack Obama said he will stimulate the economy with road repair and construction. But who will build them? While Obama wants road construction jobs, he also wants to fund abortion clinics and make abortions even more available. Easily available abortions have already claimed the lives of millions of American babies. Our population can hardly even sustain itself now, without massive numbers of immigrants, many of whom do not share our traditional American values.

THE OBAMA BIRTH CERTIFICATE ISSUE - There is a big push by conservatives led by World Net Daily and Leo Donofrio who filed a lawsuit to have the Supreme Court find Barak Obama unqualified to be president based on the circumstances of his birth. The controversy is fired by Hawaii refusing to release an actual copy of his birth certificate. Many have e-mailed and written to me asking why I do not support this effort. Here are the reasons:

First, this can't be won and it is a waste of our resources. Conservatives need to target Obama in other areas to make sure he is not re-elected in 2012. Second, if by some remote chance the Supreme Court did rule that Obama could not be sworn in as president, it would mean Civil War in the United States with some states accepting him as president and others not. There would be a blood bath in the inner cities like we have never seen before. The inner city violence would take tens of thousands of lives and do hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. The American economy, already under stress, would collapse into something worse than a depression and would take the world with it. Our military would collapse into chaos along racial lines and mutiny would be a real possibility. Conservatives, including me, need to accept the reality and work to elect a fresh faced conservative in 2012 such as Sarah Palin.

SPOOL DOWN AT WHITE HOUSE - There are thousands of good people who work directly for the Bush Administration in buildings near the White House. January 19th will be their last day at work as the offices are filled by staffers reporting to Barack Obama. An archaic law forbids current staffers from seeking employment until after they are separated from federal employment. Considering the economic situation in America today, Congress should suspend this rule or the President should suspend it by Executive Order.

THE CONGRESS

CONGRESS TO RETURN - At 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 9th, the House will reconvene for two days. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not stated a reason for reconvening the House during the "Holiday break" but it is a sure bet it will deal with the more than one million people who have been laid off in the past three months and the prospect of GM going into bankruptcy. Such a bankruptcy would cause the auto parts supply chain to fail and put up to another million people out of work just before Christmas. Toyota, Honda and BMW would be forced to shut their American plants for months should the supply chain be disrupted, because they use the same suppliers as GM, Ford and Chrysler.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

WHAT HAPPENED TO ATHEIST LAWSUIT?- The lawsuits against "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and our National Motto, One nation Under God, were argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals more than a year ago. Still there is no decision from that far left leaning Circuit Court. In anticipation of the decision my latest book, The Pledge, One Nation Under God, was released. Earlier lawsuits filed by atheist Michael Newdow, caused the Ninth Circuit to find that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools is unconstitutional in 2002. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned that decision on a technicality allowing Newdow to refile. It appears the Court is waiting for Barack Obama to be sworn in as president in the hope that his Justice Department will side with them against "under God."

PASTOR WHO MOTIVATED PRESIDENT DIES AT AGE 97 - The pastor who helped to persuade Congress to insert the phrase "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance died in Alexandria, Pennsylvania on Thanksgiving Day with his wife Sue at his side. Rev. George M. Docherty was 97 years-old. Read more in current Chairman's Report.

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new December 4, 2008 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. Read more about Rev. George Docherty and "under God" in the Pledge. Also information on Barack Obama's pro-abortion cabinet and Hillery Clinton. New information on Muslim attacks in India and persecuted Christians. Click here to view PDF

INTERNATIONAL

DURING MUMBAI TERROR, CNN TURNED TO GURU? - It was one of the most incredible things I ever seen anywhere. During the Muslim terror attacks on civilians in Mumbai, India, CNN brought in an "expert" named Deepak Chopra. He is a New Age philosopher and digestion guru who was interviewed over and over again about the "true meaning" of the attacks by the Muslims. He of course blamed America which is what CNN wanted. I thought I was the only one who realized how ridiculous this was, but a Wall Street Journal Reporter commented on it as well. Read more.

NEW YORK TIMES: MUSLIMS NOT INVOLVED IN MUMBAI TERROR - In six stories on the Mumbai Muslim terror attacks, the New York Times refused to call the terrorists Muslims or Islamic extremists. They were called "terrorists"and "assailants," but not Muslims. The only time Muslims or Islam was mentioned, it was to blame the treatment of Muslims in India for some violence and to call for previous Muslim terrorists to be released from prison by India. The Times also stated the attacks on civilians were "random." Tell that to the children of the Jewish rabbi and his wife who were tortured to death.Read more.

MORE ARRESTS IN CHINA - ChinaAid has confirmed that in September and early November 2008, police raided house gatherings in Beijing and near college campuses in Hangzhou, arresting more than 400 Christian college students. House church leaders were detained, and several were sentenced to re-education through forced labor. Read more.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE - Order Christmas ornaments with Christian themes and tens of thousands of other Christian themed items at our affiliate store. We stock jewelry from the Holy Land, Bibles and lots of Christian books. It is a great place to shop for birthday gifts as well. NOTE: Amazon sells atheist and satanist books right along with Christian books. We don't. 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.