Week Ending May 30, 2008 - Washington, DC

Scott McClellan - lying then or now? / Obama says most black churches are "homophobic" / More racial hate from the pulpit at Obama's church / Congress in recess / Czech president: Environmentalism is a new religion / The Texas Polygamy problem and Texas / Jihad kill count in Thailand rises / Iraqi Christians warn of holocaust.

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - An all new edition of the Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman's Report is now available in PDF format. The May 29, 2008 edition includes details of the RFC outreach program to Iraqi Christians. There is other RFC material never before posted at our site including a phto of our evangelist's bombed apartment. Read Chairman's Report

THE PRESIDENT

LYING THEN OR NOW? - Scott McClellan, the former spokesman for President George W. Bush, has penned a "tell all" book trashing the president. The publisher, PublicAffairs, has also published six books by radical leftist billionaire George Soros. The founder of PublicAffairs, Peter Osnos, assisted in editing and "tweaking" the attack book on Bush. There has been no disclosure on how much McClellan was paid to betray the confidences of his friend. More on Peter Osnos

OBAMA SAYS BLACK CHURCHES "HOMOPHOBIC" - Sen. Barack Obama told the homosexual magazine, The Advocate, that "homophobic" messages are coming from black churches because "most African-American churches are still fairly traditional in their interpretations of Scripture." In the same April 10th interview he praised Rev. Jeremiah Wright for being on the right side of the homosexual debate. Oddly Obama had just before this interview distanced himself from Rev. Wright calling his views "extremist." CNS for more details

OBAMA'S NEW PREACHER PROBLEM - A radical left Catholic Priest spoke at Senator Barack Obama's church this past Sunday, delivering a message so vile and full of race baiting that Obama had to immediately distance himself from the sermon. The priest is white, but his rhetoric was full of the same vile liberation theology that exploits race and that is used by Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Watch the church cheer Father Pfleger's racist remarks on YouTube.com

THE CONGRESS

IN RECESS - The House and Senate are in recess until Monday, June 2nd with no votes planned before late on June 3rd, 2008

CULTURE AND RELIGION

ENVIRONMENTALISM A RELIGION TO SUPPRESS FREEDOM? - Former Czech President Vaclav Klaus says the environmental movement is the new communism, a system of the elites like Al Gore and Barak Obama to set up a central authority to control us all. While in Washington this past week he spoke about his new book, Blue Planet in Green Shackles. Read more at Vaclav Klaus' Internet site.

THE POLYGAMY PROBLEM AND ISLAM - There is virtually no difference between the teachings on marriage of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints and the teachings of Islam. Many Muslims in North American practice polygamy and it is common in all Arab nations. Members of the Saudi royal family have brought multiple wives with them when they stayed at President George W. Bush's ranch in Texas. Why did a Texas prosecutor move against one group of polygamists and not those within Islam? Ignorance of Islam may have been the answer. The Texas Supreme Court has sided with the FLDS and Muslims, and the children were ordered returned to the polygamists compound. The Texas raid on a the FLDS has probably moved the nation a step closer to legalized polygamy in the court system. With California and other states blessing homosexual marriage, there can be no moral boundary. The only question now is when will Jon Arbuckle marry Garfield.

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - An all new edition of the Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman's Report is now available in PDF format. The May 29, 2008 edition includes details of the RFC outreach program to Iraqi Christians. There is other RFC material never before posted at our site including a phto of our evangelist's bombed apartment. Read Chairman's Report

INTERNATIONAL

JIHAD MURDERS HIT 3,000 MARK IN THAILAND - - With the killing of three people at a wedding reception in Thailand this week the total killed by Muslims practicing Jihad now stands at 3,000. Don't expect to learn this from the Western press who refer to the Jihadists as "separatists." The French news agency manages to blame Buddhists for being murdered by the Muslims. Read more.

IRAQI CHRISTIANS WARN OF HOLOCAUST - Just days before an international conference on political and economic reform for Iraq was to be held in Sweden, hundreds of Iraqi Christians demonstrated outside the country's parliament. "A new wave of ethnic cleansing is going on in Iraq," Iraqi Christian representative Behiye Hadodo told the gathering. "If these atrocities continue, the Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrian communities there will be wiped out altogether, creating a new catastrophe for humanity." Read more

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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 overseas by shopping at our affiliate Christian Superstore . Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.

Week Ending May 23, 2008 - Washington, DC

Bush judicial nominee gave money to Obama / Why can't we pay our soldiers? / Congressman: Don't import human bodies for theatrical displays / Conservative bill passed in 2003 OK'd by the Supreme Court / Pro-life legislation slips by Pelosi and is signed by Bush

THE PRESIDENT

BUSH NOMINEE GAVE MONEY TO OBAMA - Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Helene White, who was nominated by President Bush last month to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has contributed the legal maximum amount of $2,300 to Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for their respective presidential campaigns. The information was released as a result of a written questionnaire by Senator Coburn (R-OK). Although Judge White is a radical pro-abortion leftist, she was nominated by Bush as part of a deal to have four of his semi-conservative nominees approved by the Senate. This raises the question of exactly how many real conservatives John McCain will be able to appoint to the judiciary if in fact he is elected in November.

WE CAN'T PAY OUR SOLDIERS - Secretary of Defense Gates stated this week that without congressional action "Two critical accounts will run dry." He stated that: "After June 15th, we will run out of funds In this account to pay soldiers, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan." He said about a second account, the Operations and Maintenance account, "Around July 5th, O&M funds across the services will run out, starting with the Army. This may result in civilian furloughs, limits on training and curbing family support activities." Meanwhile Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid has added funding for Planned Parenthood to the Military Supplemental Spending Bill.

THE CONGRESS

DON'T IMPORT HUMAN BODIES FOR THEATRICAL DISPLAYS - Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) has introduced H.R.5677 to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the importation into the United States of plastinated human remains. So far he has 21 co-sponsors to the bill that would stop the importation of human bodies from China for display in the United States. He said, "considering China's human rights record, it's questionable whether the university obtained permission to plastinate the bodies." The bill was filed amid growing controversy involving "Bodies The Exhibition" now touring the United States. The exhibit features human bodies, carved and sliced in half to demonstrate anatomic systems. The exhibits are for entertainment, not scientific purposes and illustrate a continuing decline in respect for human life in America.

WE WIN ONE - This week the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the constitutionality of the PROTECT Act of 2003, which targeted child pornography possession and solicitation. The majority opinion, which reversed a decision by the 11th Circuit, was authored by Justice Scalia.

AND ANOTHER WIN - This week the President signed H.R. 493, the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA) into law. Pro-life groups fought language authored by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) included in the bill. The Stupak language ensured that the protections afforded by GINA cover the unborn as well as those who are born. This is a major pro-life victory considering the House and Senate are controlled by radical pro-abortionists.

INTERNATIONAL

THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE RFC - This week I was among a select group of individuals who were to meet with Prime Minister Barzani of the Kurdish region of Iraq. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the plight of Christians who have fled to the Nineveh Plains area located in the Kurdish region. Less than 30 minutes before the meeting, it was canceled by the Kurds for unknown reasons and Barzani returned to Iraq. Previously I had met with Qubad Talabani on this issue. He is the son of the President of Iraq and the Kurdish government representative in Washington. The Religious Freedom Coalition will continue to press for the rights of Christians in Iraq with that government and with the current US Administration.

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 overseas by shopping at our affiliate Christian Superstore . Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.

Week Ending May 16, 2008 - Washington, DC

Islamic rocket attack welcomes Bush to Israel / Bush killed in Islamic children's video shown on TV / Bush hands Lebanon to Islamists / Goodbye Hillary? / Pro-Life congressman to head GOP Platform Committee / Dems want Internet gambling / Military Honor and Decency / Horrible death toll in Islamic bombings in India / More on bombed home of evangelist in Israel

THE PRESIDENT

ISLAMIC ROCKET WELCOMES BUSH TO ISRAEL - Just as President George W. Bush prepared to speak at a May 14th event in Israel marking its 60 years of independence, 15 people were wounded, including a three-year-old, when a Grad rocket fired from Gaza hit the Hutzot Shopping Center in Ashkelon. (Jpost story) The President spoke about America's commitment to Israel without mentioning that his Administration pressured Israel into leaving the Gaza Strip, from which Muslims now fire dozens of rockets daily into southern Israel. The President now heads to Saudi Arabia to visit with the worst offenders of human rights in the world, and to beg them to pump additional oil to lower gasoline prices.

BUSH KILLED IN CHILDREN'S VIDEO - Numerous Islamic sites have threatened President Bush's life on his present Middle East trip. Yet, Bush hopes to convince Israel to give up more of its territory to help establish a Palestinian State. Meanwhile Palestinian TV just aired children's show in which the White House is turned into a mosque and Bush is stabbed to death by a Palestinian child using the sword of Allah.

BUSH HANDS LEBANON TO ISLAMISTS- Christians with enough money to do so are fleeing Lebanon, as Druse and Christian militias plead with the Bush Administration for arms to fight the Islamists. In reality the fight is over and the Bush Administration is so distracted with the prospect of Israel giving up land for a Palestinian state that they don't realize Lebanon is lost.

Sheik Yazeeb Khader, A West Bank political activist, does understand what Bush does not. This week he said, ""What happened in Gaza in 2007 is an achievement; now it is happening in 2008 in Lebanon. It's going to happen in 2009 in Jordan and it's going to happen in 2010 in Egypt." He continued, "We are seeing a redrawing of the map of the Middle East where the forces of resistance and steadfastness are the ones moving the things on the ground."

He is right; once Bush allows Lebanon to fall, land locked Jordan will be next. Full Story.

GOODBYE HILLARY? - Virtually all the pundits now declare that the Democrats have their nominee and it is time for Hillary Clinton to step aside for Barack Obama. One voice calling for her to withdraw is that of Senator Ted Kennedy. Yet, when he ran for president in 1980 he refused to step aside even though he was 500 delegate votes behind Gov. Jimmy Carter. He carried his campaign to the floor of the convention. Senator Obama says he will have the delegates needed by May 20th to tell Hillary bye bye.

THE CONGRESS

PRO-LIFE CONGRESSMAN TO HEAD PLATFORM COMMITTEE - Republican National Committee chairman Robert "Mike" Duncan has named pro-life Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as chairman of the 2008 Republican National Convention Platform Committee. Rep. McCarthy has a 100% pro-life voting rating from the National Right to Life Committee and will most certainly work to keep the pro-life plank in the Republican Platform, despite efforts by pro-abortion and pro-homosexual Republicans to "broaden" the appeal of the party

DEMS WANT TO WEAKEN INTERNET GAMBLING LAWS - House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) has introduced legislation (H.R. 5767) to derail enforcement regulations against unlawful Internet gambling. His bill would be detrimental to gains against Internet gambling achieved in the Republican controlled 109th Congress.

MILITARY HONOR AND DECENCY - The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 stated, in part, that "The Secretary of Defense may not permit the sale or rental of sexually explicit material on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense." However, broad definitions in the statute have created a loophole which allows publications such as Playboy, Penthouse, and similar material to be sold at military exchange stores. Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) has introduced the Military Honor and Decency Act, (HR- 5821) to close the loophole and stop all sales of pornographic material on military bases.

RELIGION AND SOCIETY

CALIFORNIA TO HAVE SAME SEX MARRIAGE - The California Supreme Court ruled 4 to 3 this week that marriage as the union of husband and wife is unconstitutional under the California constitution. The majority ruled that there is a fundamental constitutional right to same-sex marriage, and that by creating civil unions the state violated the equal protection clause of its Constitution. In other words states that create "civil unions" open up the gate for same sex marriage. (Text of Court ruling)

Senator Obama believes this is a great ruling. Senator McCain said nothing himself, but his spokesman Tucker Bounds said, "John McCain supports the right of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution sanctioning the union between a man and a woman, just as he did in his home state of Arizona. John McCain doesn't believe judges should be making these decisions."

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

THE ISLAMIC BOMBINGS YOU DIDN'T READ ABOUT - "This is not a crime; we are in the middle of a war," Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said on Thursday as her government dealt with 61 dead and hundreds wounded in Islamic bombings in Jaipur, a tourist destination in India. A series of bombs ripped through shops and squares this past week. Under the new White House guidelines of "never say anything bad about Islam" there was no mention of the Jihad attacks from the Administration and the media, including Fox News, ignored the bloody attack that occurred in a democratic nation friendly to us. Click here for report in the Times of India. (Video available at site) A list of other Islamic terror attacks the past week can be found here.

ISRAEL EVANGELIST'S SON RECOVERING FROM BOMBING - After six weeks in a hospital, ijncluding three weeks in intensive care, Ami Ortiz has been moved to a rehabilitation center. Evangelist David Ortiz reports to us that his 15 year-old son still faces a long recovery from his wounds after the bombing of their apartment in April. Ami has faced numerous operations and doctors who may not understand the healing power of Jesus have been amazed by his recovery. (Read latest family update from Israel) I have stayed at the Ortiz apartment many times and have sat at the table for dinner on which the bomb, hidden in a Purim basket, exploded. Please continue to pray for Ami's recovery. Click here for photos of the aftermath of the bombing. An address to send cards to Ami is located at the end of the power point presentation of photos. (If you don't have MS Power Point download the viewer here.

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.

Week Ending May 9, 2008 - Washington, DC

Obama speaks at Israel 60th anniversary event / Cheney, Obama and Lieberman credit President Harry Truman on Israel / Teamsters boss at Israel event / Goodbye Hillary? / Bush still punishing those who pay ransom for loved ones / Weeding out the unborn / Military Decency Act / Ten Commandments on the Hill

THE PRESIDENT

OBAMA AND THE JEWS- On May 8th I attended a Washington, DC celebration for the 60 anniversary of the founding of modern Israel. The announced speakers were Vice President Cheney and Senator Lieberman (I-CT). I was a little surprised when early in the program Senator Barack Obama appeared on stage to credit President Truman for his recognition of Israel's independence. During his remarks he said that American would always be a friend and defender of Israel. What I found odd about this was the anti-Semitic nature of the church Senator Obama was a member of for two decades. At the end of his remarks he came off stage and waded into the crowd. When he got to me he shook my hand and thanked me for my support. It was obviously a case of mistaken identity.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION STILL PUNISHES THOSE WHO PAY RANSOM - Several weeks ago I reported that Iraqi Christian families have been refused admission to the United States because they "aided terrorists" by paying ransom to get their kidnapped loved ones back. These families have actually been added to terrorist lists by our government. Despite my repeated calls and e-mails to the White House and State Department there has been no explanation for this rather bizarre rule. Click here for story by Ken Timmerman.

GOODBYE HILLARY? - Virtually all the pundits now declare that the Democrats have their nominee and it is time for Hillary Clinton to step aside for Barack Obama. One voice calling for her to withdraw is that of Senator Ted Kennedy. Yet, when he ran for president in 1980 he refused to step aside even though he was 500 delegate votes behind Gov. Jimmy Carter. He carried his campaign to the floor of the convention. Senator Obama says he will have the delegates needed by May 20th to tell Hillary bye bye.

THE CONGRESS

TEN COMMANDMENTS ON THE HILL - On May 8th I participated in a press conference on the steps of the Supreme Court supporting Ten Commandment resolutions with Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director, Christian Defense Coalition and Rev. Rob Schenck, president, of Faith and Action. Those present showed support for Ten Commandments resolutions filed by Senator Brownback (R-KS) in the Senate and Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) in the House. Both resolutions stating that the Ten Commandments are the "cornerstone" of Western law are being blocked by the Democrat leadership of the House and Senate. (At left Murray speaks at press conference.)

WEEDING OUT THE UNBORN - U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) authored the an adverse prognosis opt for abortion because they are not given other choices.

Senator Brownback said. "The effect of this sort of 'weeding out' is creating new eugenics, a form of systematic, disability-based discrimination. Once you go down the path of valuing some lives more than others, of saying that people with disabilities don't have the same dignity and right to live as others, there are very few means that don't justify the so-called 'worthy end' of a disability-free society."

MILITARY HONOR AND DECENCY - The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 stated, in part, that "The Secretary of Defense may not permit the sale or rental of sexually explicit material on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense." However, broad definitions in the statute have created a loophole which allows publications such as Playboy, Penthouse, and similar material to be sold at military exchange stores. Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) has introduced the Military Honor and Decency Act, (HR- 5821) to close the loophole and stop all sales of pornographic material on military bases.

RELIGION AND SOCIETY

NO ISLAMIC TERRORISM? - Official US documents are being circulated advising federal agencies not to use the terms "Islamic" or "Muslim" in the same sentence as al Qaeda or the words terror or terrorist. The NCTC (National Counter Terrorism Center) says to "avoid calling anything Muslim." Not even the word "jihad" is to be used. The NCTC claims that using these terms causes Muslims to believe we are against them. I bet there is no ban on using the word "Christian" in the same sentence with the word "terrorist." I have sent a query to the NCTC to find out if the words "goofy" and "bureaucrat" in the same sentence is also forbidden. See UPI story

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

MODERN ISRAEL TURNS 60 - I would rather not admit it, but the modern nation of Israel is two years younger than me. I was two years old when David Ben Gurion delivered Israel's declaration of independence. Just 11 minutes later President Harry Truman, despite his own State Department being against him, gave US recognition of the new nation thus assuring its legitimacy. Events were held all over the world in celebration. At the Washington, DC event both liberals and conservatives attended. One of those in attendance was Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., who has done a pretty good job of stemming corruption and cleaning up the union's image. I talked to Mr. Hoffa for sometime and learned of his future plans for a lengthy visit to the Holy Land with his family. Support for Israel is wide spread in our nation and crosses all types of political boundaries. It is unfortunate that most of America's big corporations refuse to do business in Israel because they view Muslim nations as more profitable for them.

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.