Week Ending July 25, 2008 - Washington, DC

President Bush's new pro-life initiative / State Department offers calendar of mosques in America / Congressman's open letter to Pope / Pelosi's new "energy plan" - use up the military reserve oil / Court says nudity OK during Super Bowl / Religious freedom meetings in Washington / Jerusalem tomorrow / A brave bishop in a Muslim nation.

THE PRESIDENCY

STATE DEPT OFFERS MOSQUE CALENDARS- In celebration of this year's Islamic Ramadan, Global Publishing Solutions (GPS) offered a limited edition of the 2009 "Mosques in America" wall Calendar. The 12-month calendar, they said, was perfect for Muslim outreach efforts and to give out as gifts at State Department events. GPS is the publishing arm of the State Department which is part of President Bush's administration. Imagine the uproar if the State Department published a "Churches in America" calendar. Read more

NEW BUSH PRO-LIFE INITIATIVE - President Bush is pushing for Health and Human Services regulations that would allow health care workers to refuse to participate in the taking of a human life. A proposed HHS document that safeguards health care workers who refuse to perform "any of the various procedures - including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action - that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation." As of now nurses, pharmacists and other who receive federal funds must participate in practices despicable to them. Senator Hillary Clinton and other radicals are up in arms, insisting that even doctors should be forced to preform abortions regardless of their beliefs. Read more

THE CONGRESS

CONGRESSMAN'S LETTER TO POPE ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MD) sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI just prior to his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki, asking the Pope to protest the vicious victimization of Iraqi Christians by Islamic extremists. In his letter McCotter pointed out the need for political autonomy of Christians in the Nineveh Plains. Read letter

PELOSI ENERGY PLAN - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leftist allies who control Congress do not want any domestic drilling for oil. They also refuse to approve nuclear power plants and coal shale mining. The have forbidden American companies to obtain oil from the vast reserves of the Arctic. No drilling in the Alberta sands either. This week Pelosi and her radical left buddies finally came up with a plan: Pump out the strategic oil reserves that are kept by the government for national emergencies and use it to bring down the price of gas four or five cents a gallon for a few days to "help consumers." This woman just hates America and any chance she has to put the nation in danger, she will do it.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

NUDITY DURING SUPER BOWL OK'D BY COURT - The United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that CBS will not be forced to pay the $550,000 fine imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The court threw out the fine for the "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show, which revealed Janet Jackson's breast on live television. The court ruled that the FCC "acted arbitrarily and capriciously" in issuing the fine. The court action clears the way for nudity and sexual acts at all times of day, even in children's hours, on broadcast TV. Read more

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new July 10, 2008 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. The Chairman's Report contains some material and photos that have not previously been displayed at our Internet site including new details about our Middle East mission. Click here to read the all new issue.

INTERNATIONAL

OUR MISSION TO JORDAN- Very good reports are coming in from Jordan as a result of our mission trip there this month. I received calls from both the food distribution center and from a health care clinic. As a result of the funds we delivered, the food delivery system is back up and operating. The free medical clinic told me that the drugs we delivered were a blessing and already in use.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - In last week's update I did not mention that within 24 hours of returning from the Middle East I participated in two major events in Washington, DC. A meeting celebrating the 10th anniversary of the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 was held in the Library of Congress members' room. The Religious Freedom Coalition was a key player in the passage of the law. Read Congressman Trent Franks' opening remarks.

On that same day I spoke at a rally in the Senate park next to the Capitol Building protesting the persecution by China of religious minorities such as the Falun Gong. China is spending huge amounts of money and arresting dissidents in an effort to stop all protests during the Olympic games this summer.

BRAVERY OF BISHOP THOMAS - On Friday the 18th I met with Coptic Bishop Thomas, one of the most outspoken of the leaders of the Christian minority in Egypt. About 10% to 15% of the Egyptian population is Coptic. When the Muslims invaded Egypt in the 7th century, it was nearly all Christian. The Copts are the original Christian Egyptians who have not been arabized and forced into Islam. The Bishop's remarks were an education on the history of the Copts and I urge you to take a few minutes to listen to them. Use this link, then click on "media clips."

JERUSALEM TOMORROW- This week I met with Nir Barkat who is a member of the Jerusalem city council and a candidate for mayor of the the holy city. He shared with me his vision of making Jerusalem a center for religious freedom that would draw in as many as eight million visitors a year, or more than four times the current number. A conservative, Mr. Barkat believes there is a role for Christians in a new and vibrant Jerusalem.

I also met with Michael Weiss this week who is the founder of www.Jerusalem.com. I encourage you to visit the site which he hopes will bring together the world to pray for and to help build a newer and better Jerusalem.

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