Week Ending January 9, 2009 - Washington, DC

DC Metro's "Obama ticket" / Gaza and Obama -- do the Israelis trust him? / Obama declares "economic chaos" / Congress meets briefly, not much done / Another great social conservative leader dies / ALL NEW: A must see video, HAMAS In Their Own Words.

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA TICKET TO RIDE - Want to take a ride on the Washington, DC metro? Then get ready to be handed a ticket with Barack Obama's picture on it. The metro did the same thing for Bill Clinton prior to his inauguration, but not for George W. Bush. Read more

OBAMA AND GAZA - President-elect Obama has been silent on the Gaza conflict since it began nearly two weeks ago, but the liberal media has not. ABC, CBS, NBC and particularly CNBC have repeatedly broadcast photos of dead and injured Palestinians and have directly inferred that Israel is the aggressor. The following has never been reported by a major American media outlet (and that includes Fox News) since the conflict began: 3,200 were rockets fired at Israel from Gaza in 2008; 6,5000 rockets were fired at Israel since it gave up Gaza in 2005; and 543 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza during the six month "cease fire" in 2008. 28 Israeli civilians were killed and 1,000 injured by rockets fired at Israel from Gaza. According to European powers and the American press, the rocket attacks should be endured by Israel and any retaliation is unjustified. President-elect Obama has no comment, but Israeli generals do. My contact in the Israeli military told me that the invasion of Gaza was begun in January for fear that the United States would not side with Israel in the United Nations after January 20, 2009.

OBAMA: "IT WILL GET WORSE" - While he will not talk about the Gaza situation, the President-elect gave a major speech in Virginia in which he said the US economy is moving toward "economic chaos." He has proposed a $300 billion tax cut for businesses, a $500 check to every American who didn't make over $200,000 last year and hundreds of billions in government spending to fix the infrastructure. Almost immediately the idea of tax cuts was hit by Democratic leaders in Congress who say that only government spending can "fix" the economy. Read more.

THE CONGRESS

HOUSE AND SENATE MEET BRIEFLY - The House and Senate held brief sessions each day this week. On Thursday the House and Senate met in Joint session to certify the election of Barack Obama as President-elect. The results of the vote of the Electoral College were read aloud by none other than Vice-President Dick Cheney. Senator Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have not announced when serious legislation will be dealt with.

PLEDGE PROTECTION ACT - Congressman Todd Akin is once again preparing to introduce the Pledge Protection Act which would defend "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to our nation's flag. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has sat on the atheist lawsuit to remove "under God" from the Pledge in hopes that the Justice Department under Barack Obama will agree with them that it is unconstitutional. We must be ready to defend "under God" in the Pledge. The Religious Freedom Coalition has a new social networking site to form groups to defend "under God" at www.pledgeundergod.com. Please register to help at that site!

CULTURE AND RELIGION

FATHER NEUHAUS DIES - Father Richard J. Neuhaus began his public career as a liberal Lutheran minister and died a conservative Catholic priest who worked to bring together conservative Catholics and evangelicals on common social issue such as defending the unborn. He is mourned by all true social conservatives, and President George W. Bush issued a statement on his passing. Not a single major American news outlet has mentioned his death. Shame, shame, shame. Read more about Father Neuhaus

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new January 1, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains material about the assault on "under God" in the Pledge and new details about Barack Obama. The issue also contains more on the "War on Christmas." Read more. Click here to view PDF

INTERNATIONAL

HAMAS IN THEIR OWN WORDS- What are the stakes in Gaza for Israel and the world if Israel does not defeat HAMAS.

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 How about birthday and anniversary gifts with a Christian theme? Our Internet Christian Super Store has tens of thousands of books, CD's DVD's, jewery, food and more. AND ... Our store does not sell 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.

HAMAS IN THEIR OWN WORDS

What are the takes in Gaza for Israel and the world? If
Israel does not defeat HAMAS the world is in
danger. View this special edition video,
HAMAS IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

January 2, 2009 - Washington, DC

Barack Obama, Rick Warren, Lincoln's Bible and the atheist lawsuit / Rick Warren gets criticized from both sides / Senate to reconvene, but who will sit in the chairs? / Do the HAMAS terrorists regret calling off their six month "cease fire?" / Huge number of HAMAS terrorists die / Can you help the Iraqi Christians?
Read More Below

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA, LINCOLN'S BIBLE AND THE ATHEISTS - Atheist Michael Newdow and 17 other individuals, and also 10 atheist groups, filed a lawsuit to block the use of the words, "so help me God" and other religious references in the president's oath of office, invocation and benediction. "There can be no purpose for placing 'so help me God' in an oath or sponsoring prayers to God, other than promoting the particular point of view that God exists," the lawsuit states. President-elect Obama has chosen to be sworn in with his hand on the Bible used for the inauguration of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln. Read more.

RICK WARREN, OBAMA, GAYS AND THE RIGHT - While homosexual groups are attacking Barack Obama for picking mega church pastor Rick Warren to give the benediction at the Inauguration, right wing groups are attacking Rick Warren for accepting the invitation. Apparently , homosexual activists and conservative evangelical Christians have at least one belief in common -- that Rick Warren and Barack Obama should not be seen together on the same platform. Read more.

THE CONGRESS

HOUSE AND SENATE IN RECESS - The Senate will reconvene on January 6, 2009 and on January 8th will count the electoral ballots submitted by the states to certify the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. Two states may be missing one vote each on that day -- Illinois and Minnesota. The disgraced governor of Illinois has appointed Roland Burris as a replacement for Barack Obama, but the Illinois Attorney General refuses to certify Burris, and Democrat Senate leaders say they will reject him. The Minnesota seat is even more contentious. Because some pro-life groups refused to support Senator Norm Coleman because he was only 99% pro-life, now an absolute pro-death, pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, foul mouthed comedian may get the seat. State authorities have been recounting the ballots over and over again for weeks since the November election and the battle may now go to the courts, with no one being seated.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new January 1, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains material about the assault on "under God" in the Pledge and new details about Barack Obama. The issue also contains more on the "War on Christmas." Read more. Click here to view PDF

INTERNATIONAL

HAMAS, WHICH NEVER STOPPED FIRING, DECLARES END OF CEASE FIRE - HAMAS leader Khaled Mash'al made the following statement: "The tahdiah ['calm'] was limited to six months, ending on December 19. It should be noted that the enemy did not comply with the terms of the tahdiah, and that the siege still pressures our people. Therefore, we in Hamas, and I think most of the [other] forces, [say] loud and clear that after December 19, 2008, the tahdiah will end, and will not be renewed." After uttering these words HAMAS once again began to fire rockets at schools, hospitals and other civilian targets in Israel. Israel, fed up with the attacks, has retaliated by killing over 400 in Gaza including high ranking HAMAS terrorist commanders. The Western press has attacked Israel saying that its attack on military targets was not "proportionate" to the small number of Israeli civilians killed. Read more.

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 How about birthday and anniversary gifts with a Christian theme? Our Internet Christian Super Store has tens of thousands of books, CD's DVD's, jewery, food and more. AND ... Our store does not sell 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.

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.