Christian Rights Headlines 10/27/08

Toy giant promoting Islam?

Some concerned parents have contacted the Mattel toy company with allegations that one of its dolls utters words which promote Islam. The Little Mommy Cuddle n Coo dolls are manufactured by Fisher-Price, which is part of the Mattel toy empire. However, a number of parents contacted the company when they heard the doll say these words: "Islam is the light." While the doll appears to utter "Islam is the light," the company denies that is actually what it is programmed to say. Mattel insists that Little Mommy Cuddle n Coo features realistic baby sounds, including cooing, giggling, and baby babble, with no real sentence structure. The toy company claims the only scripted word the doll says is "mama."

Court will decide future of abortion pill

The Ohio Supreme Court will determine whether to uphold a state law regarding the use of the abortion drug RU-486. The law simply requires abortionists to follow Federal Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for use of the drug, which some currently are not. Americans United for Life attorney Mailee Smith says it needs to be used properly because off-label usage has allegedly contributed to women s deaths. "As of 2006, the FDA had already reported eight deaths from RU-486, 46 cases of life-threatening infections, 14 pelvic infections," she explains. "One-hundred sixteen women received a blood transfusion, and 54 of those 116 lost over half of their blood volume." Smith adds there were 17 undetected ectopic, usually tubal, pregnancies -- 11 of which resulted in ruptures. LifeNews.com reports that various abortion businesses are filing lawsuits against the drug, claiming that Ohio s regulation of it is "unconstitutional" and "unclear." Smith calls their arguments "nonsensical," stating that Ohio simply requires abortion companies to follow FDA s approved protocols. The Ohio law is trying to reduce the death and infection figures in a major way by legally requiring that guidelines be followed. Those FDA guidelines state that RU-486 cannot be taken after the seventh week of pregnancy; however, abortionists are prescribing it up to nine weeks.

Good News: University Agrees to Honor First Amendment 

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has settled a lawsuit with Shippensburg University, ending the Pennsylvania school’s “speech codes,” which violated the First Amendment.

ADF sued Shippensburg this year after the university failed to honor the terms of a 2004 federal court settlement in which it had promised to drop unconstitutional restrictions on student speech. Christian Fellowship had been stripped of its campus rights and privileges because of its biblical membership and leadership requirements. The speech policies created “an atmosphere of fear and hostility,” said Joseph J. Martins, ADF litigation staff counsel. “Christian students and clubs shouldn’t suffer discrimination for their beliefs.”

Row simmers in Australia over Lord s Prayer

SYDNEY (AFP) — The use of the Lord s Prayer in Australia s parliament came under question Sunday, after the speaker of the house called for debate on whether to continue the century-old tradition. Harry Jenkins has called for debate on whether the Christian prayer, which has been recited at the start of each parliamentary sitting since federation in 1901, should be reworded or replaced. "One of the most controversial aspects of the parliamentary day I found from practically day two is the prayer," Jenkins, speaker of the House of Representatives, told The Sunday Telegraph. "On the one end of the spectrum is why have a prayer? The other end of the spectrum is where we have discussions about the words of the prayer. For people outside the parliament there are a lot of things they wish to discuss."

Kindergarten sex ed mandatory in England

LONDON — It’s a controversial idea in a land known for prudishness about sex — teaching kids as young as 5 about the birds and bees. But with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Europe, the British government is bringing sex education to all schools in England — including kindergartens. While countries like France, Holland and China already require sex education, few places demand that it be introduced at such a young age. Only Scotland makes sex education voluntary. Lessons will become more sophisticated as kids get older. Elementary schools can offer lessons in naming body parts, preparing for puberty and relationship feelings, Knight said. For the very young, sex ed will mainly be about self-awareness, he said.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State Calls Down IRS on Bishop for Abortion Statement

By Kathleen Gilbert

PATERSON, New Jersey, October 24, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSCS) pounced on a Catholic bishop s statement condemning the extreme pro-abortion agenda espoused by Barack Obama, and have asked the IRS to investigate the bishop s tax-exempt status for alleged partisanship.

“N.Y. Judge Grants Divorce to Lesbians Wed in Massachusetts”

The New York Law Journal reports: “A Manhattan judge has ruled that a same-sex couple wed in Massachusetts can obtain a divorce in New York . . . Nancy Chemtob of Chemtob Moss Forman & Talbert who represented the couple, said the decision marks the first time a New York judge has afforded full faith and credit to a same-sex marriage that took place in the United States.  ”

Police prevent more Md. pro-lifers from sharing message, ADF sues

BALTIMORE — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys and allied attorneys filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city of Westminster on behalf of pro-life organization Defend Life.  Police insisted that participants in Defend Life’s “Face the Truth” 2008 tour needed permits to peacefully share their pro-life message along a public street. In June, Defend Life Director Elizabeth Walsh and volunteers contacted the Westminster Police Department more than two weeks before their planned demonstration—making sure it was in adherence to the law.  Police told them that they needed permits from the city and the Maryland State Highway Administration, as well as permission from the owner of a nearby shopping center.  Subsequently, a police captain told Defend Life that its permit requests would be denied and refused to provide an explanation.

ADF: Christian man excluded from Modesto public plaza for sharing Gospel

FRESNO, Calif. —ADF attorneys filed suit on behalf of Kevin Borden in July after the city of Modesto restricted him and his friends from peacefully sharing their faith in a public plaza on Saturday evenings. “Christians shouldn’t be discriminated against for expressing their beliefs,” said Heather Gebelin Hacker. “Sharing a Christian message is not a valid reason for the city of Modesto to exclude our client from a public area where he clearly should be allowed to exercise his First Amendment rights. Anyone who cherishes their free speech rights should be concerned when the government seeks to toss those rights aside.” Borden has been sharing his faith peacefully with others in Tenth Street Plaza, a public square in downtown Modesto. After Brenden Theatres, a private business located on the plaza, complained about Borden’s speech, the city allowed Brenden to rent the plaza almost every Saturday evening for several months. Brenden excludes Borden and his associates from the area even though no other events are taking place there and no one else is excluded.

In New York, Christmas is kicked out, happy holidays welcomed in

Well, here we go again. Patchogue, NY, has changed the name of their parade from Patchogue Christmas Boat Parade to the Patchogue Holiday Boat Parade. Why? Someone complained. Some people will never stop until Christ is completely removed from our society.

Home schoolers take on Roe v Wade

A new movie is out, combining the talents of home schoolers and a Christian production company, depicting a legal challenge to Roe v. Wade. The movie, called Come What May (produced by Advent Film Group), features the debate team from Patrick Henry College that takes part in the National Moot Court Championship. The debate team uses arguments that many say could one day be used to overturn Roe v. Wade.