THE SENATE

PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION VICTORY

Over the last several months I have been reporting on the progress of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban (PBA). The Senate version (S-3) passed 52-46. The House version (HR-760) passed on June 4th by a margin of 282-139. Unfortunately the Senate version contained the "Harkin Amendment" affirming Roe v. Wade as the rule of law. Thus there were two different versions headed to the conference committee. This allowed Senate pro-abortionists such as Ted Kennedy to further stall the PBA by blocking the appointment of conference committee members to reconcile the two bills.

Conference committee members were finally appointed and they approved, along a party line vote, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban without the pro Roe v. Wade amendment last week. Because the final version was different from both the original House and Senate versions it had to be voted on once again by both the House and Senate. On Thursday of this week the House passed the "conference report" on the partial birth abortion ban by a whopping 281- 142. There were 63 Democrats joining 218 Republicans in voting for the PBA. A vote on the conference report in the Senate was set for today, but Senator Barbara Boxer has demanded 16 hours of debate to slow down the final passage. The 16 hours of debating could last for days, just like the "last 2 minutes" of a football game can last for hours. The Senate Republican Policy Committee has prepared a summary of the conference report that can be viewed here.

Once both Houses have passed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban it will be signed by President George W. Bush at a major ceremony at the White House. This is a pro-life victory that will resound across the nation and give encouragement to those who are fighting the battle on other moral fronts such as the protection of marriage.

A MAJOR JUDICIAL VICTORY

Judge Charles W. Pickering was first nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals by President George W. Bush nearly two and a half years ago. On Thursday of this week he was finally passed out of committee for a vote. Will this more than qualified man be the next target of Ted Kennedy's bigotry? Pickering is a real candidate for a Democrat filibuster considering some of the organizations he has been associated with. Judge Pickering has served as the head of the March of Dimes campaign in Jones County; as the chairman of the Jones County Chapter of the American Red Cross; as the Chairman of the Jones County Heart Fund. He has also served as a Sunday School teacher and as a Chairman of Deacons. He served as the president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention in the 1980's, which really seals the deal for Senator Ted Kennedy. Because he voted pro-life as a state Senator in Mississippi, Pickering is accused of being "extreme." Also, because he is from Mississippi, the race card has been used against him by Democrats despite the fact that he has the support of black leaders in Mississippi because of his stand against the KKK in 1967. This is a judicial nomination that must be won despite the evil forces of the left coming against this good man.

THE HOUSE

MARRIAGE PROTECTION

Practically all major social conservative groups in the United States have come together in support of a strong Constitutional Amendment to protect the institution of marriage as God intended. Virtually every leader of a major social conservative organization appeared at a news conference in defense of traditional marriage on Thursday, October 2nd at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Dr. James Dobson flew in from his headquarters in Colorado to speak, and Rev. Don Wildman came on behalf of the American Family Association. Former presidential candidate Gary Bauer was present, as was Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. There were twenty-four major groups represented, including the Religious Freedom Coalition. Dr. Jerry Falwell, Rev. Franklin Graham and Charles Colson also stepped forward to support an Amendment to the Constitution protecting marriage as an institution between one man and one woman.

The media may very well not report on all those present because several former homosexuals spoke out against homosexual marriage. These included Rev. D. L. Foster of Restoration Sanctuary International Church who was saved out of homosexuality in 1990 and who is now married and the father of four children. A newly married couple, Greg and Cheryl Quinlan also shared their homosexual past and revealed how God healed them from that horrid lifestyle and gave them a life together as man and wife as God intended. Theirs is a compelling story that reveals the grace and love of God.

In his remarks Greg revealed how he was molested at a young age, and pointed out that 1 in 6 boys are homosexually molested by age 18. For many the shame of the molestation drives them into the homosexual lifestyle. At one time Greg was a lobbyist for the homosexual agenda on Capitol Hill. Now he leads the fight to save homosexuals from their life of sin. For more information on this ministry see the Pro Family Network site.

Every leader who spoke at the press conference made it clear that a line had been drawn and there would be no retreat. Dr. Dobson stated clearly that this was a "defining" point in the history for Western civilization and that if the institution of marriage should fall the results would be devastating to society. Dr. Land made similar compelling remarks.

At the news conference it was announced that President George W. Bush would issue a Presidential Proclamation declaring October 12-18 as Marriage Protection Week. A special Internet site for Marriage Protection Week has been established by sponsoring organizations led by the American Family Association. The Religious Freedom Coalition is a sponsor of Marriage Protection Week. Next week special updates will be issued on Marriage Protection Week with information on how you can participate! Also (For general reference: Bill Bennett's The Broken Hearth.)

HOUSES OF WORSHIP FREE SPEECH ACT

Congressman Walter Jones still needs support for the Houses of Worship Free Speech Act (HR 235). A special Internet site set up to support the bill states: "HR 235 was introduced to liberate clergy from the muzzle imposed by the absolute ban on all speech that may be regarded as "political," and thereby enable them to speak out on all vital moral and political questions of the day. It will free houses of worship from the fear and anxiety and uncertainty created by the threat that the IRS will impose financial penalties or revoke tax-exempt status altogether." The RFC has prepared a downloadable MS Power Point presentation in support of the HR 235. Click here to view Power Point. If your congressman has not co-sponsored this important legislation please contact him. View a list of current congressional sponsors here. Please contact your congressman if he has not signed on as a co-sponsor with Congressman Jones.

THE PRESIDENCY

CIA "SCANDAL" and IRAQ

The Democrats think they have a wedge issue with which to go after President Bush. Democrats and the liberal media are accusing the Bush White House of uncovering a CIA agent and endangering her life for political reasons. It turns out that the agent is the wife of former U.S. diplomat Joseph C. Wilson, IV who has written numerous anti-Bush articles. He has referred to the Untied States as an Imperialist nation and has made the statement that he will do whatever he can to remove President Bush from office. (See Washington Times)

The media is just aghast that the White House would expose Valerie Plame Wilson as a CIA agent. There is a huge problem with their anti-Bush program. Sources tell me that Mrs. Wilson regularly introduces herself at cocktail parties as a CIA Agent. She does not work in the field but is a CIA analyst. As an analyst she reads foreign newspapers and tells others in the CIA what the articles "really" mean. Let the Democrats rave ... this may become much more of an embarrassment to them than to the White House within the next week or so. I am told that there could actually be criminal charges, but not against anyone in the White House.

Meanwhile a real scandal is brewing according to my good friend Gary Bauer. In his October 2nd fax update he reported that 100 U.S. soldiers went on an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in March of 2001 with all expenses paid for by organizations financed by the radical Wahhabi sect in Saudi Arabia. One of the organizations, the Muslim World League, has been raided by the Treasury Department and they are under suspicion of having ties to Al Qaeda. This comes after the arrests of an Islamic Army Chaplain and several Islamic translators. Political correctness has blinded our military to the internal threat of radical Islam.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION

CHRISTMAS STORE OPEN

Christmas theme men's ties are now available at the RFC Internet store. Click here to view!

WRAP UP

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William J. Murray, Chairman - Religious Freedom Coalition

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