Religious Freedom Coalition - Promoting Religious Freedom and Family Based Legislation

August 8, 2008

Week Ending August 8, 2008 - Washington, DC

China detains White House press corps / China tells Bush not to "use" human rights / Bush aid funneled money to Radical Islamic groups / Obama the Almighty / Congress in recess to avoid vote on oil / "GAY DAY" in California public schools / China imprisons Christian bookstore owner for printing Bibles / More on Iraqi Christians

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new July 31, 2008 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains a full report on the July mission to the Middle East to assist Iraqi Christian refugees. There are new facts on the condition of Christians in Jordan. The bombing in Ariel and the recovery of David Ortiz's son is also covered. Click here to view new issue.

THE PRESIDENCY

WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS DETAINED - Chinese officials insulted President Bush when he arrived in China by refusing to allow the press corps traveling with him to deplane for three hours. The President thought going to the Olympics and championing human rights would change the hearts of the Communist leaders of China. Since they have no hearts, this is not possible Mr. President. The Chinese Foreign Minister said of Bush's remarks on freedom, "We firmly oppose any words or acts that interfere in other countries' internal affairs, using human rights and religion and other issues." Don't expect to see this information on the front page of your newspaper. Big business and the liberal media are as much in love with the Chinese communists as they are with Barack Obama.

BUSH AIDE FUNNELED MONEY TO RADICAL ISLAM - Karen Hughes, a close confidant of President Bush, funneled millions of dollars in grants to radical Islamic organizations, many of whose leaders have been convicted or indicted in terrorism cases. Read more

OBAMA ALMIGHTY - Obama's ego transcends even the willingness of the mainstream press to inflate it. Finally, some are poking fun at the man who manages to use the words "I" and "me" so many times in the same sentence that it causes grammar experts to get physically ill. Obama is so puffed up about himself that he has become a comedy target for the McCain Campaign. McCain's "The One" commercial has been viewed tens of thousands of times on the Internet. View "The One"

THE CONGRESS

CONGRESS IN RECESS ... BUT - Congress is in recess for the month of August. TV commentators say it is their "vacation," but actually Democrat lawmakers are in their districts trying to explain why they refuse to allow energy exploration in the United States. Meanwhile about fifty House Republicans take to the floor of the House everyday even though radical left Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has ordered the cameras off and the lights out. The Republicans are trying to call to the attention of Americans that it is Pelosi and the Democrats who refuse to allow a vote on drilling for oil or expanding nuclear power. Read more

"SAVING THE PLANET" - When Congress returns in September, Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) will push the Democrats for an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act, H.R. 6566. The act would promote American-made energy and stop the flow of money to Muslim dictators. It would open deep-water resources and allow drilling in areas where the Democrats currently forbid it. Radical leftist Speaker Nancy Pelosi has so far refused to allow a vote, knowing that enough Democrats will vote for the bill to allow it to pass. She told a reporter that she would not allow a vote because she needs to "save the planet."

SENATE WEAKENS FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING - A great accomplishment of the House was when they passed overwhelmingly the Wiliiam Wilberforce Act of 2007 (H.R. 3887), which authorized U. S. law enforcement to aggressively investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking and slavery. Senator Biden (D-DE) has introduced a Senate version (S- 3061) that removes key provisions necessary to make the law effective. A group of organizations, including the Religious Freedom Coalition, have sent a letter to President Bush asking him to take a firm stand behind the House's William Wilberforce Act of 2007 and to not sign a weakened version. Read letter

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CULTURE AND RELIGION

CALIFORNIA'S GAY SCHOOL DAY - This week the California Assembly passed AB 2567 on a 43 to 26 vote, with Democrats for, and Republicans silently against. It previously passed the Senate. If signed into law, it will create an official day commemorating homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality in California's public schools. Every May 22nd kids from kindergarten through high school will be expected to celebrate homosexual experimentation, homosexual 'marriages,' sex-change operations, and cross dressing. Governor Schwarzenegger has not disclosed his position on the bill being presented to him.

INTERNATIONAL

CHINA TORTURE OF CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE OWNER - A Beijing, China bookstore owner and House Church Leader, Shi Weihan, has suffered deteriorating health since his imprisonment four months ago. He has been refused his diabetes medication and has lost more than 20 pounds in body weight. Shi was coerced to sign a confession convicting him of "engaging in the printing and distribution of a large number of illegal publications." The Bibles and Christian literature Shi printed and sold at his Beijing Christian bookstore were "illegal" because they were not printed by the "official" church.

IRAQI CHRISTIAN REFUGEES - Please help our program to assist Iraqi Christians who have been forced out of their homes by Islamic militias. Read our latest report and help by giving a gift online.

SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION

CHRISTIAN THEMED GIFTS AND BOOKS - 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 birthday 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.

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William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom Coalition, PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 - (202) 742.8990 This publication is a service of the Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC). Links to political and other sites are for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement. No statement is intended to assist or defeat any candidate running for public office. Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2008