Week Ending June 4, 2004
Religious Freedom Coalition
June 4, 2004 5:05PM EST

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING JUNE 4, 2004

THE PRESIDENCY

NEW PHOTO ALBUM

Various photos of RFC staff at events with President George W. Bush, Vice President Cheney and various Administration officials are available online. To view click here.

THE SENATE

HATE CRIMES

THEY'RE BACK! Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has found a new ally to help pass legislation to put you in jail because of your thoughts. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah is pushing, along with Ted Kennedy, new "hate crimes" legislation. The two Senators are offering an amendment to the Defense budget that would make it a crime to criticize or even publicly disagree in any way with the homosexual agenda. Similar laws are already in effect in Canada where individuals have been fined for reprinting Scripture verses calling homosexuality an abomination. In Holland under these laws, a preacher can be jailed for criticizing homosexuality from the pulpit and that is the eventual goal Ted Kennedy and his new-found buddy Senator Hatch have for the United States. To keep your right to free speech, it is urgent that you contact your Senator now.

RFC SENATE PRESENTATION

The RFC has arranged a presentation in the Dirksen Senate Office building on July 6, 2004 concerning atrocities against Christian Palestinians by the Islamic majority in the West Bank under the governance of Yassar Arafat. Cheryl Hancock, the director of Love Without Borders, will show a short film and use a Power Point presentation to expose the abuse of Christian Palestinians in the West Bank. The presentation and discussion will take place at 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. If you can attend please advise by contacting RFC special events. Other presentations by Cheryl will be conducted in Washington, DC and further information will be made available soon.

ABORTION

On Tuesday evening I spent some time with Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) who has proposed the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act (S-2466). The new law proposed by Senator Brownback would require those who perform abortions on unborn babies 20 weeks or more after fertilization to inform the woman seeking the abortion of the medical evidence for fetal pain. The act would require the abortion provider to advise the woman verbally and to provide a brochure produced by the Department of Health and Human Services detailing the medical evidence of pain experienced by unborn babies at 20 weeks or more. Further, abortionists would be required to give the woman the option of providing anesthesia to the child prior to death. The overwhelming majority of the public agrees with this approach. In a Zogby poll in April of this year, by a margin of 77 to 16, the public supported, "...laws requiring that women who are 20 weeks or more along in their pregnancy be given information about fetal pain before an abortion." Already Sen. Brownback has numerous cosponsors in the Senate for the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act including Senators Alexander, Bunning, Burns, Chambliss, Coleman, Crapo, DeWine, Ensign, Enzi, Fitzgerald, L. Graham, Grassley, Hatch, Inhofe, Kyl, McConnell, Miller, Nickles, Roberts, Santorum, Sessions, Shelby, and Talent. Contact your Senator if he is not listed above. (Official RFC support letter )

THE HOUSE

ABORTION

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has introduced the House version of the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act mentioned above. The bill number is HR 4420 and since it is new it has only 33 cosponsors which is up six from just last week! On Tuesday evening I spent some time with Congressman Smith and he believes in his heart that the passage of this bill will save thousands of babies each year as mothers are forced to face the reality that their baby is going to feel pain as it is destroyed by the abortionist's knife. Please contact your congressman about this legislation.

ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA

Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) has introduced a bill (HR 4013) that would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act to prohibit the approval of any drug that "infringes the right to life." The bill would require that the FDA remove its approval from drugs used to assist in acts of suicide or drug induced abortions. This is brand new legislation which has no co-sponsors, so please contact you congressman.

OBSCENITY

Congressman John Sullivan (R-OK) has introduced a resolution asking for "vigorous enforcement of the Federal obscenity laws (HC 298). Citing the support in surveys of 81% of the American people, Congressman Sullivan believes it is time for the Justice Department and other agencies to be more aggressive in enforcing obscenity laws. The resolution has numerous co-sponsors.

OTHER ACTIONS

Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) reacted sharply to Democrat Senator Tim Johnson's reference to the "Taliban wing of the Republican Party:" See pdf of letter.

Congressman John Hostettler (R-IN) wrote an op-ed about how the Constitution "provides the key" to protecting marriage. See pdf of letter.

Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) circulated a letter putting President Bush's public comments about God in historical context by quoting every President since FDR who has publicly spoken about God. See pdf of letter.

Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) followed Rep. DeMint's lead by sending a letter to Senate Democrat Leader Tom Daschle, urging him to repudiate Senator Hollings' comments and similar comments from other Democrats that many people have deemed to be anti-Semitic. See pdf of letter.

INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS

In several of these updates I have mentioned that the Religious Freedom Coalition will participate in an Interparliamentary Conference on Religious Freedom in Brussels this August. The conference is organized by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, a Washington, DC think tank. I have received numerous inquiries from individuals asking if the conference is open to the public and if they can attend. Indeed individuals can attend. Registration information is available directly from the IRPP Internet site. Immediately after the conference a select group will conduct a fact finding trip to Pristinia, Kosovo to view many of the churches destroyed by Islamist fanatics since 1999 and visit with Christian families that have been forced from their homes. There are no additional openings on the fact finding panel to Kosovo, but we do ask that you please pray for the organization and eventual success of the mission.

VBS IN BETHLEHEM

In the May 28th Update I reported that we were about $6,000 short in our fund raising goal for the children's Vacation Bible School (VBS) we sponsor in the Bethlehem area. Bethlehem is in the Palestinian Authority controlled area of the West Bank and the few Christian schools and families that remain are facing problems. We requested the funds for van rentals and other needed expenses for the VBS. As of today the VBS project has received $1.456.00 in online contributions. In addition we received $314.00 in the mail from individuals who do not want to use online credit cards for one reason or another. The total received from the appeal was $1,770.00 I feel confident that God will provide and that we will receive additional contributions. As a result I have authorized the use of ministry credit cards to take care of the vans and some other expenses while the mission team is in the West Bank. To make a contribution to the VBS project this week give online here or send a check to: Religious Freedom Coalition, PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013.

PERSECUTION IN THE HOLY LAND

We have just received a shipment of fresh handmade soap made in the Holy Land from olive oil. The soap is made by Christian Palestinians in the West Bank. This is the ONLY income of the Christian families involved. Two of the men are under death warrants issued by the PLO. The soap is made by the families. I have met and worked with these Christian men on my trips to Israel during the past two years. For more information on the soap, its cost and how we obtain it from the families in the West Bank click here or on the image.

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The RFC newsletter - The Religious Freedom Quarterly - is now available online in pdf format. Click here to view.

William J. Murray, Chairman - Religious Freedom Coalition , P.O. Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 Phone: (202) 543-0300

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