Week Ending June 24, 2006 - From Washington, DC
Religious Freedom Coalition
June 24, 2006 6:17AM EST

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING JUNE 23, 2006

HOUSE IN SESSION / SENATE IN SESSION

THE SENATE

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY ON CAPITOL HILL

The Religious Freedom Coalition's staff participated in Religious Freedom Day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 20, 2006. The event took place in the Dirksen Senate Building in the Capitol complex and was attended by many in the media and by some of our friends who were visiting Washington. Speakers at the event included myself, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, John R. Bolton, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), House Majority Whip Roy Blunt and Congressman Trent Franks.

I both participated in and moderated a panel discussing "Emerging Issues: Anti-Conversion & Blasphemy Laws". On the same panel with me were Paul Marshall of the Center for Religious Freedom and Dr. Walid Phares of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy. The purpose of the entire event was to highlight the plight of tens of millions around the world who face repression because of their religious beliefs. Nowhere is this repression more apparent than in atheistic China and in the Islamic nations of the world.

RFC materials on the Bethlehem Project and our White Papers from our mission trips to Kosovo, the West Bank and other areas of the world were distributed. Religious Freedom Day was sponsored by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) and the Congressional Working Group on Religious Freedom. The Religious Freedom Coalition is a member of that working group.

CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION

The Child Custody Protection Act has already passed the House and is now awaiting passage of the Senate version. Although Majority Leader Frist listed it as one of his top ten legislative priorities it has not moved forward. The Child Custody Protection Act (S.8 in the Senate) would make transporting a minor across state lines for an abortion a federal offense. The legislation is needed because adults are circumventing parental notification laws in some states by transporting minors to neighboring states that do not require parental notification or consent. In one such case, a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl became pregnant in her relationship with an 18-year-old man. Since Pennsylvania requires parental notification before an abortion, the adult man's mother took the minor girl to New York for an abortion The young girl's mother was unaware of her daughter's pregnancy. This interference in parental rights by others needs to be stopped. Contact your Senator and ask his support of the Child Custody Protection Act.

IN GOD WE TRUST

August 30th is the 50th anniversary of "In God We Trust" becoming the official motto of the United States of America. Although being used for nearly two centuries on coin and currency it was not until 1956 that the motto was made official. At a time when atheist Michael Newdow has filed lawsuits to remove our national motto from our currency it is appropriate that both the House and the Senate pass resolutions of support for the motto on its 50th anniversary. The commemoration resolution (H. Con Res. 411) in the House is sponsored by Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and (S. Con. Res. 96) in the Senate by Senator Sam Brownback (R.KS). In the House there are 47 co-sponsors and in the Senate just 11. Please contact your congressman and Senators and ask them to co-sponsor the "In God We Trust" commemoration resolutions.

THE HOUSE

PLEDGE PROTECTION ACT VOTE DELAYED

Once again this week the vote on the Pledge Protection Act was delayed. This was not a fault of the Leadership but rather a problem in the House Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee is chaired by Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and he has now delayed the final "mark-up" on the bill twice. The House Leadership office still claims that a vote should be completed and the bill passed before the July 4th recess.

INTERNATIONAL

PRESBYTERIANS BACK AWAY FROM ANTI-SEMITISM

Virtually the entire world was shocked when the Presbyterian Church USA announced economic sanctions against Israel because of it "occupation" of Palestinian lands. In 2004 the church called for the sale of all assets of corporations doing business with Israel. The church turned a blind eye to terrorism in order to satisfy the liberals in the church who are anti-Semitic. That came to an end this week when the Presbyterians' General Assembly apologized in a resolution for "hurt and misunderstanding among many members of the Jewish community and within our Presbyterian communion." The resolution from 2004 had generated tremendous negative publicity for the ultra liberal main line denomination. (Click here for complete story.)

YOUR HELP NEEDED

If you can arrange a larger gift or grant to the Religious Freedom Coalition please call Peggy Birchfield or myself at 202.543.0300. Smaller donations are also needed now. Please help with our various projects on Capitol Hill and in the Holy Land. Please make your donation today ! Click here to give a gift or send your tax deductible donation to the address below.

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William J Murray, Chairman

Religious Freedom Coalition , PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 - (202) 543-0300

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Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2006