Week Ending April 6, 2007 - Washington, DC
April 8, 2007 3:50PM EST

April 6, 2007

Week Ending April 6, 2007 - Washington, DC HE IS RISEN - 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." (Matt 28:5-7) NIV Make sure to read the international section about our current mission to Sudan and Iraq! / Pelosi in a Burka! / Boy Scouts Won - Atheists Zero! THE PRESIDENT MILITARY CHAPLAINS IN IRAQ - On Wednesday, April 4th, the Religious Freedom Coalition participated in a conference call organized by the White House, in which representatives of faith based groups spoke with LTC Stephen Walsh in Baghdad. As Senior Chaplain of the Army's largest division, the 1st Cavalry, he oversees thirty-nine Unit Ministry Teams plus coordinating with ministers, priests and rabbis who visit the troops, especially during religious holidays. LTC Walsh briefed us on the challenges of ministering to our soldiers who face death or injury every day and who must be separated from their families for long tours of duty. When asked what people here at home can do to help, he called for churches and people of faith to reach out in friendship to military families, and to pray for our troops. The Senior Chaplain seems to have a very clear perspective on the spiritual battle being waged against Islamic fundamentalists. He does not hesitate to call evil by its name, and understands that terrorist fanatics are striving to destroy the very foundations of Western civilization. THE HOUSE PELOSI IN A BURKA - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's hatred for President George W. Bush is so intense that she is willing to dress as a submissive Muslim woman and bow to the dictator of a terrorist nation in order to embarrass him. But who did feminist Nancy Pelosi really embarrass when she wore a scarf and black abaya robe in Syria? As one Internet blogger put it, she is a "feminist at home, subservient abroad." Pelosi was in Syria to tell the dictator of that nation that the United States had two foreign policies, that of the President and that of the Democrat leadership of the Congress. She informed him that it was her policy, not the president's, that mattered. While she was at it, she delivered to President Assad a message of peace from Israel that the Israeli Prime Minister never gave her to deliver. The Israeli government was forced to issue an unusual denial that Speaker Pelosi represented it at all. (Click here for more on Pelosi blunders.) IN RECESS - The House is in "spring" recess until April 16, 2007. Under the Republican leadership this was formerly called Easter recess. THE SENATE SENATE IN RECESS - The Senate is in "spring" recess until April 10, 2007. RELIGION AND SOCIETY BOY SCOUTS WON, ATHEISTS ZERO - A court ruling in favor of a single atheist that would have caused millions of Boy Scouts to suffer has been overturned by the 7th District U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Atheist Eugene Winkler had brought a lawsuit against the Secretary of the Army stating that the Department of Defense assistance in Boy Scout Jamborees was a violation of "separation of church and state." The lower court agreed; however, the 7th Circuit decision made it clear that the Defense Department had a clear secular interest in assisting the Boy Scouts because of the recruitment and other values presented to the military. Millions of current and future Boy Scouts are the winners. Click here for the official Boy Scout statement. INTERNATIONAL IRAQ MISSION - Bob Armstrong, our legislative director, has left for the Sudan and Iraq. In the Sudan he will meet with top officials of the Christian and Muslim coalition government established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and then travel to the troubled Darfur region. While in Darfur he will try to determine if the situation has stabilized since I was there last October. Also in the Sudan he will participate in a joint day of prayer for peace. Bob then goes to Iraq to participate in a special Easter celebration with Christians and to deliver a transmitter to a new Christian radio station in the northern part of the country. He will also meet with Iraq's President Talibani while there and talk to various officials about the deteriorating condition of Christians in that nation. To assist financially with Bob's mission trip please click here. SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE - 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 gifts. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com. Please help us with our various projects on Capitol Hill and in the Holy Land by shopping at our affiliate Christian Superstore . Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org. email: support@rfcnet.org phone: 202.742.8990 web: http://www.rfcnet.org 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 - 2007