Week Ending June 22, 2007 - Washington, DC
June 22, 2007 2:47PM EST

June 22, 2007

Week Ending June 22, 2007 - Washington, DC We visit the White House for historic presidential veto / White House issues another veto threat to stop tax dollars for abortion / Pelosi's gift to abortionists / House members hostile to Vietnam president / AMNESTY IS BACK! / The "other" 6.5 million illegals / Monastery destroyed in Gaza Strip / Christians in Gaza need your help THE PRESIDENT RFC AT THE WHITE HOUSE - I was present at the White House on Wednesday for President Bush's remarks on his veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. The bill passed by the House and Senate would have allowed tax dollars to be used to destroy viable embryos for research. During his remarks, to bring the focus on adult stem cell research, the President introduced a young girl on the platform with him, " Kaitlyne McNamara was born with spina bifida, a disease that damaged her bladder. None of the treatments her doctor tried had worked; she was in danger of kidney failure. Then her doctors took a piece of her bladder, isolated the healthy stem cells, and used them to grow a new bladder in a laboratory -- which they then transplanted into her. And here she stands, healthy." (Photo above: Former Congressman Jay Dickey and myself in the East Room of the White House.) ANOTHER PRO-LIFE VETO - The White House has issued an SAP (Statement of Administration Policy) stating that the President will veto the Foreign Operations Appropriation (HR-2764) if it contains language to allow the use of tax dollars for abortions. The ban on the use of tax dollars for abortions is known as the Mexico City Policy set forth by President Ronald Reagan. Click here for the full SAP. THE HOUSE PELOSI GIFT TO ABORTIONISTS - The pro- abortion House run by Nancy Pelosi rejected Reagan and Bush administration policies that deny aid to groups that provide abortions. The President has said he will veto any bill that provides tax funds for abortions. The House passed the bill 241-178 early Friday despite a White House veto threat if the bill (HR 2764) contains any provision that "weakens current federal policies and laws on abortion." At the same time the radical House leadership removed any requirement to teach abstinence or faithfulness as a means of fighting AIDS. Click here for more information. VIETNAM AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - The President of Vietnam was in a near state of shock when he visited the halls of Congress this week only to be lambasted by Members for his nation's intolerable treatment of Christians. Specific cases were brought to his attention by several House members including Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO). Vietnam is a favorite manufacturing location for American businesses in search of cheap labor. THE SENATE AMNESTY IS BACK - At a pro-amnesty bill rally a group of politicians including Senators Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) kept pointing to boxes and referring to "millions" of letters in support of their amnesty bill. When a Roll Call reporter checked the boxes he found them empty. A Hispanic group did bring a large number of letters to the Capitol but none of them were from citizens. Calls against the bill are averaging about 500 to 1 at Senate offices but President Bush and his Democrat allies are moving forward with the bill anyway. Who cares what American citizens want? THE OTHER 6.5 MILLION ILLEGALS - The "new" Kennedy - McCain - Bush bill legalizing the illegals adds $4.4 billion more for "enforcement." The White House and Senate backers say the $4.4 billion will come from the 5.5 million Illegals who will turn themselves in and ask for amnesty. But the bill backers say there are 12 million illegals in our country now. What happens with the 6.5 they don't think will come forward? I have asked pro-amnesty Senators and the White House and it seems no one has an answer for the math. RELIGION AND CULTURE SCHOOL SEX EDUCATION - A report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services says the "Making Proud Choices" curricula for middle- school students mentions "condom" or "condoms" 650 times and "abstinence" or "abstain" 18 times. The reports says there are virtually no "benefits" to "comprehensive" sex education. Click here for story. INTERNATIONAL GAZA MONASTERY DESTROYED - The Christian community in Gaza was targeted during the Hamas takeover of Gaza. The Palestinian paper Al- Ayyam reported that "Armed masked men stole, destroyed and burned down a monastery and a church school in Gaza, after they bombed the main gate with RPG shells,: and then entered the church and destroyed everything in the monastery: The crosses, the holy books, computers and photocopy machines." They appeared to be members of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades. The Christian community has been suffering under Fatah rule as well. Since Gaza and West Bank cities were given by Israel to the Palestinian Authority the Christian population has been under great pressure. Click here for full PMW report on this incident. URGENT HELP NEEDED - The Religious Freedom Coalition has fallen behind in its obligation to Christian schools in the West Bank and other Holy land areas. Funding is urgently needed for our Bethlehem Project. Please click here to contribute today to help the Christian children in Bethlehem. SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION THE PLEDGE - My new book, The Pledge: One Nation Under God has been released and is now available online and at bookstores. The book has a forward by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) who is the primary sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Please order The Pledge from the RFC bookstore, as the funds will be used to help fight to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Click here or on Image to order. 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