March 28, 2008

Week Ending March 28, 2008 - Washington, DC

Bush: Burkas for Christian women OK / Iraqi church bombings are "criminal acts " not persecution by Muslims / Israel Pastor's apartment bombed, son critical / No Mitt for VP? / Obama's new racial problem? / Indian Health and abortion goes to House

NEW END OF MARCH CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS AVAILABLE - The March 29, 2008 Chairman's Report from William J. Murray is now available online in PDF version. The Chairman's Report contains some material not seen in these updates. Click to view!

THE PRESIDENT

BUSH: BURKAS OK FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN- The official policy of President George W. Bush's administration is that forcing a Christian woman to wear a burka or hijab in public is not religious persecution because nothing in Christian doctrine forbids wearing them. It is also the official policy of the Administration that there is no religious persecution of Christians in Iraq and that the 41 churches destroyed since the war began and the church bombings this past Christmas were done by "criminal elements." The US Commission on International Religious Freedom is considering designating Iraq as a "CPC" or Country of Particular Concern. The Bush Administration is in a state of panic over this possibility and is exerting extreme political pressure to avert this action. As a result, I doubt that CPC status will be issued for Iraq.

NO MITT FOR VP - Senator McCain's recent comments favorable to Mitt Romney and the current "M&M" fund raising tour featuring McCain and Mitt has social conservatives in an uproar. A group of "values voters" have prepared a full page ad addressed to McCain telling him "NO MITT" and a petition is now online at www.NoMittVP.com where social conservatives can leave a message for John McCain on the issue.

OBAMA'S NEW RACIST PROBLEM - Portions of a thesis reportedly written by Senator Obama's wife, Michelle, while at Princeton is circulating on the Internet. The document is racist and radical, calling for blacks to become "separatists" and saying that all whites are "inherently racist." There has been no verification of the document; however, the racist comments of Obama's pastor floated on the Internet for months before mainstream media dared to publish them. If this material is accurate, Senator Obama cannot claim he "was not present" enough with his wife to be aware of her beliefs.

THE HOUSE

INDIAN HEALTH AND ABORTION - When the House returns from "Spring break" next week Congressman Pitts (R-PA) intends to offer an amendment to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (HR 1328) that would codify a longstanding policy against funding of abortions with federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest of a minor). A similar amendment offered by Sen. Vitter (R-LA), in the Senate passed by a vote of 52 - 42. Please contact your congressman and ask him to support Congressman Pitts' efforts. NO ABORTION FUNDS IN INDIAN HEALTH!

THE SENATE

SENATE SOMEWHAT IN RECESS - The Senate will not take an official recess for Easter. Every few days there will be a "pro-forma" session of the Senate with only one Senator present. The purpose of these sessions is to stop President George W. Bush from making emergency appointments to the hundreds of judicial and other agency vacancies.

RELIGION AND SOCIETY

NEW MARCH CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS AVAILABLE - The March 29, 2008 Chairman's Report from William J. Murray is now available online in PDF version. The Chairman's Report contains some material not seen in these updates. Click to view!

INTERNATIONAL

OUR EVANGELIST'S APARTMENT BOMBED - The apartment of the pastor of the evangelistic ministry in Israel supported by the Religious Freedom Coalition has been bombed, and his son was critically injured. I have stayed numerous times in the Ariel apartment of David Ortiz and his wife Leah in Ariel, Samaria. I have travelled with him into the Arab areas where he ministers to Muslims. Many have accepted Christ as a result of his ministry. Part of the video done by my daughter Katie, Holy Land Teens, was filmed in the apartment that was bombed. The youngest son who was featured in that video is still in critical condition. His arms have been saved, but he has lost fingers. Microscopic surgery is to be done on his eyes to restore his sight this week. An Islamic organization has claimed responsibility, but police have not ruled out the possibility that a Jewish extremist group planted the bomb because David also pastors a House Church for Messianic Jews in Ariel. Jerusalem Post Story

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