April 2, 2010

April 2, 2010 - Washington, DC

Radical recess appointments / Champion of polygamy gets seat at EEOC / Congressmen demand Ambassador for Religious Freedom vacancy be filled / Congress in recess / Congressional statements for Easter Sunday / RFC sends first funds for new water system / Iraqi Christian refugees.

NEW MARCH 25, 2010 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT NOW ONLINE- The March 25, 2010 Chairman's Report is now available online in PDF format. Read about the first church service held in the Capitol Building since 1868! Huge victory as "under God" stays in the Pledge to our flag. Barack Obama shows the world how not to lead. Hundreds of Christians murdered in Nigeria. Click here for PDF version.

THE PRESIDENCY

RECESS APPOINTMENTS - As soon as the Senate declared a recess, President Barack Obama made 15 recess appointments. In themselves recess appointments are not a major concern, and all Presidents including George W. Bush have made them. What was unusual this time was that several of these were not "backlogged," but rather individuals whose credentials were still under investigation. Even Democrats were concerned about at least one of the nominees, Georgetown University Law Professor Chai R. Feldblum, who was appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In previous updates I have written about her activism with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. In 2006 she signed a manifesto entitled "Beyond Marriage" which advocated, "Legal recognition for a wide range of relationships, households and families - regardless of kinship or conjugal status," including "Households in which there is more than one conjugal partner." There is no doubt that Feldblum was advocating polygamy. She can now use her position on the EEOC to attack private organizations such as the Boy Scouts. Please note that President Obama chose the Passover/Easter recess to make the appointment of this radical lesbian leader to a position of authority.

THE CONGRESS

CONGRESS IN RECESS - Congress began a "district work" recess before the first day of Passover and will not return until Tuesday, April 13th. Many of the Members of the House are deacons and Sunday School teachers and will be at their home churches for the Easter Weekend. Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus are among the most active Christians. Is your congressman a member of the House Prayer Caucus? Check here.

EASTER STATEMENTS OR LACK THEREOF - Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi issued no statement for Easter. On the other hand, Minority Leader John Boehner, the number one ranking Republican in the House issued an Easter Statement that actually referred to the Resurrection. His statement read: "For nearly two millennia, the observance of Christ's resurrection has inspired forgiveness, renewal, and hope for eternal life. This Easter, as we gather for worship with family and friends, let us give thanks to God for our tremendous blessings as a free people and remember those in uniform serving in harm's way for our protection." Read full statement

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AMBASSADOR NOT APPOINTED - Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) and Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Co-chairs of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to fill the vacant position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. Obama has allowed the ambassadorship to remain vacant for more than a year, sending the message that religious freedom issues are no longer a major concern of the United States. Congressman Franks stated, "The Ambassador at Large is one of the most critical foreign diplomats the United States has. America was founded on religious liberty, and those persecuted for their religious beliefs expect us to help their governments understand the many blessings we have experienced by valuing this freedom." Franks continued, "The Ambassador ensures that people like Gao Zhisheng of China, who was taken by police and whose whereabouts were unknown for the past year, is freed and allowed to leave the country to rejoin his family in the United States. With how indebted the U.S. is to China, our only hope is for us to help them see the benefits of human freedom and democracy; these issues must be a top priority with China and all other governments." Read IRF letter to Obama

CULTURE AND RELIGION

EASTER SUNDAY - As I left my gym the other day I noticed a sign saying Easter Sunday hours would be from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM with "only" two aerobics classes. This sort of made me notice the doors of retail stores and I began to realize that all the major big box stores, even electronics stores, would be open on Easter Sunday. I guess I never paid attention before because the only place I go on Easter Sunday is my church. I cannot even imagine what is so important to shop for that it means taking one's eyes off the Lord on the day He conquered death for us all.

MAY DAY 2010 - A cry to God for a nation in distress! Join with Christian leaders of all denominations who love God, as we humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of God, and turn from our wicked ways-individually and as a nation. Jesus will be front and center at May Day. Join national leaders on May 1, 2010 - starting at sunrise (6:10 A.M. EDT) and finishing at 2:00 P.M. at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Learn more

INTERNATIONAL

WATER FOR THE CAMP UPDATE - We are on schedule to replace the entire water system at the camp for Christian youth we support in Jordan. A check for $5,000 to begin removal of the old system has been delivered and we are praying for the remainder of the funds. The rusted water storage tanks will be replaced first. I will fly to Jordan for the opening of the summer youth camp in June.

IRAQI REFUGEES NEED HELP - Please help Iraqi Christian refugees with a tax deductible gift in 2010. All contributions posted online this week will go to assist Iraqi Christian refugees in Jordan and Syria. Please contribute at www.rfcnet.org or at the Iraqi Refugee Project page at Face book.

PETITION TO HILLARY CLINTON ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Read and sign the Internet petition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The petition urges Clinton to direct our embassies to assist Christians who have fled Islamic terror in Iraq. The petition is located at www.iraqich ristianrefugees.org.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE

BOOKS AND GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STOREBooks and other items with Christian themes are available at WWW.RFCSTORE.COM This is our Christian Internet store, and sales assist our cause financially. We are not as cheap as Amazon, but then, we don't sell porn or occult materials!

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 - 2009