May 15, 2013

Issue

State House and Senate Education Committee Hearings

Details

Yesterday beginning at 9:00 a.m. the House Education Committee held, as they put it, an “Informational briefing on the Common Core Standards from PA Dept. of Education Secretary Ron Tomalis.”   He  will present his version of why Pennsylvania should adopt these standards for every school in the Commonwealth, rather than supporting local control of our children’s education. Coincidentally, Secretary Tomalis submitted his resignation to Governor Corbett this week after receiving hundreds of emails and phone calls critical of his support of Common Core. One must ask why is committee chairman, Paul Clymer, refusing to hold actual hearings?

Today beginning at 1:00 p.m. the Senate Education Committee will hold just such a hearing where individuals for and against Common Core will testify.  The chairman of that committee is Senator Mike Folmer who opposes Common Core, click here for a Guest Opinion that he wrote for his local paper where he voices opposition.

Did you know Bill Gates has given away $150 million in grants to push Common Core?    Recipients of some of that money have been the PA Partnerships for Children and the Pennsylvania Business Council.  Representatives from both of these organizations will be testifying today in support of Common Core — surprise, surprise!

Did you know Matt Przywara, the business manager at the School District of Lancaster said,  “We work as though we’re never out of the woods.”  Przywara expects the district to face deficits of $5 million to $6 million per year over the next few years. Soaring pension and health care costs are the main drivers. SDL also is bracing for federal budget cuts and increased operating costs related to the new Common Core curriculum standards that take effect in 2013-14.

Action Steps

Governor Pence of Indiana recently signed a bill into law delaying the implementation of Common Core in that state.  Pennsylvania needs to do the same thing!

Contact your State Representative, State Senator and Governor Corbett to express your concerns about Common Core.  Click here to go to our ACTION CENTER.

May 14, 2013

Issue

A Rally to Support the Boy Scouts Near You?

Details

Onmyhonor.net is encouraging those who love the Boy Scouts and the good work they do in turning young boys into responsible men, to hold rallies at Scout headquarters across the country on Friday May 17th from noon till 1:00 p.m. to show their support for the Scouts’ current policy banning homosexual leaders and members!

The vote on whether to allow youth who identity as homosexual to be part of the Boy Scouts will be on May 23rd.    Here’s the scenario the Scouts’ resolution  is proposing:  A 17-year-old boy who identifies as homosexual can be a Boy Scout.  As soon as he turns 18, he will be kicked out because this new policy, if adopted, maintains the current ban on homosexual leaders.  This opens the door to lawsuits across the country, which  will result in the courts demanding that the Boy Scouts allow homosexual leaders too.  Their current policy must remain, in order to maintain the integrity of the Scouts.

Click here to read of the mistakes the Girl Scouts made in changing their policy and to see what that organization has become.

Read the “Ten Reasons to Vote NO” open letter to BSA delegates.

Click here to listen to my interview with John Stemberger, organizer of the onmyhonor.net coalition.

Action Steps

1.)  Pray that these leaders will do the right thing and vote on May 23rd to maintain the current policy.

2.)  Organize a rally.

3.)  Attend a rally.  So far we know of two (out of 17 councils) in PA — one at the French Creek Council HQ in Erie and another at the New Birth of Freedom Council HQ in Mechanicsburg.

4.)  Go here to email the Scout Council Presidents and Commissioners that John mentions in our interview.

5.)  Contact your local Scout leaders and tell them to keep the existing policy.   You could also mail or hand deliver the “Ten Reasons to Vote NO.”

Vic Stabile — Republican

Joseph C. Waters, Jr. — Democrat

Jack McVay, Jr. — Democrat

Judicial candidates are not free to answer questions to voter guides (in most cases) because of the possibility they will be faced with a situation in the courtroom that is similar to the question asked.

PDF format for  Superior Court Judges Info 2013

Word document for Superior Court Judges Info 2013

May 8, 2013

Issue

Pennsylvania’s Marriage Protection Amendment

Details

Last week Rhode Island became the tenth state to legalize so-called same-sex “marriage.”  Yesterday, Delaware became the eleventh. Also, yesterday here in Pennsylvania, Representative Daryl Metcalfe introduced HB 1349  , a Marriage Protection Amendment.  The process to amend the PA Constitution is longer than many states.  A bill with the exact same language to the proposed constitutional amendment must be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions, then a voter referendum with that language is placed on the ballot and the voters decide whether they want to add that amendment to the PA Constitution.

HB 1349 is a strong two-part amendment which would not only define marriage as between one man and one woman, but forbid the Commonwealth of PA from legally recognizing any relationship that is substantially equivalent to marriage.  As noted in our news release,  one need only look to Colorado which passed a weak one part amendment simply defining marriage as between one man and one woman in 2006.  As of May 1st, civil unions are legal in that state!

If approved by the voters the PA Constitution would be amended with the following language:

“Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”

Action Steps

Go to our ACTION CENTER to contact your State Representative and ask him or her to support HB 1349.

Representative Daryl Metcalfe Applauded for Introducing Marriage Protection Amendment

(Harrisburg) —  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) commends Representative Daryl Metcalfe for once again taking the leadership role in introducing a Marriage Protection Amendment which will allow Pennsylvania voters  to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman within the Commonwealth.   HB 1349 must be approved by the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions; at that point a voter referendum will be presented to the people to amend the state Constitution.

“Representative Metcalfe has again introduced a strong two part amendment.  We have only to look at Colorado which passed a weak one sentence amendment back in 2006 and now, as of May 1st, has legalized counterfeit marriage known as civil unions,” noted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

If approved by the voters the PA Constitution would be amended with the following language:

“Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”

It is imperative that this second part be included, as already Representative Mark Cohen has introduced HB 1178 which would legalize civil unions.    He is hoping to follow Delaware’s misstep in legalizing civil unions and then same-sex “marriage.”

Homosexual  activists are trying to make this a civil rights issue and saying “marriage” is a human right.  Those who identify as homosexual can already marry — they just can’t marry each other.   Marriage laws already prevent others who love each other from marrying, such as father/daughter, mother/ son, sister/brother, uncle/niece, etc.

“This issue is not about allowing two people who love each other to marry, it is about how the children living within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will understand marriage.  It is about doing what is best for children.  Studies have shown that children do best when raised by their married biological mother and father and that harm is done when raised by homosexual couples.   Those pushing for the legalization of same-sex so-called “marriage” are putting the desires of adults before the needs of children.   The children are the guinea pigs in this social experiment and will be the ones hurt the most,” Gramley concluded.

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May 6, 2013

Issue

HB 818 Up for Vote in Senate Committee Tomorrow

Details

HB 818, the bill to keep abortion coverage out of Pennsylvania’s state exchanges under Obamacare, is up for a vote in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee tomorrow.   Remember it passed in the State House on April 23 by a vote of 144-53.    Now it’s the Senate’s turn to start the process of getting this passed!

So far, 21 states have passed similar legislation to opt-out of abortion funding. A provision written into the Affordable Care Act allows states to opt-out of abortion funding in health care reform.

Action Steps

Go to our ACTION CENTER to contact members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and ask them to vote ‘yea’ on HB 818 tomorrow.

If you would like to target other members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee than those that are targeted in this alert, click here.

Philly Scouts Give in to Demands of Homosexual Activists

(Philadelphia) –  After years of battling the City of Philadelphia and winning a five year court battle, the Cradle of Liberty Scout Council has given up and will leave their headquarters the end of June!   The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide traditional values group, warns that this relentless attack on the Cradle of Liberty Scout Council (COLBSA) should be a stark warning to others who pass so-called anti-discrimination ordinances.

“Philadelphia added “sexual orientation” to their Fair Practices Ordinance back in 1982, in 2003 an all out attack began with Pew Charitable Trust dropping its $100,000 grant and the United Way of Southeastern PA dropping a $400,000 grant.  But homosexual activists were not going to be content until the Scouts were out of the headquarters they built and have maintained since 1929 on property the 1928 City Council gave them free use of in perpetuity.  Philadelphia has now redefined in perpetuity to mean 85 years,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

In November 2010 COLBSA and the City of Philadelphia were on the verge of a settlement with the agreement the city would sell the Scouts their headquarters for $500,000.    However homosexual activists immediately attacked that idea and the needed resolution was never introduced in City Council.

In March 2012, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter upheld the June 2010 jury verdict and ordered the city to pay the Scouts $877,000 in legal fees.

The following month, the city appealed Buckwalter’s ruling to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Throughout this ordeal for the Cradle of Liberty, there is one thing quite evident and that is the viciousness of homosexual activists who claim discrimination when an organization does not agree with them.  Their game plan is to force all to validate their dangerous lifestyle — no matter what it costs.  With teens and young men who have sex with men making up about a quarter of the new HIV cases and black youth accounting for the largest share of new cases, this is tragic for Philadelphia.   Homosexual activists are not interested in the well-being of boys, they simply wanted to make an example of COLBSA.  This should be a warning to all who have added “sexual orientation” to any anti-discrimination policy!   It has happened in Philadelphia, it will happen in your municipality next,” Gramley concluded.

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Homosexual Event Equality Forum Begins in “Unchanged” Pennsylvania

(Harrisburg) — Philly.com is lamenting that “Equality Forum” has opened in an “unchanged” Pennsylvania — meaning they are unhappy that PA has not legalized same-sex “marriage” or changed the PA Human Relations Act to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” language.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide traditional values group, would like to remind the Philadelphia Inquirer and others in Philadelphia that the majority of Pennsylvanians would be offended by what is presented at his week’s Equality Forum.

“The majority of Pennsylvanians do not want to be told their interpretation of Scripture and their Christian beliefs concerning homosexuality are wrong.  They do not want so-called same-sex “marriage” to be legalized and when explained of the full ramifications of adding ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ to the PA Human Relations Act they do not support the change,” noted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

In June 2011 Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, acknowledged that the local so-called anti-discrimination ordinances his organization has pushed through, mainly in southeastern PA, also seeks to open the use of public restrooms to those gender-confused individuals who believe they were born in the wrong body.  Equality Forum’s “National Transgender Panel” and “Winning Equality by Battling Locally” shows that Equality Forum is right on board with Equality PA’s bathroom agenda.  Not really a surprise!

Many modern Quakers accept same-sex relationships as normal.  However William Penn would not agree.   The proprietor of what is now known as Pennsylvania, believed that government was an extension of God’s authority on earth.  The principles expressed in a 1679 work of William Penn were applied in the Laws of the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania – 1682.  Part of his 1679 writing goes as follows:  “That as a careless and corrupt administration of justice draws the wrath of God upon magistrates, so the wildness and looseness of the people provoke the indignation of God against a country:  therefore, that all such offenses against God as  . . . obscene words, incest, sodomy, rapes, whoredom, fornication . . . shall be respectively discouraged, and severely punished.”

“William Penn would be very offended that his City of Brotherly Love is being corrupted by the activities of Equality Forum this week.   However, he would be pleased that the colony he founded continues to resist the push to normalize activity which goes against the laws of nature and nature’s God,” Gramley concluded.

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May 1, 2013

Issue

Pentagon Looks to Anti-Christian Atheist for Advice

Details

Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, cited Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, as “illustrating the extremist, militant nature of these virulently homophobic organizations’ rhetorically-charged propaganda.” Regarding those who teach orthodox Christian beliefs from the Bible, Weinstein concludes, “Let’s call these ignoble actions what they are: the senseless and cowardly squallings of human monsters.

Weinstein also supports Lt. Col. Jack Rich, the Army officer who wrote to subordinate officers that soldiers who hold traditional Christian beliefs agreeing with organizations on SPLC’s “hate group” list are incompatible with “Army values” and should be carefully watched and excluded from military service.

He has said U.S. troops who proselytize are guilty of sedition and treason and should be punished – by the hundreds if necessary – to stave off what he called a “tidal wave of fundamentalists.”

On April 23rd Weinstein met with the Pentagon to discuss a policy called “Air Force Culture, Air Force Standards,” published on Aug. 7, 2012.

Section 2.11 requires “government neutrality regarding religion.”

“Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual’s free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion,” the regulation states.

Military leaders were admonished not to use their position to “promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion.”

The Pentagon confirmed to Fox News that Christian evangelism is against regulations.

“Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense, LCDR Nate Christensen said in a written statement. He declined to say if any chaplains or service members had been prosecuted for such an offense.

Action Steps

Contact Senators Casey and Toomey and your member of the US House, to express your concerns by clicking here to go to our ACTION CENTER.

April 29, 2013

Issue

Commemorating President Lincoln’s “National Fast Day”

Details

There is no doubt that our nation is in dire need of revival.  As America has pushed God out of the public square, rewritten our history to omit the faith of our Founding Fathers and forgotten who we are and where we came from, we can see the consequences all around us.  In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a “National Fast Day” on April 30, 1863.

State Representative Rick Saccone  introduced House Resolution 17  which commemorates the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s “National Fast Day”  on January 14, 2013.  It was voted out of the House State Government Committee on February 13th and passed the full House on March 21 by a vote of 160-35.  Make sure you check to see how your State Representative voted on House Res 17.

Action Steps

1.)  Listen to my interview with State Rep Rick Saccone of PA’s 39th District as we talk about Resolution 17 and his upcoming Religious Liberty Tour on May 13th.  Call his office for more details at (717) 260-6122.

2.)  Take time on April 30th to pray for our nation and possibly fast a meal and spend that specific time in prayer.  Take to heart II Chronicles 7:14 — “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”