Action Alert Achives Of 2002

The story began weeks ago as the elementary children prepared for their Christmas program. It was based on the fourth grade social studies curriculum, which involved studying the cultures of China, ancient Egypt, the Aztec Indians and African caravans. Fourth grade "Aztec warriors" sought out "victims" for sacrifices and Abby Alter, part of the Artist in Residency Program through the Titusville Council of the Arts, commended, "The little boys love this. It glorifies their nature." This program is funded by the Reese Foundation and the school district (tax dollars). When I spoke with Keith Klinger yesterday, he said that Alter's statement was specifically referring to cutting out the hearts of the victims.

Some parents heard of the content of the program and attended the last rehearsal prior to the Tuesday night program. They were appalled that the fourth grade 'Aztec warriors' were not only seeking out "victims" for their human sacrifices, but the "sacrifice" was being played out in front of the entire student body of the elementary school! Klinger said this included bringing the "victims" up on stage, cutting out their hearts with toy swords, and rolling the screaming victims off the "mountainside" to the gym mats below. During the rehearsal (which all students attended), the children were informed that they weren't going to do that particular skit for their parent's that night, it was just for their "enjoyment" that afternoon!

As taxpayers, with or without children in the public school system, you have every right to review textbooks and subject matter. Parents with children in the public school system are permitted to review textbooks, handouts, videos, etc. that are used during their child's school day. If you review the history textbooks, you would be appalled to see how many of them paint the United States' role in past and present world and national affairs! Our children are worth the effort to know what is going on.

As a side note here, I would like to bring to your attention that during every school day in Pennsylvania and around the nation many middle and high schools show Channel One, the in-school commercial "news" program. Go to our website for a listing of the schools in northwestern PA that shows Channel One. Many, many times the ads are for violent and sexually, charged PG 13 movies. Some of the ones advertised this year are "Stealing Harvard," "The Tuxedo," "Sweet Home, Alabama," (Adam Sandler's) "Eight Crazy Nights," (Channel One had Adam Sandler the actor who created and voiced the main character in the movie, tape a daily commercial for Channel One News. These are commercials that no child would see at home. They only ran on Channel One News. Sandler asks the captive audience of students a question that they can only know the answer to if they see the filthy movie. They will win prizes if they see the movie and find out the answers. For more information go to

Parents object to human sacrifices in school performance

The Associated Press
12/19/02 12:09 AM

PLEASANTVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- An elementary school performance was canceled after parents objected to scenes in which third- through fifth-grade students re-enacted human sacrifices in the Aztec civilization.

The performance, titled "Bizarre Bazaar," was supposed to be the culmination of a monthlong social studies program to teach students about world cultures, including the Chinese, ancient Egyptians and Aztec Indians.

Pleasantville Elementary School administrators canceled the Tuesday night show after some parents who watched a rehearsal felt parts of the program were inappropriate for their young children. "Bizarre Bazaar" was to be acted out before first- through fifth-graders at the school in Venango County in western Pennsylvania.

"I was very disappointed that those in charge ... didn't see anything wrong with this type of production, especially around Christmas," said Keith Klinger, the father of a first- and third-grader at Pleasantville Elementary. "I had no problem with it up until the violent content of the human sacrifices."

Principal Deb Forker said the students would be thanked for their work and she planned to explain to them that while the performance was based on historical facts, parts of it didn't meet the community's approval.

"We are disappointed," Forker said.

Abby Alter, one of two performance artists brought in to put on the production, said the subject matter was part of state-approved school curriculum. However, she and her partner James Williamam didn't intend to stir up controversy.

They both agreed with Pleasantville Elementary and Titusville Area School District administrators to cancel the show.

"I felt bad for the kids," Alter said. "They had a great time (putting the show together). It was school, but it was also a learning experience."

Parent representatives said they weren't against students learning about other cultures and religions. Janice Duquette, president of Pleasantville Parent Teacher Group, said she was opposed to the school teaching violence.

"Violence doesn't belong in school, and does not need to be portrayed in school theater," Duquette said.

There should be something new hanging on the wall of your U.S. Post Office - a poster of our National Motto, "In God We Trust." I was in the Franklin Post Office last week and ours is up! This poster, designed by the U.S. Postal Service, looks like a large stamp with the Statue of Liberty in the center, the word "Liberty" beneath it and the words "In God We Trust" above the statue.

Postmaster General John Potter made this decision after he and legislators received complaints from Frank Williamson, a Texan who had donated AFA's "In God We Trust" posters to nearby Post Offices. After the posters were ordered removed, Williamson decided to write the letters.

After doing the research and finding that the posters were legal and even encouraged by a resolution that unanimously passed the House of Representatives in July 2000, the decision was made. Now the U. S. Postal service is providing their posters to ALL 38,000 post offices across the country! So be on the lookout for yours and take a minute to send Postmaster General Potter a quick note of thanks by e-mail or calling 1.800.275.8777.

Due to the efforts of citizens in our area, the Rouseville and Clintonville Post Offices had already placed AFA's "In God We Trust" posters. Don't forget that the effort is also ongoing to have these posters placed in county courthouses, city halls and public schools.

All the public schools in Venango County, the largest school district in Clinton County, and some schools in Somerset, Mercer and Clarion County have put the posters up. Also many county courthouses and city halls have placed the posters. And the ACLU has said they can do nothing about them!!

3.) As the new year approaches, lets renew our efforts to have our National Motto

placed in all public buildings and schools in Pennsylvania! Go to our website for

AFANWPA encourages Christians, through education, to become involved in pro-family issues in their communities, state and the nation.

(To unsubscribe to AFANWPA ACTION ALERT send an e-mail to afanwpa@afanwpa.org with the word "unsubscribe" on the subject line. No other action is needed.)

A group of nine defenders of the family met with David Kerr, Director of the Governor's Policy Office and Julia Morton, Senior Policy Manager also of the Policy Office to express their concerns with H.B. 1493, the hate crimes bill. AFANWPA is very thankful that the nine were able to drop everything on such short notice (with less than 24 hours notice the nine of us were headed to Harrisburg!) and make the trip to meet with the Governor's office. The groups represented were AFANWPA, Eagle Forum -- PA, InfoQuest* for Truth, Lehigh Valley Citizens for Traditional Values and PA Taxpayers Concerned with Education. But mostly we are just concerned citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who can no longer remain silent as we see the distortions of the homosexual community taken as fact and the laws changed to infringe upon our rights as Christians and to further their agenda of presenting their lifestyle as just a 'safe, alternative.'

We did have "encouraging" news as we were told the Governor has not said he will sign the bill -- BUT he has not yet decided to veto it either. So those phone calls should still be made!

As of this point in time, H.B. 1493 has been sent back to the Rules Committee. On speaking with representatives we found that an attempt is being made to have an amendment attached to the bill in the Rules Committee. If this happens, it will automatically be sent back to the Senate where it will go to a Conference Committee. There the differences between the House version and the Senate version would be "ironed out." But because there are only a few days left in this Session, there's no time. Thus this would effectively kill the bill. Pray for an amendment!

Other sources have said the bill is scheduled for a vote on Monday, November 25, but more likely Tuesday, November 26. Whatever the case, our job IS NOT FINISHED!

1.) Continue praying for our elected officials AND state government employees who work at the Capitol as they struggle to make the decisions they feel are the right ones.

2.) Pray that an amendment will be added to the bill in the Rules Committee, sending it back to the Senate and effectively killing the bill.

3.) Governor Schweiker's office needs to continue hearing from us. As the indications were that he is undecided as to whether he will veto or sign the bill, please ask him not to sign H.B. 1493, if it reaches his desk. Call at 1.717.787.2500 AND e-mail

4.) Continue contacting House Majority Leader John Perzel and ask him not to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. His number is 717.787.2016 AND e-mail

Even if you have contacted the above three everyday for the past week, it is of the UTMOST importance to continue calling AND e-mailing until this bill dies.

On October 24 a Phoenixville (near Philadelphia) "Big Brother" was charged with 'indecent exposure, corruption of minors, open lewdness and deviate sexual intercourse. His alledged victim -- his 11-year-old "little brother."

The Boy Scouts have been condemned for not permitting homosexual scout leaders, here is another example of why they've made the right decision. In July the Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBSA) National office made it mandatory that all affiliates comply with the 'non-discrimination' policy that included the words "sexual orientation," thus requiring all affiliates to allow open homosexuals to be mentors to young children. In some cases, especially through school programs, without the parents' knowledge or consent.

"Although homosexual activists claim they are no more likely to sexually molest children than heterosexuals are, (Dr. Judith) Reisman says research proved the opposite...Based on data from a study of non-incarcerated child sex offenders, Gene G. Abel, M.D., has found that homosexuals 'sexually molest young boys with an incidence that is occurring five times greater than the molestation of girls.'"

"In proportion to their numbers (about 1 out of 36 men), homosexual males are more likely to engage in sex with minors: in fact, they appear to be three times more likely than straight men to engage in adult-child sexual relations...While no more than 2 percent of male adults are homosexual, some studies indicate that approximately 35 percent of pedophiles are homosexuals. Further, since homosexual pedophiles victimize far more children than do heterosexual pedophiles, it is estimated that approximately 80 percent of pedophilic victims are boys who have been molested by adult males." http://www.narth.com/docs/pedophNEW.html

As reported by the Baptist Press: "That brought an angry response from New York's Glennda Testone, northern regional media manager for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD): 'The incorrect stereotype of the gay man as a pedophile is one that has been medically and scientifically debunked. Heterosexual men were responsible for 74 percent of assaults on male victims and 77 percent of assaults on female victims, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics study (July 1994)."

Which means, according to a prominent homosexual activist group, that the 2 percent of the male population that engages in homosexual behavior is responsible for 26 percent of sexual abuse cases involving underage male victims, a statistically disproportionate likelihood per capita -- 13 times more likely -- that homosexual men will be guilty of child molesting

Also consider this from psychistrist Jeffrey Satinover in Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth in his reflection on the Journal of Homosexuality's "Male Intergenerational Intimacy": This special issue relects the substantial, influential, and growing segment of the homosexual community that neither hides nor condemns pedophilia. Rather they argue that pedophilia is an acceptable aspect of sexuality, especially of homosexuality. Indeed, the San Francisco Sentinel, a Bay Area gay-activist newspaper, published a piece arguing that pedophilia is central to male homosexual life.

According to the October 26, 2002 issue of World Magazine "civil war has broken out in some of the BBBSA's 490 local affiliates, with at least a dozen executive directors of those groups defying the directive from the organization's national office." Also according to World Magazine the local affiliate in Owensboro, Kentucky has resigned its affiliation with the national office and changed its name

1.) Pray for the victims of child molestation and pray that the eyes of those in authority will be opened to the truth about the relationship between homosexuality and child molestation.

2.) Please contact Noreen Shanfelter, director of media relations for the national office. E-mail at nshanfelter@bbbsa.org and express your concerns -- this assault happened right in the backyard of the national office of BBBSA. Go to our website for additional contact info for the national office -- see link below.

3.) Please contact your local affiliate and express your concerns over the new policy and suggest that they consider resigning their affiliation with the national office even as the Owensboro affiliate did. Local affiliate contact info can be found at

The AP article late Tuesday afternoon came as a shock -- to think that such a thing could take place right under our noses!! The Americans United for Separation of Church and State have forced PennDOT to remove the crosses from their memorial for workers killed on the job which has been on the road around the state since Memorial Day 2001. No one had complained until they received th letter from Americans United. All this group had to say were the words "separation of church and state" and "lawsuit" in the same sentence and PennDOT backed down quickly.

Dear Mr. DeLosa,

I would like to commend you and your road crew for the proposal of the memorial and for its ORIGINAL design. I was dismayed when I read the article in our local paper about the letter received by PennDOT from Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the subsequent backing down of PennDOT in this issue.

I faxed a copy of the article to our constitutional lawyers down in Tupelo, Mississippi and they assure me that the Americans United group DOES NOT have a legal leg to stand on in this issue. Unfortunately in too many cases, groups such as this say the words "separation of church and state" (which, by the way, is NOT in the Constitution) and lawsuit in the same sentence and people back down too quickly. Again, our lawyers say there is NOTHING in case law or the Constitution that would require the removal of the crosses from the display.

Please keep in mind that in situations such as this the American Family Association Center for Law and Policy stands ready to defend the state, free of charge, in the event they are sued by groups such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

I know that the memorial has already been redesigned. But this is a decision I hope would be reconsidered in light of this new information.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, I can be reached at 814.271.9078

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Diane Gramley

President

American Family Association of NWPA

June 26, 2002

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

"HATE CRIMES" VOTE IN PA

This morning the vote for "hate crimes" in Pennsylvania is one step closer.
H.B. 1493 is now on the Republican Caucus Calendar, which is one step below
the Voting Calendar. It appears homosexual lobbyists have been able to
garner enough votes to "force their hand" and Majority Leader John Perzel
has now placed the bill on the Caucus Calendar.

Pennsylvania does not need to give homosexuals special rights, which is what
"hate crimes" laws do. Every citizen has equal protection under the law,
passing legislation such as H.B. 1493 gives one class of people special
rights because of their lifestyle choice.

It is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE that you contact your state representative's
HARRISBURG OFFICE TODAY. This issue is too important -- please phone your
representative, don't e-mail them.

Make sure they understand that H.B. 1493 is the agricultural vandalism bill
that has been completely gutted of any agriculture language and is now a
piece of "hate crimes" legislation which would give homosexual special
rights. H.B. 1493 includes the phrases "sexual orientation" and "gender
identity." Openly homosexual U.S. Representative Barney Frank opposes any
federal legislation that contains the words "gender identity" because he
knows transexual activists will take that language and demand that men who
think they are women be allowed to use the lady's restroom.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2001/0/HB1493P3723.HTM

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) Please call your state representative's Harrisburg office TODAY and
     ask him/her to vote "NO" on H.B. 1493.

Contact information. If you do not know who your state representative is go
to http://www.pavoter.com and click on "government directory" at the bottom
of the page.

Hon. Scott E. Hutchinson
East Wing Room 162B
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 783-8188
Fax: (717) 787-0860

Hon. Edward P. Wojnaroski, Sr.
111A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 787-7524
Fax: (717) 787-0861

Hon. Thomas A. Tangretti
328 South Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 783-5963
Fax: (717) 772-9986

Hon. James E. Casorio, Jr.
Room 102A
East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 783-3483
Fax: (717) 787-0861

Hon. Jeffrey Earl Habay
Room 163B
East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 783-7426
Fax: (717) 787-0860

Hon. Russell H. Fairchild
Suite 201, Room 210
Ryan Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 787-3443
Fax: (717) 772-5500

Hon. Rod E. Wilt
153B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 783-5008
Fax: (717) 787-0860

Hon. Michael C. Gruitza
Room 319
South Office Bldg.
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 787-1354
Fax: (717) 783-0685

Hon. Teresa Forcier
East Wing
Room 159B
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 787-2353
Fax: (717) 787-0860

2.) Also ask your State Representative to contact House Majority Leader
     John Perzel to ask him NOT to place H.B. 1493 on the Voting
     Calendar.

Thanks for your help.

Diane Gramley
President,
AFANWPA

AFANWPA encourages Christians to become involved in pro-family issues in
their communities, state and the nation.

Below is the copy of a news release we recently put out to area papers, plus almost 75 Ohio newspapers, in addition to other media outlets.

Please follow the link in the News Release for an eye opening experience to see just how organized the "gay community" is in our area. It is very sobering.

I urge you to warn anyone you know who may be planning on going to Cedar Point on Father's Day and tell them what is going on there. Please contact Cedar Point at 1.419.627.2350 or visit them online at http://www.cedarpoint.com and express your concern. Tell them they must warn families of the Father's Day promotion by homosexual activists of "Gay Day" at Cedar Point. Families must be warned so they can make an informed decision about their trip to Cedar Point. Put yourself in the shoes of a family going to Cedar Point: would you want to enter the park with the full intention of having a good time with your family, only to have to leave explaining to your children why women and men were kissing and holding hands with members of the same sex. Parents want to know what is going on before they get there.

The situation at Cedar Point will pose a public health risk. The Centers for Disease Control reports have shown that men who have sex with men (MSM) "have large numbers of anonymous partners, which can result in rapid and extensive transmission of (sexually transmitted diseases) . . . MSM may be recruiting sex partners in anonymous venues more often now than in the recent past... control of STDs is a central component of HIV infection prevention efforts in the United States; resurgence of bacterial STD threatens national HIV infection prevention efforts."

The CDC found that in one major metropolitan area, "88% of (homosexual) partners were met at venues where anonymous sex is common."

http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4835a1.htm

In many parts of the nation homosexual activity in public parks and restrooms has become an overwhelming problem. But the Triangle Foundation, a Detroit homosexual advocacy group, claims that law enforcement efforts to curb this activity is "discriminatory."

http://www.detnews.com/2001/wayne/0108/28/b03-279649.htm

Not only is this a public health issue, but men who engage in homosexual and bisexual behavior can shorten their lives by up to 20 years, according to the Oxford University International Journal of Epidemiology. A compassionate society would be truthful about the health risks of the homosexual lifestyle.

Again, if you know anyone with plans to go to Cedar Point on Father's Day, please contact them. Also, please contact Cedar Point and let them know how you feel about "Gay Day" and any promotion they may give of the homosexual lifesty

FRANKLIN CITY COUNCIL SAYS "NO" TO MOVIE GALLERY

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

May 7, 2002

Franklin City Council, after the first reading of the ordinance last night, chose to unanimously vote against it. If the ordinance had passed, after next month's second reading, it would have allowed Movie Gallery, the largest video store rental in the nation which provides hardcore pornographic videos to move onto a property on Liberty Street.

http://www.thederrick.com/stories/2102.shtml

The Council is to be commended for their decision to not only preserve the historic district, but to close this avenue by which Movie Gallery could have moved into the city. Contact the council members and thank them.

Follow this link for contact information

http://www.franklinpa.net/gov.htm

May 6, 2002

I returned from a Franklin City Council meeting just a few hours ago. The public meeting centered around a rezoning issue. An article in the April 3 News Herald had indicated that a national movie chain had expressed interest in a residential location along Liberty Street. At that point, the developer had said that he was not at liberty to divulge the name of the chain. I must say, my gut feeling was that it was a Movie Gallery, as they have already opened new stores at the Grove City Outlet Mall, Slippery Rock and Grove City itself. I feel strongly that our area is targeted for expansion by Movie Gallery.

My gut feeling turned out to be correct as it was finally revealed at tonight's Franklin City Council meeting that it was, in fact, Movie Gallery that was interested in this location. They are telling the developer: this is the location we want, we will accept nothing else.

During the meeting I expressed by concerns about the zoning change and the fact that Movie Gallery was the one pushing for it. I informed the council of Movie Gallery's policy of having backrooms and renting hard-core pornographic videos.

Tonight three council members have already indicated that they will vote "No" next month when the vote comes for the zoning change.

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) Pray for Franklin City Council as they wrestle with this decision,
that they will see the danger of allowing a Movie Gallery into
town.

2.) Franklin already has two video stores with back rooms and hardcore
pornographic videos. Have you checked your local video stores out?
After a close look, you may be surprised!

3.) Encourage your borough, township, or city to pass ordinances that
will protect its citizens from sexually oriented businesses.
Contact us for more information on how to go about this. Movie
Gallery LOVES small towns, as most don't have any pornograpy laws
on the books. Check your local video stores out and contact your
elected officials.

4.) If you are a resident of the city of Franklin, politely contact
Franklin City Council and express your concerns over, not just the
change in the zoning of this lot in the historic district, but
opening the doors for Movie Gallery to move in. Go to
http://www.franklinpa.net/gov.htm for contact information. Also
urge the Franklin City Council to put zoning and licensing
ordinances in place to protect you and your fellow citizens from
sexually oriented businesses.

March 18, 2002

In response to the letter mailed by AFANWPA to Clarion University President Diane Reinhard concerning the possible formation of a gay and lesbian alumni group there, we received a reply which says in part, "The university's openness to a gay and lesbian alumni group, while in no way condoning or endorsing a particular lifestyle, offers a structure through which gay and lesbian alumni may experience networking, programming, . . . ." No where in the letter does she address the "mentoring for undergraduate students" as one of the purposes for the gay and lesbian alumni group as was stated in the recent alumni newsletter. In the letter President Reinhard does reveal the existence of the student "interest group", Allies, which "affords membership and support to students interested in gay and lesbian issues."

While President Reinhard's letter says the university in no way condones or endorses a particular lifestyle, it appears that they may be doing just that! Monday, March 18 at 7:30 in Hart Chapel the Rev. Irene Monroe, writer, theologian and gay and lesbian activist will be speaking about "The Role Religion Plays in Discrimination." Monroe is an openly lesbian African-American.

Again you may want to contact Clarion University about their choice of speakers. Clarion University is a state school which receives our tax dollars for their support. Are our tax dollars being used to pay for this "theologian's" presentation?

The phone number for the Office of the President is 1.814.393.2220. There is no e-mail address directly to the president's office that is listed on Clarion's website. info@clarion.edu is the e-mail address to the Admissions Office and your e-mail may be forwarded to President Reinhard's office. I would recommend calling instead.

CUP briefs
CLARION – The Rev. Irene Monroe, writer, theologian and gay and lesbian activist, will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Hart Chapel at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Monroe will present “The Role Religion Plays in Discrimination” as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Speaker Series. The presentation is free and open to the public.
Monroe is an openly lesbian African-American theologian who writes a biweekly column, “The Theologian Thang,” for Newsweekly, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender newspaper that circulates through the New England States. She also writes a monthly on-line column, “Queer Take,” for The Witness Magazine, an Episcopalian journal that examines church and society in light of faith and conscience. Her writings have also appeared in the Advocate and the Boston Globe.
Monroe is a doctoral candidate in the religion, gender and culture program at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., and a Ford Foundation fellow. She is also the head teaching fellow of the Rev. Peter Gomes, the Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard and the author of the bestseller “The Good Book.”
Monroe has written extensively on African-American gay and lesbian history, African-American sexuality and anti-Semitism in both the black Christian and black Muslims communities. Her award-winning essay, “Louis Farrakhan’s Ministry of Misogyny and Homophobia,” was greeted with critical acclaim.
Monroe has given talks on women’s issues at the National Association for Women in Education, the Theological Opportunities Program at Harvard, among other engagements. She has written on women’s topics and holds workshops.
Monroe has been asked to appear on panels at dozens of universities, including Harvard, MIT and Penn State. She has received many awards including the Cambridge Peace and Justice Award and the Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching.
Monroe was a board member for the Millennium March on Washington, D.C., and is the national speaker for the American Programs Bureau. She is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y.

http://www.theclarionnews.com/showstory.asp?id=19206&pt=Academics

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

March 27, 2002

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE ENDORSING HOMOSEXUALITY?
(For Action Items See Bottom of This E-mail)

On February 7 Judy Shepard, mother of slain homosexual Matthew Shepard,
spoke at Westminster College? Since the death of her son Mrs. Shepard has
become a hate crimes activist, speaking around the country. In so doing she
is pushing for special protection for homosexuals. The statistics do not
show a sweeping epidemic as homosexuals claim. The FBI's 2000 Uniform Crime
Report lists a total of 1,308 hate crimes in the categories of "anti-male
homosexual," anti-female homosexual," "anti-homosexual," and
"anti-bisexual." That figure compares with 1,303 hate crimes listed for the
same categories in 1999. There is no epidemic! AFANWPA recognizes there are
crimes against homosexuals, as well as heterosexuals, but there is no need
for special legislation. There are already laws on the books against
murder, assault and battery and other crimes against an individual.

Today AFANWPA sent an e-mail to Westminster College President R. Thomas
Williamson and Dean of Student Affairs Neal Edman concerning this matter.

Below is the text of our e-mail:

Dean Edman:

I must express my concern over the school's choice of speakers for February
7. Since the death of her son, Matthew, Judy Shepard has become outspoken
about hate crimes legislation. This is a tactic of homosexual activists who
seek to try to determine ones thoughts during the commission of a crime so a
stiffer punishment can be meted out -- thought police? As we already know,
there are laws on the books against murder, assault and battery, etc., etc.

It was our hopes that last year's invitation of the author of "Heather Has
Two Mommies" was an oversight on your part, but it appears that you did not
view it as a mistake. It appears that Westminster College may be openly
endorsing and condoning the homosexual lifestyle. I would hope that this
would not be the case.

One of a college's main concerns should be the health and well-being of
their students. By inviting speakers who openly endorse homosexuality,
Westminster College is, in fact, encouraging a very dangerous lifestyle.
According to the Oxford University International Journal of Epidemiology,
college-aged men who engage in homosexual behavior are at risk of dying up
to 20 years younger than other men. It reported: "Life expectancy at age
20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to 20 years less than for all men.
Nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged 20 years will not reach
their 65th birthday."

http://ije.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/26/3/657?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&
hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&searchid=QID_NOT_SET&FIRSTINDEX=&volume=26&firstpage=6
57&journalcode=intjepid

How many 20-year-old males are currently enrolled at Westminster?

The Medical Institute for Sexual Health reports that women who have sex with
women are at significantly increased risk of bacterial vaginosis, breast
cancer and ovarian cancer than are heterosexual women." (Executive Summary,
"Health Implications Associated with Homosexuality," 1999,
www.medinstitute.org )

This names only a few health risks involved in the homosexual lifestyle.
But specifically referring to hate crimes and its advocate, Judy Shepherd,
according to the PA Human Relations Commission there were 382 bias-related
incidents reported from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001. There were 162
against blacks, 67 against whites and 19 against gays and lesbians.
(www.stopbias.org)

The FBI's 2000 Uniform Crime Report shows that the incident rate of hate
crimes against homosexuals has remained virtually unchanged in the past
year. The category that increased by the largest percentage:
"anti-heterosexual" hate crimes. Also according to the FBI, the largest
single category of hate crimes (52 percent) continues to be that of
"intimidation," which includes verbal threats that do not include physical
violence.

May I remind you that the continued push for acceptance of homosexuality in
the Presbyterian Church (USA) has seriously challenged unity within the 2.5
million member church and even led to the birth of the Confessing Church
Movement which advocates a reaffirmation of historic Christian values.
Earlier this month the latest attempt by homosexual activists to eliminate
the "fidelity and chastity" provision in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book
of Order failed, with a majority of presbyteries rejecting the
pro-homosexual measure.

Our hope is that Westminster College, as a Presbyterian institution, would
not encourage pro-homosexual activists' push for acceptance within the
church. In so doing Westminster is also contributing to the disunity within
the church.

Awaiting your reply.

Sincerely,

Diane Gramley
President,
American Family Association of NW PA

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) Pray for the administration and staff of Westminster College that they
will not fall to pressure from homosexual activists.

2.) Contact President R. Thomas Williamson at president@westminster.edu or
call at 1.724.946.7130

3.) Contact Dean of Student Affairs Neal Edman at nedman@westminster.edu or
call at 1.724.946.7110

4.) The switchboard number is 1.800.942.8033.

IS YOUR COMMUNITY PROTECTED?

March 13, 2002

The City of Titusville will have a referendum on the May 21st ballot that will give the voters an opportunity to decide whether they want to prohibit bottle clubs in the city.

Have you checked with your city, borough, or township elected officials to see if you and your family are protected? If not, encourage them to
take steps to protect their citizens from sexually oriented businesses.

Link to a copy of the Bottle Club Law
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/1995%5F0/hb0665p2018.htm

From The Titusville Herald of March 12, 2002

City voters to decide on bottle clubs
by Holly Matthews

Titusville's registered voters will have the opportunity to decide whether or not establishments commonly known as bottle clubs will be prohibited in the city.

By unanimous vote Monday, city council approved Resolution No. 4 of 2002, placing the question on the primary ballot, which will be up for vote May 21.

Bottle clubs, according to the resolution, are establishments with a capacity for 20 or more people and which are operated for profit through an admission fee paid by patrons. They do not legally sell alcoholic beverages, but liquor can be provided by the operator or employees, or it can be brought to the establishment by patrons.

Bottle clubs do not include establishments with a license under the state Liquor Code or eligible organizations conducting special events or fund-raisers for charitable purposes.

Approval of a prohibition on such establishments would also provide police with a tougher enforcement tool against nudity and other morals issues, according to council.

City Manager Mary Ann Nau said the city currently has few resources "to take on" bottle club type establishments if someone chose to open one.

Nau explained several years ago the state Crimes Code was amended to allow a referendum to give voters the choice whether or not to prohibit bottle clubs.

Nau also noted a vote of "yes" would be a vote in favor of prohibiting the clubs. "The wording is a little tricky so there will be a need to educate the voters," Nau said.

If there should be a vote in favor of prohibiting the clubs, nothing else would need to be done for four years, she said. After four years the issue could be raised again by city council or by a petition of residents. The number of residents signing the petition would have to be equal to at least 25 percent of the highest vote cast for any office in the city in the last preceding general election.

Nau told council a resolution to get the question on the local ballot would have to be approved and submitted to the county board of elections at least 10 Tuesdays prior to the primary. "[Tuesday] is that deadline," she added.

Asked if zoning could be used to address the clubs, Nau said the city's current ordinance is weak on some issues. Mayor Brian Sanford responded that is why planning and zoning are currently being addressed for necessary updates. Residential zoning restrictions might be the one option to address bottle clubs through the current ordinance.

Nau told council the city does have an ordinance which prohibits nude dancing. However, she said that if bottle clubs are officially banned here, state crimes code elements come into play which would make it easier for the local police to address such issues. The state regulations would supersede local ordinances, Police Chief Don Owens told council.

A loss of Liquor Control Board checks and balances through acceptance of bottle clubs could open the door to activities which the majority of people in town might not want, said Owens.

"We're better off not opening that door, in my opinion," Nau said.

Sanford said with approval of the resolution the decision will be that of the voters.

Nau said Titusville's would be the first bottle club referendum in Crawford County.

"It provides a mechanism for voters to decide," she said.
http://www.titusvilleherald.com
________
end of article

February 28, 2002

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

DO YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Our website is up and running!! We just posted pictures on our website of the Headliners Club near Greenville.
This is the link
http://www.afanwpa.org/Headliners%20Club%20pictures%20-%20jpeg.htm

There are indications that the owner of the Headliners Club is interested in expanding his "business." Is your community protected from these businesses? If not, approach your elected officials with the pictures from our website and tell them you, your family and your neighbors want to be protected from places such as the Headliners Club. Tell them that an ordinance needs put in place that regulates sexually oriented businesses (SOBs). If they are not interested, then perhaps the names of concerned citizens should be on the ballot running opposite the names of unconcerned seated elected officials during the next election cycle--make SOBs a campaign issue.

More information can be found at our website.
http://www.afanwpa.org/Fighting%20Pornography%20with%20the%20Facts.htm
or contact the AFA Center for Law and Policy at clp@afa.net
A model ordinance can be found on AFA National's website
http://www.afa.net/pornography/2000sobmodelord.html

FOX NEWS AND "IN GOD WE TRUST"

This morning's Fox News Channel online had an article concerning AFA's effort to get "In God We Trust" posters in classrooms nationwide. If your schools don't have "In God We Trust" posters up yet, why not consider approaching your school board. By and large, school boards are very receptive to the idea, especially since 9-11. For more information, contact us.

God Goes Back to Schools in Form of National Motto
Thursday, February 28, 2002

In a rush that only picked up momentum after Sept. 11, legislatures across the country are passing laws which allow public school officials to post the national motto, "In God We Trust," in schools.

And even in states that haven't passed such laws, people like Clay County School Superintendent David Owens, near Jacksonville, Fla., are already nailing up God plaques.

"With things that are facing us today, like terrorism, I think we need a pulling-together of this country," Owens said. "If putting these mottos in the schools can help build patriotism, it has served its purpose."

While the movement picked up steam after Sept. 11, it actually began before, when the American Family Association, a Christian group in Tupelo, Miss., started clamoring for the words to be posted in schools. Mississippi lawmakers passed a law requiring the motto in every classroom about a year ago.

"America has a rich Christian, and really religious heritage," Tim Wildmon, the American Family Association's vice president, said. "If the president of the United States can be sworn in by placing his hand on the Holy Bible, certainly kids can know what the national motto is."

The organization has since asked its 200,000 members from all 50 states to contact lawmakers and push for similar laws.

And push they did. Although an "In God We Trust" bill in Indiana died in committee this month, Michigan passed a law in December that makes it clear that the motto can be hung in schools. Florida, Utah, Arizona, Virginia, Louisiana and New Jersey are considering similar legislation.

On Wednesday, Alabama was the latest state to join the parade. A bill allowing teachers and principals to post the motto in public schools sailed through a state Senate committee without a dissenting vote and headed for the full Senate.

"It's been tested for its constitutionality in federal court," said Michigan state Rep. Stephen Ehardt, a Republican. "It is secular. It's not a religious statement and it's something we should be proud of — it's our national motto."

Opponents say it isn’t secular at all, and that the latest attempts to post up the motto is a cynical, veiled campaign to use patriotism to bring religion into schools.

"If people are taking advantage of Sept. 11 to begin to refight the battle over whether the schools ought to be an institution charged with religious instruction, then that's a most unfortunate exploitation of the tragedies," Marc Stern, legal director for the Washington-based American Jewish Conference, said.

He said he is concerned that requiring the words in the classroom "will serve as a launching pad for further intrusion," but his organization isn’t fighting the bills.

"There are a lot of other things that are much less divisive that we suggest they could use," American Civil Liberties Union spokeswoman Emily Whitfield said. "George Bush said in our State of the Union address that our national motto should be 'Let's roll.' Maybe we should put that up there."

The ACLU has spoken against the measure in several states, though it has admitted that it probably would not win a court challenge.

The use of the phrase has withstood at least three federal court challenges, including one that led to a 1996 pro-motto ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Utah state Rep. Richard Siddoway, a Republican who wants to require every school to post "In God We Trust," said that taking away the motto might cause more harm than keeping it.

"If you're going to have to get rid of any mention of God and religion, you're going to have to get rid of the Declaration of Independence and you're going to have to get rid of the national anthem and, of course, the Pledge of Allegiance," he said.

The motto was first placed on coins by the U.S. Treasury in 1864, during the Civil War. In 1955, Congress passed a bill to have the motto placed on paper currency, and it first appeared on bills two years later. Congress passed a resolution in 1956 declaring "In God We Trust" the national motto.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,46721,00.html

American Family Association of Northwestern PA
P.O. Box 1048
Franklin, PA 16323-1048
Phone: 1.814.432.5421 FAX: 1.814.432.0931
http://www.afanwpa.org

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

February 26, 2001

In the week of February 18 issue of Christianity Today writer Ted Olsen gives a sarcastic portrayal of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's recent concurring opinion stating the historic, legal, and spiritual bases for opposing homosexual behavior. ( http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/106/51.0.html )

Does Mr. Olsen believe that Old and New Testament writers such as Paul were also "ranting" when they wrote that homosexual behavior is an "abomination" and "unnatural" and that its practitioners -- unless they repent -- will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven?

And why Mr. Olsen's transparently gratuitous reference to Dr. Don Wildmon of the American Family Association, as if Chief Justice Moore's theologically and historical truthful comments would be discredited by comparison to Dr. Wildmon?

Many Americans are extremely grateful that, by the grace of God and the people of Alabama, a jurist such as Roy Moore -- unafraid to express a simple historically accurate view universally held by Christians and a vast majority of all Americans until recent years -- holds the position of influence and judgment that he does.

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) If this writer's negative portrayal of Bible believing Christians stand against homosexuality disturbs you, please contact Christianity Today at letters@christianitytoday.com.

2.) In a related matter--the Erie County Council meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. tonight in the Erie County Courthouse. The vote on the discriminatory homosexual special rights ordinance is scheduled. Please be praying for me and others who will be addressing the Council.

American Family Association of Northwestern PA
P.O. Box 1048
Franklin, PA 16323-1048
Phone: 1.814.432.5421 FAX: 1.814.432.0931
Website: http://www.afanwpa.org

February 22, 2002

ERIE COUNTY VOTE SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

Have you contacted your friends and family in Erie County about this vote? It is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Febuary 26. If you have not made those contacts, NOW is the time. Visit our website at http://www.afanwpa.org for more information.

People "in the know" in Erie are believing the ordinance will pass, County Executive Rick Schenker will veto the ordinance and his veto will be overridden. Let's pray this is not the case.

Erie County Contact information:

http://www.eriecountygov.org/Elected_officials/main.html

This article was in today's Erie Times:

Council to vote on sexual orientation clause Tuesday

By ERICA ERWIN
Staff writer

The county, after much debate and controversy, will finally decide whether to protect a person's sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination ordinance.

Changes in the anti-discrimination ordinance, including the proposed sexual orientation clause, will be on County Council's agenda Tuesday for a final vote.

"I've been a proponent from the beginning," DiVecchio said at a Finance Committee meeting Thursday. "It's been a year since it was first proposed, and it's finally due for a vote."

The Human Relations Commission, which enforces the county's ordinance, first proposed including the sexual orientation clause in late January 2001. The ordinance was tabled in March after council feared inaccuracies in the language. Since then, several revisions have been made.

At present, the county's anti-discrimination ordinance, which has been in place since 1993, protects against discrimination based on age, gender, national origin and other classes covered by federal law. Neither federal nor state law protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Four votes are needed to pass the ordinance.

Erie County Executive Rick Schenker has said he would veto the ordinance if passed with the sexual orientation language included, claiming the clause would deter economic development.

He has since said he is withholding his decision until he reviews the final ordinance.

Five votes are needed to override a veto, Councilwoman Joy Greco said.

ERICA ERWIN can be reached at 870-1846. Send e-mail to erica.erwin@timesnews.com.

Last changed: February 21. 2002 6:23PM

http://www.goerie.com

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) Pray for Erie County residents that they will see the real harm
in passing this ordinance and rise up in opposition to it. Time is
of the essence.

2.) Pray for the Erie County Council and the County Executive that they
will make the right decision and will not give in to pressure from
a very small, yet vocal group looking for validation and acceptance
of their deadly lifestyle.

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

February 14, 2002

PENNSYLVANIA SAY 'HELLO' TO CASINO-STYLE GAMBLING

Unless we take a stand this will be the situation in Pennsylvania. There is
a current effort to allow slot machines at horse racetracks, in essence
turning them into casinos.

Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion (P.A.G.E.) has begun a statewide
petition drive to collect names of citizens calling on lawmakers to stand
against any expansion of legalized gambling. Most citizens do not want and
are not asking their legislators to expand gambling, but the racetrack and
casino lobbyists are.

Petitions have no legal power in Pennsylvania, but the thousands of
collected signatures will help demonstrate that there is a strong
anti-gambling expansion sentiment in the state. Names will be collected on
the petitions until March 1. They will be publicly presented during a news
conference in Harrisburg in early March.

American Family Association of Northwestern PA
P.O. Box 1048
Franklin, PA 16323-1048
Phone: 1.814.432.5421 FAX: 1.814.432.0931

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

February 13, 2002

HOMOSEXUALITY SET TO BE DECLARED A CIVIL RIGHT IN ERIE COUNTY

The vote is scheduled for February 26 at the Erie County Courthouse for the Human Relations Commission “anti-discimination” ordinance, which is in reality a homosexual special rights ordinance. Article III of the ordinance is very clear that if passed “sexual orientation . . . is hereby recognized as and declared to be a civil right . . . .”

The Advisory Board of the Human Relations Commission “may conduct or commission research and sponsor educational proprams or seminars on unlawful discrimination and related issues.” (emphasis added). Can this be interpreted that “educational” programs can be held in the classroom? In many cases these programs turn into an open
endorsement of the homosexual lifestyle. Below is a list of concerns that I raised in a letter I sent to County Executive Rick Schenker on January 31, 2002.

In areas where such ordinances have passed, the Boy Scouts have been discriminated against and had to fight for the right to use public parks.

The Salvation Army has been discriminated against because of their stance not to offer domestic partner benefits to the same sex partners of homosexual employees.

Oxford University Journal of Epidemiology reports the life expectancy of men who have sex with men is shortened by up to 20 years. Smoking shortens men’s lives by up to 7.3 years. Which is the more dangerous?

The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, all religious organizations or churches which receive any government funds will be required under this ordinance to hire practicing homosexuals (Article IV, Section M).

“Gender identity, by practice or percieved by others” is part of the definition of ‘sexual orientation.’ This term is so radical that only about two dozen cities in the nation have adopted ordinances with such wording. Openly homosexual Congressman Barney Frank opposes including so called “gender identity” language in a federal “gay rights” law. He warns that so-called “transgender” activists will use such language to literally demand that men who believe they are women be allowed to use women’s restrooms and showers.

A recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study of over 3,492 men who have sex with men found one in six also had sex with women. Bisexuals are a proven “bridge” infecting women with HIV.

Homosexuals researchers found that men involved in homosexual behavior are at least 452 times more likely to be victims of violence at the hands of their own same-gender sex partner than they are at the hands of an individual committing a so called “hate crime.”

Truly why would a compassionate society encourage such a destructive lifestyle. A very small, but vocal, group of homosexual activists in Erie County is pushing this ordinance. Christians must take a stand against this attack on the traditional family, the very foundation of our society.

Before being sworn into office on January 7, County Executive Rick Schenker had said that he would veto any ordinance containing the words “sexual orientation.” He has been strangely silent since the January 8 meeting when Erie County Councilwoman, Joy Greco,
voiced a change of heart and was now going to vote “Yes” on the Human Relations Commission ordinance. It has been reported that he still says he will veto the ordinance, but I cannot get independent verification since he is not returning any of my phone calls. I can only assume that he needs “encouragement” to veto the ordinance if it is passed.

At present, it is looking like the ordinance WILL PASS by a vote of 4 to 3. If Schenker vetoes the ordinance, the council must have five votes to override the veto. I spoke with someone yesterday who feels that they have the five votes to override. So, we must mobilize Christians in Erie County to stand against this.

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) Pray for the Erie County Council and County Executive.

2.) Pray for the Christian community to get involved in opposing this ordinance.

3.) Feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone in Erie County who will stand with us. If they don’t have e-mail, call or write them. This is of utmost importance. If this ordinance passes, Erie County will never be the same and the ripple affect will touch us all.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

County Council Office
Telephone 1.814.451.6302 or 1.814.451.6303
FAX: 1.814.451.6350
Address: Erie County Courthouse
140 West Sixth Street, Room 116
Erie, PA 16501
Hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

OR personally contact each council member:

Joy Greco
Republican
931 Michigan Blvd
Erie, PA 16505
Telephone: (814) 833-0859
Fax: (814) 833-0859

Joseph F. Giles
Democrat
257 East Seventh Street
Erie, PA 16503
Telephone: (814) 456-0337

Fiore Leone
Democrat
1364 West Thirty-Second Street
Erie, PA 16508
Home Telephone: (814) 864-6306
Email: FioreL9790@aol.com

Mark A. DiVecchio
Democrat
2428 Bird Drive
Erie, PA 16510
Home Telephone: (814) 899-6547
Work Telephone: (814)454-7771

James B. Terrill
Republican
6821 East Lake Road
Erie, PA 16511
Home Telephone: (814) 898-0935

David E. Mitchell (Chairman)
Republican
124 Chestnut Street
Corry, PA 16407
Home Telephone: (814) 664-8555

Carol J. Loll
Republican
6350 Platz Road
Fairview, PA 16415
Work Telephone: (814) 833-5338
Fax: (814) 838-2024
Home Telephone: (814) 474-3161

Erie County Executive Rick Schenker
Telephone: 1.814.451.6333 or 1.814.451.6388
FAX: 1.814.451.6334
Address: Erie County Courthouse
140 West Sixth Street, Room 114
Erie, PA 16501
E-mail rschenker@eriecountygov.org

Please contact Erie County residents/council members TODAY.

American Family Association of Northwestern PA
P.O. Box 1048
Franklin, PA 16323-1048
Phone: 1.814.432.5421 FAX: 1.814.432.0931

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

February 12, 2002

HOUSE SET TO VOTE ON BILL THAT WOULD LIMIT FREE SPEECH

Possibly as early as tomorrow, February 13, the U.S. House is set to vote on the Shays-Meehan Bill (H.R. 2356) which would greatly limit the free speech of pro-life, pro-family groups. The latest available version of H.R. 2356 is almost identical to the Senate-passed version of the McCain-Feingold bill (S.27). Restrictions placed on the rights of pro-family or any citizens group include:

o Shays-Meehan would prevent citizen/pro-family/pro-life groups from running TV or radio commercials that mention the name of a federally elected official 30 days before the primary election and 60 days prior to the general election.
o Shays-Meehan would prohibit citizen/pro-family/pro-life groups year-round from running a commercial of ANY kind that may be construed, under very vague guidelines, as an "endorsement." For example: following a ban on partial birth abortion, pro-life groups would not be permitted to run an ad thanking a specific Congressman for voting for it and saying he is pro-life.
o The sections of H.R. 2356 on "coordinated" activity (Section 211 and 214) would create a web of trip wires that would place both incumbent lawmakers and advocacy groups at great legal risk for engaging in cooperative or parallel activities in support of common goals. "Coordination" is broadly defined to include "any general or particular understanding" with a candidate which is associated with any later activity (not just broadcast ads) deemed to be "in connection with" a candidate's election. Under this language, an advocacy group and a member of Congress could be deemed to have engaged in illegal "coordinated" activity, if the group distributed printed literature publicizing the results of a candidate questionnaire or "pledge" on one or more issues.

Respected legal analyst Stuart Taylor, Jr. wrote in the January 28 edition of National Journal, "the far-reaching 'reforms' currently in Shays-Meehan and its Senate counterpart, McCain-Feingold, would be a non-cure worse than the disease . . . Shays-Meehan's most extreme and least publicized provisions have nothing to do with soft money . . . .endorsing them would be a dangerous dereliction of Congress' constitutional responsibility." Washington Post columnist David Broder wrote, "the authors of the Senate bill have gone way too far in restricting freedom of speech."

The language contained in the Shays-Meehan bill is so vague and expansive that citizens/pro-family/pro-life groups would constantly be at risk of being investigated by the government or at the mercy of the interpretation of the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) Pray for the nation and her leaders.

2.) Contact your U.S. Representative TODAY and politely ask him to vote "NO" on
Shays-Meehan because it is an assault on our First Amendment right of free speech.

CONTACT INFO: (NOTE--when e-mailing, please include your home address so the Congressman knows you are from his district)

John Peterson can be reached at (202) 225-5121 or e-mail at john.peterson@mail.house.gov

FAX (202) 225-5796

Phil English can be reached at (202) 225-5406 or e-mail at
phil.english@mail.house.gov

John Murtha can be reached at (202) 225-2065 or e-mail at
murtha@mail.house.gov FAX: (814) 533-0491

Frank Mascara can be reached at (202) 225-4665 or email through
http://www.house.gov/mascara/

Melissa Hart can be reached at (202) 225-2565 or email at
rep.hart@mail.house.gov

Mike Doyle can be reached at (202) 225-2135 or e-mail at
rep.doyle@mail.house.gov

If you do not know who your representative is, go to http://www.pavoter.com and click on Government Directory at the bottom of the page. You will be able to find out who your rep is by using your nine-digit zip code.

Our right of free speech is under attack and all freedom loving Americans must act.

American Family Association of Northwestern PA
P.O. Box 1048
Franklin, PA 16323-1048
Phone: 1.814.432.5421 FAX: 1.814.432.0931

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

February 8, 2002

BAN HUMAN CLONING -- PERIOD!

Last summer the U.S. House passed the Weldon-Stupak bill (H.R. 2505) to ban human cloning, by a 103-margin vote. The long-awaited debate in the Senate has begun.

MONEY TALKS: Some senators’ opinions are being swayed to oppose the total ban on human cloning because of large campaign donations from polictical action committees and individuals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industries, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Two of the strongest backers of the government funding of human cloning and embryonic stem cell research are Sens. Arlen Specter and Tom Harkin, who is also the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Specter is the ranking member of the subcommittee.

From 1995 to 2000, Senator Arlen Spector received $207, 080 in campaign donations from such organizations. In fact, our senator’s second-largest campaign contributor since 1995 has been Amgen, the world’s largest biotech company. In the last six years, Senator Harkin received $54,307 from the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

Unfortunately, not only are the pro-abortion senators being targeted with campaign money, but also pro-life senators. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a staunch opponent of abortion was the top recipient of contributions from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, which gave $337,3870 to his campaign. He was the number one recipient of money from this source in his 2000 run for re-election. Hatch now states that embryonic stem cell research is consistent with his pro-life position. Hatch said the research could be a boon to the more than 100 million Americans sick with various debilitating diseases --
money truly talks!! He is failing to acknowledge that stem cells are also found in skin cells, bone marrow, placenta, umbilical cord blood, brain tissue and body fat -- killing a human embryo for its stem cells is NOT necessary.

“Cells taken ethically from adults with no loss of life have already shown tremendous potential and proven benefits. This discovery should remove any last vestiges of doubt in the life saving potential of adult stem cells. As many had predicted, it now appears that adult stem cells are the avenues to providing real cures for real people,” observed Christian Medical Association Executive Director David Stevens, MD.

NOW THE SENATE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY to ban all human cloning. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has joined Senator Sam Brownback in opposing ALL human cloning. She says, “Anything short of a complete ban creates a loophole that would allow researchers, seeking to make money or headlines, the power to decide this issue for the American people.”

Two bills are before the Senate, Senator Brownback’s pro-life bill (S1899) which would ban all human cloning and the Democrats counter proposal (S1758) sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) which would permit the cloning of human embryos and the establishment of human embyo farms -- called “therapeutic cloning.” BEWARE of the wording of this bill -- it defines “human cloning” in a manner that allows human embryos to be created by cloning, while making it a crime to allow any such human embryo to live by implanting him or her in a womb -- interpretation: it’s okay to clone humans, but don’t implant them in the womb (clone and kill bill).

Human cloning has been equated with slavery. The human embryos are viewed as property to be done with as one pleases. The comparison is justified.

ACTION NEEDED:

1.) Pray that the nation’s senators will see the value of all life and
come to realize there is no need to clone humans for further stem
cell research.

2.) Contact your senators and ask them to SUPPORT Senator Sam
Brownback’s bill (S 1899) which would ban ALL human cloning.

3.) Ask your senators NOT TO SUPPORT Senator Feinstein’s “clone and
kill bill” (S 1758)

4.) Contact information: Senator Rick Santorum (202) 224-6324 or use
the form on his website-- http://santorum.senate.gov
Senator Arlen Specter (202) 224-4254 or e-mail through his
website http://specter.senate.gov

American Family Association of Northwestern PA
P.O. Box 1048
Franklin, PA 16323-1048
Phone: 1.814.432.5421 FAX: 1.814.432.0931

AFANWPA ACTION ALERT

February 6, 2002

On October 21, 1998, the State Board of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted "Chapter 4, Academic Standards and Assessment."
Part of Chapter 4 is the requirement that school districts affix either a Pennsylvania Seal of Proficiency or a Pennsylvania Seal of Distinction on high school diplomas and make a notation on the transcript of the student. This all based on a single scaled test score--the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (the PSSA).

Some problems with the PSSA testing program, as outlined in a resolution passed by the Board of School Directors of Mt. Lebanon School District:

1.) The PSSA test has been shown to contain significant irregularities
-- flaws that invalidate the test.

2.) The PSSA tests were initially designed with the avowed purpose of
measuring the strength of the program at a given school, rather than
to be utliized to measure individual student achievement.

3.) Although the Department (of Education) has previously indicated
that individual student's scores are to be kept confidential, the
Department has encouraged "local workforce boards and youth
councils" to use the results of the PSSA 11th grade test as a
method to measure the academic progress of all youths involved in
job training programs.

4.) The Department of Education has indicated that it will encourage
the state-owned colleges and universities of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania to use the results of this one-time PSSA test as a
basis for admission to these state-owned schools.

Based on 2001 PSSA scores, only 21.1 % (Advanced) and 26.8% (Proficient) of students in Pennsylvania would receive a state seal, since 21.7 % of students scored at the Basic Level and 30.4% scores at Below Basic.

The state has not only chosen to remove local control from school districts in the matter of requiring seals on diplomas, but the entire matter is based upon the results of one test.

Within a couple days the State House is scheduled to vote on HB 2059, which would return local control to school districts and make the state seals on diplomas voluntary.

ACTION NEEDED:

Contact your state representative and ask him or her to support HB 2059 to return local control to our school districts.

If you do not know who your state rep is, go to http://www.pavoter.com
go to the bottom of the page and click on "Government Directory" then key in your zip code.

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Every citizen of the United States has equal protection under the law, but there is a small group (around 2% of the population) that desires special rights. At 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, the Erie County Council will hear the second reading of the new anti-discrimination ordinance. The words "sexual orientation" are throughout the ordinance and if it passes "sexual orientation" will be considered a civil right (Section III). In a 1999 Wirthlin Worldwide poll of over 1,000 Americans, 75 percent said that "homosexuals have not suffered the same kind of legal injustice as black Americans have." The PA Human Relations Commission reports that of the 382 bias-related incidences between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001, there were 162 against blacks and 19 against homosexuals!

o The risk of anal cancer soars by nearly 4,000 % for men who have sex with men.

o Men who engage in homosexual behavior risk shortening their lives by up to 20 years

A compassionate society DOES NOT encourage a lifestyle that is detrimental to its citizens and undermines the very foundation of that society--the traditional family.

If you know anyone living in Erie County, please contact them and ask that they call the Erie County Courthouse at 1.814.451.6303. Erie County Council members need to be encouraged to vote "NO" on the new anti-discrimination ordinance. As long as the words "sexual orientation" are in the ordinance they should not support it. Time is of the utmost importance.