In case folks out there don't know, I work for the VA. Yesterday I got a call on the voicemail at work that shook me up. A patient called thanking us for all we had done and asked that we cancel all his appointments and medications. No other message, just that. It scared me, so I had our nurse call him. While she had him on the line, she had me call the police to do a wellness check. When the patient hung up with her (she tried to keep him on the line), our Suicide Hotline tried to contact him and had the local PD do a wellfare check. When the police arrived, they found him dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Sometimes you can't do enough...
I can't give out this person's name because of HIPPA, but if you could keep his wife and kids in your prayers I would appreciate it.
May the angels lead you to paradise,
And may the martyrs receive you on arrival
And lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem.
May the choir of angels receive youAnd may you, with Lazarus,
who was once poor, have eternal rest.
*from In Paradisum .
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Prayer Closet
Luke 18:9-14
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Matthew 6:1-6 and 16-21
Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
In both the BCP and RCL lectionaries, we see an admonition about prayer. Today Father Roger addressed this in the Ash Wednesday service. What is your first impression when you hear the word prayer? For me it brings up memories of the Full Gospel services of my youth. During group prayers in church, there was no leader. Each person knelt with their elbows resting on their pews and prayed aloud, emphasis on loud. Some would speak in tongues, others sounded like the televangelists on the TV. Then there was prayer standing up, done much the same way, and prayers for healing, also loud and chaotic as we encircled the person we were praying for and dipped our fingers in olive oil to annoint said person. Prayer was a chaotic din...
Then there was prayer before meals. These prayers were usually led by someone as everyone else bowed their heads. These prayers were more quiet, but still seemed a bit much.
But the prayers that stick with me the most, the ones that really shaped me were not ones lead by others, or chaotic sounds of offering. They were the prayers I said as I struggled through my adolescence during my long walks in the woods behind my house. Prayers where I talked to God, told him how I felt, and asked questions that I wouldn't dare ask in church. It was in these moments that I found the words of the hymn, "What a friend we have in Jesus". I took solace in the knowledge that Jesus was human, that he had gone through the same things I was now struggling with. For me that was the solace I could not find in friends, family or Church.
I think my focus this Lent season is going to be just that. Getting back to that personal relationship I had so many years ago.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Matthew 6:1-6 and 16-21
Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
In both the BCP and RCL lectionaries, we see an admonition about prayer. Today Father Roger addressed this in the Ash Wednesday service. What is your first impression when you hear the word prayer? For me it brings up memories of the Full Gospel services of my youth. During group prayers in church, there was no leader. Each person knelt with their elbows resting on their pews and prayed aloud, emphasis on loud. Some would speak in tongues, others sounded like the televangelists on the TV. Then there was prayer standing up, done much the same way, and prayers for healing, also loud and chaotic as we encircled the person we were praying for and dipped our fingers in olive oil to annoint said person. Prayer was a chaotic din...
Then there was prayer before meals. These prayers were usually led by someone as everyone else bowed their heads. These prayers were more quiet, but still seemed a bit much.
But the prayers that stick with me the most, the ones that really shaped me were not ones lead by others, or chaotic sounds of offering. They were the prayers I said as I struggled through my adolescence during my long walks in the woods behind my house. Prayers where I talked to God, told him how I felt, and asked questions that I wouldn't dare ask in church. It was in these moments that I found the words of the hymn, "What a friend we have in Jesus". I took solace in the knowledge that Jesus was human, that he had gone through the same things I was now struggling with. For me that was the solace I could not find in friends, family or Church.
I think my focus this Lent season is going to be just that. Getting back to that personal relationship I had so many years ago.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Trying to get this in before Lent
Sometimes people absolutely amaze me. My youngest brother and I tend to not see eye to eye in politics these days. He is firmly conservative at the moment, as he watches his meager 401k circle the drain and wonders if he will keep his job at Ranger. Somehow, all the economic woes are President Obama's and Clinton's fault. As I remind him of whose watch this happened on, he starts giving me the tired lines that a)Obama is going to raise his taxes, b) he doesn't want to pay to fix someone elses mortgage, etc... Same tired lines.
I also work with a dyed in the wool fundangelical former Catholic who I love butting heads with over politics and religion at times. Today's spat started over the bailouts. She says the country is headed for socialism, which I don't think is necessarily a bad thing. To reinforce my point, I point out that the first Christians in Acts were socialists, if not out and out communists, to the point that one man and his wife were struck dead by the Holy Spirit for keeping some back. So she says I am a socialist. Then the conversation continued to the Octo-Mom. She asked me if I was angry about having to pay her way. I said, "Of course. She and the doctors made a horrible mistake, but I will not punnish the babies who had no choice for their Mom's bad one." She then said that some people should be sterilized... to which I reminded her was the plan of WWII Japan, making her a fascist. We then agreed that this was a wonderful country that allowed us to believe and say what we want in situations like that.
After this, my posts will be more along a more contemplative vein for Lent. Have a good one!
I also work with a dyed in the wool fundangelical former Catholic who I love butting heads with over politics and religion at times. Today's spat started over the bailouts. She says the country is headed for socialism, which I don't think is necessarily a bad thing. To reinforce my point, I point out that the first Christians in Acts were socialists, if not out and out communists, to the point that one man and his wife were struck dead by the Holy Spirit for keeping some back. So she says I am a socialist. Then the conversation continued to the Octo-Mom. She asked me if I was angry about having to pay her way. I said, "Of course. She and the doctors made a horrible mistake, but I will not punnish the babies who had no choice for their Mom's bad one." She then said that some people should be sterilized... to which I reminded her was the plan of WWII Japan, making her a fascist. We then agreed that this was a wonderful country that allowed us to believe and say what we want in situations like that.
After this, my posts will be more along a more contemplative vein for Lent. Have a good one!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Congratulations Michael Upson (better late than never)
Here's an interesting tidbit from the NW Arkansas News. It appears the Second Presbyterian Church have elected themselves a gay Deacon. Here's a snippet from the article:
Little Rock's Second Presbyterian Church, which has 1,700 members, elected a slate of a dozen adult deacons, including openly gay member Michael Upson. The candidates ran unopposed and the slate was approved by voice vote. Only a smattering of "no" votes was heard, and the outcome was greeted with some applause. Second Presbyterian's senior pastor, the Rev. Stephen Hancock, said he wasn't surprised by the way his congregation handled the issue.
"They did it the way I anticipated they would, I think, with thoughtfulness and care and respect for each other," Hancock said.
The vote comes one day after the Presbytery of Arkansas voted to remove restrictions on homosexual ordination from the national church's Book of Order.
It's about time someone joined us in fighting for an inclusive Gospel. I applaud the Second Presbyterian Church and congratulate Michael on his ordination. Lets keep them in our prayers.
Little Rock's Second Presbyterian Church, which has 1,700 members, elected a slate of a dozen adult deacons, including openly gay member Michael Upson. The candidates ran unopposed and the slate was approved by voice vote. Only a smattering of "no" votes was heard, and the outcome was greeted with some applause. Second Presbyterian's senior pastor, the Rev. Stephen Hancock, said he wasn't surprised by the way his congregation handled the issue.
"They did it the way I anticipated they would, I think, with thoughtfulness and care and respect for each other," Hancock said.
The vote comes one day after the Presbytery of Arkansas voted to remove restrictions on homosexual ordination from the national church's Book of Order.
It's about time someone joined us in fighting for an inclusive Gospel. I applaud the Second Presbyterian Church and congratulate Michael on his ordination. Lets keep them in our prayers.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Interesting Article
Here's an interesting article from the Chicago Tribune about same sex couples with children. Of course to most of the readers of this blog are aware of the idiocy of the argument that "gay couples produce gay kids", but I thought I would post it anyway.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
And the AssHattery Continues!
My goodness, you'd think ignorance was contageous or something. Today the Asshat Award goes to a Kentucky State Senator, Gary Tapp, R-Shelbyville.
My favoritie quote from the article seen here is from Kentucky Rep. Darryl Owens who said, ""How do you enforce that? I don't want to make it my business of going into people's bedrooms." Sounds like the first sensible thing I've heard all week.
Of course further asshatery comes from David Edmunds of the Family Foundation of Kentucky says, ""I hope that this bill would highlight the need for adoptive families and protect adoption agencies so that they can operate under their policies." It's so nice to know that these agencies need protection from the big pink Gay Monster...
My question is, who is going to stand up for the 7,100 + children currently in need of homes in the state of Kentucky. Just like in Arkansas, there are thousands of children who need loving stable homes. But compassion isn't a halmark of these organizations. They are more interested in making sure that they stop the spread of the dreaded "gay cooties". The description of the Arkansas Family Council I did earlier in the year applies to this group as well.
It's past time someone stood up to these bullies by shining the light of Truth on their activities. With everything going on right now from the wars in Iraq and Afghanisan to the rapidly sinking economy, I think these orgainizations time and energy could be better utilized.
Hat tip to the Arkansas Times for bringing this article to my attention.
My favoritie quote from the article seen here is from Kentucky Rep. Darryl Owens who said, ""How do you enforce that? I don't want to make it my business of going into people's bedrooms." Sounds like the first sensible thing I've heard all week.
Of course further asshatery comes from David Edmunds of the Family Foundation of Kentucky says, ""I hope that this bill would highlight the need for adoptive families and protect adoption agencies so that they can operate under their policies." It's so nice to know that these agencies need protection from the big pink Gay Monster...
My question is, who is going to stand up for the 7,100 + children currently in need of homes in the state of Kentucky. Just like in Arkansas, there are thousands of children who need loving stable homes. But compassion isn't a halmark of these organizations. They are more interested in making sure that they stop the spread of the dreaded "gay cooties". The description of the Arkansas Family Council I did earlier in the year applies to this group as well.
It's past time someone stood up to these bullies by shining the light of Truth on their activities. With everything going on right now from the wars in Iraq and Afghanisan to the rapidly sinking economy, I think these orgainizations time and energy could be better utilized.
Hat tip to the Arkansas Times for bringing this article to my attention.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Update on Being Peace
Friday, February 13, 2009
So Many Asshats, So Little Time
There are some days when I'm ashamed of my state. This story from the Madison County Record is a doozy.Long story short, some idoiots in a county south of us decided to taunt workers from Pensylvania who volunteered to come down and restore their power. Why? Because the workers were black! These idgits even went so far as to wave rebel flags and threaten these good samaritans.
So Madison County, you've set the image of Arkansas back 50 years and thus receive the Asshat Award! Congratulations, morons!
17 Asshat Awards in One Day!!!
Today's award comes via the UCC website. Read the full story here. So without further ado...'
Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, Oklahoma State House of Representatives, is officially awarded the Asshat Award. Another gaybashing polecat, Rep. Wright moved to strike the opening prayer from the assembly meeting because the pastor was a gay man from a church attended by LGBT's in Oklahoma.
1/5 of the State House of Representatives voted to strike it from the record as well, bringing the grand total to 17, yes seventeen awards going to Oklahoma today.
It just keeps getting more rediculous.
Prayer Army Assemble!
Roseanne, aka BeingPeace, is going through a rough patch at the moment. Here's the scoop from Wounded Bird
Roseann is on dialysis, waiting for a kidney donor, because her kidneys were diseased and had to be removed. I think Roseann is quite brave. She kept her courage and sense of humor throughout a long period of of illness. Doctors recently discovered a suspicious spot in a mammogram, and now this. Please pray!
Roseann has her laptop in the hospital, so if people would like to get in touch with her on Face Book they can.She had an endoscopy this morning and a small tumor was seen, but she didn't tell me where it was. I'm trying to be cautious with what I pass on, but I think this turn of events should be shared.I am very concerned for her.Thank you for posting last evenings news on your blog. Sue
I ask everyone out there to please pray for her.
Roseann is on dialysis, waiting for a kidney donor, because her kidneys were diseased and had to be removed. I think Roseann is quite brave. She kept her courage and sense of humor throughout a long period of of illness. Doctors recently discovered a suspicious spot in a mammogram, and now this. Please pray!
Roseann has her laptop in the hospital, so if people would like to get in touch with her on Face Book they can.She had an endoscopy this morning and a small tumor was seen, but she didn't tell me where it was. I'm trying to be cautious with what I pass on, but I think this turn of events should be shared.I am very concerned for her.Thank you for posting last evenings news on your blog. Sue
I ask everyone out there to please pray for her.
Shuck and Jive: Paul Stanley in His Own Words
Shuck and Jive: Paul Stanley in His Own Words
Here's the link for more information on Tennessee's attempt to ban gay adoptions and foster care.
Here's the link for more information on Tennessee's attempt to ban gay adoptions and foster care.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
What's In a Name?
Apparently my little skit hit a nerve with some people. As a preacher friend of mine from Louisiana once said, "Did I step on your toes? Good!" Sometimes folks just don't get it, so I want to focus on a word that's been batted about quite a bit... bigot.
Now I know quite a few people become offended when the word bigot is brought out. However, let's face facts here. The opinions of the "orthodoxy" on same sex relations and women's ordination come from a fundamentalist reading of the Bible. The mantra I remember growing up was, "The Bible says it. I believe it and that's that." There is no room for discussion on this, because they feel they are right beyond a shadow of a doubt and that's all there is to it.
Now I can already hear folks like Phil ( I don't mean to pick on you, Brother, but you are the best example I have at the moment) who would say that my own views would also make me a bigot as well. And he may have a point. I am unwilling to waiver in my views too. But how we came to our conclusions are probably very different. While I can't speak for Phil's faith journey, I can talk some about mine. Let's just say that I believed as Phil does at one time. But then some revelations happened that made me reconsider what I believed and finally brought me to where I am today.
It started with a roommate of mine my second semester at a fundangelical college called Hannibal-LaGrange. He was a man in his mid thirties who had the "salvation experience" and was now an ex-homosexual. He was even engaged to one of the women in our "Star Trek Club". One night I came home from being out with my then girlfriend to find him sitting in the dark crying. Somehow, he had developed a crush on another friend of ours, who was a straight male. I talked with him at length to try to comfort him. He told me how even though he had accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, he still had these feelings that he hated but could not get rid of. He knew how he "should be", and could not reconcile it with what he still felt. Every day and every night he prayed to be delivered from this sin. He was full of guilt, shame and self loathing. All I could do was cry with him, pray with him and wonder. One barrier shattered.
Next was when I found out one of my cousins was gay. But watching my family's reaction was almost comical if it had not been so sad. Many of them said they always knew he was "a little funny". But in the very next breath they could talk about how he was living a life of sin and that he chose to be that way. He died in a car wreck a few years ago; never fully accepted by my family. Another barrier shattered.
Months later, I joined the Navy. I made quite a few friends, and, as it turned out, some were gay. These men and women were some of the best Corpsmen and Marines I have ever seen. Another barrier shattered.
The final barrier gave way when I joined All Saint's Episcopal Church in Bentonville. Here I met gay and lesbian friends, all in committed monogamous relationships, some even caring for children. Seeing them and getting to really know them as people opened my eyes to what God had been trying to tell me in that dorm room so long ago: that I was wrong. What I had been taught as a child was wrong, and that I could never shut people out again. It also spurred within me a desire to act on that epiphany. If I could come to this realization, why couldn't others?
I was once a bigot. Now I am not. My views are held not out of blind obedience to an institution or to a sacred text. They come from years of conversation, what this listening process should be. They come from hours of prayer, questioning God, studying not just what our Bible says, but what was underneath: the things that we don't see in the text. And finally, they come from the transformative process that allowing the love of Christ to work through brings.
I pray for Phil and many like him. I pray that one day God will open their hearts and allow them to for one moment feel the pain that they have inflicted. I pray that some day they will have the epiphany I had. I also pray for the men and women like my former roommate James and my cousin Jeremy. Men and women who we have cast aside or attempted to fit them into a mould that never will. I close with these words from Paul.
Galatians 5:1 and 3-4
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery...4You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
Thanks be to God.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Asshat Award
Today's award goes out to Tennessee State Senator Paul Stanley (no relation) for bigottry and intolerance to the nth degree. The Hon. Polecat from Tennesee is attempting to have legislation passed that bears a striking resemblance to Arkansas Act 1. In fact I would go so far as to say the same authors (Cox and Friends with J. Dobson) had a hand ghostwriting this one. For the full story, jump on over to OCICBR.Revised Conversations in "Anglicanland"
This is sort of a continuation of a theme Mark Harris posted on his blog, ammended with comments added by a conservative named Phil... It's how I see the listening process.
Orthodoxy and Revisionist walk to the center of the stage from opposite sides of the room. Both men are wearing boxing gloves and headgear.
Orthodoxy: You aren't Christian!" Swings at Revisionist.
Revisionist: ducking We're listening. Why not?
Orthodoxy: Swings again. You are glorifying sexual immorality! You are allowing people who chose to be homosexuals to be bishops!
Revisionist: gets hit in the mid section. Oof! We hear you, but we disagree. We don't believe it is a choice.
Orthodoxy: hits Revisionist in the nose. But the Bible says it is! You are going against 2000 years of Church teachings!
Revisionist: Ouch. We believe that "love thy neighbor as thyself" trumps that. We feel the Holy Spirit is moving us into a direction of love and understanding. Haven't you read Galatians 5?
Orthodoxy: Swings again. We don't believe you! It is immoral and icky! We're leaving!
Revisionist: ducking again. But we can make accomodations for you! The Anglican Communion is big enough for all of us!
Orthodoxy: kicks Revisionist in the groin. We don't want that! We are the right church! You aren't Christian!
Revisionist: jumps back. Where have we heard that? But we are the right church too! One body, many parts?
Orthodoxy: punches Revisionist in the face again. We're taking the buildings!
Revisionist: suddenly angry, swings at Orthodoxy. That's IT! If you want to go, FINE! But for heaven's sake, leave the buildings!
Orthodoxy: throws himself on the floor, crying. No fair! You aren't being inclusive! Why won't you listen to us?
*****Rinse, lather, repeat*******
Orthodoxy and Revisionist walk to the center of the stage from opposite sides of the room. Both men are wearing boxing gloves and headgear.
Orthodoxy: You aren't Christian!" Swings at Revisionist.
Revisionist: ducking We're listening. Why not?
Orthodoxy: Swings again. You are glorifying sexual immorality! You are allowing people who chose to be homosexuals to be bishops!
Revisionist: gets hit in the mid section. Oof! We hear you, but we disagree. We don't believe it is a choice.
Orthodoxy: hits Revisionist in the nose. But the Bible says it is! You are going against 2000 years of Church teachings!
Revisionist: Ouch. We believe that "love thy neighbor as thyself" trumps that. We feel the Holy Spirit is moving us into a direction of love and understanding. Haven't you read Galatians 5?
Orthodoxy: Swings again. We don't believe you! It is immoral and icky! We're leaving!
Revisionist: ducking again. But we can make accomodations for you! The Anglican Communion is big enough for all of us!
Orthodoxy: kicks Revisionist in the groin. We don't want that! We are the right church! You aren't Christian!
Revisionist: jumps back. Where have we heard that? But we are the right church too! One body, many parts?
Orthodoxy: punches Revisionist in the face again. We're taking the buildings!
Revisionist: suddenly angry, swings at Orthodoxy. That's IT! If you want to go, FINE! But for heaven's sake, leave the buildings!
Orthodoxy: throws himself on the floor, crying. No fair! You aren't being inclusive! Why won't you listen to us?
*****Rinse, lather, repeat*******
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Human Factor Part II
Meet the families in California who were married before Prop 8 was passed.
"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.
These are real people with real emotions.
"What you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me", Jesus.
"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.
These are real people with real emotions.
"What you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me", Jesus.
It's Still On, Halleluja!!
Just received an update on the ACLU's lawsuit regarding Arkansas' Act 1. For those playing the home game, this is the law that Jerry Cox (apt name) and the Arkansas Family Council had passed in the last election to ban all unmarried cohabiting couples from adopting or caring for foster children. This was of course a smokescreen to get around the State Supreme Court decision that discriminating against LGBT persons in adoption and foster care was unconstitutional, as they told many of the churches in Arkansas. In an update from the ACLU website, it looks like Cox and Friends are trying to insert themselves into the court case:
"FCAC and Cox are seeking to insert themselves as parties into the instant case,
which broadly challenges the constitutionality of the Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act
(“Act 1”). Movants first assert that this Court is required to allow their intervention as
defendants because the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Arkansas cannot
adequately defend Act 1. This assertion—which must be proven to allow intervention “as of
right”—is simply false. As the Attorney General has made clear in his response to the motion to
intervene, and as evidenced by his actions to date in this litigation, there is no reason to believe
that the Attorney General will not fulfill his legal and ethical duty to fully and vigorously defend the constitutionality of Act 1."
which broadly challenges the constitutionality of the Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act
(“Act 1”). Movants first assert that this Court is required to allow their intervention as
defendants because the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Arkansas cannot
adequately defend Act 1. This assertion—which must be proven to allow intervention “as of
right”—is simply false. As the Attorney General has made clear in his response to the motion to
intervene, and as evidenced by his actions to date in this litigation, there is no reason to believe
that the Attorney General will not fulfill his legal and ethical duty to fully and vigorously defend the constitutionality of Act 1."
Also for those of you paying attention, here's a better run down of the legal rangling:
"Plaintiffs in this case are children, families, and couples who are harmed by Act 1.
Defendants in this case include the state of Arkansas, the Department of Human Services, the
Child Welfare Agency Review Board, and other government officials charged with the
responsibility of enforcing Act 1. Act 1 on its face requires Defendants to categorically exclude
all persons in unmarried cohabitating relationships, including gay persons who are not permitted to marry in Arkansas, from providing foster or adoptive homes to children in state care or even to their own relatives notwithstanding the wishes of the children’s parents. The effects of Act 1 on the Plaintiffs in this case are real and concrete. For plaintiff-children, Act 1 bars Defendants from acting in plaintiff-children’s best interests and approving or recommending them for foster care or adoption with a family, solely because of the cohabiting status of the potential parents.
For the adult-plaintiffs, Act 1 categorically bars some from serving as foster or adoptive parents without any individualized assessment of whether they are qualified. For the other adult plaintiffs, Act 1 requires Defendants to disregard those adult-plaintiffs’ parental judgment that, in the event of their death or incapacity it would be in the best interests of their child to be adopted by a close relative or godparent, solely because that person is living with an unmarried partner."
Defendants in this case include the state of Arkansas, the Department of Human Services, the
Child Welfare Agency Review Board, and other government officials charged with the
responsibility of enforcing Act 1. Act 1 on its face requires Defendants to categorically exclude
all persons in unmarried cohabitating relationships, including gay persons who are not permitted to marry in Arkansas, from providing foster or adoptive homes to children in state care or even to their own relatives notwithstanding the wishes of the children’s parents. The effects of Act 1 on the Plaintiffs in this case are real and concrete. For plaintiff-children, Act 1 bars Defendants from acting in plaintiff-children’s best interests and approving or recommending them for foster care or adoption with a family, solely because of the cohabiting status of the potential parents.
For the adult-plaintiffs, Act 1 categorically bars some from serving as foster or adoptive parents without any individualized assessment of whether they are qualified. For the other adult plaintiffs, Act 1 requires Defendants to disregard those adult-plaintiffs’ parental judgment that, in the event of their death or incapacity it would be in the best interests of their child to be adopted by a close relative or godparent, solely because that person is living with an unmarried partner."
The full legal brief filed by the ACLU can be found here.
By now you should know my position on this. That has not changed. Act 1 keeps children who need loving, stable homes from having them for fear of "gay cooties". It also takes away OUR right to say who WE want raising OUR children should something happen to my wife and me. What Cox and Friends have effectively done is tell Arkansans that we don't know what is best for our youngsters. In my mind, this is pure arrogance.
Just who is this FCAC (Family Council Action Committee)? Let's see what their website says:
"Since 1989, Family Council has been at the forefront promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values in Arkansas. We are part of a nation-wide network of family policy councils associated with Focus on the Family and Dr. James Dobson. Our mission involves shaping public opinion through media interviews, producing voter’s guides for elections, and shaping public polices through the legislative process. Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Education Alliance and the Arkansas Physicians Resource Council are division of our work dedicated to promoting home schooling and to enabling Arkansas physicians to address social and moral issues that impact medical ethics."
In other words, they are a PAC affiliated with James Dobson. They keep busy by working on:
Abortion* Firmly against.
End of Life Issues* Against
Stem Cell Research* Against
Human Cloning* Against, and as an aside, still decades away from actually happening
Physician-Assisted Suicide* Against
Same-Sex Marriage* Against. Activly worked to pass the DOM ammendment and Act 1
Religious Liberty* As long as its their religion.
Homosexuality* See the entry for Same-Sex Marriage
Gambling* Against everything from a state lottery to Bingo in the church foyer
Judicial Activism* Want only conservative judges.
Education Choice* Inteligent Design instead of Evolution, "Christian" prayer in schools, abstinence education, you know the drill.
Home Schooling* What better way to indoctrinate our youth?
Divorce* Fall right in line with Rick Warren and SBC on this one. Unless it's adultry, forget it.
Taxes* The usual Republican line here...Against the Inheritance Tax, Lower taxes on the wealthy...
Health Care * See anti abortion, anti-stem cell research, euthanasia, birth control, etc.
Sounds like a fun bunch of folks doesn't it. It really burns my bacon when a group of people try to push their own idea of what is good and right down my throat. As a free society, we are able to make these choices for ourselves. These pharisees want nothing more than to establish a theocracy.
This flies in the face of our constitution and what the Founding Fathers wanted. While they agreed that people needed some form of moral compass in order for our government to work, they also wanted a separation of Church and State. This doesn't just protect religious institutions from government interference, it also protects the government and the people from religious interference. The Church of England and Roman Catholic Church were still in the minds of men like Jefferson and Adams when they began this Grand Experiment. To avoid that, they constructed a wall to keep the two separate.
That's my rant for this week. Maybe I'll be in better spirits next time.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
In honor of MadPriest
Since the Athiests have taken out bus adds in Britain, I thought I'd make one to bring a smile to your faces... enjoy.
Good News!!
The California State Supreme Court is going to hear the Prop 8 case in March!!! From Bloomberg.com:
"By Karen Gullo
Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- The California Supreme Court will consider whether to overturn a voter-approved ballot measure that repealed its ruling legalizing same-sex marriages in a hearing scheduled for March 5.
The court scheduled oral arguments in three lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8, said Lynn Holton, a spokeswoman for the Supreme Court, in an e-mailed statement today. The court issues rulings within 90 days of arguments.
The California Supreme Court legalized gay weddings in May 2008 in a 4-3 ruling. The ruling was overridden by Proposition 8, which amended the California constitution to define marriage as only between a man and woman. The measure was approved by 52 percent of California voters on Nov. 4. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Lawsuits filed by the city of San Francisco, the American Civil Liberties Union and gay-rights groups claim Proposition 8 so fundamentally changes the rights of a protected minority that it amounts to a revision, not an amendment, to the constitution. Revising the California constitution requires a two-thirds vote by the legislature before it can put before voters, the lawsuits claim.
Proposition 8 also violates the constitution because it prevents the courts from protecting minority rights, the complaints claim. Supporters of Proposition 8 say the measure is legal because it amended the constitution, and they argue same- sex marriages performed before Proposition 8 are no long valid.
Revision, Amendment
The court will consider whether Proposition 8 is a revision rather than an amendment of the state constitution and whether it violates the separation-of-powers doctrine of the constitution, according to the statement from Holton. The panel also will hear arguments on whether gay marriages performed before the measure passed in November should be voided.
About 18,000 same-sex couples have married in California since June.
The cases are Karen Straus v. Mark Horton, S168047, San Francisco v. Mark Horton, S168078, and Tyler v. California, S168066, California Supreme Court (San Francisco).
Good luck and here's hoping!
"By Karen Gullo
Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- The California Supreme Court will consider whether to overturn a voter-approved ballot measure that repealed its ruling legalizing same-sex marriages in a hearing scheduled for March 5.
The court scheduled oral arguments in three lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8, said Lynn Holton, a spokeswoman for the Supreme Court, in an e-mailed statement today. The court issues rulings within 90 days of arguments.
The California Supreme Court legalized gay weddings in May 2008 in a 4-3 ruling. The ruling was overridden by Proposition 8, which amended the California constitution to define marriage as only between a man and woman. The measure was approved by 52 percent of California voters on Nov. 4. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Lawsuits filed by the city of San Francisco, the American Civil Liberties Union and gay-rights groups claim Proposition 8 so fundamentally changes the rights of a protected minority that it amounts to a revision, not an amendment, to the constitution. Revising the California constitution requires a two-thirds vote by the legislature before it can put before voters, the lawsuits claim.
Proposition 8 also violates the constitution because it prevents the courts from protecting minority rights, the complaints claim. Supporters of Proposition 8 say the measure is legal because it amended the constitution, and they argue same- sex marriages performed before Proposition 8 are no long valid.
Revision, Amendment
The court will consider whether Proposition 8 is a revision rather than an amendment of the state constitution and whether it violates the separation-of-powers doctrine of the constitution, according to the statement from Holton. The panel also will hear arguments on whether gay marriages performed before the measure passed in November should be voided.
About 18,000 same-sex couples have married in California since June.
The cases are Karen Straus v. Mark Horton, S168047, San Francisco v. Mark Horton, S168078, and Tyler v. California, S168066, California Supreme Court (San Francisco).
Good luck and here's hoping!
Just Say No to Fr. Benedict Grochelle and Relevant Radio/EWTN
I used to listen to Catholic radio on my drive to and from work. I recently (about 2 years ago) became an Episcopalian and have been trying to explore the Catholic side of this thing called via media. I grew up in a fundangelical/Full Gospel church back home, so I am very familiar with the Protestant side of the faith. I enjoyed hearing the slightly different wording of the ASV translation American Catholics use, the different slant on some doctrinal issues, the stories about the early Saints. It fed the hunger for learning that I still feel today.
>In particular, I loved listening to Fr. Gorchelle recite the Rosary. I started making rosaries (both Catholic and Anglican) and would follow along. Something in his voice was soothing and helped me to enter that state of prayer where it's just you and God. It was how I enjoyed the end of the day.
Now when I turn on the radio, I find more often than not I am yelling at the commentators. It seems that fear of abortion and homosexual marriage have taken over the airwaves. The worst was when I heard Fr. Grochelle, a PRIEST, outright lying about the Freedom of Choice act. For starters, he was spouting how this was going to pass in "the most Pro-Abortion Congress in history" and that the President was ready to sign it. Then he spouted on about how Doctors and health care providers would then be required to perform abortions and dole out birth control, and Catholic hospitals would have to close. I hereby raise the Bullshit Flag on this one...
First off, the Freedom of Choice act isn't even being mulled around in Congress at the moment. There is nothing scheduled this term to broach the subject. Second, the FOC act does not require healthcare providers to perform abortions, and religious hospitals, i.e. Catholic hospitals, are exempt from having to perform them.
It aggrivates me to no end when a priest, preacher, deacon, bishop or Pope lie in order to support their agendas. What is the Catholic Church afraid of? Why is it stepping up its efforts so strongly now to get its message across?
I don't have an answer as to why. I do know that I no longer listen to them. My raido is now silent on the drive home, and I no longer pray the Rosary with Grochelle. Add this to the list of many reasons why I remain an Episcopalian and not a Catholic.
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