Letter from Birmingham Jail, Part 1: Letter From Alabama Clergy to MLK

January 20, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

This letter from Alabama Clergymen was sent to Martin Luther King, Jr while he was in jail in Birmingham, Al. It prompted the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Statement by Alabama Clergymen 12 April 1963 We the undersigned clergymen are among those who, in January, issued “An Appeal for Law and Order and Common Sense,” in dealing with racial problems in Alabama. We expressed understanding that honest convictions in racial matters could properly be pursued in the courts, but urged... Read more

HHS Mandate: How Far Will This Fight Go?

January 19, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

St Paul and most all of the Apostles did it. Martin Luther King did it. Christ the Lord did it. Would you be willing to do it, too? Go to jail, that is. In this country, we normally associate going to jail with some sort of public misbehavior that most of us agree is reprehensible. Going to jail is disgraceful. Embarrassing. A blot on your record, your reputation and your honor. But that isn’t always so. Demonstrators in this country... Read more

If You Want to Read the Church’s Teaching on Euthanasia, Here It Is

January 19, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

From the Vatican website: SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH DECLARATION ON EUTHANASIA INTRODUCTION The rights and values pertaining to the human person occupy an important place among the questions discussed today. In this regard, the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council solemnly reaffirmed the lofty dignity of the human person, and in a special way his or her right to life. The Council therefore condemned crimes against life “such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia, or... Read more

Lila Rose, Live Action Founder, Describes Her Call and Vocation

January 19, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

“We’re not meant to be passive people of faith, we’re meant to use our gifts for God.” Lila Rose, Founder of Live Action If I sat up late trying to think of a definition of the universal call to vocation that goes out to every Christian, I could do no better than Lila Rose’s statement above. We are, all of us, every single one of us, called to use our talents for God. That does not necessarily mean jumping publicly... Read more

Debt Limit Fight: House of Representatives Stops Saber Rattling, Starts Negotiating

January 19, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

It sounds like the House GOP is finally listening to somebody besides each other. In fact, I would go so far as to say that they might actually be responding to the disgust coming at them from we the people. In a reverse of their previous saber-rattling, they have come up with a proposal that would both raise the debt limit and (hopefully) address the deficit. Kudos to them. Now, it’s up to President Obama. It will be interesting to... Read more

Parents Petition to Take Over Failing School

January 19, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

Parents in Los Angeles have petitioned to take over a “failing” school. Evidently, California has a law that will allow parents to petition to take control of their children’s schools. I don’t know the particulars of this law, but I think it’s an excellent idea in theory. We have a bill-filing process here in Oklahoma with set deadlines. It’s too late in the process for me to introduce a bill doing this for this year. But I may try to... Read more

Hobby Lobby Delays Fines by Shifting Insurance Dates

January 18, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

Washington D.C. (CNA/EWTN News).- Arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby has found a way to adjust its employee healthcare plan to delay potentially crippling fines for refusing to comply with the federal contraception mandate. The company will now “shift the plan year for its employee health insurance, thus postponing the effective date of the mandate for several months,” announced attorney Peter M. Dobelbower in a Jan. 10 statement. “Hobby Lobby does not provide coverage for abortion-inducing drugs in its healthcare... Read more

Congressman Calls on Religious Leaders to Fight Christian Persecution

January 18, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

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Religious leaders urged to fight global persecution By Michelle Bauman Washington D.C., Jan 11, 2013 / 02:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Religious leaders in America are being called upon by a U.S. congressman to advocate for those across the globe who are oppressed for their faith. “We in the West must speak out on behalf of the persecuted church around the world,” said Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) in a Jan. 9 letter to nearly 300 Protestant and Catholic leaders. “If the... Read more

Gay Marriage, Civil Partnership Laws Used to Attack Religious Freedom

January 18, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

Gay marriage proponents use the argument that no one will be forced to abandon their faith if same-sex marriage becomes the law. However, in actual practice, religious institutions have been forced to shut down and individuals have lost their jobs all around the world when gay marriage has become the law. Civil partnerships, which basically give the rights of gay marriage, but call it something else, have had the same effect. Catholic Charities in Illinois and the District of Columbia... Read more

US Citizen Imprisoned in Iran for His Christian Faith Could Face Execution

January 18, 2013 By Rebecca Hamilton

US asked to intervene for Christian citizen jailed in Iran Washington D.C., Jan 16, 2013 / 04:55 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A U.S. citizen imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith could face execution if the government is not pressured to release him, warned an international religious freedom advocacy group. “As more individuals and governments around the world take notice of Pastor Saeed’s case, the pressure on Iran to release him and stop violating religious liberty will increase,” said Jordan Sekulow,... Read more