By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
In what is being called a major blow to the gay rights movement, the New York State Senate voted by a wide margin to kill a bill that would have legalized same-sex “marriage” in the state.
Yearly Archives: 2009
AFA Ends Gap Boycott
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
After a nationwide boycott that resulted in thousands of phone calls, e-mails and petitions, Gap stores have tossed aside their politically correct “holiday” ads and have decided to put Christ back into Christmas.
NIH Approves First Embryonic Stem Cell Lines for Research
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The government has approved the first human embryonic stem-cell lines to be used in taxpayer funded research, saying the lines were derived from “low-grade” embryos that were “destined for waste.”
Prelates Deal with Problem of Waning Baptisms
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The Church in South America is responding to the crisis of waning baptisms in the western world by holding “baptism days” when children and adults who are not actively practicing their faith can receive the sacrament.
Signers of Manhattan Declaration Targeted by Gay Activists
Same-sex marriage proponents are threatening to cause disruptions in the diocese of every bishop who signed the Manhattan Declaration, a statement calling on Christians to stand up for their belief in the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty.
California Catholic Daily has published a post appearing on GayBuzz.blogspot that calls upon gay activists to punish Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Catholic Diocese of Oakland for signing the declaration.
“It is time we let Bishop Cordileone know there are consequences for his actions,” the blogger states. “Is anyone up for a rally in front of the Oakland Diocese or a disruption of services? Let me know and I’m happy to help organize.”
After listing an address where people could write to the bishop, the blogger goes on to say: “By the way, here are the other Catholic cardinals and bishops who signed the Manhattan Declaration.” Listed are the names of the 17 bishops who signed the Declaration to date.
The blogger cites Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate who refers to the 152 framers of the document as “zealots” who “drafted, approved and signed their Declaration of War on full civil rights for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans last week. They threw in some other societal beefs, just to try and mask the overriding issue, their fervent opposition to same-sex marriage.”
The Manhattan Declaration is a 4,700 word declaration crafted by a coalition of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders, and scholars addressing the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. The declaration issues “a clarion call” to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not “under any circumstance” abandon their Christian consciences.”
The most controversial remarks in the document concern the pledge to refuse to obey any laws that compel citizens to do something unjust or immoral.
“…We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act,” the document states, “nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriage or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.”
The Manhattan Declaration can be found at http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/
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“Climategate” Fallout Continues
by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The fallout from “Climategate” is continuing as one scientist at the center of the controversy voluntarily steps down and another is under investigation.
Atheists Launch New Godless Christmas Campaign
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The same humanist group that peppered the Washington DC transit system with signs reading “Why Believe in a God? Just be Good for Goodness’ Sake” last Christmas is back with a new and larger campaign aimed at the growing percentage of people who claim no religious affiliation.
Researchers Say Loneliness is “Contagious”
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Researchers have found that loneliness spreads among friends and family as easily as a cold or the flu.
Anglican Bishop Calls Christmas Carols “Embarrassing”
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Nick Baines, the Anglican bishop of Croydon in England, says traditional Christmas carols are embarrassing because they twist the birth of Jesus into a fairytale.
Pope Visibly Upset by Irish Abuse Scandal
by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Pope Benedict XVI was said to have become “visibly upset” on Friday when presented with the details of a report documenting clerical sex abuse in Ireland that occurred from 1975 to 2004.
