An Odd Name for a Church
St. Mary's Baptist Church. Guess they try to offer the best of both worlds.
Friday, March 19, 2004
McNewspaper Accuses Former Employee of Making Things Up
Hard to imagine that a five time Pulitzer Prize nominee would do such a thing, but who knows.
USA Today said Friday that an examination of the work of journalist Jack Kelley found strong evidence that the newspaper's former star foreign correspondent had fabricated substantial portions of at least eight major stories.
"As an institution, we failed our readers by not recognizing Jack Kelley's problems. For that I apologize," publisher Craig Moon said.
After spending seven weeks closely examining Kelley's work, a team of journalists also found that Kelley had lifted quotes or other material from competing publications, lied in speeches he delivered for USA Today and conspired to mislead the investigation into his work.
Hard to imagine that a five time Pulitzer Prize nominee would do such a thing, but who knows.
USA Today said Friday that an examination of the work of journalist Jack Kelley found strong evidence that the newspaper's former star foreign correspondent had fabricated substantial portions of at least eight major stories.
"As an institution, we failed our readers by not recognizing Jack Kelley's problems. For that I apologize," publisher Craig Moon said.
After spending seven weeks closely examining Kelley's work, a team of journalists also found that Kelley had lifted quotes or other material from competing publications, lied in speeches he delivered for USA Today and conspired to mislead the investigation into his work.
Speaking of Recusal Requests
Because of her affiliation with NOW, Justice Ruth "Buzzie" Ginsberg is formally asked by thirteen GOP members of Congress to recuse herself from any future cases dealing with abortion. (news link via Amy Welborn)
Because of her affiliation with NOW, Justice Ruth "Buzzie" Ginsberg is formally asked by thirteen GOP members of Congress to recuse herself from any future cases dealing with abortion. (news link via Amy Welborn)
Scalia to Sierra Club: Up Yours!
From Peter Robinson at The Corner:
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has denied the Sierra Club's ridiculous motion that he recuse himself in the Club's case against Vice President Cheney. To wit:
"The question, simply put, is whether someone who thought I could decide this case impartially despite my friendship with the Vice President would reasonably believe that I cannot decide it impartially because I went hunting with that friend and accepted an invitation to fly there with him on a Government plane. If it is reasonable to think that a Supreme Court Justice can be bought so cheap, the Nation is in deeper trouble than I had imagined."
From Peter Robinson at The Corner:
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has denied the Sierra Club's ridiculous motion that he recuse himself in the Club's case against Vice President Cheney. To wit:
"The question, simply put, is whether someone who thought I could decide this case impartially despite my friendship with the Vice President would reasonably believe that I cannot decide it impartially because I went hunting with that friend and accepted an invitation to fly there with him on a Government plane. If it is reasonable to think that a Supreme Court Justice can be bought so cheap, the Nation is in deeper trouble than I had imagined."
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Speaking of Beating Up on the Boy Scouts
The Federal government has been prohibited from submitting a "friend of the Court" brief in support of the Boy Scouts in a case involving the Boy Scouts' loss of a park lease in the City of San Diego.
The Federal government has been prohibited from submitting a "friend of the Court" brief in support of the Boy Scouts in a case involving the Boy Scouts' loss of a park lease in the City of San Diego.
Going Against the Currnet or Political Correctness Forerunner?
I attended my first San Francisco Catholic Professional and Business Club breakfast meeting today, and the featured speaker was a Franciscan brother who had previously spent over 30 years as a succesful Bay Area executive with Bank of America. His talk mostly centered on the joy he has experienced in doing community service and volunteer work (e.g., assisting Bay Area AIDS patients and manning suicide hotlines), and how that joy eventually led him into joining a religious order within the Church.
In general, the talk was ok. It would have been a lot better for me, though, if this former executive hadn't felt the need to briefly disclose how proud he had been of Bank of America when it decided several years ago to stop giving charitable contributions to the Boy Scouts over its policy of discriminating against inidviduals who openly practice homosexuality. "Going against the current" was how he described B of A's decision. I tell you, I almost lost it. Given the number of beatings that the Boy Scouts incur today in both the media and courts over their upholding of traditional moral values, I felt like standing up and rhetorically asking Mr. Franciscan brother, who by the way is also a divorcee, if he was sure he didn't mean B of A was a forerunner of secular political correctness. But since doing so would have been rude, and calling him out on his apparent okayness with homosexual behavior during the Q&A session probably would have resulted in me getting into arguments with every other person in the room (this IS San Francisco) I refrained.
Hopefully, next month's speaker won't say anything that's, well, stupid. Otherwise, my membership in this club is going to be one excruciating experience.
I attended my first San Francisco Catholic Professional and Business Club breakfast meeting today, and the featured speaker was a Franciscan brother who had previously spent over 30 years as a succesful Bay Area executive with Bank of America. His talk mostly centered on the joy he has experienced in doing community service and volunteer work (e.g., assisting Bay Area AIDS patients and manning suicide hotlines), and how that joy eventually led him into joining a religious order within the Church.
In general, the talk was ok. It would have been a lot better for me, though, if this former executive hadn't felt the need to briefly disclose how proud he had been of Bank of America when it decided several years ago to stop giving charitable contributions to the Boy Scouts over its policy of discriminating against inidviduals who openly practice homosexuality. "Going against the current" was how he described B of A's decision. I tell you, I almost lost it. Given the number of beatings that the Boy Scouts incur today in both the media and courts over their upholding of traditional moral values, I felt like standing up and rhetorically asking Mr. Franciscan brother, who by the way is also a divorcee, if he was sure he didn't mean B of A was a forerunner of secular political correctness. But since doing so would have been rude, and calling him out on his apparent okayness with homosexual behavior during the Q&A session probably would have resulted in me getting into arguments with every other person in the room (this IS San Francisco) I refrained.
Hopefully, next month's speaker won't say anything that's, well, stupid. Otherwise, my membership in this club is going to be one excruciating experience.
Academics Making Things Up. This is a Surprise?
A professor at Claremont McKenna College is seen vandalizing her own car before falsely reporting the damage as a hate crime.
The incident prompted all five of the Claremont Colleges to cancel classes March 10 for teach-ins and rallies against hate crimes. More than 1,000 people attended an evening rally at Claremont McKenna, where students pushed for racial and ethnic tolerance and Dunn was one of the speakers.
"Very admirably, the college community came together," Claremont McKenna President Pamela Gann said. "But to have within the community someone who is part of the investigation and questioned is repulsive to the values of the community."
Along with the vandalism, Dunn reported $1,700 in property missing from her car. The epithets on Dunn's car included derogatory remarks about blacks and Jews.
Police said Wednesday that Dunn could be charged with filing a false police report but said it was unlikely that she would be charged herself with a hate crime.
A professor at Claremont McKenna College is seen vandalizing her own car before falsely reporting the damage as a hate crime.
The incident prompted all five of the Claremont Colleges to cancel classes March 10 for teach-ins and rallies against hate crimes. More than 1,000 people attended an evening rally at Claremont McKenna, where students pushed for racial and ethnic tolerance and Dunn was one of the speakers.
"Very admirably, the college community came together," Claremont McKenna President Pamela Gann said. "But to have within the community someone who is part of the investigation and questioned is repulsive to the values of the community."
Along with the vandalism, Dunn reported $1,700 in property missing from her car. The epithets on Dunn's car included derogatory remarks about blacks and Jews.
Police said Wednesday that Dunn could be charged with filing a false police report but said it was unlikely that she would be charged herself with a hate crime.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Chronicle Reporters Biased? Naaaa, Really?!
Two lesbian SF Chronicle journalists who "married" each other are taken off the same-sex "marriage" story at City Hall in order to avoid a "potential" conflict of interest. And if you actually believe the Chronicle is objective in its newscommentary reporting, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.
Two lesbian SF Chronicle journalists who "married" each other are taken off the same-sex "marriage" story at City Hall in order to avoid a "potential" conflict of interest. And if you actually believe the Chronicle is objective in its news
Cold Feet
South Dakota's proposed banning of nearly all abortions fails by 1 vote.
The defeat of the bill, after the governor's recommended changes had passed the House 52-16, left several abortion opponents in the Senate gallery shaking their heads and an advocate of abortion rights smiling as the 17-18 vote tally was read.
A count of 18 was necessary to agree with the style-and-form veto.
"This just hurts; it's terrible," said Leslee Unruh, founder of the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls and an abortion opponent. "Women from across the country have called for this bill to be passed."
South Dakota's proposed banning of nearly all abortions fails by 1 vote.
The defeat of the bill, after the governor's recommended changes had passed the House 52-16, left several abortion opponents in the Senate gallery shaking their heads and an advocate of abortion rights smiling as the 17-18 vote tally was read.
A count of 18 was necessary to agree with the style-and-form veto.
"This just hurts; it's terrible," said Leslee Unruh, founder of the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls and an abortion opponent. "Women from across the country have called for this bill to be passed."
Newsflash: Kerry Hates Children
Although, his opposition to the Unborn Victims Act is consistent with his position that women should have the right to kill their children in the womb. BTW, anyone know if Kerry is "personally" against abortion?
Although, his opposition to the Unborn Victims Act is consistent with his position that women should have the right to kill their children in the womb. BTW, anyone know if Kerry is "personally" against abortion?
Monday, March 15, 2004
Too Bad He Isn't a Catholic Priest
Another SoCal faith community files a lawsuit against a city for allgedly violating its rights under RLUIPA.
When his congregation withered to only 12 and the collection plate returned nearly empty, Pastor Andrew Derek Anunciation figured it was time for action.
For more than two years, his tiny congregation at Praise Christian Center has held services outdoors in a Huntington Beach industrial lot amid an ongoing dispute with City Hall.
Anunciation believes the city has been standing squarely in the way of moving the church into a converted warehouse by requiring numerous — and expensive — permits and upgrades.
"People have called me a radical and other names. But we feel like what we've been going through is a storm," Anunciation said.
"And we're not doing this just for our tiny church, but for other religious groups too."
The church filed a federal lawsuit in October, alleging, among other things, that the city was violating its religious freedom. This tack makes tiny Praise Christian part of a growing legal battle between church and state.
More than three dozen mega-churches, colleges and synagogues in the state are fighting government regulations and zoning laws that they feel violate the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.
The act is designed to give churches a tool for clearing away onerous government restrictions.
Another SoCal faith community files a lawsuit against a city for allgedly violating its rights under RLUIPA.
When his congregation withered to only 12 and the collection plate returned nearly empty, Pastor Andrew Derek Anunciation figured it was time for action.
For more than two years, his tiny congregation at Praise Christian Center has held services outdoors in a Huntington Beach industrial lot amid an ongoing dispute with City Hall.
Anunciation believes the city has been standing squarely in the way of moving the church into a converted warehouse by requiring numerous — and expensive — permits and upgrades.
"People have called me a radical and other names. But we feel like what we've been going through is a storm," Anunciation said.
"And we're not doing this just for our tiny church, but for other religious groups too."
The church filed a federal lawsuit in October, alleging, among other things, that the city was violating its religious freedom. This tack makes tiny Praise Christian part of a growing legal battle between church and state.
More than three dozen mega-churches, colleges and synagogues in the state are fighting government regulations and zoning laws that they feel violate the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.
The act is designed to give churches a tool for clearing away onerous government restrictions.
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Rumor Mill: Gibson May Make a Movie About the Maccabees
Since neither Maccabees books are in Protestant bibles, I'd be interested to see how Gibson, if he makes the movie, would market it to Evangelicals. And I wish Abe Foxman would just shut his liberal anti-Christian pie hole. (news link via Relapsed Catholic)
"The way he treats history, with a cherry picker of that which fits his ideology or view, is not the way I would like the world to learn about the heroism of the Maccabees or Bar Kochba. So, thanks but no thanks."
Yeah Abe. Mel Gibson is a real historical revisionist for failing to express your apparent belief that there were absolutely no Jews involved in Christ's crucifixion. Oh look, the Easter Bunny!
Since neither Maccabees books are in Protestant bibles, I'd be interested to see how Gibson, if he makes the movie, would market it to Evangelicals. And I wish Abe Foxman would just shut his liberal anti-Christian pie hole. (news link via Relapsed Catholic)
"The way he treats history, with a cherry picker of that which fits his ideology or view, is not the way I would like the world to learn about the heroism of the Maccabees or Bar Kochba. So, thanks but no thanks."
Yeah Abe. Mel Gibson is a real historical revisionist for failing to express your apparent belief that there were absolutely no Jews involved in Christ's crucifixion. Oh look, the Easter Bunny!
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Mel Who?
Coming to a high school gym near you "Mormonism: The Movie." (news link via Relapsed Catholic)
About 400 people gathered in the Torrance High School auditorium Tuesday night to see the new film based on the Book of Mormon and to hear its director, Gary Rogers, discuss the movie's creation and how he is showing it in one-night or weeklong stints around the country.
That, of course, is a far cry from the hoopla and huge box office grosses for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." But Mormon audience members say Rogers' movie, "The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey," has special significance to them, even if ticket sales are a tiny fraction of those of "The Passion."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not endorse the movie — as a voice-over says before it starts. However, members of the Los Angeles Temple who went to the Torrance screening said it would be an educational experience for anyone unfamiliar with the Mormon Church.
"It's a good introduction to the Book of Mormon," said Carolyn Allen, who works for the Church's Southern California Public Affairs Council.
"I think it makes people think about their own beliefs," said her husband, Jack.
Rogers, who is Mormon, said his dream to create the film started when, as a boy, he saw Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments."
"So many people have produced stories from the Bible — wonderful stories," said Rogers, who grew up in Salt Lake City. "The Book of Mormon is a similar book of Scripture … and nobody had attempted to make a movie."
Coming to a high school gym near you "Mormonism: The Movie." (news link via Relapsed Catholic)
About 400 people gathered in the Torrance High School auditorium Tuesday night to see the new film based on the Book of Mormon and to hear its director, Gary Rogers, discuss the movie's creation and how he is showing it in one-night or weeklong stints around the country.
That, of course, is a far cry from the hoopla and huge box office grosses for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." But Mormon audience members say Rogers' movie, "The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey," has special significance to them, even if ticket sales are a tiny fraction of those of "The Passion."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not endorse the movie — as a voice-over says before it starts. However, members of the Los Angeles Temple who went to the Torrance screening said it would be an educational experience for anyone unfamiliar with the Mormon Church.
"It's a good introduction to the Book of Mormon," said Carolyn Allen, who works for the Church's Southern California Public Affairs Council.
"I think it makes people think about their own beliefs," said her husband, Jack.
Rogers, who is Mormon, said his dream to create the film started when, as a boy, he saw Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments."
"So many people have produced stories from the Bible — wonderful stories," said Rogers, who grew up in Salt Lake City. "The Book of Mormon is a similar book of Scripture … and nobody had attempted to make a movie."
Public Schools and Sexual Abuse
School boards are elected by popular vote and pulbic school employees are allowed to be married, right?
Millions of children might be victims of sexual misconduct by teachers or other public school employees, according to a draft report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
Despite the lack of sufficient data, the scope of the problem appears to far exceed the priest-abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church, according to the report's author, Charol Shakeshaft, professor of educational administration at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
The report, required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, concludes the issue "is woefully understudied," reports Education Week.
Nearly 10 percent of students have been targeted with unwanted sexual attention by school employees, the best available data indicates, according to Shakeshaft.
School boards are elected by popular vote and pulbic school employees are allowed to be married, right?
Millions of children might be victims of sexual misconduct by teachers or other public school employees, according to a draft report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education.
Despite the lack of sufficient data, the scope of the problem appears to far exceed the priest-abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church, according to the report's author, Charol Shakeshaft, professor of educational administration at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
The report, required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, concludes the issue "is woefully understudied," reports Education Week.
Nearly 10 percent of students have been targeted with unwanted sexual attention by school employees, the best available data indicates, according to Shakeshaft.
Friday, March 12, 2004
Number Three on the All Time List
It may only be a footnote in reference books and the Vatican has not planned any celebration or festivity, but Pope John Paul II will reach another milestone in his papacy Sunday.
John Paul, who marked the 25th anniversary of his election as pope on Oct. 16, will surpass Pope Leo XIII to become the third-longest-serving pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
"It's a beautiful thing, because it's a gift of our Lord," said Cardinal Paul Poupard, a Frenchman who has worked alongside the 83-year-old pope at the Vatican for several decades.
But even in an institution where life at the top often begins when prelates reach their 60s, some are asking whether term limits should be imposed for future popes.
One of the Vatican's most powerful officials, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, gave an indication of the thinking in an interview last month with an Italian religious affairs magazine.
Asked whether future popes may be elected to a fixed term, he said:
"The pope is selected for life because he is a father and his paternity comes before his role. Perhaps in the future, with life being prolonged, one also would consider new norms, but it doesn't seem to me to be a current issue."
It may only be a footnote in reference books and the Vatican has not planned any celebration or festivity, but Pope John Paul II will reach another milestone in his papacy Sunday.
John Paul, who marked the 25th anniversary of his election as pope on Oct. 16, will surpass Pope Leo XIII to become the third-longest-serving pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
"It's a beautiful thing, because it's a gift of our Lord," said Cardinal Paul Poupard, a Frenchman who has worked alongside the 83-year-old pope at the Vatican for several decades.
But even in an institution where life at the top often begins when prelates reach their 60s, some are asking whether term limits should be imposed for future popes.
One of the Vatican's most powerful officials, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, gave an indication of the thinking in an interview last month with an Italian religious affairs magazine.
Asked whether future popes may be elected to a fixed term, he said:
"The pope is selected for life because he is a father and his paternity comes before his role. Perhaps in the future, with life being prolonged, one also would consider new norms, but it doesn't seem to me to be a current issue."
Thursday, March 11, 2004
At Least They Got This Right
Fresh off of its supremely stupid decision in the Catholic Charities case, the California Supremes order a halt to Emperor Newsom's unlawful decree to have gay "marriages" recognized by the City of San Francisco. The 3800 unholy unions that have thus far been sanctified are now in limbo.
Fresh off of its supremely stupid decision in the Catholic Charities case, the California Supremes order a halt to Emperor Newsom's unlawful decree to have gay "marriages" recognized by the City of San Francisco. The 3800 unholy unions that have thus far been sanctified are now in limbo.
I Don't Know What to Make of This
It isn't unusual that a Christian-based organization would vehemently protest the perpetuation of a long established p*rn/strip club. What is unusual is that such an organization is only now protesting the club after moving next door to it a few years ago.
It isn't unusual that a Christian-based organization would vehemently protest the perpetuation of a long established p*rn/strip club. What is unusual is that such an organization is only now protesting the club after moving next door to it a few years ago.
Is Gonzaga Catholic?
The Jesuit college's law school student government won't recognize a local chapter of the Christian Legal Society because it believes CLS' requirement that club officers be Christian is improperly discriminatory. Religious liberty means nothing to these yayhoos.
"Gonzaga owes its very existence to the constitutionally guaranteed right to organize around its religious identity, but it is allowing the SBA to deny these same fundamental rights to its students," said Greg Lukianoff, FIRE's director of legal and public advocacy.
Christian Legal Society leaders said the university's vice president for student affairs, Sue Weitz, assured the group in an e-mail message it had "university recognition." But the group argues this is not the same as SBA recognition, which would have conferred a set of important benefits, including university funding.
Even the one benefit conferred by "university recognition" was lost in February, according to CLS leaders, when the group's SBA account was closed.
The Jesuit college's law school student government won't recognize a local chapter of the Christian Legal Society because it believes CLS' requirement that club officers be Christian is improperly discriminatory. Religious liberty means nothing to these yayhoos.
"Gonzaga owes its very existence to the constitutionally guaranteed right to organize around its religious identity, but it is allowing the SBA to deny these same fundamental rights to its students," said Greg Lukianoff, FIRE's director of legal and public advocacy.
Christian Legal Society leaders said the university's vice president for student affairs, Sue Weitz, assured the group in an e-mail message it had "university recognition." But the group argues this is not the same as SBA recognition, which would have conferred a set of important benefits, including university funding.
Even the one benefit conferred by "university recognition" was lost in February, according to CLS leaders, when the group's SBA account was closed.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
If Asked, He Would Consider being the Goose to Kerry's Maverick
Rather than denying he would accept an invitation to be John F'n Kerry's running mate, Sen. John McCain merely doubts any possibility that he would even be asked.
"John Kerry is a close friend of mine. We have been friends for years," McCain said Wednesday when pressed to squelch speculation about a Kerry-McCain ticket. "Obviously I would entertain it."
Within hours, the Arizona senator's chief of staff, Mark Salter, closed the door on that idea. "Senator McCain will not be a candidate for vice president in 2004," Salter told The Associated Press, saying he spoke for the senator.
McCain had emphasized how unlikely the whole idea was.
"It's impossible to imagine the Democratic Party seeking a pro-life, free-trading, non-protectionist, deficit hawk," the senator told ABC's "Good Morning America" during an interview about illegal steroid use. "They'd have to be taking some steroids, I think, in order to let that happen."
Note: Or Botox.
Rather than denying he would accept an invitation to be John F'n Kerry's running mate, Sen. John McCain merely doubts any possibility that he would even be asked.
"John Kerry is a close friend of mine. We have been friends for years," McCain said Wednesday when pressed to squelch speculation about a Kerry-McCain ticket. "Obviously I would entertain it."
Within hours, the Arizona senator's chief of staff, Mark Salter, closed the door on that idea. "Senator McCain will not be a candidate for vice president in 2004," Salter told The Associated Press, saying he spoke for the senator.
McCain had emphasized how unlikely the whole idea was.
"It's impossible to imagine the Democratic Party seeking a pro-life, free-trading, non-protectionist, deficit hawk," the senator told ABC's "Good Morning America" during an interview about illegal steroid use. "They'd have to be taking some steroids, I think, in order to let that happen."
Note: Or Botox.
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