1.23.07

The ACLU Declares War on Public Invocations...and ADF is There to Defend Our First Liberty – Religious Freedom...
The ACLU – the number one religious censor in America – has declared war on the right of public officials and citizens to pray before government meetings.

Using their favorite tactics of "fear, intimidation, and disinformation," ACLU attorneys are cutting a swath through the southeastern United States, bullying public officials in hope of forcing them to passively comply with the ACLU's anti-God agenda.

Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Oconee County, South Carolina, are just a few of the places that have found themselves to be the target of the ACLU religious censors.

But the old days of the ACLU riding into town and getting its way without any resistance are over. By the grace of God, ADF and its allies – thanks to you – more and more often have the resources to defend and protect the right of government officials and citizens to offer invocations according to the dictates of their own consciences, and to continue the most important American tradition of invoking God's blessings on our public work.

And the ACLU – which at the same time has demanded that Wiccans be allowed to open meetings with public prayers – isn't too pleased about it.

Perhaps the hottest battle right now is occurring in Oconee County, South Carolina, where the ACLU demanded that invocations before meetings of the Oconee County Council must be censored or altogether prohibited. The Council was about to fold, until ADF Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson (right) was contacted by the local ministerial alliance over what was happening.

Mike offered ADF's assistance, free of charge, to the County. He drafted a letter to the Council, explaining that they did not have to bow to the ACLU's demands, and created a proposed policy to solve the dilemma. He submitted the model policy, along with a primer on the issue for local leaders. These items can be read at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/OconeeCouncilLetter.pdf; www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ProposedOconeeCountyPolicy.pdf; and www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ModelPolicyPrimer.pdf.

When the Council met on Monday, January 8th, they were presented not only with the proposed policy, but according to the head of the local ministerial association, a "15 inch high stack" of petitions in favor of keeping the invocations before the Council meetings. In addition, local churches sent busloads of citizens to express their support for public prayer. Despite the fact that several ACLU attorneys were present at the meeting, the Council voted to resist the radical ACLU demands and is expected to vote at its next meeting to approve the ADF model policy instead!

That meeting is now scheduled for Tuesday, February 6th, at 3:00 p.m. at the Oconee County Courthouse in Walhalla, South Carolina. The ACLU's "director of religious freedom and belief" (can you imagine a more bizarre title for a religious censorship operation???) Dr. Jeremy Gunn (left – who has told military chaplains if they share their faith, "they need to find another career" ) may be in attendance. ADF's Johnson will be there to support the Council and concerned citizens as they seek to protect their religious freedom from the ACLU's attack.

The stakes are high. Mike says, "If the Council gives in or accepts only bland, non-sectarian prayers, it would be, in my view, an historic mistake. It would imperil one of our most important American traditions and spur on the ACLU to continue this latest tirade and attacks on public invocations in other cities and counties nationwide."

We will update what happens after the meeting takes place. Please pray for the Oconee County Council, and for ADF's Mike Johnson, as they stand up to the ACLU religious censors. In addition, if the ACLU threatens public prayer in your community, please call us at 1-800-TELL-ADF. Thank you!


President Bush Takes a Strong Stand for Life...
This Monday, January 22nd was the 34th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's tragic Roe v. Wade decision, which has led to the killing of over 46 million unborn children – more than the entire population of California and Canada combined.

Last week, President George W. Bush issued the following proclamation recognizing National Sanctity of Human Life Day, which occurred on Sunday, January 21st. I would like to share the President's words with each of you. The President wrote:

"America was founded on the principle that we are all endowed by our Creator with the right to life and that every individual has dignity and worth. National Sanctity of Human Life Day helps foster a culture of life and reinforces our commitment to building a compassionate society that respects the value of every human being.

Among the most basic duties of Government is to defend the unalienable right to life, and my Administration is committed to protecting our society's most vulnerable members. We are vigorously promoting parental notification laws, adoption, abstinence education, crisis pregnancy programs, and the vital work of faith-based groups. Through the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002," the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," and the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004," we are helping to make our country a more hopeful place.

One of our society's challenges today is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning practices that violate the dignity of human life. With the right policies, we can continue to achieve scientific progress while living up to our ethical and moral responsibilities.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day serves as a reminder that we must value human life in all forms, not just those considered healthy, wanted, or convenient. Together, we can work toward a day when the dignity and humanity of every person is respected

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sunday, January 21, 2007, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first."

GEORGE W. BUSH

Prayer Requests | Visit the ADF prayer page
"Without Christ, we can do nothing." - John 15:5

1. Please pray for wisdom and for victory in the many legal battles ahead
   
2. Please continue to pray for the recovery of ADF co-founder Dr. D. James Kennedy and Southern Baptist Seminary President Dr. Albert Mohler.