U.S. District Court Judge Barbara B. Crabb ruled that the statute that created the National Day of Prayer violates the Constitution's prohibition against the government establishment of religion.

Judge Crabb, an appointee of former President Jimmy Carter, wrote in her decision that '"some forms of 'ceremonial deism,' such as legislative prayer, do not violate the establishment clause." But she said the National Day of Prayer goes too far.

Read more at The Washington Times.

Fox News analyst Brit Hume said "widespread media bias against Christianity" was to blame for criticism of his suggestion that Tiger Woods should embrace Christianity to find redemption. "Instead of urging that Tiger Woods turn to Christianity, if I had said what he needed to do was to strengthen his Buddhist commitment or turn to Hinduism, I don't think anybody would have said a word," Hume told Christianity Today. "It's Christ and Christianity that get people stirred up."

I don't know about you, but I think it's awesome that Christ is still stirring people up! It's easy to become discouraged, as a Christian, when surrounded by so much negativity towards Christ and Christianity. But then I think, if Christ wasn't really the Way the Truth and the Life no one would care, so we must be on the right track!

NARLA West Newsletter, July-August

On May 10, at a Freedom Day Celebration hosted by the Carlsbad Northcoast Christian Fellowship of Seventh-day Adventist, Judge Victor Ramirez spoke about how rights protected by Habeas Corpus (Amendments 4, 5, 6 & 14) have been affected since 9/11. He touched on the USA Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Act and the Military Commissions Act, emphasizing the unprecedented degree of secrecy and secret courts prevalent since 9-11. The following article is based on the author’s recollection, and his continued research, since no recording or transcript was made of Judge Ramirez’ presentation. No transcription or recordings of the event were made so the opinions expressed represent the recollections of the author. Judge Ramirez (R) was Judge of the Superior Court in San Diego and was the recipient of the University Of San Diego School Of Law’s Most Distinguished Alumni Jurist Award. A brief constitutional history was presented to lay a foundation for Judge Ramirez’ presentation.

Many employment discrimination claims based on religion involve instances in which employers refuse to provide an accommodation for an employee's religious practices. Three primary problem areas arise out of conflicts between work requirements and holy day observance, religious garb, and religious grooming requirements. A few claims arise out of conflicts between religious faith and a specific assigned duty. It is not only members of small or poorly understood faiths whoe experience trouble in the workplace. Cases coming before the courts have included Roman Catholics denied time off on Christmas Day; Evangelical Christians denied time off to attend church on Sundays; Sikhs whose employers require them to remove turbans; Jews and Seventh-day Sabbath keepers for refusing to work on Saturdays; Muslim women for wearing head scarves; and attempts to force Rastafarians to cut their dreadlocks.

The South Asian Connection website has a great article about the persecutions this Christian minority face. READ MORE

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Have you noticed this Amendment appears in the Montrose Daily Press on the editorial page several times a week? Mr. Woody receives Liberty Magazine. Do you think there is a connection? Take a moment to email him a note of thanks for recognizing the importance of this very first amendment? (SteveW@montrosepress.com)

READ MORE!

Next Tuesday, February 12, 2008, is a historic day. For the first time in a generation, a representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will be testifying before Congress in support of the rights of Sabbath keepers and other people of faith in the workplace. It is a historic opportunity-but to capitalize on it, we need two things in advance.

First and foremost, we earnestly seek your prayers. We know we are weak, we know the odds are firmly against us, and we know just how vulnerable we are. But we also know we serve an all-powerful God who listens when His people call upon Him.

Second, and very importantly, we need our church to raise its voice to Congress like we've never done before. Send your letters now at www.religiousliberty.info. In under two minutes you can send a letter; there's even a letter there already written for you to use. If you prefer, you can write your own letter on the site and have it sent.

Two minutes is a small price to pay for freedom! What if you've already sent a letter? Take a minute to send another letter to keep this vital bill fresh before Members of Congress. And please pass on this note to your family and church friends, so they can raise their voices, too. This is our chance to stand up and be counted in a very real way for religious liberty. Let's not let it pass us by.

Do your part to support our religious liberty in this country.  The cost is free, but the reward is great.

Thank you.