Posts from the “Politics” Category

Unholy Marriage: Planned Parenthood and Obamacare

Posted on May 14th, 2013

In Planned Bullyhood, Karen Handel notes the financial windfall that comes to Planned Parenthood through Obamacare—and how Obamacare provides better coverage of contraception and sterilization than for actual illnesses. Planned Parenthood stands to gain under Obamacare. Nearly all insurance plans must provide contraceptives without a co-pay. Contraception services account for about one-third of its total services (according to Planned Parenthood’s most recent annual report). Clearly, Planned Parenthood benefits financially from this mandate— and one can see clearly why Cecile Richards aggressively lobbied for it. And, before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I am against all contraception, let me say that I am not. What I am against is forcing this mandate on religious organizations. It is a flagrant infringement on religious liberty and conscience.…

Categories: Culture, Politics

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How much of Planned Parenthood’s grisly work is abortion?

Posted on May 7th, 2013

Planned Parenthood claims that 97% of its work is unrelated to abortion. In Planned Bullyhood, Karen Handel explains why that is misleading: Planned Parenthood distorts its numbers through the way it defines a “service.” In calculating its claim that 97 percent of its services are not abortion-related, Planned Parenthood counts the distribution of a single condom as a service, just like an abortion is counted as a service. So in a given day, a clinic could give away 97 condoms, perform three abortions, and say that abortion is a minuscule part of their work. However one plays with the numbers, Planned Parenthood has an annual budget in excess of $1 billion – with millions from federal, state, and local government funding. In other words, this…

Categories: Culture, Politics

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Why Christians should care about homosexual “marriage”

Posted on April 5th, 2013

George Neumayr at the American Spectator argues that there is a major consideration being overlooked in the homosexual “marriage” debate. Many Christians would like to retreat, under the supposition that it won’t affect them. In “Religious freedom’s Drip-by-Drip Death,” Neumayr contends this is wrong: The end point of liberalism is a coercive secular state in which the religious have no meaningful rights. American church leaders are kidding themselves if they think the gay-marriage juggernaut is going to stop at civil marriage. It won’t. It will quickly travel past court houses to churches, demanding that all religions bless gay marriages. He cites examples of European state churches compelling their ministers to bless homosexual unions. It’s tempting to imagine that cannot happen here, since we have…

Categories: Culture, Politics, Religion

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Our littlest neighbor needs our help

Posted on January 31st, 2013

Peter Scaer’s presentation at the recently held LCMS Life Conference was pointed and convicting, prophetic speech to a slumbering synod. His article in the recent Lutheran Witness is also vital reading. Here’s a paragraph: Some might say that [abortion] is a religious matter and that we should stay out of politics. But Christians can and must act as we are able. Many of those who fought against slavery or championed civil rights were motivated by Christ’s love for people of every race and tribe. Now, our time has come. We must put our faith into action by defending the most defenseless among us. With Christ, we must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. The child in the womb is our littlest…

Categories: Culture, Politics, Theology

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Information for Lutherans attending the 2013 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Posted on January 23rd, 2013

For the last eleven years, Immanuel Lutheran in Alexandria, VA has hosted a Divine Service before the March for Life. We expect that will continue in 2014. However, this year the Divine Service is part of the larger LCMS Life Conference being held at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City (Arlington, VA). You do not need to be registered for the conference to attend the Divine Service. The service begins at 9:00 a.m., with LCMS President Matthew Harrison preaching. After the service, we will take the Metro into the District for the March. If you are planning on attending the March for Life but cannot attend the Divine Service, plan on meeting your fellow Lutherans at 7th and Independence at 12:00 noon. Look for the…

Categories: Culture, Politics, Religion

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Abortion: Not a Partisan Issue

Posted on January 18th, 2013

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ JESUS, When pastors talk about politics, they tend to lose sight of their calling: to preach JESUS Christ and Him crucified for the redemption of the world. But in the matter of abortion, we are not dealing with the usual political matters such as health insurance costs, taxation rates, gun control, or foreign policy. Abortion is, quite simply, the taking of a human life. To oppose abortion is not to side with a political party: it is to take your stand with the right of every human being to live. Thus among my favorite signs at the annual March for Life are the ones from Secularists for Life, Atheists for Life, Feminists for Life, and Democrats for Life.…

Categories: Politics, Religion

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Register Now for LCMS Life Conference

Posted on January 2nd, 2013

The LCMS Life Conference is fast approaching. Held in Arlington, VA, participants will attend the March for Life in Washington, DC, hear President Harrison and other noted Lutheran speakers. Holy Communion, Evening Prayer, Matins, and the Itinerarium will be prayed at the conference. Get more details by clicking here – I hope to see you at the conference!

Categories: Politics, Religion

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Politics the true progressive religion

Posted on December 26th, 2012

Jonah Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning demonstrates that the American “progressive” movement springs from the same well as fascism. Rising to ascendency under Woodrow Wilson, the progressives used Religion [as] a political tool, while politics was the true religion. The progressives viewed the traditional system of constitutional checks and balances as an outdated impediment to progress because such horse-and-buggy institutions were a barrier to their own ambitions. Dogmatic attachment to constitutions, democratic practices, and antiquated laws was the enemy of progress for fascists and progressives alike. Indeed, fascists and progressives shared the same intellectual heroes and quoted the same philosophers. Goldberg, Jonah (2008-01-08). Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From…

Categories: Politics, Religion

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Fascism: spiritual union with the state

Posted on December 18th, 2012

Fascism, at its core, is the view that every nook and cranny of society should work together in spiritual union toward the same goals overseen by the state. Jonah Goldberg, Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning

Categories: Politics, Religion

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