Newsbriefs

GAY PARADE
REFUSAL

Nine Scottish firemen disciplined
for refusing to attend a gay parade are to be taught how to
"appreciate cultural differences in body language" as part of
their punishment. The firefighters objected on moral grounds to
handing out leaflets at the event in Glasgow. They faced the sack
for disobeying orders but instead have been instructed to undergo
a "cultural audit" and be taken through a manual called A Guide
to Cultural Awareness. This tells them how to "appreciate how
cultural differences in body language may contribute to
misunderstandings." They will also be counseled not to make
generalizations about groups or individuals. The crew were told
they were "getting off lightly."

Daily Mail/Courier Mail
2006

DON’T CALL GOD
"HE"

Church of England leaders have
warned that calling God "He" encourages men to beat their wives.
They say churchgoers must think twice before they refer to God as
"He" or "Lord" because of the danger it will lead to domestic
abuse. In new guidelines for bishops and priests, they blame
"uncritical use of masculine imagery" for encouraging men to
behave violently towards women. They also warn the clergy must
reconsider the language they use in sermons and check hymns to
remove signs of male oppression. The recommendation, endorsed by
Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, brings into question
many aspects of Christian teaching and practice. It throws doubt
on whether the principle prayer should still be known as the
"Lord’s Prayer", and begin "Our Father." And it calls for
reinterpretations of stories in which God uses violence. The
document caused an outcry from conservative clergy, who accused
church leaders of distorting theology for a "feminist
agenda."

Daily Mail/Sunday Mail
2006

MICROWAVING
PEOPLE

The plans and procedures that are
coming out of Washington, D.C., are not in the best interests of
the American people. United States Air Force Secretary Michael
Wynne made the following statement: "Nonlethal weapons such as
high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens
in crowd control situations before they are used on the
battlefield. Domestic use would make it easier to avoid questions
in the international community over any possible safety concerns.
If we’re not willing to use it here against our fellow
citizens, then we should not be willing to use it in a wartime
situation. If I hit somebody with a non-lethal weapon and they
claim that it injured them in a way that was not intended, I
think that I would be vilified in the world press." Microwaves
and other such weapons emit short, intense energy pulses that
weaken and disable people and electronic devices.

Houston Chronicle,
Sep 13, 2006
by Lolita C. Baldor,
AP, Washington, DC.

CATHOLICS BECOMING
HINDUS?

In Australia, 11,000 Roman
Catholic students in Queensland are being taught to meditate. The
Courier Mail newspaper reports the following: "Children as young
as five are practicing the ancient exercise of mental stillness
by sitting, eyes closed, in their classroom and silently
repeating a mantra." It should also be noted that the children
sit in a circle in lotus position with their hands forming the
yin and yang configuration!

The Courier-Mail,
Jul 16, 2006,
by Kathleen Noonan,
Townsville, Qld, Australia.

PRESBYTERIANS VIOLATE
TRINITY

On June 10th, 2006, a significant
portion of the Presbyterian Church- USA voted to allow their
"Trinity" of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to be changed to Mother,
Child, and Womb, or if a congregation prefers: Rock, Redeemer,
and Friend.

Traverse City Record Eagle,
Jun 20, 2006, MI.