2010 California Election Forum

Outrageous penalty for social service worker

A group home counselor was suspended for six weeks following a beach field trip. On the trip, four kids came across “surf jam” at the Huntington Beach pier.

For about 10 minutes, the kids heard Christian music from Switchfoot, “exposing children to unapproved religious activities.”

A closer look at who stands on each side of the issue

The California Supreme Court Decision is coming. In the next couple of months we will have a ruling from the California Supreme Court on the Proposition 8 vote.

Will the judges again overturn the vote of the people, based on their own liberal ideology? Or will they rule on the side of democracy?

I’ve talked to legal experts and read a number of legal observations on the oral arguments that were made before the court.

Most are cautiously positive the court will uphold Prop 8, but will allow the 18,000 homosexual marriages made since their last ruling to remain valid.

Encouraging news is two justices who previously voted to overturn Proposition 22 may have a different stance this time around: Their attitudes and lines of questioning suggest that they intend to uphold Proposition 8.

Kids lead prayer, coach can’t support them

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a New Jersey high school football coach who wants to bow his head and kneel during prayers led by his players. Coach Marcus Borden was ordered not to pray with his team—and the Supreme Court agreed he could not express his religious beliefs with the kids.

Here is a short video:

Christian agencies struggle to make a decision

The Equality Act covers England, Wales and Scotland. It bans discrimination against homosexuals in terms of access to goods and services…including adoption agencies.

The law makes no allowance for religious organizations to object on doctrinal grounds, effectively forcing many adoption centers to choose either to go against their deeply held beliefs or to be shut down by the government for noncompliance with the Equality Act.

The law went into effect in April 2007, but gives religious organizations 21 months to adjust.

So far, one Roman Catholic agency has been forced to close by failing to comply with the law, two are fighting for more time and three are deciding what to do.

However, five have agreed to place adoptions with homosexual couples.

What do you think? Should these five have given in? Email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Millions were spent to defeat Proposition 4

The November initiative known as Sarah’s Law, Proposition 4 (click here for information) would have prohibited abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after the physician notifies the minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternate adult family member.

Opponents of Proposition 4 spent $8 million. The top contributors include:

• Planned Parenthood, $4,485,000
• California Teachers Association, $450,000
• California Family Health Council, $80,000
• ACLU, $60,000

Other opponents include:

• California Nurses Association
• California Medial Association
• National Organization of Women
• California Democratic Party

Veteran memorial in jeopardy

Please pray for the upcoming Supreme Court decision on this historic cross.

Longtime readers will remember the cross was erected in 1934 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to honor fallen soldiers. Because the cross is on public property, a few people and the ACLU objected.

Two years ago, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the memorial, calling it a “governmental endorsement of religion.” The 9th Circuit Court is the most overturned court in the nation.

More investment losses may be added to the taxpayers’ tab

The City of Vallejo filed for bankruptcy last year. Is your city next?

Many cities have overextended themselves with frivolous spending, growing bureaucracy and overly generous government union contracts. And the taxpayer is left holding the bag.

Now, under the radar, another city crisis is brewing!

California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is now letting cities in California know that their investment fund for 1.6 million workers lost about 25% (close to $300 billion) due to stock losses and highly leveraged and irresponsible real estate speculation.

Taxpayers may have to cover these losses for city employees’ guaranteed government benefits.

If your city is in trouble, email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Reaching out to those in need is a Christian duty and delight

At the National Pastors Convention, I heard Shane Claiborne speak. I was already familiar with his book Irresistible Revolution. My wife had read it and was deeply moved. One of my kids was moved to reach out to the homeless because of it.

Click here to order from ChristianBook.com.

Shane speaks with passion that is infectious. In his talk, he makes a few key points.

We often cry out to God: “Why don’t you do something?” And God says “I did…so you do something.” God wants to change the world with us.

When the church of Jesus Christ acts boldly in love and compassion—without government, guilt or coercion—the result looks a lot like the early Church.

Famous atheist calls religion a “neurological disorder”

Click the photo to watch an interesting exchange between Mike Huckabee and Bill Maher. It’s about 10 minutes.

“I don’t know why more people don’t give themselves a break. You don’t have to worship something. There are enough problems in the world.”—Bill Maher

What do you think? Email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

What’s missing from these objectives?

President Obama established the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, a group of religious leaders to advise on faith-based initiatives.

That’s a good thing, right? Or is it…

The Office’s 15 members ostensibly represent a wide array of religious views: secular nonprofits, Judaic, Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical.

Liberal Evangelicals are well represented by the likes of Jim Wallis of Sojourners magazine, while the nominal “conservative” Evangelical on the team, Joel Hunter, appears to have an agenda closer to his liberal colleagues.

Click the photo for Hunter’s interview by the Christian Broadcasting Network.