The One News Now website reports today (February 3, 2012) that One Million Moms -- an American Family Association's advocacy group -- is challenging J.C. Penney's efforts to improve its sales by hiring a lesbian as its spokesperson.
J.C. Penney has hired lesbian Ellen DeGeneres as its spokesperson. The comedian and talk-show host is slated to appear in five commercials in an ad campaign starting this spring.
Ron Johnson -- new CEO at J.C. Penney -- said his company is going with DeGeneres because "Ellen is someone we all trust. She's lovable, likabale, honest, and funny."
On the other hand, Monica Cole -- director of One Million Moms -- said hiring DeGeneres might backfire, since only an estimated 1.7 percent of the American population is homosexual. She added that One Million Moms is asking people to call J.C. Penney to politely ask that DeGeneres be replaced as its spokesperson.
Friday, February 3, 2012
MD Rabbi Pleads Guilty to Fraud in Torah Trick; Rabbi Youlus Sold "Holocaust Torahs" to Believers
The Washington Post website reports today (February 3, 2012) that an Orthodox rabbi and owner of a Jewish bookstore in Wheaton, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in New York to mail and wire fraud, as a result of making up dramatic stories of rescuing Torahs lost during the Holocaust, and selling them to believers for more than $862,000.
Rabbi Menachem Youlus, 50, had solicited donations to his nonprofit organization -- the Save a Torah Foundation -- by fabricating fantastic adventures of saving the sacred scrolls, and using the stories to inflate the value of old Torahs.
Youlus told Judge Colleen McMahon that "between 2004 and 2010, I falsely represented that I personally obtained vintage Torah scrolls from Europe and Israel," including sacred fragments in a metal box buried in Auschwitz. He admitted that he had never been to Europe and that he defrauded scores of victims, including private equity billionaire David Rubenstein.
Each of the two counts against Youlus carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Judge McMahon scheduled sentencing for June 21.
Rabbi Menachem Youlus, 50, had solicited donations to his nonprofit organization -- the Save a Torah Foundation -- by fabricating fantastic adventures of saving the sacred scrolls, and using the stories to inflate the value of old Torahs.
Youlus told Judge Colleen McMahon that "between 2004 and 2010, I falsely represented that I personally obtained vintage Torah scrolls from Europe and Israel," including sacred fragments in a metal box buried in Auschwitz. He admitted that he had never been to Europe and that he defrauded scores of victims, including private equity billionaire David Rubenstein.
Each of the two counts against Youlus carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Judge McMahon scheduled sentencing for June 21.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Obama: "My Policies Are an Extension of My Faith;" Wanting Wealthy to Pay More Taxes Reflects Jesus
President Barack Obama said today (February 2, 2012) that his Christian faith is a driving force behind his economic policies -- from Wall Street reform to his calls for the wealthy to pay higher taxes -- the Associated Press website reports.
Obama's remarks at today's National Prayer Breakfast -- held at the Washington Hilton's International Ballroom -- were his most explicit account of how his personal religious beliefs factor into his decision-making on the nation's pressing problems.
Speaking to more than 3,000 people at the annual breakfast, Obama said "faith and values" should play as much of a role in tackling the nation's challenges as sound decision-making and smart policies.
He said, for example, that his own call for fairness in the tax code -- in which wealthy Americans would be required to pay more taxes -- is both economically sound and consistent with the teachings of Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus tells His disciples, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." - Matthew 19:24
Obama's remarks at today's National Prayer Breakfast -- held at the Washington Hilton's International Ballroom -- were his most explicit account of how his personal religious beliefs factor into his decision-making on the nation's pressing problems.
Speaking to more than 3,000 people at the annual breakfast, Obama said "faith and values" should play as much of a role in tackling the nation's challenges as sound decision-making and smart policies.
He said, for example, that his own call for fairness in the tax code -- in which wealthy Americans would be required to pay more taxes -- is both economically sound and consistent with the teachings of Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus tells His disciples, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." - Matthew 19:24
Church of Scientology Convicted of Fraud in France; Church Fined $800,000, Five Members Also Fined
The Voice of America website reports today (February 2, 2012) that a Paris court has fined the Church of Scientology in France for fraud, and handed five of its members fines and suspended sentences.
The appeals court ruling confirms a 2009 fraud charge that the Church of Scientology in France pressured its members to pay for books, courses, and so-called "purification remedies" or questionable medical treatments. It fined the church and its bookshop a total of 600,000 euros or nearly $800,000.
The five Scientologists fined and given suspended sentences included Alain Rosenberg -- the head of the French church -- who received a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of nearly $40,000.
Founded in the United States nearly 60 years ago, the Church of Scientology is legally a religion in the United States, Sweden, and Spain. But in France, Belgium, and Germany, Scientology is considered a sect or cult.
Its members include American actors John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
The appeals court ruling confirms a 2009 fraud charge that the Church of Scientology in France pressured its members to pay for books, courses, and so-called "purification remedies" or questionable medical treatments. It fined the church and its bookshop a total of 600,000 euros or nearly $800,000.
The five Scientologists fined and given suspended sentences included Alain Rosenberg -- the head of the French church -- who received a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of nearly $40,000.
Founded in the United States nearly 60 years ago, the Church of Scientology is legally a religion in the United States, Sweden, and Spain. But in France, Belgium, and Germany, Scientology is considered a sect or cult.
Its members include American actors John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
COMMENTARY: There Is No Justification for Murder in Our Society
Last week, a jury in Ontario, Canada found an Afghan father, his wife, and their son guilty of killing three teenage sisters and a co-wife in what the judge called a "twisted concept of honor."
The three sisters -- aged 19, 17, and 13 -- were killed because they "violated Islamic rules of dress, dating, and socializing." The co-wife was killed because of fear that Canadian authorities might discover the husband's polygamous relationship, and force his family to leave Canada.
The fact that the parents did not kill their 21-year-old son in this scenario conveys a double standard: Young Islamic women must not socialize with others, but it is all right for young men to socialize.
If the parents wanted to punish their three teenage daughters for living an anti-Islamic lifestyle, they could have done so by taking less severe action, such as not allowing them to socialize with others.
In the final analysis, the parents and son of these murders need to realize that in a civilized society there is no justification for murdering people -- even if the reason for murder may be sparked by a desire to support religious teachings.
The three sisters -- aged 19, 17, and 13 -- were killed because they "violated Islamic rules of dress, dating, and socializing." The co-wife was killed because of fear that Canadian authorities might discover the husband's polygamous relationship, and force his family to leave Canada.
The fact that the parents did not kill their 21-year-old son in this scenario conveys a double standard: Young Islamic women must not socialize with others, but it is all right for young men to socialize.
If the parents wanted to punish their three teenage daughters for living an anti-Islamic lifestyle, they could have done so by taking less severe action, such as not allowing them to socialize with others.
In the final analysis, the parents and son of these murders need to realize that in a civilized society there is no justification for murdering people -- even if the reason for murder may be sparked by a desire to support religious teachings.
US Abp.: Catholic Pop. in Iraq Has Collapsed; It Fell from 800,000 in 2003 to 150,000 Today
The California Catholic Daily website reports today (February 1, 2012) that Archbishop Timothy Broglio -- the U.S. Archbishop for Military Services -- said the collapse of Iraq's Christian population is among the legacies of America's invasion in 2003.
Archbishop Broglio made his comments only one month after the final pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq, where they remained following the invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
Aid agencies estimate that over the course of eight years, the Catholic population of Iraq fell from more than 800,000 in 2003 to fewer than 150,000 today.
Archbishop Broglio said he believes Catholicism suffered after the U.S. invasion because of a perceived closeness to its previous ruler. He added that Saddam Hussein tended "to trust Catholics, and gave them positions of responsibility."
Archbishop Broglio made his comments only one month after the final pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq, where they remained following the invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
Aid agencies estimate that over the course of eight years, the Catholic population of Iraq fell from more than 800,000 in 2003 to fewer than 150,000 today.
Archbishop Broglio said he believes Catholicism suffered after the U.S. invasion because of a perceived closeness to its previous ruler. He added that Saddam Hussein tended "to trust Catholics, and gave them positions of responsibility."
John Piper:God Gave Christians a "Masculine Feel;" Evangelist Says God Did So for Humans to Flourish
The Christian Post website reports today (February 1, 2012) that evangelist John Piper -- in his address to the Desiring God Conference for Pastors in Minneapolis yesterday -- said, "God revealed Himself in the Bible pervasively as king not queen; father not mother."
He also said, "Second person of the Trinity is revealed as the eternal Son not daughter; the Father and the Son create man and woman in His image and give the name man, the name of the male."
Piper continued, "God appoints all the priests in the Old Testament to be men; the Son of God came into the world to be a man; He chose 12 men to be His apostles; the apostles appointed that the overseers of the Church be men; and when it came to marriage they taught that the husband should be the head."
Piper concluded that God has given Christianity a "masculine feel" for our maximum flourishing -- both male and female.
He also said, "Second person of the Trinity is revealed as the eternal Son not daughter; the Father and the Son create man and woman in His image and give the name man, the name of the male."
Piper continued, "God appoints all the priests in the Old Testament to be men; the Son of God came into the world to be a man; He chose 12 men to be His apostles; the apostles appointed that the overseers of the Church be men; and when it came to marriage they taught that the husband should be the head."
Piper concluded that God has given Christianity a "masculine feel" for our maximum flourishing -- both male and female.
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