Religious non-profit organizations will soon be required to hire LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people, according to a new set of regulations from the Obama administration, the Christian Headlines website reports today (June 4, 2015).
The President has added a "sexual orientation and gender identity" mandate that will require Christian organizations to hire people who are gay, as well as allow transgender people to use the locker rooms and restrooms of their chosen sex.
Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel says the new rule is unfair to faith-based organizations that believe in biblical teaching on homosexuality.
"This is ludicrous!" Staver said. "Christian organizations cannot offer biblical counseling and, at the same time, hire people who do not follow the Bible and their doctrinal positions on human sexuality. Ultimately, this LGBT regulation is going to cause irreparable harm to the children and the needy."
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Dutch Lawmakers Foil Mohammed Cartoon Show; Anti-Islam Advocate Geert Wilders Sought Exhibit
The Dutch parliament has decided against allowing anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders to stage a show of American cartoons based on the prophet Mohammed, the Dutch News website reports today (June 3, 2015).
The organization that oversees the running of parliament -- known as the Presidium -- turned down Wilders' request because the proposed show does not meet the criteria parliament has agreed.
Exhibitions in parliament must focus on the role of parliament and should not offer a platform to party political statements. Moreover, the exhibitions should not be controversial, the rules state.
The cartoons were entries in a competition staged by an American anti-Islam organization in the state of Texas last month, and Wilders was in the U.S. for the prize-giving ceremony. After Wilders had left the building, it was attacked by two radical Muslims, both of whom were shot dead by police.
The organization that oversees the running of parliament -- known as the Presidium -- turned down Wilders' request because the proposed show does not meet the criteria parliament has agreed.
Exhibitions in parliament must focus on the role of parliament and should not offer a platform to party political statements. Moreover, the exhibitions should not be controversial, the rules state.
The cartoons were entries in a competition staged by an American anti-Islam organization in the state of Texas last month, and Wilders was in the U.S. for the prize-giving ceremony. After Wilders had left the building, it was attacked by two radical Muslims, both of whom were shot dead by police.
Britain's Student Union Votes to Boycott Israel; Condemns Israeli Mil.Presence in the West Bank
The UK's National Union of Students passed a motion yesterday to join worldwide efforts to boycott Israel due to its violations of Palestinian human rights. The motion aligns the union with the Palestinian-backed Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, the Times of Israel website reports today (June 3, 2015).
The NUC's Executive Council passed the motion -- called "Justice for Palestine" -- with 19 members voting in favor, 12 against, and three abstaining.
The motion also called on the British Parliament to stop arms sales to Israel. The NUC is the UK's umbrella student organization for some 600 higher education institutions representing 7 million students.
The motion "condemns Israeli military presence in the West Bank and Gaza," and calls on students to "co-ordinate a nationwide student day of action to commemorate UN Palestine Solidarity Day on 29 November."
The NUC's Executive Council passed the motion -- called "Justice for Palestine" -- with 19 members voting in favor, 12 against, and three abstaining.
The motion also called on the British Parliament to stop arms sales to Israel. The NUC is the UK's umbrella student organization for some 600 higher education institutions representing 7 million students.
The motion "condemns Israeli military presence in the West Bank and Gaza," and calls on students to "co-ordinate a nationwide student day of action to commemorate UN Palestine Solidarity Day on 29 November."
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Iraqi PM:IS Stole Over $1B in US Mil. Equipment; Seized 2300 Mil. Humvees in City of Mosul Alone
The Islamic State (IS) -- a brutal terrorist group also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) -- seized 2,300 U.S. military Humvees and other weaponry from Iraq's U.S. taxpayer-funded armed forces in the city of Mosul, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi admitted in a TV interview over the weekend, The New American website reports today (June 2, 2015).
ISIS militants then paraded the captured U.S. military equipment -- worth over one billion dollars -- through the streets of the city.
They then proceeded to use the American Humvees to lynch and burn Iraqi troops -- many of whom had dropped their U.S. supplies and fled -- before putting the vehicles to work in suicide bombings and other attacks.
"In the collapse of Mosul, we lost a lot of weapons," al-Abadi acknowledged, referring to the overrunning of the city by ISIS forces last summer amid the mass-desertion of U.S.-backed Iraqi government forces. "We lost 2,300 Humvees in Mosul alone." Depending on how the Humvees were outfitted -- grenade launchers, machine guns, or extra armor -- the price tag could have been well over one billion dollars. ISIS militants are also believed to have seized the helicopters that were displayed during the ISIS parade with the captured Humvees.
ISIS militants then paraded the captured U.S. military equipment -- worth over one billion dollars -- through the streets of the city.
They then proceeded to use the American Humvees to lynch and burn Iraqi troops -- many of whom had dropped their U.S. supplies and fled -- before putting the vehicles to work in suicide bombings and other attacks.
"In the collapse of Mosul, we lost a lot of weapons," al-Abadi acknowledged, referring to the overrunning of the city by ISIS forces last summer amid the mass-desertion of U.S.-backed Iraqi government forces. "We lost 2,300 Humvees in Mosul alone." Depending on how the Humvees were outfitted -- grenade launchers, machine guns, or extra armor -- the price tag could have been well over one billion dollars. ISIS militants are also believed to have seized the helicopters that were displayed during the ISIS parade with the captured Humvees.
New Disclosure: FBI Operating Spy Planes in US; Secretly Videos Info on Persons without Warrants
The FBI is operating a small air force with scores of low-flying planes across the United States carrying video and cellphone surveillance technology -- all hidden behind fictitious companies that are fronts for the government -- the Associated Press website revealed today (June 2, 2015).
The planes' surveillance equipment is used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for ongoing investigations. Moreover, the FBI shields the identity of the aircraft so that suspects on the ground don't know they are being watched.
The U.S. government admits that the spying flights are taking place, but maintains that they are an important tool in criminal, terrorism, and intelligence probes.
However, the program raises questions about the secret FBI surveillance violating the civil liberties and constitutional rights of American citizens. The American Civil Liberties Union -- once it learns about these secret flights -- will undoubtedly file a lawsuit saying that they must end because they violate the U.S. Constitution.
The planes' surveillance equipment is used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for ongoing investigations. Moreover, the FBI shields the identity of the aircraft so that suspects on the ground don't know they are being watched.
The U.S. government admits that the spying flights are taking place, but maintains that they are an important tool in criminal, terrorism, and intelligence probes.
However, the program raises questions about the secret FBI surveillance violating the civil liberties and constitutional rights of American citizens. The American Civil Liberties Union -- once it learns about these secret flights -- will undoubtedly file a lawsuit saying that they must end because they violate the U.S. Constitution.
Monday, June 1, 2015
High Court:Abercrombie & Fitch Discriminated; Didn't Hire Muslim Woman Due to Head Scarf
A Muslim woman -- who was turned down for a job at Abercrombie & Fitch in 2008 because she wore a hijab during an interview -- scored a major victory today (June 1, 2015) after the Supreme Court ruled that companies can't discriminate against job applicants or employees for religious reasons, the Alternet website reports.
Justices did not buy Abercrombie & Fitch's argument that Samantha Elauf was turned down because of her head scarf and not for her faith.
When Elauf -- who was 17 at the time -- interviewed for a job wearing a black hijab, she did not tell her employer that she was a Muslim and the interviewer did not ask about her religion.
Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the 8-1 decision that even if the preppy clothing store wasn't aware of Samantha Elauf's religion, it still influenced their decision not to hire her. The only justice to dissent was Clarence Thomas, who wrote that the company's "neutral look policy" cannot constitute intentional discrimination.
Justices did not buy Abercrombie & Fitch's argument that Samantha Elauf was turned down because of her head scarf and not for her faith.
When Elauf -- who was 17 at the time -- interviewed for a job wearing a black hijab, she did not tell her employer that she was a Muslim and the interviewer did not ask about her religion.
Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the 8-1 decision that even if the preppy clothing store wasn't aware of Samantha Elauf's religion, it still influenced their decision not to hire her. The only justice to dissent was Clarence Thomas, who wrote that the company's "neutral look policy" cannot constitute intentional discrimination.
Assad's Army's Barrel Bombs Kill 200 Syrians; Many Women, Children Killed in the Attacks
Activists have disclosed that 200 civilians in Syria have died from barrel bomb attacks during the past two days, carried out by the army of President Bashar al-Assad, the Christian Post website reports today (June 1, 2015).
While Assad has denied responsibility, a UN envoy has condemned the bombings as "totally unacceptable."
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 71 civilians -- including women and children -- were killed by bombs dropped by Asad's Helicopters on May 30 alone in the northern province of Aleppo.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said that it was "totally unacceptable that the Syrian air force attacks its own territory in an indiscriminate way, killing its own citizens."
While Assad has denied responsibility, a UN envoy has condemned the bombings as "totally unacceptable."
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 71 civilians -- including women and children -- were killed by bombs dropped by Asad's Helicopters on May 30 alone in the northern province of Aleppo.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said that it was "totally unacceptable that the Syrian air force attacks its own territory in an indiscriminate way, killing its own citizens."
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