U.S. Constitution, page 1

ACLU attorneys in Florida have been naughty. They’ve been endlessly pursuing the defendants in a Santa Rosa School District freedom of speech case without having any plaintiffs to represent.

This is a fact the courts should have been made aware of – because it would make the ACLU’s position moot and could have changed the outcome of the case.

But I’m still waiting for the ACLU to have their hand slapped.  Read more... (728 words, 2 images, estimated 2:55 mins reading time)

Human trafficking. Sex slaves. Child slavery.

It’s something Americans associate with a few European or third world countries. But the U.S. State Department’s 2009 “Trafficking in Humans” Report documents problems in 175 nations.

Girls, women, children and even teen boys are being deceived, kidnapped, trapped and shipped everywhere from America to Africa.

And it could be happening at our neighborhood mini-market.

The wholesale trafficking of humans

From California to New England, the problem is spreading within the United States. It’s becoming as uncontrollable as the drug war that has raged for decades, despite the government’s best efforts.  Read more... (625 words, 2 images, estimated 2:30 mins reading time)

What makes everyone think artist Leonardo Da Vinci uncovered some big Christian secret?

Writers and religious skeptics have always come up with alternative narratives about Jesus’ life and ministry. But author Dan Brown brought it to center stage in a spectacular way, with his blockbuster 2003 fiction, The Da Vinci Code, followed by the movie and all its sequels and franchises.

Brown provoked speculation in both secular and theological circles—all the way to the Vatican:

Did Leonardo Da Vinci write an encrypted code on his famous Vitruvian Man? Was Mary Magdalene married to Jesus? Is there really a Holy Grail?  Read more... (829 words, 2 images, estimated 3:19 mins reading time)

Mississippi has become the most recent state to join 13 others in pursuing a “Personhood Amendment.”

A press release by Personhood Mississippi states they already have enough votes to put their measure on the 2011 election ballot as an Amendment to the Mississippi Constitution.

Fetal sonogram

What is a Personhood Amendment?
“Personhood” amendments are pro-life measures being proposed at state-level legislatures.

The goal is to recognize, within the states’ constitutions, that every unborn child has the same inherent rights, dignity and value as every living human from the beginning of their biological development.  Read more... (286 words, 2 images, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

Moroccan palace gate

The government of Morocco has suddenly expelled large groups of Christians on the charge of “proselytizing” Muslims.

The sudden expulsion of more than twenty Christian house parents and workers from an orphanage has left thirty-three Moroccan children without the only parent figures they have ever known.

According to Australia’s Christian Today, the Village of Hope orphanage, registered with the Moroccan government since 2002, has always included workers from America, New Zealand and other countries who were open about their Christianity.

The house parents were not allowed to adopt the children, as only Muslims are allowed to adopt Moroccan children. So they acted as foster parents.  Read more... (405 words, 2 images, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Male-femal symbols

The American College of Pediatricians has launched a new web site appealing to educators across the United States.

They are asking schools, school officials and parents not to encourage sexual experimentation among students who feel they may be homosexual or gender-confused.

The Web site, “Facts About Youth” also carries information for the students themselves.

The ACP has also sent a letter and fact sheet to more than 14,000 school superintendents.

This group of health professionals presents the theory that children and adolescents are often confused at first, but if given the chance, they grow out of it and into natural affections for the opposite sex.  Read more... (710 words, 2 images, estimated 2:50 mins reading time)

The Parents Television Council has released their October 2009 survey illustrating a troublesome increase in violence against women on television shows.

Here are some highlights from the findings in Women in Peril: A Look at TV’s Disturbing New Storyline Trend:

-There’s been a 400 percent increase in the depiction of teen girls as victims across all networks from 2004 to 2009.

-Incidences of violence against women on the four main TV channels –ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC—rose 120 percent between 2004 and 2009.

-Overall violence of other types during the same time frame increased only 2 percent.  Read more... (423 words, 2 images, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

In March, President Obama signed Executive Order No. 13535 to prevent federal funding of abortions in the new health care bill (properly titled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order as Vice President Joe Biden looks on.

The executive order replaces acceptance of the Stupak Amendment, which was keeping some members of Congress from signing the health care legislation.

According to the text of this executive order, the newly passed health care legislation is supposed to protect the previously existing conscience clause against abortion and prohibits discrimination against health care facilities or providers who are unwilling to participate in funding or providing abortions.  Read more... (475 words, 2 images, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

The city of Gilbert, Arizona is now allowing in-home Bible studies that were banned from taking place earlier this year.

See The Underground’s original story here.

Gilbert’s Mayor John Lewis told One News Now that the town council members didn’t know about the “cease and desist” orders issued by a zoning inspector.

An additional Christian Post report states that Lewis expressed his commitment to religious freedom and was proud that faith-based groups and religious activities take place all around Gilbert.

Lewis said the code will probably be changed to allow in-home services, prayer meetings and Bible studies free of government intervention. The definition of “religious assembly” may be altered.  Read more... (208 words, 1 image, estimated 50 secs reading time)

The Jewish holiday of Passover for 2010 begins at sundown on Monday and lasts the next seven days. It is the celebration of the Israelites coming out of slavery in Egypt.

A properly set Passover Seder table. The Haggadah book is in foreground.

The biblical event takes place in Exodus 10 through 13 in the Old Testament.

God instructed the Jewish people to mark their doorposts with lamb’s blood so He would “pass over” them when slaying the first born of Egypt (the last of the “10 Plagues” causing Pharoah to release them from bondage).  Read more... (690 words, 2 images, estimated 2:46 mins reading time)