ACLU ATTACKS THE BOY SCOUTS . . .In Illinois, the ACLU has filed suit against the Chicago Public Schools and against the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base in East St. Louis, IL, claiming that public institutions have no right to provide public funds to a group that discriminates on the basis of a religious oath. The suit seeks to end the federal, state, and local government funding of Boy Scout programs throughout the country because the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) requires members to take an oath affirming belief in God. National Boy Scouts spokesman Gregg Shields counters, "It is regrettable that the ACLU would seek to deny these boys access to the scouting program simply because they promise to do their duty to God." Last year, the ACLU sued the city of Chicago over the Boy Scout oath and its ban on homosexuals, causing Chicago to end its affiliation with the Boy Scouts. The above attacks on the BSA do not represent the first time the Boy Scouts have come under fire. For a number of years, homosexuals and atheists have filed suits against the BSA because of their ban on homosexual Scout leaders and their religious oath. Last year, the California Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts are a private group and therefore, are exempt from the Unruh Civil Rights Act that bans discrimination by businesses and are also not bound by homosexual rights legislation in that state. However, a New Jersey Appellate Court thought otherwise, ruling that the Boy Scouts were a public accommodation similar to a hotel or restaurant and that the BSA's homosexual ban violated a person's civil rights. In this ruling, the New Jersey court suggested that the Boy Scouts should honor the courage and honesty of a Scout leader's "declaring his homosexuality publicly" rather than concern themselves with being "morally straight." This case, which is now before the New Jersey Supreme Court, has aroused the interest of the nation's largest sponsors of Scout troops - the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, the United Methodist Church's men's organization, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod have all signed an amicus brief on behalf of the Boy Scouts' case. A ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court is expected later this year. [National Liberty Journal, May 99; Citizen Issues Alert, 5/5/99;] In another groundbreaking case against the BSA, a former Boy Scout executive in San Francisco, Chris Keener, has filed suit against the Scouts for his dismissal after it was discovered he was a homosexual. Keener's suit is not based on a civil rights violation, but instead, is based on an alleged violation by the BSA of the state's employment discrimination laws, which do not exempt private organizations. [Culture Facts, 4/28/99] CLINTON UNVEILS GUN CONTROL AGENDAIn light of the Littleton tragedy, President Clinton has announced his anti-crime gun package, which includes in part: 1) background checks on buyers at all gun-show sales; 2) raising the legal age for handgun possession from 18 to 21; 3) mandatory prison sentences of three to 10 years and $10,000 fines for adults, including parents, who allow children access to guns. 4) mandatory "safety locks" on all guns sold; 5) limiting individual handgun purchases to one per month; 6) a lifetime ban on gun ownership for people who commit violent crimes as juveniles; etc. To date, no comprehensive bill has been introduced that includes all of the President's proposals.To Think About: 1) The criminals in Littleton broke at least 19 guns laws in perpetuating their crime. Will adding a 20th or 21st law (or more) make a difference? 2) None of the President's proposals - not one - would have kept those kids in Littleton from engaging in the massive carnage that they had planned for more than a year. [Gun Owners of America, Email Alert, 4/30/99] ANHEUSER-BUSCH AD DRAWS FIRE . . . .On Thursday, April 22, 1999 Anheuser-Busch placed an advertisement in a local St. Louis lesbian and gay publication, EXP Magazine. The Bud Light ad depicts two men holding hands with the taglines, "Be Yourself and Make It a Bud Light" and "Proud Sponsor of the St. Louis Pridefest '99." As a result of this ad, Anheuser-Busch received numerous calls opposing this type of advertisement and has now instituted a toll-free number for people to call if they disapprove of the new commercial featuring two homosexual men. Please call Anheuser-Busch at 1-888-227-8783 to automatically register your opposition to their promotion of the homosexual lifestyle.[Missouri Christian Coalition 5/5/99] ABC NETWORK FIRES WEBMASTER . . .The ABC network fired an online webmaster for his anti-Christian attack in a response to an e-mail message from an Arkansas resident who complained because of the increasing numbers of homosexual characters and storylines on the ABC network. The ABC webmaster replied, "How about getting your nose out of the Bible." "Try thinking for yourself and stop using an archaic book of stories as your crutch for your existence." [The Pastor's Weekly Briefing, 4/30/99]ADVERTISERS DROP HOWARD STERN . .Shock jock Howard Stern may have finally gone too far. On his radio program the day after the killings at Columbine High School, Stern said, "'There were some really good-looking girls running out with their hands over their heads. Did those kids [gunmen] try to have sex with any of the good-looking girls? Stern's insensitive and crude remarks have led to a wave of outrage and calls for stations to drop his program. In addition, according to American Family Association, three of Howard Stern's national advertisers -- Snapple beverage company, Amazon.com online bookseller, and Geico Direct Insurance, are planning to stop advertising on the Stern Radio Show.ACTION GUIDE: Contact CBS and politely request that The Howard Stern Radio Show be discontinued. Write; Leslie Moonves,Entertainment President c/o CBS Audience Services 524W. 57th St. NY, NY 10019 or call the CBS comment line at (212) 975-3248. To request a list of advertisers for Stern's show, call the American Family Association's Stern Project at (888) 733-2326. . [Citizen Issues Alert, 5/5/99] |