AFA ACTIVISM
NBC closes book on ‘Daniel,’ avoids further brouhaha
After igniting the ire of many Christians over its controversial
drama, The Book of Daniel, NBC appeared to quickly stomp out
another potential fire before it, too, blew back in its face.
In a January 31 news release, producers of the popular NBC sitcom
Will and Grace announced their plan to air an episode on
April 13 in which pop star Britney Spears would play a Christian
conservative sidekick to Sean Hayes’ homosexual character,
Jack, who hosts his own talk show. When Jack’s fictional network,
Out TV, is bought by a Christian television network, Spears contributes
a cooking segment called "Cruci-fixin’s."
It seemed yet another slap at Christians when NBC scheduled the
episode to air the night before Good Friday.
Reaction from the Christian community was swift. "NBC does
not treat Jews, Muslims or other religions with such disrespect,"
Don Wildmon, AFA chairman, said.
The network appeared to backpedal after AFA sent out a press release
as well as an Action Alert to its nearly three million e-mail subscribers,
asking them to contact NBC and local NBC affiliates.
"NBC officials assured me that this episode of Will and Grace
will not air," one NBC affiliate general manager told AFA.
"The producers of the show sent out a press release before
the show was even shot. … I have let them know that [our affiliate]
will not air Will and Grace if the show is like the one described
in the press release."
At press time NBC officials, had not returned AFA’s calls.
The affiliate general manager also referred to NBC’s Book
of Daniel fiasco. "NBC learned a painful lesson from The
Book of Daniel and they are not about to repeat the same mistake,"
he said.
NBC cancelled Daniel after dismal ratings and a dearth of
advertisers, who appeared to treat the show as radioactive. Nearly
700,000 AFA supporters e-mailed the network to complain.
The drama had been criticized by pro-family groups for its depiction
of the almost completely dysfunctional family of a pill-popping
Episcopal priest, a platitude-parsing "Jesus" who seemed
unconcerned about sin, and smutty content.
The program’s creator, however, had harsh words for AFA for
standing against Daniel. "AFA and bullies like them are hard
at work to try and prevent you from seeing these beautiful shows,"
said writer/producer Jack Kenny before the program’s cancellation.
"[T]hat is censorship, pure and simple — and that is both
un-Christian and un-American."
But Wildmon said the demise of the show actually proved the "power
of the pocketbook." The network, he said, decided it did not
want to eat any more economic losses due to a lack of advertisers.
"Had NBC not had to eat millions of dollars each time it aired,
[the network] would have kept Daniel alive," Wildmon
said. "But when the sponsors dropped the program, NBC decided
it didn’t want to continue the fight."
Wildmon gave credit where credit was due. "We want to thank
the 678,394 individuals who sent e-mails to NBC and the thousands
who called and e-mailed their local affiliates" to complain,
he said.
CULTURE
Poll says Americans approve influence
of religion in culture
While there are certainly some disheartening signs when it comes
to the general influence of religion — specifically Christianity
— on public life in our culture, there is some good news.
A recent Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll showed that, by wide margins,
the majority of Americans believe that religion should still have
a vigorous and influential role. Moreover, the poll found that most
Americans believe our nation is less spiritual than it was a quarter-century
ago, and that Christianity is under attack.
In the charts the top of this page are some of the responses to
questions asked in the survey. (Percentages do not add up to 100
because responses such as "Don’t know" or "Not
sure" have been excluded by AFA Journal.)
Preventing teen sex is no mystery
While so-called sex education "experts" are always
quick to tout condoms as the solution to problems like teen pregnancy
and sexually transmitted diseases, one pro-family advocate says
the solution is to prevent sexual activity in the first place.
Just how to do that is not as difficult as many people seem to
make it, according to Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, senior fellow of Concerned
Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute.
"We know what works in delaying teen sexual activity and preventing
promiscuity," Crouse said, "but researchers are hesitant
to keep repeating the same simple recipe: parental involvement,
good friends, strong faith, participation in church activities."
Crouse cited a recent report released by the National Campaign
to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The report surveyed the scientific research
on the subject. The report can be found at the organization’s
Web site (www.teenpregnancy.org).
According to the report, teens are less likely to have sex before
age 18 if:
• their parents hold strong
religious beliefs;
• their parents attend religious
services frequently;
• the teens frequently participate
in religious activities with their families, such as going to
religious services, praying, or reading the Scriptures;
• their peers attend religious
services regularly;
• their parents have strong
religious beliefs and there exists a strong mother-teen
relationship.
www.cwfa.org, 1/9/06
Court sides with Kansas AG on underage sex
reports
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently sided with Kansas
Attorney General Phill Kline when he demanded that abortion clinics
report possible violations of age of consent laws.
It is not unusual for underage girls to become pregnant after having
sex with adult men, but even if sex is consensual, it is illegal
for an adult to have sex with a minor.
Kline issued an opinion in 2003 about the state’s 1982 law
that required health care professionals who work with minors to
report suspected situations of underage sex, because he believes
that even consensual sex is harmful to children.
Opponents argued that such a law forces health care professionals
to choose between violating the law or violating their patients’
trust, thus preventing minors from being able to obtain a confidential
abortion.
The appellate court’s decision overturned a lower court finding
by ruling that the state of Kansas does have a vested interest in
information regarding voluntary sexual conduct of children. This
interest outweighs a minor’s right to privacy since sexual
contact with or between children under 16 is a crime under Kansas
law.
The ruling also affirmed that the state has a greater interest
in enforcing criminal laws, protecting minors and promoting public
health.
"This is one way in which states can protect minors both from
sexual predators and the abortion mills that prey on frightened
girls who get pregnant," said AFA Chairman Don Wildmon. "Other
states should take a look at what Kansas Attorney General Phill
Kline is doing to protect children."
www.kansas.com, 1/28/06
EDUCATION
NEA donating millions to leftist groups
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal in January said the
nation’s largest teachers union, the National Education Association
(NEA), is heavily involved in the wider liberal political movement
and the Democratic Party.
The article stated that the NEA gave $65 million last year to liberal
groups such as People for the American Way, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition,
the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and the
Human Rights Campaign, which is the largest pro-homosexual lobby
in the U.S.
The information became available because of new federal guidelines
that require unions to reveal in greater detail how they spend money
raised through member dues. Of the NEA’s total receipts of
$341 million last year, the Journal reported that member dues accounted
for $295 million.
According to Mike Antonucci, a spokesman for the California-based
Education Intelligence Agency, which has been monitoring the NEA
for years, the report of the union’s liberal activities is
no surprise. "What wasn’t clear before [the new reporting
guidelines went into effect] is how much of a part the teachers
unions play in the wider liberal movement and the Democratic Party,"
he said. "They’re like some philanthropic organization
that passes out grant money to interest groups."
The Wall Street Journal editorial concluded: "It’s well
understood that the NEA is an arm of the Democratic National Committee.
… But we wonder if the union’s rank-and-file stand in
unity behind this laundry list of left-to-liberal recipients of
money that comes out of their pockets."
www.opinionjournal.com, 1/3/06; AgapePress,
1/5/06
ENTERTAINMENT
Perverse film airs at Sundance festival
Apparently no form of sexual conduct, however depraved in nature,
is unwelcome at the popular Sundance Film Festival.
Written by comedian-turned-writer/director Bob Goldthwait, the
film Stay tells the story of a girl named Amy (Melinda Page
Hamilton of Desperate Housewives) who is haunted by an impulsive
sexual encounter from her past. Life seems to be going well for
Amy until her fiancé convinces her that they need to be completely
honest with each other — about everything. She finally admits
to him "that she performed oral sex on her dog," according
to Variety.com.
Amy’s confession causes her world to fall apart, leading viewers
into "a surprisingly warm romantic comedy" that is "a
rather sweet and conventional love story that perambulates around
the notions of trust and acceptance," as described by entertainment
critics.
According to Sundance, "Longtime comic Bob Goldthwait has
directed a wonderfully perverse tale that adeptly explores honesty,
family, forgiveness, and courage."
In addition, the festival coined Stay as "independent
filmmaking at its best: raw, original, and edifying."
Due to the film’s success at the festival, various production
and distribution companies have already purchased rights to it.
Gaumont, once a conservative company, took international rights
to the film as a means of broadening their range "with original
films that have a potential for international sales," according
to the company’s CEO Frank Chorot.
North American rights to the film were jointly acquired by Roadside
Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films for a mid-six-figure sum.
It is uncertain as to whether the film will be rated R or NC-17.
It could possibly be released as an unrated film since independent
distributors are not MPAA members.
entertainment.tv.yahoo.com, 1/24/06;
www.variety.com,
1/26/06; TheHollywoodReporter.com, 1/28/06; festival.sundance.org/2006,
1/31/06
FAMILY
Canadian study says legalize polygamy
For those wanting proof that traditional marriage in Canada
may one day die an inglorious death, a new study for that country’s
federal Justice Department has recommended that polygamy be legalized.
Canada has already legalized same-sex marriage in order to allow
homosexual couples into that institution. The new report, however,
advocates ending the ban on polygamy in order to show deference
to foreign-born individuals living in polygamous marriages. It also
argued that legalized polygamy would provide women adequate financial
support in the event of a divorce or abandonment.
"Criminalization does not address the harms associated with
valid foreign polygamous marriages and plural unions, in particular
the harms to women," said the study. "The report therefore
recommends that this provision be repealed."
Martha Bailey, the chief author of the report, told The Canadian
Press, "Why criminalize the behavior? We don’t criminalize
adultery. In light of the fact that we have a fairly permissive
society …, why are we singling out that particular form of
behavior for criminalization?"
Thus far, however, the report does not seem to be finding much
support in Canadian political circles. Liberal Justice Minister
Irwin Cotler, for example, rejected the report’s conclusion.
"At this point, the practice of polygamy, bigamy and incest
are criminal offenses in Canada and will continue to be," he
said.
www.theglobeandmail.com, 1/12/06
PORNOGRAPHY
Increased perversion makes filters
critical
The heightening level of perversion on the Internet should give
parents the sense of urgency needed to install a filter on their
home computers.
James L. Lambert, a guest columnist for AgapePress, recently wrote:
"In 1996, while conducting research for my book Porn in
America, I discovered several reliable sources stating there
were an estimated 79,000 pornographic Web sites on the Internet.
"Less than 10 years later, that figure has swelled to more
than 1.4 million sites — and the number is still growing."
Lambert explained that many of these Web sites promote incest,
bestiality, rape, child-adult sex, group sex, voyeurism and prostitution
— graphic images that were once difficult to find in the early
1980s and 1990s. But just as the level of perversion has increased,
so has the accessibility of such exploitation.
Accessing these images is made easier through teasers, tours and
free thumbnail images that encourage viewers to pay for further
access. In addition, pornographers also promote their smut through
spam e-mails with attachments often containing viruses.
"Pornography is a spiritual weapon used by the powers of darkness
to enslave both children and adults," said Paul McGuire, noted
Los Angeles radio talk-show host. "When a parent or a pastor
fails to take a strong stand on the issue, they are literally opening
the door for the floodgates of hell."
"It is time parents put their children and families first
… [b]y ensuring that their computers have, at the very least,
protective filters on them," Lambert said.
AFA offers affordable Internet filtering and security software
known as Bsafe Online. A free trial and additional information can
be found at www.afafilter.com.
AgapePress, 7/15/05
Pocket-sized porn proves profitable
Another facet of the pornography industry may well become booming
business in the United States due to emerging technological innovations
such as the new video iPod and similar pocket-sized gadgets.
From cell phones to digital music players to portable game players,
pornography is going from the desktop to the small screen due to
a push from new alternative culture sites as well as old skin traders
such as Playboy and Penthouse. These businesses, among
others, are planning to offer pornographic movies for viewing on
portable devices.
The Washington Post reports that the sale of adult entertainment
as downloads to cell phones is already a multimillion-dollar business
in Europe while adult film companies in Japan released such movies
to be viewed on Sony’s PlayStation Portable within weeks of
the device’s 2005 spring debut.
As of now, the portable-porn market is still in its infancy in
the U.S., although the Boston-based research firm Yankee Group anticipates
it growing to nearly $200 million a year by 2009.
Some question the appeal of viewing pornographic images in a two-inch
screen in public places such as airports. Proponents argue that
the anonymity and privacy afforded by mobile devices could be a
valuable selling point.
"When I first heard about this, I thought it was a novelty,
but I’ve changed my mind," said Regina Lynn, a sex columnist
who writes for Wired.com. "I think that the porn industry will
probably be pretty quick to figure out what works and sells for
mobile devices."
As of now, Steven Hirsch, chief executive of Vivid Entertainment
Group, an adult media company, believes the mobile porn business
is at a standstill nationally due to carriers’ inability to
figure out a reliable way to keep it out of the hands of children.
However, he expects that to change in the coming year.
Therefore, Parry Aftab, director of WiredSafety.org
— an organization that helps parents keep online porn away
from their children — believes the needed protection is going
to come with parental education rather than new laws.
"Even parents who are watching their kids’ computers
are clueless that they’ve put a [cell phone] in their kid’s
hands that can be used to trade this stuff around," Aftab said.
www.washingtonpost.com, 11/15/05
PRO-LIFE
Medical records link abortion with
death
Several new studies reveal an unprecedented accuracy in linking
women’s medical records to their death certificates when comparing
abortion and childbirth mortality rates.
Such findings could possibly change the application of the 33-year-old
Roe v. Wade ruling — which legalized abortion —
while alerting medical professionals to common risk factors associated
with abortion and death.
One of the studies, which is part of a series, was completed by
researchers from the National Research and Development Center for
Welfare and Health in Finland. Its findings disputed the age-old
presumption that abortion is linked to fewer deaths than is childbirth
— that is when a woman’s pregnancy history is examined
linking of her medical records to her death certificate.
With proper identification of pregnancy history, the death rate
associated with abortion was found to be three times higher than
the rate associated with childbirth.
According to Walter Weber, an attorney with the American Center
for Law and Justice, who specializes in abortion law, the findings
provided by these studies set a new basis for state regulation of
abortion even within the realm of Roe v. Wade.
"The claim that abortion was safer than childbirth, at least
early in pregnancy, was accepted as a crucial fact in Roe v.
Wade," Weber said, but is now being challenged by these
recent findings.
In addition, a similar study conducted over a 13-year period by
the same research center revealed a direct correlation between abortion
and death specifically from suicide, accidents and homicide. Once
again, medical records were linked that signified a relationship
between the cause of death and abortion. Some of the findings include,
but are not limited to, the following:
A Female deaths from suicide, accidents and homicide were 248%
higher in the year following an abortion when compared to deaths
among women who had not been pregnant the previous year.
A Women who had an abortion were six times as likely to commit
suicide than women who gave birth the previous year.
A The results of a 1997 Finland-based study were confirmed, which
found women who’d had an abortion were 3.5 times more likely
to die in the following year as compared to women who gave birth.
There is no certainty as to how these studies and their findings
will affect the availability of abortion, but it will definitely
heighten the social, legal and medical debates that surround it.
www.afterabortion.info/news, 9/9/05,
11/29/05
Pro-life Web site offers powerful content
Loxafamosity Ministries Inc. recently debuted a new Internet
project known as Abort73.com. Abort73.com is a Web site that provides
visitors with what it calls a "point-by-point abortion education
driven by audio, video (often very graphic), animation, photography,
and medical illustration."
The ministry behind the Web site believes the packaging of the
message is just as important as the content, thus giving equal attention
to both as tools for impacting the culture. In addition, Abort73.com
offers a broad line of merchandise for students to use as an influence
on their campuses.
"It only takes a glance to realize that Abort73.com is unlike
anything the pro-life movement has ever undertaken," Loxafamosity
stated, "but a longer stay may well convince you we’re
on the brink of something historic."
AgapePress, 6/21/05
RELIGION
State denies credits from Christian school
The University of California (UC) is the defendant in a lawsuit
brought by Calvary Chapel Christian School (CCC) in Murrieta, California.
UC has refused credits in history, English, social studies and science
courses from CCC.
Wendell Bird, attorney for the 1,300-student Christian school,
said the suit is about theological content in every subject area
except math. Courses rejected by UC include "Christianity’s
Influence in American History" and "Christianity and Morality
in American Literature."
Bird said the case is the first of its kind, as California is the
first state to reject credit for high school courses because they
put religion over academics.
UC spokesman Ravi Poorsina claimed the courses in dispute are not
academic in nature and promote a specific religious lifestyle. However,
the suit contends that UC accepts high school courses from other
specific viewpoints, e.g., African-American history or feminist
studies. He expects the upcoming ruling by U.S. District Judge S.
James Otero will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
USA Today, 1/13/06
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