Fred is reading
Structural causes of the global financial crisis : a critical assessment of the ‘New Financial Architecture’
Dept. of Economics, University of Massachusetts, August 28, 2008. (Working paper ; no. 2008-14)
by James Crotty
http://www.umass.edu/economics/publications/2008-14.pdf
Fred is listening to
Katie Bull
==========
Banned Books Week video
“A library patron needs some books. Famous, award-winning, acclaimed books. Seems simple enough. And yet… Video produced in recognition of Banned Books Week, September 27-October 4, 2008, and in cooperation with ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom”
http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/banned-books-week-id-find-bleep
==========
CHRISTIAN RIGHT VOTER SUMMIT SELLS RACIST ‘OBAMA WAFFLES’
By Adele Stan, Media Consortium
The Values Voter Summit hawks a a box of waffle mix emblazoned with a cartoon image of a bug-eyed, toothy, dark-lipped Barack Obama.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/98908/
==========
PALIN’S ‘HERETICAL’ CHURCH: CENSORED VIDEO THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE:
By Bruce Wilson
Video identified Palin churches as part of movement decried from right as heretical.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/98698/
==========
SARA PALIN’S CREATIONISM WILL RAPE THE ENVIRONMENT
By Chip Ward, Tomdispatch.com
The Bush admin has been a nightmare for the environment — and the nomination of Palin is an insurance policy taken out on its continuation.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/99714/
==========
VERY BIZARRE ‘HOLY LAUGHTER ANNOINTING’ THEOLOGY AT SARAH PALIN’S JUNEAU CHURCH
By Bruce Wilson, Talk To Action
‘Third wave’ sermons supported by religious leaders at Juneau Christian Church, include “uncontrollable laughter, weeping, shrieking.”
http://www.alternet.org/rights/98703/
==========
What’s God’s interest in pipeline?
By HUBERT G. LOCKE
SPECIAL TO THE P-I
For those who practice it, religion is principally a private experience. To be sure, it has its collective moments, as when followers of a given faith join with others for services of worship or other public rituals but, in the main, one’s religion is about one’s deepest, personal convictions regarding what is of ultimate importance in life. In most religious traditions, these are matters lived out quietly and without fanfare, not provocations for argument or cudgels to be wielded in battles over public policy.
Under most circumstances — because it is a private matter — one’s religious views and beliefs are beyond the purview of public comment. General rules of civility and good taste preclude probing into or passing judgment on someone else’s faith.
The rules don’t hold, however, when a person decides to run for public office. Precisely because the public sphere exercises such enormous sway over the lives of its citizens — our educational opportunities, job possibilities, access to health care, the quality of our environment, virtually anything and everything of serious consequence to most people — we each have not just the right but the obligation to be as fully informed as possible about the beliefs of politicians whose religious views might well influence their public behavior.
We have an especial right — in fact, an urgent imperative — to do so when a candidate for public office makes a big deal of her religiosity. For many believers, prayer is the most private of religious acts, but when Sarah Palin urges Alaskans to pray for the construction of a $30 billion natural gas pipeline, she raises all sorts of public questions.
Many will want to know what prayer has to do with the shipment of natural gas in the first place? Why should God have any interest whatsoever in building a utilities pipeline? And what are Alaskans supposed to ask for — that God will smite opponents of the proposal or inspire the federal government to pick up the costs or grease the skids for a particular construction bidder? And if the pipeline isn’t built, does that mean God didn’t want it to happen?
…
Complete article at:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/380653_hubert26.html
Hubert G. Locke of Seattle is professor and dean emeritus of the UW Evans School of Public Affairs
==========
Former pastor charged in sex sting
Allentown Morning Call – Allentown,PA,USA
A former minister from South Whitehall Township who was kicked out of his church over allegations of misconduct faces charges that he sexually propositioned …
http://tinyurl.com/56lyr5 (www.mcall.com)
==========
Lawsuit Filed To Block District Of Columbia Tax Funding Of Gospel Mission
September 18, 2008
Homeless Persons, Religious Leaders, Taxpayers Say City Should Not Fund Ministry That Compels Homeless Men to Attend Religious Services As A Condition of Receiving Shelter
The ACLU of the National Capital Area, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the District of Columbia’s plan to grant more than $12 million in public property and cash to the Central Union Mission, a religious homeless shelter.
The Mission conditions shelter for the homeless on participation in Christian religious activity, including mandatory attendance at nightly church services. Its director has stated, “We are in the business of converting people to Christ. That’s what we do.” The Mission only employs Christians and requires volunteers to declare their church affiliation.
The lawsuit, Chane v. District of Columbia, was filed in Federal District Court for the District of Columbia. Two of the plaintiffs are homeless men in the District of Columbia who do not go to the Mission because of its requirement that the homeless participate in religious services.
Six other plaintiffs are local taxpayers including members of the clergy who assert that the proposed gift of cash and property from the District of Columbia to the Mission will unconstitutionally support religious activities. The taxpayer plaintiffs include the Right Rev. John Bryson Chane, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, and the Rev. Joseph M. Palacios, a Roman Catholic priest and professor of sociology at Georgetown University.
“The Central Union Mission has a constitutional right to preach the gospel and recruit disciples for its faith, as it’s been doing for 124 years,” said Arthur B. Spitzer, Legal Director of the ACLU of the National Capital Area. “But it is a constitutional violation for the District of Columbia to support that preaching with millions of dollars of public money and public property.”
Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, “Government should not fund a homeless shelter that requires residents to take part in religious services and discriminates in religious hiring. Religious activities should be funded with the voluntary donations of the faithful, not tax dollars.”
The Council of the District of Columbia voted in July to pay $7 million in cash and convey a downtown property known as the Gales School to the Mission, in exchange for far less valuable property in the Petworth neighborhood. The transaction will result in a net financial gain to the Mission of more than $12 million.
“People who are homeless lack options for finding shelter and are particularly vulnerable to religious coercion,” said Alex J. Luchenitser, Senior Litigation Counsel for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “The District should use its tax funds to ensure that sufficient shelter space exists for all who are homeless here, not just for those who are willing to go to church services every night.”
The lawsuit’s plaintiffs ask the court to block the transaction, or alternatively, to require the Mission either to agree not to engage in religious activities at the Gales School, or to pay fair market value for the property. The plaintiffs do not object to the shelter’s religious activities as long as they are not supported by government funds or property.
The lawsuit notes that the mission statement of Central Union Mission reads, “Our mission is to glorify God through proclaiming and teaching the gospel, leading people to Christ, developing disciples, and serving the needs of hurting people throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.”
“The government shouldn’t use taxpayer dollars to underwrite religious indoctrination,” said Daniel Mach, Legal Director for the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. “This is a bad deal for the city, its homeless population and the U.S. Constitution.”
Lawyers on the case include Spitzer, Luchenitser, and Mach, as well as Ayesha N. Khan, Legal Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Frederick V. Mulhauser, Staff Attorney with the ACLU of the National Capital Area.
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State www.au.org
==========
Churches That Violate Law On Pulpit Politicking Will Be Reported To The IRS, Vows Americans United
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Church-State Watchdog Group Condemns Religious Right Plan To Politicize Pulpits This Sunday
Houses of worship that flagrantly violate federal tax law by taking part in a Religious Right-led effort to politicize America’s pulpits this Sunday will be promptly reported to the Internal Revenue Service, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group based in Arizona, is urging pastors to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit on Sept. 28, even though IRS regulations forbid tax-exempt groups from intervening in political campaigns. Reportedly, about 30 churches will participate.
“Taking part in this reckless stunt is a one-way ticket to loss of tax exemption,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “We’ll be watching, and pastors who violate the law can expect their churches to be reported to the IRS the first thing Monday morning.”
Since 1996, Americans United has sponsored Project Fair Play, an effort designed to educate religious leaders about the requirements of federal tax law. AU has filed complaints to the IRS about 85 houses of worship and religious non-profits. One church lost its tax exemption, some have been audited and others have received IRS warnings.
Lynn noted that tax exemption is a privilege and it comes with certain limitations.
“Houses of worship exist to enrich people’s spiritual lives, not act like political machines that issue marching orders to voters,” Lynn said. “They are tax-exempt because their work is religious and charitable, not political.”
Earlier this month, prominent Washington tax attorneys and former IRS officials Marcus Owens, Mort Caplin and Cono Namorato told the IRS that the ADF’s scheme is a “mass violation of federal tax law” and clearly violates the ethics rules governing practice before the IRS. They called for an IRS investigation and appropriate penalties for the ADF.
Meanwhile, Americans United is circulating a letter to churches advising religious leaders on the rules governing tax-exempt entities and politics. Churches should not participate in the ADF’s “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” scheme if they want to hold on to their tax exemption.
Many clergy have opposed the ADF’s plan for this Sunday.
Archbishop John C. Favalora of Miami released a statement indicating that none of his Catholic churches or priests will participate in the initiative.
The Rev. Eric Williams of North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio, urged clergy all over America to give sermons in support of church-state separation and against partisan politics in houses of worship.
Americans United’s Web site, http://www.projectfairplay.org/, educates pastors, laypeople and others about the requirements of federal tax law. It also serves as a place to report tax law violations to Americans United.
Added Lynn, “Pastors who are thinking of joining the ADF’s gambit still have time to change their minds and I urge them to do so.”
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State www.au.org
==========
three thousand words
ReverendFun.com: MID-LIFE CRISIS WHILE IN THE WILDERNESS
http://tinyurl.com/4at6cc (www.reverendfun.com)
Mikhaela Reid: Prisoners of President Palin
Atheist Eve
