Political Discourse Democratic Style: Police Eject Lone Senior with Pro-life Sign from Obama Rally

On the eve of the 2012 Presidential election, the party of abortion showed its colors on the issue of the sanctity of human live once again.

A crowd at the University of Cincinnati went berserk when a sole senior citizen rose during a last minute campaign address by Barak Obama, holding pictures of unborn children who had been dismembered in the womb. The crowd stopped listening to the President and began shouting  "get him out, get him out!" until university police dragged the protester from the room.

Let's pray that Americans choose another direction on Nov. 6, and that civil discourse can once again take place in the public square.

Thanks to Gateway Pundit for this news clip.

Political Discourse Democratic Style: Police Eject Lone Senior with Pro-life Sign from Obama Rally

On the eve of the 2012 Presidential election, the party of abortion showed its colors on the issue of the sanctity of human live once again.

A crowd at the University of Cincinnati went berserk when a sole senior citizen rose during a last minute campaign address by Barak Obama, holding pictures of unborn children who had been dismembered in the womb. The crowd stopped listening to the President and began shouting  "get him out, get him out!" until university police dragged the protester from the room.

Let's pray that Americans choose another direction on Nov. 6, and that civil discourse can once again take place in the public square.

Thanks to Gateway Pundit for this news clip.

Texas Citizens Forced to Cover Vote the Bible Tee Shirt Before Being Allowed to Vote

Election officials in Williamson County, Texas forced Kay Hill to cover her Vote the Bible tee shirt before allowing her to vote on Oct. 24.

CBS News from Houston, Texas reported Nov. 2 that a Texas woman is claiming that a polling place forced her to cover up her “Vote the Bible” shirt she was wearing or she would not be allowed to vote.

Texas Values is representing Kay Hill after Williamson County election workers told her that her shirt was deemed “offensive” and that she either needed to change her shirt or cover the words up in order to vote at Taylor City Hall on Oct. 24.

“This is obviously a religious free expression and no one should be put in a position having to choose religious freedom over deciding to vote,” Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, told KTBC-TV.
Hill eventually complied with election workers and covered-up the words in order to vote.

Williamson County officials say Hill’s shirt violated electioneering laws.

“Electioneering or loitering within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place or inside the polling place is not allowed,” Connie Watson, public affairs director for Williamson County, told KTBC. “Electioneering would cover wearing a hat, a pen, a T-shirt or a sign that would indicate a position for a political party, candidate or a proposition.”

Saenz disagrees that Hill violated any sort of electioneering law. “Electioneering only prohibits supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party,” Saenz told the Austin American-Statesman. “The Bible is not candidate or a ballot measure.”
Saenz is calling on the county to apologize to Hill, but officials say they won’t because what they did was right.

“We back the actions of our appointed elections workers at the county and precinct level,” Williamson County Judge Dan Gattis told the American-Statesman. “If a citizen does not agree, they need to follow the proper channels to complain.”

Hill is expected to file a complaint Friday with the Texas Secretary of State’s office.

Texas Citizens Forced to Cover Vote the Bible Tee Shirt Before Being Allowed to Vote

Election officials in Williamson County, Texas forced Kay Hill to cover her Vote the Bible tee shirt before allowing her to vote on Oct. 24.

CBS News from Houston, Texas reported Nov. 2 that a Texas woman is claiming that a polling place forced her to cover up her “Vote the Bible” shirt she was wearing or she would not be allowed to vote.

Texas Values is representing Kay Hill after Williamson County election workers told her that her shirt was deemed “offensive” and that she either needed to change her shirt or cover the words up in order to vote at Taylor City Hall on Oct. 24.

“This is obviously a religious free expression and no one should be put in a position having to choose religious freedom over deciding to vote,” Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, told KTBC-TV.
Hill eventually complied with election workers and covered-up the words in order to vote.

Williamson County officials say Hill’s shirt violated electioneering laws.

“Electioneering or loitering within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place or inside the polling place is not allowed,” Connie Watson, public affairs director for Williamson County, told KTBC. “Electioneering would cover wearing a hat, a pen, a T-shirt or a sign that would indicate a position for a political party, candidate or a proposition.”

Saenz disagrees that Hill violated any sort of electioneering law. “Electioneering only prohibits supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party,” Saenz told the Austin American-Statesman. “The Bible is not candidate or a ballot measure.”
Saenz is calling on the county to apologize to Hill, but officials say they won’t because what they did was right.

“We back the actions of our appointed elections workers at the county and precinct level,” Williamson County Judge Dan Gattis told the American-Statesman. “If a citizen does not agree, they need to follow the proper channels to complain.”

Hill is expected to file a complaint Friday with the Texas Secretary of State’s office.

King of Saudi Arabia Wants United Nations to Take Action Against Insults to Islam

Barak Obama and Saudi King Abdullah: They seem to agree

Responsible investigative journalism in the United States has debunked White House and State Department claims that the terrorist murders at the Benghazi U.S. consulate Sept. 11 were a spontaneous reaction of Muslim faithful to a little known YouTube video criticizing the Prophet Mohammad. But Saudi Arabia's King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is keeping the issue alive with a demand for action by the U.N. against "insults to religions and prophets."

Speaking on Oct. 27, King Abdullah demanded a UN resolution condemning insults on monotheistic religions."I demand a UN resolution that condemns any country or group that insults religions and prophets," he said during a meeting at his palace with religious figures and heads of hajj delegations in the Mina valley where pilgrims were performing final rituals of hajj.

"It is our duty and that of every Muslim to protect Islam and defend the prophets."

The king also called on Saturday for the "unity of the Islamic nation (and) rejecting division to face the nation's enemies" as he urged for dialogue among Muslims.

"Dialogue strengthens moderation and ends reasons of conflict and extremism," he said.
"The interconfessional dialogue center which we had announced in Mecca does not necessarily mean reaching agreements on the matters of belief, but it aims at reaching solutions to divisions and implementing co-existance among sects," he added.

The interconfessional dialog center could be put to good use toward developing agreement within Islam that there exists a civil society, outside of the purview of religious activity, in which citizens of modern nations  of all faiths may carry out their business and freely offer their opinions and efforts to solve problems and advance social well being. This method has worked well in the United States and other western nations, which uphold the principle of free speech.

King of Saudi Arabia Wants United Nations to Take Action Against Insults to Islam

Barak Obama and Saudi King Abdullah: They seem to agree

Responsible investigative journalism in the United States has debunked White House and State Department claims that the terrorist murders at the Benghazi U.S. consulate Sept. 11 were a spontaneous reaction of Muslim faithful to a little known YouTube video criticizing the Prophet Mohammad. But Saudi Arabia's King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is keeping the issue alive with a demand for action by the U.N. against "insults to religions and prophets."

Speaking on Oct. 27, King Abdullah demanded a UN resolution condemning insults on monotheistic religions."I demand a UN resolution that condemns any country or group that insults religions and prophets," he said during a meeting at his palace with religious figures and heads of hajj delegations in the Mina valley where pilgrims were performing final rituals of hajj.

"It is our duty and that of every Muslim to protect Islam and defend the prophets."

The king also called on Saturday for the "unity of the Islamic nation (and) rejecting division to face the nation's enemies" as he urged for dialogue among Muslims.

"Dialogue strengthens moderation and ends reasons of conflict and extremism," he said.
"The interconfessional dialogue center which we had announced in Mecca does not necessarily mean reaching agreements on the matters of belief, but it aims at reaching solutions to divisions and implementing co-existance among sects," he added.

The interconfessional dialog center could be put to good use toward developing agreement within Islam that there exists a civil society, outside of the purview of religious activity, in which citizens of modern nations  of all faiths may carry out their business and freely offer their opinions and efforts to solve problems and advance social well being. This method has worked well in the United States and other western nations, which uphold the principle of free speech.

Islamic Terrorists Attack Again in Nigeria, 15 Killed, 150 Injured

St. Rita's Catholic Church in Nigeria following Tuesday's bombing

Our friends at Gateway Pundit report another terrorist attack on Christians in Nigeria Tuesday: A suicide bomber killed 15 Christians and injured 150 at Saint Rita’s Catholic Church in Malali.
90% of the victims were children.

All Africa reported, via Religion of Peace:

Kaduna State was yesterday thrown into another round of pandemonium following a suicide bomb blast that rocked the Saint Rita’s Catholic Church at Ungwa Yero in Malali, Kaduna North LGA. The church has a capacity to accommodate over 1,000 worshipers.
The blast, which affected mostly women and children, killed at least 15 people and severely injured about150 including the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Bonet Micah.
The victims were rushed to several hospitals within the Kaduna metropolis. Although details of the numbers could not be ascertained officially, our correspondents gathered that three dead bodies and 35 injured persons were taken to 44 Army Reference Hospital, four bodies and over 88 injured persons were taken to Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, 14 injured persons were taken to Saint Gerard Catholic Hospital, one dead body and 14 injured persons were taken to Garkuwa Hospital, three injured persons were taken to Giwa Hospital, and two injured persons were taken to Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital…
…The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, His Grace Bishop Matthew Man-Ndagoso, visited the Saint Gerard Catholic Hospital where he expressed his displeasure. The bishop said: “I feel more pained in my heart over this unfortunate incident as 90 per cent of the victims are children. We pray for their quick recovery and fortitude to bear the loss of those who died in the process. My appeal is to the Christians, especially the Catholic youths, not to consider reprisal as an option as this will rather create more tension and add to the already bad situation”.

The view above shows St. Rita’s Catholic church in the Malali village, after a bomb attack, in Nigeria’s northern city of Kaduna October 28, 2012. A suicide bomber drove a vehicle packed with explosives into church during Sunday Mass. (Reuters)

Islamic Terrorists Attack Again in Nigeria, 15 Killed, 150 Injured

St. Rita's Catholic Church in Nigeria following Tuesday's bombing

Our friends at Gateway Pundit report another terrorist attack on Christians in Nigeria Tuesday: A suicide bomber killed 15 Christians and injured 150 at Saint Rita’s Catholic Church in Malali.
90% of the victims were children.

All Africa reported, via Religion of Peace:

Kaduna State was yesterday thrown into another round of pandemonium following a suicide bomb blast that rocked the Saint Rita’s Catholic Church at Ungwa Yero in Malali, Kaduna North LGA. The church has a capacity to accommodate over 1,000 worshipers.
The blast, which affected mostly women and children, killed at least 15 people and severely injured about150 including the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Bonet Micah.
The victims were rushed to several hospitals within the Kaduna metropolis. Although details of the numbers could not be ascertained officially, our correspondents gathered that three dead bodies and 35 injured persons were taken to 44 Army Reference Hospital, four bodies and over 88 injured persons were taken to Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, 14 injured persons were taken to Saint Gerard Catholic Hospital, one dead body and 14 injured persons were taken to Garkuwa Hospital, three injured persons were taken to Giwa Hospital, and two injured persons were taken to Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital…
…The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, His Grace Bishop Matthew Man-Ndagoso, visited the Saint Gerard Catholic Hospital where he expressed his displeasure. The bishop said: “I feel more pained in my heart over this unfortunate incident as 90 per cent of the victims are children. We pray for their quick recovery and fortitude to bear the loss of those who died in the process. My appeal is to the Christians, especially the Catholic youths, not to consider reprisal as an option as this will rather create more tension and add to the already bad situation”.

The view above shows St. Rita’s Catholic church in the Malali village, after a bomb attack, in Nigeria’s northern city of Kaduna October 28, 2012. A suicide bomber drove a vehicle packed with explosives into church during Sunday Mass. (Reuters)

Catholic Bishops Send Message from Rome Synod to Chinese Bishop and His Flock

Chinese Catholics pray at the Wangfujing Cathedral during Christmas midnight mass in Beijing

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 24, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Synod of Bishops has sent a message yesterday to Bishop Lucas Ly Jingeng of Fengxiang in mainland China, who was unable to attend the Synod in Rome. The Chinese prelate had written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI at the opening of the assembly assuring the Holy Father of his prayers for the success of the Synod.

"With great pleasure, the Synodal Fathers celebrating the XIII Ordinary Synod of Bishops on New Evangelization and the Transmission of Faith received your Letter, with which you wished to make your voice heard from within the Democratic Republic of China. Your intention was greatly appreciated, notwithstanding the fact that there are some Bishops coming from Hong Kong and Taiwan among the Synodal Fathers," the statement read.

The letter acknowledged the "suffering, the prayers and joy of being Christian in China", saying that it has encouraged Christians all over the world. While informing them of the events throughout the Synod, such as the 50thanniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the opening of the Year of Faith, the letter stated that while the Catholic Bishops of China could not intervene, they are considered "spiritually present" at the gathering of bishops.

"We ask all the Bishops, Priests and faithful of this great Nation to live the Year of the Faith with generosity and commitment. We thus recommend that the evangelization of the Chinese People and the re-evangelization of all those who have become lukewarm towards or lost their faith, be taken to heart in a special way," the letter stated.

The letter from the Synod of Bishops concluded by stating their desire the Church in China may be able to attend future synods in Rome.

"The Holy Father Benedict XVI sends a special blessing to you, to your priests and faithful, as well as to the entire, well-loved Church in China," the letter stated.

Catholic Bishops Send Message from Rome Synod to Chinese Bishop and His Flock

Chinese Catholics pray at the Wangfujing Cathedral during Christmas midnight mass in Beijing

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 24, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Synod of Bishops has sent a message yesterday to Bishop Lucas Ly Jingeng of Fengxiang in mainland China, who was unable to attend the Synod in Rome. The Chinese prelate had written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI at the opening of the assembly assuring the Holy Father of his prayers for the success of the Synod.

"With great pleasure, the Synodal Fathers celebrating the XIII Ordinary Synod of Bishops on New Evangelization and the Transmission of Faith received your Letter, with which you wished to make your voice heard from within the Democratic Republic of China. Your intention was greatly appreciated, notwithstanding the fact that there are some Bishops coming from Hong Kong and Taiwan among the Synodal Fathers," the statement read.

The letter acknowledged the "suffering, the prayers and joy of being Christian in China", saying that it has encouraged Christians all over the world. While informing them of the events throughout the Synod, such as the 50thanniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the opening of the Year of Faith, the letter stated that while the Catholic Bishops of China could not intervene, they are considered "spiritually present" at the gathering of bishops.

"We ask all the Bishops, Priests and faithful of this great Nation to live the Year of the Faith with generosity and commitment. We thus recommend that the evangelization of the Chinese People and the re-evangelization of all those who have become lukewarm towards or lost their faith, be taken to heart in a special way," the letter stated.

The letter from the Synod of Bishops concluded by stating their desire the Church in China may be able to attend future synods in Rome.

"The Holy Father Benedict XVI sends a special blessing to you, to your priests and faithful, as well as to the entire, well-loved Church in China," the letter stated.

Muslim Brotherhood Party Leader Calls for Imposition of Sharia Law in Egypt

Sadd al-Katany: Impose sharia law in Egypt

Saad al-Katatny, recently elected leader of Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party--the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood organization--has called for the imposition of Islamic sharia law in that nation. 

Writes the Jerusalem Post Oct. 21: 

Katatny hailed his election as “a first step” towards achieving the goals of the FJP, according to Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper.In this respect, Katatny was quoted as saying that “The Muslim Brotherhood established the [FJP] to represent the Brotherhood’s political project, which, in the end, will be a wise government that will institute Islamic Shari’a law.”

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi earlier this year ran for office on the FJP ticket. However, he resigned from the party immediately after being elected.

Last week Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Muhammad Badie called on Muslims worldwide to liberate Jerusalem by means of jihad.

According to AFP, in his weekly message to supporters, Badie asserted that “The jihad for the recovery of Jerusalem is a duty for all Muslims,” stressing that the city’s conquest “will not be done through negotiations or at the United Nations.”

The Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide previously vowed that if the Muslim Brotherhood ever rose to power in Egypt, it would work to sever relations with Israel. “We are certainly not happy with the illegitimate marriage between Cairo and Tel Aviv,” he said.

“Once we rise to power we will change many things in Egypt’s policy, starting with the country’s relations with Israel which have caused us great harm.”

In response to Badie’s latest call for jihad against Israel, The Simon Wiesenthal Center urged US President Barack Obama to sever all contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood until the threat is withdrawn.
In a joint statement, Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, founder and dean, and associate dean of the center – respectively – denounced Badie, saying his “rant confirms our long held view that Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is the most dangerous anti- Semitic organization in the world today.”
They called on “President Obama to condemn the rhetoric and cut off all official and unofficial US contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood until they desist from their hate and warmongering.”

Muslim Brotherhood Party Leader Calls for Imposition of Sharia Law in Egypt

Sadd al-Katany: Impose sharia law in Egypt

Saad al-Katatny, recently elected leader of Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party--the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood organization--has called for the imposition of Islamic sharia law in that nation. 

Writes the Jerusalem Post Oct. 21: 

Katatny hailed his election as “a first step” towards achieving the goals of the FJP, according to Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper.In this respect, Katatny was quoted as saying that “The Muslim Brotherhood established the [FJP] to represent the Brotherhood’s political project, which, in the end, will be a wise government that will institute Islamic Shari’a law.”

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi earlier this year ran for office on the FJP ticket. However, he resigned from the party immediately after being elected.

Last week Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Muhammad Badie called on Muslims worldwide to liberate Jerusalem by means of jihad.

According to AFP, in his weekly message to supporters, Badie asserted that “The jihad for the recovery of Jerusalem is a duty for all Muslims,” stressing that the city’s conquest “will not be done through negotiations or at the United Nations.”

The Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide previously vowed that if the Muslim Brotherhood ever rose to power in Egypt, it would work to sever relations with Israel. “We are certainly not happy with the illegitimate marriage between Cairo and Tel Aviv,” he said.

“Once we rise to power we will change many things in Egypt’s policy, starting with the country’s relations with Israel which have caused us great harm.”

In response to Badie’s latest call for jihad against Israel, The Simon Wiesenthal Center urged US President Barack Obama to sever all contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood until the threat is withdrawn.
In a joint statement, Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, founder and dean, and associate dean of the center – respectively – denounced Badie, saying his “rant confirms our long held view that Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is the most dangerous anti- Semitic organization in the world today.”
They called on “President Obama to condemn the rhetoric and cut off all official and unofficial US contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood until they desist from their hate and warmongering.”

German Parents Lose Custody of Their Children for Homeschooling Them

Reporter John Jalsevac filed this report Oct. 5 from Darmstadt, Germany for the pro-life LifeSiteNews web site:

A district court in Darmstadt, Germany has revoked custody of four children from their parents and ordered it turned over to the Jugendamt, Germany’s child protective agency.

The reason for the drastic measure? The parents were homeschooling their children.

Dirk Wanderlich, the father of the family, says that while the Jugendamt has issued a letter saying they will allow the children to stay at home for the time being, he believes that in the long run the state intends to remove them.

“[T]hey told me that the children must go to school,” said Dirk, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association, which is providing legal support to the Wanderlichs.

“We are very saddened by the way our country treats us. Our nerves are black and short, and we are very tired by the pressure. I don’t understand my own country. What are we doing wrong? We are just doing what should be allowed to anyone.”

Dirk has good reason to fear that he may eventually lose his children. Homeschooling is illegal in Germany under a law dating back to the Hitler era, and in recent years the country has become increasingly Draconian in enforcing the law – removing children from their families, levying heavy fines, and even sentencing homeschooling parents to jail.

Dirk Wanderlich with his four children.

In one recent case, a family successfully petitioned the United States for political asylum. In his decision granting asylum, U.S. Judge Lawrence Burman said that Germany’s policy of persecuting homeschoolers is “repellent to everything we believe as Americans.”
 
According to HSLDA, the court who ruled against the Wanderlichs said that the public has, in HSLDA’s words, “an interest in counteracting the development of parallel societies and that religious or ethnic minorities must be ‘integrated’ through schools.”

The ruling aligns with reasons given by Germany’s leadership for maintaining the ban. “In our increasingly multicultural society, school is the place for a peaceful dialogue between different opinions, values, religions and ideologies,” Berlin’s education minister, Juergen Zoellner, told BBC in 2010.

“It is a training ground for social tolerance. Therefore, homeschooling is not an option for Germany.”
Reacting to the Wanderlichs’ case, HSLDA Director for International Relations Michael Donnelly, said, “Homeschooling is a legitimate form of education—Germany’s oppression of people who do it violates their obligation to protect their citizen’s most basic human rights. In the area of educational freedom, Germany is grossly derelict and oppressive.”

The Wanderlichs’ search for the freedom to homeschool has taken them all across Europe. The family already had one major scare in France, when social workers came and seized their children. However, upon appeal their children were returned to them, and their right to homeschool was solidly affirmed.
But while the Wanderlichs ultimately found tolerance in France, Dirk, a gardener, was unable to find steady work and so the family had to move on. Eventually, after stints in Norway and Hungary, the Wanderlichs returned to their native Germany, where they hoped that their homeschooling would simply go unnoticed.
“We hoped we could homeschool without being found out,” says Dirk. “But neighbors turned us in after just a few months. I requested to meet with the school to get them to permit us to homeschool, but they rejected our request for a meeting.”

In the meantime the Wanderlichs are unable even to leave Germany to seek freedom in another country. “We don’t have passports, and even if we did, we could not leave,” Dirk says. “Our children are now under the control of the state. We can’t leave without the state’s permission.”

Desperate and at their wit’s end, the Wanderlichs are reaching out for help. “I am just one person, and I cannot fight against the power of the state even though I must for my children’s sake,” says Dirk. “We need help from others. I have asked HSLDA to inform the UN special rapporteur on education. We have no choice but to fight, because we feel it is our duty to homeschool our children.”

German Parents Lose Custody of Their Children for Homeschooling Them

Reporter John Jalsevac filed this report Oct. 5 from Darmstadt, Germany for the pro-life LifeSiteNews web site:

A district court in Darmstadt, Germany has revoked custody of four children from their parents and ordered it turned over to the Jugendamt, Germany’s child protective agency.

The reason for the drastic measure? The parents were homeschooling their children.

Dirk Wanderlich, the father of the family, says that while the Jugendamt has issued a letter saying they will allow the children to stay at home for the time being, he believes that in the long run the state intends to remove them.

“[T]hey told me that the children must go to school,” said Dirk, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association, which is providing legal support to the Wanderlichs.

“We are very saddened by the way our country treats us. Our nerves are black and short, and we are very tired by the pressure. I don’t understand my own country. What are we doing wrong? We are just doing what should be allowed to anyone.”

Dirk has good reason to fear that he may eventually lose his children. Homeschooling is illegal in Germany under a law dating back to the Hitler era, and in recent years the country has become increasingly Draconian in enforcing the law – removing children from their families, levying heavy fines, and even sentencing homeschooling parents to jail.

Dirk Wanderlich with his four children.

In one recent case, a family successfully petitioned the United States for political asylum. In his decision granting asylum, U.S. Judge Lawrence Burman said that Germany’s policy of persecuting homeschoolers is “repellent to everything we believe as Americans.”
 
According to HSLDA, the court who ruled against the Wanderlichs said that the public has, in HSLDA’s words, “an interest in counteracting the development of parallel societies and that religious or ethnic minorities must be ‘integrated’ through schools.”

The ruling aligns with reasons given by Germany’s leadership for maintaining the ban. “In our increasingly multicultural society, school is the place for a peaceful dialogue between different opinions, values, religions and ideologies,” Berlin’s education minister, Juergen Zoellner, told BBC in 2010.

“It is a training ground for social tolerance. Therefore, homeschooling is not an option for Germany.”
Reacting to the Wanderlichs’ case, HSLDA Director for International Relations Michael Donnelly, said, “Homeschooling is a legitimate form of education—Germany’s oppression of people who do it violates their obligation to protect their citizen’s most basic human rights. In the area of educational freedom, Germany is grossly derelict and oppressive.”

The Wanderlichs’ search for the freedom to homeschool has taken them all across Europe. The family already had one major scare in France, when social workers came and seized their children. However, upon appeal their children were returned to them, and their right to homeschool was solidly affirmed.
But while the Wanderlichs ultimately found tolerance in France, Dirk, a gardener, was unable to find steady work and so the family had to move on. Eventually, after stints in Norway and Hungary, the Wanderlichs returned to their native Germany, where they hoped that their homeschooling would simply go unnoticed.
“We hoped we could homeschool without being found out,” says Dirk. “But neighbors turned us in after just a few months. I requested to meet with the school to get them to permit us to homeschool, but they rejected our request for a meeting.”

In the meantime the Wanderlichs are unable even to leave Germany to seek freedom in another country. “We don’t have passports, and even if we did, we could not leave,” Dirk says. “Our children are now under the control of the state. We can’t leave without the state’s permission.”

Desperate and at their wit’s end, the Wanderlichs are reaching out for help. “I am just one person, and I cannot fight against the power of the state even though I must for my children’s sake,” says Dirk. “We need help from others. I have asked HSLDA to inform the UN special rapporteur on education. We have no choice but to fight, because we feel it is our duty to homeschool our children.”

Dr. Mosher Thinks Coerced Abortions Will Continue in China

Chinese police restrain a demonstrator at a rally against the government's one-child policy.

BEIJING, September 19, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) — “Reports that the Chinese Party-State has ended its practice of forcibly aborting women pregnant in violation of the one-child policy are premature,” says Steven Mosher, an internationally recognized authority on China and population issues, as well as an acclaimed author, speaker, and president of the Population Research Institute (PRI).

Mosher, who blew the whistle on forced abortions in China back in 1980, points out that “The Chinese Party-State has asserted for over three decades that the one-child policy is ‘entirely voluntary.’ But this assertion of ‘voluntarism’ is no more true now than it was when I saw women who were five, seven, and even nine months pregnant held down on the operating table and aborted. Women continue to be arrested, aborted, and sterilized against their will at this very moment.”

The claim that China has ended its cruel and inhuman practice of forced abortions originates with the All Girls Allowed (AGA) anti-one child policy organization, which reached this conclusion after learning that a Chinese government “document [was issued] to Family Planning offices that bans forced abortion and sterilization.”

“I do not doubt that such a document was issued,” maintains Mosher. “Indeed, I expected that the Chinese government would engage in exactly this kind of damage control. After all, the recent spate of adverse publicity generated by blind activist Chen Guangcheng’s flight into exile, and Feng Jianmei’s brutal forced abortion at seven months gestation, has made hundreds of millions of people around the world and inside of China aware of its crimes against humanity. The Chinese Party-State, which is responsible for such criminal acts, has lost face, and is now trying to recover.”


“Coercion will continue,” Mosher went on. “How will officials successfully extort huge fines from women and their families for violating the one-child policy if they can’t threaten women with forced abortion and sterilization for not paying up?”

This latest document will no more end forced abortion than did the 2002 Population and Family Planning Law of the People’s Republic of China, Article 4 of which directed population control officials to “enforce the law in a civil manner, and [they may] not infringe upon legitimate rights and interests of citizens.”
“Forced abortions and other abuses won’t end,” notes Mosher, “until the Chinese Party-State not only abandons the one-child policy, but abandons its Maoist-Marxist belief that it has the right to control the reproduction of human beings under a state plan.”

Dr. Mosher Thinks Coerced Abortions Will Continue in China

Chinese police restrain a demonstrator at a rally against the government's one-child policy.

BEIJING, September 19, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) — “Reports that the Chinese Party-State has ended its practice of forcibly aborting women pregnant in violation of the one-child policy are premature,” says Steven Mosher, an internationally recognized authority on China and population issues, as well as an acclaimed author, speaker, and president of the Population Research Institute (PRI).

Mosher, who blew the whistle on forced abortions in China back in 1980, points out that “The Chinese Party-State has asserted for over three decades that the one-child policy is ‘entirely voluntary.’ But this assertion of ‘voluntarism’ is no more true now than it was when I saw women who were five, seven, and even nine months pregnant held down on the operating table and aborted. Women continue to be arrested, aborted, and sterilized against their will at this very moment.”

The claim that China has ended its cruel and inhuman practice of forced abortions originates with the All Girls Allowed (AGA) anti-one child policy organization, which reached this conclusion after learning that a Chinese government “document [was issued] to Family Planning offices that bans forced abortion and sterilization.”

“I do not doubt that such a document was issued,” maintains Mosher. “Indeed, I expected that the Chinese government would engage in exactly this kind of damage control. After all, the recent spate of adverse publicity generated by blind activist Chen Guangcheng’s flight into exile, and Feng Jianmei’s brutal forced abortion at seven months gestation, has made hundreds of millions of people around the world and inside of China aware of its crimes against humanity. The Chinese Party-State, which is responsible for such criminal acts, has lost face, and is now trying to recover.”


“Coercion will continue,” Mosher went on. “How will officials successfully extort huge fines from women and their families for violating the one-child policy if they can’t threaten women with forced abortion and sterilization for not paying up?”

This latest document will no more end forced abortion than did the 2002 Population and Family Planning Law of the People’s Republic of China, Article 4 of which directed population control officials to “enforce the law in a civil manner, and [they may] not infringe upon legitimate rights and interests of citizens.”
“Forced abortions and other abuses won’t end,” notes Mosher, “until the Chinese Party-State not only abandons the one-child policy, but abandons its Maoist-Marxist belief that it has the right to control the reproduction of human beings under a state plan.”

Bishop of Abuja: Nigeria Resisting Religious Polarization, Christians Still Under Attack by Muslim Fanatics

Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria: The majority of the nation lives in peace and cooperation.

The nation of Nigeria is struggling to resist religious polarization in the face of continued violent attacks by the Islamic fundamentalist Boko Haram terrorist organization Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, told a Washington, D.D. audience Sept. 14. The archbishop was addressing a discussion panel at the “International Religious Freedom: An Imperative for Peace and Common Good” symposium held at Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. this week,

The event was hosted by the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies and co-sponsored by the several institutions, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB chairman Cardinal Timothy Dolan addressed the symposium earlier in the week.

Archbishop Onaiyekan spoke on the violence currently besieging the nation at the hands of the extremist group, Boko Haram. The terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for many of the anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria. The archbishop explained that what makes Boko Haram different from other violent organizations in the region is that they are “unusually virulent in its attacks, including the use of suicide terrorist tactics”, and that they also claim to act “in the name of God, deliberately targeting Christians and their institutions presumably for the promotion of Islam.”

“Although the members are few and constitute a small minority within the Nigerian Muslim community, they are a real danger to the entire Nigerian community because they are fanatics, with warped logic and twisted minds,” he said.

“They have almost succeeded in polarizing our nation along religious lines, hitting at our fragile harmony built over many years of patient efforts and trying to make us enemies of one another. They have definitely succeeded in giving us the bad name of a nation that is unstable and unsafe, where Christians are being persecuted and indiscriminately killed with impunity by freely rampaging Muslim terrorists.”

Despite the violence inflicted by Boko Haram, the Nigerian prelate assured that religious freedom still remains a principal tenet of the Nigerian government. The archbishop also noted that Nigeria still remains “the greatest Islamo-Christian nation in the world” adding that there is “no other nation with so many Christians living with so many Muslims in the same nation, in mutual equality and respect."

However, he acknowledged, the sometimes sporadic violent clashes that have occurred overshadow the fact that the majority of the nation lives in relative peace and harmony. “Apart from Fridays and Sundays, when we go our different ways for weekly worship, we live most of our lives as citizens of the same nation, living and struggling to live under the same socio-economic conditions and sometimes members of the same family. One only needs to visit any government office, market or business premise to appreciate this fact,” he said.
Archbishop Onaiyekam expressed hope that fanatical groups, such as Boko Haram, can and will be contained in the future, saying that so far, there is a sense of normalcy returning to the African nation. He also added that the Nigerian government is finally taking a united stand against the terrorist group.

The archbishop of Abuja did lament the slow response of the major Christian/Muslim organization, the Nigerian Interreligious Council (NIREC), mainly due to what the prelate described as a “charged atmosphere of religious tension. However, that does not mean that religious groups in the region have not been inactive in taking a united stand against fanaticism."

“Individual religious leaders, women, and youth groups have been reaching out to one another to say 'no' to religious polarization. For example, with a group of Muslim and Christian leaders in Abuja, we have set up an 'Abuja Interfaith Peacebuilding Forum'”, he said.

Archbishop Onaiyekam concluded the panel discussion thanking the organizers for the opportunity to give testimony. Although dismayed by the lack of a united front among Christians in the region in addressing the violence caused by the fanatical terrorist group, the Nigerian prelate was consoled by the solidarity shown through the Catholic Church, through the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). “My wish, request and prayer is that the USCCB and the Christ’s faithful of the United States of America will continue to journey with us as we work with all our fellow Nigerians in building a great nation 'under God,' where justice, peace and solidarity reigns,” he said.

Bishop of Abuja: Nigeria Resisting Religious Polarization, Christians Still Under Attack by Muslim Fanatics

Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria: The majority of the nation lives in peace and cooperation.

The nation of Nigeria is struggling to resist religious polarization in the face of continued violent attacks by the Islamic fundamentalist Boko Haram terrorist organization Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, told a Washington, D.D. audience Sept. 14. The archbishop was addressing a discussion panel at the “International Religious Freedom: An Imperative for Peace and Common Good” symposium held at Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. this week,

The event was hosted by the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies and co-sponsored by the several institutions, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB chairman Cardinal Timothy Dolan addressed the symposium earlier in the week.

Archbishop Onaiyekan spoke on the violence currently besieging the nation at the hands of the extremist group, Boko Haram. The terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for many of the anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria. The archbishop explained that what makes Boko Haram different from other violent organizations in the region is that they are “unusually virulent in its attacks, including the use of suicide terrorist tactics”, and that they also claim to act “in the name of God, deliberately targeting Christians and their institutions presumably for the promotion of Islam.”

“Although the members are few and constitute a small minority within the Nigerian Muslim community, they are a real danger to the entire Nigerian community because they are fanatics, with warped logic and twisted minds,” he said.

“They have almost succeeded in polarizing our nation along religious lines, hitting at our fragile harmony built over many years of patient efforts and trying to make us enemies of one another. They have definitely succeeded in giving us the bad name of a nation that is unstable and unsafe, where Christians are being persecuted and indiscriminately killed with impunity by freely rampaging Muslim terrorists.”

Despite the violence inflicted by Boko Haram, the Nigerian prelate assured that religious freedom still remains a principal tenet of the Nigerian government. The archbishop also noted that Nigeria still remains “the greatest Islamo-Christian nation in the world” adding that there is “no other nation with so many Christians living with so many Muslims in the same nation, in mutual equality and respect."

However, he acknowledged, the sometimes sporadic violent clashes that have occurred overshadow the fact that the majority of the nation lives in relative peace and harmony. “Apart from Fridays and Sundays, when we go our different ways for weekly worship, we live most of our lives as citizens of the same nation, living and struggling to live under the same socio-economic conditions and sometimes members of the same family. One only needs to visit any government office, market or business premise to appreciate this fact,” he said.
Archbishop Onaiyekam expressed hope that fanatical groups, such as Boko Haram, can and will be contained in the future, saying that so far, there is a sense of normalcy returning to the African nation. He also added that the Nigerian government is finally taking a united stand against the terrorist group.

The archbishop of Abuja did lament the slow response of the major Christian/Muslim organization, the Nigerian Interreligious Council (NIREC), mainly due to what the prelate described as a “charged atmosphere of religious tension. However, that does not mean that religious groups in the region have not been inactive in taking a united stand against fanaticism."

“Individual religious leaders, women, and youth groups have been reaching out to one another to say 'no' to religious polarization. For example, with a group of Muslim and Christian leaders in Abuja, we have set up an 'Abuja Interfaith Peacebuilding Forum'”, he said.

Archbishop Onaiyekam concluded the panel discussion thanking the organizers for the opportunity to give testimony. Although dismayed by the lack of a united front among Christians in the region in addressing the violence caused by the fanatical terrorist group, the Nigerian prelate was consoled by the solidarity shown through the Catholic Church, through the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). “My wish, request and prayer is that the USCCB and the Christ’s faithful of the United States of America will continue to journey with us as we work with all our fellow Nigerians in building a great nation 'under God,' where justice, peace and solidarity reigns,” he said.

Christians Flee Iraq, Kirkuk Archbishop to Talk with Pope in Lebanon

An Iraqi church following a bomb attack in 2011.

The archbishop of Kirkuk, Iraq, is hoping Benedict XVI's trip to Lebanon next week will motivate bishops of the Middle East to speak openly with the Pontiff about the danger of Christianity fading away from the region. Archbishop Louis Sako told the charity Aid to the Church in Need Christian leaders should “go beyond the formalities” to spell out their concerns for the survival of the faith when they see the Pope during his Sept. 14-16 trip, Zenit news service reported from Rome Sept. 10.

Archbishop Sako underlined the extent of the Christian exodus from the Middle East, saying that it showed no sign of stopping and indeed had spread from Iraq to other countries, notably Syria.He also said that, despite considerable political discussion, extremism and sectarianism are growing and that in response Christians are leaving the region that had been home to their families for thousands of years.

"The rise of political Islam is a matter of worry," the archbishop said. "We Christians are a minority and there is no prospect of us gaining equal citizenship in the concrete reality of day-to-day life and there is no vision of a better future.

"Everyone is speaking of democracy and freedom but the reality on the ground is different."The sectarianism is gaining ground and the majority are not taking care of minority groups. I think there are real fears of more Christians leaving."He described the difficulty of encouraging faithful in his Diocese of Kirkuk to stay, saying many if not most have left."From my diocese there are few families left. I cannot stop them [leaving] and speaking truthfully I have no magic solutions.

"I am doing my best to keep them, defend them and encourage them. That has limited the problem but it is sad to see them leaving for good. As a pastor, I feel bad."Archbishop Sako reiterated that Christians feel like second-class citizens in a state based on Islam. He also acknowledged that some Christians get discouraged by a lack of strong Church leadership.

"Our hierarchy has become tired and it is sad to say we are sometimes divided," he admitted."It is necessary today to develop a Christian Arab theology able to announce the word of God to Arab Christians – and those who are not Christians – and help them to discover God’s love and paternal presence, enhancing dialogue and strengthening co-existence," he reflected. "This theology does not mean isolation from the theology of the Universal Church but rather one which interacts with events and hence assists the Eastern Church with its mission.”

Christians Flee Iraq, Kirkuk Archbishop to Talk with Pope in Lebanon

An Iraqi church following a bomb attack in 2011.

The archbishop of Kirkuk, Iraq, is hoping Benedict XVI's trip to Lebanon next week will motivate bishops of the Middle East to speak openly with the Pontiff about the danger of Christianity fading away from the region. Archbishop Louis Sako told the charity Aid to the Church in Need Christian leaders should “go beyond the formalities” to spell out their concerns for the survival of the faith when they see the Pope during his Sept. 14-16 trip, Zenit news service reported from Rome Sept. 10.

Archbishop Sako underlined the extent of the Christian exodus from the Middle East, saying that it showed no sign of stopping and indeed had spread from Iraq to other countries, notably Syria.He also said that, despite considerable political discussion, extremism and sectarianism are growing and that in response Christians are leaving the region that had been home to their families for thousands of years.

"The rise of political Islam is a matter of worry," the archbishop said. "We Christians are a minority and there is no prospect of us gaining equal citizenship in the concrete reality of day-to-day life and there is no vision of a better future.

"Everyone is speaking of democracy and freedom but the reality on the ground is different."The sectarianism is gaining ground and the majority are not taking care of minority groups. I think there are real fears of more Christians leaving."He described the difficulty of encouraging faithful in his Diocese of Kirkuk to stay, saying many if not most have left."From my diocese there are few families left. I cannot stop them [leaving] and speaking truthfully I have no magic solutions.

"I am doing my best to keep them, defend them and encourage them. That has limited the problem but it is sad to see them leaving for good. As a pastor, I feel bad."Archbishop Sako reiterated that Christians feel like second-class citizens in a state based on Islam. He also acknowledged that some Christians get discouraged by a lack of strong Church leadership.

"Our hierarchy has become tired and it is sad to say we are sometimes divided," he admitted."It is necessary today to develop a Christian Arab theology able to announce the word of God to Arab Christians – and those who are not Christians – and help them to discover God’s love and paternal presence, enhancing dialogue and strengthening co-existence," he reflected. "This theology does not mean isolation from the theology of the Universal Church but rather one which interacts with events and hence assists the Eastern Church with its mission.”