tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378606715534558732008-10-06T08:58:03.071-06:00Religion in Culture and PoliticsArihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-77049024589937884572008-10-06T08:35:00.003-06:002008-10-06T08:58:03.083-06:00

In a recent e-mail, State Senator Greg Brophy writes: Amendment 48 Yes – Ignore all the hype over this one, it is really a straightforward question. Should all abortions except those where the life of the mother is threatened be banned in Colorado? That is what A48 really does and it is purposefully written to challenge Roe v. Wade. It doesn’t ban contraception, it does ban RU 486, and it

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-58276751059487165452008-10-04T09:25:00.004-06:002008-10-04T09:44:55.557-06:00

Kristi Burton has been tight-lipped about the legal implications of Amendment 48. She's admitted she wants to ban "abortion on demand," but she hasn't discussed related issues, such as criminal penalties, birth control, and fertilization treatments. At least she has offered one more minor detail about her take on the measure: "Doctors should be able to decide which life they can save," she said

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-13329671365357837272008-10-02T11:52:00.003-06:002008-10-02T12:00:16.797-06:00

Kristi Burton sometimes tries to pretend that Amendment 48, defining a fertilized egg as a person, is about science. But such arguments are laughable. Elsewhere she reveals her real agenda: to impose her religious dogma by force of law. Westword reveals a bit more about Burton's background: At seventeen, Burton began taking classes through Oak Brook College of Law and Government, an online law

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-13806240163449159212008-09-26T10:31:00.004-06:002008-09-26T10:37:26.530-06:00

Some jerk stole my "No on 48" yard sign. But it wasn't a very good sign, anyway; I had to cut out the part that said, "It Simply Goes Too Far." Now I've made a new sign that actually contains some substantive information: To use this sign, you need merely download the pdf file, print out the two pages, and protect them from the elements with plastic or glass. And, when somebody steals your

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-40676882651129514672008-09-25T09:57:00.006-06:002008-09-25T10:16:04.354-06:00

On September 19, the Pagosa Daily Post published an op/ed by Kristi Burton favoring Amendment 48, which would define a fertilized egg as a person in Colorado's Constitution. Today The Denver Post published the same piece. The Pagosa paper published my reply on September 23. Given the wide distribution of Burton's article via the Post, my reply is timely: Amendment 48 Smoke Screen Ari Armstrong

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-61405746916557122802008-09-25T09:34:00.003-06:002008-09-25T09:54:55.376-06:00

A few days ago, I reviewed the connection between Sarah Palin and Pastor Thomas Muthee, who made a name for himself by running a "witch" out of a Kenyan town. Now it is clear that, when Palin praised Muthee in June, 2008, she already knew that Muthee took seriously the alleged evils of "witchcraft." As an Associated Press story points out (and see also the related video linked by the same Rocky

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-22552203950038537182008-09-24T14:21:00.004-06:002008-09-24T14:29:20.412-06:00

I have been warning about the problem of capitulating to the Amendment 48 crowd. The Washington Post reveals what can happen when defenders of abortion rights refuse to fight for their principles. The paper reports: For the second time since 2006, South Dakota voters are being asked to outlaw almost all abortions. A ballot initiative called Initiated Measure 11 would ban the procedure except in

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-11941187058615498912008-09-23T11:16:00.002-06:002008-09-23T11:32:25.806-06:00

A little over a year ago, Congressman Ron Paul, formerly a Libertarian and Republican presidential candidate, sponsored House Resolution 2597, which states that "human life shall be deemed to exist from conception" and that "the term 'person' shall include all human life" so defined. The proposal also states that "the Supreme Court shall not have jurisdiction to review" any measure that "protects

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-83658624496437051392008-09-22T09:59:00.002-06:002008-09-22T10:52:29.791-06:00

Diana Hsieh, who co-authored a paper with me titled, "Amendment 48 Is Anti-Life," pointed out several articles relevant to the measure, which would define a fertilized egg as a person in Colorado's constitution. The Denver Post published a fairly solid editorial against it. Unfortunately, the editorial includes this unfortunate argument: "While personal definitions of when life begins are varied

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-57658702226457505832008-09-20T22:15:00.003-06:002008-09-20T22:53:28.876-06:00

I guess that since Sarah Palin is supposed to be the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan, it's appropriate that she's turning into a Teflon Vice-President. It seems that, no matter how kooky her background becomes, the conservatives will rally to her cause. Part of the problem is that some of the stuff is so bizarre it's hard to take seriously; it seems like an elaborate practical joke. Keith

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-54214823989685447692008-09-17T10:53:00.004-06:002008-09-17T11:09:52.494-06:00

Fox News points out that Sarah Palin did not claim that "Saddam Hussein helped Al Qaeda plan the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon," as The Washington Post reported. Fox also points out that Palin did not call the Iraq war a "holy war," as ABC News implied. However, here's what Palin did say, as Fox reports: Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-5440141172627790002008-09-15T09:58:00.003-06:002008-09-15T10:15:04.288-06:00

Douglas Burns points to a 2006 story from the Associated Press regarding Sarah Palin's views on abortion: The candidates were pressed on their stances on abortion and were even asked what they would do if their own daughters were raped and became pregnant. Palin said she would support abortion only if the mother's life was in danger. When it came to her daughter, she said, "I would choose life.

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-4862627690916552202008-09-14T18:37:00.003-06:002008-09-14T18:44:30.917-06:00

...especially armed ones. The Denver Post reports: A man who came to the home of two women whom he had threatened to decapitate with a knife received a blow to the head that could cost him an eye, according to Colorado Springs police. Russell Bowman, who claims to be an atheist, threatened the women because they are Christian on Sept. 8. On Friday, he arrived at their apartment and stood in a

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-60530119362179219232008-09-12T14:04:00.002-06:002008-09-12T14:19:54.331-06:00

NBC News reports: By NBC News’ Shahid Qazi and Carol Grisanti In a tangle of bushes and trees outside a remote village in southwest Pakistan, six close male relatives of three teenage girls dug a 4-foot wide by 6-foot deep ditch, on a sweltering night in mid-July, and allegedly buried the girls alive. The girls' crime: they dared to defy the will of their fathers and the customs of their tribe

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-20492294027078171122008-09-11T10:57:00.004-06:002008-09-12T00:11:53.379-06:00

Kristi Burton, sponsor of Amendment 48, which would define a fertilized egg as a person in Colorado's constitution, intentionally obfuscates the facts of the measure. Burton told the Rocky Mountain News, "They [critics] are missing the core issue of when life begins. That is what this is trying to establish." Baloney. Amendment 48 does not say, "Life begins with conception." As Diana Hsieh and

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-3202242019132499292008-09-10T10:05:00.003-06:002008-09-10T10:46:53.654-06:00

A couple of days ago, I pointed out that, by making abortion a matter of religious faith, Senator Joseph Biden empowered those who would outlaw the practice. Now Cardinal Justin F. Rigali and Bishop William Lori have issued a statement "correcting" Biden on the issue. (I learned of this from the AP.) Let's start at the beginning. Here's what Biden said on "Meet the Press" on September 7: [When

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-84081549643870728142008-09-09T09:29:00.003-06:002008-09-09T09:49:15.869-06:00

Does Sarah Palin approve of all common forms of birth control? David Harsanyi of The Denver Post claims that Senator Barbara Boxer lied about Palin by claiming she is "against birth control.” Harsanyi's claim was no surprise to me, as I'd already read she supports birth control. However, this does not address the issue that some forms of birth control may prevent a fertilized egg from implanting

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-74354799910440603982008-09-08T09:19:00.004-06:002008-09-08T09:52:08.992-06:00

Ultimately the left is powerless against the religious right, because the left has no coherent philosophy of its own. This point is illustrated perfectly by a September 7 article in The New York Times. What is remarkable is that, of the four people currently running for president or vice president, three of the four believe, for reasons of religious faith, that a fertilized egg has the status of

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-91682801672531550552008-09-05T15:03:00.004-06:002008-09-05T15:24:52.836-06:00

The AP reports that eight members of American Right to Life Action (ARLA) were "escorted" from the premises of Focus on the Family. But isn't Dobson the Grand Poobah of the religious right? What's going on? ARLA explains: American RTL Action, the political 527 group, is exposing Focus on the Family's Dr. James Dobson for violating his public pledge in which he invoked the name of God, by

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-32048034299072820112008-09-04T11:13:00.002-06:002008-09-04T11:23:37.078-06:00

Yes, welcome to the 21st Century. An article in today's Denver Post reviews some of the criticism of Sarah Palin coming from the religious right. Dr. Laura Schlesinger said, "What kind of role model is a woman whose fifth child was recently born with a serious issue, Down syndrome, and then goes back to the job of governor within days of the birth?" Kendal Unruh, "a former board member of the

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-45516533143610290122008-09-03T09:04:00.002-06:002008-09-03T09:11:13.925-06:00

I sent the following letter to The Denver Post in reply to an article by Kathleen Parker (which is reproduced also at TownHall.com). As I didn't hear back from the Post, I'm publishing the letter here. Pelosi Should Endorse Separation of Church and State Kathleen Parker is right about one thing ("Pope Pelosi at the gate," August 27): House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ought not invoke faith to answer

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-13078216389720338992008-08-29T10:04:00.003-06:002008-08-29T10:27:19.918-06:00

Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate, is as "pro-life as any candidate can be," Fox News reports. However, as Diana Hsieh and I have pointed out, the allegedly "pro-life" position, which would grant full legal rights to fertilized eggs for reasons of religious faith, is in fact profoundly anti-life. I didn't need any additional reasons not to vote for McCain, but his selection of Palin

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-69770093159003397922008-08-27T13:20:00.004-06:002008-08-27T13:31:49.413-06:00

In his August 18 article, Jim Towey, former director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, writes that "Obama wants to abandon President Bush's -- and President Clinton's -- efforts to protect the right to hire on a religious basis of faith-based charities that provide taxpayer-funded social services." What are these alleged rights? Towey thinks recipients of

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-5820276881503597452008-08-26T11:52:00.002-06:002008-08-26T12:11:13.340-06:00

The generally-thoughtful Gazette of Colorado Springs gets off track in a recent editorial. While there's much wrong with the piece, I want to focus on one particular paragraph: This column has advocated religious liberties for atheists, citing case law that defines atheism as just another religion - as in just another unproven and forever unprovable belief. This column has applauded a federal

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637860671553455873.post-56452068338834143032008-08-25T11:49:00.004-06:002008-08-25T11:53:09.893-06:00

Diana Hsieh has been busy promoting the Coalition for Secular Government. A few days ago, her letter appeared in the Rocky Mountain News; it is a needed warning for Democrats as they converge in the state: The First Amendment of the Constitution upholds freedom of religion as absolute. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, it builds "a wall of separation between church and state." For the past 30

Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740793237376032860noreply@blogger.com