After 3 Decades, Largest Presbyterian Denomination Approves Homosexual Marriage

/9 Comments/in , /by

After three decades of debate over its stance on homosexuality, members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted on Tuesday to change the definition of marriage in the church’s constitution to include same-sex marriage.

The final approval by a majority of the church’s 171 regional bodies, known as presbyteries, enshrines a change recommended last year by the church’s General Assembly. The vote amends the church’s constitution to broaden marriage from being between “a man and a woman” to “two people, traditionally a man and a woman.”

The Presbytery of the Palisades, meeting in Fair Lawn, N.J., put the ratification count over the top on Tuesday on a voice vote. With many presbyteries still left to vote, the tally late Tuesday stood at 87 presbyteries in favor, 41 against and one tied.

“Finally, the church in its constitutional documents fully recognizes that the love of gays and lesbian couples is worth celebrating in the faith community,” said the Rev. Brian D. Ellison, executive director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, which advocates gay inclusion in the church. “There is still disagreement, and I don’t mean to minimize that, but I think we are learning that we can disagree and still be church together.”

The church, with about 1.8 million members, is the largest of the nation’s Presbyterian denominations, but it has been losing congregations and individual members as it has moved to the left theologically over the past several years. There was a wave of departures in and after 2011, when the presbyteries ratified a decision to ordain gays and lesbians as pastors, elders and deacons, and that may have cleared the way for Tuesday’s vote. (Read more from “Largest Presbyterian Denomination Gives Final Approval for Same-Sex Marriage” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Designer Duo Hit Back at ‘Hypocritical’ Elton in IVF Storm

/4 Comments/in , /by

Italian designers Dolce and Gabbana on Monday accused Elton John of being authoritarian, ignorant and hypocritical as a celebrity-driven row over IVF babies and gay adoption showed no sign of abating.

John, 67, stirred up a storm when he called for a boycott of the designer label in reaction to an interview in which Domenico Dolce referred to babies conceived through IVF as “synthetic”.

In Instagram comments that have been endorsed by celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Ricky Martin, Sharon Stone, Courtney Love and Martina Navratilova, the gay star accused the Italian duo of “wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF.”

He added: “Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana.”

The hashtag was the top trending one on Twitter in Britain on Monday and in the top three in Italy, with most posts highly critical of the Italian duo. (Read more from “Designer Duo Hit Back at ‘Hypocritical’ Elton in IVF Storm” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

This Is What Appeasement Looks Like: White House Celebrates Iranian Holiday [+video]

/12 Comments/in , /by

The White House this week celebrated Nowruz, the Persian New Year most often observed by Iranians.

The festivities come amid tense negotiations between the White House and Tehran. President Obama hopes Iran will slow or stop its nuclear weapons program in exchange for removing economic sanctions.

First Lady Michelle Obama praised the holiday in remarks at the executive mansion Wednesday. The event featured a Persian dinner and a dance troop’s performance.

“I think it’s so fitting we’re holding this celebration here today,” Michelle Obama said. “One of the things I love about the White House is how it truly is the people’s house. It is a house that reflects the diversity of culture and traditions that make us who we are as a country. Nowruz is one of those traditions.”

The U.S. is targeting a tentative outline of the deal by the end of the month. (Read more from “This Is What Appeasement Looks Like: White House Celebrates Iranian Holiday [+video]” HERE)

[Here’s General Boykin describing, just last week, the incredible threat that Iran poses:]

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

The Feds Have Approved Palcohol, Powdered Alcohol [+video]

/1 Comment/in , /by

A product is expected to hit shelves this summer to turn water into wine — well, into vodka, rum and a few cocktails — but not everyone is happy about it.

Palcohol, or powdered alcohol, was approved this week by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, part of the U.S. Treasury Department. But the powder packets that can turn water into a mixed drink have already been banned by several states amid fears that Palcohol can be easily abused.

“As a parent, it’s one thing to patrol for cases of beer or bottles of booze,” said ABC News chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser, who is also a pediatrician. “But having to look for little packets, I worry that it could lead to more underage drinking, making it easier.”


World News Videos

He said he wasn’t happy with the federal approval and explained there isn’t much the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can do it about it right away. The FDA can only take products like this off shelves if they find a problem, he said, which is what happened with alcoholic energy drinks called Four Loko. (Read more from “The Feds Have Approved Palcohol, Powdered Alcohol” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Nine Years After Terminal Diagnosis, Woman With Same Cancer as Brittany Maynard is Still Alive

/2 Comments/in , /by

In 2006, Sandra Hilburn was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme and was given three months to live. Her diagnosis was the same as Brittany Maynard’s, the 29-year-old terminally ill cancer-patient who received national attention when she legally committed suicide with a fatal dose of phenobarbital.

After finding out she had stage IV glioblastoma multiforme and six months to live, Maynard moved from her California home to Oregon so that she could have access to the “death with dignity” prescription. Currently, in the United States, Oregon is one of five states, along with New Mexico, Montana, Washington, and Vermont that allow assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

However, unlike Maynard, Hilburn didn’t pursue assisted suicide and is still alive today.

According to the Daily Mail, researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that a dose of tetanus vaccine let patients like Hillburn live longer when added to an experimental treatment for the brain tumor. Researcher Kristen Batich said, “[The treatment] put the immune system on high alert,’ paving the way for the experimental treatment to work better in attacking the disease.”

Now nine years and five grandchildren later, Hilburn is still alive and going strong. She said, “I think I’m good for at least another 10-years.” Hilburn, along with 11 other cancer patients, were given the tetanus shot and then doctors removed white blood cells from the patients and equipped them with a chemical target found in the tumor called cytomegalovirus. Afterward they would return the cells to the patient’s body and train the immune system to go after the cancer cells and kill them. (Read more from “Nine Years After Terminal Diagnosis, Woman With Same Cancer as Brittany Maynard is Still Alive” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Disgusting: 14 Boys Accused of Sex Crimes at California High School [+video]

/3 Comments/in , /by

Los Angeles police descended on Venice High School on Friday, arresting nine students in connection with a series of sex crimes that began more than a year ago and involved at least two female classmates.

All but one of the arrests were on campus; authorities were attempting to locate five other students. The investigation began after a parent reported the allegations on Tuesday.

As detectives investigated, they discovered at least one photographs showing sex acts, according to law enforcement sources. A photo that appears to show two teenagers engaged in a sex act has been circulated on social media. Allegations involved both consensual sexual acts between minors and coerced acts, which complicates the case, police said.

Twelfth grader Gabriel Siria said he was on his way to his second-period history class Friday morning when he walked past two school administrators with police officers. He watched as three students were handcuffed in the hallway outside of class.

Law enforcement officials stressed the investigation is still in its early stages and that police made the arrests quickly in an effort to prevent any more incidents. (Read more from “Disgusting: 14 Boys Accused of Sex Crimes at California High School” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Man Tricked Ex With Abortion Pill Smoothie

/2 Comments/in , /by

A man in Norway has admitted to tricking his pregnant ex-girlfriend into terminating her pregnancy by making her a smoothie laced with abortion pills, claiming he felt it was “the only way out”.

The 26-year-old man on Monday pleaded guilty both to inflicting serious bodily harm and also to terminating a pregnancy without the mother’s consent, in a case the prosecutor claimed was almost unique in Norwegian legal history.

“I had a bad conscience and felt remorse, but thought that it was the only way out,” the man told the court, according to Norway’s state broadcaster NRK.

The man already had a child with the woman from a short previous relationship, and had been unhappy when she became pregnant again after they had casual sex after meeting at a party.

“He tried several times to convince me to have an abortion but it was not an option for me,” the woman (20) told the court in Trondheim. (Read more from “Man Tricked Ex With Abortion Pill Smoothie” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Public High School Comes Under Fire for Reading Daily Bible Scripture, Superintendent is Defiant in Response to Atheist Group’s Complaints

/5 Comments/in , /by

An atheist activist group has its sights set on a White Oak, Texas, high school after it was revealed that the principal reads students daily Bible scriptures, an exercise referred to as “Thought for the Day.” But if the defiant response from the White Oak ISD superintendent is any indication, it seems no one will be backing down.

Superintendent Michael Gilbert not only defended White Oak High School principal Dan Noll in a written statement, he also told the Freedom From Religion Foundation, “I’m sorry you feel that way. I will be praying for you and your staff daily.”

Noll’s daily scripture readings made headlines after a student recorded the principal and gave the audio to an atheist blogger. The tradition apparently goes back decades, according to students who spoke to KETK-TV.

In his statement, Gilbert said in his statement that he “will not pursue any action against our High School Principal or any other member of our faculty/staff concerning this issue” . . .

“Let me be clear, this is an attempt to draw us into a contest of words for the sole purpose of giving the FFRF a large amount of free press/recognition that they and their very few members (1,200 in Texas) do not deserve. This group and others like it, are wanting us to provide them with negative quotes to use in the promotion of their agenda. We can and will make the adjustments needed to ensure our students experience a morally sound, positive character based education. There are a multitude of options to provide our students, faculty and staff the opportunity to express their First Amendment Rights as provided for in the United States Constitution. Let me also be clear that we have not (in my opinion) violated anyone’s rights and/or subjected anyone to undue stress. Bible studies and scriptures are allowed in schools. The requirement is that the material be presented in a neutral manner. It is my position that we met that standard with the morning announcements.” (Read more from “Texas Principal Comes Under Fire for Reading Daily Bible Scripture, Superintendent’s Response to Atheist Group Is Epitome of Defiant” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Basketball Players Defend Handicapped Cheerleader Targeted by Bully, Turn Her Life Around [+video]

/3 Comments/in , /by

A student being bullied at a Lincoln Middle School basketball game caught the attention of the basketball players. They walked off the court to come to defend her.

This is where it all happened for Desiree Andrews. As she was being bullied from the stands, a few boys on the team said enough’s enough, and that’s where this bullying situation turned her life around.

Desiree Andrews no longer walks to class alone. Students have been drawn to her after a situation that could have taken away this pretty smile.

“The kids in the audience were picking on Dee, So we all stepped forward,” said Chase Vazquez, Lincoln Middle School basketball player.

Andrews has Down syndrome. These three boys were in the middle of a game when they heard something upsetting directed at one of their cheerleaders, a girl who dances to her own beat. (Read more from “Basketball Players Defend Handicapped Cheerleader Targeted by Bully” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Planned Parenthood Threatens to Support Horrible Bill Unless Abortions Funded

/1 Comment/in , /by

Planned Parenthood has a long history of putting women at risk by either doing abortions on teen girls who are victims of rape or failing to report the sexual abuse against them to proper authorities in a timely manner.

Now, Planned Parenthood is again putting abortion above the best interests of women by supporting Senate Democrats who are planning to filibuster a bill to provide more justice for victims of sex trafficking because language in the bill prevents funding abortions.

Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, added in a statement, “The Senate should protect victims of human trafficking but should not do so at the expense of women’s access to safe and legal abortion. The majority of human trafficking victims are women and girls, and they need access to the full range of reproductive health care services without barriers.”

Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America blasted the abortion giant for its selling out sex trafficking victims.

“Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, agrees with the Senate Democrats and had the nerve to add in a “but” after saying that the nation needs to protect sex trafficking victims,” she said. “Their blind devotion to abortion is astounding. Ms. Richards and the Senate Democrats obviously have no idea what victims of sex trafficking go through. These women and little girls deserve nothing but compassion, love and assistance from this country and for Planned Parenthood and their allies in Congress to hold up a bill that would do just that is extreme, disgusting and abhorrent.” (Read more from “Planned Parenthood Threatens to Support Horrible Bill Unless Abortions Funded” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.