AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ACTION ALERT
P.O. Box 1048 149 Summit Drive Franklin, PA 16323 Phone: 1.814.271.9078 FAX: 1.814.432.0931 http://www.afaofpa.org
AFA of PA ACTION ALERT
September 15, 2005
1.) NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REMEMBRANCE – SEPTEMBER 16, 2005
2.) FEDERAL HATE CRIMES BILL PASSES AS ALL ATTENTION IS FIXED ON SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
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1.) Proclamation by the President: National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of
Hurricane Katrina
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 16, 2005, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina. I ask that the people of the United States and places of worship mark this National Day of Prayer and Remembrance with memorial services and other appropriate observances. I also encourage all Americans to remember those who have suffered in the disaster by offering prayers and giving their hearts and homes for those who now, more than ever, need our compassion and our support.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
2.) September 14 saw the United States House pass legislation that heads us down a slippery slope of charging those who oppose homosexuality with a hate crime. We’ve already been through this in Pennsylvania with eleven Christians last October being charged with a hate crime. The prosecutor in Philadelphia used a hate crimes law that we were guaranteed during the debate on the State House floor that ‘it was not about words, but about blood on the streets.’ Well, there was no blood on the streets of Philadelphia, but still eleven Christians faced $90,000 in fines and up to 45 years in prison! Thanks to the efforts of the AFA Center for Law and Policy the charges were eventually dismissed. But who wants to be placed in situation of possibly being charged with a hate crime! This state law has a dampening effect upon the free speech rights of Christians and now a similar federal law has passed!
H.R.3132 – the Children’s Safety Act of 2005 -- was introduced to make improvements on the national sex offenders’ registry program. It was a widely popular bill with strong bipartisan support. Unfortunately, during the debate on Wednesday, Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) introduced an amendment – the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act -- to the bill which creates a federal hate crimes law to include special protections for ‘gay,’ ‘lesbian,’ ‘bisexual,’ and ‘transgender’ individuals. A voice vote as to whether to include the amendment appeared to reveal the no votes would not permit it to be included. Congressman Conyers demanded a roll call vote. That amendment passed by a vote of 223 to 199. Twelve of our 19 Pennsylvania Congressman voted in favor of including the hate crimes amendment! The ones voting in favor are as follows:
Robert Brady Charlie Dent Michael Doyle Chaka Fattah Michael Fitzpatrick Jim Gerlach Tim Holden Paul Kanjorski John Murtha Todd Russell Platts Allyson Schwartz Curt Weldon
As mentioned earlier this was a very popular bill and after a short debate on the floor of the House, it passed by a vote of 371 to 52, with 10 ‘No Votes.” In that vote every single Pennsylvania Congressman. It now faces a vote and probable passage in the Senate.
For additional information, please click here <http://www.afaofpa.org/news_release_federal_hate_crimes_9.15.05.htm >to read the news release that we issued.
http://www.afaofpa.org/news_release_federal_hate_crimes_9.15.05.htm
ACTION NEEDED:
1.) Plan on participating in the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
2.) Contact your Congressman and express your disappointment in his or her ‘yes’ vote on H.R. 3132. If your Congressman’s name is listed above, he or she also voted in favor of adding the amendment to the Children Safety Act of 2005. Express your dismay that they voted to give greater protections to adult homosexuals than seven-year-old girls or grandmothers! Also, don’t forget that there are 36 known sexual orientations – including pedophilia! Click here <http://www.house.gov >to find out who your Congressman is – simply key in your nine-digit zip code.
3.) Contact Senator Frist and ask him to see that the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act does not become law. Tell him we are depending on him since it violates the principles of liberty and equality that Americans hold so dearly.
Contact him at 202.202.3344 or e-mail using the form <http://www.frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm >.
4.) Plan on attending the September 17 AFA of PA ‘Preserving Traditional Values in Today’s Culture Conference’ in Franklin. It will be from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. Confirmed speakers are Rick Green of Wallbuilders, Jim Metrock of Obligation, Inc., and Dr. Paul Schenck of Priests for Life. Click for additional information and Registration Form <http://www.afaofpa.org/Flyer for Franklin 2005.pdf>
5.) Sign our online petition <http://www.afaofpa.org/sign_online2.htm> to Protect Traditional Marriage and encourage our legislators to allow Pennsylvanians to vote on a marriage amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Click to Download Petition <http://www.afaofpa.org/Revised Petition for State Marriage Amendment 8.05.pdf>. You will need the free Adobe Reader <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html> to access the petition.
6.) Feel free to forward this alert to other concerned Pennsylvanians. If this alert is being forwarded to you by a friend, please feel free to sign up by sending an e-mail to info@afaofpa.org
7.) Please consider supporting the ongoing work of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania. Make an online donation <http://www.afaofpa.org/donation.html>.
In His service,
Diane Gramley President American Family Association of PA
AFA of PA encourages Christians, through education, to become involved in pro-family issues in their community, state and the nation.
Vice Chairman of Voter Education
http://www.ycop.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YCOP/
http://www.InformedPA.com
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