The Magazine of the Pennsylvania Family Institute

Spring/Summer 2007The Magazineof thePennsylvaniaFamily Institute

LEARN WHATYOU NEEDTO KNOW ABOUT FAMILY POLICY!Stay Connected.www.pafamily.org

ContentsFeatures5 Not Even A Hint!Find out how —and why — a State-College-basedministry is taking the purity message far beyondHappy Valley.ARTICLES9 President’s PicksCheck out Michael Geer's compelling picks: a movie,a book and a website.10 10 Ways to Get Involved and Make A Difference!Prayer. Education. Action. Three simple ways you canhave an impact.12 Do Parents or Government Know Best?The Rendell Administration thinks It knows how toeducate your preschooler.13 Islam’s Infiltration of AmericaThink Islam is a “benign, harmless religion”?Think again.We’d Love to Hear from You!If you would like to comment on anything youfind in this magazine, we encourage you towrite. Send letters via e-mail or regular mail to us atthe address below. We may not be able to print everyletter we receive, but we value your comments andwill give them serious consideration.If you send a letter, please include your contactinformation — your name and phone number. Weneed to verify that you actually authored the letter.We might edit letters for clarity and spacing. Pleasetry to keep your letters to 250 or fewer words. Weappreciate your feedback.Thank you for taking the time to read PennsylvaniaFamilies. We hope you enjoy reading it and passit on to anyone who might benefit from it. ~ EDITORPFI STAFFMichael Geer,PresidentThomas J. Shaheen,Vice President for PolicyRuth Wilson,AdministratorEmily Shaheen,Media/Communications AssociateEmily Durrell,Family Choice Scholarship Program CoordinatorBob Flower,Community Impact CoordinatorRandall L. Wenger, Esq.,Chief Counsel, Independence Law CenterPennsylvania Families is published quarterly by the PennsylvaniaFamily Institute, a nonprofit research and educationorganization that focuses on cultural trends andpublic policies that impact families. Founded in 1989, itsmission is to strengthen families by restoring to public lifethe traditional, foundational principles essential for thewell-being of society. Subscriptions are available for asuggested donation of $25 per year by contacting theinstitute at: 23 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA,17101;(717) 545-0600; mail@pafamily.org.14 CITY ON THE HILL: What the Week Meant to MeA 2001 alumnus tells how the week is still impactinghis life almost six years later.E-mail letters to: mail@pafamily.orgor mail them to:Pennsylvania Family Institute23 North Front StreetHarrisburg, PA 17101

EDITORIALA Message to the PennsylvaniaFamily Institute Staff:“CONGRATULATIONS! —and thank you for taking theinitiative to share real-life storiesabout people from across thecommonwealth, who are makinga difference for families.We are blessed by many awesomepeople in our communities,who encourage and lift others up.The Pennsylvania Families magazinewill add value to Pennsylvania as itinspires people and encouragesthem to turn their eyes on makinga meaningful difference. Themagazine also will be a resourcefor information and events.Pennsylvania Families magazinewill have a great impact on peopleand our communities. Thank you foryour effort, your passion for familiesand for your desire to serve.”Brian CampbellChairman of the BoardPennsylvania Family InstituteIs New Always Better?BY EMILY SHAHEENWelcome to the premiere issue of Pennsylvania Families magazine! We are excitedabout unveiling this new publication (which replaces Pennsylvania Families &Schools) to our readers. Our staff has been working hard to develop inspiring storiesabout real people, with real families, like yours.Public policy is always important, but it is helpful to read examples of the peopleon the front lines carrying those policies forward in their everyday lives. How are theyaffected personally? How did God bring them to where they are today? These are the questionswe seek to answer in this new magazine.What do you think? We want to know what you, the reader, think about our newlook and stories. Which features do you like the best? What would you like us to dodifferently? Please send your comments and suggestions to our Mailbag address (eithervia e-mail or regular mail).The Truth About ConsequencesI recently started volunteering at a local pregnancy center, and I am surprised to hearthe responses of the women who come in for pregnancy tests. When asked how theycould eliminate the chances of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, they begin listing everythingunder the sun except for, what seems to be obvious, abstaining from sex. Doesn’tpromiscuous sex carry consequences? The same goes for the HPV vaccine issue.The governor of Texas passed an executive order mandating the vaccine for every girl11-years-old and up. He didn’t seem to even think about the effects it could have onsexual behavior of young girls, who might think they can have “safe” sex without consequences.Our “progressive” culture is so quick to try new medical procedures, try newforms of marriage or try new ways of pushing the moral boundaries of society.The media continually push moral boundary in regard to violence in movies, televisionand video games. The influence and prevalence of violent media were importantfactors in the Virginia Tech shootings. The videotape made by Cho Seung-Hui copieda South Korean movie, Oldboy, which included violent themes of obsession andrevenge. Cho’s eBay page listed several violence-filled horror novels that were requiredtexts for a class at Virginia Tech. He was also a fan of the violent video shootinggame, Counter-Strike.“We have raised a generation of barbarians who have learned toassociate violence with pleasure, like the Romans cheering andsnacking as the Christians were slaughtered in the Coliseum,”said Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Grossman is a former infantry officer,Ranger and psychology professor at the U.S. MilitaryAcademy. His book, On Killing: The Psychological Cost ofLearning to Kill in War and Society, was nominated for a PulitzerPrize in 1996.By feeding this blood-thirst with more graphic horror films andviolent video games, are we training the very murderers we abhor?Actions and ideas have consequences, even if they are called“progressive.” We need to be people of discernment in all areasof our lives.Emily Shaheen is the media/communications associatefor the Pennsylvania Family Institute and the new editorof Pennsylvania Families. She is honored to workwith her father, Tom Shaheen, at PFI.4

FeatureThe mission ofPure Freedom is toequip men and womenof all ages to live avibrant life of purity,to experience healingfrom past impurity if itexists in their lives,and to experience avibrant, passionatemarriage which portraysthe love Christhas for his Bridethe church.MINISTRY VERSE:Ephesians 5:31,32‘Not Even a Hint’B Y A M Y S M I T HDannah Gresh ispassionate aboutpurity — and the abundantlife teens can experienceif they are committedto pursuing it asGod intended.“We settle for too little,”she said. “Abstinenceis not not havingsex. It’s waiting to haveit right.”Gresh, the founder ofthe State College-basedministry, Pure Freedom,is also the best-sellingauthor of the book Andthe Bride Wore Whiteand other books.When Gresh speaksabout purity, she referencesEphesians 5:3-4which says, “Butamong you there mustnot be even a hint ofsexual immorality, orany kind of impurity, orof greed, because theseare improper for God’sholy people. Nor shouldthere be obscenity, foolishtalk or coarse joking,which are out ofplace, but ratherthanksgiving.”Gresh points out thatthese verses encompassmental and emotionalpurity and not just the“virgin thing.”Pure Freedom grewout of Dannah and herhusband Bob’s workingwith teens in the churchthey attended while livingin Missouri — andout of Dannah’s ownpain.At the age of 15,Dannah fell into sexualsin with her boyfriend.For the next 10 years,she did not believe thatGod had forgiven her.Finally, she confessedher sin to her husband,and in so doing, foundhis forgiveness and realizedGod’s.Her own healingmotivated her to reachout to teens as PureFreedom began. But hermotivation has changeda lot, she said.“It’s become moreabout obedience to Godas he puts a new thingin my heart,” throughScripture or friends oropen doors.Today, Pure Freedomconducts 60 events peryear, as different teamsgo out for differentevents. Dannah conductsabout two eventsper month but limitsher travels because ofthe Greshes’ twoteenage children, Robbie,17, and Lexi, 14.Most, but not all, ofPure Freedom’s eventsare targeted to teens.“We love teenagers.Satan has them in hiscrosshairs,” Gresh said.Pure Freedom’s websitesays, “Our events,the hallmark of ourministry, are about sexualpurity and yet theyare much more aboutthe totality of a life submittedto the will ofGod in a quest to enjoy5

Feature“Sexualthe blessings of Hisplan.”Girls take part in aslumber-party stylepampering event withgirl-talk and explore thesubjects of self-esteem,modesty, emotionalhealing, refusal skillsand envisioning a godlyhusband.Guys experience aradical, high-contactevent, which includessports-themed teachingand subjects such asmasturbation, pornography,mental virginity,responsibility to protecta girl’s emotions andenvisioning a godlywife.In the past fouryears,10,000 studentshave taken part in PureFreedom’s 15-hourevents, 12,000 churcheshave done events themselvesusing Pure Freedommaterials and30,000 moms anddaughters have attendeda Secret Keeper Girls’event.These events target asecondary audience forPure Freedom: girlsbetween the ages of 8and12and theirmothers. These eventsinclude fashion showsand God’s truth aboutbeauty and modesty.“If the battle doesn’tbegin with girls between8 and 12, it’s muchharder to win the battlein the teen years,”Gresh said.For the first severalyears of Pure Freedom’sexistence, the Greshesviewed it as a discipleshipministry and didn’tshare the Gospel attheir events. But for thepast four years, they’vemade a Gospel presentationa part of everyevent. About 10 to 20people accept Christ atmost events, she said.As Dannah waits forGod’s timing to expandthe ministry more intothe college age group,she believes evangelismmay become moredominant.“Sexual brokenness isa platform for evangelism,especially in colleges,”Gresh said“These campuses are soruined by sexual sin.”She talked of the“Walk of Shame,” as it’scalled at one Pennsylvaniacollege. Girls wakeup in a guy’sroom, notalways surehow they gotthere or what happenedthe night before. Theyget up and quietly walkback to their dorms.Pure Freedom has afull-time staff of fivewith 10 freelance facilitators.The ministry’soffice was in the Greshes’basement until threeyears ago when itmoved to another location.What’s Dannah’svision for Pure Freedom10 years from now?“I don’t know. I’m tothe point of ‘OK, God.It’s not myvision, it’swhatever youwant to do.’”And shechallengesother believersto live alife of obedience.Her newestbook, FiveLittle QuestionsThatReveal the LifeThat GodDesigned forYou, addressesthe idea of livinglife to thefullest and asGod intended.It was slatedto be on bookstoreshelves May 1.“There are so manywomen—and men,probably—who havethat flicker of passion”for going in some newdirection. Or they feelGod’s prompting tomake a difference insome way.“The challenge isobeying God’s timingand his way of accomplishingthings,” shesaid.Amy Smith is a freelancewriter and editor whoresides in Millersburgwith her husband andtwo daughters.brokenness isa platform forevangelism,especiallyin colleges.Thesecampuses areso ruined bysexual sin.”6

FeatureFeatured Projects• OTHER PURE FREEDOM/GRESH PROJECTS •Parenting Tips:Raising PureChildrenDannah Gresh, founder of Pure Freedom,shared some insights for parents in a recentinterview. Summaries of her responses totwo questions follow.FAR AWAY:Pure FreedomZambiaPure Freedom was asked towrite the abstinence curriculumfor the AIDS-devastatedcountry of Zambia, Africa. Infour years, 30,000 of 100,000 students have heard theabstinence message through Pure Freedom’s materials.Previously, the children in Zambia had been taughtabout condoms and masturbation, but most had notheard of abstinence or known it was an option. DannahGresh, founder of Pure Freedom, said 22 percent of theZambian population has AIDS/HIV, and most children aresexually active at the age of 11.The doors are open to reach the children in 72 schools.Gresh has made three trips to Zambia, and a Pure Freedomteam is preparing to go there in June.For more information go to: www.purefreedom.org.Q. How can Christian parents best train their childrento live pure lives?1. Parents must make sure all of their issues with God are settled.Many parents are too ashamed to talk about sex and don’t. The shame maycome from past sexual experiences, pornography or other sexual sins.“Our own secrecy and problems with sexual sin are what make us uneasy.”2. “Start early, and that’s what scares most parents.”At ages 3 to 5, parents can show their child a flower and point out the differentparts of it, explaining that it takes mommy parts and daddy parts tocreate life.At ages 6 to 8, parents should take their children down the street whenpuppies are born and provide as many similar experiences as possible.At ages 8-10 (12 at the latest), parents “have to have a discussion about themechanics.”“Most parents don’t want to do that. They are afraid it will ruin theirchild,” she said.But, Gresh added, “Children who are given the big picture that this is abeautiful gift between a husband and a wife fare much better.”Q. As you work with teens, what do you believe arethe failings of parents, especially Christian parentstoday?1. The parents’ own fear to talk about sex.2. Parents get lazy in setting up boundaries. They allow their children towatch television shows, listen to songs, etc. that dismantle what the parentsbelieve.3. They allow for too much “isolation” in the forms of computers,IMing and iPods.“Isolation is one of Satan’s greatest tools. Parents need to be in tune to isolationissues,” she said, “Sexual sin is fed by that.”She also noted that fatherlessness in a teen girl’s life is one of the biggestrisk factors. Dad might be absent from the home or simply be a workaholic.For more helpful information, including Pure Freedom’s modesty tips, goto www.purefreedom.org.CLOSER TO HOME:Grace Prep,State CollegeThe Greshes started Grace Prep, aChristian high school in State College,now in its third year. Bob Greshadministers the school, which hasabout 10 full-time staff members andseveral part timers. The student body totals 53.The Greshes recognized the need for the school as theirson approached high school age. They also had a burdenfor it as they worked with teens around the country. Toooften, teens in Christian schools who had messed up, werenot extended much grace, said Dannah Gresh.Grace is the biggest difference between Grace Prep andother Christian schools, Dannah said.“The biggest admission standard is that the student hasto want to be there,” she said, noting that students don’thave to be believers to be accepted.“Grace Prep is the hardest thing we do,” Dannah said.“It’s day in and day out.”For more information, go to: www.graceprep.com.AT HOME:Adopting from ChinaThe Greshes are in the process ofadopting a 13-year-old girl, Autumn,from China. They are hoping Autumn willbe with them by August or September.At the age of 14, many Chineseorphans are put into slave labor or prostitution.Friends of the Greshes met Autumn and had aspecial burden for her.“It’s good God gave us miracle after miracle, or I don’tknow if we’d have the courage to be doing this,” DannahGresh said.So far, they have seen the power of prayer as it movedthe U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to act at aparticularly critical point.They’ve also experienced God’s financial provision, asthey didn’t have the money to pursue the adoption.“We have nothing to prove, but God is saying to us todo this,” Dannah said.7

SPRING RESOURCESEvery Pennsylvania Family Needs.COVER STORY!And the Bride Wore White:Seven Secrets to Purityby Dannah Gresh (softcover)Dannah Gresh transparentlyshares her struggles and successesin matters of purity, hermoments of pain followed byhealing and the moments of triumph.This story line grips theteen reader while they learn howto live a life of purity.Suggested Donation: $15Family Guideto Internet SafetyThe latest in the PennsylvaniaFamily Institute’s Pocket PolicySeries includes practical suggestionsfor parents, warning signs,safety checklists and more.Suggested Donation: $5Let’s Roll: Ordinary People,Extraordinary Courageby Lisa Beamer (hardcover)Lisa Beamer was thrust into thenational spotlight after her husband,Todd, led a counterattackagainst terrorists on UnitedFlight 93, the only one of thefour hijacked planes on 9/11 thatdidn’t hit its target, but insteadcrashed in a Pennsylvania field.Todd’s last known words, “Let’sroll!”, have become a rallying cryfor the entire American nation tomove ahead in hope, courageand faith, despite today’s troubledtimes, and to live reallife...right now.SuggestedDonation: $15Pennsylvania PolicyProposals 2007-2008The Pennsylvania Family Councilhas published a brand newresource for legislators andcitizens alike containing our wishlist of ideas for model pro-familylegislation. Read it and thenpay a visit to your own statelegislators and give them yourown “to-do” list!Donation of any amount.PRESIDENT’S PICK!How ChristianityChanged the Worldby Dr. Alvin J. Schmidt (softcover)This book is both a helpful apologetictool in talking with unbelieversand a source of evidencefor why Christianity deservescredit for many of the humane,social, scientific and culturaladvances in the Western world inthe last 2,000 years.Suggested Donation: $20Raising Respectful Childrenin a Disrespectful Worldby Jill Rigby (softcover)Author Jill Rigby presents whatshe describes as “a real look atreal problems with real answersfor real parents.” She takes apositive, proactive stance tocounter the negative influencesin media and our society. Hergoal is to guide parents in raisingchildren who are respectful,engaged and grateful.Suggested Donation: $152007-2008 LegislativeDirectoryThe Pennsylvania Legislature has55 new legislators, which meansa lot of new contact information.Stay up to date with this PFIpocket guide.Suggested Donation: $5Simply request your copies today by filling out the enclosed form and returning it (along with your donation) in the envelope provided.

Recommended Reading & ViewingPresident’s PicksMichael GeerPRESIDENT,PENNSYLVANIA FAMILYINSTITUTEIn response to aSunday Patriot-News(Harrisburg) columnI wrote about WilliamWilberforce and themovie Amazing Grace, aletter to the editor wasprinted in the paper severaldays later with theheading, “EmbraceHumanism.”My column highlightedthe Christian motivationof Wilberforce, whoas a young member ofBritish Parliament,embarked on a life-long,and ultimately successful,mission to bring an endto the slave trade andreform the morals ofBritish society.Well, this short letterto the editor chided mefor being “far too quickto credit Christianity foractions that actually arerooted in the humanisticempathy for the sufferingof others.” The writerwent on to say that “Thiselement of humanism isshared by most atheists,Jews, Hindus, Muslims,Quakers, Unitarians —you name it. It’s part ofbasic human nature.”Really? Well, first ofall, my column on AmazingGrace focused on thehistorical fact thatWilberforce was motivatedby Christianity and hisdevotion to Jesus Christand His Word. Secondly,there is much historicalevidence (and Scripturalsupport) that basichuman nature is notinclined toward “empathyfor the suffering of others.”Far from it.And that brings me tomy “President’s Picks” forthis edition of PennsylvaniaFamilies. All three ofmy choices relate to thisinteresting interchange onwhether Christianity isdue special recognitionfor impacting the worldin a positive way.DVD:Amazing Grace:The Storyof WilliamWilberforceMy first pick is comingout on DVD, but notuntil August. It’s themovie I wrote about —Amazing Grace: The Storyof William Wilberforce.With terrific actors portrayingan even more terrificstory, Amazing Graceleft me with tears runningdown my face as I consideredthe courage ofWilberforce as he stoodup to political powersevery bit as devious andconniving as we experiencetoday. I think this isone for any home videolibrary.BOOK:How ChristianityChanged the WorldUp second in my picksis the book How ChristianityChanged the Worldby Alvin J. Schmidt. Notonly is this book a historicalre-telling of theamazing impact Christianity(and Christians)have had for the good, itis a stirring motivator forcontinued involvementtoday. From promotingrespect forhuman life,to elevatingthe status andexperience ofwomen, todevelopingmodern conceptionsofcharity, and much more,Christianity has left anindelible positive impacton this world.It’s not a perfectrecord, since it’s carriedout by imperfecthumans, but neverthelessis a testimony to thechanging power of theGospel. I highly recommendHow ChristianityChanged the World. Youcan request a copy byordering from ourresource page or going toour website atwww.pafamily.org andclicking on “President’sPicks.”ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE:Stand to Reason,www.str.orgLastly, let me recommenda website andorganization that I havefound to be of high qualityand usefulness — especiallywhen learning todefend your values. Theorganization is called“Stand To Reason,” andyou can access its websiteat www.str.org.We first connectedwith Stand to Reason(STR) when we bookedSTR speaker Steve Wagnerto speak at our City onthe Hill Youth LeadershipConference in 2005.Wagner was a huge hitwith the students — andstaff! We brought himback for a repeat performancein 2006. This yearhis colleague, Alan Schlemon,will join us at Cityon the Hill.STR, headed by GregKoukl, is a tremendousresource on apologeticsand understanding postmodernthinking. I findits articles, newsletters,books and CDs absolutelyvital in responding to the“whatever” mindset so frequentlyencounteredtoday. If you want to bean effective ambassadorfor truth today and have agreat grasp on what truthis, STR can be your bestfriend.I never did respond tothe “humanism” letter tothe editor, because Ididn’t see it until muchlater. But I think it’simportant that weknow our history, weunderstand truth andare willing to defend itwhen challenged.I hope my President’sPicks will help you dojust that.9

Citizen’s Corner10 Ways to Get Involvedand Make A Difference!EDUCATION2. Subscribe to the Pennsylvania Citizennewsletter and Pennsylvania Familiesmagazine — Subscribe by calling our officeat (717) 545-0600 or e-mailing usat mail@pafamily.org. PennsylvaniaCitizen will keep you up to datewith the latest information onissues affecting your family. PennsylvaniaFamilies quarterly magazinewill bring you inspirational storiesof “hometown heroes,” along withresources and ideas. And don’t justsign up — make sure to read themwhen they come — and pass themon to others!10Good policies and good government onlycan be secured through prayer coupled withinformed and active involvement in the publicpolicy process. We all have the privilege and dutyto make our voices heard. Take time to be activelyinvolved and engaged in promoting a culture of lifeand family in your church and your community!PRAYER1. Pray — Make a commitment to pray todayfor those in authority. I Timothy 2:1-8 tellsus that God wants us to pray for all of ourleaders.3. Read our Pennsylvania PolicyProposals booklet — This resourceprovides a “wish list” of model legislation thatis needed to protect faith, family andfreedom. Pick an issue area or twothat you’d like to know moreabout, and learn from the backgroundinformation for each,including the problem, keyfacts and our proposed solution.4. Help friends andfamily becomeinformed andinvolved —Encourage friendsto sign up for ourweekly electronicnewsletter,Michael Geer’sFamily Update,right on ourhome page atwww.pafamily.org,and give them thisguide to gettinginvolved!Tom ShaheenVICE PRESIDENT FOR POLICY,PENNSYLVANIA FAMILY INSTITUTE

Randy Bish / Pittsburgh Tribune-Review5. Listen to the PennsylvaniaFamily Institute’s radio shows— PFI President Michael Geerhosts The Common Good weeklyradio interview and Family Updateone-minute daily radio commentary,which air on Christian radio stations inPennsylvania. You also can listen online by clicking“Radio” at www.pafamily.org. (Radio shows sare availableas Podcasts! Check our website, or call us for more information.)ACTION6. Become a church liaison for the Pennsylvania FamilyInstitute — Becoming a liaison is the first step in getting yourchurch or organization more informed and involved! Find outhow by contacting us today.7. Find out who represents you — The easiest way to findyour state and federal lawmakers is to use the “Legislative Lookup”feature in our online Citizen Action Center,www.pafamily.org.8. Talk to your pastor about bulletin inserts —PFI produces a monthly bulletin insert called Prayer Focus.It can be used by churches as a great way to keep parishionersinformed of the latest news on issues such as marriage, prayerand the family. Meet with your pastor to discuss using thesemonthly inserts at your church as a bulletininsert or in small groups.9. Receive and respond to PFIe-Alerts — PFI sends out regular e-Alerts by e-mail on pressing issues askingyou to contact an elected official. We only send out e-Alertson critical issues, so do your best to take the action suggested inthe e-mail! Sign up right on our home page, www.pafamily.org.10. Write a letter to the editor — Find an issue that you careabout, and write a letter (or e-mail) to the editor of a local orstate newspaper. Letters should be typed. Write with passion,but refrain from name-calling. Remember your audience: Try touse biblical principles without directly quoting scripture.Be brief and memorable!Prayer, education and action —it takes all three!“Quotes ”Great Quotations“The government may use its voice and itsregulatory authority to show its profoundrespect for the life within the woman.’’— U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy,in the 5-4 majority opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court rulingon Stenberg v. Carhart that the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban isconstitutional.“We do the appropriate speed. Sometimeswe adhere to the speed limit; sometimeswe don’t. On many of Pennsylvania’s highways,if you adhered to the speed limit,you’d be a safety hazard. I’ve told mytroopers that I don’t want them exceeding80 unless they need to pass or unless there’ssome real exigent circumstance”— Gov. Ed Rendell, when asked by reporters aboutthe speed of his state car. April 26, 2007, Patriot-News,Harrisburg.“My heart has been changed through prayer.If it can change one heart, it can change theheart of a nation.”— Coach Tony Dungy, 2007 Super Bowl champion IndianapolisColts, in an interview with the National Day of Prayer TaskForce. The National Day of Prayer was held May 3.“It’s really an important first step and importantin terms of the longer-term struggle forsame-sex marriage rights.”— Sue Frietsche, the Women’s Law Project’s senior stafflawyer, referring to a bill introduced by State Sen. Pat Browne,R-Lehigh, that would amend the Pennsylvania Human RelationsAct to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation,gender identity and gender expression in employment, housingand public accommodation. April 18, 2007, PittsburghPost-Gazette.• EDITOR’S NOTE: The Pennsylvania Family Council isopposed to this bill because of its threat to religious libertyand the protection of marriage.11

COMMENTARYDo Parents or GovernmentKnow Best?B Y M I C H A E L G E E RParental ChoiceDiminished UnderPreschool PlanWhile desperate parentscontinue to seekexpanded options tochoose where theirchildren willattend school, akey Rendelladministrationproposal willtake us inthe“Pre-K Counts” initiative, whichwould begin a massiveexpansion of state governmentinto preschool. Infact, parental choice willbe significantly curtailed,and religious liberty putat risk with Pre-KCounts.special interest groups, puts us on apath toward a universal (veryexpensive) approach to pre-K,rather than targeting at-risk children,for whom help would bemost effective. Better options forhelping families get their childrenready for kindergarten alreadyexist, such as thehighly successfulpre-K EducationalImprovementTax Credit(EITC) program.opposite directionfor preschool options if enacted.To say the least, choice is not ahigh priority in Gov. Ed Rendell’sReceive a tax creditfor your business,and contribute to theFamily ChoiceScholarship Program!Read more informationat www.pafamily.orgor call717-545-0600.This program would target tensof millions of tax dollars to fundpre-kindergarten schooling for 3-and 4-year-olds in certain schooldistricts. And that’s just the beginning.The cost of Pre-K Counts willballoon in future years, as more andmore children and school districtsbecome eligible, and lower cost preschooloptions, especially those providedby churches, are squeezed outof eligibility.The administration plan, whichis backed by powerful, well-fundedReligious LibertyUnder AttackThe effects of Pre-K Counts onreligious schools have not been publicized,but several negative featuresof the program would be harmful toreligious education.Truly religious institutions andreligious programs will not beallowed to participate in Pre-KCounts or any similarly constructedprogram.Pre-K Counts is set up to providetax dollars directly to the school12

adio transcript(rather than a tax credit or grant to thefamily), and courts have consistently ruledthat to do so for religious institutions isunconstitutional.Pre-K Counts does not target the at-riskchildren. Rather, it targets districts, offeringa service to all citizens without regardto income level. Why should alreadystrappedtaxpayers fund preschool for thechildren of millionaires?Private community-based organizationsthat currently complement and enhancethe work of parents in a majority of thefamilies by supplying valuable formal andinformal programs will be at risk.Pre-K Counts and any similarly constructedprogram will not encourage educationalvariety and options in curriculumand programming. Preschooling will movetoward a one-size-fits-all arrangement.The Pre-K Counts program proposes$75 million for 11,100 students. That’s anaverage price tag of $6,750 or more perchild. Yet, the existing pre-K EITC programin the last three years cost the taxpayersonly $15 million while helping10,935 children — an average cost perchild of $1,370.The real answer on this, and runawayeducation expenditures and taxes, is to putmore decision making where it reallycounts: at the family level. Employingmarketplace options for families canimprove quality and lower costs.Similarly, expansion of the hugely successfulK-12 EITC program, along withtargeted grants for the especially needy, nomatter where they live would, in my view,provide the kind of quality-improving,cost-reducing impetus needed if we willever see real property tax relief for families.The legislature needs to resist new,expensive government education programs.Otherwise, we’ll lock more Pennsylvaniafamilies into a vicious cycle ofhigher taxes, which forces less time forparents to have with their children, whichimpacts school achievement, which thenleads some to call for more governmentprograms, and that accelerates this cycleall the more. It’s time to say, “Stop.”Michael Geer is the president of the PennsylvaniaFamily Institute. He presented testimonyin opposition to the Pre-K Counts programbefore the Senate Appropriations Committeein May. Visit www.pafamily.org andclick on “Media” to read his testimony.ISLAM’S INFILTRATIONOF AMERICA: AffectingSchools and ChurchesPresident Abraham Lincoln onceobserved: “The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophyof government in the next.”With that idea in mind, what PastorJack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel, ChinoHills, Calif., tells us is going on inschools in California and elsewhereshould, at the very least, give pause to parents asthey consider the future being created for their childrenand grandchildren.Pennsylvania Family Institute President MichaelGeer interviewed Hibbs last month at the Watchmenon the Wall Pastors’ Briefing held by the FamilyResearch Council. The complete interview can beheard on PFI’s weekly news and information radioprogram, The Common Good, or by visitingwww.pafamily.org and subscribe to the podcast.A partial transcript follows.Michael Geer: What is the messageyou brought to the pastors here?Jack Hibbs: Well, the challenge ofIslam to the church is a message that isstarting to resonate more and more withpastors as they begin to open up theireyes to the spiritual threat and thenational and international threat thatIslam is bringing. A lot of people thinkthat Islam is a benign and harmless religion,but history shows clearly in thelast 1,300 years that Islam, the teachingsof the Koran, the hadiths (traditions) ofIslam and what is being taught inmosques around the world is anythingbut peaceful and gentle if one is tobelieve and be obedient to the Koranand Islamic teaching.MG: You shared some examples ofwhat is going on in California, even inlocal school districts where your churchis located. What are some of the thingsthat you see happening in terms of infiltrationof Islam or teaching of Islam tokids in the schools?JH: There is an absolute indoctrinationof Islam in the public school systemand not just for the Californiapopulation. The textbook that is beingused in seventh-grade courses acrossthe United States is a book titled,Across the Centuries, and in that bookthere are over 200 pages in favor andpromoting Islam.Jack HibbsFor example, our children in Californiaare memorizing the five pillars ofIslam in public school and quoting sixverses of the Koran.Our children arebeing asked to wearrobes and to plot atrip, an imaginaryHadj, on a computer course, fromChino Hills, Calif., to Mecca. They aresupposed to figure out how muchmoney they would need, what food theyneed to bring and what they would do.All their foods must be Islamic-typefoods in obedience to the Koran. Also,for six weeks they adopt Muslim namesand speak to each other using thesenames.MG: If these teachers were using theBible and teaching Christianity in thisway, the ACLU would be up in arms.What has its response been to this situation?JH: The ACLU is in absolute supportof Islamic infiltration of the doctrine inpublic schools introduced as socialdiversity.Islamic indoctrination is what we arehearing in California as an offering,almost an olive branch, in response to9/11. Rather than taking a stand, wehave acquiesced and almost surrendered.For example, in the school district ofLos Angeles, if a student asks for aKoran, they are given a Koran; if theyask for a Bible, they are not given aBible. There is not equal access.To hear Hibbs’ full interview on the infiltrationof Islam, what it means for thechurch in America and how pastorsshould respond, visitwww.pafamily.org.13

ProfileMatt BatzelCITY ON THE HILL ALUMNUSWhattheWeekMeantto Me!Ireflect back on my time at City on the HillYouth Leadership Conference with fondness.It was a great experience to join with many otherChristian youth for a fun and growth-filled weekbeing in the shoes of a legislator. I was somewhatinterested in politics beforehand and was able toconfirm that God might have a role for me inpolitics someday. I know God was workingthrough this conference to help educate, encourage,and excite those involved to make a positivedifference in this world for His Kingdom.After high school I went to Franklin andMarshall College and majored in politicalscience. During my summers in college,I interned for the PennsylvaniaFamily Institute, for CongressmanJoseph R. Pitts(PA-16), and for the Office ofWhite House Liaison at theU.S. State Department. My experience equippedme well for all of those internships.Following college, I began workingfor Congressman Pitts as a staff assistantand then a legislative correspondent.The things I learned at City onthe Hill prepared me to serve him andhis constituents in a God-honoringway. I was honored to work for himand was encouraged to see so manyother Christians working in Washington,D.C., and trying to make a positivedifference in our country forChrist. I also was fortunate to marry my wonderfulwife, Nikki, during that year.In May 2006, Nikki and I moved to Kansas,so I could attend the University Of KansasSchool Of Law. We were blessed with the birthof our first child, Carson, in October. Lawschool has been a wonderful challenge intellectuallyand spiritually. I have enjoyed getting toknow other Christians here and encouragingeach other in our faith. I continue to see the lessonsand advice I learned at City on the Hillhaving relevance as I study the law. Just theother day, I used the public speaking skills for apractice oral argument for a law school class.I am amazed at how biblical principles haveshaped the law and further understand theimportance of making good and moral lawsfor our country. God has blessed us notwith a perfect court system, but onethat seeks to do justice in this world.The principles from Micah 5:8 areinspiring for me to think about:To seek justice, and to love mercy,and to walk humbly with God. I want to allowGod to use me here in law school and in the restof my life to glorify Him and seek His justice.City on the Hill is an excellent opportunityto explore topics related to the law, politics, andfaith. It challenges you to articulate what youbelieve, sharpens your leadership skills, and canhelp direct you to where God may be leadingyou. I highly recommend it!Matt Batzel attended City on the Hillas a student in its first year, 2001, andcame back as a staff member in 2002.He now resides in Kansas with his familywhere he attends the University ofKansas Law School.14

Coming EventsMARK YOUR CALENDAR TODAY!We’d Love to Have You Join Our Family.• 7TH ANNUAL •CITY ON THE HILLYOUTH CONFERENCEATLANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGEAND THEPENNSYLVANIASTATE CAPITOL• OUR FIRST EVER •PENNSYLVANIAFAMILY INSTITUTEGOLF TOURNAMENTATBENT CREEKCOUNTRY CLUBLANCASTER• THE EVENT OF THE YEAR •FRIENDS OF THEFAMILY BANQUETFEATURINGMICHAEL REAGANRadio Talk-show Host andson of late-President Ronald ReaganJuly 22 - 28, 2007LIFE-CHANGING!Encourage your high schoolstudents ages 15 through 18to participate in thisconcentrated leadership trainingwith a biblical worldview.It may change their life forever!Call 1-800-FAMILY-1for registration information.Sign up today. Space is limited!Monday, Sept. 24, 2007NEW THIS YEAR!Assemble your favorite foursomeand plan now to attend thisfun-filled day with a purpose!Watch for details onhow to register .Call 1-800-FAMILY-1for more information andsponsorship details.Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007INSPIRING!Always the highlight of the year,our annual banquet willencourage and energize you tostay involved in family policy.Call 1-800-FAMILY-1for more informationand sponsorship details.You won’t want to miss thisspecial event!www.pafamily.org15

RADIO? ONLINE? PODCASTS?Finally. No Matter How You Chooseto Access Your Information...A Minute for the Family.Listen!Now available on podcast. Go to www.pafamily.org for details!Listen to Our Family Update, Common Good andHeartbeat Programs to Stay Informed.The Family Update is a daily one-minute radio commentary by Michael Geer on current publicpolicy and cultural issues in Pennsylvania. The Common Good program is a weekly radiointerview featuring top-notch guests from around the country, who will give insights intothe inner workings of policies and trends that make a difference to families.Heartbeat is a three-minute weekly program featuring Debbie Hamilton, notedradio personality and PFI affiliate, who presents information and observationsin support of pro-life efforts in Pennsylvania and beyond!Go online at www.pafamily.org for stations, times or to subscribe.NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDHARRISBURG, PAPERMIT 41223 North Front StreetHarrisburg, PA 17101Phone (717) 545-0600Fax (717) 545-8107www.pafamily.org