West Michigan Christian News

page 14
National Briefs
A father in the home can
spare kids from poverty
(EP News)—New research shows kids
raised in a home with a married mother
and father are much less likely to live in
poverty, to be arrested or expelled, treated
for emotional problems or drop out of
school. That’s according to a paper released
by The Heritage Foundation.
Robert Rector, senior research fellow
for domestic policy studies at Heritage,
wrote the report. He said the results are
clear: marriage matters.
“Marriage is a powerful weapon in fighting
poverty,” he said. “Being married has
the same effect in reducing poverty as
adding five to six years to a parent’s education
level.”
Each year the government spends 300
billion taxpayer dollars on low-income
single moms.
Rector said the problem isn’t being
properly addressed.
“Mentioning the bond between marriage
and lower poverty violates the protocols
of political correctness,” he said.
“Thus, the main cause of child poverty remains
hidden from public view. Since the
decline of marriage is the principal cause
of child poverty and welfare dependence
in the U.S., it would seem reasonable for
government to take steps to strengthen
marriage.”
Alabama governor signs
anti-trafficking bill into law
(EP News)--Alabama legislators took
decisive steps to crack down on human
trafficking in the state, passing a law that
makes the act a felony. The Alabama law
provides mandatory restitution for victims
and gives them a way to bring civil charges
against traffickers. It joins 44 other states
enacting laws against human trafficking.
U.S. appears in 'Trafficking
in Persons' report
(EP News)--The growing crisis of human
trafficking received greater visibility on
June 14 when the U.S. State Department
included the U.S. in its 10th annual “Trafficking
in Persons” (TIP) Report. The U.S.
is ranked as a “Tier I” country, meaning it
fully complies with the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards.
The report provides an in-depth analysis
of over 177 countries and reprimands
13 countries, including Iran, North Korea,
Burma, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and others for
not meeting minimum international standards
on human trafficking. The report
provides an in-depth analysis of over 177
countries and reprimands 13 countries,
including Iran, North Korea, Burma, Cuba,
Saudi Arabia and others for not meeting
minimum international standards on human
trafficking. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said that for the first time the
report includes a ranking of the United
States, “because we believe it is important
to keep the spotlight on ourselves.”
Wisconsin's highest court
rules in favor of marriage
(EP News)--The Wisconsin Supreme
Court unanimously rejected on June 30
a challenge to the state’s 2006 marriage
amendment. Wisconsin voters approved
the amendment 59.4 percent to 40.6 percent
to define marriage “as a union between
one man and one woman and prohibit
recognition of any legal status similar
to marriage for people of the same sex or
different sexes.” Gay activists immediately
challenged the voters’ decision, claiming
the amendment was unconstitutional,
because the amendment dealt with two
subjects rather than one. Circuit Judge
Richard Niess agreed and upheld the marriage
amendment, as “the preservation of
the unique and historical status of marriage.”
People for the American Way and
gay-activist groups vowed to challenge the
decision.
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by Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow
Home Depot is under fire for supporting
events that promote homosexuality.
Home Depot has a history of supporting
homosexual events, the most recent
parades in Portland, Maine, and in Boston
-- that according to Randy Sharp of
the American Family Association.
“The worst offense is that Home Depot
has set up kids’ workshops at these
gay pride festivals,” explains AFA’s director
of special projects. “These are events
that have loud, boisterous homosexual
activists making their voices heard -- and
Home Depot is putting money behind
setting up kids’ booths at these kinds of
events.”
According to AFA, Home Depot has
sponsored and participated in both the
2010 Southern Maine Pride Festival and
the 2010 Boston Gay Pride parade. The
(EP News)--Special-needs scholarships,
which make it possible for children
with disabilities or severe medical needs
to attend a private school of their parents’
choice, are gaining popularity in several
states. Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby
Jindal signed into law in June the School
Choice Pilot Program for Students with
Exceptionalities Act, a two-year pilot
program that will commence in the fall.
The scholarships – valued at one-half the
cost of what the state pays for children
by Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow
A pro-life TV show has received a nomination
for a regional Emmy Award.
The program -- Facing Life Head On -- is
produced by Cincinnati-based Life Issues
Institute. Brad Mattes is the host and executive
producer.
“It reflects choices from a secular society
regarding a program that is designed to
express God’s will regarding the life issues
that all life is sacred,” he explains. “So we
are very thrilled to have the program acknowledged
in such a prominent way.”
He says especially so because the secu-
West Michigan Christian News | AUGUST 2010
Home Depot's 'gay pride'
support spotlighted
home improvement chain has provided
vehicles in the parades and personnel
wearing aprons with company identification.
In an Action Alert to its supporters,
AFA charged that children at the events
are exposed to an “unhealthy and risky
environment.” Sharp offers this advice:
“You know, it’s very simple,” Sharp offers.
“Home Depot should be like a lot
of Fortune 500 companies and simply
remain neutral in the culture war -- don’t
give money, don’t give vehicles, don’t
lend employee support to homosexual
activities on Main Street USA.”
While homosexuals, who make up
about two percent of the population,
might applaud Home Depot for its actions,
AFA contends the corporation is
taking the risk of offending and losing
business from the other 98 percent of
the public.
Louisiana joins six states offering
scholarships to special needs students
to attend public schools –allows Kindergarten
through 8th grade students with
autism, mental or learning disabilities,
developmental delays, traumatic brain
injuries, etc., to attend a private school
that better addresses their unique needs.
Louisiana joins Arizona, Georgia, Florida,
Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah in offering such
scholarships. The Louisiana scholarships
are the nation’s 20th private school-choice
program.
Emmy nomination for pro-life program
lar media often tries to ignore and bury the
pro-life message.
“Our whole philosophy all along,” Mattes
continues, “has been not to hit people over
the head with a pro-life message or a religious
message, but show them by example
of people choosing life-affirming decisions
when faced with a crisis -- and then showing,
of course, the blessings that follow.”
That approach, he says, helps to reach
out to more people.
Through various networks, the show
now reaches more than 100-million households
in the U.S. and Canada. It also can be
viewed online.
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