The California Supreme Court has now ruled that the state can force healthcare professionals to provide services that may be against their religion. In an unanimous decision on Monday, California’s Supreme Court ruled that Christian doctors may not refuse to perform services like artificial insemination for homosexual patients.

This was a case where Christian doctors refused to perform artificial insemination on a lesbian patient, but they did refer her to another doctor who did perform the elective treatment. It wasn’t a case where the patient wasn’t able to get treatment.

Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, reacted to the ruling:

"This is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of individuals to live and practice their faith. Forcing doctors to have to choose between being a doctor and being a Christian in the State of California is an outrageous violation of the fundamental rights of every American to be able to practice their faith and not to have to leave their occupation because of it."

"This is not about denying people services, this is, instead, about the ‘thought police’ attempting to censor Christian beliefs and Christian perspectives that don’t agree with homosexuality. We’re talking…about individuals being able to force doctors or other professionals to violate their faith in order to keep their job."

The case is going to be appealed for sure, but in the mean time it calls into question a number of different professions that might be affected by this ruling according to Mr. Dacus:

"For example, lawyers who are engaging in marriage and family law can now be forced to [execute] documents for homosexuals adopting children, and individual with a wedding service, despite their Christian faith to the contrary, can now be forced to conduct wedding services and wedding preparations for lesbian or homosexual male couples."

Response: Another case of judicial activism and a court out of control. This same California Supreme court recently ruled that the state must provide for same-sex marriages.

Now it seems that in California, homosexuality is deemed to have greater legal rights in the state than freedom of religion–even though religion is a right that is actually named in the constitution.

Here’s another one of those fascinating stories that seem almost surreal to most Westerners–stories that can’t possibly be true! Saudi Arabia has given us a lot of them lately.

Like the American lady executive who was arrested and went to jail for being at ‘Starbucks’ with a business associate–or the Saudi woman who was raped and sentenced to prison for being in the company of strange men—or making Valentine’s Day and red flowers illegal, or worse yet–the Saudi religious leader who said it was ok for 1 year old baby girls to marry. You just can’t make up stories like this and have any credibility.

Yet, here it is–the Saudi religious police have actually outlawed selling dogs and cats and even walking them in public—because they say that men make passes at woman in the process. LOL–and some people think we live in a ‘nanny state? See what you’re missing without sharia!             *Top

Now comes the report that Christian house churches were forced by the government to close during the Olympics. Many house church leaders were apparently forced to sign a document–an agreement to:

“refrain from organising and joining illegal gatherings and refrain from receiving donations, sermons and preaching from overseas religious organisations and groups".

The leaders were warned that they would be subject to disciplinary action if they failed to adhere to the agreement. Not only that, the agreement is said to continue for several months after the end of the games.

Response: Another revelation about the hypocrisy of China which is trying to put forward its best face to the world during the Olympics. Meanwhile, behind the scenes they continue to curtail the religious rights of their own citizens and in this case actually persecute the underground church and it’s leaders.

This confirms some of the reports that we have read, heard, and reported on previously.

Open Doors, Release International, and VOM have asked for Christians to remember to pray for members of the Christian house churches during the Olympics.            *Top

In preparation for a trip to Turkey, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave the press another anti Israel rant:

"Western countries should not support them (Israel) so much. The life of this regime has come to an end."

"Our position is clear on this issue. A referendum should take place in Palestine. If they withdraw from invaded lands it would be a good step."

The message was obviously intended for the Turks, since they have consistently been a supporter of Israel. Also, the Turkish government has been criticized for inviting Ahmadinejad to visit in the first place.

However, Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan have said that his visit was necessary given the current standoff between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear enrichment program. The Turks hope to mediate some kind of settlement on this issue.

Response: There are concerns about Turkey turning away from the West and becoming more Islamic rather than the secular state they have been since WWI.

When Ahmadinejad says that- "The life of the regime (Israel) has come to an end"-one wonders if he is really declaring that he will participate in the destruction of Israel when he has the nuclear power he so craves. Especially since he has said in the past that soon Israel would be ‘wiped off the map’.

Also, he has indicated in past rants that he considers ‘all’ of Israel to be occupied lands–he has suggested in the past that all the Jews should go back to Europe or that maybe USA could give them some land. 

This of course is the real concern of those opposing Iran’s nuclear program. Rants like this just add fuel to the fire. You can bet that the Israelis are watching him very closely and preparing for some kind of response just in case.            *Top

  President Bush is keeping the pressure on the Olympic hosts while he is in China when it comes to political and especially religious freedom in the country. The President had spoken earlier on this subject the day before his arrival in China.

The Bush’s began their day with a Sunday worship service at Beijing’s Kuanjie church, an official Protestant church. A children’s choir sang "Amazing Grace" in English and Chinese during the service.

President Bush spoke to reporters after leaving the worship and pointed out that millions of Chinese brave harassment and arrest to worship at unregistered "house" churches in China:

"Laura and I just had the great joy and privilege of worshiping here in Beijing, China. You know, it just goes to show that God is universal, and God is love, and no state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.’

Bush also had talked earlier with Chinese President Hu Jintao in a meeting about religious and political freedom while reporters were present. He is quoted as telling president Jintao:

"As you know, I feel very strongly about religion, the Chinese can expect that any future American president will also make it an important aspect."

Response: It is good to see President Bush keep up the pressure on the Chinese government even while he is there for the Olympics. Their record on religious freedom over the years is not very good, including recently when they have tried to silence and eliminate Christian house-church leaders from the Beijing area as a preparation for the international games.

I would imagine that the State Dept. ‘crats’ are probably unhappy with his diatribes against the Chinese who are very conscious about good appearances and ’saving face’. They are particularly sensitive to criticism from guests which is considered ‘bad form’. Undoubtedly Bush is aware of this and has chosen to speak out on these important issues anyway–thank you President Bush.            *Top

A state appellate court ruled Friday that parents in California could continue to legally home school their children even if they don’t have teaching credentials.

The ruling reverses an earlier court decision in February by the 2nd District Court of Appeal which had ruled that those teaching in home schools needed to be credentialed. This earlier ruling had put some 166,000 students being home-schooled in California in legal jeopardy.

Gov. Schwarzenegger was happy with the decision. He was in the process of providing legislation to remedy the situation:

"This is a victory for California’s students, parents and education community. This decision confirms the right every California child has to a quality education and the right parents have to decide what is best for their children. I hope the ruling settles this matter for parents and home-schooled children once and for all in California, but assure them that we, as elected officials, will continue to defend parents’ rights."

Response: This is a relief to thousands of California parents and children involved in home-schooling. Many Christian families are home-schooling their children in association with church organizations in order to teach a Christian ‘world view’ to their children. Typically, home-schooled children in California achieve higher average scores on state tests than those in public schools.

Masab Yousef, the oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a political leader of the Hamas organization of the West Bank, speaks out about his faith in Christ and gives some insight into the terrorist organization that he was raised in. He gave his life to Christ in 2004 after reading the Bible and finding answers that he could not find in Islam:

"At this stage I was still a Muslim and I thought that I would remain one. But every day I saw the terrible things done in the name of religion by those who considered themselves ‘great believers. I studied Islam more thoroughly and found no answers there. I re-examined the Koran and the principles of the faith and found how it is mistaken and misleading. The Muslims borrowed rituals and traditions from all the surrounding religions."

Yousef believes that Christian love and forgiveness holds the only hope for peace in the Middle East. He contends that Hamas and Islam will never support a  lasting peace with Israel:

"You will never, but never have peace with Hamas. Islam, as the ideology that guides them, will not allow them to achieve a peace agreement with the Jews. They believe that tradition says that the Prophet Mohammed fought against the Jews and that therefore they must continue to fight them to the death. They have to take revenge against anyone who did not agree to accept the Prophet Mohammed."

Response: Yousef brings us some valuable first hand insight into the Hamas ‘culture’ and mind set. Those who are critical of the Israelis for their treatment of the West Bank should read what he has to say about the folks he grew up with. 

The real hope for these people can be found only in Christ. Let’s pray that more Palestinians and more folks in the Middle East will come to Jesus and be saved in this life and the life to come. This is the only way that Islamic terror will ever be permanently eliminated. Come Holy Spirit and come Lord Jesus, let the gospel go forth once more in the land of its birth.            *Top

I just heard yesterday from a Korean-American friend who has some contact with underground Christian leaders in China.

The word that he brings is that the Chinese authorities rounded up many of the ‘house church’  leaders in Beijing and transported them out of the area or ordered them to leave. The government was wanting to avoid contact between the local Christian leaders and dignitaries from other countries.

This is anecdotal and can’t be verified but does ring true with some of the other stories that we run across lately, even posted on, and recently noted by Compass Direct. It is a reminder that we really do need to be praying for the Chinese Christians during this time. 

The VOM Persecution Blog along with Release International is sponsoring—  "31 Days of Prayer for China" -Check it out!        *Top

A group of archaeologists in Israel has found what appears to be the royal seal of an Old Testament prince who opposed the prophet Jeremiah.  The discovery was made earlier this year in ruins considered to include the Palace of David, about 600 feet south of the Temple Mount.

It is identified as the official seal of prince Gedaliah, the son of Pashur, who served in King Zedekiah court in the final days before Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. Gedaliah is mentioned Jeremiah 38:1 as one of those who opposed the prophet and had him thrown into a well.

<<<Read the Rest Posted on Apologetica Blog>>>                 *Top

A federal judge has ruled that a 43-foot-tall cross, part of a memorial to fallen American veterans, does not violate the constitution.  The site was originally erected on Mt. Soledad in 1954 as a memorial to those who died in the Korean War.

It has become a point of controversy in the San Diego area for the last 18 years or so as the ACLU has tried unsuccessfully to get cross taken down. There was even a special election where the voters overwhelmingly agreed to keep the cross. Many Jewish groups even supported the effort along with most of the churches in the area.

This will probably not be the end of the issue—next stop is the infamous 9th circuit Court of Appeals.

Response: This is really good news! It is incredible that this issue has continued to make its rounds in the court system even after the voters have overwhelmingly spoken, and even after it was donated to the US Federal government and accepted by the US Congress and President. Yet a few self-serving, self-important individuals, including at least one oppressive judge, have kept the case going for year after year. Literally $millions have been spent on this issue.

If the ACLU eventually does win, what would happen to all those crosses at Arlington and other veteran cemeteries maintained by the government?  Just wondering! How this could ever be considered as violating the ‘establishment’ clause I will never understand.       *Top