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|  | AFA Journal News of Interest
AFA Journal, Nov/Dec, 2002 edition
ACTIVISM
Promise Keepers endorses AFA online campaign
Bill McCartney, the president and founder of the men's ministry Promise Keepers, lauded the efforts of an AFA online campaign in a letter to AFA Chairman Don Wildmon.
Promise Keepers has been instrumental in encouraging Christian men to reevaluate the way they are fulfilling their God-ordained roles as husbands and fathers.
"As a Christian ministry whose members care deeply about the spiritual future of our nation's children, we are writing to express our appreciation for AFA's OneMil-lionDads.com Internet project," McCartney said.
Noting in his letter 'the extreme displeasure and disgust that Christians feel at most of today's programming and commercials," McCartney said he believes that Christians needed to take action.
"And AFA's OneMil-lionDads.com is a great place to start. On behalf of the Promise Keepers leadership, I endorse your program wholeheartedly!" he said.
AFA law center protects church from zoning law
The AFA Center for Law & Policy (CLP) convinced officials in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to scrap a zoning ordinance that threatened the existence of a small storefront church.
In July, Allentown mandated that Pastor Victor Valentin and his flock, the Iglesia Pentecostal Cristo Respuesta De Dios Al Mundo, vacate the premises they were renting in the city's central business district. The reason: Allentown's zoning ordinance did not allow churches to occupy the front half of any street level property in the downtown area.
"Allentown's zoning ordinance limited churches, but failed to so burden taverns, massage parlors, arcades and betting establishments," said AFA Chief Counsel Stephen M. Crampton. "It's unconstitutional to single out churches for that kind of treatment."
In September, the CLP sent notice to Allentown officials that it was planning to initiate a lawsuit in an effort to have the measure struck down.
Allentown Mayor Roy C. Afflerbach responded, saying in a letter that the city not only agreed to scrap the offensive ordinance, but also tendered his 'sincere regrets" for "any inconvenience" the former law caused Pastor Victor and the Pentecostal church. The church is now free to rent the facilities it formerly enjoyed, or any others in the downtown business district.
"We are pleased with this result," said CLP Senior Litigation Counsel Bryan J. Brown, who handled the case. "Our goal was to guarantee the freedom of the church to function in our culture. This goal was met."
North Carolina county posts national motto
For almost a year North Carolina's Cumberland County School Board demurred about applying state law and posting the national motto in its public schools. So Cumberland County AFA (CCAFA) applied pressure the old-fashioned way – by appealing to the public.
CCAFA President Jeffrey Long said the school board kept dodging a resolution to encourage the district's teachers to post a copy of the national motto, "In God We Trust," although state law gave the board authority to do so. The posters had been donated to the school district.
"When the board balked, local radio stations picked up the story and chided the school board members publicly," said Long. "You can imagine how upset people got, especially those who serve in the military."
The military plays a big role in the area, since Fort Bragg, home of the 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Forces, is based in Cumberland County.
Long said CCAFA has mailed letters to all 83 principals in the district to arrange for a framed copy of the motto to be placed in every classroom.
Coca-Cola abandons family values for porn
"Have a Coke and a porn video!" could be the newest jingle for the Coca-Cola Company, a spokesman for AFA said, after the popular soft-drink company announced a partnership with a porn distributor.
In September, Coca-Cola signed on as the exclusive soft-drink provider for Movie Gallery, with full knowledge of the 1,600 video rental chain's policy of renting and selling hard-core sex videos.
Ironically, Coca-Cola tried to distance itself from Movie Gallery last April after it participated in a prize promotion contest with Movie Gallery and NASCAR. When confronted with Movie Gallery's ties to the porn industry, Coca-Cola responded to consumers by writing, 'the Coca-Cola Company does not condone or endorse pornography. We are supporting our partner, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR), in a promotion with Movie Gallery that offers NASCAR-related prizes. We take our consumers" concerns very seriously and will share them with the management at Movie Gallery."
"Evidently, Coca-Cola doesn't really take consumer concerns very seriously and chooses to ignore the distribution of porn by their partner, Movie Gallery," said Randy Sharp, special projects director for AFA. "Coca-Cola told consumers they don't condone pornography, and then signed a multi-year contract with the nation's largest porn video chain. Movie Gallery is in the porn business. Coca-Cola knows it and still signed a contract. In my book, that's condoning it."
Sharp said he believes Coca-Cola's recent history of promotional partnerships reveals a trend of moving away from traditional American values, citing Coca-Cola's sponsorship of Atlanta's Gay Pride Festival in June as another indicator.
ACTION INDEX
Coca-Cola
Chairman Douglas N. Daft
ddaft@na.ko.com
1 Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30313
Toll free: 1-800-438-2653
Electronics retailer Best Buy pulls video game
Public concern about an offensive video game has caused a major retailer to change its mind about selling the game.
Following an online campaign by AFA, Best Buy joined Wal-Mart, KB Toys, and Toys-R-Us in a decision not to carry the video game BMX XXX because it contains graphic violence and sexual content.
According to CNN.com, BMX XXX is the first major game to feature full-action nudity, with pimps and prostitutes as some of the major characters. While gamers are playing through the different levels, performing bike stunts, they can see dogs copulate, men pass gas, and hot dog vendors making suggestive remarks to passersby.
The ad on the Web site of the game's producer, Acclaim Entertainment, says: "BMX XXX: Enjoy the ride and keep it dirty!" The promo for the game on the Acclaim site intercuts scenes from the game with actual footage of real-life strippers in action. The tag line at the end of the promo says, "We"re going to hell for this and you"re all coming with us." While the site recommends that visitors be 17 or older, nothing prevents children from entering the site.
Initially, Best Buy planned on selling BMX XXX, which will carry a rating of "M," for mature audiences. However, Randy Sharp, AFA director of special projects, said concerned consumers contacted Best Buy about not selling the video game – and it worked.
"American Family Association has an online tool – the AFA Action Alert – which allows our supporters all across the nation to be able to take action using online resources," Sharp said. "We alerted our supporters, and they contacted Best Buy via e-mail. The next day, Best Buy began e-mailing our supporters, saying it had changed its mind and would not carry the game, either edited or unedited."
AgapePress, 10/22/02; CNN.com, 10/15/02
EDUCATION
NEA supports Democratic Party candidates
When it comes to demonstrating the liberal bias of the supposedly neutral teachers" union, the National Education Association (NEA), one merely needs to follow the money.
The Education Intelligence Agency (EIA) recently released a new study stating the NEA gives 95% of its political contributions to the Democratic Party.
An article in Family News in Focus reported that the NEA asks for a monthy contribution of $1.00 from its members and claims that the money goes to support issues and political candidates that help teachers. However, the EIA study contradicts that claim, giving fuel to critics who claim the NEA is nothing more than a liberal political action committee.
"[The NEA] doesn't represent the political leanings of the membership," says EIA director Mike Antonucci. 'the last NEA survey of its members showed about 30% registered Republicans, and another 25% or so of Independents."
AFA President Tim Wildmon said, "If the NEA is a neutral teachers" union, then why does it give 95% of its political contributions to the Democratic Party when 55% of its constituency is not Democratic?"
www.family.org, 10/3/02
ENTERTAINMENT
Christian films growing in quality, scope
Sometimes the best of intentions just aren't good enough. That's often been the case with Christian films which, although intended to make an impact for Christ on the movie-going public, just haven't been up to Hollywood quality standards.
That's not the case with two new films, both slated for release this year: Time Changer, with an October 25 release in theaters, and Left Behind II: Tribulation Force, with its VHS and DVD release on October 29, plus a follow-up stint in theaters starting on December 31.
No doubt the latter film already has a large built-in audience awaiting it. Left Behind II: Tribulation Force is the second film based on the wildly popular Left Behind novel series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The series" first movie title, Left Behind: The Movie, made headlines with its popularity among Christians in the fall of 2000. Both films deal with the rapture of the church and its aftermath.
The Left Behind films were produced by Cloud Ten Pictures, a Christian company which is learning and growing in its commitment to produce superior films. CEO Peter Lalonde and his brother Paul founded the company in order to produce good films with a Christian message. They think they"ve just begun – with the Left Behind series and with other projects as well. The current plan calls for four major titles a year, with their company producing two and acquiring two others for distribution.
Christian filmmaker Rich Christiano also wants his major motion picture Time Changer to bring a powerful Christian message to filmgoers.
Time Changer is the story of Russell Carlisle, a Bible professor from 1890 who is told by a colleague that his writings could drastically affect the future. A debate ensues between the professors about whether or not Christians should simply advocate sound moral principles without specifically linking them to Jesus and His teachings.
To resolve the academic impasse, Carlisle is sent forward in time via a time machine to the present, and cannot believe what he discovers in the modern era. The foray into the future sets up some funny moments, but also acts as a catalyst for some soul-searching by Carlisle.
To anchor the well-written scripts, both films use well-known actors such as Gavin MacLeod, Hal Linden, Jennifer O"Neill, and Paul Rodriguez (Time Changer); and Kirk Cameron, Chelsea Noble, and Clarence Gilyard (Tribulation Force).
AgapePress, 10/22/02
PAX may be refreshing TV alternative to networks
Promoting itself as a network dedicated to "Feel Good TV," PAX TV continues to be a family-pleaser in terms of quality shows – minus the filth and violence.
"‘Feel Good TV" is more than just a slogan for PAX TV, it is the guiding principle of what the network does," said AFA President Tim Wildmon. "When you watch many of the PAX shows, you really do feel good, rather than embarrassed or ashamed."
Wildmon referred to a number of prime-time programs that characterize PAX, because they are primarily free of sex, violence and profanity. He said parents can usually feel comfortable watching PAX television with their family, something that's often impossible with regular network programming.
Last year, PAX introduced two successful dramas, Ponderosa, a remake of the 1960s hit Bonanza, and Doc, the story of a country doctor adjusting to life in New York City. Both demonstrated that shows portraying honest, hardworking and caring people have family appeal.
"As a policy, AFA does not endorse television programs because future episodes may move away from traditional family themes," Wildmon said. "However, PAX's fall lineup this year deserves special recognition based on its family-friendly program environment."
Wildmon made special mention of Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, which is inspired by the true story of a deaf woman who becomes part of an elite surveillance team due to her ability to read lips; and Just Cause, an action-packed show that features veteran actor Richard Thomas as an attorney who takes on "lost causes" and makes them "Just Cause" cases. Other family-favorite PAX offerings include games shows such as Supermarket Sweep and Beat The Clock.
PAX TV reaches 86% of U.S. television households via nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems.
Wildmon said, "AFA encourages people to contact PAX TV and thank them for airing clean, quality television without the sex, violence and profanity. At the same time, parents have to be vigilant in monitoring their children's TV watching – even PAX."
Video game Web sites link to pornography
"Cheat codes" are something that kids who play video and computer games know about, even if their parents don't. But what most parents surely don't know is that cheat code Web sites sometimes carry something else: links to porn Web sites.
The cheat codes themselves are innocuous – they are special codes which can give gamers special advantages or even unlock additional levels in their current games. Companies producing the video and computer games often put the codes on their own Web sites to attract visitors.
However, some of the independent cheat code Web sites carry ads that can send a young gamer straight to a porn Web site. According to the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, which examines many of these Web sites for porn links, a kid looking for hints for games like 102 Dalmatians or Rug Rats can stumble upon ads for pornography.
The web master of one such gamer Web site defended the porn ads. "We specifically display advertisements that, in themselves, do not show any pornography," he said. 'they"re basically eye-catchers for the of-age visitors. If a young person decides to click, that's his or her own decision, not something forced by our site."
AFA President Tim Wildmon reminded parents to pay attention to what their kids were doing online. 'these smut peddlers don't care one whit about what happens to our kids," he said. 'this is just one more thing for parents to worry about. And they"d better worry."
HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA
West Virginia AFA leads stoppage of pro-homosexual school training
Kevin McCoy, president of West Virginia AFA, gained national recognition for his efforts that led to the West Virginia State School Board's decision to put the "Civil Rights Team Project" on hold. Promoters of the project said it was needed to stop harassment in the state's public schools.
The project enlisted the help of students to monitor the behavior of their peers. Any words or action which were believed to be hateful toward minorities – including homosexuals – would be reported to school officials.
Critics worried that the program would initiate a witch-hunt against Christians who spoke against homosexuality.
During an appearance on FOX network's The O'Reilly Factor, McCoy said that the West Virginia Attorney General's office was training students to promote pro-homosexual propaganda tactics, including 'turning in" students who dared to speak negatively of the unhealthy lifestyle.
McCoy added: "Public schools should be off limits for recruiting, encouraging, or advancing homosexuality. The AG-endorsed project material told students what to wear, how to act, and what to say with regard to homosexuality. This is clearly pro-homosexual, party-line doctrine."
The state school board voted in October to suspend all aspects of the program until they could review it. McCoy is hopeful the board will eventually nix the program, saying the state already has a program dealing with harassment, without focused attention on homosexuality.
Physicians" group OKs adoption by homosexual couples
In October, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), an organization representing more than 93,000 members, came out in favor of homosexual adoption when it passed a resolution in San Diego at its annual convention.
According to Cybercast News, AAFP President Warren Jones defended the resolution as being primarily concerned with the well-being of children, saying the parents" sexual orientation did not factor into such considerations. Jones described the final result as a "compromise" to "help advocate for children."
Over the past several years, however, AFA and other pro-family groups have been publicizing the fact that research shows many negative effects on children raised in homes with homosexual parents.
"Groups like the AAFP and others are ignoring the evidence, and this will only harm children – not help them," said AFA President Tim Wildmon. "And it also confuses the American public, making them think that their instincts about homosexual adoption are incorrect."
Wildmon noted the tremendous push in the media and from homosexual advocates within groups like the AAFP has begun to erode the public's uneasiness about homosexual adoption. (See chart.)
"Like other issues in the past – easy divorce, sex education in the schools, and others – kids are going to pay the price down the road," Wildmon said. 'the AAFP should be ashamed for choosing political correctness over science."
AgapePress, 10/18/02
O'Reilly blasts Christians as ‘religious fanatics"
Popular Fox News Channel talk show host Bill O'Reilly disappointed pro-family groups when he publicly came out in favor of homosexual rights and labeled Bible-believing Christians "fanatics."
On his September 3 installment of The O'Reilly Factor, the fiery host bludgeoned guest Stephen Bennett for his Christian beliefs about homosexuality. Bennett is an ex-gay who has founded a ministry for homosexuals.
"We live in a secular society, you"re a religious fanatic, with all due respect," he told Bennett. When his guest objected to the characterization, O'Reilly repeated, "You"re a religious fanatic."
AFA Chairman Donald E. Wildmon expressed disappointment with O'Reilly's comments. "Mr. O'Reilly makes a living using a hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners approach in his interviews, and that's why people love his show. But he crossed the line this time," Wildmon said. 'there's no need to be insulting to the millions of Americans who believe the Bible and have an honest and sincere love for Jesus Christ. Why such an intelligent man would stoop to such personal attacks is beyond us."
O'Reilly's views about homosexuality – and especially about Christians who believe what the Bible says about that lifestyle – became an issue after he granted an interview to The Advocate, a magazine which targets the "gay" community. In that interview O'Reilly called Bible-believing Christians "holy rollers" and "fanatics" who want homosexuals to go to hell. He also said he was in favor of the full range of "gay" rights demanded by the homosexual community.
"If Mr. O'Reilly wants to claim to be a Christian while rejecting orthodox Christian beliefs and the Bible, that's his business," Wildmon said. "But he's making a big mistake by insulting Christians who are faithful to Christ. We hope people will let him know how they feel."
RELIGION
Chevrolet sponsors worship, preaching tour
AFA and other pro-family groups applauded Chevrolet for the car manufacturer's decision to sponsor a concert tour that has a Christian message.
According to The Associated Press, the automaker announced that it would sponsor a 16-city tour in November called "Chevrolet Presents: Come Together and Worship," which was to feature contemporary music artists Michael W. Smith and Third Day, along with writer/teacher Max Lucado.
"Chevrolet seems to have decided that it is worthwhile to reach out to Christian consumers in much the same way that the company reaches out to a variety of other demographic groups," said AFA President Tim Wildmon. 'there are a lot of Christians out there who buy cars every year, and what Chevrolet has done simply makes good business sense."
Wildmon said plenty of corporations, including Chevrolet, already target the homosexual community for special promotional emphases.
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