Family Research Council

Daily Buzz

by Krystle Gabele

July 31, 2009

Here’s a compilation of articles for your reading pleasure.

• “Maine gay marriage opponents submit challenges,” Associated Press (July 31, 2009)

“Leaders of the Stand for Marriage campaign said Friday they collected more than 100,000 signatures of registered Maine voters. Cartons containing the petitions have been turned into the secretary of state’s office to be certified.”

• “The Case for Early Marriage,” Mark Regnerus, Christianity Today (July 31, 2009)

“If you think it’s difficult to be pro-life in a pro-choice world, or to be a disciple of Jesus in a sea of skeptics, try advocating for young marriage. Almost no one empathizes, even among the faithful. The nearly universal hostile reaction to my April 23, 2009, op-ed on early marriage in The Washington Post suggests that to esteem marriage in the public sphere today is to speak a foreign language: you invoke annoyance, confusion, or both.”

• “Stimulus Bill Funds Go to Art Houses Showing ‘Pervert’ Revues, Underground Pornography,” Joseph Abrams, Fox News (July 30, 2009)

“The National Endowment for the Arts may be spending some of the money it received from the Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund nude simulated-sex dances, Saturday night “pervert” revues and the airing of pornographic horror films at art houses in San Francisco.”

• “Liberal and Conservative Senators Unite on Bill to Reinstate D.C. School Vouchers,” Adam Brickley, CNSNews.com (July 31, 2009)

“A bipartisan group of senators announced Thursday that they plan to introduce legislation to revive the District of Columbias recently terminated D.C. Opportunity Scholarship school-voucher program.”

• “Portugal’s high court keeps gay marriage ban,” Barry Hatton, Associated Press (July 31, 2009)
• “Researchers May Have Found Equivalent of Embryonic Stem Cells,” Rob Stein, The Washington Post (July 24, 2009)
• “UF scientists program blood stem cells to become vision cells,” University of Florida News (July 30, 2009)

“University of Florida researchers were able to program bone marrow stem cells to repair damaged retinas in mice, suggesting a potential treatment for one of the most common causes of vision loss in older people.”

God + Two Parents = Fewer Calls Home from School about Children’s Behavior Problems

by Michael Leaser

June 2, 2009

In the latest Mapping America, the National Survey of Children’s Health shows that children from intact families who worship at least monthly are less likely to have their school report behavior problems to their parents than are children who live in non-intact households and worship less than monthly.

Daily Buzz

by Krystle Gabele

June 1, 2009

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Pro-Life Leaders Denounce Murder of Abortion Doctor George Tiller,” FOXNews.com (June 1, 2009)
• “NY exhibit on gay rights hits amid marriage debate,” Daniel Trotta, Reuters (June 1, 2009)
• “Maryland AG Considers Recognizing Gay Marriages,” WBAL-TV (June 1, 2009)
• “Adult Bone Marrow Stem Cells Injected Into Skeletal Muscle Can Repair Heart Tissue,” Science Daily (May 28, 2009)
• “Spaniards against free abortion for 16-yr-olds - poll,” Raquel Castillo, Reuters (June 1, 2009)
• “The Debate Over Sex Ed.: Fight is on in legislature over what class includes,” James Romoser, Winston-Salem Journal (May 31, 2009)
• “Local pastor prepares to take teen abstinence class to masses,” Harriet Vaughan, The Tennessean (May 29, 2009)
• “Ticket to learn,” Alisa Harris, WORLD Magazine (June 6, 2009)
• “Adult stem cell research moving forward, but still slow,” Brandi Powell, News 24 Austin (May 31, 2009)

Save School Choice in Washington, D.C.

by Krystle Gabele

May 7, 2009

Today, I had the opportunity to attend the “Save Our D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Rally” at Freedom Plaza. Students from several Charter and private schools were in attendance chanting, “Put Kids First,” as well as parents, who were very concerned about the loss of funding for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships, which allow students to attend private schools, instead of lower performing public schools throughout the District.

The crowd heard from many speakers, including Former Mayor Anthony Williams, Council member Marion Barry, School Choice advocate, Virginia Walden Ford, and many others, who were concerned about the education system in Washington, D.C. While there were many parents who spoke on behalf of the scholarships, the real impact came from two young men who talked about the education that they are able to achieve at the private schools where they are attending, compared to the public schools they used to attend. Both of these young men are brilliant, and there is no doubt that they will be able to achieve whatever career path they choose to pursue. Here is the video of their speech:

Why President Obama would want to end their dreams by eliminating these scholarships is puzzling. Obama was a product of a quality private education, and he has chosen the same education for his daughters, Sasha and Malia. Why would he deny the same opportunity for students in the District?