Hillsong expansion backed by politicians. . . www.piperpost.net - 20.4.08. Hillsong Church, the aggressive Pentecostalist group, want to develop a megachurch in the inner-city suburb of Rosebery - south of Sydney. The church plans a 2,700 seat worship area and a seven-storey office block. The Church is being supported by a number of politicans and business leaders. The development is said to be priced at nearly $80 million. Society was partly to blame for what happened, he claimed. Many local residents oppose the development. The local council reports receiving 1100 submissions from church members supporting the proposal but of these 900 came from outside the area. A curious aspect of the saga is the support being offered by South Sydney Football Club. The Club reportedly works on community projects in conjunction with the church. [COMMENT: One is sympathetic to local residents who will definitely be affected by such a mammoth development but one must admit the area has much commercial development already. What disturbs one more is the fact that so much taxpayer's money goes into church coffers via tax-free and rate-free boons.] Football prayers banned. . . www.piperpost.net - 27.4.08. A football coach in New Jersey (USA) has lost the first round of a battle to be allowed to pray with his team before the games start. Marcus Borden was in the habit of praying with the team but the East Brunswick school district forbade staff members from participating in student prayers and Mr Borden took the matter to a Federal appeals court and lost. Judge D. Michael Fisher wrote in his opinion that 'the conclusion we reach today is clear because he organized, participated in and led prayer activities with his team on numerous occasions for 23 years.' 'Thus,' Fisher continued, 'a reasonable observer would conclude that he is continuing to endorse religion when he bows his head during the pre-meal grace and takes a knee with his team in the locker room while they pray.' The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which helped represent the school district, said the decision could have a broad impact. 'Coaches who want to act like pastors usually have long track records of trying to play that role, as was the case here,' he said. 'The coach went way over the line in pushing prayer on players, the school blew the whistle, and now the court has, I hope, ended this game.' Borden's lawyer said his client planned an appeal to the US supreme Court. [COMMENT: Christians cannot resist trying to push their superstitions onto others, especially impressionable young people. And the influence is even stronger when the purveyor of the Gospel is an authority figure.] Religious Right targets Planned Parenthood again. . . www.piperpost.net - 27.4.08. Using the excuse of alleged 'racism' American pro-lifers are accusing the Planned Parenthood organization of targeting African-Americans. Encouraged by black pastors, callers to Planned Parenthood clinics have attempted to trap respondents into admitting targeting blacks. Speaking at a pro-life vigil in Washington, Republican Congressman Trent Franks, says he plans to introduce a bill that would make it illegal to target abortions. 'Black America must wake up and stand up to this racist organization that purposefully plants abortion facilities firmly in black and minority neighbourhoods,' said Day Garnder of the Nation Black Pro-life Union. The US Religious Right has long tried to limit the work of Planned Parenthood, especially in relation to its abortion services. [COMMENT: Maybe facilities are needed in such areas because of the failure of teachings about birth control.] Note: There is a privately-operated Australian Planned Parenthood organization. Contact them here: http://websites.golden-orb.com/plannedparenthood/ Barack Obama plays to the Christian Right. . . www.piperpost.net - 5.7.08 The USA may cherish the notion of the separation of Church and State but large numbers of church members believe the State should bow to the Church's will on many fronts, especially on issues such as marriage and women's reproduction rights. Thus politicians often feel compelled to pay attention to the Christian bloc. Barack Obama, an Evangelical Christian himself, has expressed support for the 'faith-based' programs instituted and/or supported by President George Bush, a fellow Evangelical. Huge sums of public money have been funnelled into these programs. Although the work done might be of a charitable nature the largesse bolsters the coffers of the Christians organization and in the end allows them to grow yet larger and more powerful. The one positive note struck by the candidate is that he has promised to ensure charity groups receiving government funds would be carefully monitored to prevent them using the money to proselytize and to prevent discrimination against potential employees on a religious basis, which has occurred in the past. Hillsong expansion delayed. . . www.piperpost.net - 5.7.08 As reported in an earlier issue, Hillsong Church, the aggressive Australian Pentecostalist group, has planned the  development of a megachurch in the inner-city suburb of Rosebery - south of Sydney. The church plans called for a 2,700 seat worship area and a seven-storey office block.  The total value of the development was said to be nearly $80 million and was being supported by several politicians and business leaders. However, it was vigorously opposed by residents of the area. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that an independent assessment commissioned by the City of Sydney found the proposal would exceed the Council's height, parking and floor space limits. A public meeting was to be held where opponents and supporters would be given the opportunity of expressing their viewpoints in the light of the report. However, at the last minute Hillsong announced it was withdrawing its proposal for the development. A spokesman for the residents' action group, Graeme Grace, said Hillsong should have withdrawn its application earlier, rather than putting residents through stress and worry and then withdrawing at the last minute. The church would continue to pursue options for a church in the Green Square area, said George Aghajanian, the Hillsong general manager. Hillsong cult seeking more converts. . . www.piperpost.net - 26.7.08 Like most Evangelical and Pentecostalist sects Sydney's Hillsong Church has an aggressive program of what is known as 'outreach'. Recently the church's attempt to establish a large presence in an inner-city suburb was foiled as a result of opposition from local residents. But the church will not give up so easily. Recently The Sydney Morning Herald drew attention to one of the cult's outreach programs - one that has penetrated publicly-funded schools.  Under the guise of providing information to teenagers in such useful areas as skin care, natural makeup, hair and nail care and general behaviour, the program called Shine clearly has a hidden agenda, as do all 'missionary' programs initiated by Christians. Quite simply, 'conversion to Christ' is the ultimate goal behind the cheery smile and outstretched hand. What is worse, such 'conversions' take place in an atmosphere where no real questions are asked about the truth or otherwise of the claims made by the godbotherers. It is so easy to peddle 'the Bible says' but ask the preacher why we should take the Bible as 'the word of God' and the answer might not trip so glibly off the tongue. Parent groups from Queensland and the Northern Territory have complained that their schools have tried to sneak Shine in almost unnoticed. 'In our view, this is a way of getting religion into schools through subterranean means,' said one parent, Hugh Wilson. 'The principal or the chaplain decides it's a good idea and, next thing you know, your kids are being taught about make-up by the Hillsong Church.' But Shine is not the only 'outreach; program of the cult which is determined to brainwash young people. The Sydney Morning Herald also reports that the Shine program was being used in other schools in a different way. Students who opted out of Scripture classes (and who could blame intelligent young people for doing so?) were being invited to attend 'personal development' classes, i.e. Shine classes. A case of out of the Scripture lesson frying pan into the Hillsong fire? A parent at one Sydney school said students there were automatically enrolled in the Shine program is they opted out of Scripture. 'It's an alarming situation, because most of the parents don't even know i's happening. The NSW Greens have called for Shine to be suspended while allegations were investigations, among them that during Shine programs Christian 'testimonies' were given. The myth of Evangelical strength? www.piperpost.net - 26.7.08 Christine Wicker is an American reporter who once reported on religion for the Dallas Morning News. She also grew up in the hothouse atmosphere of Southern American Christianity. She was 'saved' at the age of nine years in a Southern Baptist church. Christine Walker now describes herself as a Christian but not an Evangelical. And she has written an explosive book laying bare th myth of the strength of Christian fundamentalism in the USA. The Fall of the Evangelical Nation (Harper) is a detailed study of the true situation. The author says that the standard story is that there are 54 million adults and 21 million child Evangelicals. These people, generally described as the Religious Right, supply a powerful bloc of potential voters and are actively courted by US politicians. But, says the writer, there is a big disparity between those who describe themselves as 'Evangelicals' and those who are active church attenders. But even this does not reveal the true picture. Wicker says attendance at some sort of prayer group is necessary before a person can be categorised as a fervent conservative of the sort conjured up by the notion of the powerful Religious Right. Her own careful calculations lead her to believe the true number is around 7 percent of the American population and this figure is substantially lower than it was in 1991 - 12 percent. The book has much more of interest but one other fact is of great interest to us. Wicker says that the fastest growing belief category in the USA today is: non-believers. From 1990 to 2001 their numbers increased from 14 million to 29 million. [COMMENT: Much the same, in principle, would apply to Australia. I have always said that the censorship numbers mean nothing. The only measure of a true Christian believer is regular attendance at Christian services.] <>God-botherer bothers Iraqis. . . www.piperpost.net - 8.6.08 An American marine has been suspended after he attempted to win converts to Christianity from among Iraqi Islamics. The marine has not been named but he was stationed in Fallujah and his actions have outraged many of the local population. The marine handed out coins bearing the slogans, in Arabic: 'Where will you spend eternity? (John 3:36) and on the reverse side: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).' Commented one recipient who said the coin was forced into his hand: 'The claims that the occupation is a Crusader war make sense now.' Earlier a US soldier was found using a Koran for target practice. The Koran was found riddled with bullets and filled with offensive graffiti. Fraudulent cancer claims by Pentecostalist pastor. . . www.piperpost.net - 23.08.08 Pastor Michael Guglielmucci, a member of an Assemblies of God church - youth-oriented Planetshakers in Melbourne, was a big hit with his song, Healer which was featured on an album issued by the Hillsong cult in Sydney. The song debuted at Number 2 on the ARIA charts. Perhaps with good reason. The Pastor's sob story was widely known. Claiming for two years he was terminally ill with cancer, the singer performed his piece on a YouTube video with a telling addition - an oxygen tube in his nose. The song, he claimed, came to him as a 'gift from God,' on the day the diagnosis of cancer was revealed. As a result of the Pastor's faith-inspiring performance it is said that many believers, themselves suffering serious illnesses, had been encouraged in their faith.  They were praying for the Pastor's recovery. On one of the YouTube videos the Pastor reportedly says: ' I went to the hospital expecting to have some tests and got the news that I had cancer, and quite an aggressive form of cancer. I walked into my studio at home and for some reason pressed RECORD, which was a good thing ... I just sat at a piano and began to worship. I didn't, like, sit down and write the verses and the chorus, I just sang that song from the start to the finish. I just realised that God had given me an incredible gift and I knew that was going to be my strength.' A statement from Australian Christian Churches Vice-President, Alun Davies, says that Mr Guglielmucci, now living in Adelaide, had admitted to fabricating his cancer story. Not even his family knew the truth! His credentials with the Church have been suspended. <> Hillsong cult tries again. . . www.piperpost.net - 30.08.08 The Hillsong cult, a Pentecostalist group with a large following in the Sydney region, tried some time back to establish a new megachurch and function centre in the inner-city suburb of Rosebery (reported in an earlier issue of Piper Post). Although the church had the support of a number of prominent citizens,  vigorous opposition saw the plans rejected by the local council. Now the church is trying again. Another site close to the original block is being targeted - buildings formerly used by South Sydney Hospital in Joynton Avenue, Rosebery. But the move has stirred members of the Rosebery Residents Action Group to again express their strong opposition to the expansion of the church's outreach in their area. They cite transport problems and noise. COMMENT: The people of Rosebery should also be concerned for their young people who will surely be sucked into the vortex of this very active cult which uses all the paraphernalia of pop music and entertaining events to trap the unwary and unthinking into membership. <> State-supported US Christian churches object to being muzzled. . . www.piperpost.net - 05.10.08. A group of Christian pastors in the USA are challenging the legal ban on political comment from the pulpit. Their challenge is being headed by Pastor Gus Booth of Minnesota, who is a strident opponent of Democrat candidate Barack Obama. Deliberately flouting the US law, Booth recently told the congregation of his Wallroad Community Church: 'If you are a Christian, you cannot support a candidate like Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton for president.' At the same time the preacher wrote a letter to the Internal Revenue Service reporting on his sermon and challenging the taxman to do something about it. Booth and other Christian leaders believe the law as it stands violates their rights to freedom of speech and religion, enshrined in the First Amendment, which permits them to say whatever they want, wherever they want.  There is no suggestion, however, that the churches are willing to surrender their tax exempt status, a privileged position they hold as do the churches in Australia. Pastor Booth told ABC (USA) News:'The gist of my speech was you can't support Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama because they support abortion and homosexual marriage, and the scripture vehemently opposes both.' He then added: 'I didn't say vote for McCain, but I'm planning to.' Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, a watchdog group, has written to the IRS asking them to investigate Booth. The last church to have its tax-exempt status revoked was the Church at Pierce Creek near Binghamton, New York, in 1992. The Church published an advertisement that read: 'The Bible warns us to not follow another man in his sin, nor help him promote sin — lest God chasten us … How then can we vote for Bill Clinton?' COMMENT: Christians who want to exercise their right to freedom of speech should be prepared to forgo the lavish financial support they receive from the State in the form of their tax-free status and other benefits. If Christians really believe in the moral behaviour they so often 'peddle from their pulpits they would voluntarily pay such charges and stop being leeches on their communities. You'll find the female pastors under the counter! . . . www.piperpost.net - 21.09.08. Over 100 bookshops operated by the Southern Baptist Church in the USA have withdrawn from public display the current issue of a Christian magazine Gospel Today. The reason? The magazine carries on its cover the photographs of five female pastors whose stories are featured within. Under the heading 'breaking the glass ceiling' the magazine tells the stories of the five pastors. One big problem: The Southern Baptist denomination doesn't approve of female clergy. In the year 2000 the church adopted a statement of faith that said the pastoral role should be restricted to men. The magazine will now be kept under the counter and supplied only if specifically requested. It's official: GOD ordered the invasion of Iraq. www.piperpost.net - 14.09.08 Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska says so. The Governor reportedly told members of the Assemblies of God Church in Alaska 'that our national leaders are sending [soldiers to Iraq] on a task that is from God.' 'That is what we have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan.' COMMENT: No wonder Islamics hate the West when they hear this sort of nonsense spewed forth from a a naive Christian who might one day replace an incapacitated President. God must surely have miscalculated when he unleashed a war in which, to date, between 86,000 and 94,000 civilians have died (according to the Iraq Body Count website) and over 4,000 US soldiers have been slaughtered, not to mention another 30,000 soldiers seriously wounded. MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT HILLSONG SCHOOLS PUSH. As reported in an earlier issue of Piper Post the Hillsong Pentecostalist cult is pushing into NSW public schools with student-friendly programs used as a cloak to hide their evangelizing intent. It is reported that Hillsong is receiving Government handouts to help with this program, a legacy of the Howard era. Many parents and teachers are questioning the opening of the schools to such influences. www.piperpost.net - 14.09.08 Scientist quits over creationism . . . www.piperpost.net - 28.09.08. Michael Reiss, Director of Education for Britain's Royal Society, has stepped down from his post over the issue of creationism. It had been alleged that Professor Reiss was in favour of the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in school science classes. However, Professor Reiss denies he suggested such a course of action.  What he said was that he believed science teachers risked alienating pupils who believed the idea. 'They should take the time to explain how science works and why creationism has no scientific basis,' he said. The resignation has sparked controversy among politicians and scientists. Some agreed with the decision, others believe Professor Reiss has been treated unfairly. Phil Willis, an MP and chairman of a House of Commons science and skills committee, said: 'It's the right decision and it's clearly one the Royal Society needed to come to itself. You cannot have a senior educational figure in the world's most prestigious scientific society giving credence to creationism alongside Darwinism in the school curriculum. Fire at notorious Baptist church . . . www.piperpost.net - 19.10.08. A fire has damaged the buildings of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. The church is well known for its campaigns against gays and its notorious action of lining the roads with placard-waving members while American families bury their dead soldiers. The church accuses its 'enemies' of starting the fire but officially no cause has been assigned to the conflagration. In a statement, Pastor Fred Phelps Sr. says: 'There is evidence that hatred of our religion was the motivation, in part at least.' Westboro protesters lining the road during funerals of American soldiers Exorcism abuse case to go to US Supreme Court . . . www.piperpost.net - 19.10.08. The family of 17-year-old Laura Schubert Pearson have vowed to take their fight for justice all the way to the US Supreme Court. Their promise follows the decision by the Texas Supreme Court to throw out a case against Pleasant Glade Assembly of God Church in Colleyville. Laura's family had accused the church of the physical and emotional abuse of their daughter, now aged 29, in an extended exorcism ritual. It is alleged that in 1996 the church's youth pastor, his wife and other church members believed Laura has possessed by demons. Repeatedly over a two-day period the young woman was held down on the floor of the church building and pummelled while screaming and pleading to be released. The episode left her 'physically and emotionally scarred.' Throwing out a case against the church, Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina, writing for the majority, said the case presents an ecclesiastical dispute over religious conduct that would unnecessarily entangle the court in church doctrine. Medina said that while Schubert’s argument regarding physical injuries might be tried without mentioning religion, her case was mostly about her emotional or psychological injuries from a sanctioned religious activity. The court's decision was 6 against, 3 in favour. Dissenting, Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson said: 'This sweeping immunity is inconsistent with United States Supreme Court precedent and extends far beyond the protections our Constitution affords religious conduct.' COMMENT: It seems that an action considered to be criminal assault outside the walls of an American church is a mere religious ceremony within those walls. Godbotherer teacher gets the axe. . . www.piperpost.net - 22.6.08 John Freshwater, a science teacher at the Mount Vernon Middle School in Ohio (USA), has been voted out of the school following complaints about his activities promoting the Christian religion. Freshwater reportedly has a long history of parading his faith before school students. He keeps a Bible on his desk and at one point raised the ire of some parents by posting the Ten Commandments on a classroom wall. He has also taught students that radiocarbon dating is unreliable and has denounced evolutionary theory. The last straw came when he used a high frequency generator to burn the image of a cross into the arm of a student. The marks remained visible for three or four weeks. Freshwater denied it was a cross but claimed it was an 'X'. Freshwater is fighting his dismissal in the courts. Prayer dispute surfaces again . . . www.piperpost.net - 26.10.08. Marcus Borden is a Christian and a football coach. In 2005 he caused a problem for the East Brunswick (New Jersey) Board of Education by insisting on praying with the team before each game. Borden, who sued the East Brunswick board in 2005 after it objected to his actions, had convinced District Judge Dennis Cavanaugh in Newark he was not praying. Cavanaugh determined in July 2006 that Borden could bow his head and bend a knee during student-led prayers before games as long as he did not lead the team in prayer. The US 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals later unanimously reversed this decision. The very determined Mr Borden has now filed a petition with the US Supreme Court for a review of the earlier federal appeals court ruling that prohibits him from participating in team prayer. Mr Borden says he is taking his cause all the way up to the highest court as he believes he is right. The American Football Coaches Association, with more than 10,000 members nationwide, says it will file a supporting petition. Grant Teaff, the Association's executive director, said more than 50 percent of coaches nationwide engage in team prayer. COMMENT: It is hard to fathom the determination of people like Mr Borden to publicly parade their belief in the mumbo-jumbo that is called 'prayer'. I find it a matter of great embarrassment when I look back to the time when I too engaged in this useless activity. Creationism being taught in Australian schools . . . www.piperpost.net - 26.10.08. Creationism, sometimes masquerading under the guise of so-called 'intelligent design', is being taught in Christian schools in Australia with official approval. However, the education authorities forbid the teaching of creationism in science classes. Teachers are urged to make it clear to pupils that the subject is not a part of the official curriculum. NSW Greens MP, John Kaye, has raised concerns recently about the practice, at least in NSW schools. In response, John Bennett, head of the NSW Board of Deputies, has informed a parliamentary committee that there was no official oversight of the Christian schools in this regard. It was left to the schools to control the policy themselves, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that at least one Christian school is being investigated after a complaint was laid about the teaching of creationism. Dr Kaye, who describes creationism as 'voodoo science', is worried that Australia is following down a path not dissimilar to the USA, where, due to the influence of creationist teachings, more than half of all university graduates have rejected science in favour of the Genesis myth. COMMENT: We must be thankful to Dr Kaye for raising this issue. The driver behind creationism is, plain and simply - superstition. The notion that the deity created all things in six days is the simplistic explanation of primitives for the wonder that is our universe. And, even then they cannot get their mythology right - there are two conflicting accounts of creation in the book of Genesis! 'You're going to hell' Baptist leader tells Jews . . . www.piperpost.net - 23.11.08. Pastor Kevin Harris, like so many Evangelical Christians, believes in hell, so, he thought, it was important to warn Jew leaders that they were headed for perdition if they refused to 'believe in Christ.' Their fate would be, he claimed, 'worse than the Holocaust.' Pastor Harris is minister of the Illawarra Community Church, south of Sydney. His views are unsurprising considering he hails from America's Bible-belt south - the state of Virginia. They believe such stuff down there, along with many other simplistic notions, including that the world was made in seven days. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Pastor Harris reaffirmed his belief: 'The Bible says that all have sinned and all are worthy of hell. That includes everyone, until we receive Jesus as our saviour.' However, he tried to play down any intention of upsetting Jews.  Too late - Vic Alhadeff, chief of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, has expressed outrage at the remarks. Mr Alhadeff had met with Pastor Harris, along with the board's education manager, Lynda Ben-Menashe, in a tour of the Shoalhaven region, meeting with various religious leaders, including Anglican and Catholic clergy, He was shocked to hear the leader of a Christian congregation speak so bluntly. 'It was a chilling experience,' he said. 'While one is only too aware that there are fundamentalist beliefs and extremist preachers out there, his brazen approach and the fact that he is influencing others on a daily basis are the issues of real concern.' COMMENT: I raised the issue of TOLERANCE in my last issue. This is yet another instance of the intolerance of too many Christians. And the notion of hell itself has a tenuous history befitting such a silly concept, a subject to which I shall return on another occasion. Meanwhile, how's this for obsession?  . . . There is a dreadful Hell And everlasting pains There sinners must with devils dwell In darkness, fire and chains. (Isaac Watts: Divine Songs for Children - yes, for children!) Creationism teaching being investigated . . . www.piperpost.net - 30.11.08. In an earlier issue we reported that creationism - sometimes masquerading under the guise of so-called 'intelligent design' - is being taught in Christian schools in Australia with official approval. However, the education authorities forbid the teaching of creationism in science classes. Teachers are urged to make it clear to pupils that the subject is not a part of the official curriculum. However. allegations have surfaced that in at least one such school creationism has reared its ugly head in the science curriculum. The Pacific Hills Christian School in the Sydney suburb of Dural has been accused of not following departmental guidelines and is being investigated. However, any such investigation is of doubtful value as the state's Board of Studies has referred the matter to Christian Schools Australia for investigation, hardly a disinterested body in the eyes of the original complainant, Chris Bonnor. Mr Bonnor is a former head of the NSW Secondary Schools Principals Council. The decision to refer the matter to CSA has also been criticized by Greens MP, John Kaye, who has long expressed concern about the issue. Christian pastors lend support to beleaguered Governor . . . www.piperpost.net - 14.12.08. It is reported that a group of Christian pastors paid a visit to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is under a heavy cloud of suspicion because of alleged corruption. The Governor has been accused by the state's attorney-general of being involved in seeking payment from potential candidates to fill the senate office vacated following the election of Barack Obama. Other accusations have also been levelled at him, including seeking to exert pressure on the Chicago Tribune Company to have editorial board members removed. Extensive wire taps reportedly back the actions taken by the attorney-general. The ministers of religion turned up at the Governor's residence where, we are told, he prayed with them. The Reverend Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church in Chicago said he and two other Baptist pastors initiated the visit to Blagojevich. aimed also at 'offering comfort to the governor's wife and two children.' The state is headed toward an extraordinary constitutional showdown. Attorney-General Lisa Madigan asked the Supreme Court to declare Blagojevich unfit to serve, likening his corruption scandal to a debilitating illness as she ramped up pressure on the governor to resign. The move seeks to hand power over to the lieutenant governor. [COMMENT: I guess if Governor Blagojevich ends up in court we will see him hugging the obligatory copy of the Bible to demonstrate what a good fellow he is.] Radical Baptist group rubbishes Santa . . . www.piperpost.net - 28.12.08. The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, for long a thorn in the side of the wider American Baptist community, this Christmas mounted a campaign denouncing Santa Claus and anything associated with him. A group of the cult's kids produced a video, screened on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nspURdORNrg), titled Santa Claus will take you to hell. The words of this delightful ditty: You'd better watch out Get ready to cry You'd better go hide I'm tell you why Cuz Santa Claus will take you to hell. He is your favorite idol You worship at his feet But when you stand before your God He won't help you take the heat. So get this fact straight You're feelin' God's hate Santa's to blame for the economy's fate, Santa Claus will take you to hell. Don't leave your kids with this red fright Just like the priests, he'll rape them at night Santa Claus will take you to hell. You tell the children he is real You know that's just a lie To justify your own vile sins Is the only reason why. So get this fact straight, You're feeling God's hate Santa's to blame for the dead soldier's fate Santa Claus will take you to hell. Oh Santa Claus will take you to hell! Westboro is notorious for lining the roads when funerals of dead soldiers are being conducted, with placards attacking the US Army for harbouring homosexuals, among other complaints. Push by cleric for gloomy beaches fails . . . www.piperpost.net - 04.01.09. It seems the Americans are not the only ones scared of women's breasts. The well-known Christian Upper House member of the NSW Parliament, the Reverend Fred Nile*, recently turned his sights on a truly horrid site - bare breasts on the beach. Mr Nile is well-known for the vigorous campaigning over the years against homosexuality and especially the annual Gay Mardi Gras. Here was a nice new cause: too much naked flesh on the beach. Mr Nile heads the Christian Democratic Party and he planned to introduce a private member's bill, which NSW Labor MP Paul Gibson and Liberal MP David Clarke said they would support. But a wide cross-section of parliamentarians indicated there is little interest in instituting any ban. Acting NSW Premier Carmel Tebbutt told The Australian newspaper she does not have a problem with topless sunbathing and says the issue is a matter for local councils. And NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell says the issue 'doesn't even rate' with state parliament. He is also not bothered by bare breasts at the beach, and said his wife and two sons, aged nine and 14, visited beaches where topless sunbathing was not common. * See BACKGROUND BRIEFING ON FRED NILE - a report I wrote in 1991. (Warning:  Long - approx. 6,000 words) Goodbye to Baptist torturer . . . www.piperpost.net - 25.01.09. George Bush has moved on - leaving behind a legacy of a United States of America whose moral standing in the world has been greatly diminished. Torture, something anathema to former presidents like Washington and Lincoln, was allowed and combatants locked up in the notorious chook house known at Guantanimo Bay, languishing there for years without trial and denied the benefits of Habeus Corpus. Among inmates was our own David Hicks, whose situation was ignored by our conservative government. Happily for David he is now a free man (and that comment implies no endorsement of his activities). The loss of the moral compass of the USA can be dated from 9/11. Understandably this disaster bit deeply into the American consciousness and, also understandably, revenge was the response. Invasion of Afghanistan followed, a country believed to harbour the central nest of islamic terrorists. All understandable, all explicable. But the good praying Baptist president went further. Through his henchmen he let loose a regime of counter-terror. America forgot its principles while George Bush prayed. DEATH OF MORALIST. The death has occurred at the age of 66 of Paul Weyrich, one of the leaders of the movement self-described as the Moral Majority [always referred to here as the Moral Minority]. This movement has been deeply involved in fostering the baleful influence of the Christian Right in American politics. He was warmly embraced by President George Bush, who shared his values. www.piperpost.net - 25.01.09. Reverend Fred Nile directs his prayers against another Christian . . . www.piperpost.net - 15.02.09. Always controversial, Evangelical Christian Australian parliamentarian, the Reverend Fred Nile, is openly praying for divine intervention to remove a political enemy. In 2003 Nile encouraged the Reverend Gordon Moyes to join his small Christian Democratic Party. But Mr Nile was dismayed to find his recruit holds liberal notions, supporting some Greens motions in Parliament, and having tolerant attitudes on such issues as gay rights. In a recent newsletter Mr Nile tells his supporters: 'Please pray that Mr Moyes will fulfil his verbal advice in 2008 to the CDP management committee that he would plan resigning in 2009 when he would be eligible for the parliamentary pension.'  For his part Mr Moyes accuses Nile of being anti-Muslim and anti-gay. From Dr Moyes: 'I do not want to comment apart from saying that for a long time I have been trying to move the Christian Democratic Party in a more Christian direction, away from the anti-Muslim immigration, anti-Muslim schools for the children of Australian citizens, and everything that is anti-gay. On environmental issues, climate change and social justice, the Greens are far more Christian than climate sceptics and those who back the exploiters of the poor and homeless.' Fatal bushfires wrath of God says pastor . . . www.piperpost.net - 15.02.09. Pentecostalist Pastor Danny Nalliah has claimed the fatal Victorian bushfires are the direct result of God visiting judgment on the state of Victoria because of its lax abortion laws. Pastor Nalliah claims to have had a direct message from God in a dream. Last October he dreamt about raging fires and had 'a flash from the spirit of God: that His conditional protection has been removed from the nation of Australia, in particular Victoria, for approving the slaughter of innocent children in the womb.' Pastor Nalliah's group, Catch the Fire Ministries, has a history of extreme activism.  It was in trouble some time back for attacking Muslims and was found guilty of contravening section 8 of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 but later won an appeal against the judgment. [COMMENT: Primitive religion saw natural disasters as the result of the wrath of the gods. Seems nothing has changed!] BIBLE BELT GOES FOR THE CASH. The US Bible Belt states of Georgia, Texas and Alabama, suffering a downturn in income, are considering allowing the sale of liquor on Sundays, the traditional Christian 'holy day'. Other moves include the licensing of video lottery machines in Georgia. Alcohol and gambling have long been targets of dedicated evangelical Christians. www.piperpost.net - 08.03.09. Faith starts to wither on the vine in the USA . . . www.piperpost.net - 15.03.09. The fastest-growing group in the USA, according to a recent major survey, comprises people who claim 'no religion'. In fact it is the only surveyed group that is growing in all 50 states. These results come from the American Religious Identification Survey—conducted by the Program on Public Values at Trinity College. In 1990 8.2 percent of respondents claimed 'no religion' but in 2001 the figures was 14.2 percent and is now marginally higher than that figure. Vermont tops the ranks of the unbelievers with 34 percent of citizens stating they have 'no religion'. It should be noted that respondents stating 'no religion' are not necessarily atheists and the category embraces a range of views. Meanwhile, however, the same survey reports that Evangelicals have grown in numbers while the old-line mainstream churches have declined. Nearly 40 percent of Christians identify themselves as evangelical or 'born again'. Mormons have also grown in numbers, as have Muslims. Overall the percentage of Christians in the USA now runs at about 76 percent, down from 86 percent in the 1990s. [COMMENT: There is hope for the USA yet!] <>HILLSONG CULT TARGETED.  The Hillsong cult was targeted for parody in the recent Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras staged in Sydney. A group of like-minded people operated the 'Surry Hillsong bus' designed to 'transport believers from the parade Start Area near Central Station to the place of worship, the sister multimedia empire, Jox Studios.' The believers wore costumes representing their own religious, blasphemous, atheistic or secular views.' The group - membership of which is described as 'fluid' - has taken part in most of the Mardi Gras parades since 1988. www.piperpost.net - 15.03.09. BRISTOL PALIN AND LOVER SPLIT. In what is seen as a major blow to the credibility of statements made during the recent US election campaign, Bristol Palin, 18, has split from Levi Johnston, the father of her 2-month-old son Tripp. Her mother, Sarah, is a card-carrying Christian conservative who believes in the traditional values of marriage and fidelity. In order to mitigate any embarrassment over Bristol having engaged in sex relations outside of marriage voters were assured the couple would soon marry.www.piperpost.net - 15.03.09. Hospice chaplain resigns over ban on holy words . . . www.piperpost.net - 22.03.09. The Reverend Mirta Signorelli has resigned from her post as Chaplain of the Hospice by the Sea, in Boca Raton, Florida, after she was told she could not use the terms 'God' or 'Lord' in certain public utterances. Paula Alderson, Hospice CEO, says the ban on religious references applies only to the inspirational messages that chaplains deliver in staff meetings. The hospice remains fully comfortable with ministers, priests and rabbis offering religious counsel to the dying and grieving. Hospice by the Sea is a community-based non-profit organization that cares for terminally ill patients in Palm Beach and Broward counties. Signorelli, who has worked there for seven years, resigned in February. [COMMENT: It would not be surprising to know that the Reverend Signorelli wanted to 'win others for Christ' however subtle her language and methods. Christians like her are filled with an aggressive desire to win converts to their silly religion at any cost. So much the better if she suffers as a result - she then wears the mantle of martyr.]

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