CCA Newsletter
News: August 2010
 |
|
Doma Challenged
The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as between one man and one woman for all federal laws, and provides that states are not required to recognize a marriage from another state if it is between persons of the same sex.
A summary of where we are currently at with the states is in order: thirty states have constitutional amendments defining marriage. Illinois is one of seven states that have statutes defining marriage as between a man and a woman (passed in 1995 due to our efforts). Three states, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa have legalized same-sex marriage as a result of court decisions. New Hampshire and Vermont have legalized same-sex marriage through legislation. The District of Columbia also recognizes same-sex marriage.
read more » News: April 2010
|
|
|
FOCA is Dead!
HB 6205, the Reproductive Health and Access Act, has been returned to the House Rules Committee, indicating it is dead for this session. On Friday, March 26, the bill we call the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) was returned to the House Rules Committee without coming to a vote on the House floor.
This is a clear indication that the bill did not have the support necessary to move it out of the Illinois House even though it has been amended to remove the Parental Notification Act of 1995 and the Medical Right of Conscience Act.
read more » News: March 2010
|
|
|
Status of Illinois FOCA Bill
HB 6205, the Reproductive Health and Access Act, passed out of the Human Services Committee of the House on March
10, 2010, and is on second reading at the time of this publication going to press. Although the bill was amended in
the Human Services Committee, there are some major problems with the legislation.
1) Abortion is made into a "fundamental right" for a woman, meaning there can be no interference with receiving an
abortion or contraception. In other words, there is a right to an abortion, a right to contraception, and a right
to state funding for both (including contraception for boys). The “fundamental right” which is established here is
more restrictive than the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.
read more » February 2, 2010 Primary Voter Guides
If you would like non-partisan voter guides that meet the guidelines of the IRS for your church to distribute for the February 2, 2010 primary, please contact our office at 847-526-7339, and we will work with you to make sure you have what you need. A number of churches have already contacted us--but if you have not, please do so.
During the last election cycle, we distrituted tens of thousands of voter guides in districts across the state. Rev. Vanden Bosch, the Director of Concerned Christian Ministries and Concerned Christian Americans, is also the President of One Nation, Under God, a 501 (c)(3) organization that is dedicated educating the churches and voters about the issues and the positions of candidates on the issues. These voter guides do not endorse any specific candidates, but only give information on their positions.
We would encourage you to contact us regarding this. The voter guides will be going to the press in the next couple of weeks, so some idea of where we need to distribute them and the amount needed would be greatly appreciated. You can also send an email requesting voter guides to revbobvb@sbcglobal.net .
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Early voting will begin on January 11 and go through January 28. You can go to the specified polling places and vote early without needing a reason. Just make certain that you bring your drivers license or a state ID with you.
read more » Year-End Giving
Would you please consider a year-end donation to Concerned Christian Ministries via credit card on our website or by sending a check?
Concerned Christian Ministries is a 501 (c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS (so you qualify for a tax write-off). I realize that your main reason for giving is not to have the tax write-off, but to support the work we are doing in educating the Christian community on the affairs of our state and country, and appreciate such a spirit.
Concerned Christian ministries pays for our publications, mailings of newsletters, and helps cover expenses that arise when traveling to churches to preach and teach. Last year, I spent about 110 eight hour days (average speed according the computer is around 40 mph) driving, and spoke over 100 times in 60 different churches. This is a ministry to the body of Christ, and needs your support to continue to be effective.
If you would like to send a check, you can make it out and send it to:
Concerned Christian Ministries
P.O. Box 351
Wauconda, IL 60084-0351
If you would consider a year-end donation to help meet the expenses that arise, it would be appreciated. If you would like credit for a donation by check for 2009, please get it in the mail early enough so it is postmarked December 31. Thank you for your consideration and your prayers.
Wishing you a blessed New Year!
Rev. Bob
News: October 2009
|
|
|
Federal Hate Crimes Bill Passes House and Senate
Federal Hate Crimes legislation has now passed both the House and Senate in Washington D.C., and President Obama has pledged to sign the legislation into law. This legislation does not define sexual orientations or gender identity, and has been included in the Defense Authorization bill to force conservatives to vote for it.
President Obama also promised Veterans on August 17, 2009, “If Congress sends me a defense bill loaded with waste, I will veto it.” The Defense Authorization bill has 778 earmarks in it. A real slap in the face to our military is the attachment of “hate crimes legislation” to the final defense bill.
When the vote came up in the House to refuse to remove hate crimes from the bill, nine Republicans, including Illinois Republicans Mark Kirk and Judy Biggert, voted to keep it in the bill.
read more » News: September 2009
|
|
|
Voter Registration Drive
By One Nation, Under God
The organization, One Nation, Under God, is working to put together a non-partisan voter registration drive for church voter registration before the February 2, 2010 primary. Rev. Vanden Bosch serves as the President of the organization.
Most of the churches on our mailing list will likely be receiving a packet of information about voter registration. It is vital for Christians to register to vote. Did you know that in 2006, only 37% of the eligible citizens of Illinois actually voted in the Governor’s race? Could we have done better if all would have been educated and involved? I would like to think so.
read more » 
