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PA Family Update

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FAMILY UPDATE
Volume 4, Issue 26
September 19, 2008
The Pennsylvania Family Institute's weekly update to concerned citizens.
Michael Geer, President
Attention: PA Family Institute has printable versions of the Family Update that can be downloaded and printed easily!Follow this link to get a 1-page version that you can hand out to your friends and family: http://www.pafamily.org/index.php?pID=78
!Please forward this email to family and friends!
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Quote of the Week
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America..." ~ George Washington and the delegates
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Pennsylvania News
Take Action Now! 'Sexual Orientation' Bill Threatens Religious Liberty. Vote Coming Monday! House Bill 1400 is up for a vote on Monday, September 22 in the House State Government Committee. HB 1400 would make "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" specially protected classes in our state Human Relations Act. It would put at risk clergy, religious ministries or schools or child care centers, or even employers with religious beliefs, who may have moral objections to hiring homosexuals or transgendered/cross-dressers in their place of employment.
Tell your state representative to OPPOSE House Bill 1400 and urge their colleagues in the State Government Committee to do so as well. Contact your state representative through our Citizen Action Center!
University of Pittsburgh to Institute Dangerous New Policy Similar to HB 1400. The University of Pittsburgh announced they are changing their anti-discrimination policy to include "gender identity." Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of PA said this new policy endangers female students. "Since this policy also affects housing, what is to prevent a male who says he believes he's 'really a female' from requesting and obtaining housing in the women's dormitory? This policy indicates that will be acceptable and, additionally, this 'man who thinks he is a woman' will be permitted to shower and use the restroom in the women's dormitory."
Dannah Gresh Honored As An Angel in Adoption. Dannah Gresh, founder of Pure Freedom ministries in State College, was honored as a 2008 Angel in Adoption for her outstanding advocacy of adoption issues. Gresh was featured in the cover story of the premiere issue of Pennsylvania Families Magazine last year, as well as the 2007 recipient of Pennsylvania Family Institute's Hometown Hero award. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which orchestrates the Angels in Adoption program, honored Gresh, along with more than 180 Angels, at an awards ceremony and gala event in Washington, DC, September 16, 2008.
Tables Are Filling Fast to Hear Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee at the two Pennsylvania Family Institute Friends of the Family Banquets on Friday, October 10. There are two opportunities:
-12 Noon Luncheon at the Mendenhall Inn in Chadd's Ford.
-6:30PM Dinner at the Lancaster Host Resort in Lancaster .
More information and ticket registration are at www.pafamily.org/huckabee.php. Register by September 26, tables are filling fast!
Pastors and churches taking a public stand on candidates or legislation. Pastors and churches have the legal right to say whatever they wish about political issues. This right is recognized by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. At the same time, most churches have received tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service under § 501(c)(3). Certain groups, which seem not to want churches to speak on social issues, give the impression that a church's tax exempt status can be easily lost. On the contrary, despite the limits imposed by § 501(c)(3), there is great freedom. Keeping a few rules in mind will help ensure the maintenance of your tax exempt status. Churches may not endorse or oppose a particular candidate, give money to a candidate, give a mailing list to a candidate, or invite a single candidate to speak. But, a church may register their members as voters, pass out informational voters' guides (that simply give information on candidates rather than an endorsement, such as PFI's), and speak in favor of or against legislation (such as the Marriage Protection Amendment). If churches encounter problems or a challenge, our Independence Law Center stands ready to assist free of charge.
News posted daily at www.PAFamily.org!
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Pro-Life News
Parental-Involvement Laws Reduce Teen Abortion Rates. Dr. Michael New, through the Family Research Council, our sister organization in DC, recently released a study that is the first of its kind to compare different types of pro-life parental involvement laws. Dr. New's findings indicate that more protective parental involvement laws result in even larger abortion declines. You can read more of the study in the article linked at www.pafamily.org.
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PFI News
Free Voter Registration Toolkits Available! We offer this to anyone: a pastor, a church liaison, community activist, etc can receive a toolkit free of charge to help organize a voter registration for your church and community. If you would like to receive this toolkit, just send your name and address to the PA Family Institute at mail@pafamily.org or by calling toll free at 1-800-FAMILY-1 or 717-545-0600. Deadline to register to vote is October 6th.
Do you know where these candidates stand on the issues? Don't forget about the Pennsylvania Family Institute Voters' Guide coming October 1st. Order your copies today by calling (800) FAMILY-1! The guide will also be online at www.PAVoter.info.
Don't Miss Michael Geer's The Common Good and Family Update Radio Shows on Christian Radio Stations throughout Pa. and online through our podcasts.
This Week's Guest: Tom Shaheen, vice president for policy at the Pennsylvania Family Institute.
This Week's Topic: House Bill 1400 and the threat to religious liberty, and the PFI 2008 Voters' Guide.

The Pennsylvania Family Institute is a non-profit organization made possible through financial donations from our supporters. To donate to Pennsylvania Family Institute, click here: www.pafamily.org/donate
23 N. Front St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 ~ Phone: 717-545-0600 ~ Fax: 717-545-8107 ~ www.pafamily.org

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