Christianity the Last Bastion Against European Secularist ‘Totalitarianism’: Austrian Think Tank

From LifeSiteNews

By Hilary White

EU president Herman Von Rompuy

An Austrian think tank and non-governmental organization is warning that freedom of religious expression is “at risk” in Europe from secularist intolerance on the left. While Islamic extremists continue assaults on Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and around the Middle East and Asia, restrictions on public expressions of religious belief by Christians are growing in Western Europe, the cradle of Christendom. 

 

“You cannot compare injustices here with the situation in, for example, North Korea, India or Pakistan,” observed Gudrun Kugler, a lawyer and director of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe. “The Christians who are there in spite of fierce persecution are our great models.”  

Nevertheless, in Europe Christianity is hated because it is “the last obstacle to a new vision of secularity which is so politically correct that it verges on totalitarianism,” she said.

“Christians are increasingly marginalized and are appearing more often in courts over matters related to faith. So I think that we are heading for a bloodless persecution.”

How the Chinese Must See Us

By Patrick J. Buchanan

“O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us,” wrote the poet Robert Burns.

As Hu Jintao wings his way home, America’s hectoring still ringing in his ears, he must be thinking that maybe we Americans should stop lecturing them and take a closer look at ourselves.

Revalue your currency, we demand of the Chinese, stop running these trade surpluses at our expense, start practicing free trade, and abandon these mercantilist and protectionist policies.

But why should they? Why should China abandon a trade policy that is working marvelously well for them, and adopt a trade policy that is failing dismally for us? Does that make sense?

Why should any nation emulate the U.S. trade policy of the Bush-Clinton-Bush era that has stripped us of a third of our manufacturing jobs and made us dependent on China and the world for the needs of our national life and the borrowed money to pay for them?

New President Says Catholic University Should Unite Intellect with Virtue

John H. Garvey, J.D., President of The Catholic University of America

John H. Garvey, J.D., was inaugurated yesterday as the 15th President of our alma mater, The Catholic University of America.  He has very big shoes to fill and we wish him well.

Garvey's inaugural address, in which he reflects on Blessed John Henry Newman, suggests that he has thought seriously about not only the distinctively Catholic culture on the campus of America's pontifical university, but the importance of integrating virtue with the intellectual life and thus transforming and renewing the culture.  His inaugural address is here, and the  beautiful  Mass and installation ceremonies can be seen in the video below.

DeMint Introduces Obamacare Repeal in Senate

Senator Jim DeMint

Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) introduced legislation today to fully repeal the Democrats’ government health care takeover that President Obama signed into law March 23, 2010. 

Thirty-four Republicans have already cosponsored this bill.

The Senator's news release follows:

“Republicans are standing with the American people who are demanding we repeal this government takeover of health care,” said Senator DeMint. “Repealing ObamaCare is vital to the future of our nation and the health of our people. ObamaCare will raise health costs, reduce choices, ration care, hike taxes, cut jobs, increase the national debt, and put bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. It’s time to start over and implement commonsense solutions that allow Americans to choose affordable plans across state lines, end frivolous lawsuits that drive up costs, and gives equitable tax treatment to those who don’t get insurance from their employer.”

Cosponsors of the repeal bill include Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Dan Coats (R-Indiana), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Ensign (R-Nevada), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Arizona), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Richard Shelby (R-Alabama), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).

“Economists have described ObamaCare as ‘fiscally dangerous,’ warning it will create barriers to job growth and increase costs at a time of great economic uncertainty,” said Senator DeMint. “American families and businesses are struggling and it’s our duty to respond quickly to their calls to repeal this bill and push for solutions that will make health care more affordable.”

• Leading Economists project that ObamaCare will add roughly $500 billion in new health care taxes, passing those costs to patients and will raise the federal budget deficit by more than $500 billion over the next 10 years and by nearly $1.5 trillion in the following decade.
• According to the Congressional Budget Office, ObamaCare will increase health care costs to families by $2,100 per year.
• The Heritage Foundation estimates that the economy will lose 670,000 jobs under the new law, many of them in the health care industry.
• An American Action Forum study finds that employers will be forced to drop employer-sponsored health care coverage for as many as 35 million Americans.
• An analysis from HSA Consulting Services concludes the new law restricts the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and reduces the amount of money that can be contributed to Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs).
• As of Dec. 3, 2010, 222 waivers from ObamaCare’s annual limit requirements had been granted to businesses, labor unions, and insurers, affecting 1.5 million enrollees.
• On Dec. 13, 2010, a U.S. district court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the government to impose an individual mandate to buy health insurance.

The Obama Electoral Strategy: Public Education and Open Asylum Doors

Here are some of Barack Hussein Obama's voters who are unable to read and distinguish between his statist economic policies and his "home country."  If a driving test is required before one is allowed to operate a motor vehicle, shouldn't a civics test be required before one is allowed to choose America's leaders?

Bachmann and Ryan Respond to State of the Union

Nearly Half of NH College's Student Body Travels to DC, Marches for Life

Nearly half of the student body from the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts made the 10 hour trek south to Washington, DC to attend the 2011 March for Life.

“Students left campus at 6:30 last night and arrived in Washington early this morning,” said Annie Clark, Thomas More College’s Director of Student Life.  “We are returning to New Hampshire in just a few hours.  We will be away from campus for 36 hours, and 21 of those hours will have been on a bus—all because we think it is vitally important to stand for life.”

“I am proud of our students,” said Thomas More College President Dr. William Fahey. “This is a tremendous act of bearing witness to the culture of life.  Our College’s commitment to defend the sanctity of life can be clearly seen in the actions of its students.  I am confident that young people like this will lead in our country the renewal of culture.”