Tony Perkins
President
(FRC) Family
Research Council
(P.O. Box 2339, Holland, MI 49422-2339)
801 G Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Ph: 202-393-2100, FAX: 202-393-2134; (800) 225-4008; frc.org
ADVANCING FAITH, FAMILY AND FREEDOM
March 2014
Dear Friend,
If you believe as I do, that natural
marriage is culturally, legally, and most importantly, biblically, the union
between one man and one woman, I need you to act now. The opponents of natural
marriage are moving quickly not only to legalize, but also normalize, same-sex
"marriage." And they're
getting lots of help from the
Obama administration.
There
has never been a time more critical to join Family Research Council (FRC) in
the defense of natural marriage than right now. FRC will need your continued
financial support if we are to prevail over radical homosexual, lesbian, and
transgender groups who have now been joined by the federal government in an
all-out push to undermine natural marriage by forcing Americans to celebrate
what God calls sin.
But
before you prayerfully consider the amount of your March gift to FRC, I have an
important request. Please [request for and] add your name to the Family
Research Council's Faith, Family, and Freedom Declaration. It is my goal to
present your name along with thousands of others to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.
As
you may know, Senator Cruz is one of the most ardent defenders of natural
marriage in Congress. He fought hard in support of the federal Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA). He has also successfully defended Texas marriage laws from federal interference.
By
adding your name to the Faith, Family, and Freedom Declaration, you will not
only show Senator Cruz that you support him for all he has done to affirm
natural marriage, but you will also demonstrate to his colleagues in the Senate
that . . .
SAME-SEX "MARRIAGE" IS NOT
GOOD FOR AMERICA!
This
fact is obvious to people like you and me who can cite reason after rational
reason why the sanctity of marriage should only apply to the covenant
relationship between one man and one woman.
Yet,
many of your friends and neighbors have been deceived by the endless propaganda
of the radical Left in the media, in the schools and, sadly, in some churches
and ministries. Today America is apparently equally divided on the issue of
same-sex "marriage." According to January 2014 statistics, 47 percent
of Americans oppose same-sex "marriage" while 47 percent favor it.
This
is a seismic shift from a decade ago when a wide majority opposed same-sex
"marriage." But the fact remains, nearly half of all Americans still
oppose same-sex "marriage" and 33 states have constitutional
amendments and laws on the books supporting natural marriage. Sadly, these . .
.
State laws protecting natural marriage
are in grave danger of being overturned by the White House and its lawless
Department of Justice!
In a
recent Wall Street Journal article, Senator
Cruz criticized the President for his "willingness to disregard the
written law and instead enforce his own policies by executive fiat."
Rather than carry out his constitutional duty, the President has blatantly
refused to enforce the laws he does not agree with and to rule without the
consent of Congress by abusing executive orders.
Nowhere
is this "persistent pattern of lawlessness" more evident than the
President's targeting of natural marriage and, to a greater extent, religious liberty.
In
1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which
FRC had helped develop and promote. During his entire administration, President
Obama has made it clear that he would not defend this law in court. In other
words, he chose to ignore it.
In
May of 2012, President Obama told ABC News that, "I think that same-sex
couples should be able to get married." Since then there has been a
growing concern about federal interference in state laws which protect natural
marriage. Now that concern seems to be well-founded.
A
couple of months ago, Federal Judge Robert Shelby declared that Utah's amendment
protecting natural marriage was unconstitutional; Fortunately, the Supreme
Court put this controversial ruling on hold until the appeals court could weigh
in. However, it seems that the
Obama administration is not as concerned about
the voters of Utah as the Supreme Court is.
In a
shocking revelation, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder vowed that he would do
what the state of Utah and the Supreme Court would not:
"I am confirming today that for purposes of
federal law, these [same-sex] marriages will be recognized as lawful and
considered eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as
other same-sex marriages."
So
despite the fact that the voters of Utah confirmed natural marriage as the law
of the state—and despite the Supreme Court's ruling and despite the part of
DOMA that still is the law— President
Obama's Department of Justice will offer
more than 1.000 federal benefits to same-sex couples, who, under Utah law,
aren't even legally "married"!
What
this means for the 32 other states with laws that affirm natural marriage is
frightening:
The same-sex "marriage"
bullies in Washington
will force their
opinions on your state!
And
they'll distort the meaning of the l4th Amendment to the
Constitution to make sure that men and men, and women and women, will be able
to legally wed! But it won't stop there!
Marriage
as we know it will become like Silly Putty By that I mean it will be
"stretched" to become anything the liberal elements of our country
want it to be. If natural marriage is so reduced that it becomes meaningless,
then anything goes.
"Marriage"
could soon include a union of three men and two women or a union of a man and
his adult niece. I am not trying to be facetious but if natural marriage goes,
then there is no logical legal argument to limit marriage to two people.
We simply CANNOT allow same-sex
"marriage"
to destroy
what God has ordained!
So
what do we do? There are some who think that separating religious marriage from
civil marriage is a reasonable compromise. Not so!
This
so-called "compromise" is something Christians need to avoid at all
costs. It would lead us down a path that would divide our spiritual and secular
lives. All that we are is under the Lordship of
Jesus Christ. Marriage is both
religious and civil because our society and children cannot succeed without it.
We should never retreat an inch when it comes to natural marriage.
If
you look at this issue from a broad perspective, it is about much more than
marriage. It is about . . .
Protecting religious freedom!
The
attack on natural marriage is but one front on a much wider war against freedom
of religion—and Christianity in particular. It is getting so bad that
Christians are being intimidated, persecuted, and punished, not for anything
they've done, but simply for expressing what they believe.
Examples
of this systematic persecution are all over the news and internet.
Phil
Robertson was initially fired from Duck Dynasty because he honestly answered a
question about his views on marriage.
Sportscaster
Craig James was fired from Fox Sports for virtually the same thing though his
comments were made some time before when he was a candidate for the U.S.
Senate.
A young
sergeant found his 20-year military career threatened simply because he
believes that marriage is reserved for one man and one woman.
No,
we must not shrink back. If ever there was a time to stand firm, it is now. And
that is exactly what FRC, with your continued support, will do. By taking on a
conservative red state such as Utah—a state that strongly affirms natural
marriage—the Holder Justice Department hopes to force other states where
traditional values prevail to buckle under to the administration's goal to
transform America.
We
must let the people of Utah,
and any other state where natural marriage is threatened, know that FRC and its
supporters all over the country stand with them. The FRC team is currently
working on Capitol Hill to encourage members of Congress to support legislation
to protect state laws on marriage and prevent federal discrimination against
Americans who have religious beliefs supporting natural marriage.
But
just as importantly, FRC is mobilizing conservatives nationwide to get
involved. We must stand in the gap against this lawless administration. And
there is a real danger to our religious freedom if we retreat, pull up the
drawbridge, and abandon our culture to those who think faith, family, and
freedom are dirty words. We must be salt and light in our nation.
In
the coming months, FRC will step up its efforts to encourage more Christians
like you to get involved in the fight to defend natural marriage. We'll provide
resources and other support to state leaders who are under fire for opposing
same-sex "marriage." We'll continue to broadcast the truth on our
daily radio program in an effort to counter the lies about same-sex
"marriage." And we'll give you the sound research on why natural
marriage is so important to the very foundation of our country.
In
fact, I've enclosed some information for you, it's called . . .
"Ten Reasons Why Natural Marriage
Matters."
It
will give you excellent talking points on why natural marriage is so critical
to our country today. And if you want even more in-depth research, you can go
to frc.org. What's important is that you
commit to stand firm in the defense of natural marriage. And a good way to do
that is to support FRC financially. I have every reason to believe that the
Obama administration would like FRC to go away. In a way, I take this as a
compliment because it shows just how effective FRC has been in opposing his
agenda to marginalize our faith.
But
the FRC team cannot take the credit for all that FRC has done to advance faith,
family, and freedom over the years. We could not have done it without you. Your
faithful gifts literally keep us going. Please give whatever you can now,
knowing that the future of natural marriage and religious freedom in America depends on your generosity to FRC at this critical time.
Please
prayerfully consider giving a generous donation today. Your gift, no matter how
large or small, will be an investment in preserving natural marriage and
religious freedom in America.
Thank
you for your prayers and generous support.
Standing
(Ephesians 6:13),
Tony
Perkins President
P.S. When you
send in your donation to FRC, don't forget to add your name to [requested]
Family Research Council's Faith, Family, and Freedom Declaration. It is my goal
to gamer MILLIONS of names nationwide and then present
them to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz who has been at the forefront of the fight to
defend natural marriage in America.
By
adding your name to the Faith, Family, and Freedom Declaration, you will show
Senator Cruz that you support his efforts in defense of natural marriage and
encourage him to convince his colleagues in the Senate that . . .
SAME-SEX "MARRIAGE" IS NOT
GOOD FOR AMERICA!
[Please
request for the Faith, Family, and Freedom Declaration (FRC, P.O. Box 2339, Holland, MI 49422-2339)!]
********************
Ten Reasons why Natural Marriage Matters
1.
Marriage is based
on the biological fact that reproduction depends on a man and a woman, and the
reality that children need a mother and a father.
2.
Marriage is the
building block of all human civilization and benefits society in a way that tio other relationship does.
3.
Studies
consistently show that children do better when raised by a married mom and dad.
Redefining marriage will hurt children.
4.
Without both moms
and dads, families more often depend on welfare.
5.
Redefining
marriage defies biblical truth. It denigrates marriage to whatever whim the
government or the culture say it is.
6.
Pushing out
traditional views on the family leads to the erosion of religious liberty.
7.
Redefining
marriage makes marriage about adult desires instead of the needs of children.
8.
Natural marriage
is society's best guarantee of a limited government that stays out of family
life.
9.
Extending
marriage to same-sex couples will eventually lead to defining virtually every
emotional relationship, including polygamy and polygamy, as
"marriage."
10. The redefinition of marriage will arm the government
to coerce Christians to recognize and affirm same-sex relationships.
*******************
ADVANCING FAITH, FAMILY AND FREEDOM
February 14, 2014
Dear
Friend,
[Partial
letter] Ronald Reagan once said, "I
believe that the most essential element of our defense of freedom is our
insistence on speaking out for the cause of religious liberty."
Consider
that for a moment. Like the Founders before him, President Reagan understood
that religious freedom is the hinge upon which all of our liberties turn. If we
don't acknowledge God as the source of our freedoms, then government will be
the only source—and eliminate our freedoms as it pleases. That's what is
happening today!
President Reagan also wisely observed
that "The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect
this country from religious values; it was written to protect religious values from
government tyranny"
Unfortunately,
the First Amendment has not deterred a new generation of tyrants—so-called "progressives"—from launching
out-and-out war against the Christian faith.
Despite
the forces arrayed against us, which include the
Obama administration, Family
Research Council (FRC) is calling on you now to . . .
REFUSE TO SURRENDER.
It
takes courage and vision and faith to stand for religious liberty today. But I
believe are among those courageous Americans who are willing to stand—who will
never surrender. And that's why I'm asking you to take a stand today.
Even
though the vast majority of Americans agree with you and me about the
importance of our First Amendment rights, it is important that from time to
time we demonstrate for those in government and the media that Americans still
believe that . . .
Faith cannot be silenced by government edict . . .
True religion cannot be confined within four walls . . .
Biblical truth cannot take a backseat to radical
social policy!
But to do this, FRC needs your help . . . [Request
for] the Family Research Council 2014
Religious Freedom Declaration.
By signing this landmark document, you will demonstrate to those who want to
destroy America's Christian heritage that you stand with FRC and will
not waiver in defense of religious liberty.
Imagine
the impact of hundreds of thousands of signed declarations of belief on elected
officials, many of whom are being told Christian faith has no place in the
public square. The radical progressives—whose goal is a completely secular America—must realize . . .
Christians cannot be bullied!
Already
the tide is turning because the attacks on Christians have been so outrageous
that the public is realizing how intolerant the liberal ruling elite really is. Just look at the way the aggressive attack on "Duck
Dynasty" TV star, Phil Robertson, backfired.
Here's
a guy who simply said what he believed according to the Bible and all of a
sudden he finds himself in a huge firestorm. Within hours of when his interview
in GQ magazine hit the streets, the homosexual activists from GLAAD (Gay and
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) went on a feeding
frenzy like a school of sharks. The A&E network buckled under the pressure
and kicked Phil off the show not for anything he had done . . . but for
expressing his beliefs.
But
the American people pushed back. They didn't let the mouthpiece for the
estimated 3 percent of the population that identifies as homosexual get away
with its bullying this time. A&E reconsidered what was at stake—losing the
audience of one of the most successful shows in cable history—and reinstated Phil.
But
other victims of the liberal attack machine have not been so fortunate. Craig
James, a former NFL running back, was fired in 2013 from his job as a FOX
Sports commentator because he said that the homosexual lifestyle "is a
choice" during his prior bid for the U.S. Senate in 2012.
It
is truly frightening for freedom of speech in this country if a candidate for
public office cannot be honest and respond to his constituents about where he
stands on the issues for fear of reprisals such as losing his job.
So
what lesson can we learn from these two recent attacks on religious liberty and
freedom of speech? If we Christians stand up for biblical truth, as we did on
behalf of Phil Robertson, we can and will win the fight to freely live and
express our faith. If we remain silent, as many Christians did during the
persecution of Craig James, we will be marginalized, censored, and intimidated
by the lies and distortions of the Left.
Now is not the time to shrink back.
There is no question that the biblical values
that made the
United States the great nation that it is, are in grave danger.
The
Obama administration, Hollywood, the mainstream media, and radical anti-faith
groups such as GLAAD, Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the ACLU are moving
full steam ahead to remake America in their image. They are using all of their
power and influence to tear down the pillars of morality, biblical truth, and
Christian virtue.
Without
religious freedom, we are defenseless no matter what the issue. It could be
stopping the homosexual agenda or abortion. It could be strengthening natural
marriage or feeding the poor or educating our children. If we are unable to
operate according to our Christian faith, we will not have the ability to
impact our culture in a meaningful and genuine way.
There
is a reason the Founders made religious liberty America's First Freedom. Without it, all other freedoms
crumble. George Washington said it
best when he wrote, "The liberty
enjoyed by the people of these states of worshipping Almighty God agreeable to
their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also
of their rights."
The
Obama White House sneers at such "outdated" interference with their
agenda. Chai Feldblum, a
key figure in the
Obama administration, has insisted that when
religious liberty clashes with sexual expression that she has "a hard time coming up
with any case in which religious liberty should win."
This
worldview is chilling. Under President
Obama, religious freedom> will always
take a backseat to every radical social policy. Take the HHS Mandate in
ObamaCare that requires religious employers like Hobby Lobby or the Little Sisters of the Poor to cover
contraceptives and drugs that can destroy human embryos. The President does not care if it is in direct conflict with your orthodox
religious beliefs that you should not be forced to pay for pills that can act
like an abortion.
The
President often says he supports the freedom of worship. But in reality, he
wants you to put your faith in a box and only let you pull it out Sunday
morning—in private—for an hour or two.
If
there ever was a time when Christians need to publicly speak the truth in love
with one voice, it is now. We cannot be
cowed into silence and lose our voice for lack of courage.
We not only need to speak out loudly for
religious freedom,
but we need to
speak TOGETHER!
FRC is willing to lead the charge as we continue to . . .
Work
with key legislators to counter anti-Christian policies and convince
legislators how certain legislation and executive orders will eliminate
religious freedom in America.
Spearhead
a coalition of organizations to save religious freedom.
File
legal briefs on behalf of Christian business owners who have been threatened or
punished for trying to run their businesses according to the teachings of the
Bible.
Employ FRC's tremendous media influence to speak out for religious liberty
and defend persecuted Christians such as Phil Robertson and Craig
James.
Train,
encourage and equip pastors in tens of thousands of churches across the country
to encourage their congregations not to shrink from their responsibility to
live their faith and be a witness to our culture.
This last focus of FRC is particularly
important: We must reject the notion
that our "worship" on Sunday is separate from our Christian life
every day, and in every place. Our religious values—and religious freedom—apply
to every part of life and we will not surrender them!
And
right now, the work before us will be challenging. Because of the animosity the
radical Left has toward Christians, it is tempting to respond in anger. But we
must not adopt their methods. We need to speak the truth in love, but
nevertheless proclaim the truth boldly.
I
trust you understand this God-given mission . . . and that you understand the
immense weight of this moment in history. That's why I have turned to you to be
among the first to receive and . . .
[Request for and] Sign the FRC 2014
Religious Freedom Declaration.
It
will show me in a very tangible way that you stand with FRC in our battle to
preserve and protect religious liberty, not only for today but for generations
to come. Knowing that you are behind FRC gives us the courage to go on even
when our opposition is emboldened and we face incredible obstacles.
Most important is the impact of FRC's ability to demonstrate that we have hundreds of thousands
of signatures of people of faith when we talk to the powers that be in Washington. This could
very well drown out the small but strident minority that is radicalizing America and
undermining our biblical heritage.
In
addition to [requesting for,] signing and returning your
Religious Freedom Declaration, would you also help FRC in two crucial ways?
First, remember to pray for us daily that we might be protected by the whole
armor of God in our fight to preserve religious liberty in America. Even in the most trying situations, we can remain
steadfast knowing that you are holding us up in prayer.
Second, give generously to the work of FRC. You can't even begin to imagine
how important your continued financial support is. We are up against incredibly
well-funded, radical organizations—not to mention the vast resources of the
White House. We can never hope to match them dollar for dollar but God has a
way of making the most of our limited funds. Like the boy who gave his lunch to
Jesus, the effect of your gift now
will be multiplied many times over.
So
please give generously. Your contribution . . . will help FRC make sure that
religious liberty will prevail in America. Thank you so much for your gift and for standing
with FRC. God bless you and God bless America.
Standing
(Ephesians 6:13),
Tony
Perkins
President
P.S. [Request for] ...the Family Research Council 2014 Religious Freedom Declaration.
Please sign this important document and return it with your gift to FRC within
15 days. By signing this declaration you will be standing alongside George
Washington, America's Founders, Ronald Reagan, and more great figures in our
God-guided history. You will demonstrate to those who want to destroy America's Christian heritage that you stand with FRC and refuse to surrender in the defense of religious liberty
(FRC, P.O. Box 2339, Holland, MI 49422-2339).
********************
Lieutenant General William G.
"Jerry" Boykin
United States Army, Retired 1971-2007
Executive Vice President
Family
Research Council
(P.O. Box 2339, Holland, MI 49422-2339)
ADVANCING FAITH, FAMILY AND FREEDOM
I
urge you to immediately sign the [requested] enclosed petition to PRESERVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE MILITARY and speed it back to me right away. It is
addressed to U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel...
... and it
urges him to reverse the Pentagon's reported plan to court-martial members of
the Armed Forces including Chaplains who profess their Christian Faith.
Yes,
it's true! Because what President
Obama's bureaucrats at the Pentagon
mean by a ban on "religious proselytizing" is NOT a ban on religious coercion (which already is
illegal)...
... if implemented, it
will become an outright ban on the free exercise of our Faith as individual
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.
That
means President
Barack Obama's war on
our religious liberty and Christian Faith has now entered a new and
alarming phase that may very well criminalize any mention of God and His Word
in the military.
As a veteran of over 36 years in the United States
Army, and one of the founding members of Delta Force, I could not be angrier at this betrayal of the very
principles I and my brothers in arms fought under fire to defend...
... and I'll give you the
disturbing details of this latest assault by the
Obama Administration on our
religious liberty in a moment.
But
first, please, without any further delay, [request for and] sign your petition
to PRESERVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE MILITARY
and return it to me today. Your petition is a key component of a
major, nationwide campaign we have launched to expose this
anti-Christian scheme and prevent it from ever being implemented.
This
effort will include utilizing our allies in conservative media, in Congress, in
the military itself and, of course, the American people...
... and that's where your
petition to PRESERVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE MILITARY comes in.
It
is one of thousands of petitions we are distributing across the country today
that will soon be flooding into Secretary Hagel's
office in the Pentagon. I urge you to [request for,] sign and return it today.
Because make no mistake: This is a clear and present danger that will strike
like a dagger into the heart of military morale and eventually the religious freedom of all Americans.
Please,
let me explain. My name is Lt. General
William G. "Jerry" Boykin. For 36 years, I served our nation as a
U.S. Army special operations professional and counter-terrorism expert in Vietnam, Iran, Grenada, Somalia, Panama, Afghanistan and countless other military operations around the
world.
I
also was a founding member of Delta Force, a Commander of the U.S. Army Green
Berets, and a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence before retiring
with three stars.
Throughout
nearly four decades of military service, I routinely went into combat against
fanatical enemies who hated our liberty and way of life and were determined to
destroy it. I, and the men and women I had the honor of serving with, were just
as determined to preserve that liberty and way of life... and throughout all
those wars and battles...
... I never once thought we would not
prevail.
To
the contrary, I went into battle with the full knowledge that I was on the side
of right and that our Lord and Savior was my protector and inspiration.
Today,
I am fighting a different battle in a different uniform. It is not a battle I
ever thought I would have to fight because it never occurred to me that there
could ever be a bigger threat to our religious liberty than the ones I fought
on those distant shores... but I was wrong.
Because
the biggest threat to our religious liberty today
comes from within the very government I served and within the
very Pentagon I once worked. I am not talking about the common Soldier, Sailor,
Airman, or Marine. Nor am I talking about their uniformed leadership. I am
talking about
Barack Obama and his civilian appointees who have been, slowly
but surely, chipping away at military discipline, readiness, and morale.
First,
it was the banning of Christian Bibles in war zones like Afghanistan. Then it was the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and forcing open homosexuality on our
nation's military at a time of great stress on military personnel and their
families.
Soon
afterward, without any thought to the practicable consequences,
Barack Obama
and his followers announced that women would be placed in direct combat roles.
And now comes an assault on
Christianity and religious liberty
in the United States military...
... an outright ban on the
open expression of Christian Faith ANYWHERE in the United States Armed Forces!
That's
right! If there was ever any doubt that this President and his Administration
are anti-Christian and anti-religious liberty, this story should put those
doubts to rest.
As I
rush you this urgent appeal, Secretary of
Defense Chuck Hazel and other civilian appointees to the Pentagon are working
with the notorious anti-Christian Mikey Weinstein
to develop policies that could result in court-martial procedures to punish
Christians in the military who express, or share, their Faith.
Weinstein
is the head of the Orwellian named "Military Religious Freedom Foundation" and has publicly stated that
Christians — including Chaplains
— sharing the Gospel of
Jesus Christ in the military are guilty of "
treason" and "enemies of the Constitution."
He
has even gone as far as declaring that Christians who express their Faith to
others in the military are committing an act of "spiritual rape" as serious a
crime as "sexual assault." You can't make
this stuff up!
But
make no mistake: Weinstein and his fellow secularists and atheists in charge of
President
Obama's Pentagon are serious and as a result — Christian Soldiers, Sailors. Airmen and Marines are now in serious jeopardy.
Being
convicted in a court-martial means an Armed Service member has committed a
crime under federal military law. Punishment
can include being dishonorably discharged from the military and even imprisoned...
... and if Weinstein and his
Obama Pentagon allies have their way,
... the United States military will soon remove references to Christianity
and make it a
crime under military law for anyone, even on a one-time basis
between close friends, in uniform to openly share and/or express their Faith.
This
new policy would also, incredibly,
forbid a Chaplain from saying anything about his Faith that someone could claim
was encouraging another service member to make that Faith a part of his or her
life. This is ridiculous!
How
on earth can a Chaplain do his or her job WITHOUT
talking of his or her Faith!
As I
am sure you know, Chaplains are military officers who
are ordained clergymen of their Faith (primarily Catholic Priests, Christian
Pastors, or Jewish Rabbis). As I am sure you also know,
Chaplains have been an essential part of the United States military since the days of George Washington.
Since
our revolutionary beginning, Chaplains have played a critical role, both on and
off the battlefield, in teaching their Faith and ministering to the spiritual
needs of troops who come to them for counsel, instruction, and comfort.
I
know I often relied on Chaplains to help me deal with all that I saw and
experienced in combat — and so did many of my fellow warriors. Chaplains help undergird the morals that are necessary for our military to
function successfully and honorably... a military without morals is a
frightening thought.
They
are deeply ingrained in our history and our military, from Valley Forge to Gettysburg, to Normandy, to the Chosin Reservoir,
to la Drang, to Fallujah...
... and that is ANOTHER reason Chaplains are now in the
crosshairs of
Barack Obama's Pentagon bureaucrats.
My
friend, the enemies I fought in many places across the globe never tried to
hide their hatred for Christianity, for liberty, and for America. They made clear their mission was to destroy us and
our way of life. But at least we knew
who the enemy was. We could find them,
engage them, and defeat them.
But,
in the conflict I am writing you about today, the enemy of liberty does not
live and fight in a jungle, a village, an ancient Arab city, or in the vastness
of the desert. They live and wage this war within the halls of President
Obama's federal government and Pentagon... the SAME government I worked for,
and the SAME Pentagon I once worked in.
As a Soldier,
as a Christian, and as an American, I will not and cannot
stand for that. Which is why I have rushed you this letter today... and why I hope you will agree to join me and
the Family Research Council (FR C) in our fight to take back our
religious liberty, our military and our country. We must speak for the troops who cannot oppose their superiors,
including the Commander in Chief.
When
I left the United States Army, I thought my fighting days were over — but I
learned quickly they were really just beginning. Not long after I retired, I
was scheduled to give a speech at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point for the "National Day of Prayer."
But,
to my surprise, I was asked to cancel my visit after the Pentagon received
complaints from a pro-Islamic group and from atheist groups that said my
Christian Faith made me too "controversial." At the time, I was
shocked. But in retrospect, I now believe it was God's way of telling me that I
now had a second calling...
... and when the FRC's
President, Tony Perkins, asked me to join with him as FRC's
Executive Vice President in the fight for faith, family and freedom, I knew
this was where God wanted me.
It
was the perfect place for me to begin my new mission of defending our
religious liberty and our Christian Faith and values.
Since
1983, Family Research Council has advanced, faith, family, and freedom in
public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview. Our team of seasoned
experts promotes these core values through policy research, public education on
Capitol Hill, and in the media and grassroots mobilization.
We review legislation, meet with policymakers, conduct
research, publish books and pamphlets,
build coalitions, testify before Congress, maintain a major presence online and in
the print and broadcast media — including our own daily radio show, and equip churches to transform the culture
through our ever-expanding outreach to pastors.
We
are using every tool at our disposal in Washington, D.C. and across the country for our Judeo-Christian values
and our traditional family and patriotic values, including:
++ "Washington Watch with Tony Perkins," our new nationwide radio
show which is already heard daily on 150 stations.
++ Our expert
policy team on Capitol Hill which is working with leaders in Congress to
ensure that public policies are shaped through a Biblical Worldview and
supported with the latest social science research.
++ Our nationwide
network of 23,000 Pastors and churches to encourage their congregations to
exercise their constitutional rights and turn up the heat on our leaders when
they attempt to radicalize America and silence Christians in the public square.
++ Our state-of-the-art website frc.org) and social media operations. Over, please...
++ Massive
petition campaigns like the one I have introduced to you today.
A large, and yes, expensive agenda to be sure. But, anything less will not be enough. Which is why, in addition to
your signed petition to PRESERVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE MILITARY...
... I hope you will also speed back a much-needed,
most generous, and tax- deductible donation of $25, $35, $50, $75 or $100, to
Family Research Council today.
Please,
the petition portion of this effort alone could cost in excess of $4.25
million. So if there is any way you could send as much as $250, $500, $1,000 or
more, God bless you, that would be a huge boost to
this effort. But no amount you send today
will be too small — and every
petition will count.
So
again, please, without any further delay:
1) [request for and] sign your petition to
PRESERVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE MILITARY; and
2) rush it back to me
today along with your most generous gift of $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 or
more to FRC.
Thank
you. God bless you. And may God give us the strength and perseverance for the
many challenges that lay ahead.
Sincerely
Lt.
General (Ret.) Willia G. "Jerry" Boykin
Executive
Vice President
P. S. I know
that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is a liberal and
that he was the first choice of
Barack Obama to replace Leon Panetta earlier
this year and that some may find this discouraging. But, I also know that Chuck Hagel was a fellow
combat veteran of Vietnam who would have seen firsthand the invaluable role
Faith and Chaplains played in comforting those who have seen the true horror of
war. That why I think
he will hear our voices and take your petition seriously.
But,
once the military's ban on "
religious proselytizing"
is cemented in place, it may be impossible to undo. So
please, without any delay: [Request for,] Sign
your petition and speed it and ypjr most generous
donation of $25, $35. $50. $75, $100
or more to the FRC today (FRC, P.O. Box 2339, Holland, MI 49422-2339).
********************
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM TONY
PERKINS
PRESIDENT • FAMILY RESEARCH
COUNCIL • www.frc.org/
I
hope you will carefully read the very important letter you have received from
our Executive Vice President, Lt. General William G. Boykin.
General
Boykin is a true American patriot, and an outstanding Christian man who has put
it all on the line to defend our nation, our liberty and our Faith. We are
fortunate to now have him on our FRC team as we work to defend our
religious liberty here at home.
We
are especially fortunate to have him leading our battle against the Pentagon's
unthinkable plan to ban the free expression of our Christian Faith in the Armed
Forces.
General
Boykin knows firsthand the incredible role God's Word and comfort have played
in preserving the morale of American Soldiers as far back as the beginning of
the nation during the Revolutionary War.
He
also knows how indispensable Chaplains are, before, during, and after a
firefight, to our men and women in uniform who have seen the horror of war up
close and personal.
We
are proud to have him leading the charge against this un-American ban on
liberty in our military. This is a mission we must engage for those
who serve in uniform because military rules prevent service members from
countering directives from superiors.
We
would be equally proud to have you on our Family Research Council team because
the truth is, to turn back the
Obama Administration's assaults on our Christian
Faith and religious liberty, we are going to need every
person of Faith we can
muster on our FRC team.
So
please, again, read General Boykin's letter.
Then
join Family Research Council (FRC) and help us achieve our mission of
preserving religious liberty, Faith and family in America today and for all time.
Thank
you. And God bless.
Standing
(Ephesians 6:13),
Tony
Perkins
President
P. S. Please
be sure to [request for and] sign your petition to PRESERVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE MILITARY and to speed it back to
us today along with your much-needed, most generous, and tax-deductible gift of
$25, $35, $50, $75, $100 or more to the Family Research Council today (FRC, P.O. Box 2339, Holland, MI 49422-2339).