A WordPress Blog-THE CHURCH MILITANT Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse. ALL CONTENT FROM HTTPS://RATHEREXPOSETHEM.BLOGSPOT.COM MOVED TO THIS NEW BLOG, MAY 2020
Drag Queen Lil’ Miss Hot Mess meets Kids for Story Hour at NY Library!!! “‘HER’ HIPS GO SWISH, SWISH, SWISH” ROUTINE GROOMS VERY YOUNG CHILDREN TO ACCEPT QUEER LIFETYLE
“LIL HOT MESS” ROLE MODEL FOR IMPRESSIONABLE CHILDREN OF VERY SICK PARENTS
Michelle Tea, Lil Miss Hot Mess, Rachel Aimee, and Jennifer Baumgardner
at the Brooklyn Public Library Park Slope Branch. Photo: Feminist Press. https://www.dragqueenstoryhour.org/ PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY HOSTS “DRAG QUEEN STORY HOURS” FOR CHILDREN
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
BROOKLYN, N.Y. —“Who wants to be a drag
queen when they grow up?” That’s the question a man dressed as a woman
recently asked children attending “Drag Queen Story Hour” (DQSH) at a
public library in New York.
Since last fall, the Brooklyn Public Library in Park Slope
has been offering the storytime for children, bringing in various drag
queens to read children’s books about homosexuality, gender identity and
“non-conformity,” and “general youth discomfort.” It’s one of several cities across the country—including San
Francisco and Los Angeles—who have signed on to the program, created by
Michelle Tea of Radar Productions.
“DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender
fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and
unabashedly queer role models,” the website for the effort reads.
Last Saturday, a man who dresses as a woman and identifies
as “Lil Hot Mess” appeared at the Brooklyn Public Library in a silver
sequin dress smathered with rainbow stickers. He read the book “Worm
Loves Worm”—a story about “marriage equality”—to the group of children
and their parents. Following the reading, he led the children in a song and
dance, singing, “The hips on the drag queen go swish, swish, swish” and
“The heels on the drag queen go higher, higher.”
Kate Savage, a representative at the library, praised the event as being “fantastic.”
“[I]t addresses all of these issues of gender fluidity and
self-acceptance and all these topics that are real,” she told the
Associated Press.
However, the idea has also been met with concern and dismay.
“It’s not getting pushed on children, they said. Now they’ve
got drag queens asking them directly, ‘Who wants to be a drag queen
when you grow up?’ Indoctrination is never cool,” one commenter wrote.
“Why on earth would you expose impressionable minds to
someone who is obviously mentally confused?” another asked. “We should
be reinforcing gender identity and not adding to the chaos of this very
mixed-up world. You are either born male or female; there is no gray
area.”
“You have got to be kidding me. You can’t talk about Jesus,
but you can teach from the Koran and now this garbage, which a majority
of American families are against!” a third wrote.
In addition to the Park Slope location, the event has been
held at the Aguilar Branch Library, the New York Public Library, the
Tompkins Square Library, and the Hudson Park Library in the city, as
well as the Humboldt County Library in Eureka, California. In San Francisco, the program is part of a wider effort called “Queering the Castro,” according to the San Francisco Gate.
“The Castro is predominantly a white gay men’s space now,”
Radar Executive Director Delgado Lopera told the outlet. “This project
is about taking back the radically queer roots of the neighborhood. With
art and literature, we’re doing a series of interventions and bringing
in other queer folks into that space.”
_________________________________________________________
CATHOLICS TOO WANT TO LEARN FROM MS. TEA:
Michelle Tea Reads From Black Wave at the Catholic St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York
Published on Sep 29, 2016
St. Francis College welcomed author and editor Michelle Tea to share her just released novel, Black Wave on September 19, 2016.
Michelle
Tea is the author of five memoirs including the cult-classic Valencia,
now a feature-length film created in collaboration with twenty-one
filmmakers; the illustrated Rent Girl, and most recently How to Grow Up,
currently in development for television. Her four novels include Rose
of No Man’s Land and a trilogy of young adult fantasy novels – Mermaid
in Chelsea Creek, Girl at the Bottom of the Sea and the forthcoming
Castle on the River Vistula. Also forthcoming is Modern Tarot, a how-to
guide. Tea is the author of the poetry collection The Beautiful, and has
edited anthologies on class, fashion, queerness and first-person
narratives. Her writing has appeared in Harper’s, Marie Claire, n+1,
California Sunday Magazine, The Believer, Buzzfeed, The Rumpus and
elsewhere. Her popular blog Getting Pregnant with Michelle Tea, ran for
the duration of her quest for pregnancy on xoJane.com. She has done
extensive literary organizing in queer and feminist communities,
co-creating the long-running performance tour Sister Spit and founding
the literary non-profit RADAR Productions. Tea is the former editor of
Sister Spit Books, an imprint of City Lights, and the current editor of
Amethyst Editions, a Feminist Press series.
“STORY HOUR IN THE LIBRARY” AT U.C. BERKELEY
FOR THOSE OPEN TO LGBTQ TRASH BOOKS & LIBRARY READINGS
This Is Joe Biggs With Infowars.com and today I want to talk about Liberal Madness and the brainwashing of our children.
This is a video about Lil miss hot mess a drag queen that teaches kids about sexuality.
One Parent said this “Drag Queen Story Hour is fantastic because it addresses all of these issues of gender fluidity.”
At the Brooklyn Public Library, Lil’ Miss Hot Mess reads to groups of children.
Well
I have a huge issue with this, this is not something I want around my
children or topics discussed around my children at this age. This is
disgusting that these liberal parents think it’s ok for this to happen.
Drag Queen Clown Entertains Small Children In Brooklyn New York Library (REACTION)
Published on May 18, 2017
New
York has been the recent face of east coast liberalism. Now, they have
taken that title a step too far. A Park Slope, Brooklyn public library
has been hosting events for very small children and their parents
hosted by a drag queen by the name of “Lil Miss Hot Mess.” The
aforementioned drag queen is of course a gay male who dresses as a woman
and entertains children. His dressed up look could be considered
similar to a traditional clown that also entertains children … but much
more… gay. “Hot Mess” can also be inappropriate (and is by many)
because of the way he entertains children and the fact that he
entertains children at all.
First of all, he has songs that he
recites with children, one of which is an altered version of “The Wheels
on the Truck Go Round and Round.” His new version of the song includes
the line “the hips on the drag queen go swish, swish, swish.” When
this line is sung, he can be seen visibly sashaying his hips while very
small children (toddler age) tend to sashay their hips with him. He
also asks the question “who wants to be a drag queen when they grow up?”
Many children in the audience raise their hands. Brooklyn New York
hosting an event like this could and should be considered a form of
child abuse.
Being against this type of behavior performed in
front of very small children has nothing to do with being anti-gay or
anti-intellectualism. Far from it. It’s the simple fact that children
should not be exposed to such mature things in a way that would require
them to use a sharp degree of discernment. Adults may be able to sit
through something like this and understand the difference between
fantasy and reality. But how about small children who are easily led in
the wrong direction? With still developing minds, this so-called
“entertainment” is nothing other than well-crafted indoctrination. And
the crazy parents who allow it to take place are in on it.
On
May 11th, 2017, Robert Spencer spoke in Reykjavik, Iceland. Following
his presentation, a critic dropped poison in Spencer’s drink. Increased
assassinations, it seems, are the next step in the devolution of the
radical Left. The medical report, confirming multiple drugs were slipped
into Spencer’s drink, has been posted online here: http://www.wnd.com/2017/05/doctor-con….
TRUMP GLORIES WITH MUSLIMS; TRIES TO SELL TOLERANT, PEACEFUL WORLD VIEW ALONG WITH DEALS; BUT THE HATE, RAPE, MUTILATIONS, SLAVERY & DECAPITATIONS CONTINUE JUSTIFIED BY MOHAMMED’S SHARIA & JIHAD UNDER KORAN
BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY ACTIVIST
“Victim”Linda Sarsour’s Complete Lies:
“Muhammad was human rights activist, feminist,
first victim of ‘Islamophobia'”;
Would Rather Die a Martyr for Allah, Taking All
the Insults & Abuse “Racist Islamophobes” Dish Out
SARSOUR’S REVISIONIST ISLAMIC HISTORY
MRCTV Profile: Who Is Linda Sarsour, Really?
Published on Feb 17, 2017
Linda
Sarsour is one of the women who organized the Women’s March on
Washington back in January. She is being championed as a beacon of light
for women’s rights and a new leader of the modern feminist movement.
Sarsour
has been endorsed by the likes of Amnesty International, the Southern
Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Black Lives Matter (BLM), Sen. Bernie
Sanders, Rep. Keith Ellison, Van Jones, Sally Kohn, Susan Sarandon, Mark
Ruffalo, Shaun King and Russell Simmons.
But who is Linda Sarsour, really? Some interesting facts and statements from and about her can be unearthed with some digging.
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
“War is deceit,” said Muhammad, and the anti-Semitic, pro-Sharia Muslim “feminist” Linda Sarsour was listening. 1. Muhammad was a feminist?In reality, the Qur’an taught that men
are superior to women and should beat those from whom they “fear
disobedience”: “Men have authority over women because Allah has made the
one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to
maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts
because Allah has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear
disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.” —
Qur’an 4:34
Muhammad’s child bride, Aisha, says in a hadith that Muhammad “struck
me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: ‘Did you think
that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?’” — Sahih
Muslim 2127
The Qur’an likens a woman to a field (tilth), to be used by a man as
he wills: “Your women are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth as you
will” — Qur’an 2:223
It declares that a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man:
“Get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men,
then a man and two women, such as you choose, for witnesses, so that if
one of them errs, the other can remind her” — Qur’an 2:282
It allows men to marry up to four wives, and have sex with slave
girls also: “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with
the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if
you fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly, then only one, or one
that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent
you from doing injustice” — Qur’an 4:3
It rules that a son’s inheritance should be twice the size of that of
a daughter: “Allah directs you as regards your children’s inheritance:
to the male, a portion equal to that of two females” — Qur’an 4:11
It allows for marriage to pre-pubescent girls, stipulating that
Islamic divorce procedures “shall apply to those who have not yet
menstruated” — Qur’an 65:4
Islamic law stipulates that a man’s prayer is annulled if a dog or a
woman passes in front of him as he is praying. “Narrated ‘Aisha: The
things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said,
“Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey and a woman (if they pass in
front of the praying people).” I said, ‘You have made us (i.e. women)
dogs.’ I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in my bed between
him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I would slip
away. for I disliked to face him.” — Sahih Bukhari 1.9.490
Another hadith depicts Muhammad saying that the majority of the inhabitants of hell are women:
“I looked into Paradise and I saw that the majority of its people
were the poor. And I looked into Hell and I saw that the majority of its
people are women.” — Sahih Bukhari 3241; Sahih Muslim 2737
When asked about this, he explained:
“I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more
terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are
women.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Because of
their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allah?”
He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and
ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a
lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I
have never had anything good from you.’” — Sahih Bukhari 1052
And in another hadith:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) went out to the musalla (prayer place) on the day of Eid
al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr. He passed by the women and said, ‘O women! Give
charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of
Hell.’ They asked, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘You
curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen
anyone more deficient in intelligence and religious commitment than you.
A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.’ The women
asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is deficient in our intelligence and
religious commitment?’ He said, ‘Is not the testimony of two women equal
to the testimony of one man?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the
deficiency in her intelligence. Is it not true that a woman can neither
pray nor fast during her menses?’ The women said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This
is the deficiency in her religious commitment.’” — Sahih Bukhari 304
Another statement attributed to Muhammad: “If a husband calls his
wife to his bed [i.e. to have sexual relation] and she refuses and
causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning.” —
Sahih Bukhari 4.54.460 2. Muhammad was an animal rights activist?Do dogs count as animals?
Islam hates dogs: “Once Gabriel promised the Prophet (that he would
visit him, but Gabriel did not come) and later on he said, ‘We, angels,
do not enter a house which contains a picture or a dog.’” — Sahih
Bukhari 4.54.50
“Abdullah (b. Umar) (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Allah’s
Messenger (may peace be upon him) ordered the killing of dogs and we
would send (men) in Medina and its corners and we did not spare any dog
that we did not kill, so much so that we killed the dog that accompanied
the wet she-camel belonging to the people of the desert.” — Sahih
Muslim 3811
“Ibn Mughaffal reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) ordered killing of the dogs, and then said: What about them, i. e.
about other dogs? and then granted concession (to keep) the dog for
hunting and the dog for (the security) of the herd, and said: When the
dog licks the utensil, wash it seven times, and rub it with earth the
eighth time.” — Sahih Muslim 551 3. Muhammad was a human rights activist?Do Jews count as humans? The
Qur’an depicts the Jews as fabricating things and falsely ascribing
them to Allah (2:79; 3:75, 3:181, 5:64); loving to listen to lies
(5:41); disobeying Allah and never observing his commands (5:13);
disputing and quarreling (2:247); hiding the truth and misleading people
(3:78); staging rebellion against the prophets and rejecting their
guidance (2:55); being hypocritical (2:14, 2:44); giving preference to
their own interests over the teachings of Muhammad (2:87); wishing evil
for people and trying to mislead them (2:109); feeling pain when others
are happy or fortunate (3:120); being arrogant about their being Allah’s
beloved people (5:18); devouring people’s wealth by subterfuge (4:161);
slandering the true religion and being cursed by Allah (4:46); killing
the prophets (2:61); being merciless and heartless (2:74); never keeping
their promises or fulfilling their words (2:100); being unrestrained in
committing sins (5:79); being cowardly (59:13-14); being miserly
(4:53); and more. It tells Muslims that Jews will be their worst enemies
(5:82) and that they’re under Allah’s curse (9:30), and that Muslims
must wage war against and subjugate them under the hegemony of Sharia,
denying them basic rights (9:29). 4. Muhammad was the first victim of “Islamophobia”? Isn’t that
putting the cart before the horse? Why would anyone have disliked
Muhammad other than because of what he said and did? Might statements of
his such as these, attributed to him in canonical ahadith, have
contributed to this climate of “Islamophobia”? “I have been made victorious through terror.” — Sahih Bukhari 4:52.220 “Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war…When
you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses
of action. If they respond to any one of these you also accept it and
withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept)
Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from
fighting against them…. If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them
the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your
hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight
them.” — Sahih Muslim 4294
“I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not
declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was
guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except
for the right affairs rest with Allah.” — Sahih Muslim 30 “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of
worship at the graves of their Prophets.” — Sahih Bukhari 1.8.427 __________________________________________________
Trump views exhibit on religious tolerance in Saudi Arabia, which allows only Islam
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
What a comic opera absurdity. Did President Trump ask King Salman
where the churches and synagogues and Hindu temples were in Saudi
Arabia? Did he ask the sinister little king how his exhibition of
tolerance and coexistence among different faiths squared with the Saudi Grand Mufti’s calling for the demolition of churches?
Did he ask Salman about Muhammad’s order as recorded in a hadith: “I
will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will
not leave any but Muslim.” (Sahih Muslim 19.4366)? Did he request, as a
foreign head of state, the honor of being given a tour of Mecca,
including a look inside the Ka’aba, and then ask how the fact that he is
not allowed to enter Mecca since he is not a Muslim squared with this
claim of “tolerance and coexistence among different faiths”?
Of course he didn’t. He went along with the charade, as Bush and
Obama would have done. Who knows, he may yet praise Islam’s glorious
tradition of tolerance while he is still in the Kingdom of the Two Holy
Places. It looks as if he has fallen headlong into the swamp, and the
hungry gators have gathered around for a good meal.
_______________________________________________________
While Haters are Busy Hating, Trump is Busy Making $380 Billion in Business Deals in Saudi Arabia
Here’s an idea: let’s elect a President who is really a Washington
outsider. Not just a politician who says he is, but a real outsider, but
one with experience in making deals and real business acumen, combined
with fierce patriotism, street smarts, and the right instincts on what
must be done to make America great again. Someone who will promise to
repair some of the immense damage that has been done domestically and
internationally over the last few decades by the political elites.
Someone who would, say, cancel the disastrous Iran deal and stop making
concessions to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and refusing all further
negotiations or concessions until they stop their genocidal rhetoric.
Someone who would, in short, drain the swamp.
I know, I know, it’s a pipe dream. But you never know. Maybe it could happen in 2020.
“Iran nuclear: Trump extends Obama’s ‘worst deal ever,’” BBC, May 17, 2017:
Donald Trump’s White House has renewed sanctions relief for Iran, despite the US president’s past criticism. The easing of sanctions is part of a crucial nuclear deal brokered in
2015 under then-President Barack Obama with five other world powers. Mr Trump has described the landmark agreement as the “worst deal ever”.
However, the US Treasury issued fresh sanctions against specific
officials and a Chinese business with links to Iran’s missile programme.
The move means that sanctions preventing any US companies selling to
or dealing with Iran will remain suspended for the time being.
In return, Iran has pledged to restrict its nuclear activities,
reducing its uranium enrichment, plutonium production plans, and
allowing inspectors access to facilities.
The new sanctions from the Treasury are much more specific in scope,
targeting two senior Iranian defence officials and suppliers of missile
equipment, in apparent retaliation for a recent missile test, and for
Iran’s support of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
US citizens and entities are now banned from dealing with the officials and companies involved.
However, the White House stopped short of failing to renew the
waivers on more widespread sanctions, which are not permanent and were
due to expire this week.
This is the first time Mr Trump has been faced with the issue, after
former President Obama renewed the agreement shortly before he left
office.
Mr Trump has consistently warned Iran over its missile activity, and
has criticised the terms of the deal made by Mr Obama – at one point
claiming his “number one priority” if elected would be “to dismantle the
disastrous deal”.
But the other nations involved in the agreement – including China,
Russia, and the UK – believe it is the best way to prevent Iran getting a
nuclear weapon. Since Mr Trump’s inauguration, his administration has also continued
to certify to Congress that Iran is upholding its part of the deal,
which it must do every 90 days….
NOTHING COMPARED TO OBAMA’S SPENDING TRILLIONS OF TAXPAYERS’ MONEY
DEAL WITH DEVILS:
President Trump Participates in the Signing Ceremony
President Trump Attends Opening of Global Center for Combating Extremism
Published on May 21, 2017
President
Trump, along with Egypt’s Abdel Fatah al-Sissi and Saudi Arabia’s King
Salman, opened the new Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology on
May 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
President Trump Participates in the Arab Islamic American Summit Riyadh
VIDEO & TEXT OF SPEECH:
EXCERPT: “A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists. Drive. Them. Out.
DRIVE THEM OUT of your places of worship.
DRIVE THEM OUT of your communities.
DRIVE THEM OUT of your holy land, and
DRIVE THEM OUT OF THIS EARTH.”
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
This is certainly a much more honest speech about the jihad threat than
any speech Barack Obama ever delivered, and Trump delivered it well to a
tough audience. How he follows up on it is all-important: will he
actually scrap Obama’s fantasy-based counterterror program and allow for
study of the motivating ideology of jihad terrorists, without which
there can be no effective response to the global jihad threat? We shall
see.
“Read full text of Trump’s Riyadh address to the Muslim world,” Jerusalem Post, May 21, 2017:
I want to thank King Salman for his extraordinary words,
and the magnificent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting today’s summit. I
am honored to be received by such gracious hosts. I have always heard
about the splendor of your country and the kindness of your citizens,
but words do not do justice to the grandeur of this remarkable place and
the incredible hospitality you have shown us from the moment we
arrived.
You also hosted me in the treasured home of King Abdulaziz, the
founder of the Kingdom who united your great people. Working alongside
another beloved leader – American President Franklin Roosevelt – King
Abdulaziz began the enduring partnership between our two countries. King
Salman: your father would be so proud to see that you are continuing
his legacy – and just as he opened the first chapter in our partnership,
today we begin a new chapter that will bring lasting benefits to our
citizens.
Let me now also extend my deep and heartfelt gratitude to each and
every one of the distinguished heads of state who made this journey here
today. You greatly honor us with your presence, and I send the warmest
regards from my country to yours. I know that our time together will
bring many blessings to both your people and mine.
I stand before you as a representative of the American People, to
deliver a message of friendship and hope. That is why I chose to make my
first foreign visit a trip to the heart of the Muslim world, to the
nation that serves as custodian of the two holiest sites in the Islamic
Faith.
In my inaugural address to the American People, I pledged to
strengthen America’s oldest friendships, and to build new partnerships
in pursuit of peace. I also promised that America will not seek to
impose our way of life on others, but to outstretch our hands in the
spirit of cooperation and trust.
Our vision is one of peace, security, and prosperity—in this region, and in the world.
Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out
extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to
God.
And so this historic and unprecedented gathering of leaders—unique in
the history of nations—is a symbol to the world of our shared resolve
and our mutual respect. To the leaders and citizens of every country
assembled here today, I want you to know that the United States is eager
to form closer bonds of friendship, security, culture and commerce.
For Americans, this is an exciting time. A new spirit of optimism is
sweeping our country: in just a few months, we have created almost a
million new jobs, added over 3 trillion dollars of new value, lifted the
burdens on American industry, and made record investments in our
military that will protect the safety of our people and enhance the
security of our wonderful friends and allies – many of whom are here
today.
Now, there is even more blessed news I am pleased to share with you.
My meetings with King Salman, the Crown Prince, and the Deputy Crown
Prince, have been filled with great warmth, good will, and tremendous
cooperation. Yesterday, we signed historic agreements with the Kingdom
that will invest almost $400 billion in our two countries and create
many thousands of jobs in America and Saudi Arabia.
This landmark agreement includes the announcement of a $110 billion
Saudi-funded defense purchase – and we will be sure to help our Saudi
friends to get a good deal from our great American defense companies.
This agreement will help the Saudi military to take a greater role in
security operations.
We have also started discussions with many of the countries present
today on strengthening partnerships, and forming new ones, to advance
security and stability across the Middle East and beyond.
Later today, we will make history again with the opening of a new
Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology – located right here, in
this central part of the Islamic World.
This groundbreaking new center represents a clear declaration that
Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in combatting
radicalization, and I want to express our gratitude to King Salman for
this strong demonstration of leadership.
I have had the pleasure of welcoming several of the leaders present
today to the White House, and I look forward to working with all of you.
America is a sovereign nation and our first priority is always the
safety and security of our citizens. We are not here to lecture—we are
not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how
to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership – based on shared
interests and values – to pursue a better future for us all.
Here at this summit we will discuss many interests we share together.
But above all we must be united in pursuing the one goal that
transcends every other consideration. That goal is to meet history’s
great test—to conquer extremism and vanquish the forces of terrorism.
Young Muslim boys and girls should be able to grow up free from fear,
safe from violence, and innocent of hatred. And young Muslim men and
women should have the chance to build a new era of prosperity for
themselves and their peoples.
With God’s help, this summit will mark the beginning of the end for
those who practice terror and spread its vile creed. At the same time,
we pray this special gathering may someday be remembered as the
beginning of peace in the Middle East – and maybe, even all over the
world.
But this future can only be achieved through defeating terrorism and the ideology that drives it.
Few nations have been spared its violent reach.
America has suffered repeated barbaric attacks – from the atrocities
of September 11th to the devastation of the Boston Bombing, to the
horrible killings in San Bernardino and Orlando.
The nations of Europe have also endured unspeakable horror. So too
have the nations of Africa and even South America. India, Russia, China
and Australia have been victims.
But, in sheer numbers, the deadliest toll has been exacted on the
innocent people of Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern nations. They have
borne the brunt of the killings and the worst of the destruction in this
wave of fanatical violence.
Some estimates hold that more than 95 percent of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim.
We now face a humanitarian and security disaster in this region that
is spreading across the planet. It is a tragedy of epic proportions. No
description of the suffering and depravity can begin to capture its full
measure.
The true toll of ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and so many
others, must be counted not only in the number of dead. It must also be
counted in generations of vanished dreams.
The Middle East is rich with natural beauty, vibrant cultures, and
massive amounts of historic treasures. It should increasingly become one
of the great global centers of commerce and opportunity.
This region should not be a place from which refugees flee, but to which newcomers flock.
Saudi Arabia is home to the holiest sites in one of the world’s great
faiths. Each year millions of Muslims come from around the world to
Saudi Arabia to take part in the Hajj. In addition to ancient wonders,
this country is also home to modern ones — including soaring
achievements in architecture.
Egypt was a thriving center of learning and achievement thousands of
years before other parts of the world. The wonders of Giza, Luxor and
Alexandria are proud monuments to that ancient heritage.
All over the world, people dream of walking through the ruins of
Petra in Jordan. Iraq was the cradle of civilization and is a land of
natural beauty. And the United Arab Emirates has reached incredible
heights with glass and steel, and turned earth and water into
spectacular works of art.
The entire region is at the center of the key shipping lanes of the
Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Straits of Hormuz. The potential of
this region has never been greater. 65 percent of its population is
under the age of 30. Like all young men and women, they seek great
futures to build, great national projects to join, and a place for their
families to call home.
But this untapped potential, this tremendous cause for optimism, is
held at bay by bloodshed and terror. There can be no coexistence with
this violence. There can be no tolerating it, no accepting it, no
excusing it, and no ignoring it.
Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person, and falsely
invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of
faith.
Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death.
If we do not act against this organized terror, then we know what
will happen. Terrorism’s devastation of life will continue to spread.
Peaceful societies will become engulfed by violence. And the futures of
many generations will be sadly squandered.
If we do not stand in uniform condemnation of this killing—then not
only will we be judged by our people, not only will we be judged by
history, but we will be judged by God.
This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations.
This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate
human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.
This is a battle between Good and Evil.
When we see the scenes of destruction in the wake of terror, we see
no signs that those murdered were Jewish or Christian, Shia or Sunni.
When we look upon the streams of innocent blood soaked into the ancient
ground, we cannot see the faith or sect or tribe of the victims – we see
only that they were Children of God whose deaths are an insult to all
that is holy.
But we can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united
and strong – and if everyone in this room does their fair share and
fulfills their part of the burden.
Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land.
America is prepared to stand with you – in pursuit of shared interests and common security.
But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to
crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to
decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their
countries, and for their children.
It is a choice between two futures – and it is a choice America CANNOT make for you. A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists. Drive. Them. Out. DRIVE THEM OUT of your places of worship.
DRIVE THEM OUT of your communities.
DRIVE THEM OUT of your holy land, and
DRIVE THEM OUT OF THIS EARTH.
For our part, America is committed to adjusting our strategies to
meet evolving threats and new facts. We will discard those strategies
that have not worked—and will apply new approaches informed by
experience and judgment. We are adopting a Principled Realism, rooted in
common values and shared interests.
Our friends will never question our support, and our enemies will
never doubt our determination. Our partnerships will advance security
through stability, not through radical disruption. We will make
decisions based on real-world outcomes – not inflexible ideology. We
will be guided by the lessons of experience, not the confines of rigid
thinking. And, wherever possible, we will seek gradual reforms – not
sudden intervention.
We must seek partners, not perfection—and to make allies of all who share our goals.
Above all, America seeks peace – not war.
Muslim nations must be willing to take on the burden, if we are going
to defeat terrorism and send its wicked ideology into oblivion.
The first task in this joint effort is for your nations to deny all
territory to the foot soldiers of evil. Every country in the region has
an absolute duty to ensure that terrorists find no sanctuary on their
soil.
Many are already making significant contributions to regional
security: Jordanian pilots are crucial partners against ISIS in Syria
and Iraq. Saudi Arabia and a regional coalition have taken strong action
against Houthi militants in Yemen. The Lebanese Army is hunting ISIS
operatives who try to infiltrate their territory. Emirati troops are
supporting our Afghan partners. In Mosul, American troops are supporting
Kurds, Sunnis and Shias fighting together for their homeland. Qatar,
which hosts the U.S. Central Command, is a crucial strategic partner.
Our longstanding partnership with Kuwait and Bahrain continue to enhance
security in the region. And courageous Afghan soldiers are making
tremendous sacrifices in the fight against the Taliban, and others, in
the fight for their country.
As we deny terrorist organizations control of territory and
populations, we must also strip them of their access to funds. We must
cut off the financial channels that let ISIS sell oil, let extremists
pay their fighters, and help terrorists smuggle their reinforcements.
I am proud to announce that the nations here today will be signing an
agreement to prevent the financing of terrorism, called the Terrorist
Financing Targeting Center – co-chaired by the United States and Saudi
Arabia, and joined by every member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It
is another historic step in a day that will be long remembered.
I also applaud the Gulf Cooperation Council for blocking funders from
using their countries as a financial base for terror, and designating
Hezbollah as a terrorist organization last year. Saudi Arabia also
joined us this week in placing sanctions on one of the most senior
leaders of Hezbollah.
Of course, there is still much work to do.
That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism and
the Islamist terror groups it inspires. And it means standing together
against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the
persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians.
Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will
deliver you no glory – piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you
choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be
brief, and YOUR SOUL WILL BE CONDEMNED.
And political leaders must speak out to affirm the same idea: heroes
don’t kill innocents; they save them. Many nations here today have taken
important steps to raise up that message. Saudi Arabia’s Vision for
2030 is an important and encouraging statement of tolerance, respect,
empowering women, and economic development.
The United Arab Emirates has also engaged in the battle for hearts
and souls—and with the U.S., launched a center to counter the online
spread of hate. Bahrain too is working to undermine recruitment and
radicalism.
I also applaud Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon for their role in hosting
refugees. The surge of migrants and refugees leaving the Middle East
depletes the human capital needed to build stable societies and
economies. Instead of depriving this region of so much human potential,
Middle Eastern countries can give young people hope for a brighter
future in their home nations and regions.
That means promoting the aspirations and dreams of all citizens who
seek a better life – including women, children, and followers of all
faiths. Numerous Arab and Islamic scholars have eloquently argued that
protecting equality strengthens Arab and Muslim communities.
For many centuries the Middle East has been home to Christians,
Muslims and Jews living side-by-side. We must practice tolerance and
respect for each other once again—and make this region a place where
every man and woman, no matter their faith or ethnicity, can enjoy a
life of dignity and hope.
In that spirit, after concluding my visit in Riyadh, I will travel to
Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and then to the Vatican – visiting many of the
holiest places in the three Abrahamic Faiths. If these three faiths can
join together in cooperation, then peace in this world is possible –
including peace between Israelis and Palestinians. I will be meeting
with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas.
Starving terrorists of their territory, their funding, and the false
allure of their craven ideology, will be the basis for defeating them.
But no discussion of stamping out this threat would be complete without
mentioning the government that gives terrorists all three—safe harbor,
financial backing, and the social standing needed for recruitment. It is
a regime that is responsible for so much instability in the region. I
am speaking of course of Iran.
From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms, and trains
terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction
and chaos across the region. For decades, Iran has fueled the fires of
sectarian conflict and terror.
It is a government that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing the
destruction of Israel, death to America, and ruin for many leaders and
nations in this room.
Among Iran’s most tragic and destabilizing interventions have been in
Syria. Bolstered by Iran, Assad has committed unspeakable crimes, and
the United States has taken firm action in response to the use of banned
chemical weapons by the Assad Regime – launching 59 tomahawk missiles
at the Syrian air base from where that murderous attack originated.
Responsible nations must work together to end the humanitarian crisis
in Syria, eradicate ISIS, and restore stability to the region. The
Iranian regime’s longest-suffering victims are its own people. Iran has a
rich history and culture, but the people of Iran have endured hardship
and despair under their leaders’ reckless pursuit of conflict and
terror.
Until the Iranian regime is willing to be a partner for peace, all
nations of conscience must work together to isolate Iran, deny it
funding for terrorism, and pray for the day when the Iranian people have
the just and righteous government they deserve.
The decisions we make will affect countless lives.
King Salman, I thank you for the creation of this great moment in
history, and for your massive investment in America, its industry and
its jobs. I also thank you for investing in the future of this part of
the world.
This fertile region has all the ingredients for extraordinary success
– a rich history and culture, a young and vibrant people, a thriving
spirit of enterprise. But you can only unlock this future if the
citizens of the Middle East are freed from extremism, terror and
violence.
We in this room are the leaders of our peoples. They look to us for
answers, and for action. And when we look back at their faces, behind
every pair of eyes is a soul that yearns for justice.
Today, billions of faces are now looking at us, waiting for us to act on the great question of our time.
Will we be indifferent in the presence of evil? Will we protect our
citizens from its violent ideology? Will we let its venom spread through
our societies? Will we let it destroy the most holy sites on earth? If
we do not confront this deadly terror, we know what the future will
bring—more suffering and despair. But if we act—if we leave this
magnificent room unified and determined to do what it takes to destroy
the terror that threatens the world—then there is no limit to the great
future our citizens will have.
The birthplace of civilization is waiting to begin a new renaissance. Just imagine what tomorrow could bring.
Glorious wonders of science, art, medicine and commerce to inspire
humankind. Great cities built on the ruins of shattered towns. New jobs
and industries that will lift up millions of people. Parents who no
longer worry for their children, families who no longer mourn for their
loved ones, and the faithful who finally worship without fear.
These are the blessings of prosperity and peace. These are the
desires that burn with a righteous flame in every human heart. And these
are the just demands of our beloved peoples.
I ask you to join me, to join together, to work together, and to FIGHT together— BECAUSE UNITED, WE WILL NOT FAIL.
Thank you. God Bless You. God Bless Your Countries. And God Bless the United States of America.
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
The series of deadly attacks in the central Hama province
targeted villages where most residents belong to the Ismaili branch of
Shia Islam.
The Islamic State considers Ismailis apostates, and the Sharia
punishment for apostasy is death. But you won’t hear much about
Muslim-on-Muslim violence committed in the name of Islam from the
mainstream media. The media wants to give the impression that it about
us versus them (i.e., Westerners unfairly picking on Muslims).
A leading Muslim group (and many Muslims), meanwhile, were reportedly angered by a British documentary that dared to ask the question, “how Islamic is Islamic State?” A Newsweek report
offers some insight: “When It Comes to Beheadings, ISIS Has Nothing
Over Saudi Arabia”: the world’s most self-consciously Islamic state
behaves in a manner very much like that of…the Islamic State. Saudi
Arabia is a massive exporter of Wahhabi ideology and a major funder of
mosques worldwide, in which imams are frequently preaching death to
apostates, gays and blasphemers; the beating of wives; the
permissibility of raping infidel women, etc.
“ISIS behead and dismember dozens of women and children in horrific
attack on Syrian villages”, by Bassem Mroue & Lucy Clarke-Billings, Mirror, May 18, 2017:
Islamic State militants have beheaded and dismembered
dozens of women and children in horrific attacks on Syrian villages
which have left 52 people dead.
The series of deadly attacks in the central Hama province targeted
villages where most residents belong to the Ismaili branch of Shia
Islam.
The villages are located near the town of Salamiyeh and the highway
that links the capital, Damascus, to the northern city of Aleppo.
State news agency SANA said militants stormed homes in the southern part of the Aqareb al-Safi village.
Government forces eventually managed to “repel them”, pushing them back toward the desert.
The head of the National Hospital in Salamiyeh, Dr Noufal Safar, said
the hospital received 52 bodies, including 11 women and 17 children.
He said some of them had been beheaded, while others had their limbs removed…..
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Great. Now who will stand against the scapegoating of non-Muslims by
Muslim terrorists, and the scapegoating of America, Israel, and the West
by Leftists and Islamic supremacists? Of course, those kinds of scapegoating are what Caleb Joshua Pine was
taught for four years at Notre Dame, such that he now takes them for
reality.
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Kris Vallotton, the Senior Associate Leader of Bethel Church in
Redding, California, and co-founder of Bethel School of Supernatural
Ministry believes that God wants you to have wealth, stating that “contrary to what we
may have been taught,” wealth is actually a sign of God’s blessing.
In the article, Vallotton offers no scriptural support for any of
these claims. How could he? Could you imagine if Mr. Vallotton told the
twelve, impoverished, martyred apostles that God really just wanted them
to be wealthy? Could you imagine Mr. Vallotton telling that to Jesus,
or Paul, or James, or any of the martyrs throughout church history?
However, he goes on to list “8 signs of a wealthy mindset,” Let’s give them a thorough biblical review.
1. Poverty lives for today, wealth leaves a legacy.
Apparently, Vallotton needs to read Matthew 6 where Jesus provides great teaching on wealth and its purposes.
But seek first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. –Matthew 6:33-34
Jesus actually commands us to not worry about tomorrow, rather focus
on today. Why? Because we don’t even know what day will be our last.
Vallotton’s very first principle contradicts this simple teaching of
Jesus.
2. Poverty finds a problem in every opportunity; while wealth finds an opportunity in every problem.
This is typical motivational speaker mumbo-jumbo. They make a vague
statement and let you fill in the blanks in your own life. There isn’t
any real instruction. This statement and all the rest belong in fortune
cookies rather than in a Pastor’s writings.
Paul commanded both Timothy and Titus to teach sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2-4, Titus 2:1).
It is not the job of the pastor to engage in teachings that tickle
ears, but to hold fast the sound doctrine passed onto us by the apostles
through the Holy Spirit. You will see that all the statements made by
Vallotton are nothing more then weightless claims.
3. Poverty feels entitled, while wealth feels empowered.
Ask yourself this question: as a Christian where, from where should
your confidence come? Your boasting should not be in yourself or in your
riches, but in the Lord.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” –Psalm 20:7
If you are feeling empowered by the amount of money you own then you
are trusting in a false god. Remember the story of Job. That God has the
ability to give and take your wealth, health, and family in a moment.
Vallotton is not leading people to Christ or godliness, he is seducing
your soul into idolatry. Seduction of the flesh is the aim of all false
teachers. Vallotton is no different.
4. Poverty fears the future, while wealth makes history.
How unthoughtful do you have to be to make such a ridiculous statement?
“Do you not know that if you present
yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom
you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which
leads to righteousness?” –Romans 6:16
Also, fun fact: The Christian church was built on the backs of the
martyred, not the wealthy. Foxe’s book of Martyrs shaped the church of
England. The stories of Christians being murder for their faith has left
a greater legacy than anyone with a wealthy mindset ever could.
5. Poverty blames others for their condition, while wealth takes responsibility for things that aren’t their fault.
Notice that this statement and statement 3 are basically the same.
When you depart from biblically sufficient doctrine your mind becomes
darkened. Darkened both sinfully and intellectually.
Rightly did David say, “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. (Psalm 119:162”
If Mr. Vallotton would repent and believe the gospel he might
actually have something of substance to say. However, because his heart
is darkened he has no reverence for God’s word. When we abandoned the
treasure that is the Scriptures, we’re left with these lifeless,
rewrapped sayings.
6. Poverty asks, “What are you going to do for me?” Wealth asks, “Who is worthy of my investment?”
7. Poverty hangs around with other disgruntled people who
validate their accusations. Wealthy people surround themselves with
other powerful influencers.
I combined these two together because, once again, they are saying
the same thing. And once again they find direct condemnation in
scripture:
My brothers, show no partiality as
you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a
man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and
a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention
to the one who wears the fine clothing and says, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit
down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil thoughts? –(James 2:1-5)
God calls us to a community with all types of people. We don’t get to
pick and choose who God puts in our lives. We should pour out into
anyone who fellowships with us regardless their finical status or even
their attitude.
8. Poverty votes for candidates that increase their
entitlements. Wealth elects officials who will sacrifice today’s comfort
for tomorrow’s children.
It’s vague as to what this actually means, but it’s obviously
politically motivated. Is this a direct rebuke against voting for
socialist leaders? Is it a rebuke to those who support free markets? It
is carefully stated in order to satisfy any political opinion and not to
offend anyone. One thing is for certain, it’s our theology, not our
wealth, that should shape our worldview, including our politics.
Pastors are called to clarity. They are called to instruct their
flock in sound biblical preaching. They are not called to simply make
vague statements and let their flock fill-in-the-blank.
I find vagueness to be the greatest tool in the arsenal of false
teachers. It’s like grease for a mediocre wrestler. When you try to
grapple they are all slippery and unpinnable. When you go to a false
teacher about their false doctrine, they are always greased up with
excuses and technicalities. “Technically, I didn’t say (fill in the
blank),” is the scapegoat these heretics take. Never trust a preacher
who does not clearly communicate God’s Word (Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 16:13).
Vallotton hasn’t once in this article shown any scriptural backing
for these statements, nor can he. These 8 statements are unbiblical and
cannot be defended.
I would call Mr. Vallotton to repent. To believe the biblical gospel
of repentance and faith in Jesus, not the acquiring of wealth. I would
charge Mr. Vallotton to sincerely read Matthew 6 where Jesus says, “Do
not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal.”
I am not am not against Christians trying to make money. The book of
Proverbs has plenty good things to say about hard work and gaining an
income. I worked two jobs to put myself through college and work
full-time through college just so I don’t get buried underneath the
bills. I support good stewardship. I support tithing to our churches.
What I don’t support is idolatry. Jesus doesn’t support the worship of
money either. If Mr. Vallotton would read Matthew 6, he would see that too. Hopefully, he will repent.
“No one can serve two masters, for
either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to
the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” –Matthew 6:24
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Statistics released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on
May 17 indicated that during the 100 days since President Trump signed
multiple executive orders regarding immigration enforcement priorities,
ICE agents have arrested more than 41,000 individuals who are either
known or suspected of being in the country illegally. This represents an
increase of 37.6 percent over the same period in 2016.
A report about these findings posted on the ICE website quoted a statement from ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan, who said:
These statistics reflect President
Trump’s commitment to enforce our immigration laws fairly and across the
board. ICE agents and officers have been given clear direction to focus
on threats to public safety and national security, which has resulted
in a substantial increase in the arrest of convicted criminal aliens.
However, when we encounter others who are in the country unlawfully, we
will execute our sworn duty and enforce the law. As the data
demonstrates, ICE continues to execute our mission professionally and in
accordance with the law, and our communities will be much safer for it.
The ICE statement noted that nearly 75 percent of those arrested
during this period in 2017 are convicted criminals, with offenses
ranging from homicide and assault to sexual abuse and drug-related
charges.
The arrest of aliens at-large in the community increased by more than
50 percent, from 8,381 last year to 12,766 arrests this year during the
same period.
Furthermore, the arrest of convicted criminal aliens climbed nearly 20 percent, from 25,786 last year to 30,473 this year.
ICE noted that violent crimes such as homicide, rape, kidnapping, and
assault accounted for more than 2,700 convictions of illegal aliens.
We reported last January
that during a ceremony at the Department of Homeland Security on
January 25 honoring DHS’s newly confirmed secretary, retired Gen. John
Kelly, President Trump signed an executive order to begin construction
of a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico and to improve immigration
enforcement. This increased enforcement includes ending the “catch and
release” policy practiced by the Obama administration. Under “catch and
release,” illegal border crossers were issued a “notice to appear” and
released, instead of being detained and processed for deportation.
Although arrests of illegal aliens rose, the number of deportations fell 12 percent during the period, Homan said.
The acting ICE director attributed the drop to a decline in arrests
on the U.S.-Mexico border, where deportations of illegal border crossers
are usually processed quickly, as well as a lengthy backlog in U.S.
immigration courts that issue deportation orders.
Although the Trump administration has prioritized the apprehension
and deportation of illegal aliens with criminal records, in the course
of their enforcement activities, ICE agents as a matter of course arrest
illegals whose only crime is entering the country illegally. Since
illegal entry is a violation of our laws, these people are being
processed for deportation in greater numbers than they were under the
Obama administration, which often failed to enforce immigration law
violations.
Consequently, in addition to the increase in the arrests of illegal
aliens convicted of crimes besides illegal entry, there was also a rise
in “non-criminal” arrests during the Trump administration. They have
increased from approximately 4,200 in 2016 to more than 10,800 in 2017
“As Secretary Kelly has made clear, ICE will no longer exempt classes
or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of
those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration
arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from
the United States,” NBC News quoted Matthew Bourke, a spokesman for
ICE.
President Trump has expanded an
executive order he signed in January re-implementing the Mexico City
Policy that bans U.S. funds from paying for abortions overseas. The
policy, originally implemented in 1984 by the Reagan administration, was
rescinded by President Bill Clinton, re-instituted during the eight
years of the Bush administration, and rescinded again by President
Obama, allowing groups like International Planned Parenthood and Marie
Stopes International to reap hundreds of millions of dollars for its
abortion businesses overseas.
As reported by LifeNews.com,
the executive order signed by Trump on January 23 “stops taxpayer
funding of groups that perform and promote abortions overseas, but does
not stop non-abortion international assistance. The order ensures U.S.
foreign aid will continue to go to health care and humanitarian
relief…. It just will not subsidize abortion overseas.”
Following up on that executive order, on May 15 the Trump
administration announced a major expansion of the Mexico City Policy,
increasing the ban from roughly $600 million in family planning money to
encompass all U.S. international health care, which amounts to nearly
$9 billion. The administration said that under the expanded order,
called officially the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance plan,
the same amount of funding would still be available globally, but would
only go to groups that promise not to perform abortions as part of their
“family planning” strategies.
In a press release the Trump
administration said that the U.S. “remains deeply committed to
supporting health programs around the world. Foreign NGOs that agree not
to perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning
will remain eligible to receive global health assistance through the
standard U.S. Government processes that govern the award of federal
funds.”
The day the president signed the original executive order
re-instating the Mexico City Policy, White House press secretary Sean
Spicer said that Trump “has made it very clear that he’s a pro-life
president. He wants to stand up for all Americans, including the unborn,
and I think the reinstatement of this policy is not just something that
echoes that value, but respects taxpayer funding as well.”
Among those decrying the president’s latest move was
pro-abortion U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H), who said: “We know
that when family planning services and contraceptives are easily
accessible, there are fewer unplanned pregnancies, maternal deaths, and
abortions. Yet the Trump administration has chosen to ignore decades of
research in favor of an ideological crusade that cuts off vital family
planning services.”
By contrast, pro-life groups were quick to praise the
president’s actions. “We applaud the Trump administration for not just
stopping the pro-abortion policies of the Obama era, but putting in
place policies that will reverse the destructive and immoral trends of
the last eight years,” said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.
“President Trump is keeping faith with the almost 60 percent of Trump
voters who supported him and Vice President Pence based on their
endorsement of the Republican Party’s platform on life and religious
liberty.”
Similarly Marjorie Dannenfelser of the pro-life Susan B.
Anthony List said that “with the implementation of Protecting Life in
Global Health Assistance, we have officially ceased exporting abortion
to foreign nations. No longer will we undermine the pro-life laws and
cultural commitments of other countries by funding organizations like
Marie Stopes International that obsessively promote and perform
abortion.”
Lila Rose of the pro-life group Live Action challenged
that with the latest Trump order, “it’s time for Congress to finish the
job here in the United States and stop the hundreds of millions of tax
dollars going to the biggest abortion chain in America, Planned
Parenthood. The federal government’s most important duty is to protect
human life, so it is unthinkable that our tax dollars fund a corporation
that destroys the lives of over 320,000 pre-born children each year
right here at home.”
Bill Hahn, vice president of communications for the liberty-minded
John Birch Society, said that “stopping the funding for abortions
anywhere is a great first step.” He added, “Let’s take the next step of
stopping the abortion movement in the U.S., as well as stopping any
federal dollars from being used as foreign aid for any reason. There is
nothing in the Constitution authorizing foreign aid, but there are
plenty of reasons to protect life.”
