Wednesday, March 18, 2009

• U.S. endorses homosexuality

  by Staff, posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 (15 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP)--The Obama administration announced March 18 its support for a United Nations declaration urging the global decriminalization of homosexuality three months after the Bush administration refused to endorse it.

  "We urge States to ensure that human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are investigated...."

  -- U.N. declaration

        The news, reported by the Associated Press, marked a reversal in the United States' position on a non-binding measure considered by the U.N. General Assembly Dec. 18. At that time, 66 countries backed the barrier-breaking declaration, while more than 50 opposed it and the remainder of the 192 members abstained, according to The New York Times.

        "The United States supports the U.N.'s statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 U.N. member states who have declared their support of the statement," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said, according to AP.

        "The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," Wood said. "As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora."

        In December, officials of the Bush administration said it opposed the proclamation as too broad, charging it might be seen as an effort to abrogate states' rights on such issues as "same-sex marriage," according to The Times. The declaration says in part, "We urge States to ensure that human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are investigated and perpetrators held accountable and brought to justice." Read More

• Obama's first judicial nominee once ruled against using Christ's name in prayers

  by Staff, posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 (15 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP)--President Obama's first appeals court nominee is being promoted as a moderate, but he's been at odds with social conservatives in two prominent cases in recent years -- one pertaining to abortion and another concerning a state's legislative prayers. Read More

• U.N. treaty limiting parents' rights pushed

  by Yvette Rattray, posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 (15 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP)--California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer has caused growing concern by encouraging the United States to ratify a United Nations treaty that would allow for what critics describe as government intrusion ... Read More

• 'What if?' theme focuses 2009 Pastors Conference on Great Commission

  by Mark Kelly, posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 (15 years ago)

  

  MOBILE, Ala. (BP)--Ed Litton believes that in a time of seismic cultural changes and economic uncertainty, Southern Baptists face both danger and opportunity. The danger, he says, is that churches will retreat into a safe place ... Read More

• Seafarers & campers get youthful ministry

  by Megan Norris Jones, posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 (15 years ago)

  MOBILE, Ala. (BP)--The International Ministries Center in Mobile, Ala., is a place where seafarers and internationals feel at home.

  So Mick and Adelaide fit right in.

  Australian by birth, a happy black dog named Mick with dingo-like ears and Adelaide, who "looks Australian," if a dog can, made the trek from the other side of the world to call the Mobile center home.

  Bringing the two dogs from Australia "wasn't the cheapest thing to do," Jarrod Watts acknowledges, "but they are par... Read More

• In discussing cloning, let's be honest

  by Michael Foust, posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 (15 years ago)

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--When I was a kid I would often get up early on Saturday mornings, make a bowl of cereal and watch cartoons. One of my favorite cartoon characters was the speedy Accelleratii Incredibus. Read More