Ballina Family Resource Centre are taking part in the 16 Days of Action Campaign and have 159 pink tombstones on display in their centre to remember all of the women murdered in Ireland since 1996.  They also have a candle and lillies display  in their window and are displaying the Women’s Aid 16 Facts for 16 Days during the campaign.

They will mark the end of the campaign by holding a coffee morning in the centre on 10th December to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence.

For more information contact Sheenagh Honan on 096-75573 or by email ballinafrcadmin@eircom.net.

by Association of British Insurers, November 26, 2009.

Responding to the Walker Review into Corporate Governance in UK banks and other financial industry entities released today, Peter Montagnon, the ABI’s Director of Investment Affairs, said:

“This is a well-balanced and useful report, in which Sir David has paid close attention to practical points made by respondents to his consultation.  The result is a useful indicator of the way forward, though there are, of course, some areas where further thought is needed.  It is very important that the overall conclusion is on the side of comply-or-explain, and against statutory regulation, on the way boards behave and how shareholders engage.  We will do our best to deliver as investors.”

Role of shareholders

“Shareholders did not cause the crisis, but they recognise that they could be more effective in their dealings with companies.  They have already taken steps to do so, notably through the recent publication by the Institutional Shareholders Committee of the first ever national code on investor responsibility.

“We are pleased that Sir David Walker is positive about the Code. The ISC is already taking further steps towards implementation. The ISC’s Chairman, Keith Skeoch, has now completed the formation of a committee to review its constitution and role. This Committee will meet in the coming weeks…(continue reading)

Today is the second day of the 16 Days campaign and there are a huge number of events taking place all around the country;

• Longford Women’s Link (LWL) is holding a “Walk of Remembrance “to commemorate the 159 women who have been murdered in Ireland since 1996
• Newbridge Family Resource Centre is hosting an Art workshop exploring issues around Donmestic Violence
• Wexford Local Area Network on Violence Against Women is holding an awareness raising event
• Dublin 12 Domestic Violence Service Forum
• Congolese Anti-Poverty Network awareness event
• Bray Women’s Refuge “Silence is Violence” event
• Banulacht conference on Violence Against Women

The North Inner City Group (Hill Street Family Resource Centre, Inner City Organisation Network, Lourdes Youth & Community Services, Dublin Adult Learning Centre, SWAN Youth Project, NASCADH CDP, Dublin Multicultural Centre, Community After School Project, Saol Project) are holding a public event at the Mountjoy Square Park, Dublin 1, on Wednesday 2nd December from 12noon onwards.

They invite you to remember with them the 159 women who lost their lives violently in Ireland since 1996, by displaying a banner of flags showing the towns and cities where the women came from. In addition they have designed and crafted a wooden key 8ft high, that will be on display. The key is symbolic in two ways; firstly, for women who are experiencing violence in the home, and are aware of the danger to them and their children every time they hear the turn of the key in the door; and secondly, it symbolises how a woman regains control of her life when she finds the courage, strength, and support to leave a violent relationship.

The key was designed by Katherine Sankey and made by the trainees on the Child Care Group in LYCS.

by: Shane Gleason

Recently, the Family Research Council has engaged in a war of words with House Democratic Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette over the role of Catholic bishops in the health care debate. Faith in Public Life’s reply is highly critical of the FRC. Faith in Public Life joined a broader group of commentators calling for FRC to revise its statement.

The next day the FRC changed its position, yet stopped short of what Faith in Public Life would consider an accurate and true statement.

To provide context:

In an interview with ABC Rep. DeGette stated:

“I gotta tell you, last I heard we had separation of church and state. I don’t think the Catholic bishops are in charge of writing our healthcare bill. I think that they are one of many groups that we should listen to, but in the end they should be concerned that 36 million more people in this country will get healthcare. Many of them are their parishioners.”

Which the FRC interpreted as:

“religiously-affiliated groups…should be shut out of the process” in the health care debate because of their support for the Stupak/Pitts amendment. She told The Hill, “Last I heard, we had separation of church and state in this country,” she said. “I’ve got to say that I think the Catholic bishops and all of the other groups shouldn’t have input.”

Which was revised as:

“However, Rep. DeGette accused the Catholic Bishops of controlling the outcome of the health care legislation and also accused them and other conservative Christians of violating the ‘wall of separation’ between church and state.

 Newbridge Family Resource Centre will host a series of three Art Workshops in conjunction with Artist Lorraine Walsh; exploring issues around domestic violence, the workshop will also look at empowerment or overcoming obstacles to empowerment for women. This piece will then be displayed in the Riverbank Arts Centre, on the closing day of the ‘16 days’ which is the 10^th of December and Human Rights Day.

There will be a series of ‘wellness workshops’ at different Centres (The Curragh Pride FRC, Newbridge FRC and Allenwood CDP). These will look at stress relief, relaxation and positive visualisation for women. These sessions also provide an opportunity to raise awareness, provide information and offer support.

“Change Watch:  Chai Feldblum, (nominee) Commissioner, EEOC”

Much like the pro-pedophile, pro man-boy sex degenerate Kevin Jennings, Chai Feldblum has her own radical homosexual agenda.  See for yourself – here.

Read more from The Traditional Values Coalition – here.

Hospital Family Resource Centre will launch an information leaflet designed by students from Youth Reach in Hospital. The information card, which will be distributed around the area, has useful contacts for services for people affected by Domestic Violence.

The leaflet will be launched at a coffee morning on Thursday 28^th November 2009 from 10am – 12.30pm. During the morning there will be a talk on Positive Mental Health.

For further information, please contact the centre on 061 383884.

by Gary Larkin, for The Confference Board, November 2, 2009.

A combination of new regulations, market listing standards and best practices from a myriad of organizations will make for a patchwork corporate governance model in the United States at a time when simpler is better. That is what U.S. public company boards face in the coming months.

And that raises the question of what U.S. boards will do. Obviously, there really isn’t a simple answer. Now may be the time for U.S. companies to start looking abroad to see what their counterparts in Europe or Australia are doing. (Maybe the NASDAQ market has gotten a head start on this, according to its proposed corporate governance best practices. See below) Our brethren overseas seem to have mechanisms in place that are more open to addressing the corporate governance vulnerabilities than what exist today in the United States.

In many of the European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands, use a “comply or explain” principle where companies that publicly trade sign an agreement to adhere to governance codes that address a number of issues, such as independent chair, shareholder communications and director qualifications. And if they can’t abide by a certain part of that code, the companies must say why…(continue reading)

Tony Perkins (white supremacist) of FRC

Tony Perkins, long associated with white supremacist groups, of the Family Research Council has voiced his opposition to LGBT seniors getting any resources or assistance.

“Apparently, our nation is never too broke to advance a radical social agenda. The agency released a statement on the Center last week, saying its purpose would be to “help community-based organizations understand the unique needs… of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers…” In the release, HHS regurgitates the Left’s propaganda to justify the waste, claiming that “1.5 to 4 million” LGBTs are age 60 and older. In reality, HHS has no idea how many LGBT seniors exist. No one does! The movement is only a few decades old, and people who are 80- or 90-years-old didn’t grow up in a culture where it was acceptable to identify with this lifestyle.”

Really, Mr. Perkins?  Do you bother to check facts before you speak, or does  your bigotry just roll off unchecked and unfettered.  When the fuck is taking care of seniors a “radical social agenda”?  We’re talking about a MERE $250K — that is a tiny speck in the budget.  Many seniors need help and some LGBT seniors face discrimination or stigma or won’t seek help because of that (same reason many hate crimes and acts of discrimination do not get reported).

First, Mr. Perkins, I have a close friend who is 85 years old and lives with his 57-year-old partner.  Gay folks from his era had to hide in secret or risk being jailed or institutionalized for their sexual orientation, which is natural and innate.  I know many gay folks in their 50’s (me), 60’s and 70’s.

The “movement” started when gay people got tired of being beaten, arrested and jailed and they fought back.  We will not stop fighting.

“Of course, the real tragedy here–apart from the unnecessary spending–is that, given the risks of homosexual conduct, these people are less likely to live long enough to become senior citizens! Yet once again, the Obama administration is rushing to reward a lifestyle that poses one of the greatest public health risks in America. If this is how HHS prioritizes, imagine what it could do with a trillion dollar health care overhaul!”

Mr. Perkins, Liar for Christ, again please check your facts.  Since you love statistics, Lesbians have the lowest STD rates of ANY group, including evangelical christians; I guess God loves Lesbians!  Gay is not a “lifestyle”.  Gay people live many different lifestyles, just as heterosexuals.  Being attracted to the same sex as yourself is not a “viewpoint” or “opinion”, it is biological fact.   Your rhetoric is as transparent as your hatred for gay MEN.

[--]

The Family Research Council has posted another missive of disinformation, full of falsehoods, misdirection, deliberate misstatement of facts, and continued posting of disproven and discredited research.  All in the name of God, of course.  See the FRC’s page at www.frc.org

From FRC’s Washington Update page:

For HHS, a Senior Moment

Before we entrust Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with health care reform, maybe Americans should take a closer look at how her Department spends other taxpayer dollars. Even the Washington Post called Friday’s announcement from Health and Human Services (HHS) an “eye opener,” writing that the President’s “gay outreach continues.” A $1.4 trillion deficit aside, HHS has set aside a quarter million dollars to launch the first-ever National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders.

Apparently, our nation is never too broke to advance a radical social agenda. The agency released a statement on the Center last week, saying its purpose would be to “help community-based organizations understand the unique needs… of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers…” In the release, HHS regurgitates the Left’s propaganda to justify the waste, claiming that “1.5 to 4 million” LGBTs are age 60 and older. In reality, HHS has no idea how many LGBT seniors exist. No one does! The movement is only a few decades old, and people who are 80- or 90-years-old didn’t grow up in a culture where it was acceptable to identify with this lifestyle.

Of course, the real tragedy here–apart from the unnecessary spending–is that, given the risks of homosexual conduct, these people are less likely to live long enough to become senior citizens! Yet once again, the Obama administration is rushing to reward a lifestyle that poses one of the greatest public health risks in America. If this is how HHS prioritizes, imagine what it could do with a trillion dollar health care overhaul!

So it would seem that gay seniors don’t exist. (Palm Springs and Southern Florida not withstanding!)  Apparently, from what the FRC says above, homosexuality has only existed for a few decades, so there aren’t any old queers out there!  I wonder how they would classify Oscar Wilde.  If he wasn’t homosexual, I think Great Britain owes him an apology, and a pardon.

What it really comes down to is the FRC’s preoccupation with anal sex.  The information they quote from various articles deals mostly with anal sex, and they just can’t seem to get past the idea that someone might engage in that activity.  Instead, it’s “one of the greatest public health risks in America”.  I wonder if I were to  hunt around on their site, if I’d find any articles about smoking, drinking, or obesity?  Not that I’m going to waste my time there, I have a strong aversion to wading through manure, but I do wonder.

Out of all the spending in the Federal Budget, FRC is concerned about $250,000 to assist senior citizens who happen to be gay.  You’d think a religiously oriented group like that would worry more about the spending we’re not doing helping starving people in sub-saharan Africa, or other parts of the world.  Well, of course, it’s just that they can’t get that idea of anal sex out of their minds long enough to concentrate on anything else.  I wonder which problem Jesus would be most interested in?

The Family Research Council has posted another missive of disinformation, full of falsehoods, misdirection, deliberate misstatement of facts, and continued posting of disproven and discredited research.  All in the name of God, of course.  See the FRC’s page at www.frc.org

From FRC’s Washington Update page:

For HHS, a Senior Moment

Before we entrust Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with health care reform, maybe Americans should take a closer look at how her Department spends other taxpayer dollars. Even the Washington Post called Friday’s announcement from Health and Human Services (HHS) an “eye opener,” writing that the President’s “gay outreach continues.” A $1.4 trillion deficit aside, HHS has set aside a quarter million dollars to launch the first-ever National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders.

Apparently, our nation is never too broke to advance a radical social agenda. The agency released a statement on the Center last week, saying its purpose would be to “help community-based organizations understand the unique needs… of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers…” In the release, HHS regurgitates the Left’s propaganda to justify the waste, claiming that “1.5 to 4 million” LGBTs are age 60 and older. In reality, HHS has no idea how many LGBT seniors exist. No one does! The movement is only a few decades old, and people who are 80- or 90-years-old didn’t grow up in a culture where it was acceptable to identify with this lifestyle.

Of course, the real tragedy here–apart from the unnecessary spending–is that, given the risks of homosexual conduct, these people are less likely to live long enough to become senior citizens! Yet once again, the Obama administration is rushing to reward a lifestyle that poses one of the greatest public health risks in America. If this is how HHS prioritizes, imagine what it could do with a trillion dollar health care overhaul!

So it would seem that gay seniors don’t exist. (Palm Springs and Southern Florida not withstanding!)  Apparently, from what the FRC says above, homosexuality has only existed for a few decades, so there aren’t any old queers out there!  I wonder how they would classify Oscar Wilde.  If he wasn’t homosexual, I think Great Britain owes him an apology, and a pardon.

What it really comes down to is the FRC’s preoccupation with anal sex.  The information they quote from various articles deals mostly with anal sex, and they just can’t seem to get past the idea that someone might engage in that activity.  Instead, it’s “one of the greatest public health risks in America”.  I wonder if I were to  hunt around on their site, if I’d find any articles about smoking, drinking, or obesity?  Not that I’m going to waste my time there, I have a strong aversion to wading through manure, but I do wonder.

Out of all the spending in the Federal Budget, FRC is concerned about $250,000 to assist senior citizens who happen to be gay.  You’d think a religiously oriented group like that would worry more about the spending we’re not doing helping starving people in sub-saharan Africa, or other parts of the world.  Well, of course, it’s just that they can’t get that idea of anal sex out of their minds long enough to concentrate on anything else.  I wonder which problem Jesus would be most interested in?

In response to Congress passing legislation this week that would make it a federal crime to assault an individual based on that individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, the Family Research Council issued this press release:

Washington D.C. - Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement reacting to today’s passage of “Hate Crimes” legislation as attached to the Defense Authorization Bill.

“In a slap to the face of our servicemen and women, they attached ‘hate crimes’ legislation to the final defense bill, forcing Congress to choose between expanding hate crimes or making our military go without. This hate crimes provision is part of a radical social agenda that could ultimately silence Christians and use the force of government to marginalize anyone whose faith is at odds with homosexuality. Expanding hate crimes puts America in lock step with the stated agenda of homosexual activists who will turn next to the so-called Employment Non-discrimination Act, followed by the repeal of the ban on homosexuality in the military and then the Defense of Marriage Act. We call on President Obama to veto this legislation which violates the principle of equal justice under the law and also infringes on the free speech rights of the American people.”

Beyond the personal and political outrage that this sort of statement provokes, I am constantly offended by the fallacious rational of this organization, one of the most vocal opponents of equality in this country. Perkins posits that this legislation could be used to eventually “silence Christians.” This assumes that the voices of Christians are motivated by bodily violence against homosexuals and gender diversity, which is simply not the case. This legislation extends federal protection to American citizens based on sexual orientation and gender expression. Perkins continually speaks of the effects to which legislation for equality may someday lead rather than commenting on the legislation itself. In this statement, Perkins demonizes this legislation by initially characterizing it as a “slap in the face of our servicemen and women,” following that characterization with foreboding commentary about the silencing of Christians and the marginalization of anyone whose faith is at odds with homosexuality (the assumption seems to be that it is just fine is homosexuals in this country remain marginalized). Perhaps Perkins resorts to this sort of faulty logic because it is not only absurd  but seems fundamentally anti-Christian to oppose legislation that exists for the explicit purpose of protecting individuals from violent crimes. To oppose that explicit purpose is to support an allowance for continued violence. Being unable to make that statement, FRC’s press release redirects attention to a fictional future in which equality and free speech are threatened (once again, ignoring the fact that the law as it stands supports inequality).

This press release is fallacious on several counts.

Firstly, freedom of speech is not threatened by this legislation. It is legislation against crimes of “bodily injury.” And it makes a provision specifically addressing these concerns surrounding freedom of speech:

“FREE EXPRESSION- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to allow prosecution based solely upon an individual’s expression of racial, religious, political, or other beliefs or solely upon an individual’s membership in a group advocating or espousing such beliefs.”
[/source]

Secondly, this legislation does not create inequality of justice, it equalizes the treatment of justice. As the law currently stands, under Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, hate crimes committed against individuals based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, or nation of origin are currently considered federal crimes. This legislation amends that existing code by adding to it crimes committed based on actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It is not providing special allowances for a single population of citizens; it is expanding protection that ALREADY EXISTS based on race, color, religion and national origin to include issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

What it comes down to is this: This legislation is increasing equal protection under the law, not creating inequality justice under the law. It does not threaten free expression. What it does do is prohibit violent bodily crimes committed based on perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender expression. These are categories that apply to ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS, not just homosexuals. All individuals possess “actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.” This legislation protects all citizens based on these qualities. It is Perkins and the FRC who conflate “sexual orientation and gender identity” with a homosexual population and agenda. While I would not assume that this organization supports bodily violence against homosexuals, by distorting the general population addressed by the legislation into the specific population of homosexual Americans, and then opposing the legislation, it feels as if Perkins and the FRC are issuing a statement that implies that physical violence against homosexuals is somehow not worth the notice or concern of the nation. Although other sub-populations (those constituted by race, religion, and nationality) are issued federal protection under the law, homosexuals, it seems, should not be. While such a perspective does not necessarily constitute one of violence, it certainly maintains a conceptual space in which violence is more free to occur. This is offensive.

As our nation continues to move towards equality for all citizens, in marriage, in military service, and in protection from violent crimes, it is my hope that statements such as this as well as the discriminatory attitudes and fallacious perspectives that produce such statements will fade quietly into a (shameful) history. That most likely being a fantasy that will remain unfulfilled for quite some time, it is my secondary hope that such public figures and organizations will at the very least address the issues at hand (not imagined future collapses of Western civilization) with accurate data and informed perspectives. It probably will not make their perspective any less offensive, but it might serve to generate a more functional cultural dialogue.

Check out this post from Laura at Pursuing Holiness. (H/T ECM)

Excerpt:

Ms. Feldblum explains that she does feel empathy when the rights of religious people are subordinated to that of LGBT people*, but it must, and will, happen. She intends to make it happen.

[...]In example after example she advocates for the right of LGBT people to make religious people conduct business in a way that they feel violates their core principles. It’s a touchy issue. I was happy to build websites for gay clients when it was for restaurants, real estate, and other businesses that had nothing to do with sex – but when asked to submit a quote to build a gay dating site, I referred the caller to another developer who was glad to bid for the project. Shall the law side with Ms. Feldblum’s dignity or with my religious freedom?

[...]So to sum up, the cure for her deep, intangible hurt is not to go freely associate with other people, but to force others to do what she wants… this is how she will rule when appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

She’s done a lot of digging, and cites extensively from Chai Feldblum’s work, so I recommend clicking through and having a look. This is important, especially for those of us who live and breathe apologetics. If nominees like Jones, Jennings and Feldblum are appointed, it is very likely the ability to carry out an authentic Christian life in the public square will be be curtailed. Including apologetics.

This happens all the time in Canada, where people like Chai Feldblum are running the show:

• The persecution of a Catholic Bishop (at Blazing Cat Fur)
• The persecution of Rev. Stephen Boissoin (at Ezra Levant)
• The persecution of Catholic Insight magazine (at Ezra Levant)
• The persecution of Christian businessman Scott Brockie (at The Interim)

My previous post on Obama’s nominee for safe-school czar is here, and another post about the FRC’s opposition to him. And the Obama administration is backing limitations on free speech at the United Nations. These are serious issues and if they are ignored, we will be facing the same situations you can see in Canada today.