Category Archives: Adoption

August 2023 Newsletter

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Bring Your Bible to School Day Oct. 5th

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
– The Constitution of the United States First Amendment, Ratified December 15, 1791

Bring Your Bible to School Day, created by Dr. James Dobson‟s Focus on the Family ministry, began in 2014 and has continued as an annual event. The first Thursday in October is always designated as a “student-led celebration that empowers Christian students to live out their faith. “All it takes is two simple steps – bringing your Bible to school and sharing what God‟s Word means to you.” Last year‟s Day was “an awesome success! Thanks to everyone who participated last year and [we] are looking forward to even more this year.”

Students may register online at focusonthefamily.com/Bring-Your-Bible/ and purchase Bring Your Bible to School Day badges, stickers, patches and T-shirts that are available in colors and imprinted on the front with “Bring Your Bible to School,” and “God is With You” on the back.

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023
S.1669 “AM radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023” by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) was introduced into the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee May 17, 2023 and passed the committee July 27th. Final passage is needed because some manufacturers are leaving AM radios out of vehicles, whether or not they use electricity, gasoline or diesel fuel. It applies to motor vehicles made or imported in the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce.

AM Radio: How important is it?
AM radio provides news and talk, sports coverage, up-to-date current event data and opinion pieces; broadcasts emergencies, weather and Amber alerts, with long-distance signals that penetrate buildings, and warn multitudes of people quickly. Some stations specialize in religious programs of spiritual messages and prayer; others air classic hits and unique music genres, such as “golden-oldie” favorites of nostalgic listeners. All may include seasonal live play-by-play sports, while communicating with experts and commentators on the field.

Requirements of S.1669: The DOT and FEMA must jointly issue a rule to install as standard equipment in new motor vehicles devices that access AM broadcasting. Prior to the effective date of the rule, manufacturers must, through clear and conspicuous labeling, inform purchasers that the vehicle has no device to access AM broadcasting. DOT may assess civil penalties against any manufacturer that fails to comply with the mandate. DOJ may sue violators.

Also, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must study and report (a) what a different system would cost and (b) the cost and the time needed to develop and implement replacements.

Since S.1669, currently, awaits a full Senate vote, all U.S. senators need to be contacted. U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Osoff should hear from Georgians.

ACTION – Support. Text “AM” to 52886 or call the Capitol switchboard at 1 877 762-8762 to be connected with senators or representatives. Please ask them to keep AM radio in all motor vehicles.

Read more of the August 2023 newsletter here.

June 22, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Obfuscating the Issue

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 22, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Today’s word is “obfuscation,” which means “to cloud over, obscure, make dark or unclear, muddle, confuse, bewilder.” It would be easier to use a simpler word, but obfuscation is making a mockery of truth by belittling and changing the right way of handling issues.

Case in point is the reporting of S.B. 375 that failed to pass the General Assembly this year, although it would’ve been a “slam-dunk” a few years ago. Actually, S.B. 375 would not have been necessary years ago, because common sense and the Constitution settled such things.

Senator William Ligon introduced S.B. 375 on January 31 st . It passed the Senate 35 – 19 three weeks later, but died in a House committee when the session ended March 29th .

If S.B. 375 had passed, Georgia’s faith-based adoption agencies could have continued placing children with parents of the same faith and out-of-state faith-based adoption agencies could have expanded their services into Georgia. But the failure of the House to pass S.B. 375 may be laid at the feet of opponents who twisted the meaning of the bill, claiming it allowed adoption agencies to reject gay couples, but it, actually, upheld the religious rights of adoption agencies. Continue reading →

March 2, 2018 Radio Commentary

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S.B. 375 “Keep Faith in Adoption”

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, March 2, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Since it’s a good day when a good bill makes progress in the General Assembly, I declare February 23rd to have been a great day for adoption in this state.  That was the day the Georgia Senate voted 45 to 19 to pass Senator Ligon’s S.B. 375.  But, I’m amazed that 19 senators voted against the right of adoption agencies to exercise freedom of religion when deciding which place is best for a child.

That vote made me wonder who voted against it.  So, I went online and printed the February 21st machine vote for S.B. 375.  By comparing the votes with a list of Senate Republicans and Democrats, I learned that it was a straight party-line vote.  The two Republicans who did not vote had been excused.

In last week’s commentary I used two quotes from S.B. 375, and they’re so important, I’m using them again.  The first quote was from a 1969 U.S. Supreme Court decision that stated: “Neither students nor teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”  The other quote reminded us that “[p]rivate religious speech is as fully protected under the Free Speech Clause as secular private expression.” Clearly, there’s no constitutional right for secular belief to supersede religious belief, in public or in private. Continue reading →

February 2018 Newsletter

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OPPOSE the ERA, It has Dire National Consequences

The ERA does not mention women; it does not put women in the U.S. Constitution. The ERA puts the word “sex” in the U.S. Constitution.

H.R. 969, introduced in the Georgia General Assembly January 29, 2018, is an attempt by Democrats to ratify a federal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Georgia. Almost 50 years after it was introduced in 1923, Congress passed ERA, a proposed constitutional amendment, in 1972. Since constitutional amendments must be ratified by three-fourths (38) of the 50 states, a seven-year time limit for ratification was attached to the proposal. At the end of seven years, only 35 states had ratified ERA, leaving them three states short of ratification. During a three-year time-limit extension, no other state ratified ERA and, thankfully, it failed.

ACTION – OPPOSE H.R. 969. Call House Judiciary Committee Representatives Willard, Ch., 404 656-5125; Fleming, V-Ch., 656-0152; Kelley, Sec., 657-1803; Beskin, 656-0254; Caldwell, 656-0152; Golick, 656-5943; Hanson, 656-0325; Powell, 656-5103; Rutledge, 656-0254; Welch, 656-5912; Nix 656-5146 (Ex officio). (These are the 9 Republicans on the 16-member committee.)

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