AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA

Contact Us

Resources

Home

Statement of Purpose

Current Action Alert   ( sign up to receive AFA of PA Action Alerts

Education Issues

Homosexual Agenda 

Pornography Fight

Pro-Life Issues

Archives  

                          

  News Release Archives -- 2005-- Part II

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 23, 2005

CONTACT:  Diane Gramley  1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

 

Majority of Americans Disagree with Senator Santorum and Judge Jones

 

( Harrisburg ) –  Senator Rick Santorum’s agreement with Judge John Jones’ decision concerning the Dover Area School District ’s  policy pertaining to Evolution and Intelligent Design is yet another example of why conservatives can no longer trust the Senator, a statewide traditional values group said today.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) supports academic freedom, but in a news release issued on December 20 declared it dead in Pennsylvania because of the Jones’ decision.  The AFA of PA expressed their concerns to the Senator in a faxed statement today.

 

“Senator Santorum has been backwatering on this issue since August when he stated he did not believe Intelligent Design should be taught in the classroom. The Senator is missing the mark – Dover was not requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design only the reading of a one-minute statement.  Senator Santorum has said he believes teachers should have the freedom to mention Intelligent Design, yet Judge Jones’ decision forbids this, making the Senator’s agreement with the Judge even more troubling,” stated Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

 

About the time Senator Santorum was beginning to change sides on the Evolution/Intelligent Design issue, both President George Bush and Senator Arlen Specter said they believed both sides of the debate should be discussed so people could better understand what the debate is about.

 

Additionally, in his Dec. 25, 2004 guest column in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Senator Santorum wrote, "I commend the Dover Area School District for taking a stand and refusing to ignore the controversy."   The AFA of PA has to again question the Senator’s total about face on the issue.  Which is it – you commend the Dover Area School District or you commend Judge John E. Jones?

 

In a poll conducted July 7-17 by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 64 percent said they were open to the idea of teaching creationism in addition to evolution, while 38 percent favored replacing evolution with creationism.  The questions were asked of 2,000 people and had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.

 

Gramley said in conclusion, “The majority of Americans understand what is at stake and want the controversy to be taught.  They want their child’s teachers to have the academic freedom to openly discuss Evolution, Intelligent Design and even Creationism.  The majority of Americans, and especially Pennsylvanians, do not agree with Senator Rick Santorum or Judge John E. Jones.”

 

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :     December 20, 2005

CONTACT:  Diane Gramley   1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

 

Academic Freedom is Dead in Pennsylvania, Statewide Group Says

 

( Harrisburg ) --  ‘Outrageous’ was the first reaction of a statewide group in Pennsylvania , in response to the decision handed down today by U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) supports the concept of Intelligent Design and the academic freedom to allow students to know there are alternatives to Darwinism.  

 

“Why the apparent fear to allow students to hear a simple statement saying that Darwinism is a theory and there are other theories out there?  In the Dover
Area School District
there was no change in curriculum, evolution was still being taught, the only change was the reading of a one-minute statement on the first day of 9th grade biology class.  Pennsylvania students have just been hamstrung by a federal judge and the effort by the outgoing Dover Areas school board to expand the students’ knowledge has been destroyed,” Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said today.

 

The statement is as follows:

 

"The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn

about Darwin 's Theory of Evolution and eventually to take a

standardized test of which evolution is a part.

Because Darwin 's Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new

evidence is discovered.  The Theory is not a fact.  Gaps in the Theory

exist for which there is no evidence.  A theory is defined as a well-tested

explanation that unifies a broad range of observation.

Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from

Darwin 's view.  The reference book, Of Pandas and People, is available

For students who might be interested in gaining an understanding of what

Intelligent Design actually involves.

With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open

mind.  The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life to individual

students and their families.  As a Standards-driven district, class

instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proficiency on

Standards-based assessments."

 

Judge Jones found that simply because Intelligent Design acknowledges there is an order to the universe that points to an intelligent designer it is automatically defined as religious rather than scientific.

 

“The ACLU and other proponents of Darwin ’s Theory of Evolution have a stranglehold on our nation’s public school system and will make every effort to deny students even a hint that there is not universal acceptance of the theory.  As the Dover Area School District statement says ‘ Darwin ’s theory is a theory.’  This theory is being taught as fact and misleading students across the nation.  For the academic freedom of not just students in Pennsylvania , but those around the nation, this assault on our students’ intelligence and ability to reason must stop.  A theory is a theory nothing more and it’s time our students heard it,” concluded Gramley.

 

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 19, 2005

CONTACT:  Diane Gramley  1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078

 

Duquesne University is Making a Mistake, Traditional Values Group Says

 

( Pittsburgh ) – Friday’s decision by Duquesne University , a Catholic school, to permit a gay straight alliance is heading the school in the wrong direction, noted the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA).  In October Duquesne punished a student for voicing his opinion concerning homosexual acts on a personal web log.

 

“Duquesne is continuing its cave-in to homosexual students who have an agenda.  A month and a half ago they punished a student for upholding Catholic teaching demanding that he write a ten-page paper discussing the pros and cons of homosexuality.  According to Catholic teaching there are no pros in homosexual behavior,” stated Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

 

The Catechism defines homosexual behavior as "acts of grave depravity...intrinsically disordered...contrary to the natural law...Under no circumstances can they be approved." 

 

Section 15 of a document entitled “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Personsfound on the web site of the Holy See in Rome -- states "No authentic pastoral programme will include organizations in which homosexual persons associate with each other without clearly stating that homosexual activity is immoral."  

 

"Will Duquesne’s new GSA clearly state that homosexual activity is immoral?  I doubt it.  Further Duquesne will be asking all students to help fund this group through their student activity fees.   Students like Ryan Miner and their parents who adhere to Catholic teaching will be forced to support a group they doctrinally oppose,” Gramley continued.

 

Even though the guidelines set down by the committee charged with investigating the possibility of a GSA prohibits the new organization from protests and petitions that conflict with the university.   How will that be defined?  Will they be permitted to participate in the Day of Silence in April or National Coming Out Day in October.  Will they be permitted to attend ‘gay pride’ events as the Duquesne University Gay-Straight Alliance?  Will the new GSA place pressure upon Duquesne University , as other Catholic schools’ GSAs have, to change policies to make them more ‘gay-friendly?’     

 

q    Within two years of Boston College allowing a GSA on campus, under pressure from the GSA they changed their non-discrimination policy to make it more 'welcoming' to gay students and employees.

q    In 2004 and 2005 Notre Dame's film-TV-theater department hosted a "Queer Film Festival."

q    The play ‘Vagina Monologues’ which promotes lesbianism and pedophilia has been performed at Georgetown University , St Mary’s and Notre Dame.  This includes a scene where a 24-year-old lesbian plies with alcohol and then rapes a 13-year-old girl, with the girl afterward expressing her pleasure with the experience.

q      In October Jesuit-run Santa Clara provided money for the two-day "Out There" conference.  Topics included "Curriculum and Same-Sex Marriage in a Jesuit University " and "Can I Be Gay and Catholic?"  The conference drew about 150 people, most of them faculty and administrators.   Among the universities represented at the conference were Georgetown, Loyola Marymount, Gonzaga, Fordham, DePaul, Boston College, College of the Holy Cross, La Salle, and Marquette.

 

Duquesne University is walking a fine line.  Next year will their name be added to the list of schools participating in conferences which promote acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle?  In a couple years, will they be forced to change school policies?” questioned Gramley. 

 

The AFA of PA further noted that Section 17 of the “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons” states,

 

"(A)ll support should be withdrawn from any organizations which seek to undermine the teaching of the Church (regarding homosexual behavior), which are ambiguous about it, or which neglect it entirely. Such support, or even the semblance of such support, can be gravely misinterpreted.  Special attention should be given to the practice of scheduling religious services and to the use of Church buildings by these groups, including the facilities of Catholic schools and colleges," the papal order said.  "To some, such permission to use Church property may seem only just and charitable; but in reality it is contradictory to the purpose for which these institutions were founded, it is misleading and often scandalous." 

 

 

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 12, 2005
CONTACT:  Diane Gramley   1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.907
                  Dennis Lynch   by e-mail only deallaw@aol.com 

Equality Forum Continues Distortion of Father Mike’s Life in ‘Saint of 911’; Close Friends Say He Was Not Homosexual

(Harrisburg) – Father Mychal Judge was one of nearly 3,000 people killed during the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.  Since the death of his physical body, homosexual activists have been slowly killing his reputation.   The latest effort to rewrite the life of Father Mychal Judge is the Philadelphia-based Equality Forum’s documentary ‘Saint of 911’ to be shown at Lebanon Valley College this evening.  The traditional values group American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) has faxed a formal protest to Lebanon Valley College President MacDonald and the College Relations Office asking them to halt the presentation.  Additionally, the AFA of PA is requesting documentation from Equality Forum as to the validity of their claims that Father Mychal Judge was a homosexual priest.

“Homosexual activists are desperately reaching into the grave of Father Mychal Judge and trying to resurrect someone that he was not -- an openly gay priest and a leader in the GLBT movement.  This is just another example of those who want to rewrite history to legitimize their lifestyle even as they have done by saying Michelangelo, Abraham Lincoln and others were homosexuals.  Dead men cannot defend themselves,” noted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA. 

On June 28, 2002 Dennis Lynch,  General Counsel to the Judge McDonald Foundation in Nanuet, New York wrote, “Prior to Father Mike’s death, everyone who knew him for any length of time would never describe him as a homosexual.  In fact, never has even one homosexual activist ever provided evidence that Father Mike was ‘gay’ Yet, in newspapers immediately after the funeral mass, Brendan Fay was quoted saying that Father Mike was a homosexual.  Fay arranged a media event where many people spoke of Father Mike’s concern for the homosexual community and claimed Father Mike was ‘gay.’  This was news to me, and I knew Father Mike for nearly a decade . . . .  Not one of his longtime friends ever heard or saw anything that Father Mike did that would indicate he was homosexual.”

Equality Forum’s creation of ‘Saint of 911’ is based on lies and is an attempt to create further divisions within the Catholic Church on the issue of homosexuality.  Many news accounts have noted the “timeliness” of the release of the documentary.  The release last month of the directive by the Congregation for Catholic Education states, “in agreement with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, holds it necessary clearly to affirm that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, may not admit to the seminary and Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, show profoundly deep-rooted homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture.”

The Catholic Church has taken a strong stand against practicing homosexuals being in seminaries and homosexual activists are doing their best to derail and undermine the directive

“Equality Forum, with the aid of Lebanon Valley College and the media, is exposing the public to a host of lies about Father Judge and his life.  They are attempting to make a celibate Catholic priest into a homosexual icon.  The lie was started shortly after Father Mike’s funeral and has grown greater with each passing year,” Gramley stated.

 

# #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 8, 2005
CONTACT:  Diane Gramley  1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078

PITTSBURGH MOVES TO KILL ITS BABIES – A RACIST MOVE ON THEIR PART, ASKS TRADITIONAL VALUES GROUP

(Pittsburgh) – Wednesday’s 5-3 vote of the Pittsburgh City Council to extend a 15 feet ‘no-man’s land around healthcare facility doors with an additional 8 feet restriction on approaching clients without their consent anywhere within 100 feet of the door sends a clear message that Pittsburgh does not care for its pre-born babies, a traditional values group said today.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide advocate for life, expressed concern about the pro-death message and the infringement on the free speech rights of those offering an alternative to abortion.

“To even consider an abortion clinic a ‘healthcare facility’ is ludicrous.  Two beating hearts go into the facility, but only one comes out.  This is called health care?  Planned Parenthood and other pro-death groups want to distort the truth about the very existence of a baby inside the mother’s womb.  Additionally who are the majority of clients who pass through the doors of an abortion clinic,” questioned Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

She continued, ““Members of the black community should be especially distressed over this vote as historically the majority of abortions destroy African-American babies.  On October 19, 1939, the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, outlined a plan for stopping the growth of the Black community.   Apparently her organization is keeping true to her vision.”

During public testimony the Pittsburgh police stated that they had been called to the downtown Planned Parenthood offices 22 times within the last six months to investigate harassment and disorderly behavior.    No arrests were made.  The AFA of PA notes that all it takes is a phone call to the police department from Planned Parenthood complaining about protestors’ actions to usher in a police presence.

q    In 2002 Planned Parenthood paid teenagers $100 to be trained as ‘outreach workers’ and then an additional fee for each client that used their ‘services.’

q    Despite Planned Parenthood's claim that it offers mainly counseling and contraceptives, their 2003-2004 Annual Report reveals the organization took in an estimated $104 million from its surgical abortion business.  This accounted for over one-third of its $302.6 million clinic income. 

q    The same report showed that Planned Parenthood aborted 138 children for every adoption referral to an outside agency.

q    Within days of Hurricane Katrina hitting the Gulf Coast, Planned Parenthood sent an announcement to its members that they would offer morning after pills and birth control.

q    Planned Parenthood of New York City offered women free abortions and morning after pills after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 

q    Throughout the pages of the Birth Control Review, the journal of Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, there are countless quotes which not only suggest that she favored eugenics, but that she provided a forum to those who wished to spread their fear of human life, when that life was conceived by someone other than a member of society's elite.

q    Sanger’s magazines and journals were filled with writings and articles by well-known eugenicists and members of Hitler's Third Reich.

q    The Birth Control Review, founded by Sanger in 1917, was totally committed to the eugenics philosophy. The official editorial policy of The Review endorsed I.Q. testing, which classified Blacks, southern Europeans, and other immigrants as mentally inferior to native-born White Americans and called them a nuisance and a menace to society. 

The final vote by Pittsburgh City Council is scheduled for Tuesday. Mayor Tom Murphy has not indicated whether he will sign the law if passed by the Council. 

“The U.S. Government is being accused of racism because of its response to Hurricane Katrina.  Will the City of Pittsburgh be accused of the same as they move to prevent the informed consent of so-called ‘abortion clients? All those who value life and our free speech rights should be very concerned about the vote by the Pittsburgh City Council.  We call on them to reconsider their votes and vote for life on Tuesday,” said Gramley.

 

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 8, 2005

CONTACT:  Diane Gramley  1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078

 

Lampeter Strasburg Superintendent Made Right Decision to Pull ‘Gay’ Ad

 

( Harrisburg ) –  Lampeter Strasburg School Superintendent Dr. Robert Frick took the necessary step to protect the children in his school district, a pro-family group said today.  In a faxed statement to Dr. Frick the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) commended his decision to pull the ad from the high school newspaper for an organization he knew nothing about.  The ad was for Common Roads which according to its website exists “to support and enhance the physical and emotional well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered youth (ages 14-22) in Central Pennsylvania .”

 

“Dr. Frick made what is considered by some a politically incorrect decision, but like all politically incorrect decisions it was the right one.  He had the best interest of the students in mind when he had the ad pulled,” stated Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

 

One must wonder whether this effort was the result of an October 26 journalism workshop “for school newspaper advisors and student staff” that Common Roads was encouraging individuals to attend.  It was held at the PA Newspaper Association’s office on Front Street in Harrisburg and conducted by them as well as the Patriot News.  Common Roads has made it a very well known fact that they take out ads in student newspapers.

 

A closer look at Common Roads’ website reveals some disturbing links.  Their resource page includes a link to PlanetOut which features ‘romance and dating’ pages.  Their organization is for youth age 14-22?? Additionally they are holding a fundraiser for the “GLBT annual youth get-together ‘True Colors’ conference at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain , Connecticut .  There are numerous workshops including ones on ‘activism.  Probably most disturbing is that at least one of Common Roads board members is the advisor to a Gay Straight Alliance in the area.

 

Additionally Common Roads efforts to get ads in school newspapers were funded by a grant from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, the former Greater Harrisburg Foundation.  Their mission is supposedly to make a positive impact in communities, this grant does the exact opposite. Promoting homosexuality as being normal and safe is not a positive message.

 

But it seems that The Foundation for Enhancing Communities is getting a reputation for being ‘gay-friendly.’  They are listed on the New York City-based “Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues” website as a frequent contributor to homosexual causes.  

 

“Efforts are being made to infiltrate Central Pennsylvania schools with the message that ‘gay is okay.’  This calls for greater vigilance on the part of school administrators to protect students that are placed in their charge and Dr. Frick has done just that,” Gramley concluded.

 

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 6, 2005
CONTACT:  Diane Gramley   1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
 
Traditional Values Group’s Message to Equality Forum:  Men Wearing Dresses to Work is a Bad Idea
 
( Philadelphia ) –  The recent announcement that The Vanguard Group, the nation's second-largest mutual fund company, will vote in favor of sexual orientation workplace protection in its proxy voting rights is indication that they are not in tune with the majority of their shareholders, a statewide traditional values group said today.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) also noted that apparently Philadelphia-based Equality Forum has not been completely honest with the Valley Forge company.  The AFA of PA has taken steps to educate Vanguard on the full ramifications of their decision which includes permitting men who think they are women to wear dresses to work and use the women’s restrooms.
 
“Does Vanguard really understand the full extend of this decision?  Equality Forum’s intend is to place additional pressure on Exxon/Mobil to add ‘sexual orientation’ to their employee non-discrimination policies.  For seven years Exxon/Mobil shareholders have successfully rejected attempts to add this terminology,” Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said today.
 
Vanguard, a leading provider of company-sponsored retirement plan services, holds 149 million shares in ExxonMobil. 
 
The following list of sexual orientations was apparently not provided by Equality Forum to The Vanguard Group.  However, the AFA of PA is making the list available to them today.
 
NOTE:  Page numbers are from “Paraphilias,” Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision ( Washington : American Psychiatric Association, 2000), pp. 566-582
 
Apotemnophilia - sexual arousal associated with the stump(s) of an amputee
 
Asphyxophilia - sexual gratification derived from activities that involve oxygen deprivation through hanging, strangulation, or other means
 
autogynephilia – the sexual arousal of a man by his own perception of himself as a woman or dressed as a woman (p. 574)
 
Coprophilia - sexual arousal associated with feces (p. 576)
 
Exhibitionism - the act of exposing one’s genitals to an unwilling observer to obtain sexual gratification (p. 569)
 
Fetishism/Sexual Fetishism - obtaining sexual excitement primarily or exclusively from an inanimate object or a particular part of the body (p. 570)
 
Frotteurism - approaching an unknown woman from the rear and pressing or rubbing the penis against her buttocks (p. 570)
 
Gerontosexuality - distinct preference for sexual relationships primarily or exclusively with an elderly partner
 
Incest - sex with a sibling or parent
 
Kleptophilia - obtaining sexual excitement from stealing
 
Klismaphilia - erotic pleasure derived from enemas (p. 576)
 
Necrophilia - sexual arousal and/or activity with a corpse (p. 576)
 
Pedophilia - Sexual activity with a prepubescent child (generally age 13 years or younger).  The individual with pedophilia must be age 16 years or older and at least 5 years older than the child.  For individuals in late adolescence with pedophilia, no precise age difference is specified, and clinical judgement must be used; both the sexual maturity of the child and the age difference must be taken into account; the adult may be sexually attracted to opposite sex, same sex, or prefer either (p. 571)
 
Sexual masochism - obtaining sexual gratification by being subjected to pain or humiliation (p. 573)
 
Sexual sadism - the intentional infliction of pain or humiliation on another person in order to achieve sexual excitement (p. 574)
 
Transsexual - a person whose gender identity is different from his or her anatomical gender
 
Transvestite - a person who is sexually stimulated or gratified by wearing the clothes of the other gender
 
Urophilia - sexual arousal associated with urine (p. 576)
 
Zoophilia/Bestiality - engaging in sexual activity with animals (p. 576)
 
“Vanguard is on the wrong track and is giving their stamp of approval to all the above sexual orientations when they support ‘fully inclusive employment policies’.  Equality Forum is the same organization that since 2003 has received $185,000 in grants using Pennsylvania tax payer money to fund their week-long homosexual event in Philadelphia .  This past year’s events included panel discussions on ‘Gay Abe’ and how to overturn marriage laws.  Vanguard needs to distance itself from Equality Forum and what it stands for,” remarked Gramley.
 
# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  November 18, 2005
CONTACT:  Diane Gramley   1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

PRO-FAMILY GROUP THANKS CONGRESSMAN TIM MURPHY FOR INTRODUCING RESOLUTION TO PROTECT PARENTAL RIGHT

(Pittsburgh) – Today the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) thanked Congressman Tim Murphy for introducing H. Res. 547 --  “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit deplorably infringed on parental rights in Fields v. Palmdale School District.”  The resolution passed on November 16 by a vote of 320-91

Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said, “The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is the most overturned court in the nation and a three judge panel has now stripped the parents of seven to ten year olds of their rights to participate in their children’s education in the public school system.  Congressman Murphy is to be commended for spearheading the effort to encourage the entire Ninth Circuit to review this outrageous decision. Congressman Joe Pitts and Congresswoman Melissa Hart are also to be commended for co-sponsoring the resolution.”

Prior to the survey the parents were contacted by letter which described the goal of the assessment as “establish[ing] a community baseline measure of children’s exposure to early trauma (for example, violence).” The letter did not disclose that of 79 questions, the children would be asked ten questions rating areas such as “touching my private parts,” “thinking about having sex,” “having sex feelings in my body” and “can’t stop thinking about sex.” The survey required a ‘Yes’ of ‘No’ answer.

Judge Steven Reinhardt, the same judge who ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional,  summarized the courts’ decision, saying, “We hold there is no free-standing fundamental right of parents ‘to control the upbringing of their children by introducing them to matters of and relating to sex in accordance with their personal and religious values and beliefs . . . .’”  Continuing he said, “We conclude only that the parents are possess (sic) of no constitutional right to prevent the public schools from providing information on [sex-ed] to their students in any forum or manner they select.”

The court's opinion additionally stated, "parents have no due process or privacy right to override the determinations of public schools as to the information to which their children will be exposed while enrolled as students."

“This is yet another example of judicial tyranny and highlights the need for judges on the bench that do not read between the lines of the Constitution.  This is an attempt by the Ninth Circuit to give complete control of public school children over to the government to indoctrinate them as they please.  Whether the judges like it or not the majority of parents know what is best for their children,” concluded Gramley.

 

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  November 9, 2005

CONTACT:  Diane Gramley  1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

 

DOVER AREA SCHOOL STUDENTS LOSE IN THE ELECTION

 

( Harrisburg ) – Yesterday’s loss by the incumbents of the Dover Area School District is a great loss to academic freedom and financial frugality in the district, a statewide traditional values group said today.  The American Family Association (AFA of PA) commends the incumbent school board members for their wise financial decisions and their willingness to offer the students more academic freedom.

 

“This school board has made decisions that saved the district tens of thousands of dollars and offered opportunities for academic freedom to the students.  Apparently they were targeted for removal by the teachers’ union and those who want to restrict the students’ ability to learn alternative views on controversial issues such as evolution,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA. 

 

Last October the board passed a policy which required the reading of a one-minute statement prior to the beginning of ninth grade biology class. Parents could opt out their children from hearing the statement. A challenge to the policy was heard in federal court and testimony concluded on November 4.  A decision should be reached by sometime in January.  The statement reads,

 

"The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn

about Darwin 's Theory of Evolution and eventually to take a

standardized test of which evolution is a part.

Because Darwin 's Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new

evidence is discovered.  The Theory is not a fact.  Gaps in the Theory

exist for which there is no evidence.  A theory is defined as a well-tested

explanation that unifies a broad range of observation.

Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from

Darwin 's view.  The reference book, Of Pandas and People, is available

For students who might be interested in gaining an understanding of what

Intelligent Design actually involves.

With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open

mind.  The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life to individual

students and their families.  As a Standards-driven district, class

instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proficiency on

Standards-based assessments."

 

“There are those who resist all efforts of academic freedom when it comes to the subject of evolution.  To even state that evolution is a theory is considered a threat to its proponents. It seems they may be insecure in their views as they so viciously attack those who try to offer students the opportunity to explore a different viewpoint.  The students and tax payers are the real losers in this election,” Gramley continued.

 

An August 31, 2005 New York Times article reported the results of a July 7-17 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. In all, 64 percent said they were open to the idea of teaching creationism in addition to evolution, while 38 percent favored replacing evolution with creationism.     

In addition more than 400 scientists have signed onto the growing list of skeptics to claims that random mutation and natural selection can account for the complexity of life.  Two prominent Russian biologists from Moscow State University , Lev V. Beloussov, professor of embryology, and Vladimir L. Voeikov, professor of bioorganic chemistry, are recent signers.

Other biologists who have signed the list include evolutionary biologist and textbook author Stanley Salthe; Richard von Sternberg an evolutionary biologist at the Smithsonian Institution and the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Biotechnology Information; and Giuseppe Sermonti, Editor of Rivista di Biologia/Biology Forum.  The list also includes scientists from Princeton , Cornell, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Ohio State University , Purdue and the University of Washington .

 

“Why should students not be permitted to know that these scientists question the theory of evolution?  Will the new Dover Area School board members allow students to know there is a controversy and not all scientists agree on this issue?  Their answer will reveal their true intent for academic freedom in the district,” concluded Gramley.

 

 

 

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  November 1, 2005

CONTACT:  Diane Gramley  1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

 

GOVERNOR RENDELL ISSUES PORNOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK PROCLAMATION

 

( Harrisburg ) – The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide anti-pornography, anti-violence group, is pleased to report that Governor Ed Rendell has issued a proclamation declaring October 30 through November 6 as White Ribbon Pornography Awareness Week in Pennsylvania . 

 

The proclamation states:

 

GREETINGS:

 

It is my pleasure to recognize the week of October 30- November 6, 2005 , as White Ribbon Pornography Awareness Week in