CHINESE BOOKSTORE OWNER GETS THREE YEARS IN JAIL FOR PRINTING BIBLES TO GIVE TO LOCAL CHURCHES

A Chinese bookstore owner who was taken into custody and accused of printing Bibles to give to local house church congregations has been sentenced to three years in prison and fined nearly $22,000, according to a report from Compass Direct.
The report said a Beijing court today delivered the guilty verdict in the trial of Shi Weihan on allegations he ran an "illegal business operation."
WND has reported on the case since the businessman's original arrest, including when a report came out last year that even his friends hardly recognized him because of the deterioration of his health while in jail awaiting court proceedings.
WND first reported when the house church leader became one of the Christians in China who simply "disappeared" in 2007.
He later was tracked to prison, and although in January of 2008 he was cleared of allegations made against him, he was taken into custody again in March and has been held there since.
Officials with China Aid Association said then his life was at risk.
"According to personal acquaintances who have visited Mr. Shi, his health has degenerated to the point that he is hardly recognizable to his closest friends," China Aid said at the time.
Now, Compass Direct reports that the bookstore operated legally and sold only books for which he held government permission. But the conviction said he printed Bibles and other literature to give to churches.
Ray Sharpe, a friend of the bookstore owner, told Compass Direct a written judgment is expected within about two weeks to allow an appeal to be filed.
The report said friends and business acquaintances of Shi described him as a model citizen of China. He was known, the report said, for his work among the poor in his nation.
His wife, Zhang Jing, and their two daughters, have been under surveillance for much of his time in jail, the report said.
Shi owns a bookstore near where last year's Olympics complex was built in Beijing.
Sharpe told WND at the time of Shi's first arrest that Shi is a businessman who also works as a travel agent.
In the runup to the Olympics, WND reported on a "blacklist" of people and groups of people China was targeting specifically because of the games last August. Those targeted included religious leaders.
The case involving Shi has gotten considerable attention at least partly because he is the father of a U.S. citizen.
Grace Shi, 9, was born during the family's visit to the U.S. in 2000.

SWINE FLU TALLY REACHES 25,288 : 139 DEAD : WHO, PRAY & MAKE A DIFFERENCE

GENEVA: The UN health agency says at least 25,288 people around the world have contracted swine flu, and that 139 of those people have died.
Monday's tally by the World Health Organization includes 3,348 new cases, mostly in the United States. It also adds 14 deaths as a result of the disease, 10 in the US, three in Mexico and a first in the Dominican Republic. WHO says people in 73 countries have now been infected with swine flu

AN ADVISER OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ,LOS ANGELES TOLD A STUDENT THAT SHE CAN'T SAY ' JESUS ' DUE TO DEPARTMENTAL POLICY

An adviser on the campus of UCLA has edited a student's personal graduation statement to remove her reference to "my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," citing policy in the Department of Molecular, Cell & Development Biology.
Word of the situation came from an Internet posting by Gordon Klingenschmitt, the former Navy chaplain who was removed from the military in a dispute over the use of Jesus' name in his prayers.
"This is another example of the improper application of separation of church and state," he told WND. "As a government school, UCLA cannot prohibit religious expression. They're the ones crossing the line here."
The school, in a later statement, confirmed it had reviewed its procedures and would read the statements as submitted by students, after "making clear" that it was understood that it is not a university statement.
The posting revealed an e-mail exchange for a submission by student Christina Popa to faculty adviser Pamela Hurley of her "personal statement" for graduation.The statements are submitted by students, but eventually are read by faculty.

Popa wrote she wanted to say: "'I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I also want to thank my father who passed away 3 years ago, for teaching me to always do my best and thus motivating me to pursue the sciences. I want to thank my mother for supporting me in school as well as my sisters and brother for encouraging me and my friends for making college fun.' I plan to work in a research lab or become a dietician."
Klingenschmitt said he'd talked with Popa and she was not making any further public statements on the dispute at this time. WND messages left via telephone and sent via e-mail to Hurley were not returned.
The university, however, did release a statement explaining the reading of the "words of wisdom" is done by a member of the school administration.
"Because the reading is by the university, not the students, to avoid the appearance that the university was advocating one religion over the other, guidelines were established so that messages would not include references to particular religions," the school stated. "The department and the university support the First Amendment and in no way intended to impinge upon any students' rights.
"Thus, upon review, and recognizing that the intent of the ceremony is for all students to have a chance to say something at graduation, the department will continue to make clear to the audience that the statements are the personal statements of each student and will read statements as originally submitted by the students," the school said.
Hurley's e-mail response to Popa had said, "UCLA is a public university where the doctrine of separation of church and state is observed, in order to respect the sheer diversity of religious beliefs among the people who come here. Since that is so, we do permit MCDB graduates to thank God in their words of wisdom, but we also ask that they refrain from making more specific religious references of any kind."
She continued: "In this setting, even I would not personally be comfortable reading: 'I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' Therefore, I need to let you know that I will read your Words of Wisdom as follows: First, I want to thank God….
"I hope that you can be okay with the above, given all the circumstances that exist," the e-mail said.
Klingenschmitt, who had assembled a petition on his website on the issue, faced punishment over the use of the name of Jesus in prayers and still is pursuing a court action seeking reinstatement.
His petition on Popa's behalf said: "We the undersigned, respectfully express our shock and dismay, at the anti-Christian discrimination by UCLA Biology Professor Pamela Hurley, who has directly refused the rights of graduating student Christina Popa, who wants to say 'I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,' in her own pre-graduation speech…
"We pray that UCLA will stop censoring students' right to freedom of religious expression. … We pray that Christina Popa will be allowed the right she earned, to give thanks to Jesus Christ at her own graduation."
Popa had responded with a follow-up e-mail that since her thanks to Jesus were being censored, she has learned "UCLA officials do not understand what diversity and respect really means."
"I am not offended because it's 'my faith' but because UCLA is censoring my freedom of speech, which is unconstitutional in the United States," she wrote.
The adviser responded with an implied threat.
"If you prefer, Christina, I can read none of what you wrote."
"UCLA is not censoring your freedom of speech. This is not UCLA policy, or College policy … this is Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology policy," she continued. "I have already stated to you directly already (sic) that I would not be comfortable reading specific religious references, such as the ones you submitted … or to any other avatar…"
Since being removed from the military, Klingenschmitt has fought repeatedly for the right to pray in Jesus name, including a battle in Virginia over a state regulation that state trooper chaplains there no longer can pray in Jesus' name.

FAITH ORGANIZATION TO DISPLAY A 16 FOOT CROSS,THE STAR OF DAVID & A SACRED SYMBOL IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON, -- A faith organization plans to display a 16 foot cross, the Star of David and a sacred symbol for the name of Jesus in front of the White House on Sunday, June 7.
This public witness is taking place to call upon President Obama to respect and protect public expressions of faith after he covered up a cross and a symbol for the name of Jesus at a Georgetown University speech.Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown is the oldest Catholic university in the United States.
Faith leaders are asking that the White House issue a written policy saying they will not cover up any religious or sacred symbols during appearances and speeches by President Obama.
The Christian Defense Coalition is sponsoring the event which will be held Sunday, June 7, at 7:00 P.M. in front of the White House. The activities will also include a prayer vigil.
The exact location is Pennsylvania Ave. NW across from Lafayette Park.
The group is troubled and finds hypocritical that President Obama would highlight religious liberty and freedom at his recent speech in Cairo, yet here in America he chooses to cover up Christian religious symbols and trample on religious liberty.
The coalition wonders out loud if President Obama is being "selective" when it comes to protected religious freedom. In his speech, he talked about protecting the right of women and girls to wear the hijab and using the courts to punish those who would deny it. Yet the President shows no respect for the Christian tradition by covering the cross and a symbol for the name of Jesus.
At the Cairo speech President Obama said:
"Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it."
"Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion."
"That is why the US government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it."
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states:
"We applaud President Obama for making religious freedom and liberty a central part of his Cairo speech. However, it is both hypocritical and troubling to highlight protecting religious liberty in Egypt while disrespecting and crushing it here in America.

"It is stunning that the President of the United States would ask a Catholic university to cover up the cross and a symbol for the name of Jesus 'to provide a consistent background of American flags for a televised speech' according to the White House. These are not the actions of a President that respects and is sensitive toward public expressions of faith.
"We admire President Obama for using the courts to protect the right of Muslim women and girls to wear the hijab. This is a very significant step in safeguarding religious liberty. However, the commitment to secure freedom of religion should extend to all faith traditions not a select few. President Obama should be as committed to protecting Christian public expressions of faith as he is toward protecting Muslim public expressions of faith.
"The simplest way to clear up this controversy is for the White House to apologize and issue a written policy saying they will not cover up any religious or sacred symbols during an appearance or speech by the President. That policy must include all faith traditions."

4OO STUDENTS DEFY ACLU ( American Civil Liberties Union ) AND STAND TO RECITE LORD'S PRAYER AT GRADUATION IN PACE HIGH SCHOOL, SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, – Nearly 400 graduating seniors at Pace High School stood up in protest against the ACLU and recited the Lord’s Prayer during their graduation ceremony last Saturday. Many of the students also painted crosses on their graduation caps to make a statement of faith.
The prayerful protest by the students comes on the heels of a lawsuit the ACLU filed against the Santa Rosa County School District, claiming some of the teachers and administration endorsed religion. The suit was filed on behalf of two students, who said that the teachers were promoting their views of religion.

The two teachers at Pace High School were Principal Frank Lay and school teacher Michelle Winkler. The ACLU alleges that during a dinner event held at the school, Principal Lay asked the athletic director to bless the meal. In another incident, the ACLU alleges that Michelle Winkler’s husband, who is not a school board employee, offered prayer at an awards ceremony
According to the ACLU lawsuit, graduation ceremonies during the past five years at Central, Jay, Milton, Navarre and Pace High Schools in the Santa Rosa District have included prayers by students – often members of groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or the Christian World Order. The graduation ceremonies at Santa Rosa Adult School and Santa Rosa Learning Academy also have included prayers.
Leading up to the graduation ceremony, the ACLU demanded that Pace High School censor students from offering prayers or saying anything religious. In the end, members of the student body were not permitted to speak at the graduation.
The graduating class at the school, however, decided to react against the ACLU bullying by taking a stand at graduation. As soon as Principal Lay asked everyone to be seated at the ceremony, the graduating class remained standing and recited the Lord’s Prayer.
ACLU attorney Benjamin Stevenson told ABC Channel Three after the event: "Our feeling is that it's regrettable that the students took over the ceremony to impose their religious views on the audience who may not have shared the same religious views.
"School officials have a responsibility to protect the silently held religious views of others."
Stevenson said that something should have been done to stop the recitation of the Lord's Prayer and that it is too early to know whether the ACLU will pursue further legal action.
Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “Neither students nor teachers shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate. The students at Pace High School refused to remain silent and were not about to be bullied by the ACLU.
“We have decided to represent faculty, staff and students of Pace High School,” he said, “because the ACLU is clearly violating their First Amendment rights. Schools are not religion-free zones, and any attempt to make them so is unconstitutional.”