Vancouver Moose

Hunting People for Jesus, and Mormons Posthumously Baptize Obama’s Mother

California Teacher Liable for Anti-Christian Comment:

“It’s a rather odd ruling. The court found that one statement violated the establishment clause and it was a statement about another teacher who was teaching creationism.”

VIDEO: Soldiers In Afghanistan Given Bibles, Told To “Hunt People For Jesus”:

A U.S. church raised money to send Bibles, printed in the Pashtu and Dari languages, to American soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, a report on Al Jazeera documented Sunday night.

It is against military rules to proselytize — a regulation one of the soldiers filmed by the network readily acknowledged. “You cannot proselytize, but you can give gifts,” says the soldier. It is a crime in Afghanistan to attempt to convert anyone from Islam to any other religion. “I also want to praise God because my church collected some money to get Bibles for Afghanistan. They came and sent the money out.” The footage is said to be roughly a year old.

The Al Jazeera report also shows a military preacher urging army parishioners to “hunt people for Jesus.”

“The Special Forces guys, they hunt men. Basically, we do the same things as Christians. We hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down. Get the hound of heaven after them, so we get them into the Kingdom. That’s what we do, that’s our business,” he says.

Did the Mormons baptize Obama’s mother, after her death, without his knowledge or consent?:

Yes. Yes they did.

Last year, in the heat of the presidential campaign, the Mormons had posthumously baptized Barack Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. Baptizing the dead of other faith’s, secretly and without the consent of their families, is a common Mormon practice. For the past fifteen years the Mormons have caused quite a stir by forcibly baptizing Jewish Holocaust victims – in other words, converting them to Mormonism – despite strong objections from the Jewish community.

The Mormon’s church released a statement that the posthumous baptism was a “rare” mistake that might have been done by “pranksters”. It’s difficult to take that statement seriously, considering that Lying for the Lord is an official tenet of the Mormon Religion. But it’s all good you see, because the dead are free to reject the baptism when they get to Mormon heaven.

Previous Politics:

• Assassination Attempts in Holland and Ethiopia, Afghans Killed by US Air Strikes, Pakistan Refugees, UN Sudan Mandate, Iraq Withdrawal Dates
• Schwarzenegger wants MJ debate, Phelps/Savage banned from UK, Gitmo prisoners are ‘not persons’, Swine Flu blamed on Immigrants, and the Republican Clown College
• Dumpster Sex, Olympic Sealskins, Social Work Stress, Media Restriction, Skytrain Gaffe, Leaky Condos, Ont fights Poverty, and Butching up Figure Skating

Assassination Attempts in Holland and Ethiopia, Afghans Killed by US Air Strikes, Pakistan Refugees, UN Sudan Mandate, Iraq Withdrawal Dates

Tens of Thousands of Refugees Are Fleeing Taliban in NW Pakistan:

UN extends mandate of force in southern Sudan:

“The Security Council has extended the UN mandate for southern Sudan by a year, and called for strict implementation of an agreement between Khartoum and southern rebels the UN force is in charge of overseeing”.

Five killed in assassination attempt on the Dutch royal family:

The Dutch Royal Family looked on in horror [April 30th] as a car ploughed into a crowd of wellwishers, killing five and injuring twelve.

The car smashed through two police barriers in an apparent attempt to ram the open-top bus carrying the royal party, which included Queen Beatrix, 71.

Ethiopia arrests 40 for plotting to assassinate senior government officials:

Senior military officers in Ethiopia, including a general, had plotted to assassinate top government officials, Communications Minister Bereket Simon said Friday, adding that 40 people were under arrest. “While six of the suspects were army officers on active duty, including one general, 34 of the suspects were ex-army men expelled from the army on grounds of misconduct,”

Iraq rules out extension of U.S. withdrawal dates:

Iraq will not extend withdrawal deadlines for U.S. troops set out in a bilateral accord, ending months of speculation about whether U.S. combat troops would stay beyond June in bases in the restive northern city of Mosul.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraq was committed to adhering to the withdrawal schedule in the pact, which took effect on January 1, including the requirement to withdraw U.S. combat troops from towns and cities by the end of June and a full withdrawal by the end of 2011.

“Dozens” of Afghan Civilians Killed by US Air Strike:

Remember all those promises from US commanders in Afghanistan, the promises made after each killing of large numbers of Afghan civilians, sometimes by air strikes, sometimes by ground forces during raids? After each incident – at least as far back as July 2007 – the commanders issue new pledges that US forces will change their rules of engagement, will take more care, will be more cautious to avoid more murders of Afghan civilians?

Previous Politics:

• Schwarzenegger wants MJ debate, Phelps/Savage banned from UK, Gitmo prisoners are ‘not persons’, Swine Flu blamed on Immigrants, and the Republican Clown College
• Dumpster Sex, Olympic Sealskins, Social Work Stress, Media Restriction, Skytrain Gaffe, Leaky Condos, Ont fights Poverty, and Butching up Figure Skating
• Stonehenge protest, Pope apologizes, Vatican blocks Ron Howard, Crucifixion license plate, and Churchgoers support torture

Schwarzenegger wants MJ debate, Phelps/Savage banned from UK, Gitmo prisoners are ‘not persons’, Swine Flu blamed on Immigrants, and the Republican Clown College

US refuses to let jet into its airspace because it is carrying a journalist who criticizes US foreign policy:

In Their Own Words: Why Dem Senators Screwed Homeowners:

Supreme Court Justice David Souter To Retire:

Court rules that Gitmo prisoners are “not persons”:

“Court Agrees with Obama Administration that Detainees Still Have No Constitutional Right Not to Be Tortured”

Fake 9/11 Cost $300,000:

“If you have ever wondered how much it costs to make 7 million New Yorkers all shit their pants at the same time, now you know: $300,000, which is actually kind of a bargain”.

Swine Flu Outbreak Fuels Immigrant Haters On Wingnut Radio:

“recap of swine flu quotes from wingnut radio blowhards Michael Savage, Neal Boortz, and Glenn Beck.” And speaking of Michael Savage …

Radio Blowhard Michael Savage And Westboro’s Phelps Banned From UK:

Fred Waldron Phelps Snr, a 79-year-old American Baptist pastor, and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper are barred for their anti-gay comments. Both have picketed the funerals of Aids victims and celebrated the deaths of US soldiers as “punishment” for US tolerance of homosexuality. Talk show host Michael Savage – real name Michael Weiner – is also excluded. His views on immigration, Islam, rape and autism have caused great offence in America.

Thanks for the tip off Joe.

UPDATE: Michael Savage has threatened to sue for defamation.

Schwarzenegger: Time To Talk About Legalizing Pot:

Schwarzenegger was asked at a press conference if it was finally time to legalize marijuana.

“No, I think that it’s not time for that, but I think it’s time for a debate,” he said, according to a transcript provided by Schwarzenegger’s office. “And I think that we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what affect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision.”

The Mexican ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan, recently called for the United States to hold such a debate to address cartel-related violence. Mexico has decriminalized possession of marijuana but doesn’t tax it.

Bush Library Raises $100 Million In 100 Days :

Along with writing a memoir — something Bush has also begun in recent months — financing and building a suitable presidential library has been the initial focus of nearly every President who left the White House since Harry Truman. The historically fast pace of Bush’s fundraising has been all the more remarkable for taking place during a period of economic contraction.

Two more officers killed by a right-wing extremist with a military background. But don’t insult our veterans!:

It’s the new political correctness, I gather, not to ever suggest that anyone who’s ever served in the military is ever capable posing a threat to law-enforcement officers or the general public. That was the whole upshot of the recent fake controversy over the DHS report on domestic terrorism .In the meantime, what do you know: Yet another shooting of police officers by an angry and paranoid man with a military background. And just like the last one, this one believed Obama was going to come get his guns

Kenyan PM’s wife joins “sex boycott”:

Ida Odinga, wife of Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga, has joined a Lysistrata-like nationwide sex boycott aimed at forcing the countries leaders to overcome a political impasse.

Kenyan women’s groups started the boycott in an effort to end the feud between the factions led by Mr. Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki that has paralyzed Kenya’s government for weeks. Kenya’s Federation of Women Lawyers has urged the wives of both leaders to withold sex from their husbands until the feud is resolved.

Republican clown college photos:

Hebiclens / WMxdesign used an image editing program to put clown makeup on the faces of prominent conservatives. I like the pastel color palette he used, as you don’t often see it on clowns.

I think Peggy Noonan is my favorite. She looks so natural. But where’s Joe the Plumber? Oh, that’s right, he’s no longer a Republican. Whatever will they do without him.

Previous Politics:

• Dumpster Sex, Olympic Sealskins, Social Work Stress, Media Restriction, Skytrain Gaffe, Leaky Condos, Ont fights Poverty, and Butching up Figure Skating
• Stonehenge protest, Pope apologizes, Vatican blocks Ron Howard, Crucifixion license plate, and Churchgoers support torture
• Christian Strip Club Manager, Cdn beliefs aboot Religion, Infiltrating Liberty U., Pirates RRRRR saving the world, and Scotland’s Jedi Police Officers

Dumpster Sex, Olympic Sealskins, Social Work Stress, Media Restriction, Skytrain Gaffe, Leaky Condos, Ont fights Poverty, and Butching up Figure Skating

Saanich Couple get caught having sex in dumpster:

Caseloads, stress bury social workers:

“Nearly two-thirds — 60 per cent — of front-line social workers in British Columbia said they “rarely” or “never” give adequate attention to children and families due to unmanageable caseloads and high stress levels”

NATO slaps restrictions on Canadian media in Kandahar:

“NATO has imposed tough new restrictions on foreign journalists covering the war in southern Afghanistan, changes that could affect how much Canadians see and hear from war-torn Kandahar”. Thanks for the tip off Dave

‘Historic’ law compels Ontario to fight poverty:

Fighting poverty is now the law in Ontario.

In a unanimous vote yesterday, Queen’s Park passed legislation that commits the province to become a leading jurisdiction in the battle against poverty.

The Poverty Reduction Act, hailed by advocates as “historic,” requires successive governments to draft poverty-fighting strategies with specific goals every five years and to report annually to the legislature on progress.

SkyTrain worker sent home for political endorsement over PA:

A transit system employee in Vancouver is facing an investigation after spouting a political endorsement over the Broadway SkyTrain station public-address system during the morning rush.

At a political rally in the station for B.C. NDP Leader Carole James on Thursday morning, the unidentified employee went on the PA and said, “Carole James rocks,” and then made an unfavourable comment about B.C. Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell.

Is this Vancouver’s #1 ethics scandal?:

“My contender for Metro Vancouver’s most notorious and widespread ethical breakdown of the past 30 years is the leaky condo crisis. It has brought true pain and hardship to hundreds of thousands.”

If you want to hear a expert talk about “Ethics and Leaky Condos,” you will be interested in attending a breakfast session downtown on the morning of Wednesday, May 13, sponsored by The Workplace Centre for Spiritual and Ethical Development.

John Haythorne, a professional engineer and lawyer in Vancouver, will discuss what happens when profits and quick monetary returns for construction companies or engineering firms override business ethics.

Canada wants to “butch up” the men’s figure skating for 2010:

Male skaters are emphasizing how hard the sport is — how grueling — and even how dangerous it can be. Stojko says that he’s torn his groin from the physical rigor of the jumps. “The amount of pressure on the body is ridiculous,” he said.

By showcasing the strength and athleticism that goes into skating, the organization hopes to tap into the strong viewership for sports like baseball, football and hockey.

Canadian Dumb Ass Idea of the Year:

Canadian MPs vote to include seal skin on Olympic uniforms

The federal government wants Canadian Olympians to wear a seal product — most likely skin — during the 2010 Winter Games to help protest a European Union ban on Canada’s seal hunt.

Members of Parliament from all parties voted unanimously Wednesday in favour of a Bloc Quebecois motion calling on the government to come up with a way to integrate seal pelts into the athletes’ uniforms.

“With the upcoming Winter Olympics that will be in Vancouver in 2010, the government has a chance to offer some concrete action to promote seal products,” Bloc Quebec MP Raynald Blais said.

Unanimously ?!?!?!?!? All of them? It didn’t occur to even one MP that some of the Canadian athletes might be opposed to the seal hunt? Or perhaps that they just wouldn’t want to be be used as political issue fashion models?

What if an athlete refused to wear the seal skin, then what? Would the RCMP tazer him/her and forcibly dress them, then parade them through the opening ceremonies in handcuffs? Yeah, I’m sure that would do loads of good to help seal product production.

Olympic team opposes motion for sealskin uniforms

Olympic officials say ‘No’ to politics

But the head of the Canadian Olympic Committee immediately shot down the idea that sealskin, or any political statement, might be incorporated into the Olympic uniform.

“No, we would not be doing that,” said Chris Rudge, adding that over the coming year he expects to field a variety of requests similar to the one made Wednesday, and his answer won’t change.

“These are social and economic issues that our government will deal with,” said Rudge. “I think it would be inappropriate to use the athletes as a voice for issues that accrue to other elements to our society.”

Wow! Way to go Canadian MPs. Your short-sightedness achieved the exact opposite of what you were going for. The seal hunt now looks even worse than it did before. I never imagined such a thing to be possible.

For unanimoosely shooting yourself in the collective foot, I am giving the Canadian Parliament Two Antlers Down

Dumbass!

Previous Politics:

• Stonehenge protest, Pope apologizes, Vatican blocks Ron Howard, Crucifixion license plate, and Churchgoers support torture
• Christian Strip Club Manager, Cdn beliefs aboot Religion, Infiltrating Liberty U., Pirates RRRRR saving the world, and Scotland’s Jedi Police Officers
• Cdn MP’s voting records, Ont driver’s cell phone ban, B of C interest rate cut, US protectionism, and the Cdn 9/11 Terrorist Myth

Stonehenge protest, Pope apologizes, Vatican blocks Ron Howard, Crucifixion license plate, and Churchgoers support torture

Pope expresses sorrow anguish suffered in Canada’s residential schools:

More than 100,000 people attended federal residential schools that were run by the Catholic, Anglican and United churches. The children were removed from their families and were made to suppress their language and culture. Some also suffered physical and sexual abuse.

The United and Anglican churches have previously apologized for residential schools. Prime Minister Stephen Harper also formally apologized in June.

Stewart Phillip, grand chief of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said the Pope’s statement is “incredibly historic” for Aboriginal people, especially in B.C. where majority of the country’s 130 residential schools were located.

Ron Howard Accuses Vatican Of Film Interference:

Director Ron Howard claimed Sunday that the Vatican interfered with efforts to get permits to shoot certain scenes of his “Angels & Demons” religious thriller in Rome — a charge the Vatican said was purely a publicity stunt.

The film, which stars Tom Hanks and is based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, has its world premiere Monday in Rome.

The Catholic Bishops are cranky, but American Catholics aren’t listening :

The Catholic Bishops are still bitching about Notre Dame inviting Obama to its graduation. Because, in the warped world of the American Catholic hierarchy, that’s a big issue. But, the bishops are out of touch with their parishioners:

Florida Reveals Tasteful New License Plate:

Who’s classy now? Florida, again, as always! Here’s the new “vanity plate,” featuring America’s favorite (?) Christian star, Dead Jesus Hanging Off a License Plate With an Orange Behind His Head. This is gonna look sweet with a brass pair of Truck Nutz swingin’ down below. [The Awl]

Churchgoers Are More Likely to Support Torture:

More than half of people who attend services at least once a week — 54 percent — said the use of torture against suspected terrorists is “often” or “sometimes” justified. Only 42 percent of people who “seldom or never” go to services agreed, according to the analysis released Wednesday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified — more than six in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only four in 10 of them did.

Stonehenge protester King Arthur Pendragon defies eviction order:

while it is easy to dismiss Arthur – who grew up as plain John Rothwell – as an eccentric, it is clear that many believe his cause is just. Thousands have signed his petition calling for improvements.

Nevertheless, this week Arthur was forced to appear before court. He wore his robes and dabbed amber oil over himself to ward off evil vibes. The charm did not work and he was told in effect he would have to move.

Previous Politics:

• Christian Strip Club Manager, Cdn beliefs aboot Religion, Infiltrating Liberty U., Pirates RRRRR saving the world, and Scotland’s Jedi Police Officers
• Cdn MP’s voting records, Ont driver’s cell phone ban, B of C interest rate cut, US protectionism, and the Cdn 9/11 Terrorist Myth
• Palin dumped, KKK leader detained, Teabagger arrested, Republicans disapproved, American FBI ‘most wanted’, and Texas secessionists

Glowing Dogs, Poisoned Pets, Egypt’s Swine Flu Panic, Mummified Cat, and Space Chimp Sanctuary

South Korea clones glowing dogs to help cure human diseases:

The four dogs, all named “Ruppy” — a combination of the words “ruby” and “puppy” — look like typical beagles by daylight. But they glow red under ultraviolet light, and the dogs’ nails and abdomens, which have thin skins, look red even to the naked eye.

US State Dept: Cuba poisoning diplomats’ pets:

Cuban officials would often try to create dissention within the ranks of U.S. diplomats on the island according to the report, which was prepared and released by the State Department inspector general.

“Retaliations have ranged from the petty to the poisoning of family pets. The regime has recently gone to great lengths to harass some employees by holding up household goods and consumable shipments. The apparent goal has been to instigate dissension within [U.S. diplomats] ranks.”

Egypt’s call to kill pigs amid flu scare ridiculed:

Egypt, which has no swine flu cases, is the only country in the world to order a mass pig slaughter in response to the disease. The move mirrored Egypt’s battle with bird flu, in which the government killed 25 million birds within weeks in 2006.

But international health officials said the swine flu virus that has caused worldwide fear is not transmitted by pigs, and that pig slaughters do nothing to stop its spread. The WHO on Thursday stopped using the term “swine flu” to avoid confusion.

Funeral Director Finds 400-Year-Old Mummified Cat in Wall:

“Apparently 400 years ago people put cats behind walls to ward off witches. It clearly works as, since we have lived in the village, we have not seen sight or sound of any witches.”

I assume that’s a joke.

Florida – Astronauts pay respects to ‘space chimps’:

On Thursday afternoon, the chimps got a special visit from reporters and camera crews, along with two men who share a unique bond with the animals.

The place was a sanctuary run by Save the Chimps, a nonprofit dedicated to providing a permanent home for chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, NASA facilities and other sources.

The men were astronauts Scott Carpenter and Bob Crippen, two heroes of the U.S. space program. And the chimpanzees — some of them, anyway — were veterans of early test flights by NASA and the U.S. military.

Previous Interesting (to Moose) News:

• Baby Mammoth, Criminal Eagle, Beautiful Bulldogs, Baby Pidgeons, Christmas Light Frog, and watch out Pig!
• Urban Critters Friday – Bed Bugs, Toronto Illustrations, and Disappointed Cat
• Animal Friday – Russian Dogs, Sock Swallowing Dog, Life Saving Pup, and Bo Obama gets book deal!

Christian Strip Club Manager, Cdn beliefs aboot Religion, Infiltrating Liberty U., Pirates RRRRR saving the world, and Scotland’s Jedi Police Officers

Jesus on a Kit Kat:

New Website on Religious Right in Canadian Politics:

CIA Tortured Terrorists To *Help* Them, With Their Religion:

Church of Scotland’s official magazine criticises those who use the Bible as excuse for homophobia:

Devout Christian Virgin lands lap dancing club job:

“The 26-year-old believes his £35,000-a-year salary at Secrets in central London will help him provide for a family one day.”

Assuming that this story is true, Moose is giving Dave Dragas 2 ANTLERS UP!

It seems to Moose that Dave is just practicing his beliefs and not trying to push them on others.

Macleans “disturbing new poll” :

This “disturbing new poll” basically reveals that… millions of Canadians think exactly like I do, just as they have for generations, and still do outside places like Toronto and Vancouver.

For example, here are some of the “disturbing” findings:
* 45% believe that mainstream Islam encourages violence. Oddly enough! Not sure where folks get that idea… * 26% believe Sikhism encourages violence. I think that’s pretty low, considering all male Sikhs claim it is their religious duty to carry knives. Oh, and then there’s this… * 62% think “laws and norms should NOT be modified to accommodate minorities.”

Student Infiltrates Christian University To Write Book:

Kevin Roose managed to blend in during his single semester at Liberty University, attending lectures on the myth of evolution and the sin of homosexuality, and joining fellow students on a mission trip to evangelize partyers on spring break.

Roose had transferred to the Virginia campus from Brown University in Providence, a famously liberal member of the Ivy League. His Liberty classmates knew about the switch, but he kept something more important hidden: He planned to write a book about his experience at the school founded by fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell.

Pirates Arrr Saving The World, according to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster:

Force is strong for Jedi police:

“Eight police officers serving with Scotland’s largest force listed their official religion as Jedi in voluntary diversity forms, it has emerged”.

About 390,000 people listed their religion as Jedi in the 2001 Census for England and Wales. In Scotland the figure was a reported 14,000.

The Office for National Statistics did not recognise it as a separate category, and incorporated followers of Jedi with atheists.

Last year, brothers Barney and Daniel Jones founded the UK Church of the Jedi – which offered sermons on the Force, light sabre training, and meditation techniques.

According to Pam Fleming, the first Jedi police officer to admit she is a devotee of the Star Wars-inspired religion, “Being a Jedi is a way of life. The faith is not divisive. It does not matter what your race, faith or sexual orientation is – you can be one. It is all encompassing”.

Previous Politics:

• Cdn MP’s voting records, Ont driver’s cell phone ban, B of C interest rate cut, US protectionism, and the Cdn 9/11 Terrorist Myth
• Palin dumped, KKK leader detained, Teabagger arrested, Republicans disapproved, American FBI ‘most wanted’, and Texas secessionists
• Turkey vs. Canada; Canadian Diplomats Released; Rice, W., and B. Clinton coming to Canada; Iraq War resister; and PM must press for Khadr’s return from Guantanamo