Concerned citizens urged to contact their lawmakers
By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

RALEIGH — You’ve probably heard of dialing for dollars, but what about dueling for dealers? That’s what’s happening now in the North Carolina General Assembly as the Eastern Band of Cherokees, the Governor’s Office and a gaggle of gambling industry lobbyists push members of the House to approve a plan to bring Las Vegas-style gambling and more casinos to the western part of our state.

Already rubber stamped by the upper chamber, where the legislation was rushed through in one day, Senate Bill 582 would pave the way for the Governor’s 30-year compact with the Cherokees, allowing them to offer live dealer tables and types of Class III gambling as well as giving them the go-ahead to open two more full-fledged, Las Vegas style casinos on their reservation land. It would also give them exclusive gaming rights in the state west of I-26.  Read the rest of this entry »

Christian Action League

More than two weeks after North Carolinians voted overwhelmingly to protect marriage in the state’s constitution, the media remains abuzz with amendment analysis and criticism of pastors who supported the measure.

“Unfortunately, in recent weeks there have been two pastors who have been highlighted in the media for making statements about  homosexuality that are demonstrative of insensitivity toward those involved in the lifestyle,” said Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League. “There are essentially two dynamics in play when this happens. (1) It can injure and unnecessarily offend people who are struggling with same-sex attractions – people who need help and are looking for understanding. (2) It can result in gay activists and other opponents of traditional marriage using these events to argue that churches who support and advocate for traditional marriage are all about bigotry and hatred, when this is truly not the case.”  Read the rest of this entry »

By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

It’s only two sentences, but the 55 words that the Secretary of State’s Office officially added to the N.C. Constitution on Thursday of this week will help to preserve marriage as we know it, between a man and a woman.

“Now, we can rest assured that marriage will never be left up to the whims of activist judges or politicians to decide,” wrote Vote FOR Marriage NC Chairwoman Tami Fitzgerald in an e-mail announcement of the Secretary of State’s action. “By God’s grace and because of your support, North Carolina is now the thirty-first state in the union to protect marriage in its state constitution.”

Voters approved the Marriage Protection Amendment 61 to 39 percent on May 8 after an intense campaign. Nearly 2.2 million ballots were cast with a voter turnout of almost 35 percent.

“There is hardly a day that has passed since May 8 that I haven’t rejoiced over the passage of this critical amendment. I thank God for all the North Carolinians who believe in the sacred institution of marriage – this fundamental building block of society. Read the rest of this entry »

By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

SPENCER, N.C.— A full week after the release of a 10-minute YouTube video featuring social studies teacher Tanya Dixon-Neely berating North Rowan High student Hunter Rogers and telling him he could be arrested for criticizing President Obama, the educator has been suspended with pay by The Rowan-Salisbury School System.

While free discussion was obviously not allowed in her classroom, the incident has sparked more than a bit of discourse online as thousands lament the lack of civility in the classroom and the teacher’s obvious intent to force her opinion on students.

“I don’t hear the teacher in this case demonstrating what it means to have a civil discussion,” said the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, who was asked to comment on the incident this past week by American Family News Network. “Instead, as irony would have it, even though the subject is presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s bullying of a kid five decades ago, the teacher is bullying the student into silence about President Obama. Worse still, she seeks to intimidate him into silence by erroneously telling him he could be arrested for being critical of the president.” Read the rest of this entry »

By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

RALEIGH — Almost faster than you can say “Deal me in,” the state Senate has approved a bill that would drastically increase gambling on Cherokee lands in western North Carolina, adding Las Vegas style gaming in place of the casino’s currently less additive forms of video based games and up to four more casino sites on tribal property west of I-26.

Under the bill, which sped through two committees and onto the Senate floor between noon and 6 p.m. Wednesday where it passed 33-14, a 30-year agreement negotiated between Governor Bev Perdue’s office and the Eastern Band of Cherokee would send 4 to 8 percent of live table card game profits (initially estimated at some $2 million a year) to public schools and could result in 400 new jobs.

But the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, pointed out to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee a major flaw in the plan.  Read the rest of this entry »

By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

According to North Carolina law, any product containing spirits “regardless of its dilution” must be classified as spirits, taxed as such and sold only in ABC stores. Alcopops, sweet and fruity alcoholic beverages especially popular with underage drinkers, contain spirits. So what are these dangerous drinks doing on convenience store shelves?

That’s what public health advocates, as well as a growing number of concerned citizens across the state, are asking as part of the “Take it Back! North Carolina,” movement. Take it Back! North Carolina, a statewide advocacy group led by youth, is organizing a petition drive to have alcopops classified and taxed properly and, as a result, protect drinkers from tremendous harm.

Dozens of community organizations across the state have joined the campaign to reclassify alcopops. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Mark H. Creech
Christian Action League

I walked into the Hallmark shop to buy a Mother’s Day card. With the number of people inside, it was apparent big companies have capitalized on Mom’s special day to make millions. However, it wasn’t always that way.

“According to the Website www.123Holiday.net:

In the United States, Mother’s Day started nearly 150 years ago, When Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it “Mother’s Work Day”… Read the rest of this entry »

By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex “marriage” this week surprised few but left many pondering its effect on November’s election and on the nation’s future.

During an interview with ABC news Wednesday, the president said members of his staff in “incredibly committed, monogamous same-sex relationships” and homosexual members of the military who feel “constrained” made him want to affirm his belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to tie the knot.

A supporter of same-sex marriage during his 1996 run for the Illinois Senate, Obama told the nation a different story on the presidential election trail in 2008. “I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman…” he said, adding, “I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage.” But since that time he has insisted repeatedly that his views on marriage have been “evolving” as his administration refused to enforce the federal Defense of Marriage Act and he has frequently spoken out against efforts to defend traditional marriage.

He had announced his opposition to North Carolina’s Marriage Amendment, which passed easily on Tuesday with 61 percent of the vote, and expressed disappointment in the actions of Tar Heel voters before making his own views official. Read the rest of this entry »

By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

While Tuesday’s election focused mainly on the Marriage Amendment and choosing which candidates will represent their parties in November, voters in more than a dozen Tar Heel locations got to weigh in on alcohol sales.

In North Carolina’s westernmost corner, Cherokee County voters rejected malt beverage and unfortified wine sales, 51 to 49 percent. In a similarly close vote, residents in the Pitt County town of Ayden, much further east, said no to mixed beverage sales by less than 1 percent — 10 voters to be exact.

But the close-vote-of-the-day award must go to Deep River Township in central North Carolina’s Lee County, where malt beverage sales were kept at bay by one lone vote: 307 for malt beverages; 308 against. Read the rest of this entry »

Christian Action League

May 8, 2012, was a historic day for marriage – a great day for North Carolina – and a great day for America.

The campaign to protect marriage in this state as one man and one woman has traveled a long, long journey to victory.

For more than eight years legislation was introduced to facilitate North Carolinians with the opportunity to vote on this critical question and it was always shuffled away to some obscure and inactive committee by the leadership of the General Assembly to die. Not until September of 2011, when the legislature had new leadership was this legislation finally heard and passed.

After the passage of the legislation, the campaign for marriage would commence and there were many serious challenges along the way. Read the rest of this entry »