Chicago Pastor Wins Three Year Battle to Uphold His Freedom to Speak in Public

Mauck & Baker Attorney Says Police Shouldn't Shut Down Free Speech

CHICAGO, Aug. 30, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The First Amendment's freedom to speak in public has been the most foundational freedom for Americans since the founding of the nation. Many have benefited from this freedom such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., D.L. Moody, and more recently, a local Chicago Pastor, Curt Teesdale. These men all impacted the culture by quoting scripture and preaching open-air sermons. In 2008, police officers arrested Pastor Teesdale for exercising his First Amendment freedom. He and eight members of his church, Garfield Ridge Baptist, were talking to the public about the gospel and handing out scripture. Now, after a three year battle, the Federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals finally reaffirmed Pastor Teesdale's free speech on public streets which will give a continued protection to others to do the same.

After police arrested and jailed Teesdale, he was charged with criminal trespassing despite being engaged in expression on a public street. The 2008 case was quickly dismissed by the Criminal Court, but Mauck & Baker attorneys representing Teesdale filed suit in federal court in 2010 in an effort to protect the freedom to proclaim the gospel in the future.

"Police officers should protect free speech, not shut it down," said Andy Norman, attorney from Mauck & Baker, LLC, who represented Teesdale. "The Appeals Court recognized that Americans on public streets shouldn't fear arrest or harassment for exercising fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment."

"If an American can be arrested for merely sharing his beliefs in public, what protections are left?" said Pastor Teesdale. "I am so happy the court gave us a victory. Perhaps this stand for public free speech will inspire believers and encourage them to boldly declare Jesus."

The City of Chicago appealed to the Seventh Circuit Appeals Court after losing at the District Court in 2011. And the Appeals Court ended the three-year free speech battle on Aug. 14 with an affirmation of Teesdale's First Amendment protections. However, the Court held that the City's actions, shutting down the Pastor's free speech, could not be construed as its policy, releasing Chicago from responsibility.

"We are delighted that our client's freedom of speech was affirmed, but disappointed that the City was not made to answer for forcing its citizens to endure three years of unnecessary litigation," said Noel Sterett, an attorney from Mauck & Baker.

"Free speech is something no American should take for granted," said Pastor Teesdale. "Countries around the world censor Christians for their religious expression. I do feel blessed to have been a part of this journey, as long as it was."

View the case Memorandum, Opinion, and Order here.

To schedule an interview, please contact Tom Ciesielka at 312-422-1333 or at tc@tcpr.net

Christian Newswire

Pro-life Community to Remember the Victims of Abortion at the Time Warner Arena in Charlotte as the DNC Prepares to Start

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 30, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Members to conduct prayer service and lay 3,300 flowers in front of the Time Warner Arena on Friday, Aug. 31.

The 3,300 flowers represent the number of innocent children that are aborted every day in America and the number of women who are daily bruised and diminished through abortion.

The prayer service and laying of flowers will be on Friday, Aug. 31, at 6:30 P.M. The location of the event is the Time Warner Arena public sidewalk on 333 E. Trade St. facing the EpiCentre.

There will also be a news conference preceding the prayer and public witness.

Members of "America Defend Life" will also be holding a demonstration and prayer gathering in front of Planned Parenthood on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 10:00 A.M.

The Planned Parenthood in Charlotte is located at 4822 Albemarle Rd.

These events are a "prophetic" public witness to President Obama and the Democratic Party to end the violence of abortion and embrace human rights and justice for all.

Brice Griffin, spokesperson for America Defend Life, states,

"We are humbled to be able to offer a visual and symbolic expression of the damage caused by abortion in our country every day. At the same time, we are are praying for the women and their children who have been bruised.

"Abortion is the real war on women, and it is our hope that through peaceful and prayerful witness we can educate America on the truth that drives Planned Parenthood and their child-killing business.

"While the eyes of the world are on Charlotte, we want our message to be clear to the DNC: human rights begin with the right to life, from fertilization until natural death. As Blessed John Paul II said, 'America defend life!'"

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington, D.C. and one of the organizers of the event, adds,

"Abortion has now become one of the central issues in the race for the White House in 2012. We are laying these flowers and praying in front of the Time Warner Arena to remind President Obama and the nation that all life has dignity and purpose and the violence and brutality of abortion in America must come to an end.

"The real 'War on Women' is the violence directed toward mothers and their children by organizations like Planned Parenthood who perform over 330,000 abortions yearly at that their clinics.

"Our witness at the DNC and to President Obama is simple yet profound. President Obama please embrace human rights and equality for all and end this tragic 'War on Women' through abortion."

For more information or interviews contact:

Brice Griffin at 704.451.1390
Americadefendlife.com

Christian Newswire

New Survey Finds Counseling to Reduce Homosexuality Can be Effective, Beneficial

BARBOURSVILLE, Va., Aug. 30, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a new survey of almost 500 people who have ever sought professional counseling to lessen unwanted homosexual attractions, more than half (55%) said the counseling was effective in causing the frequency and intensity of their homosexual attractions to diminish. And seven out of 10 said they were either satisfied (25%) or very satisfied (46%) with their counseling experience.

The survey was conducted by People Can Change (www.peoplecanchange.com), an international nonprofit organization of men who have successfully transitioned away from unwanted homosexuality who now support others seeking similar change. People Can Change sent the survey to its email lists of people who have experienced or are seeking sexual-orientation change, as well as therapists and leaders of ministries that support such change efforts. A total of 474 people from 19 countries answered the survey.

The survey is especially timely now as counseling to reduce same-sex attractions is again in the news. In California, the state legislature is preparing to send a bill (S.B. 1172) to the governor that would ban such therapy for minors, based on the theory that it is allegedly ineffective or harmful, and minors should always be encouraged to embrace "gay pride" instead. Meanwhile, the large "ex-gay" Christian ministry, Exodus, is suffering a serious rift within its membership over whether therapy is effective and whether significant sexual-orientation change really occurs.

The People Can Change survey found other reported outcomes from counseling were:

• 53% of respondents said their unwanted homosexual behaviors were reduced or eliminated
• 38% said heterosexual attractions emerged or increased
• 58% said any remaining homosexual attractions became less troubling
• 69% said their self-esteem improved
• 69% said their shame diminished
• 71% became more self-accepting
• 66% felt more at peace

"Hundreds of people are telling us their counseling worked, they benefited significantly, it helped them feel better about themselves -- and in some cases it even saved their lives," said Rich Wyler, founder and director of People Can Change. "Their voices have been largely silenced or ignored by pro-gay activists and mainstream media in favor of a more politically correct view, but the experience of these men and women is real. It is valid. They can tell you from firsthand experience that counseling to reduce homosexuality can be effective, even life-saving. Their voluntary choice to pursue change deserves respect."

Contrary to allegations of frequent harm, the survey found that only one in six respondents (17%) reported ever feeling harmed in any way by their counseling experience -- and this includes some who felt disrespected by counselors who turned out to have a gay-affirming bias and refused to support a client's desire to pursue change.

In fact, for many, the counseling was lifesaving. Among respondents who had experienced serious suicidal thoughts at one time, 76% said that as a result of the counseling, those thoughts became either much less (60%) or somewhat less (16%) serious and frequent. In comparison, 11% said their suicidal thoughts increased.

A full summary of the survey will be published shortly at www.peoplecanchange.com.

Christian Newswire

New Book Helps Christians Argue Well About the Most Politically Charged Topics

ATLANTA, Aug. 30, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Memory Melody Gardner's new book, Christianity and Politics ($14.99, paperback; $7.49, e-book) explains from a biblical perspective why our Democracy and every other world government system is not, and will never, be Christian. The irreversible decision made by the leaders of Israel over three thousand years ago to be ruled and protected by an earthly king, instead of God, sealed our fate (I Sam. 8). No longer would we have God to protect and take care of us; we would have a worldly 'king' govern us.

"Christianity and Politics" Pastor James T. Roberson, III, of Blueprint Church, Atlanta, GA confronts the idolization of our government. Melody objectively, biblically, and with detail dissects the relevant issues of our day. Pastors on both sides of the political aisle will be challenged by reading this book.

According to the Prophet Samuel, this worldly king would force their sons to fight battles and wars, whether just or unjust, and make them slaves to ensure his life was comfortable and prosperous. An earthly king would take their very best produce and labor for his advancement. This kind of king would place a tax burden on the Israelites so severe, they would not be any better off financially than a slave; all to support his extensive bureaucracy. Then God told Samuel that the day would come when "the Israelites would call out for relief from this king, but He would not hear and respond to their plea."

Does this description of worldly kings not sound eerily familiar to world leaders today? God's warning about earthly kings even sounds similar to what our leaders under our democratic rule do to its citizens! In Christianity and Politics, Ms. Gardner helps Christians define from the Bible what is moral and immoral. She explains God's view on taking care of "the least of these" and why we must be our brother's keeper. Ms. Gardner explains the debate around embryonic stem cell research and abortion as she discusses life: where it is found and when it begins. She talks at length regarding same-sex marriage (SSM), and how we as Christians, Jews and like-minded citizens can douse the flame blazing the trail to legalize SSM over night.

"It's my hope," states Ms. Gardner, "that Christianity and Politics will be a resource for Christians to help Christians argue well the issues pertaining to politics and its role in our lives. The purpose of this book is not to persuade people to choose one political direction over another, but to remind us as Christians that being 'salt' & 'light' in our conversations and interactions with one another is paramount to God."

Melody Gardner is a Dallas Theological Seminary graduate, a former senior leader with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) and The Impact Movement for eighteen years on college campuses and at the national headquarters. She witnessed college students shift from knowing there was absolute right and wrong to right and wrong being relative. Consequently, she heard young Christians ask, "How can I tell another how to live?" Christianity and Politics answers this question. Ms Gardner, now heads a nonprofit organization called Hesed Consulting, assisting other nonprofit organizations to remain IRS compliant, financially sustainable and human resource viable.

Christianity and Politics can be purchased at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com and Xulonpress.com.


Contact: Kimberly Y. Moore,
Moore Consulting,
703-795-3501

Christian Newswire

University of Cape Town Researchers Believe They Have Found a Single Dose Cure for Malaria

CAPE TOWN (2012-08-28):  The University of Cape Town’s Science Department believes that it has found a single dose cure for Malaria. This was announced by researchers that have been working on this compound, from the aminopyridine class, for several years. Unlike conventional multidrug malaria treatments that the malaria parasite has become resistant to, Professor Kelly Chibale and his colleagues now believe that they have discovered a drug that over 18 months of trials ”killed these resistant parasites instantly”. Animal tests also showed that it was not only safe and effective, but there were no adverse reported side effects. Clinical tests are scheduled for the end of 2013. If this tablet is approved in coming years, this achievement will surely usher in a new age for science in Africa. It will save millions upon millions of lives on the continent, helping avoid at least 24 percent of child deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Chibale proudly explains: “This is the first ever clinical molecule that’s been discovered out of Africa, by Africans, from a modern pharmaceutical industry drug discovery programme. The potent drug has been tested on animals and has shown that a single oral dose has completely cured those infected with malaria parasites.” This “super pill” could potentially cure millions of people every year, and save the lives of over one million people from around the world each year. This “cure” will most likely save health care systems throughout the developing world billions of dollars and open new areas for development and settlement.

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Homeless Christians give $69.40 to missions

BURLINGTON, Vt. (BP) -- A $69.40 offering by a group of homeless Christians in Vermont reminds a local Baptist leader of the widow's two mites that Jesus commended in the Gospels. Terry Dorsett, director of the Green Mountain Baptist Association, has a new perception of the homeless because of the gift to the association's mission offering for starting new churches and meeting church financial emergencies.

Dorsett has asked the financially able among the association's 35 churches to match the donation. "... [T]here's a whole subculture of homeless Christians ... just trying to live for the Lord." -- Terry Dorsett, Baptist leader in Vermont

 "I think we tend to think of homeless people just as being a bunch of addicts and people with problems," Dorsett said. "And then while that does describe many homeless people, there's a whole subculture of homeless Christians who obviously don't have those problems and they're just trying to live for the Lord in a different lifestyle setting than most of us might choose.

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Vienna church says county sign rules violate free speech

If the Church of the Good Shepherd wanted to post the Ten Commandments on its sign on Hunter Mill Road, it would take five days to broadcast them all.
That’s because Fairfax County has a commandment of its own: Thou shall not change electronic signs more than twice a day.

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‘Pre-bionic’ eye lets woman see light

U. MELBOURNE (AUS) — For the first time, scientists have implanted an early prototype “bionic eye” with 24 electrodes. “It was amazing,” says the patient, who saw flashes of light.

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