Action: Oppose the Chai Feldblum nomination

Over at APP we're launching a project to stop the nomination of Chai Feldblum. I think AmP readers will have a special interest in our efforts because Belmont Abbey College is mentioned in the press release:

Today the American Principles Project and its sister organization American Principles in Action urged concerned Americans to contact their Senators over the impending confirmation of Chai Feldblum to a five year post on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). [read more.]

We have also written a "Simple Case against Chai Feldblum" laying out the case for why we oppose her nomination. 

Please join our efforts and take action in opposing her nomination here at American Principles in Action. There is also a Facebook group to help spread the word. 

If you want one example of why Chai is bad news for religious institutions (like Belmont Abbey College) in particular, take a look at this post: "Video: Chai Feldbum says Government should promote "gay sex is morally good."

I've written two posts for AmP on the situation of the EEOC persecuting Belmont Abbey College:

• Belmont Abbey College in hot water for daring not to pay for contraception 
  
• Surprise: Washington behind forcing Belmont Abbey to pay for contraception
  

Just imagine what would happen if Chai Feldblum is successfully appointed to the EEOC.

Luckily for Belmont Abbey College, they've retained the services of the Becket Fund. The Becket Fund is helping them out pro-bono, so if you want to support the Becket Fund's fine work then please click here and help support them.

I'm sure the Becket Fund wouldn't mind being put out of business (as far as defending religious institutions from government intervention), but looking at the times we live in, that's probably not going to happen any time soon.

Active on APP

I have a few posts up on APP today if folks are interested

• When in doubt: blame Bush?
  
• Video: Not So Sure on Healthcare Reform
  
• Alert: APP founder Robert George on Glenn Beck today
  
• Summary of APP Topics - July 28

New on APP: Bioethics, Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage & Sotomayor

Just a quick reminder - most of my specifically-political blogging is shifting over to the American Principles Project blog.

The American Principles Project website, meanwhile, is beginning to provide regular, topical, principled essays from impressive thinkers:

• The Embryo as Human Being: The Scientific Case - by Robert George et al. "Scientific evidence shows that fertilization produces a new and distinct individual of the human species."
  
• Sotomayor & Natural Rights - by Hadley Arkes. Why was her reflex to consider the right to self-defense as a right conferred by positive law?
  
• Sotomayor & Feinstein - by Hadley Arkes. The response to Feinstein’s questions was more revealing or interesting than I had anticipated.
  
• Sotomayor & Same-Sex Marriage - by Gerald V. Bradley. Judge Sotomayor has not revealed how she might rule on a constitutional claim for same-marriage.
  

Keep up on APP's doings through Twitter and Facebook too!

Recent topics on APP

Things are picking up over on the American Principles Project website. Here are some recent articles of note:

• "Empathy" by Gerard V. Bradley of the University of Notre Dame School of Law
• "Why Inflation Matters" by Samuel Gregg of the Acton Institute
• "Farewell to the President's Council on Bioethics" by Aaron Kheriaty

And over on the APP blog, we've launched "Sotomayor Central" for all your Sotomayor news and commentary needs. :-)

On APP: How abortion might be snuck into government health care

Over at the American Principles Project blog, I explain how I think abortion coverage might be included in the new government health care plan being debated in the House of Representatives. Scary stuff. 

I also include information on how to contact the members of the Senate Finance Committee who could make sure it isn't included. Abortions aren't "basic coverage", and we shouldn't have to pay for them.

APP blog highlights

In case you were wondering, I've been devoted this week to jump-starting the APP blog. Some highlights:

• Video: Obama's disappointing response to Iranian crisis
• Poll: Gallup finds Americans 2-1 "conservative" over "liberal"
• Video: Public Plan Deception - It's not about choice
• In First Things, Hadley Arkes helps Newt find his voice
• House democrat health-care plan adds $600 billion in new taxes

And that's just a taste.

Calling Joomla/Wordpress/Expression Engine developers

As part of my new duties at the American Principles Project, I'm looking for Joomla / Wordpress / ExpressionEngine developers (or really, any of these platforms).

Please email me: "thomas [at] americanpapist.com", and include links to a few of your previous projects.

Please, only professional web developers.

Live Coverage: Doug Kmiec, Abp. Dolan, Robby George, Mary Ann Glendon

Tomorrow (Thursday) will be an incredibly busy day of AmP live-blogging/twittering.

Starting at 9:30 AM I will be covering a symposium hosted by CUA's School of Law, starting with Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan, then at 10:00AM the keynote address of Mary Ann Glendon.

In the afternoon, at 1:35PM I will be covering the keynote address of Prof. Robert George, Director of the Madison Program at Princeton University and the founder of the American Principles Project, and perhaps sticking around for the closing remarks of Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl at 3:30PM.

At 4:15PM I will be at the public launch of the American Principles Project event in downtown Washington DC.

Promptly at 5:00PM I will be live-blogging an extremely important debate between Doug Kmiec and Robert George at the National Press Club on the topic: "The Obama Administration and the Sanctity of Human Life: Is There a Common Ground on Life Issues?, What is the Right Response by 'Pro-Life' Citizens?"

The debate will be moderated by Mary Ann Glendon and will conclude at 6:30PM.

As you can see, it's going to be an extremely full day. Keep it tuned here and over at my AmP Twitter page for the latest updates. And please spread the word among those who might be interested in these topics.

Announcement: AmP to join APP June 1st

Last week I graduated with my STB in theology from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. Because I love my graduate studies and have pursued them for four years (two in Detroit and two here in Washington) only an exceptional opportunity could have convinced me to leave them for the time being, and yet such an opportunity has appeared...
On June 1st I will join the newly-formed American Principles Project (APP) as Communications Director. I have tremendous respect for its founder, Dr. Robert George of Princeton University, and I’m very excited about the people I will be working with day-to-day. Furthermore, I believe APP will give me a new and unique opportunity to do good, so much so that it is worth giving my focused energy.

My new employers have graciously allowed me to continue my blogging on these pages. At American Papist I will continue to provide breaking stories, clarify rumors, and spread awareness of the good things happening in the Catholic world online and offline. This mix of offerings has quickly propelled AmP into becoming one of the highest-visibility Catholic blogs in the world and I want it to continue flourishing.

My specific coverage of political and some social issues will transition over to the new American Principles Project (APP) blog, where I will benefit from better access to important trends and information. As a perfect example of these new opportunities offered by APP, I will be live-blogging a debate between Doug Kmiec and Robbie George at the National Press Club tomorrow. I will post details about that event next.

Over the next month I ask your patience as I make this transition. While it is true that I will have many things on my plate, my commitment to my readers, tipsters, and fellow Catholic bloggers is unflagging! With hard work and God’s grace, I hope that the good things begun here will continue to bear much fruit.