Signs and Wonders: Trading Pat Robertson for Jimmy Carter

Can we make a deal? Pat Robertson recently stuck his foot in his mouth (again) by saying that being transgender is not a sin. Pro-homosexual and other sites have jumped on his comments, saying it’s an indication that Christian objections to diverse sexual practices are a function of cultural bigotry, and not real moral or religious ideals—an assertion which is flat wrong but which Robertson’s comments unwittingly support. Also this week, former President Jimmy Carter spoke out in favor of Edward Snowden, who leaked national security secrets and is now living in Russia with the protection of what passes in that country these days for the KGB. This is not the first time both of these guys have said things that have caused me to scratch my head. So, in a spirit of bi-partisan cooperation, I would like to reach across the ideological gulf with an offer to my liberal friends: If we could figure out a way to keep Pat Robertson quiet, could you figure out how to keep Jimmy Carter quiet? Do we have a deal?

Stifling dissent. The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-Fam) is reporting a disturbing story out of South Korea. According to C-Fam, two USAID employees prevented two doctors from making a presentation on abortion and its medical complications at the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) conference. C-Fam said the USAID workers “shut down a workshop on abortion complications just hours before doctors were to present at a medical conference in South Korea. Her associate then physically blocked TV cameras from interviewing the physicians.” The conference’s Scientific Committee approved the presentations, but the night before the workshop, MWIA cancelled the panel. Media had been invited to interview one of the banned doctors, but one of the USAID workers, Shelley Ross, tried to stop the interview. According to C-Fam, “As reporters asked questions, Ross burst into the room. ‘Why are you being interviewed,’ she demanded. ‘Who gave you permission to interview these people,’ she asked reporters. Ross then stood in front of the TV camera, stating, ‘This interview is over.’”

Fox shake-up. Earlier this week we reported on changes at CNN. Now comes news of a fruit-basket turnover at Fox News. According to various media sources, but unconfirmed by Fox itself, Megyn Kelly will return from maternity leave later this year to take over Sean Hannity’s evening spot. No word on what will happen to Hannity, though best guesses are that he will take the 10 p.m. hour, bumping Greta Van Susteren to someplace else on the schedule. Fox says all its stars will remain on the air. In a statement, Fox said, “We will neither confirm nor deny any programming schedule changes. As previously stated, the network has signed long-term deals with Megyn Kelly, Bret Baier, Shepard Smith, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren.” Fox News ratings are down significantly from 2012’s election year high.

Party on, party off. I have always wondered how the folks at Princeton Review rank the Top 10 Party Schools and the Top 10 “Sober Schools.” However they do it, the annual list always generates interest. This year a number of Christian schools, including Grove City College, made the list of “sober schools.” I was also surprised to find that the Air Force Academy was the only military college left off the Top 10 list of sober schools. Among the party schools, I note that my alma mater, the University of Georgia, is no longer in the top 10. It dropped to number 11 this year. Now that’s what I call progress.