New Hampshire's new parental notification law, which corrects defects in an earlier measure that has caused problems in the U.S. Supreme Court, is awaiting the signature of Governor John Lynch (D).

State Rep. Kathleen Souza (R) points out that Lynch is the same governor who signed the bill that repealed the law originally passed in 2003. Abortion proponents are lobbying hard to convince Governor Lynch to veto the new measure, even though Souza views it as a common-sense bill.

"There's always a contingent, and unfortunately, it's a contingent that might stand to profit from this that would like to say otherwise," the representative notes. "And then there are some people in the medical profession who actually think that a doctor knows best and that he should have that. It's more of, not an economic, but a power consideration."

The bill requires parental notification at least 48 hours before a minor can have an abortion.  (Parental notification awaits approval )

(Billy's Thoughts>>>> No matter your view on abortion don't you think parents have a right and duty to know before their minor child has an abortion. This is more than an abortion issue as important as that is, this is a parent's rights issue.)

Christian churches and organizations are putting aside their differences in Joplin, Missouri, to help victims of an F5 tornado that struck over a week ago.

Thousands of people in Joplin gathered for worship Sunday for the first time since the killer tornado hit. John Swadley (right), lead pastor of Forest Park Baptist Church in Joplin, said the tragic tornado has brought the larger church community together.  ( Calamity brings unity)

"Even churches that don't necessarily get along so well normally have set aside whatever differences that they might have," he shares. "And maybe if there ever was an answer to the prayer of Jesus in John, chapter 17, that his followers would be in unity and they would be one as he and the Father are one, that's what we're seeing here in Joplin."

(Billy's Thoughts>>> Good for these churches. God does use bad things to see his will done.)

Some black ministers, including a retired Army colonel and a former sentry at the Tomb of the Unknowns, are urging the Senate to adopt House amendments barring the use of military facilities or personnel for same-sex "marriages."

Rev. Terry Millender, a Virginia pastor and former honor guard at Arlington National Cemetery, says conscience protections will be needed for chaplains and other troops who believe "gay" sex is wrong if "don't ask, don't tell" is repealed. (Black clergy to the defense  )

The nation's agency for military veterans has agreed to stay out of religious refereeing for now, backing down from its attempt to tell a minister how to craft a prayer for a Memorial Day invocation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Hindrichs told federal District Judge Lynn Hughes that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will not demand that Memorial Day prayers at Houston National Cemetery Monday be as non-denominational as possible.

"(The agency) will let the prayer go on this Monday," Hindrichs told Hughes.

The change of heart came one day after the judge granted the Rev. Scott Rainey a temporary restraining order against the agency after officials told the pastor to edit his prayer to make it as general and non-denominational as possible. Rainey's prayer, submitted for review at the agency's request included the recitation of the Lord's Prayer and thanked Jesus Christ, the Christian savior, in closing.

"The ... prayer/message is specific to one belief," wrote Arleen Ocasio, director of the Houston National Cemetery.

"I've never said a prayer in my life that didn't end with Jesus Christ," Rainey said after Friday's hearing. "It was unrealistic expectation for me not to include the name of Jesus Christ." (Judge orders Veterans cemetery to allow Jesus... )

Last January, Nazih Moussa Gerges locked up his downtown Cairo law office and joined hundreds of thousands of fellow Egyptians to demand that President Hosni Mubarak step down.

The 33-year-old Christian lawyer was back on the streets this month to press military rulers who took over after Mubarak stepped down to end a spate of sectarian attacks that have killed at least 28 people and left many afraid.

Those who camped out in Tahrir Square side by side with Muslims to call for national renewal now fear their struggle is being hijacked by ultra-conservative Salafist Islamists with no one to stop them.

"We did not risk our lives to bring Mubarak down in order to have him replaced by Salafists," Gerges said. "We want an Egypt that will be an example of democracy and freedom for the whole world."

Sectarian tensions are not new to Egypt, where Christians make up around 10 percent of the population of 80 million. But the frequency and intensity of clashes have increased since Mubarak's overthrow.

Many blame a broader weakening of law and order that began as the protests against Mubarak gathered pace and police deserted the streets. Authorities are trying to rebuild security forces to deal with increased lawlessness following mass jail breakouts.

Egypt's military rulers have vowed to punish those behind sectarian clashes, banned demonstrations outside places of worship and promised to give Christians equal rights.

But Christians say no one has been tried yet for the burning of a church in Helwan, south of Cairo, in March or for violence in the Cairo suburb of Imbaba on May 7 that left 15 people dead. At least 13 died in clashes after the Helwan incident. (Christians worry Egypt being hijacked by Islamists...

  )

A conservative black minister and Virginia Senate hopeful has added his voice to the chorus of supporters for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the people of Israel.

E.W. Jackson, president of Staying True to America's National Destiny (STAND), has served in the Marine Corps, attended Harvard Law School, and dedicated 15 years to defending small businesses and entrepreneurs. He has also devoted himself to full-time ministry and is now seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Jim Webb of Virginia.

Jackson listened Tuesday to Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech before the joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol. He agrees with the Israeli leader's premise that returning to the 1967 boundaries would make the Jewish state indefensible.

"When the president said that we should go back to 1967 borders, in my view, he was in effect saying to Israel, 'surrender'-- or maybe even worse, 'commit suicide,'" the Senate hopeful suggests. "I think the United States Senate, as the ratifying body for our treaties, has to be willing to stand up against that and say, 'Mr. President, you're wrong. We won't support that kind of approach to our allies, and certainly not to Israel.'" ( Wrong for Obama to betray Israel )

As residents of Joplin continue to reel from the destructive EF-5 tornado that ripped through their southwestern Missouri town Sunday night, students from one nearby high school have opted to donate the funds set aside for their graduation celebration.

The Carthage High School 2011 graduating class is donating its entire "Project Graduation" fund to the victims of the recent storms. The group originally planned to hold its big bash at "The Bridge" in Joplin, but that facility is now being used as a makeshift shelter for displaced tornado victims.  ( Senior class looking out for Joplin )

Shelly Wilson is a counselor at the school, which is located only a few miles north of Joplin. Whe says the pupils knew what they wanted to do, even before the principal presented them theif options.

"They presented with the kids a couple of options of where they could have [the party] in town here, and before she could even really get out the donation part of it, the students started to yell, 'Donate it! Donate the money,'" she accounts.

(Billy's Thoughts>>> Good for these kids. We need more teens like them.)