I’m in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This is the first time I’ve spent any time at all in this Buffalo-like town. (I’m from Buffalo and I’ve only ever driven through Scranton–maybe stopping to use a bathroom at the McDonald’s.) I was here last night to participate in a dinner for diplomats from around the world (ambassadors, consulates-general, etc.), put on by my friend Joe Grieboski, for whom I serve as a board member to the organization he founded, the Institute on Religion and Public Policy. Joe is a “son of Scranton,” having been raised here. Quite an achievement bringing to your hometown the representatives of heads of state for 15 nations and the Organization of Islamic States (OIC) that itself represents 57 countries. Below are my comments from the podium. I was sandwiched between Scranton Mayor Christopher Doherty, Lackawanna County Commissioner Michael Washo and John Blake, a representative for Governor Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

“AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE FOR THE INSTITUTE, IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS ABOUT THIS WORTHY INSTITUTION AND ITS FOUNDER, MY FRIEND, JOE GRIEBOSKI.

WHEN I FIRST MET JOE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I SAW IMMEDIATELY IN HIM A CERTAIN GENIUS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE ROLE THAT RELIGION PLAYS IN SO MANY OF THE WORLD’S CONFLICTS AND THE RESOLUTIONS TO THOSE CONFLICTS. WHAT I MEAN IS NOT SIMPLY THAT RELIGION PLAYS A ROLE, BUT EXACTLY WHAT ROLE IT PLAYS AND HOW RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS ACTORS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY ENGAGED FOR MEANINGFUL AND DESIRABLE OUTCOMES.

JOE ALSO HAS A PASSION FOR EXPANDING AND PRESERVING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AS AN ANTIDOTE TO FUTURE TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS. JOE AND THE INSTITUTE HE HAS SHAPED FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT EVEN MANY WORLD LEADERS MISS: THAT THE WORLD IS A VERY RELIGIOUS PLACE AND THAT IT IS ONLY GETTING MORE RELIGIOUS.

WHILE JOE AND I DON’T ALWAYS SEE EYE-TO-EYE ON EVERYTHING (AFTER ALL, I’M OFTEN CATEGORIZED AS A ‘FUNDAMENTALIST EVANGELICAL’–A VERY SCARY CATEGORY WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGION) , I AM PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HIM AND THE INSTITUTION HE HAS SO CAREFULLY, AND MAY I SAY, PRAYERFULLY, DEVELOPED.

I HAVE SERVED IN MY DAY JOB IN WASHINGTON, ON CAPITOL HILL, FOR 14 YEARS. AS ANY OF US KNOW IN THIS ROOM, THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD CAUSES THAT COMPETE FOR OUR TIME, ATTENTION AND RESOURCES. OF ALL THOSE GOOD CAUSES, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, I HAVE CHOSEN TO DEDICATE SUBSTANTIAL TIME, ATTENTION AND RESOURCES TO THE GOOD WORK OF THE INSTITUTE ON RELIGION AND PUBLIC POLICY BECAUSE I BELIEVE–AND I DON’T THINK IT’S GRANDIOSE FOR ME TO SAY THIS–THAT THE WORLD IS SAFER AND BETTER BECAUSE THE INSTITUTE EXISTS.

THANK YOU FOR LENDING YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR PARTICIPATION TO THE CONTINUING SUCCESS OF THE INSTITUTE ON RELIGION AND PUBLIC POLICY.”

Check out the Institute’s website: www.religionandpolicy.org.

There’s also an article in the Scranton Times:

Shalom–Salaam–Paz–Peace,

Rob +

Barack Obama recently answered questions on abortion by Cameron Strang, publisher of Relevant Magazine (www.relevantmagazine.com). Obama said this about late-term abortion:”I have repeatedly said that I think it’s entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I don’t think that “mental distress” qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term. Otherwise, as long as there is such a medical exception in place, I think we can prohibit late-term abortions.”

Some pro-abortion commentators say this comment flies in the face of the lesser known but just as important Supreme Court case, Doe v. Bolton, the companion case to Roe v. Wade.

What do you think? Has Barack Obama called Doe v. Bolton into question?

Rob