Planned Parenthood Under Investigation 

Responding to a request from more than 70 members of Congress, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has announced that it is launching a formal investigation of Planned Parenthood and other left-wing outfits that promote abortion. The lawmakers want to know exactly how these organizations are using our tax dollars. 

Last month, a Planned Parenthood affiliate agreed to pay a $4.3 million fine in order to settle allegations of Medicaid fraud in Texas. As our friends at the Alliance Defending Freedom have documented, the Texas case likely represents a pattern of abuse rather than an isolated incident. 

Defunding America's largest abortion provider, also guilty of scamming a program for the poor, seems like a no-brainer when we are cutting defense spending and other important programs. As you may recall, House Republicans tried to defund Planned Parenthood in 2011. But Obama was willing to shut down the government in order to guarantee that your tax dollars continued subsidizing Planned Parenthood. 

Thanks to Obama's generosity, Planned Parenthood received more than $540 million of your hard-earned money last year. 

Responding to news of the GAO investigation, Senator David Vitter (R-LA) said, "Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide abortions clearly benefit from Uncle Sam, but there's no accounting to prove how they actually use that money. This GAO report would shine a light on how our tax dollars are being spent." We will keep you posted. 

Where Is Your Pastor/Priest? 

I read a lot of disturbing stories and reports every day, but a press release from the Center for the Study of American Culture and Faith really got my blood boiling. The Center recently conducted a poll of identified "theologically conservative pastors." Folks, if you want to understand why America is in the condition it is, look no further than these results. 

According to the findings, just 44% of "theologically conservative pastors" would "definitely provide strong encouragement" to their congregations to vote and to get involved in next year's elections. Another 20% said they "probably" would. Thirty percent said they were not sure and 6% said they would not encourage their congregants to be active politically. 

I'm glad to see that 44% of theologically conservative pastors believe it is important for Christians to be active participants in the public policy process. But given the redefinition of marriage, the assault on religious liberty and the persecution of Christians overseas, it is disturbing that more than one-third, and perhaps as many as one-half, of theologically conservative pastors could be lukewarm about public policy. 

Unfortunately, it has been my experience that when you ask many pastors, even those who generally share our worldview, about the importance of civic responsibility, they often respond by saying, "My job is to preach the Gospel." But if you ask them about the silence of many churches in slave states during the 1850s, they will shake their heads in disgust. 

President Lincoln worried about pastors who told him that slavery was a political issue. And when he discussed slavery in the public square, Lincoln was often told to keep his religion to himself. 

Too many churches were silent in Germany during the 1930s. And when some brave souls like Dietrich Bonheoffer and Martin Niemoeller dared to speak up, Hitler told them to take care of their churches and leave Germany to him. 

This country was founded by pilgrims seeking religious liberty. It has a tremendous religious heritage. Religious liberty was so important to our Founding Fathers that they listed it in the first amendment to the Constitution. 

But when so many pastors are sitting silently on the sidelines of the culture war, we risk losing those first freedoms while America is fundamentally transformed into something our Founders would not recognize. 

Get Involved! 

My friends, we can't place all the blame at someone else's feet. Each of us is responsible for our own actions, for what we do or don't do to save this republic.

I know it's August and many folks are on vacation, having fun with friends and family. It also that means our senators and representatives have left Washington for an extended break. The politicians are back home for town hall meetings.

Left-wing groups are making no secret of their plans to disrupt town hall events and pack them with pro-amnesty supporters, hoping to create the appearance of public support for their agenda. That's where you come in! 

Take a moment to find out if your representative is holding public events in your community. (You can use our online Congressional Directory to find contact information for your representative's district offices.)

Please attend these events. Firmly, but politely, push back against the liberals who might be there. It may encourage others who share your values to speak up too!

If you are uncomfortable speaking in front of a large group of people, then wait until the end of the meeting. Often members of Congress will work the room for a while, briefly speaking with folks one-on-one as they head out. Use that opportunity to press your case.

This is your country too. We cannot surrender the arena to the left!