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<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> AFA Action Alert [mailto:contact@afa.net]
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 18, 2011 11:47 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Art
Kelly<BR><B>Subject:</B> VA backs down: no more religious
discrimination<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
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<H4>VA backs down: no more religious discrimination</H4>
<H5>Houston National Cemetery agrees to allow prayer and religious speech
at funerals for our veterans </H5>October 18, 2011<BR><BR>Dear Art,
<BR><BR>
<P>Several veterans groups who had sued the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs over claims of religious discrimination by Houston VA officials
have agreed to settle their lawsuit, according to attorneys at Liberty
Institute representing the groups. <EM><A
href="http://action.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147511013">See earlier AFA
Action Alert</A>.</EM></P>
<P>According to <A
href="http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110922-TXVeteransReligious-Bias-Suit_86119335">Associated
Press</A>, the settlement agreement lists 50 provisions that VA officials
agree to adhere to. The VA said in the decree that certain of these
provisions "are already the policy or practice of the department."</P>
<P>Some of these actions include no banning or interfering with prayers or
recitations at committal services; agreeing to not edit or control the
content of private religious speech and expression by speakers at special
ceremonies or events at the cemetery; and agreeing not to ban religious
speech or words such as "God" or "Jesus" in condolence cards or similar
documents given by some of the groups that filed the suit.</P>
<P>The VA also agreed to pay the veterans groups' legal fees, which total
$215,000. It is not known if Director Ocasio has been or will be removed
from her position.</P>
<P>Because of your support of the AFA Action Alert, we were able to
deliver over 375,000 emails to the Veteran's Administration, clearly
contributing to the VA's decision to stop its religious discrimination.
Because of your action, and God's help, we are making a difference.</P>
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NOSEND="1"></A>Sincerely,<BR><BR><IMG border=0 alt=Tim
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Wildmon, President<BR>American Family Association </TD></TR>
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Would you please consider making a small donation to help us
continue our efforts? For a <A
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of just $12</A>, I want to send you ten of our beautiful new
Christmas buttons.<BR><BR>And, we'll include free shipping!</STRONG>
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e-mail message was sent to <I>akelly@americantarget.com</I>. <I>Art</I>
signed up to receive e-mail from AFA.<BR><BR>
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