Cross-posted at DKos

The British media has been covering the case of a schoolgirl in the south of England who has been told by her teachers to remove a "Silver Ring Thing" chastity ring during school time. This American movement has its own British franchise - and a couple of bloggers have been doing a bit of investigating of its "Media Consultant" and former Assistant National Director Denise Pfeiffer.

The title for this diary was going to be; "Constantine's Sword; A Tour de Force of the Intersection of War, Christianity and anti-Semitism with an eye on the Pentagon" but I wanted you to read it so here it goes...

On Monday night I went to see the world premiere of Constantine's Sword at the LA Film Festival and it blew my mind.  If you compare learning to drinking from a fountain of knowledge, I was treated to a fire hose experience.

The sprawling documentary is based on James Carroll's book of the same name and on one level it is about his incredible journey through life.  I met James in the party following the premiere and I was awed by this ex-Catholic priest's humility and deep intellect.  

I expect that the religious right, the Pentagon and even the Catholic Church will do a lot to prevent its message to get out.  So what is the explosive message of this timely masterpiece?

For a generation the Democratic Party and most liberals have struggled to find their footing as well as their voice in response to the religious right.  Sometimes they ducked. Sometimes they pandered. Sometimes they called "them" stupid names, like "religious political extremists."

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) seems to have broken some new ground in finding his footing and finding his voice in challenging the religious right.  

His appearance at the General Synod of the United Church of Christ has made headlines and no doubt will be discussed around the country and here at Talk to Action.  

The other day I came into work on my day off to make up some hours from the night before (I had to leave work early due to family illness) and a co-worker said something to me that in the moment didn't bother me but since has struck me as a bit odd.  She said "You must thank God, or whatever it is that you pray to, for this job."  She was referring to the fact that my job was willing to be flexible with my schedule (something that I am thankful for), but the "whatever it is that you pray to" remark didn't hit me until later.  

Check me out on Democracy Now! tomorrow discussing the nomination of James Holsinger to Surgeon General. Find your local station here.

A few months ago, the blogosphere was ablaze with discussion about theocracy; what it means; what it doesn't mean; and a host of concerns about theocratic movements in the U.S. and beyond.

Now, the folks who brought you Blog Against Theocracy -- want to do it again!  The week of the Fourth of July.

The progressive news site Buzzflash has an interesting interview with Weinstein, who has a new book With God on Our Side: One Man's War Against an Evangelical Coup in America's Military, which describes the errosion of the rights of cadets, GIs and veterans who are not fundamentalists.

Here are a few excerpts:

An Austrailian author and preacher reviews an American book....

Onenewsnow carries an AP report on the progress of Cory Burnell, leader of "a small group that ultimately wants to secede from the United States and form a Christian republic" in South Carolina.

Last week, James Dobson endorsed a sermon that blamed "lesbian sex" for God's "abandonment" of America, and justified destruction of a U.S. city by God.

On June 6th,  I moderated a panel discussion in New York hosted by IG Publishing as part of the launch of Sheldon Culver and John Dorhauer's new book Steeplejacking: How the Christian Right is Hijacking Mainstream Religion
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Freelance journalist Lindsay Beyerstein was on hand to blog John and Sheldon's part of the panel and shoot some pics of John, Sheldon, Michelle Goldberg, and me.