Video: Violent Attack On Philly Bus; Please Help!

On June 25, 2013, at 12:35am, three unknown males followed the complainant, a 25 year-old male, onto a SEPTA bus on the 4800 block of north Broad Street in Logan. Once on the bus all three suspects approached the complainant in the rear of the bus. After a brief conversation the suspects began to kick, punch and stomp the complainant after he falls to the floor of the bus causing injuries to the complainant's eye, face and arm. The suspects then fled the bus running north on Broad Street from Wyoming Avenue.

Suspect Description:
Suspect #1: Black male, late teens to early 20 years-of-age, brown complected, goatee, medium build, wearing a white t-shirt, Khaki style pants, black/blue and white new balance sneakers.
Suspect #2: Black male, late teens to early 20 years-of-age, medium complected, wearing a white tank top, dark shorts and white/black PUMA sneakers.
Suspect #3: Black male, late teens to early 20 years-of-age, medium complected, stocky build, wearing a yellow with blue stripes Polo shirt, dark jeans and white sneakers.

If you see these suspects do not approach them, contact 911 immediately.
To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.

If you have any information about this crime or these suspects, please contact:
Northwest Detectives Division
215-686-3353/3354
DC# 13-35-047639

Phillies Legend Darren Daulton Has Brain Tumors

Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton, a three-time All-Star who spent parts of 14 seasons with the Phillies and helped lead them to victorious seasons is scheduled to have surgery to remove two brain tumors. Daulton presently hosts a daily radio show for 97.5 the Fanatic in Philadelphia. The radio station made this announcement:

"He went to the doctor, who discovered two brain tumors, and is scheduled for surgery early next week. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this difficult time. Of course we want to respect his privacy at a time like this, but if you would like to send him get well wishes you may do so at dutch@975thefanatic.com."

Darren Daulton, 51, retired following the 1997 season. He finished that season with the Marlins where he won his only World Series ring. Darren Dalton has always been a favorite of ours. We wish him the very best possible outcome, good health and many, many more years to enjoy life. He is a Philadelphia treasure!

Christie On Gay Marriage: True To Convictions

Some of our liberal friends are angry with Governor Christie this morning because he strongly reiterated his long-standing opposition to gay marriage. 

They say that Christie is deliberately playing to the conservatives in his own party. But Christie holds (and has always held) some positions that conservatives like and some that they don't like. As far as anyone cal tell, he doesn't hold his finger to the wind before taking a stand.

So, think about this for a moment: If Christie was afraid of a "wing" of his party or of "losing votes" he might actually act as the Clintons did and do a 180 -- change his position completely; not just on this, but on any convenient issue. In other words, mollify. 

Or he might act as Biden and Obama did or DOMA -- do a complete turnaround and claim to be "evolved." That's what liberals and the lapdog dominant media call political expediency now -- "evolved." 

But Christie hasn't done that. He has remained true to his convictions and called it as he sees it. 

On the other hand, liberal logic is all about expediency: Get what you want at any cost. Demonize Paula Deen because she may have used an ethnic slur 30 years ago (even though she's profusely remorseful) but embrace the Clintons, Obama, Biden and the suddenly "highly evolved" in the warm waters of kumbaya. 

Phonies!

Chaput: Church Will Defend Marriage's 'Authentic Meaning'

A statement from Philadelphia Catholic Archbishop Charles J. Chaput:

In striking down Sec. 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in United States v. Windsor, the Court leaves intact - at least for now -- state constitutional definitions of marriage as an institution restricted to one man and one woman. As Justice Samuel Alito points out in his dissent, no federal "right" to same-sex marriage exists. The Constitution simply does not establish one.

As Catholics we believe marriage needs to be strengthened, not redefined. It is a great gift to men, women, children and society. Affirming the true definition of marriage denies no one his or her basic rights. On the contrary protecting marriage affirms the equal dignity of women and men and safeguards the basic rights of children.

Same-sex unions, whatever legal form they take, cannot create new life. They cannot duplicate the love of a man and woman. But they do copy marriage and family, and in the process, they compete with and diminish the uniquely important status of both. The legal battle about marriage will continue. And the Church's commitment to promote the authentic meaning of marriage and family will be vigorously pursued.

Defenders Of Marriage Vow To Continue Fight

Statement from Ralph Reed, Chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition:

Today’s Supreme Court opinions on marriage are a stunning and indefensible display of judicial activism. The Defense of Marriage Act merely codified what federal law already stated with regard to marital benefits. It passed Congress with a bipartisan majority large enough to pass a constitutional amendment and was signed into law by Bill Clinton. There has never been any attempt by either party to repeal or modify it. Social Security, income tax, family and medical leave law, Medicare, and other federal programs defined marriage as between a man and a woman long before DOMA became law. For the Supreme Court to rule otherwise is an Orwellian act of judicial fiat. We will now seek the passage of federal legislation to remedy this situation as much as possible given the parameters of the decision.

The Supreme Court remanding the California marriage case back to the district court that overturned Proposition 8 endangers federalism as well as the most time-honored institution in the history of Western civilization. If states have the right to set marriage and family law as they have for 226 years, then the people of California were fully within their rights to define marriage as between a man and a woman by popular referendum. For a federal court to rule that upholding traditional marriage is ipso facto discriminatory is bad law and a jurisprudential fantasy of epic proportion. Sadly, these twin decisions will undermine the already low respect for the federal courts and the rule of law. They underscore why people of faith must remain engaged and energetic in seeing genuine conservatives nominated and confirmed to the federal courts.

Christie Blasts Supremes On Gay Marriage Ruling

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today blasted the United States Supreme Court today for its twin rulings on gay marriage -- one effectively permitting gay marriage in California and the other effectively  forcing the federal government to recognize marriages of gays in states where such marriages are permitted.

Christie,  who was a  highly successful federal prosecutor, made the remarks on his “Ask the Governor” radio show, hours after the U.S. Supreme Court struck a crucial section of the Defense of Marriage Act. Here are excerpts from the Governor's comments:

“I think it was wrong,” [and] “typical of the problem we see” [in New Jersey’s own Supreme Court.]
“I don’t think the ruling was appropriate.”

[The justices have substituted] “their own judgment for the judgment of a Republican Congress and a Democratic President. In the Republican Congress in the ‘90s and Bill Clinton. I thought that Justice Kennedy’s opinion was, in many respects, incredibly insulting to those people, 340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, and Bill Clinton.”

“He [Kennedy] basically said that the only reason to pass that bill was to demean people. That’s heck of a thing to say about Bill Clinton and about the Republican Congress back in the ‘90s. And it’s just another example of judicial supremacy, rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for.”

“You’re talking about changing an institution that’s over 2,000 years old. Seems to me that, you know … the Democrats are putting an increase to the minimum wage on the ballot. [in New Jersey”
“That’s important enough to put on the ballot. But gay marriage is not. That’s something the people should decide, but not whether same-sex marriage should happen in New Jersey.”

“I’ve made it very clear since 2009 that I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman. I’ve said that, I ran on that, I’ve said it consistently. That doesn’t mean, in any way shape or form, that I have anything against folks who are homosexual. In fact, I’ve said I believe people are born that way. I don’t believe it’s a choice…you were born with your sexual preference. But I believe that the institution of marriage for 2,000 years has been between a man and a woman.”

Scalia: Majority 'Demeans This Institution'

From today's dissent by Justice Scalia:

But to defend traditional marriage is not to condemn, demean, or humiliate those who would prefer other arrangements, any more than to defend the Constitution of the United States is to condemn, demean, or humiliate other constitutions. To hurl such accusations so casually demeans this institution. In the majority's judgment, any resistance to its holding is beyond the pale of reasoned disagreement. To question its high-handed invalidation of a presumptively valid statute is to act (the majority is sure) with the purpose to "disparage," "injure," "degrade," "demean," and "humiliate" our fellow human beings, our fellow citizens, who are homo- sexual. All that, simply for supporting an Act that did no more than codify an aspect of marriage that had been unquestioned in our society for most of its existence— indeed, had been unquestioned in virtually all societies for virtually all of human history. It is one thing for a society to elect change; it is another for a court of law to impose change by adjudging those who oppose it hostes humani generis, enemies of the human race.

Court Decision Presents 'Unanswered Questions, Burdens'

A message from the Alliance Defending Freedom:

The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down its decision involving the federal Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA.
In a profoundly disappointing decision, the High Court has ruled that Congress does not have the right to maintain a federal definition of marriage. This effectively means we will no longer have a national definition of marriage. The federal government may now be required to accept any legal definition of marriage that a particular state invents. This leads to many unanswered questions, new government burdens, and consequences that we will have more to say about in the coming days and weeks ahead as we analyze and further unpack this disappointing decision.
Congress and President Clinton had good reason for protecting and affirming marriage through DOMA in 1996. While this decision is unfortunate, it will not end the national debate over marriage. In fact, the legal battles over the definition of marriage have provided the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the American people to the goodness and value of marriage. Once the people examine all dimensions of the debate, and why marriage is important, we’re confident America will return to a strong and healthy marriage culture, recognizing that marriage is the institution upon which a healthy and thriving society is built.

Marriage Group Strongly Condemns Court Decision

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today expressed dismay and outrage at the US Supreme Court's actions to dismiss Proposition 8 on procedural grounds, and for invalidating a key element of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The group called the decision "illegitimate" and that it will be rejected by tens of millions of Americans, and demanded that Congress continue to protect the right of states to reject same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries.

"In a miscarriage of justice the US Supreme Court has refused to consider the decision of a single federal court judge to overturn the perfectly legal action of over 7 million California voters who passed Proposition 8 defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman," said Brain Brown, NOM's president. "The Supreme Court's holding that proponents of an initiative had no legal right to appeal ignores California law and rewards corrupt politicians for abandoning their duty to defend traditional marriage laws. It's imperative that Congress continue to preserve the right of states to protect true marriage and refuse to recognize faux marriages performed in other states or countries."

Proposition 8 was passed with over 52% of the vote, capturing the support of over 7 million California voters. Because they opposed the measure and receive political support from homosexual groups and activists, both then-Attorney General (now Governor) Jerry Brown and his successor, Attorney General Kamala Harris, refused to defend Proposition 8. The case was heard by a homosexual judge in San Francisco who himself was engaged in a long-term same-sex relationship. To nobody's surprise, the judge invalidated Proposition 8. This decision was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in an opinion written by liberal judge Stephen Reinhardt, despite the fact that Reinhardt's wife advised the plaintiff lawyers in this very case. Reinhardt refused to recuse himself from the case.

"There is a stench coming from this case that has now stained the Supreme Court. They've allowed corrupt politicians and judges to betray the voters, rewarding them for their betrayal. It's an illegitimate decision. We and millions of other Americans will refuse to accept this rogue decision rewarding corruption. " Brown said.

The Supreme Court invalidated Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage under federal law as the union of one man and one woman. Section 2 of DOMA, which codified the long-standing right of states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries, remains in effect and was not challenged. "We also urge Congress to reject the inevitable attempts to dismantle remaining elements of DOMA, including the right of states to refuse to recognize so-called gay marriages performed elsewhere. The vast majority of American voters have expressed with their votes their desire to maintain marriage as the union of one man and one woman. That decision should be respected and left undisturbed."

Despite the ruling on Proposition 8, the decision leaves intact the marriage amendments adopted by thirty other states as the Court refused to find a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, as celebrity lawyers David Boies and Ted Olsen had been urging throughout the case. More importantly, the DOMA ruling, which turns on the primacy of the states in setting marriage policy, calls into serious question the correctness of Judge Vaughn Walker's initial decision invalidating Proposition 8.

"The only other saving grace of the Supreme Court's decisions today is that they refused to go along with the urgings of Ted Olsen and David Boies to find a constitutional right to same-sex ‘marriage,'" Brown said. "The plaintiffs failed in their primary objective, which is a major victory for those defending Proposition 8, especially Chuck Cooper and his firm, along with the attorneys at the Alliance Defending Freedom, and Andy Pugno of the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund."

NOM was the biggest contributor to putting Proposition 8 on the ballot. The case was Hollingsworth v. Perry. The DOMA case was Windsor v. United States.

US Catholic Bishops: 'A Tragic Day For Marriage'

The U.S. Supreme Court decisions June 26 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8 mark a “tragic day for marriage and our nation,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.
The statement follows.

“Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation. The Supreme Court has dealt a profound injustice to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage. It is also unfortunate that the Court did not take the opportunity to uphold California’s Proposition 8 but instead decided not to rule on the matter. The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth. These decisions are part of a public debate of great consequence. The future of marriage and the well-being of our society hang in the balance.

“Marriage is the only institution that brings together a man and a woman for life, providing any child who comes from their union with the secure foundation of a mother and a father.“Our culture has taken for granted for far too long what human nature, experience, common sense, and God’s wise design all confirm: the difference between a man and a woman matters, and the difference between a mom and a dad matters. While the culture has failed in many ways to be marriage-strengthening, this is no reason to give up. Now is the time to strengthen marriage, not redefine it.

“When Jesus taught about the meaning of marriage – the lifelong, exclusive union of husband and wife – he pointed back to “the beginning” of God’s creation of the human person as male and female (see Matthew 19). In the face of the customs and laws of his time, Jesus taught an unpopular truth that everyone could understand. The truth of marriage endures, and we will continue to boldly proclaim it with confidence and charity.“Now that the Supreme Court has issued its decisions, with renewed purpose we call upon all of our leaders and the people of this good nation to stand steadfastly together in promoting and defending the unique meaning of marriage: one man, one woman, for life. We also ask for prayers as the Court’s decisions are reviewed and their implications further clarified.”

Background information can be found at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/marriage/promotion-and-defense-of-marriage/backgrounder-on-proposition-8-and-doma.cfm