Showing posts with label gay marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gay marriage. Show all posts

Monday, July 6, 2015

Christian Author John DeFilippis Issues Statement Regarding Supreme Court Ruling On Gay Marriage

DeFilippis believes the ruling all but guarantees an assault on religious freedom

Author John DeFilippis has issued a statement regarding the recent Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. While epic Christian fantasy novels would at first glance appear to have little to do with the subject of religious freedom, just the opposite is true. In DeFilippis' books,  the stories detail life in a kingdom where religious faith is being systematically removed by those in power.

“This decision by the Supreme Court all but guarantees an all-out assault on religious freedom," DeFilippis stated. "We’ve already seen photographers and bakers punished in terrible ways for refusing to work gay weddings. So what happens now when a Catholic university refuses to provide housing to a same-sex married couple? What happens to Catholic Community Services when they refuse to allow a same-sex married couple to adopt a child? What happens when churches refuse to allow gay weddings? Will they lose their tax exempt status? It sure looks like we’re moving in that direction.”

“The message in my books couldn’t be timelier, because the story depicts life in a kingdom where all traces of religious faith are being systematically removed by those in power, and the results aren’t pretty.”

In the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, DeFilippis' books offer a message of faith and hope while remaining true to the epic fantasy fiction form. Crossroad Press recently released John DeFilippis’ fourth novel, 'The Last of the Thirteen'. 'The Last of the Thirteen' is the final volume of DeFilippis’ epic fantasy series, 'The Medallion of Mavinor'. John's works have been compared to 'The Lord Of The Rings' and 'Game Of Thrones'.

Picking up where “The Crusade Against Darkness” left off, the new fantasy fiction novel follows the crusaders’ plight as they aim to defeat Malgyron’s forces and eradicate the darkness once and for all. While some go their separate ways to fulfill specific roles that have been assigned to them, others march together to wage an epic battle that could well determine the fate of the world. But as the conflict comes to a head, all of them realize one thing—they will need more than just courage and might to win the day. For the most lethal weapon they wield is neither sword nor shield, but rather the faith that resides deep in their hearts. The first two books in the series are titled 'The Quest Of The Thirteen' and 'The Birth Of Malgyron'.

"The heroes of my story are ultimately faced with two choices,"  DeFilippis concluded. "They can take up their swords and fight for their freedom, or bow down and join the enemy. Those who decide to take up the fight soon learn that the greatest weapon they have in their arsenal is their faith. It is my hope that Christians everywhere will also take up the fight as our freedoms come under attack, and that they too will realize that if God is with us, then who can possibly be against us?”

Dr. John DeFilippis is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below. All of DeFilippis' titles are available in print, ebook and pdf formats at Crossroad Press. More information is available at John DeFilippis’ website at http://www.DrJohnDeFilippis.com.

About Author John DeFilippis:

Dr. John DeFilippis grew up in the Greenville section of Jersey City, graduating from Our Lady of Mercy Grammar School in 1984. In 1988 he graduated from Saint Peter’s Prep and went on to study at Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree, Dr. DeFilippis attended the School of Theology at Seton Hall University for three years, from 1993 to 1996. During this time he earned his master’s degree in theology and discerned a call to the Catholic priesthood. After ultimately deciding that he did not have a religious vocation, Dr. DeFilippis transitioned into the field of education.

He taught for four years at both the elementary and secondary levels, and earned a second master’s degree in educational administration. In 2000 Dr. DeFilippis made yet another transition, this time accepting an offer to become an academic administrator at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City. He would spend the next seven years there, and in 2007 he completed his Ph.D. in educational leadership at Seton Hall University. After finishing his doctoral degree, he accepted an offer to become a director in the Division of Academic Affairs at New Jersey City University.

Contact:

Dr. John DeFilippis
drjohnd@drjohndefilippis.com
http://www.drjohndefilippis.com

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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Racial Discrimination, Equal Rights and Gay Marriage: Dr. Laurie Pappas Offers Practical Advice In 'The Loving Heart'


We live in a world defined by differences - black and white, male and female, young, old, rich, poor - the divisions are endless. Dr. Laurie Pappas hopes to help create a world in which all are embraced as equal members of a common family - spirit. She offers a practical approach in her book 'The Loving Heart'

All human beings, be they black or white, male or female, Muslim, Hindu or Christian seek the state of peace. Yet there can be no peace where inequality - perceived or otherwise - is present. To achieve a state of personal peace, we must first accept that all beings share a common source - spirit. Only then can the issues that divide human beings be overcome once and for all. This begins with the individual and ripples outward to the masses. Dr. Laurie Pappas offers a practical approach to personal peace in her book, 'The Loving Heart'.

"First African Americans and women," stated Dr. Pappas, "now gays. New York State is setting a great standard for equal rights with their momentous decision to allow legal gay marriage. As human beings, we have been given freedom of choice, including sexual orientation. As spirit, we are naturally equal, all imbued with a loving nature that strives to express itself. God doesn't judge and, as part of the Divine God-force, it is not in our nature to judge either. If one of our brothers or sisters chooses a homosexual partnership, just as some of us might choose a heterosexual partnership, why should they be denied the same basic rights as other family partners? The commitment is there, the wish to contribute to society is there, the desire to raise well-grounded, happy kids is there. Gays do not differ in their essential qualities from any other human being, as we similarly discovered when when we abolished slavery and gave women and African Americans the vote. From a spiritual perspective, the most loving and compassionate response to the question of gay marriage has been answered by a New York legislature refusing anymore to deny rights to any state citizen."

Dr. Pappas presents her approach in 'The Loving Heart: Navigating the Journey from Conflict to Peace'. The book is supplemented by a workbook entitled 'The Loving Heart Companion'. Dr. Pappas has included over 30 years of observation and wisdom gained from personal experiences, as well as working with students, clients, family members and colleagues. She now offers a series of teleclasses dealing with the subjects contained within her written works.

Dr. Pappas offers phone and in-person spiritual and metaphysical counseling, in addition to life coaching, classes, workshops, speaking engagements and teleclasses. More information on all the resources she offers is available at her website. Specific information on teleclasses is available by email. Dr. Pappas is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below, or by email at laurie@lovingheartconnection.com. 'The Loving Heart: Navigating the Journey from Conflict to Peace' and the accompanying workbook, 'The Loving Heart Companion', are available at her website, Amazon.com, Rittenhouse, Nacscorp and Expresso Book Machines.

Profile:

Dr. Laurie Pappas is an educator, spiritual counselor, speaker, writer and life coach. Dr. Pappas is a recipient of the 2005 International Peace Prize, Key of Success Award, and Woman of the Year Award, bestowed by the United Cultural Convention of the United States of America for outstanding personal achievements to the good of society as a whole. She lives and teaches using ancient psycho-spiritual principles. She is the co-founder of the Metro Detroit Center for Attitudinal Healing, a non-profit center, whose activities she directed for 16 years. She has been counseling for 22 years. She has taught classes and workshops and trained support group leaders, in addition to writing articles for a large metaphysical newspaper.

Contact:

Laurie Pappas PhD
P.O. Box 250206
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-0792
Laurie@lovingheartconnection.com
www.lovingheartconnection.com

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