Religious Left

By DINESH RAMDE Associated Press WEST BEND, Wis. (AP) — Pastor Luke Emrich prepared his sermon this week knowing his remarks could invite an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. But that was the whole point, so Emrich forged ahead with his message: Thou shalt vote according to the Scriptures. "I'm telling you straight up, I would choose life," Emrich told about 100 worshippers Sunday at New Life Church, a nondenominational evangelical congregation about 40 miles from Milwaukee. "I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin," he said. "But friends, it's your choice to make, it's not my choice. I won't be in the voting booth with you." full article

By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press Writer Chicago Tribune MADISON, Wis. - A judge upheld Wisconsin's constitutional ban on gay marriage Friday, rejecting a challenge that claimed the 2006 referendum was improperly put to voters. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Richard Niess dismissed a lawsuit brought by a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political science instructor claiming the referendum wrongly put two issues to voters at the same time. The referendum asked voters whether to rewrite the constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman and outlaw the state from granting a similar legal status to unmarried individuals. Nearly 60 percent of voters approved. full article