By Ann Guthrie Hingston

This article appeared in the December issue of Our Parish Times, an inter-parish newspaper serving 28 Catholic parishes and schools in Montgomery County.

Because many of us have children in parochial schools, it is easy to ignore what is happening in public schools and the impact of decisions made by county officials on our families and communities. You may have heard that in recent months concerned parents of many faiths and their clergy, including Catholic priests, have stood in unison at rallies outside the headquarters of the county Board of Education. They gathered to promote restoration of First Amendment parental rights and free exercise of religion in Montgomery County.

Such activism is the result of two recent changes at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Earlier this year the Board of Education, consisting of elected officials, decided to change past practice and to deny parents the right to “opt out” their children from lessons and books that unnecessarily violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. They took this action even though other Maryland public school districts allow parents to “opt out.” Also, MCPS adopted changes to the school curriculum and instructional materials to spark discussions of human sexuality and relationships, beginning as early as PreK (4 years old).

Members of the Republican Women's Clubs and GOP Volunteers decorated the graves of Veterans last Saturday as part of the Wreaths Across American movement. The event is held the second Saturday of December, with volunteers remembering the veterans from all wars. From National Cemetery in DC to other cemeteries throughout the country, the ritual brings in volunteers from all across America.

Members of the Upper Montgomery Women's Republican Club and their supporters were at the Darnestown Presbyterian Church cemetery.

Members of the Rural Women's Republican Club chose to honor veterans at the Monocacy Cemetery in Beallsville. Veterans in that cemetery include those from the civil war.

Former Poolesville Commissioner Tom Dillingham joined those honoring our Veterans.

We tease the Democrats 'cause we love 'em...

We wonder why. Got any theories? Let us know at [email protected]

The leaders of Penn, MIT and Harvard have refused to say before Congress that calling for the genocide of Jews on their campuses is harassment. Since their statements, only one has resigned.

The price of silence can prove very high as other voices fill the space with rancor and division.

As history teaches, there is a vast difference between opposing an idea and opposing the person who holds that idea. The one is the stuff from which democratic debate is generated, the other is the stuff from which segregation and antisemitism are fashioned. Any society that equates or confuses the two will find itself on a perilous path.

165 years ago, the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, declared

“A house divided against itself cannot stand”

It would take a civil war to replace division with union, a cautionary history for our time.

Recent events in the Middle East have seen a resurgence of antisemitism, perhaps the most pernicious form of identity politics. That such voices are often heard on American college campuses is especially disturbing as that is where free and open debate should be embraced.

To combat this assault on our constitutional right of assembly and free speech we don’t need to silence anyone but make our voice heard. We too can assemble, if not in the streets, then at the dinner table or wherever else we might choose to gather. There we can speak out against prejudice. Not to do so would make us complicit by our silence.

-A message from our Republican friends in the LD 15 PAC-

Tell us what you think at [email protected]

Opportunity for Your Teen (high schooler) to Co-Lead or Participate in a TPUSA Youth Group! United Against Racism in Education (UARE) is excited about forming a chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA ) in Montgomery County, MD. We have one teen leader, but need two more to co-lead this group. This is a fabulous leadership building experience for the right student who loves our country and her values! The TPUSA organization was founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012. This non-profit/non-partisan group empowers students through the pro-American values that make America special. Our chapter will bring together young people to have fun, bond with like-minded teens, develop leadership skills, and be educated about the importance of limited government, free markets, and freedom.

We are excited to share the latest developments from the Family Rights for Religious Freedom (FRRF), a dedicated group of concerned parents from diverse religious backgrounds.

Since our formation in April 2023, FRRF has been unwavering in our mission to reinstate the opt-out option in Montgomery County schools. Our members have rallied outside the Montgomery County Board of Education, testified at every open board hearing, and relentlessly pushed for the reinstatement of the opt-out provision.

In a significant stride forward, the Beckett Law firm has joined our cause, representing two families—one from the Muslim community and another from the Christian community. Together, we have taken legal action against the Montgomery County Board of Education, seeking justice for religious freedom in our schools.

Despite a disappointing initial injunction at the federal level in August, The Beckett Law firm swiftly appealed the decision. On Tuesday, December 5, twelve members, including myself (Chris Hyser), embarked on a journey to Richmond, Virginia, to present our case before a three-judge panel at the Fourth Circuit Appeals Court.

Who is Anonymous?

Many of us know “Anonymous” as an activist and hacker group that perpetrates cyberattacks against governments, government institutions and government agencies … that is unless you live in Montgomery County.

As all organizations must do, the Montgomery County government maintains a register of all the checks they write to vendors, individuals and other business associates. Download the Montgomery County checkbook to see how many venders are listed with just a number and not a name. Download MoCo checkbook here

A quick look at the persons and groups that have received checks from the County will show over 25,000 checks totaling almost $160 million dollars were written to anonymous, numbered vendors with no name. When we asked who these anonymous vendors are, we were advised in writing that we could not be given that information because “ … the department doesn’t want the names disclosed because of the client privacy....”   Read on and see the e-mail here. 

BALTIMORE, Md. – Retired Air Force Brigadier General John Teichert received a major endorsement this week as former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford publicly backed the candidate’s bid for the U.S. Senate.

Former Lt. Governor Rutherford, who served in Larry Hogan’s administration, shared why he is choosing to endorse John Teichert for U.S. Senate, stating, "General John Teichert embodies the principles of strong leadership, integrity, and dedication that our great nation deserves. His unwavering commitment to service, combined with a proven track record of effective leadership, uniquely qualifies him to represent the people of Maryland in the U.S. Senate. I am proud to endorse General Teichert and am confident that his strong character and strategic vision will bring about positive change for our state and country. Maryland deserves a leader of his caliber, and I wholeheartedly support his candidacy."