Gary Bauer told activists that he's disappointed in the Republican ticket's performance at the debates, saying at no time "was the sanctity of life position explained and there was continued surrender on RU-486 and Supreme Court justices." Similarly, the Family Research Council's Chuck Donovan (speaking for himself), says he hopes "there would be some correction of course," and if there isn't, "the grace period that some of the [pro-family] groups have given will probably dissipate." (In a New York Times op-ed piece, Bauer notes that "millions of men and women of faith who care about family and life issues … have had their hearts broken in two consecutive debates, as they watched first a lackluster defense of the sanctity of life, and then a surrender on the defense of traditional marriage.")

Last week, Weblog noted that the Evangelical Alliance Wales, CARE, and the Christian Institute had united against an exhibition of sexual toys, videos, and other products. The Xsensual event needed a sex shop license to hold the fair, but after more than 450 people registered their complaints, Xsensual's application was denied. The Christian groups are claiming victory, but it looks like the show may go on—albeit under restrictions.

Abundant Life Christian Center in Arvada, Colorado, is back with its controversial Hell House dramatization for the seventh year in a row (see our 1996 coverage here). This year's scenes include a lesbian suicide and a mother who takes her teenage son to be killed at the International Center of PostBirth Abortion. There's also the classic drunken-driving death scene. Fun, fun, fun.