Great post about DeVos over at Mich Lib

http://http://www.michiganliberal.com/frontPage.do Amway Guy's Extreme Views on Creation Cost Michigan Kids and Taxpayers by: DemWave Sun Sep 24, 2006 at 21:28:00 PM EDT (From the diaries - promoted by matt)The recent Oakland Press editorial characterizing Dick DeVos's statements on "Intelligent Design" as a political mistake, also notes that the wacko Thomas More Law Center is threatening to sue Gull Lake Community Schools because the school district prohibits the teaching of creationism "Intelligent Design". As a result of the legal action by the Thomas More Law Center, the school district will have to spend tax dollars on lawyers instead of teaching children. And where does the Thomas More Law Center get it's money? You guessed it. None other than the Amway Guy himself, Dick DeVos. As Brian Dickerson noted last week in the Detroit Free Press: Since 2002, the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation gave at least $5,000 to the Thomas More Law Center, which unsuccessfully defended the Dover, Pa., school board in last year's federal court showdown and has threatened to sue on behalf of two Michigan science teachers who want to teach intelligent design. So Dick DeVos's views on "intelligent design" are more than just a diversion from other issues. The Dick is not merely expressing an opinion on an issue. Dick DeVos has financially supported a group that seeks to force school districts to teach "intelligent design". Actions speak louder than words, Dick. Moreover, Michgan businesses and citizens will pay for the extreme views of Dick DeVos. His financial support for the Thomas More Law Center is forcing at least one Michigan school district to expend tax dollars that would otherwise go to classroom instruction to instead pay for lawyers to defend against a frvilous lawsuit. And make no mistake, Dick DeVos's support for "intelligent design" is more than just adherence to Chrstian beliefs. He embraces an extreme view of the world and its creation that ignores science and is out of the mainstream of Christian thought. According to the Catholic Church (no liberal institution): Intelligent Design reduces and belittles God’s power and might, according to the director of the Vatican Observatory. Science is and should be seen as “completely neutral” on the issue of the theistic or atheistic implications of scientific results, says Father George V. Coyne, director of the Vatican Observatory, while noting that “science and religion are totally separate pursuits.” . . . [Fr. Coyne] points to the “marvelous intuition” of Roman Catholic Cardinal John Henry Newman who said in 1868, “the theory of Darwin, true or not, is not necessarily atheistic; on the contrary, it may simply be suggesting a larger idea of divine providence and skill.” Pope John Paul Paul II, [Fr. Coyne] adds, told the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 1996 that “new scientific knowledge has led us to the conclusion that the theory of evolution is no longer a mere hypothesis.” . . . [Fr. Coyne] proposes to describe God’s relationship with the universe as that of a parent with a child, with God nurturing, preserving and enriching its individual character. “God should be seen more as a parent or as one who speaks encouraging and sustaining words.” [Fr. Coyne] stresses that the theory of Intelligent Design diminishes God into “an engineer who designs systems rather than a lover.” “God in his infinite freedom continuously creates a world which reflects that freedom at all levels of the evolutionary process to greater and greater complexity,” [Fr. Coyne] said. “God lets the world be what it will be in its continuous evolution. He does not intervene, but rather allows, participates, loves.” To summarize: 1. Dick DeVos supports "Intelligent Design," a non-scientific theory that, according to the Vatican, "reduces and belittles God's power and might." 2. By supporting "Intelligent Design", DeVos apparently rejects freedom and instead embraces a Newtonian dictatorial God. That is a disturbing world view for a man who seeks to govern the State of Michigan. Why does Dick DeVos hate freedom? 3. Dick DeVos supports organizations that seek to impose their extreme views by threatening litigation. Dick DeVos's endorsement of such litigious behavior sends the wrong message to businesses considering Michigan. 4. Dick DeVos's support for organizations that promote "Intelligent Design" is costing Michigan school children and Michigan taxpayers. Dick DeVos: Wrong on the Beginning of Time. Wrong for Michigan.