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solarbirdOne thing I've been seeing is that the theocon groups are all calling the New Jersey ruling a "4-3 decision." This is presumably to make it look like a far more marginal ruling than it was. The ruling was actually 7-0 that GBLT people deserved the same legal protections under the law as straight couples under New Jersey constitutional law. The 4-3 vote was whether to send it to the legislature or just assert that current marriage licenses could be awarded to GBLT couples as well. That's kind of interesting.
And now, more news...
Australian Muslim fundamentalist cleric calls women "uncovered meat" - but more offensively, it's part of a broader statement less well publicised where he blames the victims of gang-rapes for being raped, asserted they were at fault for not wearing the hijab;
Concerned Women for America: evangelical leaders endorsing action to limit global warming are part of a secret plot to promote abortion-on-demand;
CWA: GBLT marriage bans aren't discrimination since queers are free to marry people of the opposite gender. Presumably this is just like how banning the Star of David wouldn't be religious discrimination since Jews would be free to wear any crucifix they desired;
CWA: Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote GOP;
CWA rails against Cargill for firing an anti-marriage activist employee; the company claims it was for insubordination (harassment of other employees, removing his anti-marriage sign from his truck then putting it back on) but CWA is working to make him into a martyr against t3h gay;
CWA condemn New Jersey ruling, saying it "uproots marriage" by saying GBLT couples qualify under state equal-protection law and must be granted the benefits of civil marriage, though leaving it up to the legislature to figure out how;
CWA condemns Wal-Mart for "promoting homosexuality" by becoming a corporate member of a national gay and lesbian chamber of commerce organisation; again, just being in business is evil if you're t3h gay; amoungst CWA worries is that Wal-Mart may begin buying from GBLT-owned survivors, and claims that Wal-Mart will stop doing business with companies which discriminate against GBLT people;
CWA pushes gender-segregation in schools;
Canada Family Action Coalition tries to lay the groundwork for more church involvement in politics;
Institute for Canadian Values publishes anti-marriage-rights paper, as part of the groundwork for overturning C-38, the law which brought GBLT citizens into Canadian marriage law; the paper's claims include the usuals: GBLT marriage violates the rights of people who oppose marriage for queers by not letting them stop queers from getting married; GBLT marriage is a slippery slope to polygamy; GBLT marriage will lead to the downfall of society in years to come, promoting alcoholism, child poverty, spousal abuse, which they imply via bad statistics abuse are much more likely in same-sex households; heterosexual couples need the protections and benefits of marriage and key to that is withholding those benefits from same-sex couples is vital to that cause; and so on;
An earlier CWU - I think I included this - included a small article about fundamentalist evangelical protestant schools in Quebec operating unlicensed; apparently that got some notice because now there's a move to bring them into compliance with Canadian educational rules; the big fights are over evolutionary theory and sex education;
Institute for Canadian Values press release on their paper "on impact of redefining marriage in Canada";
Traditional Values Coalition demands Virginia Senate candidate Jim Webb withdraw from the race over the content of novels he wrote;
TVC: New Jersey Supreme Court ruling condemned, calls for Federal anti-marriage amendment;
Gay police organisation in the UK runs ads against hate crimes upsurge led by anti-gay fundamentalists (25% Muslim, 75% Christian); UK evangelical groups invoke hate speech laws and are calling for an investigation by Scotland Yard for "portraying Christianity in a bad light";
TVC condemns New Jersey ruling again;
Christian Science Monitor: New Jersey ruling will boost GOP base and chances in this election;
American Family Association ACTION ITEM against Wal-Mart for joining the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and for carrying books which talk about GBLT marriage in a favourable light; the demand is to stop "promoting" GBLT marriage - which presumably means not carrying any of the books in question and dropping the NGLCC membership;
AFA, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS, a theocon favourite for President), Family Research Council all condemn New Jersey supreme court ruling;
Tennessee church starts Wal-Mart boycott over their NGLCC membership and "promotion of homosexuality"; I rather expect this'll turn into an AFA boycott at some point, but hard to say; also, Florida upholds its sales-tax exemption for the Bible that does not apply to Wiccan religious documents;
AFA article on the ongoing attempt to get fundamentalists to abandon the public school system en masse; apparently there will be another reintroduction of the resolution at the Southern Baptist Convention national conference in 2007;
AFA condemns natural history tour featuring the "Lucy" find as "anti-Creationist hype";
Family Research Council promotes the Ohio Christian Alliance's endorsement sheet;
Family Research Council: New Jersey must react to Supreme Court ruling by banning marriage for queers - presumably via constitutional amendment;
FRC second press release urging New Jersey to ban GBLT marriage;
FRC ACTION ITEM to ban GBLT marriage rights in the eight states which have anti-marriage amendments on the ballot this fall.
----- 1 -----
Outrage as Muslim cleric likens women to 'uncovered meat'
By RICHARD SHEARS
Last updated at 16:10pm on 26th October 2006
Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=412697&in_page_id=1770
A Muslim cleric's claim that women who do not wear the veil are like 'uncovered meat' who attract sexual predators sparked outrage around Australia yesterday.
Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, the nation's most senior Muslim cleric, compared immodestly-dressed women who do not wear the Islamic headdress with meat that is left uncovered in the street and is then eaten by cats.
[...]
In a Ramadam sermon in a Sydney mosque, Sheik al-Hilali suggested that a group of Muslim men recently jailed for many years for gang rapes were not entirely to blame.
There were women, he said, who 'sway suggestively' and wore make-up and immodest dress "and then you get a judge without mercy and gives you 65 years. But the problem, but the problem all began with who?" he said, referring to the women victims.
[More at URL]
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ECI: Evangelical Christians Impolitic?
The Hewlett Foundation's answer to global warming? Abort babies.
Concerned Women for America
10/27/2006
By Lindsay Randall
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11711/CWA/life/index.htm
In February, 85 prominent evangelicals signed the "Evangelical Climate Initiative" (ECI), which is the "Christian" response to the supposed global warming problem. The document claims that "climate change is happening and is being caused mainly by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels." The ECI predicts that "millions of people could die in this century because of climate change." Today, with a total of 97 signatures, this initiative includes mega-church pastor and author Rick Warren, former President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) Leith Anderson, and Christianity Today editor David Neff.
Interestingly, one of the biggest donors to the ECI is the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, known for its unabashed and overt support for abortion. The willingness of the Hewlett Foundation to contribute $475,000 to an evangelical initiative begs the question, "Why?" Would the Hewlett Foundation fund an evangelical initiative without trying to further its own agenda in the process?
A recent report, jointly released by the respected Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD) and the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty (AI), posits that the real motivation behind the Hewlett Foundation's contribution is to promote population control and abortion-on-demand.
[More at URL]
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Virginia's Marriage Amendment Preserves Equal Rights
Concerned Women for America
10/26/2006
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11705/LEGAL/legalother/index.htm
a4marriage.org Press Conference Statement
Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel
Concerned Women for America
October 26, 2006
The Virginia Marriage Amendment, Question Number 1 on the November 7 ballot, like the Virginia Constitution, guarantees equal rights for all Virginians. The Amendment preserves the constitutional right of the people of Virginia to decide the vital public policy issue of marriage, rather than having it decided by unelected judges as happened in Massachusetts in 2003, Vermont in 1999 and yesterday in New Jersey.
The Amendment, like the current Virginia law enacted in 1997, defines marriage as solely between one man and one woman. The Amendment preserves the equal right of every Virginian to marry subject to conditions such as age, current marital status and consanguinity. Neither current law nor the Amendment discriminates on the basis of sex or "sexual orientation."
The second section of the Amendment, like the current Virginia law enacted in 2004, prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions to create, recognize or confer legal status, rights, benefits or obligations of marriage on relationships of unmarried persons that intend to approximate marriage by another name.
[Ed. note: note the repeat of the "queers are free to marry the opposite sex so this isn't discrimination" argument again. Presumably this is just like how banning the Star of David wouldn't be religious discrimination since Jews would be free to wear any crucifix they desired.]
[More at URL]
----- 4 -----
Why Attack the Values Voters?
Are evangelicals willing to be used as pawns?
Concerned Women for America
10/25/2006
By Janice Shaw Crouse
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11690/BLI/dotcommentary/index.htm
Who will go to the polls and vote on November 7? According to the mainstream media, it won't be values voters. The media's mantra about social conservatives being disillusioned - a psychological ploy as obvious as Tom Sawyer's fence painting scheme - has become tiresome; their blatant efforts to discourage the values voters base and keep enough of them away from the voting booths to tip a close election is disgustingly manipulative. It is win-at-any-cost dirty politics with not a whit of concern for the health of American democracy.
If the left's tired demagoguery succeeds, freedom and democracy will be diminished in America.
[...]
True believers make unbelievers uncomfortable; and not just uncomfortable, but angry. Witness the left's efforts to tear down those who strive to live by Biblical principles. Witness the attempts at character assassination of anyone who takes a strong moral stance on social issues. It doesn't matter that those who hold to traditional values and strong ethical and moral stances tend to be gracious and kind [though not always] toward those who hold divergent views.
[More at URL]
----- 5 -----
Only Left Wing Turkeys at Cargill
Cargill fires employee who supports Virginia's marriage amendment.
Concerned Women for America
10/24/2006
By Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11680/LEGAL/family/index.htm
It's gotten even shadier at "Shady Brook Farms," and we thought you'd want to know about it before you bag your Thanksgiving turkey. Cargill, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, markets a host of products including "Shady Brook Farms" turkeys. The Cargill facility in Harrisonburg, Virginia fired Luis Padilla because of a bumper sticker on his truck. Apparently, only birds of a favored feather flock together at Shady Brook Farms.
[...]
Padilla, a married father of two children from Honduras, is in the United States on a work permit. And like millions of turkey-eating Americans, Padilla believes that marriage should be one man and one woman, a tradition that pre-dates Thanksgiving by several thousand years. What turkey doesn't know that?
So Padilla exercised his First Amendment right to encourage his fellow Virginians to support Virginia's marriage amendment on the November 7 ballot. He has a bumper sticker on his truck, "Vote Yes 4 Marriage." He also wrote "Please vote for marriage on Nov. 7" on the rear window of his truck.
[Ed. Note: See earlier CWUs for details, but the issue has been that 1. it wasn't a bumper sticker, it was a very large sign across the back of the truck window; headlining it as a "bumper sticker" is an attempt to portray the company as brooking no statement whatsoever; also, according to the company, he was fired for being insubordinate - agreeing to remove the sign, then putting it back up, and so on. I don't know the details as the non-fundamentalist press hasn't really been covering it.]
[More at URL]
----- 6 -----
New Jersey High Court Uproots Marriage
CWA says “extreme” ruling is out of step with the law and the people
Concerned Women for America
10/25/2006
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11689/MEDIA/family/index.htm
Washington, D.C. − Concerned Women for America (CWA) criticized the New Jersey Supreme Court today for finding a so-called “right” to same-sex marriage in the state constitution, a ruling that CWA’s Chief Counsel Jan LaRue says “essentially mirrors what the Vermont Supreme Court did in 1999.”
In today’s 4-3 decision, the Garden State’s highest court went against two lower courts and the will of the people by siding with seven homosexual couples who were refused marriage licenses and alleged that this violated the New Jersey state constitution. By ruling in favor of these couples, the court ruled against preserving the most fundamental institution in our society: one-man, one-woman marriage.
"This is a textbook example of agenda-driven judges who are willing to twist their state laws and invade the province of the legislative branch in order to force same-sex 'marriage' on the people of New Jersey," LaRue said. “The court snubbed its nose at 28 separate statute sections that include a specific reference to either the term 'married woman' and a 'married man' or to the term 'husband and wife.' Because New Jersey has no residency requirement for marriage, if the legislature caves in to the court, it could open the door for lawsuits challenging every state’s marriage law."
“New Jersey has now given citizens greater reason to vote on November 7 to protect marriage in the 8 states with referendums on the ballot,” said Wendy Wright, CWA’s President. “The New Jersey Supreme Court has distinguished itself once again for imposing its own form of discrimination by arrogantly declaring that a woman is not needed to make a marriage, or that a man is not.
“The thirty-year experiment of treating marriage as expendable, by making divorce easy and children fatherless, has proven to be a disaster for women, children and society. This should provide enough evidence for courts and legislators to quit abusing marriage by pretending it is less important or demanding than it is. It’s utter discrimination to claim a woman is unnecessary, or a man is unnecessary, to make a marriage. We should not be forced, or children subjected to, another social experiment with marriage simply to make individuals personally satisfied.”
For Information Contact:
Stacey Holliday
(202) 488-7000
media.cwfa.org
[More at URL]
----- 7 -----
Why Is Wal-Mart Promoting Homosexuality?
A handout to protest Wal-Mart's promotion of homosexuality
Concerned Women for America
9/21/2006
By Sfaff
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11548/CWA/family/index.htm
Millions of American families shop at Wal-Mart, which until now had a pro-family reputation. But recent events indicate that the company has chosen sides in the culture war, and is promoting homosexuality, including groups that favor “gay marriage.”
If this trend continues, employees who believe in God, marriage and traditional morality eventually will face discrimination.
Wal-Mart suppliers owned by people who hold traditional values will face loss of contracts if they don’t endorse immoral behavior.
Link to PDF
[Contents of PDF:]
Why Is Wal-Mart Promoting Homosexuality?
Millions of American families shop at Wal-Mart, which until now had a pro-family reputation. But recent events indicate that the company has chosen sides in the culture war, and is promoting homosexuality, including groups that favor “gay marriage.”
If this trend continues, employees who believe in God, marriage and traditional morality eventually will face discrimination. Wal-Mart suppliers owned by people who hold traditional values will face loss of contracts if they don’t endorse immoral behavior. This is very serious, and Wal-Mart needs to know that a growing number of people are viewing it as hostile to people of faith.
On August 21, 2006 the “National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce,” NGLCC, announced it was partnering with Wal-Mart.
* "Bob McAdam, vice president of corporate affairs with Wal-Mart, told Cybercast News Service that the world’s largest retail company joined the NGLCC "just like we joined a number of other groups representing all parts of the spectrum of our customers." Do Christian-owned businesses get a break? Not that we know of.
* "In an unprecedented push, Wal-Mart Stores has hired a gay-marketing shop, joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and begun discussions with activist groups about extending domestic-partnership benefits to its employees." Advertising Age, August 24, 2006.
* "The expectation is that Wal-Mart will encourage their core suppliers – the P&G’s, the Johnson & Johnson’s and the Gillette’s – to also diversify their revenue streams to include LGBT businesses." Justin Nelson, NGLCC president, Advertising Age, August 24, 2006.
* "As a part of the agreement, Wal-Mart will pay $25,000 to NGLCC and has agreed to sponsor two of NGLCC’s annual conferences." Cybercast News Service, August 29, 2006.
* "No longer is just marketing to the LGBT segment enough. No longer is having a corporate nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation enough. If a company is truly committed to being a good corporate citizen in the LGBT space as they are with other diverse communities, then they need to buy back and invest in LGBT communityowned businesses." NGLCC release, August 22, 2006.
* As a current (and perhaps future) Wal-Mart shopper, I urge the company to reverse course and to stop promoting homosexuality. It is not compassionate to promote something that is wrong, unhealthy and bad for individuals, families and communities.
----- 8 -----
CWA’s Crouse Sees Good and Bad News in New Public Education Policy
Concerned Women for America
10/25/2006
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11684/MEDIA/education/index.htm
Washington, D.C. –– Some people are calling an announcement today from the United States Department of Education the most significant policy change in public education since Title IX, which went into effect in 1972 to ban sex discrimination in schools that receive federal funding. The new federal rules –– which will go into effect November 24 –– will allow single-sex public education with two stipulations: (1) enrollment must be voluntary, and (2) options of “substantially equal” quality must be available for those ineligible for the new single-sex schools or classes.
[More at URL]
----- 9 -----
Should the Church Take Political Action?
Canada Family Action Coalition
Two paragraph quote from author John Stott
27 October 2006
http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/churchcorner/political-action.htm
"However, even when we have done our homework and discussed, debated and prayed together, we need to ask, “On whose shoulders does political responsibility rest?” Failure to ask and answer this question is one of the main reasons for the current confusion over Christian political involvement. We need to distinguish between Christian individuals, groups and churches. All individual Christians should be politically active in the sense that, as conscientious citizens, they will vote in elections, inform themselves about contemporary issues, share in the public debate, and perhaps write to a newspaper, lobby their member of parliament or congress or take part in a demonstration. Further, some individuals are called by God to give their lives to political service, in either local or national government. Christians who share particular moral and social concerns should be encouraged to form or join groups which will study issues at a deeper level and take appropriate action. In some cases these will be exclusively Christian groups; in others Christians will want to contribute their biblical perspective to mixed groups, whether in a political party, a trade union or a professional association.
[More at URL]
----- 10 -----
Canada's Same-Sex Marriage Law - The Case for Review
Institute for Canadian Values
Online as of 27 October 2006
http://www.canadianvalues.ca/issues.aspx?aid=239
Later this fall (2006), in accordance with a promise made early in the last federal general election, the new Government of Canada under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper will introduce a Motion in the House of Commons asking Members of Parliament whether C-38 (officially the Civil Marriage Act of 2005), and the same-sex marriage policy it embodies, should be reviewed.
The purpose of this paper is to make a prima facie case only for holding such a review by identifying, and briefly discussing a number of issues in support thereof.
Click here to download the full document.
Please Note: This document is copyrighted to the Institute for Canadian Values. Permission is granted to reproduce and/or distribute this document in whole or in part on condition that proper and full attribution is included.
[Ed. Note: the paper's claims include the usuals: GBLT marriage violates the rights of people who oppose marriage for queers by not letting them stop queers from getting married; GBLT marriage is a slippery slope to polygamy; GBLT marriage will lead to the downfall of society in years to come, promoting alcoholism, child poverty, spousal abuse - which they imply via bad statistics abuse are much more likely in same-sex households; heterosexual couples need the protections and benefits of marriage and key to that is withholding those benefits from same-sex couples is vital to that cause; and so on.]
----- 11 -----
Teach sex and evolution or close, Quebec evangelical schools told
We teach 'a better theory,' unlicensed school says
Dave Rogers, with files from Chris Lackner and Joanne Laucius, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Tuesday, October 24, 2006
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=73dc97c9-2172-466d-b730-4d7d710e29fe
The Quebec ministry of education has told unlicensed Christian evangelical schools that they must teach Darwin's theory of evolution and sex education or close their doors after an Outaouais school board complained the provincial curriculum wasn't being followed.
"Quebec children are legally required to follow the provincial curriculum ... but these evangelical schools teach their own courses on creationism and sexuality that don't follow the Quebec curriculum," said Pierre Daoust, director general of the Commission Scolaire au Coeur-des-Vallees in Thurso, whose complaint sparked the provincewide investigation.
Quebec law requires school boards assure the ministry of education that every child between the ages six of and 16, with the exception of home-schooled children, receives an adequate education, he said.
But the roughly 15 elementary and high school students who attend a school operated by l'Eglise evangelique near Saint-Andre-Avellin are being educated according to a Bible-based curriculum and their diplomas will not be recognized anywhere in Canada.
[More at URL]
----- 12 -----
Institute releases discussion paper on impact of redefining marriage in Canada
Institute for Canadian Values
Date: Oct 23, 2006
http://canadianvalues.ca/news.aspx?aid=240
OTTAWA - The Institute for Canadian Values today released a discussion paper outlining a number of issues that have arisen as a consequence of passing legislation redefining marriage in Canada. The paper, entitled Canada's Same-Sex Marriage Law: The Case for Review calls on the government to study these issues and recommend to Parliament how best to deal with them.
"The purpose of this paper is not to advocate for the overturning of legislation, but rather, to make the case that there are problems with both it and the policies it embodies that need to be addressed in a formal, non-partisan setting," said Joseph Ben-Ami, Executive Director of the Institute.
Ben-Ami dismissed claims that the matter was already dealt with as "political posturing" aimed at silencing debate at the expense of good public policy.
"Our discussion paper deals with this mantra at some length," said Ben-Ami. "The fact is that Parliament studies existing policy and legislation all the time without special votes. It's part of what they do."
[More at URL]
----- 13 -----
Traditional Values Coalition Press Conference - TVC Urges Webb to Withdraw
TVC Urges Webb to Withdraw – TVC Executive Director Andrea Lafferty and a group of Virginia mothers will conduct a press conference at 2 p.m., today (Friday) in front of the Webb for Senate headquarters, 1916 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington.
CONTACT: April Waugh, (202) 547-8570
TVC CALLS FOR WEBB WITHDRAWAL,
CITES XXX-RATED WRITING IN NOVELS
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2910
Hypocrites Are Calling for Investigation of Perverts on One Side of Hill,
Trying to Elect Them on the Other
Washington, DC – The Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) called today for Virginia U.S. Senate candidate Jim Webb to withdraw from the race because of sexually-explicit writings he had done.
TVC Executive Director, Andrea Lafferty, said she was physically sickened by excerpts she read from Webb “fiction” books including one in which a father performs oral sex on his young son.
“Even as FBI agents are going through Mark Foley’s files on the House side,” Mrs. Lafferty said today at a press conference outside Mr. Webb’s campaign office, “Jim Webb who wrote all these vile sexual chapters in his books is trying to get into the Senate. These liberal hypocrites have no shame. Neither Foley nor Webb should be allowed anywhere near children or the United States Congress.”
[More at URL]
----- 14 -----
New Jersey Supreme Court Rules For/Against Same-Sex Marriage
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2909
October 26, 2006 – The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage should be legal in that state. The Court has ordered the state legislature to either revise its marriage laws to legalize homosexual marriage or create a separate legal institution like civil unions to provide homosexuals with the same benefits of traditional marriage.
The Court ordered the state legislature to come up with a solution within 180 days.
TVC has condemned this decision and issued the following press release:
[More at URL]
----- 15 -----
UK Homosexual Cops Run Ad Campaign Against Christians
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2903
October 26, 2006 – The Gay Police Association (GPA) in England is coming under criticism for airing an advertisement that links Christianity with hate crimes against homosexuals.
The GPA ad showed images of a Bible and a pool of blood under the headline, “in the name of the father.”
The ad prompted 553 protests against it to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
According to the ad, “In the last 12 months, the Gay Police Association has recorded a 74% increase in homophobic incidents, where the sole or primary motivating factor was the religious belief of the perpetrator.”
LifeLeague, Christian Watch, The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches and the Trinitarian Bible Society were among those who complained about the ad.
The ASA investigated the ad and found it had violated advertising standards. “This is our most complained-about advert of the year so far. People thought it was portraying Christianity in a bad light.”
The ASA said the homosexual police group did not provide evidence that backed up their claim that a 74% rise in homophobic incidents were driven by religious belief. In addition, the ad didn’t distinguish between violent crimes and criticism of homosexual conduct.
The GPA claimed that 25% of the crimes were by Muslims; the remaining were Christians. Homosexual activist groups are supporting the GPA’s anti-Christian ad. Scotland Yard may investigate the ad as a “faith crime.”
[More at URL]
----- 16 -----
NEW JERSEY JUDGES DISTORT MARRIAGE, IGNORE WILL OF THE GOVERNED
Underscores Urgency of a U.S. Constitutional Amendment
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2902
October 25, 2006 - Washington, DC -- The Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) called today's New Jersey court decision "another example of a court overstepping its authority and ordering a legislature to enact a law within a certain timetable."
In a 4 to 3 decision, the court ruled that "committed same-sex couples must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples under the civil marriage statutes. The name to be given to the statutory scheme that provides full rights and benefits to same-sex couples, whether marriage or some other term, is a matter left to the democratic process." The court established a 180 day deadline for the New Jersey legislature to enact legislation which conforms to its decision.
"Like the earlier Massachusetts decision, the New Jersey court seeks to thwart the will of the people by imagining new rights," said TVC Chairman, Rev. Louis P. Sheldon. "It just underscores the urgency for Congress to enact an amendment which defines marriage and consequently bans homosexual "marriages" of every form."
"The present federal marriage amendment attempts to play word games by trading civil unions for marriage. Civil unions are synonymous with marriage and everyone knows it so this legislation is going nowhere fast. The Congress needs to enact a real marriage protection amendment and then give it to the states for a vote.
"Today's decision is another attempt by the liberal judiciary to shout down the voices and votes of the American people. Congress needs to act immediately!"
TVC Executive Director, Andrea Lafferty, called the decision "more judicial bullying."
[More at URL]
----- 17 -----
N.J. boost for gay couples buoys GOP
Wednesday's ruling in favor of full legal rights for gay couples may galvanize certain voters.
By Alexandra Marks | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1027/p01s01-uspo.htm
NEW YORK
The political fallout from Wednesday's New Jersey Supreme Court ruling in favor of full rights for gay couples could ripple far beyond the borders of the Garden State.
With control of the House and Senate at stake in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, Republican leaders are hoping the ruling will give their wavering conservative base - who would see the court's move as another attack on traditional marriage - a reason to go to the polls.
The New Jersey outcome could suddenly give impetus to voters in eight states where the ballot includes measures to ban gay marriage. In some of these states - Tennessee and Virginia, especially - the races for Senate seats are too close to call. Others, namely Arizona and Colorado, have hotly contested House races that may give a boost to Republican candidates.
The ruling, which found that gay couples in New Jersey are entitled to the same legal and financial protections as heterosexual couples, could tip the national balance, many political analysts say.
"The Republicans are thrilled and the Democrats are furious with those judges, and that tells me all I need to know," says Larry Sabato, a political analyst at the University of Virginia. "Both sides understand this is a boost for Republican turnout among social conservatives, many of whom were very discouraged and probably were not going to vote because of the [Mark] Foley scandal and Iraq."
[More at URL]
----- 18 -----
Wal-Mart Rolls Out Red Carpet For Homosexual Marriage
Let Wal-Mart know their embracement of homosexuality and the push for homosexual marriage is a bad business decision.
American Family Association
Online as of 29 October 2006
http://www.afa.net/Petitions/IssueDetail.asp?id=220
When Wal-Mart announced their support for the homosexual agenda a few weeks ago, they meant what they said. You will remember that Wal-Mart asked for, and received, permission to join the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). The company announced they were giving two large grants to NGLCC. The world's largest retailer was rewarded with a position on the board of NGLCC. Wal-Mart also announced they would give preference to homosexual-owned businesses in purchasing products.
The NGLCC is a leading promoter of homosexual marriage.
A quick search for books sold by Wal-Mart found the following related to the promotion of homosexual marriage:
[More at URL]
----- 19 -----
Conservatives Blast NJ High Court's Homosexual Marriage Ruling
By Jim Brown
American Family Association/Agape Press
October 27, 2006
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006a.asp
WASHINGTON, DC (AgapePress) - A U.S. senator and other conservatives are condemning an October 25 ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court that mandates same-sex unions. The court ruled Wednesday that homosexual couples are entitled to the same marriage rights and protections afforded their heterosexual counterparts.
The New Jersey high court has given the State Legislature six months to decide whether to recognize same-sex "marriage" or to create civil unions for homosexuals in that state. Kansas Senator Sam Brownback says he finds it troubling that an "activist" judiciary is forcing lawmakers to take action on a major social issue, based on the notion that same-sex couples have an equal "right" to the benefits of marriage.
[...]
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council agrees, noting that the New Jersey ruling "should serve as a wakeup call for those who believe marriage does not need federal protection." He insists that the nation "must have a U.S. constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman" if those seeking to redefine that institution are to be thwarted.
[More at URL]
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Commentary & News Briefs
October 27, 2006
Compiled by Jody Brown
American Family Association/Agape Press
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006h.asp
...A Tennessee church's 150 members are boycotting Wal-Mart because of the discount retailer's affiliation with a pro-homosexual business coalition. In August, Wal-Mart became a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). That prompted Trinity Family Church of Columbia, Tennessee, to urge members to shop elsewhere because the NGLCC supports homosexual "marriage." A proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is on the November ballot in Tennessee. Pastor Carol Jacobs says the church had been spending thousands of dollars at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club for supplies but will not do so anymore. A Wal-Mart spokesman says the retailer is "reaching out to a number of groups" and will "welcome and serve all customers with respect and without discrimination." [AP]
[...]
...Florida's Supreme Court has decided that it lacks authority to consider a Wiccan group's challenge to a state sales tax exemption for Bibles and other religious items. The court earlier had agreed to take the case and even heard oral arguments. But it now says there is not any conflict in lower-court decisions to be worked out. The Wiccan Religious Cooperative of Florida had appealed a ruling that it lacked standing to challenge the tax exemption for religious items as a violation of separation of church and state. Two religious publications -- The Florida Catholic and The Florida Baptist Witnesses -- had joined the state in defending the exemptions. [AP]
----- 21 -----
Proponent of Public School Exit Strategy Stresses Christian Parents' Responsibility
By Allie Martin
October 27, 2006
American Family Association/Agape Press
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006c.asp
(AgapePress) - Resolutions supporting an exit strategy from public schools have been submitted in every Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) state and regional convention in the continental United States. The resolution is based on a recommendation by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler.
Mohler wrote in an article that because of the spiritual, moral, and academic decay that increasingly characterizes U.S. public schools, Southern Baptists should develop a plan for taking their children out of government schools. Roger Moran, a member of the SBC Executive Committee, helped draft the resolution based on the seminary president's suggestions.
[More at URL]
----- 22 -----
Evolutionists Love 'Lucy,' But AIG Calls Fossil Tour Anti-Creationist Hype
By Jeff Johnson
October 27, 2006
American Family Association/Agape Press
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006d.asp
(AgapePress) - Many American scientists are excited that "Lucy," an allegedly 3.2-million-year-old skeleton, will be coming to the United States next year. Creationists, however, are predicting that Lucy's tour will be much more about promoting the theory of evolution than about expanding real scientific knowledge.
Associated Press news reports announcing Lucy's visit state as fact that the fossilized remains are between three and four million years old and that "debate" still rages about how close an ancestor to man Lucy would be. But Ken Ham, president of the biblical creationist group Answers in Genesis, says those reports are only the beginning of Lucy's anti-creationism tour.
[More at URL]
----- 23 -----
Ohio voter guide available from the Ohio Christian Alliance
Family Research Council
October 24, 2006 - Tuesday
Ohio (more on this state)
Forward to a Friend!
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AL06J09&f=PG03I03
The Ohio Christian Alliance has put together an excellent resource for the citizens of Ohio for the upcoming election. This resource gives you the facts on where the candidates running for Senate and for Governor stand on the issues that we are all concerned about. This voter guide is 501(c)(3) compliant so it is perfectly legal for distribution in all of your churches. We encourage you to print out as many copies as you need from their website and to use it as a bulletin insert at your church.
There is much at stake in the upcoming election nationally and in Ohio and we are thankful that the Ohio Christian Alliance has put together a clear and concise voter guide that will equip the voters to make an informed and confident decision in November.
We thank you for you help in defending marriage and family in the state of Ohio. Please forward this email to your friends and family and encourage them to vote this November.
To view or print copies of the 2006 voter guide go to: http://ohioca.org/VoterGuides/2006/2006-vg-8b.pdf
----- 24 -----
New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Legislature Hostage On Marriage
Family Research Council
October 25, 2006 - Wednesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2006 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Bethanie Swendsen, (866) FRC-NEWS
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR06J10&f=PG03I03
"The legislature should ignore this ruling and follow the lead of 20 other states that have already passed marriage amendments," says FRC's Tony Perkins
WASHINGTON D.C. -- Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins released the following statement in response to the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling on same-sex "marriage."
"Today's decision should give momentum to the eight states with marriage protection amendments on the November ballot. By mandating that the New Jersey legislature enact same-sex 'marriage' or civil unions, the Court ignores the unique benefits of marriage between one man and one woman. Society gives benefits to marriage because marriage gives benefits to society. This decision is out of step with the recent string of court decisions upholding the rational basis for traditional marriage in promoting the well-being of children.
"This ruling gives the legislature the non-choice of creating same-sex 'marriage' or marriage of the same-sex by civil unions. This is nothing more than an act of veiled judicial activism. As in Massachusetts and Vermont, the New Jersey Supreme Court has acted as a super-legislature imposing their will on the people of New Jersey. The legislature should ignore this ruling and follow the lead of 20 other states that have already passed marriage amendments."
----- 25 -----
FRC Action Urges New Jersey Legislature To Protect Marriage
Family Research Council
October 26, 2006 - Thursday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 26, 2006 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy, (866) FRC-NEWS
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR06J12&f=PG03I03
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday the New Jersey Supreme Court demanded that the state legislature grant same-sex couples the legal rights and benefits traditionally bestowed upon the marital union of one man and one woman. Connie Mackey, Senior Vice President of FRC Action, issued the following statement:
"Yesterday's decision propels the state of New Jersey into the same legal chaos experienced by various other states across the country, including Hawaii, Vermont and Massachusetts. It follows the pattern of homosexual activists who witness their radical agenda defeated at the ballot box yet advanced by activist judges. The irony is that in their victory they admit defeat.
"This decision will only energize conservative voters across the country, especially those in eight states with ballot initiatives to protect marriage. Voters have been reminded yet again that without a constitutional amendment preserving marriage, a single judge somewhere will redefine marriage against the will of the vast majority everywhere.
"Since a similar ruling came down in Massachusetts, pro-family forces in twenty states allowed the people a voice in this debate. In those twenty states, the people voted overwhelmingly in favor of traditional marriage. Now that's a victory. I call upon the New Jersey state legislature to do the same."
To schedule an interview with Connie Mackey please contact the
FRC Action press office at (866) FRC-NEWS
----- 26 -----
Vote on marriage in eight states critical following NJ Supreme Court Ruling
Family Research Council
October 26, 2006 - Thursday
Arizona (more on this state)
Forward to a Friend!
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AL06J10&f=PG03I03
On November 7, marriage amendments will be on the ballot in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
There is desperate need for passage of marriage amendments in these 8 states codifying marriage between one man and one woman. This was evident yesterday following the ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court that mandated that the legislature find a way to grant the benefits of marriage to same sex couples. Such reckless and irresponsible rulings by judges from Massachusetts to Hawaii highlight the need for constitutional amendments to protect marriage. Momentum was in favor of traditional marriage when recent court rulings in New York and Georgia had upheld marriage. Unfortunately, New Jersey will now join Massachusetts which allows same-sex 'marriage' and Vermont, which permits civil unions.
Voters in twenty states have already added marriage protection amendments to their constitutions. Values voters must rally to the polls on November 7 to protect marriage!
And now, more news...
Australian Muslim fundamentalist cleric calls women "uncovered meat" - but more offensively, it's part of a broader statement less well publicised where he blames the victims of gang-rapes for being raped, asserted they were at fault for not wearing the hijab;
Concerned Women for America: evangelical leaders endorsing action to limit global warming are part of a secret plot to promote abortion-on-demand;
CWA: GBLT marriage bans aren't discrimination since queers are free to marry people of the opposite gender. Presumably this is just like how banning the Star of David wouldn't be religious discrimination since Jews would be free to wear any crucifix they desired;
CWA: Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote GOP;
CWA rails against Cargill for firing an anti-marriage activist employee; the company claims it was for insubordination (harassment of other employees, removing his anti-marriage sign from his truck then putting it back on) but CWA is working to make him into a martyr against t3h gay;
CWA condemn New Jersey ruling, saying it "uproots marriage" by saying GBLT couples qualify under state equal-protection law and must be granted the benefits of civil marriage, though leaving it up to the legislature to figure out how;
CWA condemns Wal-Mart for "promoting homosexuality" by becoming a corporate member of a national gay and lesbian chamber of commerce organisation; again, just being in business is evil if you're t3h gay; amoungst CWA worries is that Wal-Mart may begin buying from GBLT-owned survivors, and claims that Wal-Mart will stop doing business with companies which discriminate against GBLT people;
CWA pushes gender-segregation in schools;
Canada Family Action Coalition tries to lay the groundwork for more church involvement in politics;
Institute for Canadian Values publishes anti-marriage-rights paper, as part of the groundwork for overturning C-38, the law which brought GBLT citizens into Canadian marriage law; the paper's claims include the usuals: GBLT marriage violates the rights of people who oppose marriage for queers by not letting them stop queers from getting married; GBLT marriage is a slippery slope to polygamy; GBLT marriage will lead to the downfall of society in years to come, promoting alcoholism, child poverty, spousal abuse, which they imply via bad statistics abuse are much more likely in same-sex households; heterosexual couples need the protections and benefits of marriage and key to that is withholding those benefits from same-sex couples is vital to that cause; and so on;
An earlier CWU - I think I included this - included a small article about fundamentalist evangelical protestant schools in Quebec operating unlicensed; apparently that got some notice because now there's a move to bring them into compliance with Canadian educational rules; the big fights are over evolutionary theory and sex education;
Institute for Canadian Values press release on their paper "on impact of redefining marriage in Canada";
Traditional Values Coalition demands Virginia Senate candidate Jim Webb withdraw from the race over the content of novels he wrote;
TVC: New Jersey Supreme Court ruling condemned, calls for Federal anti-marriage amendment;
Gay police organisation in the UK runs ads against hate crimes upsurge led by anti-gay fundamentalists (25% Muslim, 75% Christian); UK evangelical groups invoke hate speech laws and are calling for an investigation by Scotland Yard for "portraying Christianity in a bad light";
TVC condemns New Jersey ruling again;
Christian Science Monitor: New Jersey ruling will boost GOP base and chances in this election;
American Family Association ACTION ITEM against Wal-Mart for joining the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and for carrying books which talk about GBLT marriage in a favourable light; the demand is to stop "promoting" GBLT marriage - which presumably means not carrying any of the books in question and dropping the NGLCC membership;
AFA, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS, a theocon favourite for President), Family Research Council all condemn New Jersey supreme court ruling;
Tennessee church starts Wal-Mart boycott over their NGLCC membership and "promotion of homosexuality"; I rather expect this'll turn into an AFA boycott at some point, but hard to say; also, Florida upholds its sales-tax exemption for the Bible that does not apply to Wiccan religious documents;
AFA article on the ongoing attempt to get fundamentalists to abandon the public school system en masse; apparently there will be another reintroduction of the resolution at the Southern Baptist Convention national conference in 2007;
AFA condemns natural history tour featuring the "Lucy" find as "anti-Creationist hype";
Family Research Council promotes the Ohio Christian Alliance's endorsement sheet;
Family Research Council: New Jersey must react to Supreme Court ruling by banning marriage for queers - presumably via constitutional amendment;
FRC second press release urging New Jersey to ban GBLT marriage;
FRC ACTION ITEM to ban GBLT marriage rights in the eight states which have anti-marriage amendments on the ballot this fall.
----- 1 -----
Outrage as Muslim cleric likens women to 'uncovered meat'
By RICHARD SHEARS
Last updated at 16:10pm on 26th October 2006
Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=412697&in_page_id=1770
A Muslim cleric's claim that women who do not wear the veil are like 'uncovered meat' who attract sexual predators sparked outrage around Australia yesterday.
Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, the nation's most senior Muslim cleric, compared immodestly-dressed women who do not wear the Islamic headdress with meat that is left uncovered in the street and is then eaten by cats.
[...]
In a Ramadam sermon in a Sydney mosque, Sheik al-Hilali suggested that a group of Muslim men recently jailed for many years for gang rapes were not entirely to blame.
There were women, he said, who 'sway suggestively' and wore make-up and immodest dress "and then you get a judge without mercy and gives you 65 years. But the problem, but the problem all began with who?" he said, referring to the women victims.
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
ECI: Evangelical Christians Impolitic?
The Hewlett Foundation's answer to global warming? Abort babies.
Concerned Women for America
10/27/2006
By Lindsay Randall
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11711/CWA/life/index.htm
In February, 85 prominent evangelicals signed the "Evangelical Climate Initiative" (ECI), which is the "Christian" response to the supposed global warming problem. The document claims that "climate change is happening and is being caused mainly by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels." The ECI predicts that "millions of people could die in this century because of climate change." Today, with a total of 97 signatures, this initiative includes mega-church pastor and author Rick Warren, former President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) Leith Anderson, and Christianity Today editor David Neff.
Interestingly, one of the biggest donors to the ECI is the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, known for its unabashed and overt support for abortion. The willingness of the Hewlett Foundation to contribute $475,000 to an evangelical initiative begs the question, "Why?" Would the Hewlett Foundation fund an evangelical initiative without trying to further its own agenda in the process?
A recent report, jointly released by the respected Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD) and the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty (AI), posits that the real motivation behind the Hewlett Foundation's contribution is to promote population control and abortion-on-demand.
[More at URL]
----- 3 -----
Virginia's Marriage Amendment Preserves Equal Rights
Concerned Women for America
10/26/2006
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11705/LEGAL/legalother/index.htm
a4marriage.org Press Conference Statement
Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel
Concerned Women for America
October 26, 2006
The Virginia Marriage Amendment, Question Number 1 on the November 7 ballot, like the Virginia Constitution, guarantees equal rights for all Virginians. The Amendment preserves the constitutional right of the people of Virginia to decide the vital public policy issue of marriage, rather than having it decided by unelected judges as happened in Massachusetts in 2003, Vermont in 1999 and yesterday in New Jersey.
The Amendment, like the current Virginia law enacted in 1997, defines marriage as solely between one man and one woman. The Amendment preserves the equal right of every Virginian to marry subject to conditions such as age, current marital status and consanguinity. Neither current law nor the Amendment discriminates on the basis of sex or "sexual orientation."
The second section of the Amendment, like the current Virginia law enacted in 2004, prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions to create, recognize or confer legal status, rights, benefits or obligations of marriage on relationships of unmarried persons that intend to approximate marriage by another name.
[Ed. note: note the repeat of the "queers are free to marry the opposite sex so this isn't discrimination" argument again. Presumably this is just like how banning the Star of David wouldn't be religious discrimination since Jews would be free to wear any crucifix they desired.]
[More at URL]
----- 4 -----
Why Attack the Values Voters?
Are evangelicals willing to be used as pawns?
Concerned Women for America
10/25/2006
By Janice Shaw Crouse
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11690/BLI/dotcommentary/index.htm
Who will go to the polls and vote on November 7? According to the mainstream media, it won't be values voters. The media's mantra about social conservatives being disillusioned - a psychological ploy as obvious as Tom Sawyer's fence painting scheme - has become tiresome; their blatant efforts to discourage the values voters base and keep enough of them away from the voting booths to tip a close election is disgustingly manipulative. It is win-at-any-cost dirty politics with not a whit of concern for the health of American democracy.
If the left's tired demagoguery succeeds, freedom and democracy will be diminished in America.
[...]
True believers make unbelievers uncomfortable; and not just uncomfortable, but angry. Witness the left's efforts to tear down those who strive to live by Biblical principles. Witness the attempts at character assassination of anyone who takes a strong moral stance on social issues. It doesn't matter that those who hold to traditional values and strong ethical and moral stances tend to be gracious and kind [though not always] toward those who hold divergent views.
[More at URL]
----- 5 -----
Only Left Wing Turkeys at Cargill
Cargill fires employee who supports Virginia's marriage amendment.
Concerned Women for America
10/24/2006
By Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11680/LEGAL/family/index.htm
It's gotten even shadier at "Shady Brook Farms," and we thought you'd want to know about it before you bag your Thanksgiving turkey. Cargill, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, markets a host of products including "Shady Brook Farms" turkeys. The Cargill facility in Harrisonburg, Virginia fired Luis Padilla because of a bumper sticker on his truck. Apparently, only birds of a favored feather flock together at Shady Brook Farms.
[...]
Padilla, a married father of two children from Honduras, is in the United States on a work permit. And like millions of turkey-eating Americans, Padilla believes that marriage should be one man and one woman, a tradition that pre-dates Thanksgiving by several thousand years. What turkey doesn't know that?
So Padilla exercised his First Amendment right to encourage his fellow Virginians to support Virginia's marriage amendment on the November 7 ballot. He has a bumper sticker on his truck, "Vote Yes 4 Marriage." He also wrote "Please vote for marriage on Nov. 7" on the rear window of his truck.
[Ed. Note: See earlier CWUs for details, but the issue has been that 1. it wasn't a bumper sticker, it was a very large sign across the back of the truck window; headlining it as a "bumper sticker" is an attempt to portray the company as brooking no statement whatsoever; also, according to the company, he was fired for being insubordinate - agreeing to remove the sign, then putting it back up, and so on. I don't know the details as the non-fundamentalist press hasn't really been covering it.]
[More at URL]
----- 6 -----
New Jersey High Court Uproots Marriage
CWA says “extreme” ruling is out of step with the law and the people
Concerned Women for America
10/25/2006
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11689/MEDIA/family/index.htm
Washington, D.C. − Concerned Women for America (CWA) criticized the New Jersey Supreme Court today for finding a so-called “right” to same-sex marriage in the state constitution, a ruling that CWA’s Chief Counsel Jan LaRue says “essentially mirrors what the Vermont Supreme Court did in 1999.”
In today’s 4-3 decision, the Garden State’s highest court went against two lower courts and the will of the people by siding with seven homosexual couples who were refused marriage licenses and alleged that this violated the New Jersey state constitution. By ruling in favor of these couples, the court ruled against preserving the most fundamental institution in our society: one-man, one-woman marriage.
"This is a textbook example of agenda-driven judges who are willing to twist their state laws and invade the province of the legislative branch in order to force same-sex 'marriage' on the people of New Jersey," LaRue said. “The court snubbed its nose at 28 separate statute sections that include a specific reference to either the term 'married woman' and a 'married man' or to the term 'husband and wife.' Because New Jersey has no residency requirement for marriage, if the legislature caves in to the court, it could open the door for lawsuits challenging every state’s marriage law."
“New Jersey has now given citizens greater reason to vote on November 7 to protect marriage in the 8 states with referendums on the ballot,” said Wendy Wright, CWA’s President. “The New Jersey Supreme Court has distinguished itself once again for imposing its own form of discrimination by arrogantly declaring that a woman is not needed to make a marriage, or that a man is not.
“The thirty-year experiment of treating marriage as expendable, by making divorce easy and children fatherless, has proven to be a disaster for women, children and society. This should provide enough evidence for courts and legislators to quit abusing marriage by pretending it is less important or demanding than it is. It’s utter discrimination to claim a woman is unnecessary, or a man is unnecessary, to make a marriage. We should not be forced, or children subjected to, another social experiment with marriage simply to make individuals personally satisfied.”
For Information Contact:
Stacey Holliday
(202) 488-7000
media.cwfa.org
[More at URL]
----- 7 -----
Why Is Wal-Mart Promoting Homosexuality?
A handout to protest Wal-Mart's promotion of homosexuality
Concerned Women for America
9/21/2006
By Sfaff
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11548/CWA/family/index.htm
Millions of American families shop at Wal-Mart, which until now had a pro-family reputation. But recent events indicate that the company has chosen sides in the culture war, and is promoting homosexuality, including groups that favor “gay marriage.”
If this trend continues, employees who believe in God, marriage and traditional morality eventually will face discrimination.
Wal-Mart suppliers owned by people who hold traditional values will face loss of contracts if they don’t endorse immoral behavior.
Link to PDF
[Contents of PDF:]
Why Is Wal-Mart Promoting Homosexuality?
Millions of American families shop at Wal-Mart, which until now had a pro-family reputation. But recent events indicate that the company has chosen sides in the culture war, and is promoting homosexuality, including groups that favor “gay marriage.”
If this trend continues, employees who believe in God, marriage and traditional morality eventually will face discrimination. Wal-Mart suppliers owned by people who hold traditional values will face loss of contracts if they don’t endorse immoral behavior. This is very serious, and Wal-Mart needs to know that a growing number of people are viewing it as hostile to people of faith.
On August 21, 2006 the “National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce,” NGLCC, announced it was partnering with Wal-Mart.
* "Bob McAdam, vice president of corporate affairs with Wal-Mart, told Cybercast News Service that the world’s largest retail company joined the NGLCC "just like we joined a number of other groups representing all parts of the spectrum of our customers." Do Christian-owned businesses get a break? Not that we know of.
* "In an unprecedented push, Wal-Mart Stores has hired a gay-marketing shop, joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and begun discussions with activist groups about extending domestic-partnership benefits to its employees." Advertising Age, August 24, 2006.
* "The expectation is that Wal-Mart will encourage their core suppliers – the P&G’s, the Johnson & Johnson’s and the Gillette’s – to also diversify their revenue streams to include LGBT businesses." Justin Nelson, NGLCC president, Advertising Age, August 24, 2006.
* "As a part of the agreement, Wal-Mart will pay $25,000 to NGLCC and has agreed to sponsor two of NGLCC’s annual conferences." Cybercast News Service, August 29, 2006.
* "No longer is just marketing to the LGBT segment enough. No longer is having a corporate nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation enough. If a company is truly committed to being a good corporate citizen in the LGBT space as they are with other diverse communities, then they need to buy back and invest in LGBT communityowned businesses." NGLCC release, August 22, 2006.
* As a current (and perhaps future) Wal-Mart shopper, I urge the company to reverse course and to stop promoting homosexuality. It is not compassionate to promote something that is wrong, unhealthy and bad for individuals, families and communities.
----- 8 -----
CWA’s Crouse Sees Good and Bad News in New Public Education Policy
Concerned Women for America
10/25/2006
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11684/MEDIA/education/index.htm
Washington, D.C. –– Some people are calling an announcement today from the United States Department of Education the most significant policy change in public education since Title IX, which went into effect in 1972 to ban sex discrimination in schools that receive federal funding. The new federal rules –– which will go into effect November 24 –– will allow single-sex public education with two stipulations: (1) enrollment must be voluntary, and (2) options of “substantially equal” quality must be available for those ineligible for the new single-sex schools or classes.
[More at URL]
----- 9 -----
Should the Church Take Political Action?
Canada Family Action Coalition
Two paragraph quote from author John Stott
27 October 2006
http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/churchcorner/political-action.htm
"However, even when we have done our homework and discussed, debated and prayed together, we need to ask, “On whose shoulders does political responsibility rest?” Failure to ask and answer this question is one of the main reasons for the current confusion over Christian political involvement. We need to distinguish between Christian individuals, groups and churches. All individual Christians should be politically active in the sense that, as conscientious citizens, they will vote in elections, inform themselves about contemporary issues, share in the public debate, and perhaps write to a newspaper, lobby their member of parliament or congress or take part in a demonstration. Further, some individuals are called by God to give their lives to political service, in either local or national government. Christians who share particular moral and social concerns should be encouraged to form or join groups which will study issues at a deeper level and take appropriate action. In some cases these will be exclusively Christian groups; in others Christians will want to contribute their biblical perspective to mixed groups, whether in a political party, a trade union or a professional association.
[More at URL]
----- 10 -----
Canada's Same-Sex Marriage Law - The Case for Review
Institute for Canadian Values
Online as of 27 October 2006
http://www.canadianvalues.ca/issues.aspx?aid=239
Later this fall (2006), in accordance with a promise made early in the last federal general election, the new Government of Canada under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper will introduce a Motion in the House of Commons asking Members of Parliament whether C-38 (officially the Civil Marriage Act of 2005), and the same-sex marriage policy it embodies, should be reviewed.
The purpose of this paper is to make a prima facie case only for holding such a review by identifying, and briefly discussing a number of issues in support thereof.
Click here to download the full document.
Please Note: This document is copyrighted to the Institute for Canadian Values. Permission is granted to reproduce and/or distribute this document in whole or in part on condition that proper and full attribution is included.
[Ed. Note: the paper's claims include the usuals: GBLT marriage violates the rights of people who oppose marriage for queers by not letting them stop queers from getting married; GBLT marriage is a slippery slope to polygamy; GBLT marriage will lead to the downfall of society in years to come, promoting alcoholism, child poverty, spousal abuse - which they imply via bad statistics abuse are much more likely in same-sex households; heterosexual couples need the protections and benefits of marriage and key to that is withholding those benefits from same-sex couples is vital to that cause; and so on.]
----- 11 -----
Teach sex and evolution or close, Quebec evangelical schools told
We teach 'a better theory,' unlicensed school says
Dave Rogers, with files from Chris Lackner and Joanne Laucius, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Tuesday, October 24, 2006
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=73dc97c9-2172-466d-b730-4d7d710e29fe
The Quebec ministry of education has told unlicensed Christian evangelical schools that they must teach Darwin's theory of evolution and sex education or close their doors after an Outaouais school board complained the provincial curriculum wasn't being followed.
"Quebec children are legally required to follow the provincial curriculum ... but these evangelical schools teach their own courses on creationism and sexuality that don't follow the Quebec curriculum," said Pierre Daoust, director general of the Commission Scolaire au Coeur-des-Vallees in Thurso, whose complaint sparked the provincewide investigation.
Quebec law requires school boards assure the ministry of education that every child between the ages six of and 16, with the exception of home-schooled children, receives an adequate education, he said.
But the roughly 15 elementary and high school students who attend a school operated by l'Eglise evangelique near Saint-Andre-Avellin are being educated according to a Bible-based curriculum and their diplomas will not be recognized anywhere in Canada.
[More at URL]
----- 12 -----
Institute releases discussion paper on impact of redefining marriage in Canada
Institute for Canadian Values
Date: Oct 23, 2006
http://canadianvalues.ca/news.aspx?aid=240
OTTAWA - The Institute for Canadian Values today released a discussion paper outlining a number of issues that have arisen as a consequence of passing legislation redefining marriage in Canada. The paper, entitled Canada's Same-Sex Marriage Law: The Case for Review calls on the government to study these issues and recommend to Parliament how best to deal with them.
"The purpose of this paper is not to advocate for the overturning of legislation, but rather, to make the case that there are problems with both it and the policies it embodies that need to be addressed in a formal, non-partisan setting," said Joseph Ben-Ami, Executive Director of the Institute.
Ben-Ami dismissed claims that the matter was already dealt with as "political posturing" aimed at silencing debate at the expense of good public policy.
"Our discussion paper deals with this mantra at some length," said Ben-Ami. "The fact is that Parliament studies existing policy and legislation all the time without special votes. It's part of what they do."
[More at URL]
----- 13 -----
Traditional Values Coalition Press Conference - TVC Urges Webb to Withdraw
TVC Urges Webb to Withdraw – TVC Executive Director Andrea Lafferty and a group of Virginia mothers will conduct a press conference at 2 p.m., today (Friday) in front of the Webb for Senate headquarters, 1916 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington.
CONTACT: April Waugh, (202) 547-8570
TVC CALLS FOR WEBB WITHDRAWAL,
CITES XXX-RATED WRITING IN NOVELS
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2910
Hypocrites Are Calling for Investigation of Perverts on One Side of Hill,
Trying to Elect Them on the Other
Washington, DC – The Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) called today for Virginia U.S. Senate candidate Jim Webb to withdraw from the race because of sexually-explicit writings he had done.
TVC Executive Director, Andrea Lafferty, said she was physically sickened by excerpts she read from Webb “fiction” books including one in which a father performs oral sex on his young son.
“Even as FBI agents are going through Mark Foley’s files on the House side,” Mrs. Lafferty said today at a press conference outside Mr. Webb’s campaign office, “Jim Webb who wrote all these vile sexual chapters in his books is trying to get into the Senate. These liberal hypocrites have no shame. Neither Foley nor Webb should be allowed anywhere near children or the United States Congress.”
[More at URL]
----- 14 -----
New Jersey Supreme Court Rules For/Against Same-Sex Marriage
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2909
October 26, 2006 – The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage should be legal in that state. The Court has ordered the state legislature to either revise its marriage laws to legalize homosexual marriage or create a separate legal institution like civil unions to provide homosexuals with the same benefits of traditional marriage.
The Court ordered the state legislature to come up with a solution within 180 days.
TVC has condemned this decision and issued the following press release:
[More at URL]
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UK Homosexual Cops Run Ad Campaign Against Christians
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2903
October 26, 2006 – The Gay Police Association (GPA) in England is coming under criticism for airing an advertisement that links Christianity with hate crimes against homosexuals.
The GPA ad showed images of a Bible and a pool of blood under the headline, “in the name of the father.”
The ad prompted 553 protests against it to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
According to the ad, “In the last 12 months, the Gay Police Association has recorded a 74% increase in homophobic incidents, where the sole or primary motivating factor was the religious belief of the perpetrator.”
LifeLeague, Christian Watch, The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches and the Trinitarian Bible Society were among those who complained about the ad.
The ASA investigated the ad and found it had violated advertising standards. “This is our most complained-about advert of the year so far. People thought it was portraying Christianity in a bad light.”
The ASA said the homosexual police group did not provide evidence that backed up their claim that a 74% rise in homophobic incidents were driven by religious belief. In addition, the ad didn’t distinguish between violent crimes and criticism of homosexual conduct.
The GPA claimed that 25% of the crimes were by Muslims; the remaining were Christians. Homosexual activist groups are supporting the GPA’s anti-Christian ad. Scotland Yard may investigate the ad as a “faith crime.”
[More at URL]
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NEW JERSEY JUDGES DISTORT MARRIAGE, IGNORE WILL OF THE GOVERNED
Underscores Urgency of a U.S. Constitutional Amendment
Traditional Values Coalition
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2902
October 25, 2006 - Washington, DC -- The Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) called today's New Jersey court decision "another example of a court overstepping its authority and ordering a legislature to enact a law within a certain timetable."
In a 4 to 3 decision, the court ruled that "committed same-sex couples must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples under the civil marriage statutes. The name to be given to the statutory scheme that provides full rights and benefits to same-sex couples, whether marriage or some other term, is a matter left to the democratic process." The court established a 180 day deadline for the New Jersey legislature to enact legislation which conforms to its decision.
"Like the earlier Massachusetts decision, the New Jersey court seeks to thwart the will of the people by imagining new rights," said TVC Chairman, Rev. Louis P. Sheldon. "It just underscores the urgency for Congress to enact an amendment which defines marriage and consequently bans homosexual "marriages" of every form."
"The present federal marriage amendment attempts to play word games by trading civil unions for marriage. Civil unions are synonymous with marriage and everyone knows it so this legislation is going nowhere fast. The Congress needs to enact a real marriage protection amendment and then give it to the states for a vote.
"Today's decision is another attempt by the liberal judiciary to shout down the voices and votes of the American people. Congress needs to act immediately!"
TVC Executive Director, Andrea Lafferty, called the decision "more judicial bullying."
[More at URL]
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N.J. boost for gay couples buoys GOP
Wednesday's ruling in favor of full legal rights for gay couples may galvanize certain voters.
By Alexandra Marks | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1027/p01s01-uspo.htm
NEW YORK
The political fallout from Wednesday's New Jersey Supreme Court ruling in favor of full rights for gay couples could ripple far beyond the borders of the Garden State.
With control of the House and Senate at stake in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, Republican leaders are hoping the ruling will give their wavering conservative base - who would see the court's move as another attack on traditional marriage - a reason to go to the polls.
The New Jersey outcome could suddenly give impetus to voters in eight states where the ballot includes measures to ban gay marriage. In some of these states - Tennessee and Virginia, especially - the races for Senate seats are too close to call. Others, namely Arizona and Colorado, have hotly contested House races that may give a boost to Republican candidates.
The ruling, which found that gay couples in New Jersey are entitled to the same legal and financial protections as heterosexual couples, could tip the national balance, many political analysts say.
"The Republicans are thrilled and the Democrats are furious with those judges, and that tells me all I need to know," says Larry Sabato, a political analyst at the University of Virginia. "Both sides understand this is a boost for Republican turnout among social conservatives, many of whom were very discouraged and probably were not going to vote because of the [Mark] Foley scandal and Iraq."
[More at URL]
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Wal-Mart Rolls Out Red Carpet For Homosexual Marriage
Let Wal-Mart know their embracement of homosexuality and the push for homosexual marriage is a bad business decision.
American Family Association
Online as of 29 October 2006
http://www.afa.net/Petitions/IssueDetail.asp?id=220
When Wal-Mart announced their support for the homosexual agenda a few weeks ago, they meant what they said. You will remember that Wal-Mart asked for, and received, permission to join the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). The company announced they were giving two large grants to NGLCC. The world's largest retailer was rewarded with a position on the board of NGLCC. Wal-Mart also announced they would give preference to homosexual-owned businesses in purchasing products.
The NGLCC is a leading promoter of homosexual marriage.
A quick search for books sold by Wal-Mart found the following related to the promotion of homosexual marriage:
[More at URL]
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Conservatives Blast NJ High Court's Homosexual Marriage Ruling
By Jim Brown
American Family Association/Agape Press
October 27, 2006
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006a.asp
WASHINGTON, DC (AgapePress) - A U.S. senator and other conservatives are condemning an October 25 ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court that mandates same-sex unions. The court ruled Wednesday that homosexual couples are entitled to the same marriage rights and protections afforded their heterosexual counterparts.
The New Jersey high court has given the State Legislature six months to decide whether to recognize same-sex "marriage" or to create civil unions for homosexuals in that state. Kansas Senator Sam Brownback says he finds it troubling that an "activist" judiciary is forcing lawmakers to take action on a major social issue, based on the notion that same-sex couples have an equal "right" to the benefits of marriage.
[...]
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council agrees, noting that the New Jersey ruling "should serve as a wakeup call for those who believe marriage does not need federal protection." He insists that the nation "must have a U.S. constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman" if those seeking to redefine that institution are to be thwarted.
[More at URL]
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Commentary & News Briefs
October 27, 2006
Compiled by Jody Brown
American Family Association/Agape Press
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006h.asp
...A Tennessee church's 150 members are boycotting Wal-Mart because of the discount retailer's affiliation with a pro-homosexual business coalition. In August, Wal-Mart became a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). That prompted Trinity Family Church of Columbia, Tennessee, to urge members to shop elsewhere because the NGLCC supports homosexual "marriage." A proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is on the November ballot in Tennessee. Pastor Carol Jacobs says the church had been spending thousands of dollars at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club for supplies but will not do so anymore. A Wal-Mart spokesman says the retailer is "reaching out to a number of groups" and will "welcome and serve all customers with respect and without discrimination." [AP]
[...]
...Florida's Supreme Court has decided that it lacks authority to consider a Wiccan group's challenge to a state sales tax exemption for Bibles and other religious items. The court earlier had agreed to take the case and even heard oral arguments. But it now says there is not any conflict in lower-court decisions to be worked out. The Wiccan Religious Cooperative of Florida had appealed a ruling that it lacked standing to challenge the tax exemption for religious items as a violation of separation of church and state. Two religious publications -- The Florida Catholic and The Florida Baptist Witnesses -- had joined the state in defending the exemptions. [AP]
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Proponent of Public School Exit Strategy Stresses Christian Parents' Responsibility
By Allie Martin
October 27, 2006
American Family Association/Agape Press
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006c.asp
(AgapePress) - Resolutions supporting an exit strategy from public schools have been submitted in every Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) state and regional convention in the continental United States. The resolution is based on a recommendation by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler.
Mohler wrote in an article that because of the spiritual, moral, and academic decay that increasingly characterizes U.S. public schools, Southern Baptists should develop a plan for taking their children out of government schools. Roger Moran, a member of the SBC Executive Committee, helped draft the resolution based on the seminary president's suggestions.
[More at URL]
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Evolutionists Love 'Lucy,' But AIG Calls Fossil Tour Anti-Creationist Hype
By Jeff Johnson
October 27, 2006
American Family Association/Agape Press
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/272006d.asp
(AgapePress) - Many American scientists are excited that "Lucy," an allegedly 3.2-million-year-old skeleton, will be coming to the United States next year. Creationists, however, are predicting that Lucy's tour will be much more about promoting the theory of evolution than about expanding real scientific knowledge.
Associated Press news reports announcing Lucy's visit state as fact that the fossilized remains are between three and four million years old and that "debate" still rages about how close an ancestor to man Lucy would be. But Ken Ham, president of the biblical creationist group Answers in Genesis, says those reports are only the beginning of Lucy's anti-creationism tour.
[More at URL]
----- 23 -----
Ohio voter guide available from the Ohio Christian Alliance
Family Research Council
October 24, 2006 - Tuesday
Ohio (more on this state)
Forward to a Friend!
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AL06J09&f=PG03I03
The Ohio Christian Alliance has put together an excellent resource for the citizens of Ohio for the upcoming election. This resource gives you the facts on where the candidates running for Senate and for Governor stand on the issues that we are all concerned about. This voter guide is 501(c)(3) compliant so it is perfectly legal for distribution in all of your churches. We encourage you to print out as many copies as you need from their website and to use it as a bulletin insert at your church.
There is much at stake in the upcoming election nationally and in Ohio and we are thankful that the Ohio Christian Alliance has put together a clear and concise voter guide that will equip the voters to make an informed and confident decision in November.
We thank you for you help in defending marriage and family in the state of Ohio. Please forward this email to your friends and family and encourage them to vote this November.
To view or print copies of the 2006 voter guide go to: http://ohioca.org/VoterGuides/2006/2006-vg-8b.pdf
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New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Legislature Hostage On Marriage
Family Research Council
October 25, 2006 - Wednesday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2006 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Bethanie Swendsen, (866) FRC-NEWS
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR06J10&f=PG03I03
"The legislature should ignore this ruling and follow the lead of 20 other states that have already passed marriage amendments," says FRC's Tony Perkins
WASHINGTON D.C. -- Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins released the following statement in response to the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling on same-sex "marriage."
"Today's decision should give momentum to the eight states with marriage protection amendments on the November ballot. By mandating that the New Jersey legislature enact same-sex 'marriage' or civil unions, the Court ignores the unique benefits of marriage between one man and one woman. Society gives benefits to marriage because marriage gives benefits to society. This decision is out of step with the recent string of court decisions upholding the rational basis for traditional marriage in promoting the well-being of children.
"This ruling gives the legislature the non-choice of creating same-sex 'marriage' or marriage of the same-sex by civil unions. This is nothing more than an act of veiled judicial activism. As in Massachusetts and Vermont, the New Jersey Supreme Court has acted as a super-legislature imposing their will on the people of New Jersey. The legislature should ignore this ruling and follow the lead of 20 other states that have already passed marriage amendments."
----- 25 -----
FRC Action Urges New Jersey Legislature To Protect Marriage
Family Research Council
October 26, 2006 - Thursday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 26, 2006 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy, (866) FRC-NEWS
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR06J12&f=PG03I03
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday the New Jersey Supreme Court demanded that the state legislature grant same-sex couples the legal rights and benefits traditionally bestowed upon the marital union of one man and one woman. Connie Mackey, Senior Vice President of FRC Action, issued the following statement:
"Yesterday's decision propels the state of New Jersey into the same legal chaos experienced by various other states across the country, including Hawaii, Vermont and Massachusetts. It follows the pattern of homosexual activists who witness their radical agenda defeated at the ballot box yet advanced by activist judges. The irony is that in their victory they admit defeat.
"This decision will only energize conservative voters across the country, especially those in eight states with ballot initiatives to protect marriage. Voters have been reminded yet again that without a constitutional amendment preserving marriage, a single judge somewhere will redefine marriage against the will of the vast majority everywhere.
"Since a similar ruling came down in Massachusetts, pro-family forces in twenty states allowed the people a voice in this debate. In those twenty states, the people voted overwhelmingly in favor of traditional marriage. Now that's a victory. I call upon the New Jersey state legislature to do the same."
To schedule an interview with Connie Mackey please contact the
FRC Action press office at (866) FRC-NEWS
----- 26 -----
Vote on marriage in eight states critical following NJ Supreme Court Ruling
Family Research Council
October 26, 2006 - Thursday
Arizona (more on this state)
Forward to a Friend!
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AL06J10&f=PG03I03
On November 7, marriage amendments will be on the ballot in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
There is desperate need for passage of marriage amendments in these 8 states codifying marriage between one man and one woman. This was evident yesterday following the ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court that mandated that the legislature find a way to grant the benefits of marriage to same sex couples. Such reckless and irresponsible rulings by judges from Massachusetts to Hawaii highlight the need for constitutional amendments to protect marriage. Momentum was in favor of traditional marriage when recent court rulings in New York and Georgia had upheld marriage. Unfortunately, New Jersey will now join Massachusetts which allows same-sex 'marriage' and Vermont, which permits civil unions.
Voters in twenty states have already added marriage protection amendments to their constitutions. Values voters must rally to the polls on November 7 to protect marriage!
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Date: 2006-11-02 01:19 am (UTC)leaving your "meat" "uncovered" is only a problem if your neighborhood is full of wild animals.