I saw this on a friends blog. I hope he doesn't mind but I had to post it so others can hear of what may happen to our country. No matter what happens we need to remember how important it is for us to teach our children good values.
Are we taking moments like this for granted? Have you heard what is going on with marriage?
Proposition 8: concerning marriage will appear on the November 2008 Presidential ballot. To see who is opposi.ng this very important moral issue, check out this website. Some of the major consequences of this amendment failing are:
1. Children in public schools will be taught that both traditional marriage and same-sex marriage are okay. The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. Therefore, if the definition of marriage is changed, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.
2. Churches will be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings that are open to the public. Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.
3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston has already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
4. Religions that sponsor private schools and which provide housing for married students will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if it runs counter to church doctrine, or lose tax exemptions and benefits.
5. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage.
6. It will cost you money. A change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits. States that do not allow same sex marriage will be required to recognize the marriages that are performed in California, thus leading to some very expensive lawsuits that the taxpayers will be funding. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today’s activist judges), think of the money – your money, your church contributions – that will have to be spent on legal fees.
7. This opens a door for anyone to be married. How do we tell polygamists that it is illegal to marry if they are consenting parties? What about victims of incest? Or any other kind of marriage that is not traditional? Once this line is redrawn, it will just have to keep moving.
http://www.protectmarriage.com/ or e-mail oldfield.protectmarriage@gmail.com for more information on how you can make a difference. Go here to read more on the Church’s position. I'm not sure about you, but this SCARES me. We certainly need to protect ourselves and our children from this heartbreaking calamity.
15 years ago
2 comments:
First off, cute kids!
Second, it's great that you are politically involved. We need more people participating directly in our democracy.
However, I think it's important that you know that most of these seven "consequences" are, in fact, false.
Allow me address them point by point.
1) The only section of the California Education Code that mentions marriage reads thus, and concerns one point of the curriculum: “Family health and child development, including the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.” There is nothing in the code about teaching anything about defining marriage.
What's more, California law also states that any parent may remove their child from any class if they disagree with the material being taught.
Plus, children SHOULD know the law of the land and why we don't discriminate against people. It should all, of course, be age-appropriate.
If you disagree with what is being taught at school, you are free to teach your children different.
2) This one is COMPLETELY false. If you read the May 15 Supreme Court decision, the justices say the EXACT OPPOSITE: "[A]ffording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official, or any other person; no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs."
On top of that, it's clear that churches have always had the right to discriminate against whoever they wish in terms of marriage. The LDS church doesn't allow anyone but those with temple recommends to be married in the temple (and until 1979, wouldn't allow black people to marry in the temple), and Catholics won't marry divorced people in their churches. Each church will be able to deny marriage to any couple they want.
3) That Massachusetts case with Catholic Charities had nothing to do with same-sex marriage. It was due to Catholic Charities unwillingness to obey Massachusetts's anti-discrimination laws.
What's more, Catholic Charities did not close its doors. They are still open and functioning, doing charitable work. Just not adoptions.
Besides, adoption agencies will always have the right to deny couples the right to adopt -- but only based on their fitness as parents, not their sexuality. Gay couples who do adopt often adopt the toughest cases, the kids no one else will adopt. You would rather the kids with special needs languish in orphanages or foster homes rather than be with two loving dads or moms?
4) This might be true. After all, Bob Jones University had to allow mixed-race couples in student housing if they wanted to maintain their tax-exempt status. However, they could have chosen to forfeit that status and continue to discriminate if they wished.
But if you want public money, you have to obey public laws. Remain fully private and you can discriminate all you like.
5) Ridiculous. First, the minister in Canada was not preaching against same-sex marriage, but fomenting hate in general toward gay people. Besides, we have the First Amendment here. Ever hear of Fred Phelps? The "God Hates Fags" guy? 'Nuff said.
6) Also ridiculous. Churches will be no more or less likely to be sued if Prop 8 passes.
7) In terms of polygamy, that won't be a problem, because polygamy creates an inherently UNequal situation. Briefly, when there are only two people involved in a civil marriage, whether they are both of the opposite sex or same sex, everything is equal. However, where there are multiple spouses, that means there are multiple beneficiaries for marital benefits, such as Social Security and health insurance.
As for victims of incest, marriage still needs to be acceptable to both parties.
I fully honor your right to hold your religious beliefs, but only so far as they don't impinge on others' civil rights.
Thanks for your time and for allowing comments on your blog.
After all the debate, all the arguing, all the back and forth on the issue of marriage equality, today I want you to think about just one thing. I want you to imagine how it would feel if other people were allowed to vote on the validity of your relationship. How would you feel if millions of people were stepping into voting booths right now to decide whether YOUR marriage would be “valid or recognized”?
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