I received some of this as an email from someone at church. I think this should be a concern for all parents, all people, no matter where you live. Because if it passes in CA, it will be coming to your state next. The day I live somewhere where this is taught to my kids in school will be my kids' last day in public school. I have home schooled them before and I will do it again. Nobody is going to take my place as parent of my children and teach them things I don't want them to be taught.
** Please know if you post any hateful or contentious comments, I will not post them. I moderate all my comments and, while I am open to civil, adult discussions, I will not tolerate hatefulness. This is my blog and my beliefs and if you don't agree, go comment somewhere else.
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If CA falls, the rest of the country will move in this direction. The loss of traditional marriage will be the undoing of this nation so no matter where you are, please help to support prop 8.
As a reminder, the last 2 paragraphs of the Proclamation to the World state:
"We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets. We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society"
As a reminder, the last 2 paragraphs of the Proclamation to the World state:
"We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets. We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society"
(this material has been condensed/pieced)
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Education on the issue
What is disturbing is that unlike Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is confined only to those who are residents of the state, California has no such law. Thus residents of other states, whose marriage laws do not allow genderless marriage can come to California, get their nuptials, and then head home claiming their marriage is legal.
This not only opens the door for legal chaos, but for courts, along with rogue state officials to systematically dismantle state statutes and amendments designed to protect the traditional definition of marriage.
Most recently, New York Governor Paterson ordered state agencies to recognize out-of-state homosexual "marriages" even though New York's Court of Appeals ruled in 2006 that only the union of a man and woman is a legal marriage in the state.
Thus, with this Supreme Court decision, if a marriage amendment does not pass in California this fall, California will be exporting same-sex marriage possibly to every state in the nation.
********
In 1996, the U.S. Congress made the following findings, "Marriage is the foundation of a successful society," and "marriage is an essential institution of a successful society which promotes the interests of children." Decades of government and social science data prove these statements are true. Yet, never in the history of the world has the institution of marriage been under such aggressive assault legally, legislatively and culturally.
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"Can a group — a church or religious charity — that opposes gay marriage keep its tax exemption if gay marriage becomes the law?" Marc Stern, general counsel for the American Jewish Congress, asked. Certainly, if the California court's logic is carried beyond California, tax exemptions and government benefits for religions and their affiliates such as church schools and social service agencies benefits will be affected.
********
When Massachusetts adopted homosexual marriage, the state left a Boston Catholic adoption service no choice but to shut down or agree to place adopted children with homosexual couples. This is not because the state funded the charity, but only because the charity had to depend on a state license to operate. They were left with a decision, violate their conscience and place children with same-sex couples or shut their doors. After decades of service to the community, the Boston Catholic Adoption service was forced to shut their doors.
After New Jersey passed civil union legislation, the state removed part of the tax-exempt status from a church in Ocean Grove after the church refused, on religious grounds, to offer its gazebo for a civil union service. In Massachusetts, parents lost the right to be notified when their child's public school was going to teach on the topic of homosexuality.
Acts done in the name of freedom have shut down the freedom of the religious.
Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon wrote in 2004, during the same-sex marriage debate in Massachusetts, ''The experience in other countries reveals that once these arrangements become law, there will be no live-and-let-live policy for those who differ. Gay-marriage proponents use the language of openness, tolerance, and diversity, yet one foreseeable effect of their success will be to usher in an era of intolerance and discrimination ... The ax will fall most heavily on religious persons and groups that don't go along ."
*********
Areas of Conflict
Tax-Exemptions and Government Benefits : Religious groups could find themselves suffering along with the Boy Scouts, as access to public facilities is stripped away. Gay-rights lawyers will likely challenge groups' federal tax-exempt status, charging that such an exemption "subsidizes discrimination." Maggie Gallagher, president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy says, "Religious groups that take government funding will almost certainly be required to play by the nondiscrimination rules, but what about groups that, while receiving no government grants, are tax-exempt?
"Can a group — a church or religious charity — that opposes gay marriage keep its tax exemption if gay marriage becomes the law?" Marc Stern, general counsel for the American Jewish Congress, says "That is the 18 trillion dollar question."
Professional Licenses : Professional licenses might also be denied to psychological clinics, social workers, marriage and family counselors, and others who believe same-sex relationships are "objectively disordered." Would family service providers affiliated with a religion that opposes same-sex marriage have to give marriage counseling to same-sex couples to help them preserve their marriage?
Religious Employers : Suppose a Catholic summer camp refuses to hire or retain employees in same-sex marriages, they could be sued on the basis of "marital status discrimination."
Religious Colleges : Colleges that refuse admission to same-sex couples could face civil lawsuits and loss of accreditation. Marc Stern says that "same-sex marriage will affect religious educational institutions, in at least four ways: admissions, employment, housing, and regulation of clubs."
Public Accommodation Laws : Many legal scholars agree that public accommodation laws can require all commercial enterprises to serve all customers. However, if same sex marriage is legal
Marc Stern asks, "What about religious camps...? Will they be considered by courts to be places of public accommodation, too? Could a religious summer camp operated in strict conformity with religious principles refuse to accept children coming from same-sex marriages? What of a church-affiliated community center, with a gym and a Little League, that offers family programs?"
What is disturbing is that unlike Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is confined only to those who are residents of the state, California has no such law. Thus residents of other states, whose marriage laws do not allow genderless marriage can come to California, get their nuptials, and then head home claiming their marriage is legal.
This not only opens the door for legal chaos, but for courts, along with rogue state officials to systematically dismantle state statutes and amendments designed to protect the traditional definition of marriage.
Most recently, New York Governor Paterson ordered state agencies to recognize out-of-state homosexual "marriages" even though New York's Court of Appeals ruled in 2006 that only the union of a man and woman is a legal marriage in the state.
Thus, with this Supreme Court decision, if a marriage amendment does not pass in California this fall, California will be exporting same-sex marriage possibly to every state in the nation.
********
In 1996, the U.S. Congress made the following findings, "Marriage is the foundation of a successful society," and "marriage is an essential institution of a successful society which promotes the interests of children." Decades of government and social science data prove these statements are true. Yet, never in the history of the world has the institution of marriage been under such aggressive assault legally, legislatively and culturally.
********
"Can a group — a church or religious charity — that opposes gay marriage keep its tax exemption if gay marriage becomes the law?" Marc Stern, general counsel for the American Jewish Congress, asked. Certainly, if the California court's logic is carried beyond California, tax exemptions and government benefits for religions and their affiliates such as church schools and social service agencies benefits will be affected.
********
When Massachusetts adopted homosexual marriage, the state left a Boston Catholic adoption service no choice but to shut down or agree to place adopted children with homosexual couples. This is not because the state funded the charity, but only because the charity had to depend on a state license to operate. They were left with a decision, violate their conscience and place children with same-sex couples or shut their doors. After decades of service to the community, the Boston Catholic Adoption service was forced to shut their doors.
After New Jersey passed civil union legislation, the state removed part of the tax-exempt status from a church in Ocean Grove after the church refused, on religious grounds, to offer its gazebo for a civil union service. In Massachusetts, parents lost the right to be notified when their child's public school was going to teach on the topic of homosexuality.
Acts done in the name of freedom have shut down the freedom of the religious.
Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon wrote in 2004, during the same-sex marriage debate in Massachusetts, ''The experience in other countries reveals that once these arrangements become law, there will be no live-and-let-live policy for those who differ. Gay-marriage proponents use the language of openness, tolerance, and diversity, yet one foreseeable effect of their success will be to usher in an era of intolerance and discrimination ... The ax will fall most heavily on religious persons and groups that don't go along ."
*********
Areas of Conflict
Tax-Exemptions and Government Benefits : Religious groups could find themselves suffering along with the Boy Scouts, as access to public facilities is stripped away. Gay-rights lawyers will likely challenge groups' federal tax-exempt status, charging that such an exemption "subsidizes discrimination." Maggie Gallagher, president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy says, "Religious groups that take government funding will almost certainly be required to play by the nondiscrimination rules, but what about groups that, while receiving no government grants, are tax-exempt?
"Can a group — a church or religious charity — that opposes gay marriage keep its tax exemption if gay marriage becomes the law?" Marc Stern, general counsel for the American Jewish Congress, says "That is the 18 trillion dollar question."
Professional Licenses : Professional licenses might also be denied to psychological clinics, social workers, marriage and family counselors, and others who believe same-sex relationships are "objectively disordered." Would family service providers affiliated with a religion that opposes same-sex marriage have to give marriage counseling to same-sex couples to help them preserve their marriage?
Religious Employers : Suppose a Catholic summer camp refuses to hire or retain employees in same-sex marriages, they could be sued on the basis of "marital status discrimination."
Religious Colleges : Colleges that refuse admission to same-sex couples could face civil lawsuits and loss of accreditation. Marc Stern says that "same-sex marriage will affect religious educational institutions, in at least four ways: admissions, employment, housing, and regulation of clubs."
Public Accommodation Laws : Many legal scholars agree that public accommodation laws can require all commercial enterprises to serve all customers. However, if same sex marriage is legal
Marc Stern asks, "What about religious camps...? Will they be considered by courts to be places of public accommodation, too? Could a religious summer camp operated in strict conformity with religious principles refuse to accept children coming from same-sex marriages? What of a church-affiliated community center, with a gym and a Little League, that offers family programs?"
