Some activist judges have taken upon themselves to "grant equality" to homosexual partnerships even when there is clear legislation that defines a marriage as the union of a man and a woman, as in California. Recent debates, even among legislators who want to preserve the historical and traditional concept of marriage, have tended to agree that this is a states right issue. An earlier attempt to amend the federal Constitution has lost momentum while thirty states, including California, have adopted their own constitutional amendments with exact definitions of what marriage is.
There are some states where same-sex marriages are allowed. Congress did pass the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which allows states not to recognize such marriages performed in other states. However, there is an ongoing battle by those who want same-sex marriages to challenge the constitutionality of state amendments and the federal DOMA act.
There is a vital connection between the prophecied apostasy ("falling away") of the end times and the rise of homosexuality, which is one of the chief symptoms of a society that has departed from the teaching of God's Word.
It is our desire to show love and compassion while being honest about what the Bible says regarding this topic.
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Nov. 21, 2009 - The Manhattan Declaration, a bold new declaration, signed initially by 125 evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox leaders, calls for Christians to adhere to three primary convictions, even if this requires civil disobedience.
Charles Colson, who helped draft the declaration, said the statement brings Christian leaders together on the issues of abortion, marriage, and religious freedom in the face of growing pressure.
Aug. 18, 2009 - The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), denies federal recognition of same-sex "marriage" and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Gary Bauer, president of American Values, says President Obama is committed to repealing DOMA -- but does not want to take the political flak that would come along with it.
The Obama administration is opposed to the the Defense of Marriage Act because they believe it is discriminatory and prevents equal rights and benefits. However, the Justice Department is obligated to defend federal statutes when they are challenged in court.
Therefore, DOJ attornies seek to dismiss a suit brought by a homosexual California couple challenging DOMA. But, at the same time, they have filed court papers claiming the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act discriminates against homosexuals.
Bauer says these contradictory actions are reminiscent of "politics in the wards of Chicago -- saying one thing and then doing something else behind the scenes."
May 26, 2009 -
The California Supreme Court rejected the idea that prop 8 was a revision instead of an ammendment,
thus upholding the validity of the ammendment. However, they ruled that marriages performed before the law took effect
were still valid.
Gay rights demonstrators flooded the courthouse before the decision and immediately started protesting the ruling.
May 21, 2009 - The California Supreme Court may announce its ruling on Proposition 8 today.
The proposition, which defines marriage as strictly between a man and a woman, won 52% of the vote in November. Opponents of the proposition claim that it illegally revised the state constitution. Attorneys defending the proposition say they are "cautiously optimistic" about the ruling. Jim Campbell, Litigation Counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund, said:
"Given the arguments put forth by the attorneys and the indications put forth by the court at oral arguments--the court seemed to indicate that the position put forth by the challengers of Prop 8 was a radical legal position..."
Mar. 6, 2009 - Observers say that yesterday's California Supreme Court discussions may mean that the same justices who voted 4-3 to legalize gay marriage four and a half months ago are not eager to override the will of voters, who approved Proposition 8 in November.
Associate Justices Joyce Kennard, Marvin Baxter and Ming Chin compared the Prop 8 marriage amendment to an earlier issue where the California Supreme Court struck down the death penalty as cruel and unusual punishment. Voters then approved an initiative that restored the death penalty.
"It would appear to me that life is, at least in my view, a fundamental right," Kennard said. "The court said that particular initiative restoring the death penalty in California was not a revision."
Advocates of gay marriage were alarmed by Kennard's statements because she was she was part of the court majority that held that prohibiting same-sex marriages violated the civil rights of gays.
Mar, 2009 - As the Prop 8 case goes to the Supreme Court this Thursday, lead counsel Kenneth Starr, dean of the Pepperdine University School of Law, is not granting interviews, but in a Feb. 10 address to the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Tenn., He said the issue does not center so much on the merits of same-sex marriage, but on whether voters have the right to overturn judicial rulings.
Mar. 2, 2009 - California Supreme Court justices will hear arguments on Mar. 5 about whether or not Prop 8 - the Marriage Amendment - should stand or be declared unconstitutional.
Kenneth W. Starr, the former U.S. Solicitor General who led the inquiry into President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica L. Lewinsky, will argue the case in favor of upholding a ban on gay marriage before the California Supreme Court.
Nov. 25, 2008 - The California Fair Political Practices Commission is looking into the complaint by a gay rights group that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints failed to report the value of work it did to support Proposition 8.
Executive director Roman Porter says the decision does not mean any wrongdoing has been determined.
Nov. 21, 2008 - If California Supreme Court justices vote to overturn the Prop. 8 Marriage Amendment, supporters of the proposition will seek to recall the justices. The four who may be targeted are justices Ronald George, Joyce Kennard, Kathryn Werdegar and Carlos Moreno.
Nov. 19, 2008 - California's Supreme Court has agreed arguments on three lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8.
All three cases claim the ban abridges the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group. They argue that voters alone did not have the authority to enact such a significant constitutional change.
Nov. 17, 2008 - In the aftermath of their disappointment about the passage of Prop. 8, Homosexuals harassed Christians from Lou Engle's House Of Prayer in the Castro District in San Francisco. They shouted, 'We're going to kill you. We know who you are' as police escorted them to safety.
Nov. 15, 2009 - Various gay rights groups are publishing lists of donors to the "Yes on 8" campaign. Some, like Californians Against Hate add phone numbers and commentary about the donors. Their founder, Fred Karger, said,
"I wanted to make the public aware of who these people are and how much they're giving, and then they could make a decision as to whether or not they want to patronize their businesses."
Nov. 15, 2008 - Disgruntled same-sex marriage advocates have organized a "National Day of Protest" against the passage of Prop 8, California's marriage amendment that specifies that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Organizers have march leaders and groups coordinated in all 50 states, even in towns as small as Decorah, Iowa, population 8,172.
Hundreds of rallies have been scheduled for today, mostly at city halls in California. They hope to influence the California Supreme Court to declare the amendment unconstitutional.
Nov. 14, 2008 - Noting the extreme protests against supporters of Prop. 8, Chuck Colson says,
"This is an outrage. What hypocrisy from those who spend all of their time preaching tolerance to the rest of us! How dare they threaten and attack political opponents? We live a democratic country, not a banana republic ruled by thugs."
Here are a few examples:
Surrounding a Mormon temple in Los Angeles, protestors chanted, “Mormon scum.”
At Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, they held signs that said, “Purpose-Driven Hate.”
Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills was spray painted.
Nov. 13, 2008 - 69-year-old Phyllis Burgess tried to show her belief in traditional marriage at a Palm Springs rally last Friday. She came to the event carrying a large, Styrofoam cross. The "No on 8" demonstrators yanked the cross from her hands and trampled on it.
Now, Burgess says she might press assault charges, according to The Desert Sun.
Nov. 11, 2008 - Forty-three Democratic legislators filed a brief Monday urging the California Supreme Court to void Proposition 8. The brief contends that such a constitutional change can not be done by a mere constitutional amendment. but only by a revision of the entire Constitution involving the Legislature.
This is a Hail Mary, no question about it," said Frank Schubert, manager of the Proposition 8 campaign.
The initiative would have to be defended by Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown's office, but since he was opposed to it, backers of the initiative would seek to intervene to defend it.
Nov. 9, 2008 - About the success of Prop 8, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told CNN, "I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area."
Schwarzenegger has apparently changed his position on this issue. He used to say that he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Nov. 9, 2008 - Several groups gathered to protest the passage of Prop. 8. in various places. As many as 10,000 marched in downtown San Diego. Smaller demonstrations were held on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles, and Laguna Beach.
Tensions flared at a vigil at Palm Springs City Hall when a supporter of the gay marriage ban carrying a plastic foam cross clashed with protesters... The crowd ripped the cross from her hands and stomped on it. Police made no arrests.
In Salt Lake City about 2000 demonstrators targeted the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Nov. 7, 2008 - by Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst, says activist judges should be impressed by the fact that 30 states have now adopted constitutional amendments about marriage.
Judges can trump statutes, but constitutional amendments trump judges. When judges attempt to rewrite constitutions, they cross the line that separates the judicial function from the legislative function, and violate their oaths of office in the process.
Lawsuits against California's new amendment will almost certainly lose. But nothing is for sure with these activist judges.
Nov. 6, 2008 - In West Hollywood hundreds of people gathered to protest the adoption of a state constitutional amendment (Prop. 8) that limits marriage to the union of a man and a woman.
The Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert, requiring all available officers to respond to the protest, LAPD spokesman Officer Jason Lee said.
June 4, 2006 - After lying dormant for several months, the issue of a Constitutional marriage amendment is under discussion again. There is little support for the issue outside except for social conservatives. President Bush is promoted it in his weekly Radio address:
"Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society... Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all."
Apr. 26, 2006 - A Senate vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit marriage to the traditional one man andone woman, is scheduled for June 6.
In recent years Massachusetts has passed legislation allowing homosexual marriage, and Vermont legalized civil unions that apply to homosexuals. A federal law, The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on Sept. 21, 1996. That law allows each state to prohibit same sex marriage. Since then, 45 states have done so, with either laws or state constitutional amendments.
Nov. 30, 2005 - The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down the opportunity to review the decision by the high court of Massachusetts that legalized same-sex "marriage."
But the decision does not mean that the Supreme Court won't hear a same-sex "marriage" case in the near future. The case before the court dealt with the decision by the Massachusetts court; it did not deal with the federal Defense of Marriage Act...
Proponents of a marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution say that this event, which they had expected, demonstrates the need for a marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Mathew Staver, president of Liberty Counsel said, "Marriage will be defined by someone. I would rather have it defined by the people of the United States instead of the judiciary."
July 9, 2004 - 1.66 million people have signed a petition urging Senators to pass a Federal Marriage amendment. The proposed wording is:
"Activist liberal judges are intent on destroying the institution of marriage as being between one man and one woman. I urge you to pass the federal marriage amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman only. This is a defining moment in history. It is time for members of Congress to take a stand for traditional marriage."
The Senate will begin debate on the issue this coming week.
Source:Crosswalk
May 28, 2004 - President Bush reaffirmed his support for a federal marriage amendment during a rare on-the-record session with religion editors and writers.
June 2004 - Charles Colson warns that unless we adopt a Federal Marriage Amendment, our culture will suffer the complete breakdown of the family and an intolerable rise in crime.
May 25, 2004 - The California Supreme Court begins hearings today on the narrow issue of whether or not San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and other officials had the authority to defy state laws that define marriage as being between a man and a woman.
On a separate track, at least six lawsuits arguing for or against the right of homosexuals and lesbians to marry are now pending in San Francisco and Los Angeles superior courts. These suits may take two or three years to reach the state's high court.
"Battle for Marriage" on Satellite in 500 churches
Key family life leaders conducted a nation-wide satellite seminar Sunday night, shown in 500 churches and heard on 1,500 radio stations and the Internet. Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship, and Tony Perkins of Family Research Council were among the speakers.
Chuck Colson ... called the fight over same-sex marriage, "the mother of all culture war battles. This is the one that decides what kind of a country we’re going to be."
May 24, 2004 - This fall the Canadian Supreme Court will consider whether or not the definition of marriage should include same-sex couples. Canada already has a "hate speech" law that prohibits advocating violence or hatred toward homosexuals. While Christian pastors would not advocate violence, they are concerned that they might be accused of promoting hatred simply by reading the Biblical teaching on the subject
May 21, 2004 - It is interesting that most church groups oppose same-sex marriage in their written doctrines. Even the most liberal groups still have official stances against the practice. Examples are cited.
Source:Crosswalk
Marriage battle begins on Hill
Mar. 4, 2004 - On the first day of hearings on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a male-female union, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Congress must act quickly to prevent a few judges and local officials from redefining marriage for everyone. Events that have led to the hearing include a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that a Texas law against Sodomy was not valid, the recent Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to "marry," and thousands of homosexual weddings during the past few weeks in San Francisco and other cities in defiance of existing laws.
Source:Washington Times (Story no longer online)
State AGs Come Down Against Gay Marriages - Cape Cod Times (Story no longer on line)
Feb. 13, 2003 - In an act of civil disobedience, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom presided over a day of homosexual wedding ceremonies. In one day 87 marriage ceremonies were performed, and 95 marriage licenses were issued.
Randy Thomasson, director of Campaign For California Families, said, "These unlawful certificates are not worth the paper they are printed on. The renegade mayor of San Francisco has no authority to do this."
