I am pretty straight forward with my political positions and I have been known to email and call members of Congress, the Senate and even the president on occasion. My political views are deeply connected to my religious views although there are many Latter Day Saints that vote quite the opposite than me on Election Day. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not support candidates or political parties, but on occasion they do support bills or moral positions. So it is with Proposition 8-- The
LDS church has asked members to do all in their power to support a bill in California that would make marriage between a man in a woman the law. I believe that there will be unsettling consequences for families and especially children all over the country if
Prosition 8 fails. I wanted to quote from a fantastic article that I recently read from
Meridianmagazine.com on the issue. Glen Greener outlines what failure to pass Proposition 8 (marriage between a man and a woman) could mean for our country. This is not just a California issue because if this bill fails most states will be required to recognize marriages in California despite their laws about marriage. Here is the article:
"1. Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage . The California Education Code (§51890) already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults regardless of gender. 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. It will lead to more government intrusion into private lives . A photographer in Albuquerque refused to photograph a lesbian couple's civil union ceremony. The New Mexico Human Rights Commission fined the photographer $6000 even though there were other photographers willing to accept the business. And this in a state where same-sex marriage is still illegal.
3. It will lead to speech monitors. An employee at the City of Oakland was threatened with termination for using the terms “natural family, marriage and family values” while discussing a public issue with co-workers. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal backed up the district court saying administrative efficiency in a government office is more important than free speech. Today it's municipal employees; tomorrow … who?
4. Anti-discrimination regulations will become more important than religious beliefs. In Vista, California, a lesbian couple sued a doctor who refused to perform a requested artificial insemination because of the doctor's religious beliefs. Although another doctor offered to do the procedure, the California Supreme Court held unanimously that the “1 st Amendment's right to the free exercise of religion does not exempt defendant physicians here from conforming their conduct to the …
antidiscrimination requirements.” An elective procedure, no emergency involved, another doctor willing to do the procedure. Anti-bias laws will outweigh religion.
5. Churches will be sued over their tax-exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public. While pastors, priests, ministers, bishops, and rabbis may not be forced to conduct such marriages themselves, they will be required to allow such marriages in their chapels and sanctuaries.
6. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government 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.
7. Religions that sponsor private schools with married-student housing will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.
8. 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. If a government agency such as the Alberta Human Rights Commission can stop a minister from teaching his church's doctrine about marriage, then it won't be long before
everyone's free speech rights will be in jeopardy.
9. It will cost everyone more money. This change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already decided adversely. 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 be spent on legal battles.
Think of a world where Human Rights Commissions – unelected bureaucrats with unfettered authority – are judge, jury, and executioner of anything they feel is antagonistic speech toward same-sex marriage and its practitioners.
Think of a world where the judicial system relegates long-held religious beliefs to second-class importance behind anti-bias laws and a newly discovered protected class of people.
Think of a world where the public school system is required to teach values and beliefs to your children that may conflict with your own.
Think of the very real threat to your parental rights, your free speech, your freedom of religion."
I don't think this is a doomsday prediction. I think we are already seeing some of these examples in our courts if we pay attention to what is happening in our country. I do not believe that hate or anger are ways to combat this issue or any other. I just pray for wisdom and prudence as people consider their votes for 2008.
On a little lighter note: Ashley and I did call to encourage people to get out and VOTE Yes on Proposition 8. It was a great experience and I spoke with many nice people on both sides of the issue. Ashley was leaving a message with one family on the answering machine and he was trying to say, "Have a great day!" But his words became garbled and he said instead, "Have a gay day!" Oh well-- he did correct himself in the end!
