State lawmakers are certainly getting an earful as they prepare to head back to work next week and potentially take up the issue of allowing same sex marriage in Illinois.
Cardinal Francis George on Friday joined a group of African American religious leaders to decry the "redefinition of marriage" as "morally wrong."
...The clergy members stressed, however, that their opposition to gay marriage should not be seen as discrimination against congregants in same-sex relationships.
"Nature and the Bible then dictates our stance today. It is not our personal opinion about the lifestyles of any individual that comes in our church or is outside of our church," said Bishop Lance Davis with the New Zion Christian Fellowship of Dolton.
A new survey of African Americans shows that most disagree with the claim that the effort to promote gay rights is comparable to the historic movement for racial equality.
About 55 percent of respondents to a Zogby Analytics survey said that equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons are not the same as equal rights for African Americans. Only 28 percent agreed, while 17 percent said they are not sure.
The online survey of 1,002 adults used respondents recruited through partners or random telephone samples. It was commissioned by Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, and was conducted Feb. 14 through Feb. 20.
Christopher Palko at First Things comments on the ethnic diversity of those who united for the March for Marriage last week -- and sees in it a sign of things to come:
Last Tuesday’s March for Marriage contained many of the standard elements for a socially conservative protest march. There were young families pushing strollers, some Catholic parishes that rented buses, youthful nuns praying. In short, it was easy to view as a smaller scale version of the March for Life.
But one thing was conspicuous about the participants: It was a majority-minority group. The March for Marriage had without a doubt the most racially diverse crowd that I had ever seen associated with a right-of-center political cause. On the Mall, you would hear Spanish being spoken behind you, an African-American gospel group singing in front of you, and members of an Asian-American church standing beside you.
... There have been two main pieces of advice given to the Republican party after its 2012 defeat: Win over more minority voters and minimize social issues. These notions contradict each other. If there is anything currently present within the GOP that non-whites are attracted to, it’s precisely the social issues that so many are convinced are an electoral albatross.
Several hundred Hispanic Catholics withstood the chill rain and wind to walk and pray in defense of heterosexual marriage Monday evening.
The Processional and Prayer in Defense of Marriage at Sacred Heart Church was organized by Bishop David Malloy, who led the parishioners in prayer, and the Diocese of Rockford in response to same-sex marriage legislation working its way through the Illinois General Assembly.
“The bishop asked for this (church) specifically to encourage the Hispanic community to contact their legislators to encourage them to preserve marriage and to vote ‘no’ on same-sex marriage, but to do so in the context of prayer and respect for all,” said Penny Wiegert, director of communication for the diocese.
Male-Female marriage received a vigorous defense Monday in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Manhattan Declaration, Inc., the voice of more than 500,000 Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians filed a friend of the court (Amicus) brief. The foundational document of this organization, which has gained over half-a-million signatures, addresses religious liberty, sanctity of life and traditional marriage.
"Natural law, the nature of the human person, and common sense provide ample reason to preserve marriage as it has always been understood." Explained John Mauck, the Chicago attorney with the firm of Mauck & Baker, who submitted the brief on behalf of the Manhattan Declaration...
French Muslims have begun joining a mostly Catholic-led movement against same-sex marriage, widening opposition to the reform that the Socialist-led government is set to write into the law by June.
Fifty Muslim activists issued an open letter on Monday urging fellow Muslims to join a major Paris protest against the law on Sunday. That followed a similar appeal last Saturday by the influential Union of French Islamic Organisations (UOIF).
Leaders of almost all main faiths in France have spoken out against the law, but not called on their followers to march in Sunday's demonstration to avoid giving the opposition campaign an overly religious tone.
...
We will protest on January 13 by joining a pluralist campaign to preserve the traditional framework of marriage," the Muslim activists' letter said. "We invite all French Muslims to turn out in large numbers."
The UOIF statement also urged Muslims to join the "March for All", the Paris protest against the reform the government has dubbed "Marriage for All".
"This bill, if it passes, will disrupt family and social structures and civil law dangerously and irreparably," it said.
The Muslim activist letter was signed by intellectuals, business leaders and leaders of several grassroots Muslim groups.
An extraordinary show of support for true marriage by a wide spectrum of faith communities in Illinois:
Pastoral leaders representing more than 1,700 faith communities in Illinois – parishes, congregations, churches and Friday prayer locations and Masjids – have signed a letter sent to Illinois lawmakers, urging them to safeguard both marriage and religious freedom by rejecting any legislative efforts to redefine marriage
The faith leaders note that traditional marriage “is the natural order embracing the complementary physical, emotional and spiritual design of men and women.”
They also warn that simply not being forced to preside over same-sex marriages does nothing to protect religious freedom as guaranteed in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The proposed legislation falls far short of protecting the rights of churches and individuals to freely exercise their religious beliefs and abide their consciences, they note.
“If marriage is redefined in civil law, individuals and religious organizations – regardless of deeply held beliefs – will be compelled to treat same-sex unions as the equivalent of marriage in their lives, ministries and operations,” they write.
All 177 state lawmakers will receive a copy of the letter personally addressed to him/her. Read the entire letter here.
The signees of the letter represent a diversity of faiths, including the Anglican Church in North America, the Catholic Church, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, as well as individual Baptist and Evangelical churches. (ILCatholic)
LifeSiteNews on the next wave of major national demonstrations in France in favor of protecting marriage:
Organizers of the first nationwide demonstration against same-sex “marriage” in Paris on January 13th say they hope to bring together over 350,000 people. If they succeed, it would make the event one of the most important rallies in the French capital since a giant march in favor of freedom of education in 1984 mobilized over a million people.
But controversy has broken out in more traditional quarters against the general tone of the “Manif pour tous,” the “demonstration for all.” “Marriage for all” is the slogan French president François Hollande is using to promote the draft same-sex “marriage” law.
So far, pro-marriage demonstrations in France have outnumbered pro-SSM demonstrations by about 209,800 to 178,000.
See the image below -- when they are two numbers, the lower # is from the official police estimate and the higher # is from the organizers:
60 MPs in Britain hailing from the conservative, labor, democratic unionist and other parties have written to David Cameron in united defense of marriage:
"As parliamentarians from different political parties and none, we are united in supporting the institution of marriage defined in law as a union between a man and a woman. We recognise the value of a loving and committed relationship and we respect civil partnership, but affirm the distinctive value of marriage reflecting the complementarity of a man and woman often evidenced in parenthood.
At the last election, none of the three main parties stood on a platform to redefine marriage. It was not contained in any of their manifestos, nor did it feature in the Coalition’s Programme for Government. These facts alone should have led to extreme caution on the part of those calling for this change to be made.
Instead the Government is ignoring the overwhelming public response against the plans. The consultation has ignored the views of 500,000 British residents in favour of anonymous submissions from anyone anywhere in the world. We believe that the Government does not have a mandate to redefine marriage.
... We are sceptical that the proposed protections will prevent the erosion of liberties of religion and conscience. The proposed redefinition of marriage is unnecessary, given the legal rights established through civil partnerships. We understand some parliamentarians support freedom for same sex couples to marry, but we support a freedom from the state being able to redefine the meaning of marriage." -- The UK Telegraph
Rev. Derek McCoy, Bishop Angel Nunez, Pastor John K. Jenkins, Dr. Frank Reid and other prominent faith leaders in Maryland express their support of marriage as a union between one man and one woman
Beltsville, Md. -- Pastors of diverse faith communities in Maryland will join to make their collective voices heard in urging Marylanders to vote against Question 6, which is also known as the same-sex referendum. The leaders strongly believe that people of faith not only have a right to speak out on issues that impact culture, but they also have a responsibility. Because of the importance that they place on this responsibility, the faith leaders have encouraged their congregants to be active and engaged citizens by registering to vote and speak out on issues of civic and moral importance. They encourage justice for the voiceless as they did for the murder victim Trayvon Martin. They have also recently advocated on behalf of the persecuted by demanding that Dr. Angela McCaskill be reinstated to her position at Gallaudet University after being suspended for signing the Maryland marriage petition. These faith leaders continue to be involved in a broad range of issues, making sure that moral matters facing voters in the upcoming election are addressed.
Bishop Martin Holley is an auxiliary Catholic bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. and a member of both the National Black Catholic Congress and the National Black Clergy Caucus. He appears in this video urging his fellow Catholics to reject gay marriage:
At one predominantly African-American church in east Baltimore, many members are campaigning against the legalization of same-sex marriage, but still planning to vote for President Barack Obama, despite his endorsement of same-sex marriage in May.
African-Americans make up a quarter of the Maryland's electorate, and could make or break the vote for same-sex marriage in November. Many are being guided by their church leaders to vote against the legislation, but also by their communities to vote for an African-American president who has supported same-sex marriage.
"I believe what the bible says. I can't see myself preaching anything against what it says," said Pastor John Robertson, but, "Everyone should vote for candidates that fit their belief system."
Robertson, of Kingdom Light Ministries, preaches from a converted nursery room on the second floor of a school center. He felt called by God to begin a church six years ago, and now leads the roughly 70-person African-American congregation each week in services, with help from most of his family.
A massive outpouring of support from the faith community on behalf of marriage!
Pastors for Marriage, a member group of the coalition Minnesota for Marriage, today announced that over 500 Christian pastors and leaders have endorsed Amendment 1, the marriage protection amendment. These 500+ Christian faith leaders represent Minnesota Assemblies of God, Lutheran, nondenominational, Baptist, minority, Presbyterian, Catholic, and other churches. They outline how their faith will guide them to vote YES on Amendment 1.
Pastor Steve Goold of New Hope Church stated: “As the author and architect of marriage, God has spoken clearly that marriage is to be between a man and a woman. These are unique and urgent times that shout the need to prevent the almost incomprehensible destruction that will come to society if that definition is permitted to be conveniently altered through the legal process. Bottom line for me as a Pastor—vote, vote yes, and enthusiastically encourage others to do the same. This is right and good.”
This statement, The Christian Vote on the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment, follows yesterday’s announcement by Billy Graham who stated that he “wholeheartedly endorse[s]” Amendment 1. -- Minnesota For Marriage
Leaders of almost all main faiths in 
"As parliamentarians from different political parties and none, we are united in supporting the institution of marriage defined in law as a union between a man and a woman. We recognise the value of a loving and committed relationship and we respect civil partnership, but affirm the distinctive value of marriage reflecting the complementarity of a man and woman often evidenced in parenthood.
