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Monthly Archives: February 2011

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE: MAGGIE GALLAGHER MAKES THE CASE FOR MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND

February 8, 2011 – 5:06 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2011

CONTACT: Elizabeth Ray, x130 or
Mary Beth Hutchins, x105 at 703-683-5004

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE:
MAGGIE GALLAGHER MAKES THE CASE FOR MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND

"SB 116 doesn't just add more people to marriage, it changes marriage."
- Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of NOM

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the National Organization for Marriage and one of the nation's leading spokespersons for the societal benefits of traditional marriage, today led off the testimony in favor of retaining marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman in the Maryland Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings.

Gallagher made a powerful case that marriage is and should always be an institution of great importance to civil society as well as one steeped in religious tradition, because it is the only institution purposely established to connect children to their biological parents and tie those parents to the raising of their children into the responsible future generations of citizens.

"Marriage is the union of husband and wife for a reason: these are the only unions that can make new life and connect children in love to their mom and dad. SB 116 doesn't just add more people to marriage, it changes marriage. As so many pro-gay marriage voices testified at this very hearing, gay marriage is grounded in the belief that this view of marriage is like objections to interracial marriage--something that should be discarded in law, culture and society. If Maryland adopts this radical new view of marriage, it will have consequences." Gallagher stated.

Gallagher was asked by local supporters of marriage, including the Maryland Catholic Conference and the Association of Maryland Families, to lead testimony in opposition to SB 116, which would change the definition of marriage in Maryland from a man and a woman to "any two persons."

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in Maryland is stacked with gay "marriage" supporters, with a majority of the committee signed on as sponsors or co-sponsors of the bill. However, passage of the bill on the Senate Floor is uncertain, with supporters at least 4 votes short of the 24 needed for passage.

"Despite Maggie's powerful testimony, we know this committee today was stacked against us, and we expect the legislation to be on the Senate Floor as early as next week," said NOM President Brian Brown. "That is where the real action will be, and I would urge all of Maryland's State Senators to review Maggie's testimony before they vote on the Floor next week. This is no casual act they are considering."

Brown further indicated that NOM and its allies in Maryland will, if necessary, utilize Maryland's referendum process to block passage of this radical redefinition of marriage so that Maryland voters will have final say.

"The legislature should heed the overwhelming call of their constituents not to change marriage in Maryland," said Brown. "If they proceed down this radical path, the voters will surely overturn them in 2012."

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President, or Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the  Board, of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, [email protected]@crcpublicrelations.com, (x130) or Mary Beth Hutchins, [email protected]@crcpublicrelations.com, (x105) at 703-683-5004.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE: MAGGIE GALLAGHER MAKES THE CASE FOR MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND

Maggie in Maryland: Final Update

February 8, 2011 – 4:11 pm

The chairman of the committee just announced that in all 146 people who signed up to testify will get to speak for 3 minutes.  So—provided no senator asks a single question—the hearing will run another 6 hours.

I'm heading home.

By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Marriage, Maryland, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

Maggie in Maryland: What's in a Name?

February 8, 2011 – 3:55 pm

I just learned the woman who said she is a conservative Republican and that no republican had ever lost an election for voting for SSM is Margaret Hoover.

Maybe Republicans shouldn't take election advice from anyone named Hoover. (Yes, she's a descendant of Herbert.)

By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Marriage, Maryland, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

Maggie in Maryland: Mary Ellen Russell of the MD Catholic Conference Testifies

February 8, 2011 – 3:51 pm

Mary Ellen Russell is now testifying for the Maryland Catholic Conference.

"It is clear why marriage has always been recognized as a man and a woman: if we leave that, it's not clear what the parameters of relationships that should be considered marriages are."

She also said "We are also concerned about the religious liberty consequence—that is not the only concern, we're not here to say we are fine if we get exempted—we think its of concern to the whole society."

By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Catholic Church, Marriage, Maryland, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (7)

ON THE SCENE: Maggie in Maryland

February 8, 2011 – 3:35 pm

I'm in the packed hearing room.  At this point we have a parade of black pastors explaining their objections to SB116. "A sleeping giant" one of them said.

In the first hour's panel, many, many lawyers claimed that this bill would protect both religious freedom and civil marriage. That's what the title claims.

But Prof. Robin Fretwell Wilson's testimony blew them out of the room, by pointing out that every other state that has passed a gay marriage bill has included more conscience protection than this bill and that offering conscience exemptions is perfectly consistent with Maryland and U.S. anti-discrimination principles.

I was watching the pro-SSM legislators faces.  They were paying attention.

I was also amused by the conservative GOP woman (I didn't catch her name) who testified that gay marriage is a conservative position; and that "no republican legislator had lost his or her seat for voting for same-sex marriage."

Some pretty outdated Human Rights Campaign (HRC) talking points, after the last election.

By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Marriage, Maryland, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on ON THE SCENE: Maggie in Maryland

Feb 25-26th: Ruth Institute Conference in TN!

February 8, 2011 – 10:42 am

Dr. J introduces Love & Live in the Divine Plan: A family conference co-hosted by the Ruth Institute and Aquinas College:

Find out more at the official website!

By NOM Staff | Posted in Events, Marriage | Comments Off on Feb 25-26th: Ruth Institute Conference in TN!

Alert: Maggie Gallagher to Testify Tuesday in Maryland SSM Hearings

February 7, 2011 – 5:04 pm

NOM's Chairman, Maggie Gallagher, will testify in support of our historic understanding of marriage -- in law, culture and society. To hear her, monitor this page on the Maryland General Assembly website tomorrow (under Judicial Committee Proceedings). The hearing is set to begin at 1PM EST.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on Alert: Maggie Gallagher to Testify Tuesday in Maryland SSM Hearings

UPDATE: Prop 8 Case Will *NOT* be Tweeted

February 7, 2011 – 4:00 pm

Earlier today we passed along the news first published by NBC that the Prop 8 case, if/when it reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, could be tweeted.

Turns out, NBC confused the British Supreme Court with our U.S. Supreme Court. The ".co.uk" ending to a website URL is important!

By NOM Staff | Posted in California, Prop 8, Same Sex Marriage, Supreme Court | Comments (1)

Elder Dallin Oaks Calls for Unity in Efforts to Protect Religious Liberty

February 7, 2011 – 2:23 pm

At least that's the way the Deseret News reported it. The LA Times version (surprise, surprise!) is somewhat snarkier, turning to professional atheists and a former Mormon to contest his claim, rather than any serious legal scholar.

The LA Times reporter also manages never to note that Elder Oaks was formerly Dean of the University of Chicago Law School, and a respected legal scholar.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (28)

MD author: SSM and the incubation of Big Brother

February 7, 2011 – 1:57 pm

Stella Morabito, a Maryland resident, writes in the Washington Examiner, "the trend towards same-sex marriage seems far less a civil rights issue than a scheme to divide the family and conquer the individual."

Maryland legislators will hold public hearings Feb. 8 on a bill to recognize same-sex marriage. This bill and the legislature that will consider it neatly capture the growing disregard in our society for the collective rights, responsibilities and roles of birth-parents. [Continue reading]

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Breaking: Indiana Judiciary Committee Passes Marriage Amendment

February 7, 2011 – 12:19 pm

We already have some movement on the news item we posted earlier this morning:

Our friends in Indiana say their Judiciary Committee just passed the Marriage Protection Amendment on a straight party line vote of 8-4.

UPDATE: the Associated Press confirms.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Indiana, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Undeclared lawmakers to decide fate of marriage in MD

February 7, 2011 – 10:48 am

The Baltimore Sun:

As a lifelong Roman Catholic, state Sen. Katherine Klausmeier grew up with the clear understanding that marriage is between a man and a woman.

But the Baltimore County Democrat also empathizes with young gay couples, including two women who recently sat in her office and described the joy of raising children.

As the Senate prepares to consider making same-sex marriage legal in Maryland, Klausmeier wakes up in the morning believing she'll vote one way, but by the end of the day has a different idea.

... Klausmeier is one of a half-dozen lawmakers who have yet to declare a position on the bill — a group large enough to determine its fate.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Indiana GOP takes another shot at marriage amendment

February 7, 2011 – 10:43 am

From the AP:

Republican lawmakers in Indiana are resuming their push for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

A legislative hearing is scheduled for Monday. Opponents say the amendment isn't needed because Indiana law already bans gay marriage, but supporters worry that courts could overturn that law.

An amendment banning gay marriage passed the General Assembly in 2005 when Republicans controlled the House and Senate, but constitutional amendments must go through two separate Legislatures before being put to a public vote. In 2006, Democrats won control of the House and the proposal never cleared that chamber.

Republicans now control both chambers, giving the proposal a better shot of passing. If it clears the Legislature this year, it would have to pass again in 2013 or 2014 before getting on the ballot.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Indiana, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on Indiana GOP takes another shot at marriage amendment

Maggie talks Marriage with Oregon Faith Report

February 7, 2011 – 10:31 am

A good interview to begin the week:

"Georgene Rice of KPDQ-FM interviews Maggie Gallagher with the National Organization for Marriage in California. She discusses the Supreme Court’s recent decision to deny an appeal to the D.C. same-sex marriage decision. They discuss whether it was a procedural decision or if it goes to the merits of the question of same-sex marriage. She also outlines the other defense of marriage actions that are being considered in the courts all across the nation."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Same Sex Marriage, Washington DC | Comments Off on Maggie talks Marriage with Oregon Faith Report

Religion Reduces Risk of Domestic Violence

February 7, 2011 – 9:30 am

In a similar vein, from the same source:

"Domestic violence risk. According to national surveys, men and women who frequently attend religious services are about half as likely as nonattenders to perpetrate physical aggression against intimate partners, according to both partners (Appendix B). This link persists net of the offender's social integration and support, alcohol and substance abuse, and low self-esteem and depression (Ellison & Anderson, 2001). More frequent attenders also report less often being a victim of partner aggression in marital, cohabiting, or dating relationships (Appendix B). Further, being a CP or biblically conservative does not predict being a perpetrator or victim, nor does having an interfaith marriage. Still, in the rare cases (7.5%) in which marked disparities exist in spouses' biblical beliefs, conservative men married to more liberal women are more likely to be aggressive than men married to women with similar biblical views (Ellison, Bartkowski, & Anderson, 1999). Overall, higher religious attendance decreases the risk of exhibiting or experiencing domestic violence, although substantial disagreement between partners on spiritual matters may increase the risk of partner aggression." [source]

By NOM Staff | Posted in Science | Comments Off on Religion Reduces Risk of Domestic Violence
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