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Monthly Archives: July 2011

Video Replay: Sponsor of IL Civil Union Bill Falsely Claimed Threat to Adoption Agencies "Red Herring"

July 13, 2011 – 2:20 pm

On April 26th, 2009, Rep. Greg Harris --one of the lead sponsors of the Illinois Civil Unions bill that become law this June-- dismisses concerns raised by the Thomas More Legal Center's Peter Breen as "red herrings":

When Mr. Breen brings up (at the 3:00 mark) the threat to adoption agencies run by religious groups like the Catholic Church, Rep. Harris responds:

"There's nothing in there [the bill] that forces them. We don't change the adoption code and I think these are sort of red herrings."

Fast-forward to this week, where the state of Illinois is attempting to do exactly what Mr. Breen warned they would do if the bill was passed, and exactly what Rep. Harris dubbed a "red herring."

Red herring? Think again.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Civil Unions, Law, Religious Liberty | Comments (1)

Gov. Cuomo Affirms: NO Religious Liberty Protections for Marriage Clerks

July 13, 2011 – 2:15 pm

Via LifeSiteNews:

Reacting to the news that the first New York State town clerk has resigned rather than sign her name on a same-sex “marriage” license, Gov. Andrew Cuomo insisted Tuesday that “the law is the law.”

“When you enforce the laws of the state, you don’t get to pick and choose which laws,” he said, according to the NY Daily News. “You don’t get to say, ‘I like this law and I’ll enforce this law, or I don’t like this law and I won’t enforce this law’ - you can’t do that.”

“So if you can’t enforce the law, then you shouldn’t be in that position,” he added.

Actually, Governor Cuomo oversaw changing the law that was.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (26)

Mayor Bloomberg Video: "Without Dean Skelos SSM in NY Would Not Have Happened"

July 13, 2011 – 11:20 am

Via the New York Observer:

Yet more reason to allow the people - not the Republican leadership - to vote on marriage!

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (7)

Brian Brown in NYTimes: July 24th Rallies Are "Beginning of a New Chapter in a Long Fight" to Protect Marriage

July 13, 2011 – 10:45 am

LetThePeopleVote.comThe New York Times on the next chapter in the fight to protect marriage:

... on July 24, the first day that gay couples will be permitted to wed, opposition groups are planning rallies in Albany, Buffalo, New York City and Rochester to begin what they say will be a multimillion-dollar campaign to push for an amendment to the State Constitution that would outlaw same-sex marriage.

Brian S. Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, a national group that lobbies against same-sex marriage, said he did not consider the enactment of New York’s law to be a final defeat.

“The notion that you pass same-sex marriage and the issue goes away, that’s one of the biggest lies told by proponents for redefining marriage,” Mr. Brown said.

Instead, he described July 24 as simply the beginning of a new chapter in a long fight, though one fraught with uncertainty.

“The people of New York want to vote on this issue,” Mr. Brown said. “They don’t believe the process was either transparent or fair, and it basically stole the right of the people of New York to vote.”

The National Organization for Marriage has pledged to spend at least $2 million in 2012 seeking to defeat seven lawmakers who provided the pivotal votes to pass same-sex marriage — and whose photographs are now featured on the group’s Web site.

So far, in about two weeks, the organization has raised about $60,000 toward its goal, but Mr. Brown said there was no doubt that it would ultimately spend millions advocating against same-sex marriage and the lawmakers in New York who made possible its passage.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Let The People Vote, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (6)

NY Clerk Quits Over SSM: "I Had to Choose Between My Job and My God.”

July 13, 2011 – 10:00 am

Laura Fotusky, a town clerk in western New York has resigned rather than be forced to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples when that becomes law in New York. This took place shortly after a second clerk (Barbara MacEwen in Volney, NY) was informed by her local DA that she would face prosecution for failing to personally grant licenses.

This is Laura's story, via the New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom website:

There was no protection provided in the [same-sex marriage] legislation for Town Clerks who are unable to sign these marriage licenses due to personal religious convictions, even though our US Constitution supports freedom of religion.”

... The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures. Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God.

... “I would be compromising my moral conscience if I participated in the licensing procedure. Therefore, I will be resigning as of July 21.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve the Town as Barker Town Clerk.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (41)

Reality TV Cast Sues To Legalize Polygamy

July 13, 2011 – 9:00 am

In NPR:

The latest episode in Sister Wives is playing out in the courtroom, not on cable. On Wednesday, the Brown family — the husband, four wives, and 16 children who star in the reality TV show— plans to file a lawsuit in federal court in Utah. The family members say the state's anti-bigamy law is unconstitutional and that Supreme Court precedent backs them up.

Kody Brown and his family made their television debut on Sept. 26, 2010. "I'm a polygamist," said Brown. "But we're not the polygamists you think you know."

Brown and his four wives knew they were taking a risk when they signed the deal with the network TLC. But Robyn Brown, wife No. 4, told viewers they wanted to make a point.

"It's OK for us to live this way, honestly," she said. "I'm sorry — but this is a nation of freedom of choice. We should have this choice, and I want my kids to know that."

... This isn't about personal rights, says Marci Hamilton. It's about a state's ability to regulate marital relationships. Hamilton, an expert on polygamy law and a professor at Cardozo School of Law, says there is a mountain of evidence that polygamy is bad for women and children.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Polygamy | Comments (16)

Update: Judge (Temporarily) Stops Illinois from Banning Catholic Charities From Foster Care

July 12, 2011 – 6:08 pm

An update on the situation we've been following closely in Illinois in the wake of the bad civil unions bill that went into effect there June 1st:

A judge in Springfield today ordered that Catholic Charities can keep serving foster children despite the state’s decision to eliminate their contract.

The order is temporary and a hearing will take place in August on the issue.

Sangamon County Judge John Schmidt issued the ruling after both sides offered lengthy arguments in court this afternoon. Schmidt said that his order freezes the state’s contract with Catholic Charities as it was before the state decided to cut it off earlier this month.

Three Catholic Charities groups sought the injunction to continue serving families and abiding by Catholic principles that prohibit placing children with unmarried cohabiting couples.

"We're not sure what the state is intending to do or how it's intending to do it," said Peter Breen, an attorney with the Thomas More Society representing Catholic Charities. "It's a surprise. But it's also very disturbing. The impact on the [nearly 2,000] children in Catholic Charities care will be catastrophic." --Chicago Tribune Clout Street blog

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Catholic Church, Civil Unions, Illinois, Law, Religious Liberty | Comments (16)

Catholic Charities Asks For Immediate Injunction After Illinois Terminates Adoption Contracts

July 12, 2011 – 12:02 pm

More fallout from Illinois' bad civil unions bill, which is now about to push Illinois Catholic Charities out of doing adoptions and foster care state-wide:

Catholic Charities' long history of providing foster care services in downstate Illinois could hinge on a Sangamon County judge's decision after an emergency injunction hearing Tuesday afternoon.

Attorneys for three Catholic Charities agencies, including Peoria, filed for the emergency hearing - the latest round in a tug-of-war between Catholic Charities and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services that began when civil unions became law in June - after DCFS notified them their contracts would not be renewed for the 2012 fiscal year.

... According to the letter DCFS officials sent to Catholic Charities in Peoria, Joliet, Springfield and Belleville, the state agency could not renew the contracts "because your agency has made it clear that it does not intend to comply with the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act."

... The suit seeks to continue Catholic Charities' agencies long-standing practice of licensing only married couples or single non-cohabiting individuals for state-funded foster care and adoptions. Before the civil unions law, DCFS and Catholic Charities had operated with the understanding that the agencies could refer co-habitating couples to other agencies.

The agencies have argued that the civil unions law could create unprecedented upheaval for more than 2,500 foster care cases in 89 counties unless the law is changed or clarified to allow them to continue the precedent already set by the state. --PJStar.com

Governor Quinn - who campaigned for the civil unions bill and signed it into law - supports the will of the state against the wishes of catholic charities:

“We're not going back,” he said. “They made a choice. Any organization that decides that because of the civil unions law that they won't participate voluntarily in a program, that's their choice.” --Chicago Tribune

Jack Smith, editor of the official newspaper for the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, documents the 180-degree switch completed by gay advocates on this question before and after the bill passed:

Opponents of the bill charged that creating civil unions would impinge on religious freedom. The bill’s proponents went out of their way to say it would not – in order to get it passed.

According to an op-ed in the Quad City Times,

The bill sponsor, Sen. David Koehler, clearly promised in his Senate floor testimony that the law would not impact “the social services” or the “adoption agencies” of religious organizations.

Equality Illinois, a major proponent of the bill, even put together a widely distributed Q & A on the bill intended to dismiss “myths” about the bill’s intentions. One question read:

5. How would the Act affect religious affiliated adoption agencies?

Answer: The Act would not impact faith-based adoption agencies or adoption procedures. The Act does not amend the Adoption Act, which governs both public and private adoption agencies.

But then the bill passed, and religious freedom went out the window as some in state government, the Catholic governor included, began to argue that the passed bill does not in fact exempt Catholic Charities from facilitating adoptions to those in civil unions.

... Other states would do well to consider Illinois’ experience. When it comes to the hierarchy of freedoms in a post-civil union/same-sex marriage state, the desires of same-sex couples for affirmation trumps every other right – no matter how well you craft your legislation.

Welcome to yet another example of religious liberty being curtailed in the public square by gay rights advocates.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Catholic Church, Civil Unions, Illinois, Law, Religious Liberty | Comments (31)

NY DA: Refuse a Marriage License to NY Gay Couple? You Risk Jail

July 12, 2011 – 11:02 am

LetThePeopleVote.comIn response to Barbara MacEwen (a town clerk in Volney NY) saying she does not want to personally issue same-sex marriage licenses, the Nassau County DA responded as follows (PDF link):

“The Marriage Equality Act provides that an application for a marriage license cannot be denied on the grounds that the applicant parties are of the same sex and the law affords no discretion to public officials charged with granting marriage licenses. Therefore, any such refusal may be subject to criminal prosecution.

“The religious exemptions in the Marriage Equality Act are inapplicable to town and city clerks serving in their license-granting roles, and a public official’s intentional refusal to issue marriage licenses to qualified same-sex couples may constitute Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor defined in section 195.00 of the New York State Penal Law.”

Or, as one gay blog headlined this story, "NY DA: Refuse Marriage License to Gay Couple and Your A** is Headed to Jail."

Welcome to one of the first practical consequences of redefining marriage.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (66)

NY Sen. Diaz: "My Spirit Continues To Be Uplifted"

July 12, 2011 – 10:28 am

LetThePeopleVote.comFrom his official page on the NY Senate website:

During the past two weeks, I have worn a badge of honor as the only Democrat in the New York State Senate to oppose Governor Andrew Cuomo's legislation to redefine our definition of marriage from one man and one woman.

Christians are never afraid to be alone because we know that we are never alone.

I have been blessed the past two weeks with an outpouring of support from countless New Yorkers who have embraced me on the street, called me, written to me, and posted online thanking me for standing strong for my convictions. These include:

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan: "I have read your July 7 piece. Bravo! Consider me a grateful ally who admires you deeply." In Christ, +Timothy M. Dolan

Pastor Beverley Kazmierczak from Lancaster, NY: "Keep on fighting for the truth of GOD’s word."

Unification Church in Latham, NY: "Thank You! and God Bless You Ruben Diaz! for Standing With God’s Viewpoint! Dios de Bendiga!"

He goes on to list many more messages of support, from New York and across the nation as well.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Will SSM Lead to Gay Adoption Boom in NY?

July 12, 2011 – 10:10 am

LetThePeopleVote.comVia the AP:

... adoption lawyers and agencies in New York say they're getting ready for a baby boom as same-sex couples emboldened by the state's new gay marriage law take the next step and try to adopt children.

... For lesbian couples, the road to parenthood is relatively easy. All that's needed is a sperm donor or a cooperative male friend who will agree to terminate parental rights when the baby is born. The other partner then adopts her partner's child through a "second-parent" adoption.

... For men or for women who can't conceive, the process is more complicated.

Cowen and Truong said the urge to start a family began after they got married in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2005. They looked into hiring a surrogate mother, but that route was expensive and fraught with legal hurdles. New York prohibits surrogacy-for-hire, so they must be done in another state.

Adopting from another country was a difficult option because most countries bar same-sex couples from adopting.

... A 2009 Census Bureau survey showed no evidence of an increase in the percentage of same-sex couples adopting in Massachusetts after that state legalized gay marriage in 2004. But the sample was so small—only about 100 couples—that estimates are very imprecise, Gates said. Figures from the 2010 Census should offer a more accurate look.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (13)

Study Argues Tax/Spend Policies Less Important to Economy than Healthy Families

July 11, 2011 – 4:00 pm

A reminder that what we are fighting for --a healthy marriage culture-- will help solve our nation's economic woes as well:

A new study from the Family Research Council argues that the health of the family is the single most important factor in the American economy.

“The key investors in both physical and human capital throughout America’s history have been stable, married families,” the authors note. Yet government policies have consistently undermined family life. The resulting problem is summed up in the title of the study: “We cannot tax, spend, and borrow enough to substitute for marriage.” --Catholic Culture

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Research/Study | Comments (11)

Curt Smith to NY GOP: There's No Courage in Changing Gay-Marriage Vote

July 11, 2011 – 3:30 pm

LetThePeopleVote.comCurt Smith, author and host of WXXI radio's "Perspectives" show goes on to list some questions the media failed to ask during the debate over marriage in New York. Here's a couple:

1) Traditional-only marriage has been accepted by, among others, Jesus, Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Winston Churchill, Charles De Gaulle, Hubert Humphrey and Martin Luther King. “Pray tell,” as Churchill said, what does the Gang [of pro-SSM GOP Senators] know that all of the above did not?

3) As Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia notes, if gay marriage and sodomy are legal because all morality-based laws are unconstitutional, prostitution, polygamy, bigamy and pornography must beconstitutional. This might please Alesi’s new progressive base. Will it please him?

5) Me-too Republicans have backed Democratic tax-and-spend, blown 23rd and 26th District special elections, and have now ensured losing the State Senate in 2012. (Given GOP deceit, who would ever trust it again?) How will the Gang feel about Dems again owning statewide everything there is to own?

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)

Gay Activists Organize Against Berlin's Incoming Archbishop

July 11, 2011 – 3:00 pm

From a Catholic Culture summary:

Gay activists in Berlin are already mounting opposition to Archbishop-elect Rainer Maria Woelki, because of the prelate’s public statements against homosexuality.

The new archbishop, who was appointed last week, will not be installed until August 27. But secular leaders in Berlin have questioned whether a Church leader who “openly has a problem with gay people” can survive there, and have denounced his “backward” religious beliefs.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Europe, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (9)

What Next After SSM? New York Archbishop Concerned Christians Will Be Sued

July 11, 2011 – 2:30 pm

LetThePeopleVote.comVia LifeSiteNews:

American Christians may one day find themselves facing legal penalties simply for believing marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, a fate already suffered by believers in other countries, said the leader of America’s most influential Catholic pulpit this week.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York reflected on his blogThursday on the recent legalization of gay “marriage” in New York, and what repercussions true marriage supporters can expect in the future.

... “If the experience of those few other states and countries where this is already law is any indication, the churches, and believers, will soon be harassed, threatened, and hauled into court for their conviction that marriage is between one man, one woman, forever, bringing children into the world,” wrote the archbishop.

Christians in the UK, Canada, and elsewhere have lost their jobs, been dragged through lengthy “human rights” proceedings, and faced steep fines for questioning the dangerous homosexual lifestyle, declining to facilitate gay “marriages,” or even failing to acknowledge “gay pride” events.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Catholic Church, New York, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (20)
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