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How the Democratic Platform Language on SSM Threatens Religious Liberty

August 16, 2012 at 10:00 am

William C. Duncan at National Review Online on how the Democratic National Committee's platform language calling for the national redefinition of marriage also contains serious threats to religious liberty:

"...The most interesting sentence is the feint about religious liberty. It’s hard to imagine a less generous concession. The party, in this statement, is committed to allowing churches (not individual people of faith or religious organizations) to “decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament.” This exceedingly narrow language should be taken as a warning to believers — the party is willing to let churches perform marriages in accordance with their doctrines (gee thanks) but that’s about it. On all of the other predictable religious-liberty conflicts (employment benefits, social services, business decisions), the plank says nothing. The italicized language even seems to suggest the party would consider removing the ability of clergy to civilly solemnize marriages.

Marriage is not a partisan issue and good pro-marriage Democrats will surely object to including this outlandish statement in the party’s platform. It should, however, focus the minds of those who care about marriage and religious freedom about what is at stake if the people who think this is a good idea are given power."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Politics, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

More Details Emerge About FRC Shooter

August 16, 2012 at 9:45 am

The Washington Post:

"...Corkins had been volunteering at a U Street NW community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, according to officials there.

... Allan P. Chan, 28, a former George Mason student, said he met Corkins at a campus gym about six years ago. They worked out together, lifting weights, and began to socialize and watch television together. Chan described Corkins as secretive and somewhat odd. Corkins’s Facebook page included no photos, not even his own, and he displayed an intense interest in the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

“He was a fanatic of Nietzsche,” Chan said.

... In the lobby, the intruder began “making statements” in opposition to the Family Research Council’s social conservatism, a law enforcement official said."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Culture | Comments (1)

Erick Erickson: Human Rights Campaign Maintains Family Research Council is a “Hate Group”

August 16, 2012 at 9:30 am

Erick Erickson of Red State (and a contributor to CNN politics):

I got this email from Fred Sainz, the Vice President for Communications and Marketing at the Human Rights Company:

I have a great deal of admiration for you and like watching you on CNN. These Tweets are beneath you.

It’s really unseemly to insinuate — in any way — that HRC had anything to do with the violence that occurred today at FRC.

FRC IS a hate group. It’s not HRC that calls them that; it’s the Southern Poverty Law Center that has classified them as such – years ago. Have you seen the things that FRC says about gay people? I think if you did you wouldn’t be so quick to associate yourself with them

...I’m more than happy to have a dialogue with you on the issue but would ask that you not make irresponsible connections that are completely illogical.

He is referencing several tweets I made noting that just yesterday the Human Rights Campaign called Family Research Council a “hate group.” (See here and here)

I noted that if a gunman had entered the Human Rights Campaign’s offices a day after being labeled a “hate group” by a conservative organization, the media would be denouncing the conservative group as inciting the shooting and spend a week on homophobia, etc.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Human Rights Campaign, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (9)

Video: Brian Brown Calls for Civility on CNN

August 16, 2012 at 9:25 am

CNN:

National Organization for Marriage's Brian Brown says that the Family Research Council shooting was “politically motivated” and labeling the organization a hate group is “totally irresponsible.”

Brown says, “All the indications from multiple sources that were there, say the shooter actually came in and started attacking the policies of the Family Research Council.”

He continues, “Everything points to the fact that this was politically motivated…. Groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center which has labeled the Family Research Council, which is a mainstream group, a hate group. That sort of talk… is totally irresponsible and unacceptable and I think this incident makes that clear.”

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Culture, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (54)

Politico: Marriage Advocate Pleads for Civility

August 16, 2012 at 9:15 am

Politico reports on Brian Brown's appearance on CNN this morning:

Yesterday’s shooting at the conservative Family Research Council in downtown Washington, D.C., is symptomatic of a broader lack of civility in political discourse, the head of an organization promoting traditional marriage said Thursday.

“[The] responsibility is on the shooter but we need to have a civil debate over issues like redefining marriage,” said Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, appearing on CNN’s Early Start. “But we should not be attacking and labeling as hate groups those [with which] we disagree. We should condemn violence of any sort but we should also be responsible.”

He singled out the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“[When] you take the Family Research Council, which is again a mainstream group that does a lot of work in D.C., the Values Voters Summit is a huge summit in Washington, D.C., that stands up for traditional values, and you have a spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center actually saying this group is no different than the Aryan Brotherhood, you’ve crossed a line,” Brown said. “It’s totally unacceptable.”

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Culture, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on Politico: Marriage Advocate Pleads for Civility

"Supporters of [SSM] Shouldn't Count Their Chickens Before They Hatch"

August 16, 2012 at 9:00 am

M. D. Harmon explores the real reason gay marriage activists in Maine are touting polls which they claim show them ahead -- it can demoralize supporters of marriage even though we can (and will!) win:

"...Polls before previous votes have shown large leads for the side pushing wholesale changes in the meaning of marriage, too, but the lead vanished on Election Day.

In truth, such claims of inevitable victory are a political tactic, designed to discourage opponents from contributing to the defense of marriage or going to the polls to vote "no" on this radical measure.

Fortunately, there are enough races on the ballot Nov. 6 to attract a large number of Mainers. Supporters of a "yes" vote shouldn't count their chickens before they hatch.

... These clueless elitists seem not to understand why insulting people who support traditional marriage as "bigots" has outraged millions.

So they must have been surprised when Americans decided to vote with their feet -- and in this case, their feet had wings. And thighs. And drumsticks. -- Morning Sentinel

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

No Violence, No Comments Promoting Violence

August 16, 2012 at 8:00 am

A group of 23 LGBT organizations denounced the shooting of the FRC guard. This is good. The debate about whether delegitimizing dissent by calling it "hate" played a role in this will have to play out over the next few weeks. We hope sincerely these groups reconsider the rhetoric, frequently expressed, that all opposition to gay marriage is motivated by hatred and a desire to discriminate.

A note on NOM's policies: we denounce all violence and harassment against all Americans on either side of the gay marriage divide. We believe good people disagree even on very important moral issues like the future of marriage.  We have repeatedly said that we see gay people as part of America --friends, neighbors and fellow citizens-- with whom we agree on some things and disagree on others.

NOM's comment policy does not permit suggestions of violence of any kind. Any comments like that will be deleted as soon as we get a chance to review them.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (11)

Mitt Romney Condemns FRC Shooting

August 15, 2012 at 3:05 pm

LifeNews:

While the White House has yet to respond, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney commented on the shooting, saying: “I am appalled by the shooting today at the offices of the Family Research Council in our nation’s capital. There is no place for such violence in our society. My prayers go out to the wounded security guard and his family, as well as all the people at the Family Research Council whose sense of security has been shattered by today’s horrific events.”

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Mitt Romney | Comments (6)

Eager Minnesota Voter Attempts to Support Marriage Amendment Yesterday at the Polls!

August 15, 2012 at 3:00 pm

Several voters were so eager to cast their vote for the Marriage Protection Amendment that they showed up early!

Even though it’s not on the primary ballot, the hotly-debated marriage amendment appears to be drawing voters to the polls this Tuesday.

“I’m interested in voting for the marriage law,” said one voter outside Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in south Minneapolis, a neighborhood polling place.

She was referring to the proposed amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. -- CBS Local

Not to worry -- everyone will get their chance on November 6th!

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Humor, Marriage, Minnesota, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (7)

The National Organization for Marriage Offers Prayers For "Hero of G Street," Calls for End to Harmful and Irresponsible "Hate" Label

August 15, 2012 at 2:40 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2012

Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)

"Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as 'hateful' must end."—Brian Brown, NOM president—

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C.—Today, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) immediately condemned today's attack upon the Family Research Council (FRC) and offered its "heartfelt prayers" for the heroic security guard who apprehended an armed assailant expressing disagreement with FRC's positions before opening fire, shooting the security guard in the process. The FBI is investigating the incident as a case of domestic terrorism.

"Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as 'hateful' must end," said Brian Brown, President of NOM. "The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Family Research Council a 'hate group' for its pro-marriage views, and less than a day ago the Human Rights Campaign issued a statement calling FRC a 'hate group'—they even specified that FRC hosts events in Washington, DC, where today's attack took place."

"NOM has always condemned all violence and vilification connected to our ongoing national debate about the meaning and definition of marriage," Brown stated. "For too long national gay rights groups have intentionally marginalized and ostracized pro-marriage groups and individuals by labeling them as 'hateful' and 'bigoted' -- such harmful and dangerous labels deserve no place in our civil society and NOM renews its call today for gay rights groups and the Southern Poverty Law Center to withdraw such incendiary rhetoric from a debate that involves millions of good Americans," added Brown.

Brown concluded: "Violence is never the answer, and on that we all must agree, or risk the consequences."

###

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Press Releases | Comments (134)

AP: "New Buffalo Bishop Leading Fight Against Gay Marriage"

August 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm

The AP:

A procession of priests, cardinals, archbishops and bishops will lead off the official installation of the new Roman Catholic bishop of Buffalo.

The installation Mass for Bishop Richard Malone is scheduled for Friday at St. Joseph Cathedral.

The 66-year-old Malone spent eight years as bishop in Portland, Maine. Pope Benedict XVI selected him in May to succeed retiring Buffalo Bishop Edward Kmiec (KIHM'-mick).

Malone will stay active in Portland for now as apostolic administrator for the diocese while the Vatican searches for a new bishop there. The appointment will allow Malone to continue to lead the church's fight against the legalization of gay marriage in Maine. A statewide referendum on same-sex marriage is scheduled for Nov. 6.

 

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Catholic Church, Maine, Marriage, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (5)

The Hero of G-Street

August 15, 2012 at 1:45 pm

D.C. Police Chief calls "Leo" -- the security guard at the Family Research Council who subdued the armed intruder -- a hero for what he did today:

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the shooter walked into the lobby of the building at about 10:45 and was confronted by the security guard as if the guard was asking him where he was going.

The man then took out a gun and opened fire on the guard, Lanier said. The guard and others wrestled the man to the ground, disarmed him and waited for police, she said. The guard was then taken to the hospital and is in stable condition, the chief said.

The shooter is in FBI custody and has not yet been charged, authorities said.

“The security guard here is a hero, as far as I’m concerned,” Lanier said. ”He did his job. The person never made it past the front.” -- The Washington Post

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility | Comments (7)

MSNBC's Thomas Roberts Embraces "Freedom From Religion," Pegs Chick-fil-A As Racists

August 15, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Tim Graham of NewsBusters:

[MSNBC's Mr. Roberts told the New York Observer]: We asked Mr. Roberts how the gay movement—consumed over the past week in a battle over the actions of Chick-fil-A, a Georgia-based chicken sandwich-monger—could distinguish between signal and noise. Mr. Roberts didn’t see it that way. “They’ve been a longstanding company, I think since the 1950s, based in Georgia. I would love if we could figure out what they did for Loving v. Virginia back in the 1960s,” he said referencing the landmark case striking down anti-miscegenation laws. “I would venture a guess: I think I know what they would say."

“The great thing that I love about our country is that though we were founded on freedom of religion, most important and most overlooked is that we were founded on freedom from religion … I fully believe in traditional marriage. You want one, go get one.”

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Culture, Media | Comments (5)

Brian Brown on Election Day at Chick-Fil-A

August 15, 2012 at 12:30 pm

A must-read from our President Brian Brown on Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and what it means for the marriage elections in November:

"...This isn’t the first time that supporters of traditional marriage have expressed themselves. The usual method is for them to cast ballots in state elections to preserve marriage. Over 46 million voters in 32 consecutive states have quietly voted to preserve traditional marriage. In no state election has same-sex marriage ever won.

But the public nature of Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day is different from the privacy of the voting booth. We heard from hundreds of people who were heartened to see the long lines — vivid confirmation that they are not alone, that a strong majority of Americans agree with them that the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman is worth defending. People were grateful to belong to a community where they could openly meet with like-minded citizens and talk about marriage, family, and the truth of God’s design for society.

The genie is out of the bottle, and there’s no way for gay-marriage activists to put it back. NOM has launched a call to Americans to eat at Chick-fil-A not just once, but every Wednesday through the election. It will benefit a noble family-owned business and, moreover, help people to build on the sense of community that so many of them were surprised to experience last week. We’re encouraging people to go to www.thankchickfila.com to register their support, and then to bring their family, friends, and church groups every Wednesday to enjoy some great chicken, and some wonderful camaraderie in the community of faith. Go before or after church services, have your Bible-study group meet at the restaurant, bring your book club, etc. Whatever you do on Wednesdays, do it at Chick-fil-A."-- National Review

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Election Watch 2012, Marriage Election Watch | Comments (3)

Security Guard Shot at Family Research Council

August 15, 2012 at 12:15 pm

We do not know who did this or why. Our heartfelt prayers go out to the injured security guard and all of the good people at the Family Research Council:

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments after an FRC security guard was shot this morning:

“The police are investigating this incident. Our first concern is with our colleague who was shot today. Our concern is for him and his family.”

The Washington Post is updating this story as more information becomes available.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Washington DC | Comments (5)
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