Dear Friend of Marriage,

The national fight to protect marriage is heating up!

Here's how the Associated Press reported it:

"Foes and supporters of same-sex marriage are gearing up for five costly and bruising statewide showdowns in the coming months on an issue that evenly divides Americans. It's an election year subplot sure to stir up heated emotions—even beyond the confines of North Carolina, Minnesota, Maryland, Maine and Washington state. National advocacy groups will be deeply engaged, and advertising is likely to surface from each side that outrages the other."

But here's how I responded:

"'It's crunch time,' said Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage, the paramount fundraiser for opponents of gay marriage. 'We view it as a massive opportunity for a national referendum.'"

A big challenge is also a massive opportunity. The voters of this country have been given a huge new opportunity to visibly send a message to the Supreme Court, to the pundits, and to the President: When it comes to marriage there is no red state/blue state divide. People believe marriage is the union of husband and wife.

In Washington state, Preserve Marriage Washington is out collecting signatures to put gay marriage on the ballot. Maryland Marriage Alliance is busy doing the same in Maryland. The battle for North Carolina is heating up for a May 8th vote. Minnesotans continue to organize for that state's fight.

Here's Kalley Yanta with the latest in a series of Minnesota Marriage Minutes:

I'm in Iowa next week for the well-named LUV rally (Let Us Vote!) to push for a state marriage amendment which would give Iowans the right to decide the future of marriage.

These are all tough fights, but eminently winnable. And remember, in the tough fights there is a huge opportunity—to show once again that we can stand up for what's right in this country, and win.

Our own founding Chairman of the Board, Prof. Robby George, was in federal court this week seeking a win for marriage. He is asking a judge to uphold marriage as the union of husband and wife—including the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which governs (or ought to govern) federal pension law.

In 2006, a woman named Ellyn Farley went to Canada and had a same-sex marriage ceremony. That ceremony was not legally recognized in the state where she lived at the time (Illinois), nor in Pennsylvania, where she later died of cancer. Ellyn designated her elderly mother the beneficiary of her life insurance and retirement packages, and left her partner Jennifer Tobits her Jeep, the condo they shared, and the cash in her bank account. But Tobits is now suing to take away from Farley's mother the benefits Ellyn left her, using the Canadian same-sex marriage to challenge not only Farley's last wishes, but the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

As Peter Breen, executive director of the Thomas More Society (which is representing Ellyn's mother in court) said, "The reason this case is so important is that the 3rd Circuit has not decided some of the key legal issues around same-sex marriage, relationships and DOMA."

Meanwhile, what's next for the progressives who want to raise your kids and grandkids in their morality?

If you need a little extra motivation in the face of great challenges, take a peek at this new children's book, "What Makes a Baby." It will probably be coming to a school near you soon, at least if the author has his way.

The author, Cory Silverberg, says this picture book will include information on all the (30!) ways parents can get a baby, including "a doctor, fertility clinic, adoption or foster agency; it might be a turkey baster and a friend; it might be a sperm donor or a surrogate."

According to Lifesite News, "The author intends that his 'book for kids about sex,' aimed at pre-schools through to 8-years-olds, will also be accompanied by a teacher's resource to assist its implementation in a school setting."

Pope Benedict spoke this week to the bishops of Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. He called on them to keep standing up to the secularist culture on marriage, because the issues as stake are so foundational:

"[P]articular mention must be made of the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage. The Church's conscientious effort to resist this pressure calls for a reasoned defense of marriage as a natural institution consisting of a specific communion of persons, essentially rooted in the complementarity of the sexes and oriented to procreation. Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage. Defending the institution of marriage as a social reality is ultimately a question of justice, since it entails safeguarding the good of the entire human community and the rights of parents and children alike."

The idea that we are made male and female for a reason, and called to come together in love in this thing called "marriage"—to give ourselves to one another, and to the children our unions can make—is too precious and too foundational to be surrendered without a fight!

My wife and I recently learned we have yet another reason to rejoice and to fight the good fight: We are expecting our eighth child!

Thanks for all that you've done to sustain the National Organization for Marriage in the great battle—and me personally.

Thank you for your cards, your emails, your prayers, your phone calls and your financial support.

I'm humbled and in awe of all that you've made possible.

God bless you!