Lately I have felt like I have been eating, sleeping, and breathing Proposition 8. I have the blessing of being a scheduler for my zip code for Proposition 8. I am not a very politically involved individual, but am grateful that I have had the opportunity to get involved. I have been spending my free time reading and researching the topic and most importantly, trying to figure our how to get more volunteers to help walk and phone registered voters in our zip code. Proposition 8 is that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Jeff and I had the chance to walk our neighborhood and poll people's opinions on the proposition this past Saturday. About half were for and half were against the proposition, but what amazes me the most is the indifference a lot of people feel about the subject, partly because of lack of information. Below are six consequences if Proposition 8 fails:
1) The California Education Code requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. Children in public schools will be taught that both traditional marriage and same-sex marriage are okay.
2) Churches will be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings that are open to the public.
3) Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father.
4)Religions that sponsor private schools which provide housing for married students will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if it runs counter to church doctrine.
5) Ministers who preach against same-sex marriage will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. (Has already happened in Canada).
6) It will cost money. A change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits.
Our dear Prophet has asked members for their best efforts in defending traditional marriage. The final line in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" states, " We call upon responsible citizen and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." I am gratefuly for my knowledge in our Heavenly Father's plan for us, and am grateful that I have the time and energy to defend it.
8 comments:
Just a heads up: Mike Huckabee recently gave an interview in which he holds Mitt Romney responsible for implementing gay marriage in Massachusetts.
Video
Welcome to the ProtectMarriage.com coalition.
I wish that more rank and file members of the LDS (Mormon) church would realize: the anti-gay coalition they've joined in California is one that includes folks who - given the chance - would vote their church out of existence.
Folks like Mike Huckabee and his Evangelical buddies.
Chino Blanco-
I am a little confused by your comment about the "anti-gay coalition" and what exactly you are referring to. Being a supporter of Prop 8 and an LDS member, does not in any way mean we are anti-gay, but rather that we are for traditional marriage.
And, as we rub shoulders in the Protect Marraige Coalition with others that "would vote the church out of existence" , I think we need to be grateful for the chance to be positive and powerful examples to them, and see it as a missionary opportunity.
You note that a lot people lack information the subject. Unfortunately, the brochure is filled with disinformation. Or to put it another way, it's not true.
1. Health education. Parents are already allowed to opt their children out of health ed over the subject matter. While there's some possibility that a health class would cover same-sex couples, it would be an accurate description of the law that both opposite- and same-sex marriages are legal.
2. Churches sued. There are already churches that will refuse to perform legal marriages. A good example is that Catholic priests won't marry divorced people. Some won't even officiate at an interfaith wedding. Clergy get to pick and choose. This will be be the same if Prop 8 fails.
3. Adoption. Prop 8 won't affect adoption laws in California. Same-sex couples may already adopt; marriage didn't change that. Adoption agencies had to follow the law before the Supreme Court ruled. The law will still be there if Prop 8 succeeds.
4. Housing. This is another matter which will not change no matter what happens with Prop 8.
5. Hate speech. The United States is not Canada. Our First Amendment rights make it unconstitutional to try people for "hate speech."
6. Lawsuits. After four years, Massachusetts hasn't seen a rise of marriage-related lawsuits. I'm not even sure where this one comes from. I suppose that if an organization or business wanted to give a benefit to opposite-sex married couples, but not to a same-sex married couple, there'd be a lawsuit. Religious groups would, however, be exempt from these.
i've read the the leadership of the LDS said that this issue must be met with honesty. Doesn't that require the supporters of Prop 8 to get their facts right?
John d-
Thank you for your interest on my blog. Before responding to your post, I would first like to discuss my personal beliefs. I testify that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, who has prepared a plan for us whereby we can find happiness in this life and return to live with Him again. Marriage between a man and a woman is central to this plan. While some in our society try to distort and undermine the meaning of marriage and its import, our Heavenly Father’s plan does not and will not change.
With regard to the truthfulness of the information I provided, I respond simply as follows:
With regard to education in public schools, it is not disputed that California law does indeed require that marriage be taught in public schools. There is not only a “possibility” that same-sex marriage will be taught in schools, but it is or will be required by law. While parents have the right to opt out of certain subject matter, a school, or the state, should not be teaching children that a consensual sexual relationship between any two adults is morally neutral. This is not the place or the function of schools. Moreover, the subject matter will (and already has) spill over into forums other than health education. It will not be long before California schools follow Massachusetts in telling parents that they do not have a right to notice that the subject matter will be taught, that it will be taught as acceptable and, again, morally neutral, and that they do not have the right to opt out, even at the K-6 level.
The right to religious freedom is protected by the U.S. Constitution. That does not change the fact that same-sex couples will sue religious institutions that refuse to perform the marriages, even if only in an attempt to change the law. If same-sex couples had simply accepted the 2000 definition of marriage as the law, and did not bring lawsuits, the Proposition would not even be at issue today. But it is, because the law was tested, just as the right to religious freedom has been and will be again and again. A simple internet search reveals that same-sex couples are planning or being encouraged to sue religious institutions for this express purpose, one argument being that a state cannot “license” an institution that does not provide equal protection. Unfortunately, the same litigious fate likely also awaits clergy that refuse to perform a “state” function (i.e. perform marriage ceremonies) or preach that homosexuality is a sin. The fact that the U.S. is not Canada does not change the fact that lawsuits will be brought, as spurious as they may be. This will unneccessarily cost states and institutions millions of dollars.
While it is true that same-sex couples may have the legal right to adopt in California, it is also true that there are valid and legally recognized rights to place religious restrictions on adoption, even in California. This will be eroded and attacked. Indeed, it is already being attacked.
Religious schools and universities are already receiving pressure to provide married housing for same-sex couples. Legal action attempting to force a lowered standard is always the next step after pressure itself fails.
I believe that traditional marriage is sacred and ordained of God, even before the world was formed. I know that this life was not the beginning and this life is not the end. I know that our actions and decisions in this life have eternal consequence. I know that Christ lives and that He loves each one of us. I know that He can and will answer individuals seeking to sincerely know His eternal truths.
"The right to religious freedom is protected by the U.S. Constitution. That does not change the fact that same-sex couples will sue religious institutions that refuse to perform the marriages, even if only in an attempt to change the law. If same-sex couples had simply accepted the 2000 definition of marriage as the law, and did not bring lawsuits, the Proposition would not even be at issue today. But it is, because the law was tested, just as the right to religious freedom has been and will be again and again. A simple internet search reveals that same-sex couples are planning or being encouraged to sue religious institutions for this express purpose, one argument being that a state cannot “license” an institution that does not provide equal protection. Unfortunately, the same litigious fate likely also awaits clergy that refuse to perform a “state” function (i.e. perform marriage ceremonies) or preach that homosexuality is a sin. The fact that the U.S. is not Canada does not change the fact that lawsuits will be brought, as spurious as they may be. This will unneccessarily cost states and institutions millions of dollars."
The passage or failure of Prop 8 makes the filing of such lawsuits neither more nor less likely. We live in a nation where citizens have the constitutional right to have their grievances addressed in a court of law. But whatever lawsuits *are* filed will be defeated by California churches (like yours) who have always enjoyed--and continue to enjoy--the legal right to discriminate and be bigoted according to the dictates of their own consciences. That's why the Catholic Church in California can legally bar women from the priesthood, despite the fact that gender discrimination is illegal in the workplace. It's also why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in California could (up 'til the late-70's) bar black citizens from its clergy, despite the fact that racial discrimination had been against state and federal law for decades. In both cases, the churches had been (and continue to be) immune from legal action forcing them to act contrary to the dictates of their own theological policy. The same is the case today, at this very moment, when both of the above churches (and many others) refuse to conduct marriages for gay couples, despite the fact that it's now legal for gays and lesbians to wed. No church is finding itself forced out of the state. To the contrary, the churches' right to discriminate and be bigoted according to the dictates of their own scriptures continues at this very moment, and will continue if Prop 8 fails.
So, rest assured, your work for Prop 8 provides no necessary defense to your church. All it does is enshrine, in the state constitution, a piece of bigoted legislation declaring that some Californians are second-class citizens. In my opinion, that's shameful. The California that I believe in doesn't stand for that kind of bigotry, it stands for equality and tolerance. It stands for letting consenting adult citizens do what makes them happy (as long as they're not hurting others)... and that goes for straight Catholics, straight Latter Day Saints, gay Episcopalians, bisexual Baptists, lesbian Unitarian Universalists, transgender agnostics. Everyone.
Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA
"I believe that traditional marriage is sacred and ordained of God, even before the world was formed. I know that this life was not the beginning and this life is not the end. I know that our actions and decisions in this life have eternal consequence. I know that Christ lives and that He loves each one of us. I know that He can and will answer individuals seeking to sincerely know His eternal truths."
That's awesome. But would you mind keeping it in your church and out of secular documents like the Constitution of the State of California?
Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA
It's disappointing to learn of fellow Americans who would stoop to peddling lies to support their position. Google "Six Consequences if Proposition 8 Fails" ... these are six totally false talking points that the "Yes on 8" campaign is trying to use to fire up their target voters. Anyone who bothers to study the issue will quickly learn that these six "consequences" are total fabrications and sad examples of ugly fearmongering from the "Yes on 8" campaign. Shame.
I think you are a great person no matter what!! Good for you supporting your beliefs.
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