Senate to Debate and Vote on Marriage Protection Amendment June 5-7
- May 26, 2006 - 1
Dear Friends:
The U.S. Senate will debate and vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment (S.J. Res. 1) June 5-7. An amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman is the only sure means to protect traditional marriage.
We need only look to European nations that have legalized same-sex marriage to realize the expansion of marriage devalues the institution altogether. In these countries, heterosexual couples are increasingly choosing to cohabitate rather than marry and out of wedlock births are escalating. In Denmark and some regions of Norway, rates of out of wedlock births for first-borns have risen to 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively.
Same-sex marriage could undermine religious freedom as well. Religious liberty scholars—including both opponents and advocates of same-sex marriage—acknowledge that legalization of marriage in the United States between two homosexuals could pose a threat to religious freedom. They suggest that discrimination of sexual orientation could be treated like racial discrimination. In other words, scholars believe it is not a far-fetched idea that churches that oppose homosexuality could lose their 501©3 tax exemption status for exhibiting so-called discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
We have seen that state constitutional amendments defining marriage as between one man and one woman are not enough to secure this God-ordained institution. Last year a federal judge struck down Nebraska’s amendment on marriage—despite its passage in 2000 by over 70 percent of voters—and just a few weeks ago, a Georgia court ruled its marriage amendment unconstitutional—in the wake of 76 percent of voters affirming traditional marriage in 2004. Multiple other states have pending cases to challenge state constitutional amendments on marriage.
The bottom line is marriage is under attack and legalization of any form of marriage other than between one man and one woman will undercut the foundation of our great country. The Psalmist reminds us that “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Efforts to chip away at this foundation are well underway.
That’s why your senators need to hear from you. If you believe that marriage should be restricted only to the union of one man and one woman, please contact your senators and tell them to vote “yes” on the Marriage Protection Amendment (S.J. Res. 1). Just dial the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the senator of your choice. Or, if you prefer email, simply click here and follow the instructions. Even if you know your senators will vote for the amendment, your call or email can still make a difference. Senators can be influenced to alter their intended votes based upon reports of what other Senate offices are hearing from their constituents.
This is your opportunity to be counted as one who values God’s design for marriage. Please call or email your senators today to help ensure that generations to come will grow up in a nation that still recognizes marriage as we have known it since Creation. I hope you will share this Action Alert with your friends as well. Let’s overwhelm Washington with our call for passage of the Marriage Protection Amendment. May God bless you and His sacred institution of marriage.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Marriage, Sexual Purity, Homosexuality, Citizenship, Christian Citizenship, Legislation, National, Social Issues
1 comments (post your own) feed
1 On Jul 23rd, 2007, at 1:49pm, Greg Z wrote:
To many homosexuality is a sin. To many it is not. Shouldn’t people be allowed to make their own choice regarding marriage and let God, not us, judge them. Don’t forget the separation of church and state and they realization it isn’t everyone’s belief that homosexuality is a sin. Canada has gay marriage and marriage there is just as strong (or weak) as it is in America. Even several European allies have gay marriage or civil unions. This seems to be the scape goat for the real issues facing marriage, infidelity, divorce . . . Lets address those issues. I am the son of divorced parents. They were a straight couple. I don’t see any reason why a gay couple couldn’t succeed where my parents failed.
You don’t have to support homosexuality to support gay marriage. Let people make their own mistakes if thats how you view. Show your compassion, allow marriage equality.