JUDGE DECLARES CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Ignoring the will of 78% of voters,
on Tuesday, a state court judge threw out an amendment to the
Louisiana constitution defining marriage as the union of a man
and a woman. The amendment passed on September 18th.,
during the state’s primary election.
Judge William A. Morvant of the 19th.
Judicial District Court ruled the amendment was “flawed” because
it had more than one purpose – banning both gay marriage and
civil unions. Judges will use any excuse to read their values
into the law. Apparently, nothing will keep them from having
their way – certainly not a little thing like democracy.
The case was brought by a homosexual
group called Forum for Equality, which first tried to keep the
measure off the ballot. Opponents of marriage protection have a
standard operating procedure – do anything to prevent a popular
vote on marriage. If that fails, do whatever it takes to have
the results nullified.
The decision is under appeal to the
First Circuit Court of Appeals. Some judges insist on riding
roughshod over popular sovereignty. I pray the day never comes
when the people of this country find it necessary to take
recourse to the remedy set forth in the Declaration of
Independence, which noted that, “Whenever government becomes
destructive of these ends
(life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) it is
the right of the people to alter or abolish it….” That day will
come, if we fail to use the power of the ballot – now -- to
curb judicial tyranny.
CATHOLIC
CHARITIES ORDERED TO PAY FOR CONTRACEPTIVES
By refusing to hear an appeal of a
California decision, the United States Supreme Court let stand a
ruling which forces that state’s Catholic Charities to provide
birth control pills to employees, despite the fact that
artificial contraception violates Catholic doctrine.
California has a law requiring
employers to provide employee health insurance that covers
contraceptive devices. The law contains an exception for
churches, but not for religious charities. Dale Schowengerdt, an
attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, which submitted a
friend of court brief in this case, says: “Today contraception;
tomorrow abortion.”
From the perspective of liberal
judges, that much-vaunted wall of separation works in only one
direction – Christians can’t use government to express their
values, but politicians can use the state to force Christians to
violate the tenets of their faith.
Christians can’t hide from the
culture war. Neutrality is impossible. Either America will be
brought back to the Godly principles of the Founders, or the
ungodly will drive us into the catacombs.
OHIO STATE
DECIDES TO STOP VIOLATING FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
Under threat of a lawsuit, Ohio
State University has decided to allow religious groups on campus
to decide their membership.
Like many colleges and universities,
OSU has a so-called non-discrimination policy, which prohibits
discrimination based on religion and “sexual-orientation.” The
Christian Legal Society (CLS) was determined to be in violation
of this code, for limiting its leadership to professing
Christians whose lives reflect Biblical values.
CLS noted that its meetings are open
to everyone – including non-Christians and those involved in a
homosexual lifestyle. However, as a religious group, it wanted
its leadership to reflect its principles.
Naturally, the University made no
provision for freedom of conscience. An institution of higher
learning apparently believed there was no Higher authority.
Instead of free inquiry, students were expected to bow their
heads and worship the prevailing dogma of non-discrimination.
Under threat of legal action, the
school relented. At least at Ohio State University, Christians
will be allowed to be Christians.
PROCTOR AND
GAMBLE BOYCOTT
As we noted in an earlier Patriot
Pastor Alert, Proctor and Gamble (makers of Tide detergent,
Crest toothpaste and Pampers, among other products), has
passionately embraced the homosexual agenda.
The company donated $10,000 to an
effort to repeal a 1993 Cincinnati ordinance, passed by 62% of
voters, which prevents the city from granting special rights
to homosexuals.
Equally disturbing, the company
places ads in gay publications which celebrate homosexuality.
An ad for Downy Wrinkle Releaser shows what appears to be two
men in bed together and clothing strewn on the floor. The
headline reads: “You were more concerned with taking them off
than folding them.” The ad, which ran in the gay newspaper
Xtra, may be viewed (if you have a strong stomach) on the
American Family Association website –
http://www.afa.org.
American Family Association has
launched a boycott of Proctor and Gamble products. It’s urging
Christians to: 1) Boycott P&G products 2) Call Chairman A.G.
Lafley (513-983-1100) to express your concern with his
companies policies 3) Register your participation in the
boycott at
http://www.pgboycott.com
and 4) and spread the
word about P&G’s anti-family agenda and it’s support for the
forces of degeneracy.
EARLY VOTING
With less than three weeks to go
before what could be the most important election in our
lifetimes, voting by absentee ballot has already begun.
You don’t have to be away from
home to take advantage of this option. Many states make
liberal provision for absentee voting. To find out who
qualifies for using an absentee ballot, go to the website of
your state’s secretary of state.