Marriage is sacred

I love California. It is where I grew up and where my heart still thinks it belongs. I feel like we live in the day where the constitution truly hangs by a thread and sometimes I feel helpless. You may not be from California, you may not live there now, but maybe you can still help. If you know anyone who does live in California, please talk to them about this issue. What happens in one state can easily be adopted by another state.

On the California Ballot this November will be a proposition (#8 to be exact) asking to define marriage as such:

"Only Marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

Seems simple, but this is a very serious thing. I personally do not want my daughter being taught in her kindergarten class that the handsome prince can marry the other handsome prince and live happily ever after. Maybe that is a bit extreme, but I don't want her to be taught that homosexual marriage is just as acceptable and as common and as sacred as a marriage between a man and a woman.

The following Information is taken from www.protectmarriage.com

About Proposition 8

"Proposition 8 is simple and straightforward. It contains the same 14 words that were previously approved in 2000 by over 61% of California voters: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Because four activist judges in San Francisco wrongly overturned the people’s vote, we need to pass this measure as a constitutional amendment to restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

Voting YES on Proposition 8 does 3 simple things:

1. It restores the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and what Californians agree should be supported, not undermined.

2. It overturns the outrageous decision of four activist Supreme Court judges who ignored the will of the people.

3. It protects our children from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage, and prevents other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs.

The Consequences:
The Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage did not just overturn the will of California voters; it also redefined marriage for the rest of society, without ever asking the people themselves to accept this decision. This decision has far-reaching consequences. For example, because public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum, schools will now be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergartners. By saying that a marriage is between “any two persons” rather than between a man and a woman, the Court decision has opened the door to any kind of “marriage.” This undermines the value of marriage altogether at a time when we should be restoring marriage, not undermining it.

The Solution:
Vote YES on Proposition 8 to overturn the outrageous Supreme Court decision and restore the definition of marriage that was approved by over 61% of voters. Proposition 8 is NOT an attack on gay couples and does not take away the rights that same-sex couples already have under California’s domestic partner law. California law already grants domestic partners all the rights that a state can grant to a married couple. Gays have a right to their private lives, but not to change the definition of marriage for everyone else.Passing Proposition 8 protects our children and places into the Constitution the simple definition that a marriage is between a man and a woman."

FAQ: http://www.protectmarriage.com/files/faq.pdf

There has been some talk about LDS temples being unable to perform a marriage ceremony if enough people vote "NO" on Prop 8. It would be against the law for them to deny a homosexual couple to be married with in its sacred walls. SO it is said that the temples would only be allowed to seal couples after they were married somewhere else first. I have heard this is how some European LDS temples have to act, though I haven't done the research to support this comment. Maybe you can:) At any rate, it seems unfair that a redefinition of marriage should take away my right to freedom of religion to practice my belief in my own place of worship.

For more on the excerpt below see:
http://www.protectmarriage.com/files/JOINT_STATEMENT_PASTORS_AND_CHURCHES.pdf

"Religious organizations cannot currently be forced to perform same sex marriages HOWEVER if we do not vote yes on prop 8 a redefinition of marriage may open up doors to other threats and losses of existing protections such as:
- A religious leader or church may be sued for refusing to allow their facility to be used for a same sex marriage. A religious leader may also be sued for refusing to perform a marriage for a same sex couple."

This is a history changing proposition and the ramifications of such a decision must be heavily weighed. Please encourage any Californians you know to vote Yes on prop 8. Vote yes to protect the sanctity of marriage and family.

Another article found in the LA Times I thought was worth reading comes from a liberal democrat. See:
http://www.protectmarriage.com/article/in-case-you-missed-it-la-times-op-ed-protecting-marriage-to-protect-children

California- Vote YES on prop 8