FMA Languishing in Committee; Calls Go Out for Christians to Act
by Allie Martin, Jody Brown, and Fred Jackson
April 26, 2004
(AgapePress) - Christian activists are being asked to contact their congressional representatives in an effort to keep alive a proposed Federal Marriage Amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.
The American Family Association (AFA) is one of many pro-family groups in America that has labored long and hard for a Constitutional amendment that would recognize and protect the traditional, biblical interpretation of marriage -- the union of one man and one woman. Efforts over the past several years by radical homosexual activists, who desire for same-sex "marriage" to be legalized, have spurred on groups like AFA, Family Research Council, Campaign for Working Families, and Focus on the Family to call for Congress to protect marriage from that homosexual onslaught.
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Dr. Don Wildmon |
Legislation to that end has been introduced in both houses of Congress. But according to Dr. Donald Wildmon, founder and chairman of AFA, the legislation faces the prospect of dying in committee because many members of Congress do not want to tackle the issue."I've never seen supposedly courageous politicians be as fearful of anything as they are this. They really wish this issue would go away. They just don't want to deal with it," Wildmon observes. "They are afraid of the media, and they are afraid of the homosexual groups."
That is why Wildmon says lawmakers on Capitol Hill need to hear from those who support the biblical idea of marriage. He says Capitol Hill has been flooded with calls from homosexual activists. He believes it is essentially now or never for Christians to speak up -- starting with church leaders.
"The finest thing a minister or a pastor could do is to stand behind his or her pulpit ... and encourage [their] people to call their congressmen and senators -- period," he says. "Because if there is not an outpouring on this subject, I can assure you, it will die in committee."
Gary Bauer | |
Gary Bauer of Campaign for Working Families echoes Wildmon's call for people to contact their member of Congress -- and not to take anything for granted. "Don't assume anything ... even if your representative is generally conservative," he says. "Pro-family members are encouraged by these calls."And even though lawmakers may wish the issue would go away, Bauer says that will not happen. "There will be a national standard for marriage," he says. "The only question is who will decide it: un-elected judges or the people?"
Massachusetts JPs Warned
Meanwhile, justices of the peace in Massachusetts -- particularly those who hold religious convictions against same-sex marriage -- have been told they have a decision to make in the next few weeks. On May 17, a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court order is set to take effect. Homosexual couples who live in that state will be allowed to legally get married.
This past weekend, court officials who will be responsible for ensuring those marriages can take place met with their superiors for specific instructions. One of the people they heard from was Daniel Winslow, Governor Mitt Romney's legal counsel.
Winslow said while the governor understands and respects that people have very strong personal views both for and against homosexual marriage, the law is clear. He says the expectation from the governor is that all state officials must abide by that law -- and if they cannot, they should resign. There are no exemptions for religious reasons.
Associated Press notes that another state official warned those gathered that refusing to marry homosexual couples could leave them individually liable and subject to possible punitive damages in court.
