Free Republic

Rick Santorum was a guest on KCWI's Great Day on Tuesday morning. Santorum talked about a number off issues in his 17-minute interview with the KCWI morning team, but when Meteorologist Jason Parkin asked what differentiates him from Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Santorum explained it was his view on marriage. "Marriage is probably the big thing. Ted has the position that states can do whatever they want with marriage," Santorum stated. "I don't believe that's true. Abraham Lincoln said that states don't have the right to do wrong. Santorum went on to explain his position in depth. I would offer...

Senator Ted Cruz has submitted legislation to create a constitutional amendment to allow states to determine what marriage is, and not federal judges. Days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on same-sex marriage, Senator Ted Cruz has filed two bills to protect states that bar gay couples from marrying. Cruz's legislation would establish a constitutional amendment shielding states that define marriage as between one woman and one man from legal action, according to bill language obtained by Bloomberg News. A second bill would bar federal courts from further weighing in on the marriage issue until such an amendment is adopted....

A judge in South Dakota ruled the state constitution's definition of marriage is unconstitutional because it does not allow same-sex couples to marry. In a decision rendered Monday, district court judge Karen E. Schreier ruled the South Dakota's Amendment C unconstitutional, but put a stay on her decision pending appeal. Schreier drew a parallel to the Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, which declared interracial marriage bans unlawful. "In Loving, the Supreme Court addressed a traditionally accepted definition of marriage that prohibited Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving from marrying," wrote Schreier. "Plaintiffs have a fundamental right to marry. South Dakota...

All I have to say is: God Bless MY Lt. Gov. (the man who I want as our ~next~ NC Governor). Looks like we finally have someone with guts who understands the true role of Federalism!! Just goes to show (along with the ruling yesterday out of Puerto Rico-along with their public rally for real marriage). That it's not too late on this issue!

Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., on Tuesday said that he agrees with potential 2016 presidential rival Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on the issue of gay marriage, which is back in the news because of the Supreme Court’s decision on Monday to reject requests from five states aimed at keeping bans on same-sex marriage in place.“I certainly agree with the senator," Jindal said during a Tuesday conference call, in response to a question from the Washington Examiner. "I think he has proposed, he is already proposing some legislation on this, I certainly agree with the senator. I do believe marriage is between...

div class="photo_caption">U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in an interview with The Washington Post's Dan Balz at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014. Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for same-sex marriage bans to be lifted in five states, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz called Monday for amending the U.S. Constitution to prevent either the federal government or the U.S. Supreme Court from overturning a state's ban on same-sex marriage.Cruz announced his plans in a statement Monday in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to let stand appeals court rulings allowing same-sex marriages in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah,...

<p>INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana House of Representatives approved a proposal Tuesday that would place the state's gay marriage ban in the state constitution, while leaving the door open to eventual approval of civil unions.</p> <p>The proposed ban, which cleared the chamber on 57-40 vote, now heads to the Indiana Senate, where members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are set to take up the issue.</p>

A constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, backed by President Bush and conservative groups, was soundly defeated in the Senate yesterday after proponents failed to persuade a bare majority of all senators to support the measure. Although most states have acted to prevent same-sex partners from marrying, seven Senate Republicans were wary of wading into the politically risky issue and voted against bringing the proposed amendment to a final vote. ..... Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.) and other GOP leaders had sought the vote as a way to help galvanize their party's conservative base at a time of flagging...

Attack Sends A Chilling Example of Consequences if Same-Sex Marriage Is Legalized in Minnesota Minneapolis – On Saturday, November 3, the Pioneer Press published a neutral editorial on the Marriage Protection Amendment concluding that “Minnesotans will decide how to vote on this issue. …the Pioneer Press is not endorsing one way or another.” Despite this neutral stance, many readers attacked it calling it “hateful”, “bigoted,” and “discriminatory.” “This is a perfect example of the kind of abuse and intimidation Minnesotans can expect if same-sex “marriage” is legalized in Minnesota,” said John Helmberger, Chairman of Minnesota for Marriage. “Our opponents like...

Evangelicals love all of God's children, but on Tuesday, they must make a stand. Should the moral conviction that marriage is a lifelong relationship between one man and one woman be put into the Constitution? This is a question faced by evangelical Christians, who overwhelmingly agree that this is God's desire for marriage. [ . . . ] In "Why Marriage Matters," researchers conclude that "whether American society succeeds or fails in building a healthy marriage culture is clearly a matter of legitimate public concern." Marriage is an important social institution, and healthy marriages can provide better outcomes for children,...

Proponents of same-sex marriage have attempted to reassure citizens that changing the meaning of marriage won't restrict the free-speech rights and religious freedom of those who oppose doing so. However, that's not the message sent by Gallaudet University's suspension of a top administrator simply for signing a petition to put the contentious social question directly to the people of Maryland, one of four states where marriage is on the ballot in November. The persecution of Angela McCaskill is just the latest telling indicator of the hostile climate surrounding those perceived as resisting efforts to redefine marriage. McCaskill, Gallaudet's chief diversity...

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future." -- JOHN F. KENNEDY There are countless wonderful programs and organizations dedicated to making sure that kids are safe, involved in school and off drugs, out of poverty, eating healthier, not engaging in self-destructive behavior, and achieving their dreams. I remember practicing "stop, drop and roll" in first grade, completing "Dare to Keep Kids Off Drugs" in fifth grade, and having teachers and counselors guide me through the right classes and activities to set me on a successful path to college. As a former teacher, I...

It should come as no surprise that the National Football League supports the right of its players to share their opinions on important public matters, nor should it come as a surprise that I personally support my colleagues' rights to voice their opinions. But the conversation during the last few weeks on the subject of same-sex marriage has told a different story -- one that appears to be drawing a false connection between supporting true American values like free speech and the institution of marriage, our most fundamental and important social institution. I think it is important to set the...

In the marriage debate, people frequently argue that how one chooses to define marriage doesn't affect other people's definitions of marriage, and because my definition is as good as yours, it should also be promoted by society. Many times it is stated: "What I choose to do in my marriage doesn't affect your marriage." However, same-sex marriage affects all of our marriages. First, to explain, private actions have public effects. All our actions, both private and public, define our identity. Being human, we are motivated to impart our identity to future generations. As we have seen, and understandably so, people...

On Nov. 6, Minnesota voters will decide whether marriage will be protected in our state Constitution as the union of one man and one woman. Opponents' reason for fundamentally redefining our bedrock social institution appears on yard signs that dot the metro area: "Don't limit the freedom to marry." Now, Minnesotans are nice folks, and we don't like to think of ourselves as needlessly limiting another's freedom. The truth is, however, we "limit" marriage in a variety of ways. You can't marry your sister or your father. You can't marry a 12-year-old, or two people, or someone who's already married...

Minnesotans United for All Families (MUFAF), the coalition opposed to the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment, is stalking supporters of the Amendment on Facebook. “MUFAF is encouraging its own supporters to use a new Facebook tool, the ‘kNOw tool,’ to stalk Minnesotans who plan to vote YES on the Marriage Amendment,” said Autumn Leva, Spokesperson for Minnesota for Marriage. “Once the ‘kNOw tool’ identifies a potential Amendment supporter on Facebook, this individual is targeted for ‘conversation’ in an attempt to convince him or her that the definition of marriage need not be protected.” “For those who support the Minnesota Marriage Protection...

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state of Washington has advised the Catholic diocese in Yakima, Wash., that its plans to conduct a special collection to benefit the campaign to defeat the state’s marriage equality law is illegal under the state’s campaign finance laws. Last week, Yakima Bishop Joseph Tyson sent a letter to pastors in 41 parishes of the Yakima Diocese asking them to announce a special collection that would go to “Preserve Marriage Washington,” the coalition fighting the same-sex marriage law that was passed earlier this year. Opponents of the law have successfully targeted the measure with a voter referendum...

<p>The Minnesota Supreme Court on Monday, Aug. 27, rejected a legal challenge to a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters to show photo ID at the polls.</p> <p>The high court tossed out a lawsuit from left-leaning groups who argued that lawmakers had failed to give voters the full scope of the changes that would result from the amendment.</p>

Washington D.C., Aug 22, 2012 / 06:03 pm (CNA).- Platform drafters for the Republican Party have approved language asserting a firm commitment to the defense of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. “The institution of marriage is the foundation of civil society,” the draft document states. “Its success as an institution will determine our success as a nation.” The document says that both experience and studies indicate that marriage has physical, emotional, academic and economic benefits for children. It reaffirms the party's support for marriage as the union of one man and one woman, while also...

BALTIMORE — A coalition of African-American churches is holding a prayer vigil to highlight its members’ opposition to gay marriage and urge Marylanders to vote against it. Members of the National Black Church Initiative will gather to pray at Israel Baptist Church in east Baltimore on Wednesday.