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Funny Things: Polling Data and Same-Sex 'Marriages'
BreakPoint ^ | 3 Sept 03 | Chuck Colson

Posted on 09/03/2003 7:17:55 AM PDT by Mr. Silverback

In preparation for what will be a major political fight, I re-read the recent LAWRENCE decision, in which the U.S. Supreme Court overthrew the anti-sodomy laws in Texas and other states.

I can't describe how dangerous the reasoning of the decision is. Not only does it give homosexual sex constitutional protection, but it also opens wide the door to same-sex "marriage." And state courts are now moving to legalize gay "marriage." It appears to be, not a matter of if, but when the Court imposes gay "marriage."

But a funny thing has happened. In a Gallup poll in May, the percentage of Americans who opposed same-sex "marriage" was 49 percent. But the same question, asked a month after the LAWRENCE decision this summer, saw the percentage opposing same-sex "marriage" climb to 57 percent. This happened despite a barrage of favorable commentary about gay rights in the mass media.

And funny things keep on happening. Last month, the Episcopal Church gave its "bishops the option of allowing the blessing of same-sex relationships." A victory for gay rights? Well, a WASHINGTON POST poll found that by nearly a two-to-one margin, Americans opposed that decision. Interestingly, the opposition was not only strong among regular churchgoers, but also among those who "rarely or never" attend church.

The same POST poll found that only 37 percent favored civil unions that provided same-sex couples "some of the rights and legal protections of marriage." The Post characterized this as a "precipitous" drop in support.

What happened? Well, one explanation is that gay rights advocates may have overreached. They mistook tolerance for gay individuals as support for their entire social agenda.

And as political scientist Alan Wolfe notes, there are limits to the tolerance of ordinary Americans. One limit is the doors to our churches. Most Americans consider marriage to be an "essentially . . . religious institution." Nearly 90 percent of Americans are married in religious ceremonies. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that when gay rights threaten to change marriage, many Americans start re-thinking their support for gay rights.

Knowing that the Supreme Court could take marriage out of our hands, the American people are looking for ways to keep control. This is, after all, a democracy.

And a funny thing is happening in Canada. An Ontario court recognized same-sex "marriage," and a bill to redefine marriage was introduced into Parliament. Now Canadians are writing to their legislators saying that they won't stand for it. Good for them.

The polls tell us that here in the United States the public is waking up. People don't want same-sex "marriages" or "civil unions" -- the phrase homosexual activists are now using.

This is our moment to act. The Church must be energized, and we Christians must equip ourselves with the information and arguments to make our case to our neighbors and our legislators. Call us here (1-877-3-CALLBP) so we can give you that kind of information.

We need to build support for the Federal Marriage Amendment. An amendment like that will take away the Court's ability to impose same-sex "marriage." The solution to this contentious issue is to let democracy work.


TOPICS: Canada; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Massachusetts; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: breakpoint; charlescolson; chuckcolson; homosexualagenda; polls; prisoners; samesexmarriage
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To: Protagoras
I don't think that any such moral authority exists. I leave the legalisms to others.

Do you think that for the first 150 plus years, the state laws criminalizing sodomy (and as far as I know, were universal among the states) were unconstitutional and people (such as Jefferson who was governor of Virginia which had such a law) just weren't enlightened enough to know it?

21 posted on 09/03/2003 9:54:33 AM PDT by First Amendment
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To: pram
You seem to have missed the part where I leave legalisms to others. I don't care if they were constitutional or not, I would support an amendment if that made it ok for you. Otherwise, I would have to conclude that your only problem with it is that it's illegal.

Homosexual activity is a sin, not a crime. (Or it shouldn't be anyway.)

22 posted on 09/03/2003 9:58:04 AM PDT by Protagoras (Putting government in charge of morality is like putting pedophiles in charge of children.)
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To: Mr. Silverback
hehe ! I hear ya ! ...

23 posted on 09/03/2003 9:58:15 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Check out the Texas Chicken D 'RATS!: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/Redistricting)
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To: editor-surveyor
a democratic republic

Call for prayer: He Calls on the church to wake up. We must assume some things in any short article. The author must not be required to make a comprehensive doctrinal statement everytime he writes something. Over time we come to know his positions. With Chuck Colson it is at that level.

24 posted on 09/03/2003 10:00:43 AM PDT by xzins (In the Beginning Was the Word!)
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To: pram
'Open Range'.............a Western Worldview movie!!

We try to avoid the 'previews' (and surely don't watch them) by seating late 15 minutes or so,...if you can have someone save you a good seat and cell phone you when the 'feature' is about to start,....it works.

(We do very few theater films,......I think our last one was years ago,....called, 'Conspiricay Theory',......we also enjoyed it.)

:-)

25 posted on 09/03/2003 10:04:06 AM PDT by maestro
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To: MeeknMing
Is there really a backlash in Canada? The Post gave me the impression that everyone was delirous with joy up there.
26 posted on 09/03/2003 10:06:41 AM PDT by Revenge Of Daffy-Duck ( { Viva Bush! Viva Double-U! })
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To: Revenge Of Daffy-Duck
I don't know. Apparently the Post and this article source paid for 2 different polls with different results then.

Imagine that, lol ...


27 posted on 09/03/2003 10:21:34 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Check out the Texas Chicken D 'RATS!: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/Redistricting)
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To: Mr. Silverback
Getting tired of the homo agenda being put in my face. BUMP
28 posted on 09/03/2003 10:46:17 AM PDT by CPT Clay
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To: xzins
"a democratic republic"

Not by the founders design!

That is the idea that got us into trouble. Originally voting required literacy, and an investment in the country. And one vote per family; no children voting; no husbands and wives cancelling out each other's vote.

A lynch mob is Democracy in action.

29 posted on 09/03/2003 11:28:49 AM PDT by editor-surveyor ( . Best policy RE: Environmentalists, - ZERO TOLERANCE !!)
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To: Revenge Of Daffy-Duck; MeeknMing
"Is there really a backlash in Canada? The Post gave me the impression that everyone was delirous with joy up there."

Having just come back from Canada two weeks ago, I can tell you that there is indeed a strong backlash in Canada, but it will come to nothing because the people have no power there. It is a nation formed by an act of an illegitimate parliament (Crown loyalists simply assumed control and declared themselves to be the parliament, then issued their charter).

The body-pierced street rats are overjoyed, but the heart of the country is saddened.

30 posted on 09/03/2003 11:38:35 AM PDT by editor-surveyor ( . Best policy RE: Environmentalists, - ZERO TOLERANCE !!)
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To: Mr. Silverback
When the happy couples dance at their "wedding" receptions, who leads?
31 posted on 09/03/2003 11:40:30 AM PDT by exile (Exile - proudly ticking off the Left since 1992)
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To: Mr. Silverback
This is, after all, a democracy.

This is a republic. I hate it that they have told everyone it is a democracy for so long people actually don't know the difference.
32 posted on 09/03/2003 11:42:10 AM PDT by Khepera (Do not remove by penalty of law!)
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To: editor-surveyor
Where in all this is the call to prayer?

Amen!

Eph 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places

33 posted on 09/03/2003 12:55:04 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration
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Comment #34 Removed by Moderator


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