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Washington Lawmakers move toward gay marriage
Today Washington State Senate passed a measure by a 28 to 19 vote that will allow Domestic Partnerships.
Voting was as follows: 3/1/2007
Voting Yea: Senators Berkey, Brandland, Brown, Eide, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Haugen, Hobbs, Jacobsen, Kastama, Kauffman, Keiser, Kilmer, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Marr, McAuliffe, Murray, Oemig, Poulsen, Prentice, Pridemore, Regala, Rockefeller, Spanel, Tom, and Weinstein .
Voting Nay: Senators Benton, Carrell, Clements, Delvin, Hargrove, Hatfield, Hewitt, Holmquist, Honeyford, McCaslin, Morton, Parlette, Rasmussen, Roach, Schoesler, Sheldon, Stevens, Swecker, and Zarelli Absent: Excused: Senators Pflug and Shin
The following is the text from a press release sent out by Faith & Freedom today.
________________
Gary Randall, President of Faith & Freedom said, “By passing the domestic partnership bill today, the Washington Legislature has chosen a path toward gay marriage.”
Senator Ed Murray, Rep. Jim Moeller, and other sponsors of the bill have made it clear to both the press and the public that the ultimate prize is “marriage equality” – or gay marriage.
Randall said, “I think a number of legislators who are not comfortable with voting for gay marriage chose this vote as an alternative. Unfortunately, rather than a helpful compromise, this decision will most likely prove to be an enabling step toward same-sex marriage, as we are seeing in New Jersey.” Randall also said, “As this plays out over the next year or so, some lawmakers may find themselves at odds with their constitutes, in that a majority of Washington citizens do not favor gay marriage.”
Jon Russell, Senior Field Director and lobbyist said, “I think the bill is inherently discriminatory because it extends benefits to homosexuals and elderly unmarried couples living together while excluding many other classes of relationships.”
Faith & Freedom is reviewing the viable options of response.
28 Comments:
Once again I post the following for the edification of all. As of yet, there has been no specific statement addressing Jesus' straightforward, clear-cut teaching and, therefore, it stands as the Word of God, as the genuine reflection of Judeo-Christian values.
A genuine, Biblical marriage is "that which God has joined together" (Mk 10). Jesus teaching regarding a genuine, godly marriage excludes any reference to the state. Therefore, the effort by Evangelicals to make state sanctioned rights (call them what you will) as synonymous with marriage results in the degradation of true, Godly marriage to nothing but a mere artificial creation of the state with state (vs. God) provided rights/responsibilities.
I find this, at best, distasteful and uniquely disparaging to both the institution of God as well as the humanity involved in the arrangement. To degrade marriage in the manner that it appears that FNF and Evangelical/Roman Catholics have done is really a slap in the face to God and the arrangement He created.
Therefore, the real issue is whether disciples of Jesus Christ will work to maintain the high view of marriage as put forth by Jesus Christ or the degraded view of marriage as proposed by Evangelicals and Roman Catholics. Genuine disciples will reject the states involvement in their marriages since their "yes must be yes" and their "nos must be no". Our integrity and honesty before man and God will be the glue of that holds us together.
I welcome Biblically based comment on what I believe is the key issue rather than the on-going meddling in the affairs of the world (and the related dissimulation which is constantly manifest in and by those doing so) which God has specifically relegated to Himself alone (ICor5:12,13; "my kingdom is NOT of this world" - Jesus Christ; "Our battle is NOT against flesh and blood but principalities and powers" - Paul).
Sincerely,
In Christ,
Human
So is Gary going to be sending out instructions for the rapture? Surely the end of society and the world is at hand if the vote was 28-19...
Perhaps in thinking about his response, Gary should indicate how this legislation negatively affects people. Of course, that would mean trying to editorialize with facts.
When there are so many things in the world that could be improved, he and his dedicated staff waste their time on things like this. It's a good thing there was a tree there otherwise he might have crashed into the forest.
“I think the bill is inherently discriminatory because it extends benefits to homosexuals and elderly unmarried couples living together while excluding many other classes of relationships.”
What married couples are now excluded? Same gendered, opposite gendered, opposite gendered that would take a significant income hit by being federally recognized as civilly married.
Bit hypocritical to support discriminatory access to the civil contract of marriage and then whine about a bill designed to minimize the impact of its discrimination.
Gary,
I am uncertain how you define hypocrisy. The reality is that you do not care one bit about these other classes of relationships that are, as you say, being discriminated against. You would be the first one to discriminate against them if in power since you don't recognize them (as you and I both know). Further, the whole thrust of your ministry is to discriminate. Therefore, for you to condemn this bill because of discrimination does, as I have pointed out in the past, sound about as hypocritical and just plain stupid as I think a statement can be.
A genuine disciple of Jesus Christ does NOT engage in this type of behavior - how far have you fallen?? I pray the Lord will open your eyes not to condone homosexual marriage but to being honest in your assessement of this legislation with respect to your genuine convictions.
Sincerely,
In Christ,
Human
We should be surprised by this vote .
First we become the laughing stock of the United States for letting out 100 felons , including a convicted child molester .
Now our great state has seen fit to give special rights to a special interest group ..
Lets see your a bigot if you do not support marriage , so the democrats who voted for this are bigots.
Useful idiots is a better term .
Ironically, the real threat to marriage now seems to be coming from the christian right. As they realize that they can't stop gay marriage, I'm hearing increasing talk from the right about getting government out of marriage completely. This would leave it strictly to the churches w/o government recognition.
Apparently, they want to keep marriage from gays so badly that they'd basically nuke it as we know it.
Already been nuked . Look at Paris Hilton . Read your own talking points silly boy .
While the below is not perfectly on topic, I believe it is essential to our larger discussion and does relate to the issue of homosexuality in our culture.
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW -
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/02/coulter-edwards/
this is essential listening if you want to get the gist on Ann Coulter - specifically calling John Edwards a faggot (replete with all the cutting body language). This is at a Conservative gathering (their response tells you the level of maturity and which spirit they are coming from).
Can anyone tell me this manifests Jesus Christ in any way??????
Gary, Jon - Isn't this worthy of comment?? Do you identify yourselves with Ann Coulter? Do you not rather condemn her as evil and anti-Christ???
Lord, please wash us from such people who use the name conservative but do evil and laugh while they do so!!!
Sincerely,
In the purity and holiness of Jesus,
Human
Human aka Vishanti--if you were a Christian you would know that Christian and conservative are not the same thing. While many Christians are conservatives, many conservatives are not Christians. Republican doesn't mean Christian although many Christians are Republican because of social issues.
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Anon - despite your false accusation, you made one of your first true statements.
You are correct and my post does not disregard that reality. I am not a Republican and I know Christians who are not Republicans. My point in the post was to provide recognition for the saints of the evil within the so-called conservative ranks. Do not be beguiled by the single issue of abortion (which started this ball rolling at a certain point). The Right wing political spirit is what killed Jesus Christ - we don't want it or need it. Ann Coulters' despising of human beings shows the evil spirit that energizes her - as well as being manifestly visible in her presentation.
My point is for genuine disciples to see what I hope is obviously evil and realize that the entire conservative conference LAUGHED and ENTERTAINED themselves with evil. Christ calls us out of such a house (he that hath an ear - let him hear) - assuming genuinely relating and following Christ is important.
This does not mean automatic membership in Democratic or any other party's membership. It does mean to recognize that the conservative mantra is manifestly evil and you, in fact, are being used by it and sucked into its evil if you participate with it.
Peace,
In Christ,
Human
Human. Has it ever occured to you that your views do not square up with Mars Hill church, yet you profess to be a part of that fellowship and you speak to virtually every issue as though you are Soloman while many of your views do not square with mainstream Christianity or reason for that matter.
Are you on drugs or something?
Anon -
I am waiting for specifics....
Whenever you are able.
BTW - As far as I have ever heard, Mars Hill is focused on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior - sounds like we are pretty much in agreement!! What about you?
Sincerely,
In Christ
Human
It is obvious Human--to all--that 9:18 and 12:32 are correct and that you are full of baloney. Stop playing games with this site. You are hurting yourself and your homosexual cause.
Regarding anons @9:18 and 12:32, one is left wondering where FFN staff with their admonitions against making the discussion personal and about Human are. Or is it only when Human defends himself that FFN staff take issue with making things personal?
7:51, why is it that bigots are always flummoxed by "your" and "you're"?
"...and the common people heard Him gladly..."
If the common people do not hear you gladly - you are preaching a different gospel than Jesus did.
All posts after 10:56 are posted by the same person.
And Human you missed their point in "their admonitions against making the discussion personal and about Human".
Human:
“I welcome Biblically based comment on what I believe is the key issue rather than the on-going meddling in the affairs of the world”
Are you suggesting that the world has the right to meddle in the things that God as established as right and wrong? Yet we as the Christians have no business meddling in the affairs of the world? Last time I checked the institution of marriage as we know it today was instituted by Christians in civil government during the Middle Ages.
The Civil government and the Church have shared that responsibility through out history. In England and Wales, the Marriage Act of 1773 made it mandatory that a formal ceremony of marriage be performed for couples who were in a “common-law-marriage”. It required permission from parents if the bride and groom were under the age of 21. It also required that the male was at least 14 years old and the female be at least 12 years old. When the act was passed it was also required, under pain of nullity, that “Banns” or an announcement be published in a local parish.
In some places like Scotland and the Channel Islands when the law was set forth it required that the marriage be performed in a church and that it must be officially recorded. The reason the church is so impotent in our culture today is because Christians like you have created compartments in your life and your Christianity does not affect every area of your life. Your politics!!
Anon 2:57
Please go back and read my post
"My kingdom is NOT of the world"
I think Jesus beat me to it by about 2,000. Any thought about simply agreeing with him???
Human
Again FFN staff, this:"All posts after 10:56 are posted by the same person." sort of childish BS you tolerate, but human dare defend himself and you publically admonish and censor. How very Christian(ist) of you.
Human posted as 10:51.
Human and Ann Coulter are the same person
Anon 7:14 - that is hilarious!!!
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It was so absurd it was funny.
Like me and Oshtur being the same. Even he might find that so ridiculous as to be a giggle.
Then again, maybe not.
"dark side - degradation and mockery"
I don't think so. Have we been reading the same blog?
Just in brief response to "Human"'s first:
"Human" thinks the "godly" view of marriage necessarily excludes all forms of governmental concern, and that conservatives on this score are wrong to suppose otherwise. Indeed, he takes it for granted that conservatives are working to somehow "degrade" marriage by petitioning the state to articulate its official stance on the matter to run consistently with Christian principle.
However, Evangelicals and Catholics alike both recognize human rights have their basis in God alone, and that such rights cannot be created nor destroyed by government edict.
However, "Human" seems to also think that whatever God has ordained, governments cannot protect. This is a very odd way of thinking indeed. God also has ordained life and human dignity. Should we think it a "slap in the face of God" to seek governmental support of those values?
Perhaps his own "Christian" ideas may invite him to take his own advice. "Human" may want to rethink his political involvement on this matter-- even if he disagrees with conservatives, apparently it is wrong to influence the state to agree with your view.
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