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Thank you to the Friends of Faith and Freedom who are working with us in gathering signatures for both R-74 and I-1192.
Your hours of signature gathering is profoundly appreciated by everyone who believes in marriage.
I personally thank you. It's an honor to be working with you in the defense of marriage.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been surveying our Faith and Freedom area coordinators and individuals directly involved with Faith and Freedom, to create a best estimate of how many signatures we have gathered, and how many we feel we can gather over the next few weeks for R-74 and the next month and a half for I-1192.
There are many organizations and individuals gathering signatures, including the sponsors of R-74 and I-1192.
Reports from those specifically working with Faith and Freedom indicate there are, through yesterday, right at 27,000 signatures that have been sent in so far. There are approximately 8,000 signatures on petitions they are still circulating. That does not include signatures gathered in churches this past Sunday.
The collective "best guess" estimate of those collecting for R-74, is that they will be able, with God's help, to collect another 30,000 before the end of May.
This would be about 65,000 signatures at minimum. The referendum needs a little over 120,000 valid signatures to make the ballot. The sponsor is asking for 150,000.
I cannot conceive of any reason why R-74 will not be on the ballot, given the national support of NOM and other organizations around the state, the effort of "Friends of Faith and Freedom," and the absence of anyone in the Christian community trying to undermine the efforts toward R-74.
The numbers for I-1192 are less in those sent in so far, but it appears we have sent in about 21,000 and have about 12,000 signatures on petitions being circulated at the end of this past week.
These same people believe they will collect about another 20,000 to 30,000 by the end of June. However, there is some resistance to I-1192, mostly from pastors who have been instructed not to allow them to be made available in their church by people directly involved in the leadership of R-74.
That's unfortunate, but true.
I-1192 needs over 200,000 signatures to make the ballot. The sponsor is asking for 300,000. They are due in the Secretary of State's offices by July 6, so there is an additional month to gather I-1192 signatures.
Both measures are very important to the protection and preservation of marriage.
I'm asking everyone involved with Faith and Freedom to either mail in your completed petitions or contact your area coordinator for assistance in getting all petitions for R-74 in to the sponsor by May 25.
All signatures for I-1192 should be in by June 22.
Thank you for making your best effort over the remaining weeks.
R-74 "is to qualify a referendum to the November 2012 ballot giving voters the right to approve or reject SB 6239 which seeks to redefine marriage. The coalition advocates that voters reject redefining marriage, because marriage is a unique institution that is profoundly in the common good. Marriage not only unites a couple to each other, it unites the couple to any children that may be born of their union. While death and divorce too often prevent it, children have a right to know and be cared for by their own mother and father, the people responsible for bringing them into the world.”
R-74 is vitally important to the current attempt to redefine marriage. It must succeed. We strongly encourage you and your friends to sign this petition so we can bring this issue to a vote of the people.
However, Senator Ed Murray, the champion of the effort to redefine marriage, could re-introduce another bill to redefine marriage as soon as January, 2013.
Initiative 1192 has been filed for the purpose of reclaiming the historic and biblical definition of marriage. We strongly encourage you and your friends to sign this petition so that we can bring the issue to the citizens for a vote!
Initiative I-1192 is an affirmative statement – your chance to say YES to marriage as being between one man and one woman;
Initiative I-1192 reverses the same-sex marriage law that was recently passed by the Legislature, as it would prohibit marriages by persons other than one man and one woman;
Initiative I-1192 is an initiative that makes new law– it clarifies the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.”
It would require a super majority in the Legislature, to repeal it during the next 2 years, with only a majority needed after the 2 years.
If you have ever considered taking a stand for what is right, this is that time.
It's an honor to be standing with you as we, together, stand for marriage.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.