Marriage - The Battlefield in the Hearing Room

Yesterday, I, along with others from the faith community, testified against Washington State HB 1727 and SB 5688, both of which are designed to circumvent the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) and the State Supreme Court ruling that up held it.

Thank you to all who attended the hearings. The news media estimated 150 to 200 were present.

It was obvious the House Committee in the 10:00 a.m. hearing was not prepared, emotionally or physically for that kind of crowd.

By the time the Senate hearing took place at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, the gay leaders were a little better prepared to take control of the crowd and the testimonies.

Candidly, here's what I took away from yesterday's hearing.

The significant number of people in attendance to support marriage, shocked the house committee. In fact, Mr. Pederson, the openly gay chairman of the house committee, continually lectured the crowd through out the hearing and was often a little off balance in his comments.

By 3:30 p.m. the Senate hearing was more prepared for the crowd. The hearing room was small and many who came were put in other adjacent rooms - not in the main hearing room. I understand that because the room had been designated in advance of their knowing how many of us would attend, but the people of faith were treated with little to no respect by the chairpersons of both committees. The Senate vice-chair Eric Oemig, openly sneered and smirked through most testimony given by the faith community.

There was a sense in both the House and the Senate that the homosexuals believe it is a "done deal." I don't agree. Senator Swecker and I, along with others of like mind, are working to defeat the Senate bill. I believe we have a shot at it. If not, we will immediately begin a referendum process that will put it before the people. Traditional marriage prevailed in California, Arizona and Florida this past November. We can do it here as well.

Some observations.

The gay activists, including those in elected office, were very defensive. They brought their lawyers and their partners to tell their stories of normalcy, church endorsement and community activity. They brought kids into the hearing room who asked the legislators to please pass this bill so, "I can have a family too."

These two bills and those who are trying to advance them are very deceptive. Senator Ed Murray, sponsor of the Senate Bill, began by referring to the "unfortunate ruling" of the Supreme Court in upholding DOMA, then gave a long list of what his bill is not. He started by saying his bill is "not gay marriage." Technically, that is true, however these bills are designed to undermine marriage and give entree to gay marriage as a next logical and legal step.

I told the committee that if these bills pass they will elevate domestic partnerships to the status of marriage, removing all legal difference between domestic partnerships and traditional marriage. If these bills become law, there will then be litigation to attach the name "marriage" to gay relationships and the homosexual community will have subverted DOMA and the State Supreme Court ruling that upheld it and used the courts to achieve gay marriage.

There is spirit of arrogance and deception in this movement. It was extremely evident.

It is clear that this is a spiritual battle, not a political one. The gay movement is not really about benefits, rights or even marriage. It is a rebellion against the Creator and His natural laws. It is an unrestrained push to normalize that which is not.

If you have ever had a thought of standing for what is good and right, this is the time. It is impossible to estimate the damage and unintended consequences these bills, if passed, will inflict on traditional marriage and family.

Faith and Freedom is on the front line. We are able to stand each day because of your prayerful and financial support. That is needed more today than ever before.

Thank you and God bless you.

God help us.

________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom

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Homosexual Marriage - What Really Drives the Issue

Today there are hearings in Olympia on bills that have to do with the expansion of homosexual benefits under the domestic partnership legislation passed last year. The hearings are open to the public and we have encouraged anyone who can do so, to attend.

HB 1727: scheduled hearing 10:00 a.m. House Committee on Judiciary--House Hearing Room A --John L. O'Brien Building.

SB 5688: scheduled hearing 3:30 p.m. Senate Committee on Government Operations& Elections--Senate Hearing Room 2. J. A. Cherberg Building.

While the press often characterizes the debate over so-called "gay marriage" as a political debate, it is not. It is merely played out through the vehicle of politics.

Neither is it about "hate," bigotry or even the desire to deny anyone anything.

Here's what is driving the issue.

It is about the defense of the sanctity of natural, traditional marriage. The cornerstone of society. A biblical model.

Within minutes of the swearing in of President Obama, he had completely changed and updated the White House website. Prominently displayed was his unconditional support for a long list of gay rights demands.

The official website refers to those who do not support the gay agenda as, "Those who seek to divide us."

J. Matt Barber has written an article, "Homosexuality and the Laws of Moral Physics," that correctly defines what really drives this issue.

He says, "That amid the heated national debate over both religious liberty versus new fangled 'gay rights' and the sanctity of natural marriage versus so-called 'gay marriage' something occurred to me. Either homosexual behavior is sexual immorality or there is simply no such thing as sexual immorality---period."

Barber's article gives clarity and insight to what is really driving the issue of gay marriage.

I strongly recommend you read his article.

Sometimes people of faith are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

___________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom

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Gay Marriage Hearings Tomorrow and Assisted Suicide Creating Indecision

First, gay marriage.

Public hearings are scheduled tomorrow for both the Senate and the House. Faith and Freedom will be represented and speaking against gay marriage and in favor of traditional marriage.

I strongly recommend that you attend these public hearings if at all possible. You are not required to speak, but your presence will make a statement for traditional marriage.

House Bill 1727---Hearing scheduled for 10:00 AM in the House Committee on Judiciary--House Hearing Room A--John L. O'Brien Building.

Senate Bill 5688--Hearing scheduled for 3:30 PM in the Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections--Senate Hearing Room 2--J.A. Cherberg Building.

Assisted Suicide Is Creating Indecision.

In about a month the "Death With Dignity Act" aka, assisted suicide, will take effect.

Hospitals and other health organizations across the state are deciding whether they should participate in assisted suicide or not.

Many are undecided.

I will tell you who is in, who is out and who is undecided at this point, however it is a comment made by Doctor Hope Wechkin, medical director of Kirkland-based Evergreen Hospice Services, that caught my attention.

The University of Washington Medicine health system and Group Health Cooperative are in.

U.W. Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center are also in, but are making it clear that individual physicians may opt out.

Swedish Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center are still undecided as well as many hospice centers across the state.

Catholic health care organizations said up front, they will not participate.

It is the comment of Dr. Wechkin that caught my attention. The Dr. told Janet Tu, at the Seattle Times, "No physicians have been trained in how to evaluate for requests like this and prescribe live ending doses of medication."

Wechkin also said, "This isn't something we have classes on in medical school."

Indeed.

The Hippocratic Oath dates back to Hippocrates (460-377 BC) and is a statement of commitment to life--not death.

While I understand the Oath was made in the name of a list of Greek gods and has been modified over the years, my point is that it's focus was life---not death.

We are yet to fully see or experience the impact of consequences, some unintended, by the march to redefine and re-engineer our culture.

Ironically, the original last line of the Oath says, "If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."

_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom

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God Bless You, Joel Connelly

Joel Connelly, columnist for the Seattle PI, is most often on the other side of social issues. I might add, he is most often on the wrong side of those issues, in my opinion.

But, sometimes miracles happen.

In his own words Mr. Connelly admits, "A contrarian idea took hold of my mind. Show for once, that a Seattle newspaper scribe can write a column sympathetic to the pro-life view-point."

Connelly, in his column, "Liberals Need Own 'Plan B' On Pharmacies" says, "The state's liberal, peace and feminist activists have a lengthy record of standing with those who take stands on conscience."

He points out the inconsistencies in the case concerning the Storemans family and their refusal to stock or sell the abortion pill "plan B" in their pharmacies and the subsequent lawsuit over their conscientious objection. Although the legal costs in this matter has had a devastating financial impact on their business, they have merely refused to sell the pill, offering to refer customers to pharmacies that do.

Connelly says, "Liberals should recognize and defend individual acts of conscientious objection, even by those of different political faiths."

I recommend you read his column.

God bless you, Joel Connelly. At least this time.

____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom

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President Obama's "Pathetic Message" to Muslim World

Undoubtedly you have heard about the pro-life commercial that NBC refused to air during the Super Bowl yesterday. I think it is one of the best pro-life ads I have seen. Take 30 seconds and watch it. Thanks to Catholicvote.org.
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President Obama's "Pathetic Message" to Muslim World

Amir Taheri, an Iranian-born columnist, author and expert on the middle east, told the New York Post that President Obama's message to the Muslim world last week was "pathetic" and dangerous.

Here's why.

He said the President referred to "an illusionary past" in the Muslim world that was in fact plagued by turmoil. And that Obama told his Arab world viewers that he wanted to return to, "The same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago."

Taheri was shocked by Obama's words. He says Obama got his facts wrong and defiantly sent the wrong message.

Newsmax and other news sources have reported that Taheri reminds his readers, "That 30 years ago, American diplomats were being held hostage in Iran, Soviet troops were seeking to annex Afghanistan, Saddam Hussein was preparing to invade Iran, Saudi Arabia was under siege by Muslim militants, and Syrian troops were preparing to invade Lebanon."

Iranian-born Taheri, whose books include, “Holy Terror: Inside the World of Islamic Terrorism,” wrote in the Post that “other features of this ‘golden age’” were “the seizure of power by mullahs in Tehran, the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, the coming to power of communists in the Horn of Africa, the military coup in Turkey, the first Islamist terror attacks in Algeria, unprecedented waves of repression in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and the imposition of military rule in Pakistan.”

You may remember that twenty years ago the U.S. was arming the mujahedin in Afghanistan, Iraq was gassing thousands of Kurds and preparing to invade Kuwait, Iranian mullahs were arming Hezbollah units in Lebanon, Turkey was launching all-out attacks on Kurdish secessionists, and the Libyan terror network was killing American soldiers in Europe and blowing up U.S. jets.

Obama offered only "trite" remarks regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue and gave no recognition to the few in Saudi Arabia and Egypt who are trying to reform.

Taheri seemed most concerned with how Obama tried to cast himself. He says, "Obama sought to portray himself as a “bridge” between the U.S. and the Muslim world. Casting himself in the role of a ‘bridge’ and dreaming of a return to an illusionary past, Obama appeared unsure of his own identity and confused about the role that America should play in global politics.”

Following the interview, Iran is already demanding a specific apology from the United States for our transgressions.

This, I believe will become more and more troublesome to more and more Americans as we move forward. I believe we will continue to see that President Obama's view of who America is and what her role should be in the world is an America we have not known and may undermine our homeland security.

________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom

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