Cecilia Trent The Ramifications Of Passing Prop 8

You are absolutely right. If the California Supreme Court once again overturns the will of the people the consequences beyond the government’s infringement of religious beliefs are extremely serious and will have greater implications to our entire society. Below is a summary of an article written by Professor Mark R. Schneider.

So what are the stakes?

1. Homosexual marriages will further spread across the nation.

California is a trend setter. The Federal Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996 to protect states opposed to homosexual marriage against legal challenges based on the Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV Section I) of the constitution will be severely tested.

2. Mandatory promotion of homosexual unions in public schools.

This is already the law in Massachusetts, even for Christians. In CA, health education law requires that children as young as kindergarten be taught about marriage. (Education Code Section 51890)

3. Hate Crime and Anti-Discrimination Laws. SB 777, prohibits CA schools from discriminating based on “sexual orientation” is an open door for even more restrictive laws to come. In Canada and parts of Europe it is a crime to speak out publicly against homosexuality. (Where does that leave our Pastors and our Priests)?

4. Pressure on 501(c) (3) (i.e. Churches to recognize homosexual marriage.

If same sex marriage is a fundamental right, then the federal government cannot be seen to favor groups that discriminate against it.

5. Professional accreditation, exemptions and licenses could be tied to
Recognition of homosexual rights.

This is already happening. For example, the California Supreme Court ruled
recently against medical doctors who refuse to perform artificial insemination
on lesbians.

6 Efforts to recognize polygamous, polyamory (mixed) and incestuous marriages.

If Prop 8 fails then there exists no logical argument to withhold marriage from a variety of unions between consenting adults.

7 Children will Suffer

Today, 40% of American children are being raised without fathers and the statistics for children that come from these homes are grim. School drop out rates, psychological problems, teen pregnancy, becoming a victim of a crime are all multiplied many times over. Seventy percent of long term prison inmates grew up in unstable or broken homes. In those parts of Europe where same sex marriage is practiced the deterioration of the family has accelerated. In Denmark the out of wedlock birthrate is now an astonishing one is six.

Children are entitled to a mother and a father. Innocent children artificially brought into same sex unions are forever deprived of this birthright