MAYDAY FOR MARRIAGE AN
UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS
Last
Friday, October 15th, tens of thousands of Christians
rallied for marriage on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The
event – Mayday for Marriage -- was organized as a protest to
homosexual “marriage” and to support the pending Federal Marriage
Amendment.
Under the direction of Pastor Ken
Hutcherson, formerly a Seattle Seahawk, the rally heard from such
notable leaders as Chuck Colson, Gary Bauer, Dr. James Dobson,
Rabbi Daniel Lapin of Toward Tradition and Tony Perkins of the
Family Research Council.
Perkins called on America to return to
an “understanding of the covenant of marriage.” Dr. Dobson said,
“We are here because we believe in the institution of marriage.”
And Rabbi Lapin urged those in attendance to “remember marriage at
the voting booth.”
The rally was a challenge to the
forces seeking to deconstruct the family and, in the process,
radically remake our society.
Those who understand that marriage is
more than a piece of paper issued by the state (or a way for
activist judges to impose their social agenda on the nation)
aren’t going away. Whatever happens in November, whatever some
court decides, we will continue to demonstrate, educate and
activate to maintain an institution established by God in His
infinite wisdom.
FCC GOES FOX HUNTING
The
Federal Communications Commission has levied a $1.2-million fine
against Fox News for indecency. Some 169 local FOX stations were
fined $7,000 a piece for an episode of the series “Married by
America,” which aired on April 7, 2003.
This sad excuse for voyeurism included
scenes from various Las Vegas “bachelor and bachelorette parties,”
including strippers and other gross behavior. This is what FOX and
the other networks consider entertainment. And we wonder why the
divorce rate is so high and so many children are becoming sexually
active at such a tender age.
It’s good to see the FCC is finally
beginning to take seriously its responsibility to police the
airwaves. A license to broadcast is a trust. Those who pander to
the public’s baser appetites to boost their profits deserve to
have a bite taken out of wallets – and more.
NEW
YORK RETIREMENT SYSTEM BLESSES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
In their
ongoing assault on marriage, the courts have found an ally in the
bureaucracy -- witness a decision of the New York State Retirement
Board to treat gay marriages performed in Canada as the equivalent
of authentic marriages.
The board oversees retirement benefits
for state employees. In an October 8 letter, Comptroller Alan G.
Hevesi – whose office directs the state retirement system --
announced that henceforth employees “married” in Canada to their
same-sex partners would get the same treatment (survivor benefits,
etc.) as other married couples.
New York is one of a handful of states
without a statutory or constitutional definition of marriage. On
March 3, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said the state’s
comity law required it to recognize Canadian same-sex marriages,
even though the Federal DOMA law, enacted in 1996, says it can
ignore these arrangements.
The politicized decision of the New
York State Retirement Board is reason for us to redouble our
efforts for a federal marriage amendment.
FIGHTING FOR MARRIAGE NORTH OF THE BORDER
In September, Vision America was pleased to bestow honorary
Patriot Pastor status on The Reverend Lewis H. How, of the Parish
of St. George (Traditional Anglican Communion) in Wolfville, Nova
Scotia.
On September 24th, Rev. How
informed the province’s registrar of vital statistics that he
would no longer serve as its agent in registering marriages -- to
protest the decision of Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court mandating gay
marriage.
I recently received a very gracious
letter from Rev. How, in response to our award. Here are a few
excerpts:
“Thank you most sincerely for your act
of Christian Kindness! I am deeply honored to have conferred upon
me the status of Honorary Patriot Pastor. Although I am unworthy
of your kindness, I accept it with gratitude in our common
ministry of reconciliation in Christ. . .”
“I concluded some while ago, as the
clouds appeared on the horizon, that when the Province of Nova
Scotia, where I live, legalized the travesty called same sex
‘marriage,’ a contradiction in terms, I would immediately return
my government license for marriage registration. . . I still
intend to solemnize marriages, but no longer recognize the
government as a legitimate body with regard to marriage.” In so
doing, Rev How noted, “I will be vulnerable to prosecution and
imprisonment. So be it. Perhaps I should at that time apply to the
United States for refugee of conscience status.”
R.S.: But not in Massachusetts!
“You see I am not brave at all, rather
I fear God and therefore haven’t any choice but to disobey my
government in this matter. . . I can but render to Caesar that
which is his and to God that which is His. When Caesar demands
otherwise I am called upon to take up my cross and follow my Lord
Jesus Christ.”
I am both honored and humbled to be
associated with this courageous man of God, who should serve as an
inspiration to Patriot Pastors everywhere, regardless of
denomination or nationality.
ACTION TODAY
MAKE YOURS A 100% CHURCH
The
American Family Association is asking Christians to encourage
their churches to participate in “One Hundred Percent Sunday,”
on October 31, just two days before the election.
The goal is to get participating
churches to turn out 100 percent of their registered voters in
this year’s election. AFA is hoping to mobilize 100,000 churches
for 100% participation. What a wonderful goal! If that happens,
they’ll be no more talk of the apathetic Christian vote. For
more information on this worthy project, including registering
your church online, go to
http://www.onehundredpercentsunday.com.
AMERICA FOR JESUS
This coming Friday, October 22nd,
I’ll be joining Christians from across the United States on the
Mall in Washington, D.C., for a day of prayer and fasting. The
rally will run from 6am to 6pm, with a worship service extending
to 10 that evening.
The principal organizer of this
event, Bishop John Gimenez, pastor of Rock Church International
in Virginia Beach, has issued a simple but eloquent call: “Our
nation is in moral decline. From pornography and homosexuality
to abortion and racism, this country is out of control. . . .
While we have soldiers fighting in other lands to protect our
freedom, Christians must be willing to defend our faith with
humble prayer and fasting.”
The rally has been endorsed by over
100 of America’s most influential Christian leaders, including
CBN founder Pat Robertson and Ted Haggard, president of the
National Association of Evangelicals.
I’ll be leading the convocation
sometime between 2 and 4 pm, and hope to see you there.
For more information on America for
Jesus, call Giles Hudson at 469-774-6377 or go to
http://apjc.unored.com.