Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities – and respect – under New Hampshire law.
Today, we are also standing up for religious liberties.
This legislation makes clear that we understand that certain faiths do not recognize same-sex marriage, and it protects them from having to participate in marriage-related activities that violate their fundamental religious principles.
With the signing of this legislation today, New Hampshire will have taken every action possible to ensure that all families have equal rights to the extent that is possible under state law.
Most families in New Hampshire will awaken tomorrow, go to work and to school, and feel no impact from what we have accomplished today.
But for some, they will awaken tomorrow knowing we have said to them that they are equal, that they have the same rights to live and to love as everyone else.
Today should not be considered a victory for some and a loss for others.
Today is a victory for all the people of New Hampshire, who I believe, in our own independent way, want tolerance for all
Here’s all 23 words from Gibbs’ about Prop 8 in his May 26th press briefing.
The standard I have not talked to the president. He says it in almost all – if not every one – of the very few press briefings I’ve read. His other favorites, I’m busy with other things (and yet refers to the TV coverage), I don’t have my notes, let me check on that and I’ll get back to you. Whether he does or not who knows but he accomplished his mission – not going on the presidential record.
How utterly worthless is the media? And they’re the ones looking like fools every day. Four plus months in and they’re still getting played.
MASSACHUSETTS: 5/17/04: (1st state) to legalize same-sex marriage. 6/14/07: Legislature upheld the Supreme Court ruling — legal until at least 2012. 7/15/08: Out-of-Sate couples can marry.
CONNECTICUT Supreme Court: 10/10/08: 4 to 3 decision, overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage (2rd state)
IOWA: 8/31/07: Iowa District Court ruled same-sex couples could marry. 4/3/09: Iowa Supreme Court unanimously upheld ruling, making Iowa the (3rd state) to allow same-sex marriages.
VERMONT: 2/20/99: (1st state) to grant civil unions under then Gov. Howard Dean. Went into effect July 1, 2000. 4/7/09: House 100 – 49 and Senate 25 – 5 overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto making it the (4th state) to allow same-sex marriage and the (1st state) to allow gay marriage through legislative action. Goes into effect September 1, 2009.
MAINE: 5/6/09: House passed 89 – 57 and Senate 21 – 13. Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. (5th state). Takes effect September 14
NEW HAMPSHIRE: 4/29/09: Passed in the Senate 13 – 11 and House 186-179. Needs to passed through the House again and signed by Gov Lynch.
NEW YORK: 5/13/09: The State Assembly passed a bill 82 – 52 in favor of same-sex marriage. Pending Senate and Gov Paterson approval.
NEW JERSEY: 12/21/96 Gov Corzine signs bill legalizing civil unions in New Jersey, Went into effect 2/19/07.
Domestic Partnerships
OREGON: 5/9/07 Governor Ted Kulongoski signed the domestic partnership, which grants nearly all of the state-recognized rights of marriage to same-sex couples Went into effect 2/1/08. No need for a ceremony. Recognized only in Oregon.
WASHINGTON: Domestic partnership 11 rights of marriage act (over 62 y/o) passed 4/10/07, signed by Governor Christine Gregoire 4/21//07, went into effect on 7/22/07. 2008 expanded to 160 rights: passed 3/4/08, signed 3/12/-08, took effect 6/12/08. 2009 expanded to “all areas, except marriage” signed 5/18/09.
CALIFORNIA: 5/15/08: California Supreme Court overturns the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. 6/16/08: Same-sex marriage legal. 11/5/08: Proposition 8 takes effect in California, banning new same-sex marriage licenses from being issued. 5/26/9: California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, and upheld the marriage rights of 18,000 same-sex couples.
Recognizes same-sex marriages:
DC: 4/7/09: The 13-member D.C. Council moved to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples married in states where same-sex marriage is legal.
In the process:
HAWAII: 1997 Reciprocal beneficiary registration confers basic rights for any adults who are prohibited by state law from marrying: inheritance rights, workers compensation, the right to sue for wrongful death, health insurance and pension benefits for state employees, hospital visitation, and healthcare decisionmaking.
ILLINOIS: 5/26/09House approves measure to allow same-sex civil unions.
RHODE ISLAND : 1/29/09 bill introduced to legalize same-sex marriage at the same time as one prohibiting same-sex marriage and one creating Reciprocal Beneficiary Agreement.
She was in the top 5 and then came the question and then came her answer and then came her character assassination. This poor girl is being ripped apart because she dared to speak out against gay marriage. Why isn’t she allowed to have her own stance? To voice her beliefs. And then of course comes the dumb blonde jokes and the leak of photos and details of plastic surgery. Have to love today’s treatment of non-leftists. Perez Hilton set her up and actually admitted that she might have won if she didn’t get the question.
But she truly isn’t helping herself with the continued public appearances. She should realize she will never win.
What is the purpose of these pageants anyway? And aren’t there any “guardians” or whatever from California who could give her some advice? She is still representing them. Yes. She retains her crown. Donald Trump said “It’s the 21st Century”.
Here is her interview with James Dobson. You decide what it’s all about. They play the clip where she answers the way she did and then Dobson questions her.
DR DOBSON: That turned out to be a defining moment of your life. And it sounded, Carrie, like your first reaction was to hedge, to say, ‘Well, this is a free country’ and then something took over.
CARRIE PREJEAN: It really was a switch.
DOBSON: And you did one of the most courageous things I’ve seen anybody your age or anybody else do. What was going on in your mind?
PREJEAN: Well I started off by saying I want to win this pageant so bad, I’ve worked so hard. I wanted to sound politically correct, but still stay true to my values. But I just knew at that moment that God was just telling me ‘Carrie, how bad do you want this? Are you willing to compromise your beliefs for a one year crown of Miss USA.’ And I just knew right there – and I said you know what [snapped her fingers], and the switch went off. And I said, “A marriage should be between a man and a woman and that’s how I was raised and that’s how it should be. But I also said no offense to the anyone out there. I didn’t want to offend the man asking me the question.
DOBSON: You had been asked your opinion.
PREJEAN:…He asked my opinion and I gave my opinion. He didn’t ask what do you think homosexuals think about this. He said ‘Carrie, what do you think about this’?
DOBSON: What did he want you to do, to lie?
PREJEAN: He wanted me to agree with him, cause he probably knew how bad I wanted this.
DOBSON: Did you realize that what you said was going to put you in the spoltlight
PREJEAN:…I just smiled and I knew there was no way I would win Miss USA. No way.
DOBSON: So, you put it on the line?
PREJEAN: I did.
[...]
DOBSON: And yet the Lord is using you all over this country.
PREJEAN: I want to encourage other people that when you are faced with an issue…don’t ever compromise that just for pleasing them.Your goal should be to please God, not man.
Sound advice.
[...]
PREJEAN: You may be persecuted, you may be made fun of, you may be mocked and called awful, awful names, but at the end of the day you’re moving on with your life.
[...]
Mom chimes in.
[...]
DOBSON: It’s my understanding that you’ve heard from some within the homosexual community who are affirming of you.
PREJEAN: Oh, I’ve had so much support from the gay community. I just want to thank the gay community if they are listening for their support. They say, you stood up for what you believe and that’s what we do – we stand up for what we every single day. We can agree to disagree…There’s no hate in what I said. I love gay people…This is not against homosexuals.
[...]
DOBSON: Why did you give the answer you did with regard to the affirmation of marriage?
PREJEAN: Honestly, I felt as though Satan was — and I don’t want to say that this person represented Satan – but, I felt as though Satan was trying to tempt me in asking me this question, and then God was in my head and in my heart saying, Carrie, do not compromise this. You need to stand up for me. You need to share with all these people –if there were 95 percent of the people in the audience that were gay – you need to witness to them. And you need to show that you’re not willing to compromise that for this title of Miss USA. And so I just knew right here that it wasn’t about winning. It was about being true to my conviction.
[...]
DOBSON: Carrie, do yo have any regrets?
PREJEAN: No.
DOBSON: You would do it again?
PREJEAN: I would do it again.
DOBSON: Even if you could have won the crown by compromising?
PREJEAN: Oh yes….I have a platform now.
So has the Republican party just found there new it girl? Christian broadcasting networks? She was well-spoken here and what she said was perfectly reasonable.
I don’t know. It’s all madness. Why doesn’t everyone have a right to speak? The overwhelming majority of the country is against same-sex marriage anyway.
And how many folks in the media are mentioning the fact that she has received support from the gay community?
In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions. I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do.
Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine have legalized same-sex marriage. New Hampshire has passed the bill but the governor hasn’t as yet signed it. Rhode Island has a same-sex marriage bill pending in the general assembly.
The District of Columbia voted May 5th to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, but does not allow marriage licenses to gay or lesbian couples.
Like Vermont before them, New Hampshire passed a same-sex marriage bill 178-167. It had passed in the Senate 13-11. Whether Dem Gov John Lynch signs it is another matter. He said last week that he didn’t think the law was necessary because New Hampshire already recognizes civil unions.
CNN: The bill passed Wednesday differed from an earlier bill passed in the House by distinguishing between civil and religious marriage. It allows each religion to decide whether to acknowledge same-sex marriage, but extends the option of civil marriage to any two individuals.
Like Vermont before them, New Hampshire passed a same-sex marriage bill 178-167. It had passed in the Senate 13-11. Whether Dem Gov John Lynch signs it is another matter. He said last week that he didn’t think the law was necessary because New Hampshire already recognizes civil unions.
CNN: The bill passed Wednesday differed from an earlier bill passed in the House by distinguishing between civil and religious marriage. It allows each religion to decide whether to acknowledge same-sex marriage, but extends the option of civil marriage to any two individuals.
In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions. I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do.
Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine have legalized same-sex marriage. New Hampshire has passed the bill but the governor hasn’t as yet signed it. Rhode Island has a same-sex marriage bill pending in the general assembly.
The District of Columbia voted May 5th to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, but does not allow marriage licenses to gay or lesbian couples.
Here is a statement from Jim Anderson, presumed spokesman for Pastor Rick Warren that was left in our comment section on the post about Warren’s April 6th appearance on Larry King.
I’m providing this to you in an effort to clarify statements made by Pastor Rick Warren during his April 6th appearance on CNN “Larry King Live.” Several comments he made during that interview have caused confusion which I would like to clarify on his behalf as media representative for Saddleback Church.
Throughout his pastoral ministry spanning nearly 30 years, Dr. Warren has remained committed to the biblical definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, for life — a position held by most fellow Evangelical pastors. He has further stressed that for 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion has maintained this worldview.
When Dr. Warren told Larry King that he never campaigned for California’s Proposition 8, he was referring to not participating in the official two-year organized advocacy effort specific to the ballot initiative in that state, based on his focus and leadership on other compassion issues. Because he’s a pastor, not an activist, in response to inquiries from church members, he issued an email and video message to his congregation days before the election confirming where he and Saddleback Church stood on this issue.
During the King interview, Dr. Warren also referenced a letter of apology that he sent to gay leaders whom he knew personally. However, that mea culpa was not with respect to his statements or position on Proposition 8 nor the biblical worldview on marriage. Rather, he apologized for his comments in an earlier Beliefnet interview expressing his concern about expanding or redefining the definition of marriage beyond a husband-wife relationship, during which he unintentionally and regrettably gave the impression that consensual adult same sex relationships were equivalent to incest or pedophilia.
Highlights that led to a canceled appearance and an explanation. See the links below for the full posts. Warren on Larry King April 6th.
NewsPoliticsNews
PASTOR RICK WARREN:
I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never will be.
During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never — never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going.
The week before the — the vote, somebody in my church said, Pastor Rick, what — what do you think about this?
And I sent a note to my own members that said, I actually believe that marriage is — really should be defined, that that definition should be — say between a man and a woman.
I don’t know about a note. Though he changed his site after he was chosen by barry. Here’s a statement he issued in October 2008.
RightWingWatchdotorg
WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8.
He said to Larry King.
WARREN:I was asked a question that made it sound like I equated gay marriage with pedophilia or incest,which I absolutely do not believe.
DrivingEquality
12-15-2008
Pastor Rick Warren interview with Steven Waldman, editor in chief of Beliefnet.
WARREN: I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and calling that marriage.
I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage.
I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage
WALDMAN: Think those are equivalent to gays getting married?
WARREN: Oh, I do!
Then he sidesteps the Iowa decision.
LARRY KING: Do you, therefore, criticize or not comment on the Iowa court decision to permit gay marriage?
WARREN: Yes. I’m — I’m totally oblivious to — to what — that’s not even my agenda.
[later] It just means that marriage is for a man and a woman.
Here’s the footage you asked for. I thought I had posted all of this previous but I can’t find it. We didn’t come over here until mid-December and somethings imported - some didn’t.
DrivingEquality
12-15-2008Pastor Rick Warren interview with Steven Waldman, editor in chief of Beliefnet.
I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage.
I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage.
I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage
Q: Think those are equivalent to gays getting married?
WARREN: Oh, I do!
One can assume he meant that incest, pedophilia, polygamy and same-sex marriage are the same. Or that incest, pedophilia, polygamy and same-sex marriage are the same in that it is not marriage between one man and one woman.
I also remember him comparing it to pizza. Seriously. Something like just because he likes pizza doesn’t mean he should marry it.
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
They can’t accuse me of homophobia. I just don’t believe in gay marriage.
Saddleback Chuch’s pastor Rick Warren was also on Larry King discussing same-sex marriage. He discusses barry’s pick of him, the surrounding controversy, faith in America and his ministry. He doesn’t have the glazed look of the Osteens and seems like an earnest guy who has devoted himself to doing good. Rev Rivers was quite a piece of work when he debated the issue with Mike Rogers. Really worth a watch. Rivers clearly does not care for gay folks which he refers to as a "particular crew".
KING: How did you handle all the controversy that resulted about the president selecting you?
PASTOR RICK WARREN: Yes, you know, Larry, there was a story within a story that never got told. In the first place, I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never will be. During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never — never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going.
The week before the — the vote, somebody in my church said, Pastor Rick, what — what do you think about this? And I sent a note to my own members that said, I actually believe that marriage is — really should be defined, that that definition should be — say between a man and a woman.
And then all of a sudden out of it, they made me, you know, something that I really wasn’t. And I actually — there were a number of things that were put out. I wrote to all my gay friends — the leaders that I knew — and actually apologized to them. That never got out.
So was he apologizing for public consumption or because he was sincere?
WARREN: There were some things said that — you know, everybody should have 10 percent grace when they say public statements. And I was asked a question that made it sound like I equated gay marriage with pedophilia or incest, which I absolutely do not believe. And I actually announced that. All of the criticism came from people that didn’t know me. KING: Well…
WARREN: Not a single criticism came from any gay leader who knows me and knows that for years, we’ve been working together on AIDS issues and all these other things.
If that were the case, why the scrubbing of his website? Why the changing - softening - of words? Enlightenment or guilt? Now watch how he skirts the next question. For years he’s been working with gay leaders and yes he’s “oblivious” to the legalization of same -sex marriage in Iowa. He knew he was coming on this show and he knew the context in which he was asked to appear - but he’s oblivious.What is the “yes” in reference to?
KING: All right. Do you, therefore, criticize or not comment on the Iowa court decision to permit gay marriage?
WARREN: Yes. I’m — I’m totally oblivious to — to what — that’s not even my agenda. My agenda is two things.
One, today is the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. It’s a national day of mourning, which I — as you know, I’ve been heavily involved in — in Rwanda and helping rebuild that nation and I’m very concerned about that.
And the second thing is, I’m interested in what the recession is doing to the spiritual climate of our nation. And as we start Easter week and Passover week, which is a really big week for those of us who are Jews or Christians, Passover and Easter, it’s our biggest week of the year. And it actually was the — the week that I started Saddleback Church 30 years ago this Easter Sunday.
KING: All right. I — we’ll get to that and we’ll get to, certainly, the recession and faith in a minute.But have — by the way, have you talked to Obama since the inaugural?
WARREN: No, I haven’t. I’ve talked to the White House staff several times. I haven’t talked to him. All — all I’m doing is trying to keep my head down on the things that I’ve got to do. And I’m — I know I’m — he’s trying to keep his head down on all the things he’s got to do. And we certainly need to pray for the president. I wouldn’t want to be president during what’s happening right now. KING: What’s your thoughts about how he’s doing?
WARREN: I think he’s doing as best as he can. I think he is a — he’s a good leader. Every leader makes mistakes.
What mistakes is he referring to?
WARREN: So what? But he’s doing the best he can. And I think that — that the deck of cards he was given, no president has been given this in a long, long time, in terms of the crises that he’s having to deal with. It is so complex. And it’s not going to be solved overnight. And America has a very short attention span.
KING: Were you surprised he asked you to deliver the invocation?
WARREN: I was. I could have given you a list of 30 other guys I would have thought he would have asked. KING: How did it happen? Did he call you? Did somebody call — how did — how did it — how did the process take place?
WARREN: I had just finished a week in New York City, when we were launching our “Purpose-Driven Connection” magazine. And I was actually sitting on the plane on a runway. And my associate said, there’s a cell phone call and it’s — it’s the president-elect. And sitting on the runway, he said, “Rick, I want you to do the inaugural — the inaugural prayer.” And I, of course, said, well, anything I could do. I was surprised.
There were two back to back days there that were pretty amazing for me. The day before, I was invited to speak at the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death at Ebenezer Baptist Church. And to me, he’s been a hero all of my life. I have a picture and a signed letter of Martin Luther King hanging in my — in my office with a picture of Gandhi next to it. And to be invited to speak at — at Martin Luther King’s memorial day service on the 40th anniversary and the 80th birthday of his — of his life was a big deal. And then to do the inauguration the next day was amazing.
KING: It’s been quite a year, quite a time, quite an era for Rick Warren. We’ll be back with him in a moment. The decline and fall of Christian America — does a new poll indicate that that is happening?
[commercial]
KING: We’re back with Rick Warren. He’s in Irvine and we’re in New York. One other thing in the gay issue, while you said you were not an activist at all…
WARREN: Yes.
KING: Did you not encourage your flock to vote yes on Proposition 8?
WARREN: Oh, yes. You know, I don’t think that the definition of marriage should be changed. KING: So you did ask your people who worship with you to vote that way?
WARREN: Yes. I just never campaigned…
KING: …because that’s an active issue.
WARREN: I never campaigned for it. I never — I’m not an anti-gay activist — never have been. Never participated in a single event. I just simply made a note in a newsletter. And, of course, everything I write it’s — it’s (INAUDIBLE).
KING: It’s not high on your road of issues?
WARREN: No, no, it’s very low. In fact, I am working with a number of gay organizations on issues that we care about, in saving lives.
KING: OK. Do you think Christianity is slipping in America? That’s the front cover of “Newsweek,” out today. Quite a loss occurring in the Christian community. There you see the headline.
WARREN: Well, I would say it’s the best of times and the worst of times. First place, I don’t think that all of the questions that are asked in surveys are always as objective as they could be. For instance, if you ask people, are you a Protestant — and the number of Protestants has gone down dramatically in the last 30 years. I don’t even call myself a Protestant.
So terminologies are changing. I don’t think faith is changing that much. I think that during a recession three things happen, Larry. Three things go up when money goes down. Church attendance goes up, bar attendance goes up, and movie attendance goes up, because people are looking for three things when they’re disappointed in materialism. They’re looking for meaning, and that’s why they start going to church. They’re looking for connections in relationships, and that’s why they go to bars. They’re looking for relief, and that’s why they go to movies.
They discuss religion in America. Warren said he has had a record influx - baptizing 800 folks in one day. That “there are people who are hurting, people are also searching.”
KING: The Obamas are searching, too, for a church, apparently in Washington. They don’t have one. Do you think it’s important for the public to see their leader go to church?
WARREN: I think it’s important for the public to see our leaders having faith. I think it expresses a sense of humility that says, I recognize that I’m not the end all, be all. It’s a good sense of humility and a declaration of dependence upon god. And there are — I could recommend a dozen really good churches in Washington D.C. area. I have a lot of pastor friends of all different styles. You tell me the style you want and I’ll tell you a good church in Washington, D.C.
[commercial break]
KING: We’re with Rick Warren. An e-mail question from Mim in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “Are you a consultant to President Obama as Billy Graham was to previous presidents? Is that a role you would want?”
WARREN: No. In fact, I told the president that. I’m a friend and I’m a prayer partner, but I’m not a consultant. I’m not a pundit. And it’s not my role to do that. My role is to help people in their personal lives. I have helped a lot of leaders, both locally and globally, with issues about family and issues about personal stress. That’s a pastoral role. I’m a pastor, as you know, Larry. I’m not a politician and I’m not a pundit. I care about each person individually, whether I happen to agree with them or not. We all have the same basic needs. We all want to be loved. We all want to have a place of service. We all want our lives to count. We all want to know our purpose in life. These are things that everybody deals with.
KING: Do you still give 90 percent away from what you take in?
WARREN: Yes, sure do.
KING: We have a phone call for Rick Warren from Orlando, Florida. Hello.
CALLER: Hello, Pastor Warren, I have heard evangelicals believe that President Obama is the anti-Christ. Are you aware of this and if so, how do you feel about it?
WARREN: Well, of course, I don’t agree with that. Thank you for the question. I don’t agree with that. You can’t label — saying Evangelicals believe is like saying Americans believe. I can show you all levels of spectrum in terms of political views and indoctrinal views. They just have in common the connection to Jesus Christ. So I don’t believe that and I don’t even think most Evangelicals believe that. In fact, I’m certain they don’t. KING: Obama has traveled to Turkey, first president to visit a Muslim country. He had this to say about the United States and Islam in a speech to Turkish parliament. Watch. I’d like you to comment.
KING: What do you think of that?
WARREN: You know, I think that’s the exact right tone, Larry. There are 600,000 Buddhists in the world. There are 800,000 Hindus in the world. There are a billion Muslims in the world. There are 2.3 billion Christians in the world. You have to get along together. That’s why I speak with Jewish groups. I speak to Muslim groups.
We’re all human beings. We have to work on issues we don’t always agree on. I’m not really into what I call inter-faith dialogue. I think that’s a lot of wasted time. I’m interested in what I call inter-faith projects. In other words, I’m not going to convince a lot of people who have other beliefs to change their beliefs and vice versa. But we can work together on issues like poverty, disease, illiteracy and things that — problems common to all humanity.
This week, for instance, tomorrow night, I’m going to a Seder dinner with my dear friend Elie Spitz (ph), who is a local rabbi. We’ll celebrate Passover together. And then later in the work, I’ll do Easter, which is — they’re both all about redemption. My next door neighbor is Muslim. I traveled with him to the Middle East. We’re dear, dear friends. And there’s no reason — what people don’t seem to understand is that you don’t have to agree with everybody in order to love them.
WARREN: Well, it’s not my opinion. As a pastor, I just have to do what the Bible tells me to do. And the way I interpret it, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. And that’s good for society. That doesn’t mean that people don’t love each other. It just means that marriage is for a man and a woman.
[...]
KING: A lot of comments on the below about tonight’s show. Our correspondent David Theall is here with some of what you’re saying about Pastor Warren.
DAVID THEALL, CNN BLOG CORRESPONDENT: Larry, we’re hearing from people who are fans of the pastor’s work and we’re also hearing from people who are angry still at some of the positions that he has taken over the last couple years. Says this person, “Rick Warren saved my life, my marriage and my family with the ‘purpose Driven Life.’” He thanks the pastor. We heard from somebody who said this, “my son is gay, a veteran, and I resent people like Rick Warren using the Bible to tell my son who he can marry.”
KING: Thank you so much, David. Rick, I guess that last comment doesn’t shock you, does it?
There’s more to the interview, if you’re interested.
Nine years ago Vermont became the first state to legalize same-sex civil unions and now the legislature voted to legalize same-sex marriage. Vermont Governor Jim Douglas (R) had vetoed the bill but yesterday the legislature overrode the veto - the first veto override in 19 years. It will go into effect in September 1st.
It passed due in large part to the democratic majority - Dems control 23/30 Senate seats - the vote was 23-5 and they control 102/150 House seats where the voted literally came down to the last vote - 100-49. It passed aided by 6 Republicans.
Gov Douglas said it’s time to move on:
DOUGLAS: I really think that Vermonters ourght to focus on the future. Accept the outcome of the vote today - I certainly do that.
Not Rep Joseph L. Krawczyk Jr., a Rep from Bennington, who voted against the override and is hoping that Vermonters vote against those who supported it.
KRAWZYK: They’re going to have to live with the consequences. This does not reflect the true values of Vermonters. It does not reflect my values nor does it reflect those of my constituents.
Unlike Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut and Massachusetts same-sex marriage was legalized via the courts.
According to CNN, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins condemned the votes in Vermont and Washington, DC where the “Washington City Council voted 12-0 Tuesday in favor of allowing same-sex marriages performed in other states to be recognized in the nation’s capital”. Washington already provides domestic partnerships for both same-sex and heterosexual couples, which give access to the rights and responsibilities of marriage.
PERKINS: Same-sex ‘marriage’ is a movement driven by wealthy homosexual activists and a liberal elite determined to destroy not only the institution of marriage, but democracy as well. Time and again, we see when citizens have the opportunity to vote at the ballot box, they consistently opt to support traditional marriage. The radical left wants to destroy the traditional union of one man and one woman across the country and they will not rest until they do so. The marriage amendment movement has been many times more successful than the same-sex ‘marriage’ movement.
I don’t understand the correlation between the legalization of same-sex marriage and the “destruction of the traditional union between one man and one woman”. What has polygamy been doing? Why does that never come up in these discussions?
The Osteens were on Larry King Live weighing in on same-sex marriage. Joel and his wife Victoria Osteen co-pastor Lakewood Church in Houston, TX, which is the largest congregation in the US. Wonder why barry didn't pick them for optimal panderment. I find them disturbing in that they have that glazed over look of religious cult figures - just the same as obamessiah's followers.
They weigh in on their fellow cult leader, barry. From the CNN transcript.
Larry King: Since you were last on, we have sworn in our first African-American president. What are your impressions [of Barack Obama]?
Joel Osteen: Well, I think he's doing a great job. I'm impressed with his skill, his calmness, his just strength under pressure. These are tough times for him.
King: And you, Victoria?
Victoria Osteen: I've been really impressed. In fact, I've been impressed [with] the first lady. She stepped up, and she's done a remarkable job.
King: Recent polls show 12 percent of Americans still believe Obama is a Muslim, and 35 percent say they don't know his religion, but to most of them it don't matter. Should it matter?
It matters in that when barry's in front of the Arab world, he's barry hussein and yet on the campaign trail that was considered racist. Par for the course. Whatever is politically expedient is what barry will do. And here's the question folks seem to leave out: Why should it matter? The fact that it is still being asked leaves the impression that it is a bad thing to be Muslim. Was the electorate polled as to what religion folks thought Secretary Hillary Clinton or Senator John McCain practiced, if any?
Joel Osteen: Well, it matters to me. It matters to me that I know he loves the Lord, and I think it's important that he has convictions from his faith. So to me, it matters when I'm making my personal decisions.
King: Does it matter to you, Victoria?
Victoria Osteen: It does. It matters to me. ... I believe he is a Christian.
And here's wehre the glazed look comes into play - they wrote a Bible. Yes, a Bible. They wrote a book and had the audacity to title it "Bible". Worshipping false idols who create their own Bible that some might even call it a manifesto is a sin, isn't it? Wonder how much it costs. These folks in their search for optimism and spreading of the faith have no problem collecting money from the poor and depressed.
King: The "Hope for Today Bible." This is a new Bible [from you]. How is this different from other Bibles?
Joel Osteen: It's a living translation of the Bible, which is an easy version to read. And then it's got our notes besides certain passages. And it's just to help people maybe to understand the Bible a little bit easier.
In their own words. They are equating their words with those in the Bible. Now their version of love thy neighbor as thyself and do not judge lest ye be judged.
King: Do you think that eventually many more states are going to allow same-sex marriage?
Joel Osteen: You know, I don't know where it's all going ... I'd love to see it stay between a male and a female, not knocking [up haha] anybody else.
King: Supposing there were more states that had it. What would be the harm?
Victoria Osteen: We really want to see marriage between a man and a woman. There [are] going to be people who get together and have relationships and have what they call their families. But I just think marriage should be sanctified by the church. It should be between a man and a woman.
King: Should a gay couple be allowed to adopt?
Joel Osteen: I think that, again, it's best for a male and a female. I'm not saying that gay people aren't good people. ...
Joel Osteen: Yeah, exactly. But again, I like to shoot for God's best, and that is a father and a mother in the home. It doesn't always happen. I know a lot of people raised by single parents. And you know what? We bless them and pray for them as well. But I think God's best is a male and female.
God's best are parent(s) who don't abuse their child, who love them as they are and raise them in tolerance.
I'm thinking Iowa's Supreme Court decision to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage means a whole lot more than Prop 8 in California or Massachusetts and Connecticut already allowing same-sex marriage.
Some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples 60% Same-sex marriage 33% (2004 - 22%) Civil Unions 27% No legal recognition 35% (2004 - 40%)
Would have thought the numbers would have changed more than that.
Support same sex marriage Northeast 44% West 38% Midwest 30% South 25%
Women 38% Men 27%
Younger than 45 41% Over 65 18% Over 65 50% no legal recognition of same-sex marriage
Not surprisingly Republicans, conservatives, and white evangelicals oppose any legal recognition of same-sex couples. They just get caught having affairs.
