Urgent Follow-up Information on Proposition 8

Dear Cornerstone Friends,

I must alert you to what is at stake with Proposition 8 – the marriage protection amendment to the California state constitution – and urge you to share this information with your family and friends.

I believe we need to respect the rights of adult gay people. Under California law, gay people have already been granted domestic partnerships, in which they are afforded the same rights, protections and benefits as a married man and woman (Family Code 297.5). Prop 8 will not change those existing rights, but it will establish that the meaning of marriage from the beginning of time will not be changed by radical judges in the state of California.

This year activist California judges overturned Proposition 22, which had been passed by 61 percent of California voters in 2000. You may not know that I was actively involved with pastors throughout the state of California in endorsing Prop 22. Now, Proposition 8 contains the same wording and will restore the intent of Prop 22 . . . “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Here’s the alarm – now, liberal politicians have changed the wording of Prop 8, and this is how it will appear on the ballot: “Proposition 8 eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry.”

I’d like to help clarify the issue for you as I see it:

• I believe that this is about basic morality, not about politics.
• This is about the right and freedom to communicate God’s design for marriage (Genesis 1:27: “In the beginning God created man; male and female he created them”); this is not about “gay rights.”
• It’s about reverse discrimination against Christian teachings if Prop 8 is not passed.
• It’s about protecting our children so they are not taught in public schools that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage.
• It’s about our God-given and constitutional responsibility to vote.

Here’s an example of the actions of those who stand in opposition to Prop 8: The California Teachers Association has given $1 million to defeat Proposition 8. They want schools to have the right to legislate what our children will learn about sexuality.

I have issued a call to the clergy of Ventura County to come together for a summit on Protecting Our Families and Religious Freedom this Friday, October 24. Audra Strickland, assemblywoman for our district, and I will host this event together along with Doug Posey and Kirk DeWitt and members of the Cornerstone Network board.

May I request of you . . .

1. Please pray for this event – that pastors will be bold to communicate this message to their congregations.
2. Look at the Prop 8 fact sheet and share it with at least 8 other people. Help friends understand what’s at stake.
3. Pray for the election – that righteousness will prevail in California.

Prop 8 Fact Sheet

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