Supreme Court intervenes in favor of traditional marriage backers in Washington state

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The U.S. Supreme Court

Washington D.C., Oct 23, 2009 / 06:04 am (CNA).- Backers of Referendum 71, a Washington measure seeking to protect traditional marriage in the state, say that Tuesday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to block the internet publication of petition signers will protect them from the harassment that targeted supporters of California’s Proposition 8.

By an 8-1 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked Washington state officials while it decides whether to take up the request by Protect Marriage Washington, which is appealing a decision by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Justice John Paul Stevens was the only member of the court who voted to turn down the stay request.

Referendum 71 asks voters to approve or reject what some call the “everything but marriage” law, which grants registered domestic partners the same legal rights as married couples. Most domestic partners are homosexual couples, but opposite-sex seniors can also register as domestic partners.

Backers of the referendum say they fear harassment from homosexual rights supporters, some of whom have pledged to post the names of petition signers on the internet.

According to the Associated Press, Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed said the state respects the fact that opponents of disclosure are getting their full day in court. He also said his agency will do its “very best” to uphold voters’ desire for “transparent and accountable government.”

In a Tuesday press release from Protect Marriage Washington, the organization’s lead counsel James Bopp, Jr. said the Supreme Court took a “large step forward” in protecting the free speech of citizens who support a traditional definition of marriage.

“No citizen should ever have their personal property destroyed or receive death threats for exercising their right to engage in the political process. The First Amendment protects citizens from government compelled disclosure of their identity when they are engaged in political speech.”

Bopp added that the Supreme Court appears to recognize the “gravity” of the situation and said Protect Marriage Washington looks forward to the court’s review of the appeal.

Comments: 10

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Bonnie
Tulsa,OK, US 10/30/2009 07:52 AM EST

When this country was founded on the Christian principles of the founding fathers they based their foundation on the Word. Now we have people who feel that because they have the right to have a voice that they should push what they believe on everyone else. I Homosexuals are not a minority in the rue sense of the word. They were not born the way they are it is a spiritual condition that can be overcome. God happens to love the Homosexual He just does not love their lifestyle. He hates and disapproves and calls it an abomination because of what they do not because of who they are. Let's get real this is an agenda that is being pushed by the enemy of all mankind, Satan, If you read the word at all we know that He hates us and what better way to ruin the inttution that God set up that to destroy it in the political arena. If the Founding Fathers could speak to day I believe they would remind us all that the Constitution was made to give us the freedoms we have today. It should not be changed or modified because it doesn't suit what a certain group can't do what they want. Go back and read what each amn said as he debated over the wording of the writing of the Constitution and then see if the polictical agenda of the homosexual is for or against what the founding fathers set up.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 10/26/2009 11:25 AM EST

Nick from San Antonio said: "Homosexuality is a sin on par with Fried Shrimp according to God". LOL, As a New Englander, I can honestly say that I never liked shrimp. I'm more of a fish and chip, fried clams guy; Probably knowing subconsciously somehow that shrimp and sodomy have a biblical and natural law connotation! You should move up here Nick, alot of the New England "Catholics" have the same mentality as you.LOL God Bless.

Published by: Roger
DC 10/25/2009 01:04 PM EST

Vote against gay marriage or we all will be forced, by their targeting and intimidation, to worship at the altar of homosexuality. More churches will be sued for refusing to perform religiously repugnant homosexual marriages and more doctors will be sued for refusing to perform morally offensive impregnations of lesbians. Keep us free of these hate crimes against decent citizens.

Published by: Lisa
OK 10/25/2009 11:39 AM EST

This is a good thing. This is why voting is secret, so that people cannot be pressured one way or another in voicing their opinion and taking part in the political process in a peaceful way. Those signing a petition, for whatever view be it left or right or purple or green, should be able to do so without being embarrassed or harassed as those who took part in the political process of Proposition 8 in California were. Let's take the personal attacks against groups of people down here and just remember that this country is a democracy, and we need to respect the peaceful political process that we have. If two groups are lobbying for or against something, they should be able to be heard without either side fearing for their lives. And yes, violent and oppressive folks live on both sides of the fence and would love to intimidate their way into power. When we see it happen, we should put a stop to it, even if that means reaching out a hand to protect those who oppose our issues. That's what good decent people do, they show respect for one another, even while disagreeing. And fight for what is right and good in a legal way, with much prayer, and by speaking out and making your voice heard. No one can claim moral superiority whilst at the same time bullying those whom they deem "close minded" or "bigoted." They would in fact be subscribing to the very behavior that they oppose.

Published by: Nick
San Antonio 10/24/2009 01:22 PM EST

Seriously Francis? Way to be a Pick and choose Christian. I don't see you stoning your unruly children or boycotting Red Lobster and until I do I am going to be convinced you are just using biblical justification for your bigoted ideas. "For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him." (Leviticus 20:9) "Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales; that shall be an abomination to you." (Leviticus 11:12) "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. Homosexuality is a sin on par with Fried Shrimp according to God.. (The same word is used to describe it) Instead of worrying about regulating your morality on others perhaps you should focus making yourself an attractive example of God's love, instead of humans judgement. I can promise you you won't be saving anyones soul with that kind of mentality. Matthew 7:3-5 (New Interna tional Version) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass. USA 10/24/2009 08:17 AM EST

Tradition is stability and law as well as faith,were set in tradition,so that the stability of societies could all be preserved. Some things are set in stone and marriage is one of these societal dogmas because family has it's foundation in stable,mature,male ,female,relationships. Traditional marriage forms the essential base in the formation of family. Proper socialization of children and their normal introduction into society is enhanced when family values and basic moral standards are understood in in relation to a normal family setting. Divorce,alternate lifestyle variants confuse young minds and are a source of shame for children when they are interacting with their peers. Children don't want to be to different from their peers. Children deserve a normal family setting for their emotional development. We are truly doing God's will and we serve society best,when we put the concerns of children first. Homosexual marriage as well as divorce are variants of the normal family situation they should not replace the societal definitions,that are set as traditional marriage and these variants should never be considered the normal,as in some redefinition of marriage. Single mothers are also a variant of normal family structure. Variable family situations need laws,in fairness, to help them cope with their unique situations but they shouldn't dictate that traditional marriage should be redefined by these variables that are not in tradition marriage.

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 10/23/2009 04:17 PM EST

Francis, to win the argument against same-sex-marriage and abortion in the court of laws, we must use a different tactic other than the Bible. Privately, I agree with you. Did you know that the clause of "Freedom of Religion" was not in the First Amendment when it was drafted? Did you know that back in those days Catholic children had to be homeschooling? It was a Jesuit Bishop John Carroll who opened up the roads for all of us. Unfortunately, the bishops today in America are not as smart as Archbishop John Carroll and they have a lot of issues themselves with the Vatican II

Published by: Katherine
DC 10/23/2009 01:36 PM EST

<i>Their zeal and fanaticism match anything perpetrated by those on the right (seriously, death threats?).</i> The right was quite good at making death threats during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Published by: Cathy
West Fargo ND USA 10/23/2009 10:14 AM EST

I can't help but find humorous the blind eye many on the left turn to their own behavior. Their zeal and fanaticism match anything perpetrated by those on the right (seriously, death threats?). Why can't they wake up and see the harm they are doing in the name of their 'rights?' Take these liberals back enough years and you'd find them at the helm of an Inquisition or the torture chamber of some King's dungeon... Seriously.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 10/23/2009 09:03 AM EST

Rate: Very Good

Homosexuality is one of the 4 sins that cry to God for vengeance (Genesis 18:20-21) (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13) (Romans 1:20-32) (1 Corinthians 6:9) (1 Timothy 1:9-10. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved". Yet Sodomy has been declared "legal" by the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence vs Texas in 2003; And same sex "marriage" has been ruled "constitutional" by state supreme courts and legislators that erroneously call themselves "Catholic"! Under the perverted and misunderstood notion that this is "tolerance"! I am glad that the the SCOTUS has temporarily blocked this to protect the people who are only doing things the American way through legal channels to get this Un American and unnatural nonsense repealed. Let's hope that the SCOTUS ( with supposedly 6 or 7 "Catholics" on the court) will put an end once and for all to this terror that these Godless, leftist, and racist people have engineered for the last few years, especially in the last year since Prop 8 in CA passed.

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