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Marriage is under attack, here in Ohio, as it is
across the nation.
Activists promoting a self-destructive, same-sex
lifestyle have aligned themselves with sympathetic, tyrannical judges to do the
unthinkable – “redefine” the Divine truth of marriage as the union of one
man and one woman. Together, they
are making great strides toward shattering the truth that has been the cohesive
factor in American society and in every thriving society since the beginning of
civilization.
The only way to stop this effort, and thereby
save marriage, is to embed the truth of marriage in our most foundational
documents, the U.S. Constitution and the Ohio Constitution. The writers of those
documents did not feel that it was necessary to “define” marriage as the
union of one man and one woman because they considered it to be a self-evident
truth. Unfortunately, today we must
write it out, in our Constitutions, to take it out of the reach of any force
that would try to distort and destroy it.
We must take this action NOW.
PETITION
DRIVE A MUST!
323,000 signatures necessary to place Ohio
Marriage Amendment on ballot
In order for Ohioans to vote on an amendment to
protect marriage in this November’s election, it was necessary for 323,000
registered Ohio voters to sign a petition requesting that such a proposal be
placed on the ballot.
Citizens concerned about the future of marriage
in Ohio had hoped that their representatives in the Ohio Legislature could work
together to place the amendment proposal on the ballot and thereby avoid the
petition effort. A 60% vote
in both houses is required in order for the legislature to place an amendment
proposal on a general election ballot.
Unfortunately, the legislative wheels move too
slowly. Pro-family leaders
approached key representatives and senators about the amendment proposal as soon
as the legislature convened in late April.
The legislature dismissed at the end of May and does not reconvene
until after the November election.
It was apparent that the proposal would not be
passed by both houses and therefore was necessary to proceed with the signature collection
process!
To place an amendment proposal on a ballot by
elector petition, the signatures collected must equal 10 percent of the total
votes cast for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election.
In this case, that minimum number is approximately 323,000
registered voters. Those voter
signatures must come from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
What
is the proposed constitutional amendment?
"Only
a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized
by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political
subdivisions shall not create or recognize a
legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate
the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage."
Chaos in
Massachusetts Could Impact Ohio
In November 2003, the Supreme Judicial Court of
Massachusetts ruled that refusing to issue “marriage” licenses to same-sex
couples was against the state’s centuries-old constitution, but gave the
legislature 180 days (until May 17, 2004) “to take such action as it may deem
appropriate.”
On March 29, 2004, after a heated debate that drew
national attention, the Massachusetts legislature took the action of passing a
compromise amendment to their constitution that would ban same-sex marriages
while legalizing alternative civil unions.
To become law, that amendment would have to approved by another
legislature and then pass a public referendum, a process that could be completed
no earlier than 2006.
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney attempted to
secure a stay on same-sex marriages until that process could be completed.
His effort was foiled by the state’s attorney general and courts.
On May 17, clerks in Massachusetts began issuing
“marriage” licenses to same-sex couples.
Same-sex activists have clearly outlined their
next step. Legalization of same-sex
marriage in one state is just part of a larger plan by which activists hope to
achieve complete normalization of homosexuality, destruction of the traditional
family, and abolition of religious freedom.
It will be only a matter of weeks before same-sex
couples will be returning to Ohio with Massachusetts “marriage” licenses,
demanding that Ohio recognize their “marriages.”
Ohio’s recently enacted Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA) affirmed the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman
only and declared a strong public policy against same-sex marriages or unions.
DOMA was enacted precisely to protect Ohioans from having to accept
“marriages” or “unions” entered into in other states.
Once recognition of their marriage licenses is
denied, same-sex activists will challenge Ohio’s DOMA in court.
It is possible (some would say probable) that Ohio’s Supreme Court
justices will declare DOMA “unconstitutional.”
It is necessary that we take marriage out of the
hands of activist judges now by writing the language of DOMA into
Ohio’s constitution.
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