Dear Marriage Supporter,
It's been a very busy week on every level in the defense of marriage and religious freedom — from the City Council in Richmond, VA to the United States Congress, marriage champions like you have been called upon to stand for the truth of God's design for marriage and family. And you have responded heroically as always. Thank you.
I am so encouraged when I see pastors standing on the steps of a city hall opposing proposed legislation that would undermine true marriage, and that is what we saw yesterday in Richmond, VA. Through the efforts of these pastors — and your letters, emails, and calls — the Richmond City Council again delayed a vote on the controversial ordinance.
And I am also thrilled when our representatives in Congress stand up for the truth and introduce laws that protect people like you and me who refuse to be cowed in our belief in marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Congressman Raul Labrador and over sixty of his colleagues have introduced the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act to make sure that the IRS cannot use its power to harass or punish people or organizations who believe in true marriage. And you've responded with spades of encouragement for those cosponsoring the bill, and loads of pressure for those not doing so to get on board.
Let's keep up the good work. Your voices are making a difference in the halls of power, and NOM is proud to stand with you.
Breaking News!
Just today a New Jersey Superior Court judge handed down a ruling that purportedly requires the state to redefine marriage to impose same-sex 'marriage' on the state.
This is another outrageous example of judicial activism. An activist judge has overreached her authority and chosen to impose same-sex 'marriage' on the entire state of New Jersey. Judge Jacobson has trampled on the right of the people of New Jersey to define marriage, a right that the Supreme Court has upheld in the very case she misuses to redefine marriage.
The New Jersey state judge applied her own reading of the US Supreme Court's decision in Windsor v United States to find that the state's law defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman must be changed. However, the Windsor decision declined to impose same-sex marriage on the nation and instead upheld the right of states to define marriage for themselves.
This is a gross abuse of power that cannot be allowed to stand. We urge Governor Chris Christie to appeal this lower court ruling immediately. It's essential that a single lower court judge not be allowed to impose her own views of marriage on the entire state.
No matter the immediate outcome of this case, we must keep calling and emailing the State Legislature demanding that they not override Governor Christie's veto of an earlier same-sex 'marriage' bill. See below for more information.
IN CONGRESS
The Marriage and Religious Freedom Act
Introduced by Congressman Raul Labrador of Idaho, along with 60 co-sponsors, the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act protects organizations who believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman from having their tax-exempt status stripped by the IRS.
This is a critical piece of legislation to protect religious liberty as a cornerstone of our country and deserves our full support. Efforts to redefine marriage pose a direct threat to the free exercise of religion. This legislation would protect the right of organizations to communicate their views about marriage without threat that the tax code will be used to punish them.
Jorgenson for Congress
Congressmen like Raul Labrador need more allies, and one man who would stand with them in the defense of marriage and religious liberties is Kirk Jorgenson, who is running for Congress in California.
Kirk Jorgensen urgently needs your help before the September 30th FEC filing deadline... because not only is he fighting against California Democrats... he is fighting against the pro-abortion, pro-gay 'marriage' RINO, Carl DeMaio for his own party's nomination!
One of the most frustrating things I see is Republicans being pressured, bullied and cowed into silence by a small but powerful faction trying to GUT the Republican Party of its traditional principles and values. We need leadership in Washington that will stand for the values that made this country great —for marriage, for life, and for family! Kirk Jorgenson will be one of those leaders. Please help him out today!
Marriage Amendment
If elected, Kirk Jorgenson will join other principled leaders like Congressmen Labrador and Huelskamp. You'll recall that in the wake of the awful Supreme Court rulings this summer, Congressman Tim Huelskamp of Kansas introduced a resolution for a Constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This resolution continues to garner support in the House, however we can do more to urge our Representatives to sign on to this resolution and move it towards a vote.
Meanwhile In the States
Illinois
You may have heard media reports in the past week that the sponsors of the same-sex 'marriage' bill in Springfield are reconsidering their strategy of calling the bill for a vote during the veto session this fall. This is good news, but we can't let up yet.
We need to keep the pressure on legislators so there can be no doubt in their minds that the people of Illinois do not want marriage redefined. Keep calling — keep writing — keep visiting — and get your family and friends to do the same.
New Jersey
In the Garden State, the drum beat is getting louder. Same-sex marriage activists are working hard to rally the votes required to override Governor Christi's veto of a bill (2012-S1) that would have redefined marriage in New Jersey.
The people of New Jersey need to be heard in this matter, and—as Governor Christie himself has said—they should be allowed to vote directly on the issue of marriage. At the very least, they must be heard by their elected representatives so that these lawmakers follow the will of the people who sent them to Trenton to work on their behalf.
Hawaii
And we can't forget about Hawaii, way out there in the Pacific. As you recall, their Governor has called a special session specifically in an attempt to pass legislation to redefine marriage. NOM is working hard with allies on the ground to mobilize grassroots marriage champions.
There are already a lot of misrepresentations being made to the people of Hawaii about this battle. For example, Governor Abercrombie claims that he has the votes to pass same-sex marriage. We have heard this before. In Illinois they claimed they had the votes, but when it got to it, they didn't and never even brought the bill up for a vote.
So don't believe claims that we've already lost — in fact, we've only just begun to fight! Claiming victory before the battle has even begun is an old political trick to dishearten us. We won't fall for that gambit.
Through all these battles I'm proud to stand with you. These are fights we can win if we stand together and do not grow weary. We know the Truth — God's Truth — that marriage is the sacred union of a man and woman, designed specifically for the good of children. We won't give up the fight.
Faithfully yours,
Brian S. Brown
