Immoral behavior

[Shammu]

California approves nurse-assisted suicide
Schwarzenegger signs bill authorizing dehydration, starvation of patients

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has officially approved an assisted suicide measure allowing nurses to sedate, dehydrate and starve depressed or confused individuals they consider to be "terminally ill."

Then they all should be put on trial for murder. Murder, is still murder, no matter how you try and explain it away!!

I hope these people, and I use that term loosely, know they will have to answer to God, for their actions.

[HisDaughter]

California approves nurse-assisted suicide
Schwarzenegger signs bill authorizing dehydration, starvation of patients

I really don't have to read any futher than this.  The world is crazy.  And like DW says, this is murder no matter how you look at it and a pretty inhumane way of it too.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

All I can say about this assisted suicide bill is that it makes me ANGRY AND SICK! This is a horrible and painful way to die. In fact, it would be a horrible form of TORTURE! I think they need to test this method on about 75% of their most liberal members of the legislature first, televise it, and then let the people vote on it. In California, the worst enemy of the people is their own legislature. In fact, their legislature is dangerous and would probably consider killing the people who put them in office. Their legislature is actually acting like a bunch of psychopaths and sociopaths. They appear to be just a couple of steps away from starting to execute innocent people who might not even be SICK AT ALL!

[David_james]

What's next? Kill someone who is happy and alert but will never get better, can't contribute to society and a waste of resources?

[nChrist]

What's next? Kill someone who is happy and alert but will never get better, can't contribute to society and a waste of resources?

GOOD MORNING BROTHER DAVID AND ALL!

Brother David, we don't have any idea what we'll hear next these days. EVIL is accelerating and appears that it could be out of control soon. We can look back through history and see many examples of senseless mass murders and attempted genocide. A person's religious or ethnic background was more than enough to exterminate them for Hitler, and there are many other examples just like him. Things will be worse for the future - MUCH WORSE!

It's hard to imagine the depth of evil mankind is capable of, but it's always deeper than we can imagine. The worst examples in history will be nothing compared to what is yet to come. As Christians, we will need to remember that this world is NOT OUR HOME, and we are ALREADY CHILDREN OF THE KING OF KINGS! There is disagreement about the timing and sequence of END DAYS Events, but GOD will be with us regardless. I personally believe there is NOTHING left that must be fulfilled before the RAPTURE. I also believe that the RAPTURE is before the beginning of the Tribulation Period, but I respect those with differing opinions. Our REAL HOME and INHERITANCE with the SAINTS in LIGHT await us! The LIGHT is JESUS CHRIST!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Favorite Bible Quotes 164 - Hebrews 10:1-10 For the law having a
shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things,
can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they
not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once
purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those
sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For
it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take
away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith,
Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou
prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had
no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it
is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said,
Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou
wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the
law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away
the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we
are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all.

[Shammu]

Jesus Mosque - Jordan's latest symbol of interfaith peace - Feature
Posted : Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:12:13 GMT
Author : DPA

Madaba, Jordan - A mosque named after the central figure of Christianity is the latest milestone of interfaith coexistence in Jordan. Both Muslim and Christian leaders expressed delight when the Jesus Christ Mosque opened a few months ago in the tranquil town of Madaba, 30 kilometres south of the capital, Amman.

"This is a message to the world that Muslims consider Jesus Christ their own messenger because he informed humanity beforehand that the Prophet Mohamed was coming," the mosque's prayer leader, Belal Hanini, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

"It also proves that Islam is a religion of tolerance and has nothing to do with extremism," he said.

Hanini and other worshippers explained how followers of Islam and Christianity lived for a long time in peace and fostered fraternal ties in this area of the Hashemite Kingdom, an ardent supporter of interfaith dialogue.

Christians make up 10 per cent of Madaba's residents and account for 5 per cent of Jordan's 5.5-million population, they said.

"We have lived in peace for centuries with our Christian brothers and now we feel that this mosque symbolizes our fraternity," Abd Horout, a Muslim lawyer from Madaba said as he finished afternoon prayers.

"We have been ordered by our holy book, the Koran, not to differentiate between messengers. We consider Jesus Christ a brother of our messenger, the Prophet Mohamed," he added.

He pointed to a cluster of inscriptions fixed to the inside walls of the mosque which are enshrined in the Muslim holy book in praise of Jesus Christ and his mother, Mary.

The Jesus Christ mosque was built by the al-Otaibi family, a Muslim clan that has a long history in the Madaba area and a distinguished record of promoting good ties with the Christian community.

"We wanted to set an example to be followed elsewhere for interfaith coexistence," Marwan al-Oteibi told the dpa.

"Giving this name to this shrine is also designed to let the entire world understand that Islam is a religion of tolerance that enjoys innate readiness of communication with other faiths," he said.

Naming an Islamic shrine after Jesus Christ was enthusiastically welcomed by Christian leaders in Jordan, who considered it a new gesture of goodwill from the Muslim majority.

"As monotheists, we are delighted with this move from our Muslim Brothers towards Jesus Christ and his mother, as we realize that the holy Koran has devoted a specific Surah (chapter) to her," Reverend Nabil Haddad from the Greek-Catholic Church told dpa.

"We, followers of Jesus Christ, have been moved by this step which has left us extremely happy at a time when we seek to present Jordan as a model for interfaith coexistence," said Haddad, who chairs the Jordanian Centre for Peaceful Coexistence.

Putting the name of Jesus Christ on a Muslim shrine was endorsed by the Jordanian Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs, which acts as a watchdog for all mosques in the country.

"This gesture falls in line with Jordan's policy to encourage dialogue among religions and civilizations," said Samir Qudah, who is in charge of the Ministry's section that looks after mosques.

Jesus Mosque - Jordan's latest symbol of interfaith peace

[Shammu]

I am not impressed in the least.

At best it's condescending, at worst it's deception. Condescending because "Here's your token" doesn't fly. Deception because Christians are still persecuted and islam is NOT tolerant!!

You know people are going to think this is a great thing. But it's not a great thing, if you're denying Jesus Christ!!

[HisDaughter]

Televangelist's ex-husband seeks new wife on Web   

Prophecy News Watch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ex-husband of national televangelist Juanita Bynum, who divorced after a parking lot fight between the two landed him in jail, plans to take his search for a new wife to the Internet with videos featuring dating tips and what he's looking for in a mate.

Thomas W. Weeks III, a minister who runs an Atlanta-area church and is known to his followers as Bishop Weeks, said the 10-episode series will be available starting Tuesday on his Web site.

Excerpts available Friday included Weeks, 41, discussing with aides what he should look for in his third wife.

The group concludes the woman should be at least 25 years old but "with special exemptions for 21 and up if they are classy," Weeks said. She also must want to have children with him.

"This woman has to be very discerning, and very intimate, and very social and very sensual," Weeks says, laughing. "And on the ministry side she has to be very diverse. She can't be ugly."

Bynum, 49, filed for divorce after the couple had an August, 2007, fight in an Atlanta hotel parking lot that landed Weeks in jail on charges that he pushed, choked and beat Bynum.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting her, is serving three years' probation and has completed court ordered community service and anger management counseling.

In a video on the Web site of his Duluth-based church, Global Destiny International Ministries, Weeks said thousands of people have been writing him to ask about his plans as a newly single man.

He said he wants to give people a Christian perspective on dating.

"Who is going to be the next Mrs. Weeks? Well, God knows," Weeks said. In the video, he asks viewers to e-mail him dating advice.

Messages left for Weeks at the church were not returned Friday morning. Bynum's Los Angeles-based publicist also did not return calls.

If Weeks does find love, his attorney Randy Kessler told The Associated Press Friday, "I'd probably do the prenup for free."

[Shammu]

Nepal appoints 3-year-old as new living goddess

By YUVRAJ ACHARYA, Associated Press Writer Tue Oct 7, 9:59 AM ET

KATMANDU, Nepal - Hindu and Buddhist priests chanted sacred hymns and cascaded flowers and grains of rice over a 3-year-old girl who was appointed a living goddess in Nepal on Tuesday.

Wrapped in red silk and adorned with red flowers in her hair, Matani Shakya received approval from the priests and President Ram Baran Yadav in a centuries-old tradition with deep ties to Nepal's monarchy, which was abolished in May.

The new "kumari" or living goddess, was carried from her parents' home to an ancient palatial temple in the heart of the Nepali capital, Katmandu, where she will live until she reaches puberty and loses her divine status.

She will be worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as an incarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Taleju.

A panel of judges conducted a series of ancient ceremonies to select the goddess from several 2- to 4-year-old girls who are all members of the impoverished Shakya goldsmith caste.

The judges read the candidates' horoscopes and check each one for physical imperfections. The living goddess must have perfect hair, eyes, teeth and skin with no scars, and should not be afraid of the dark.

As a final test, the living goddess must spend a night alone in a room among the heads of ritually slaughtered goats and buffaloes without showing fear.

Having passed all the tests, the child will stay in almost complete isolation at the temple, and will be allowed to return to her family only at the onset of menstruation when a new goddess will be named to replace her.

"I feel a bit sad, but since my child has become a living goddess I feel proud," said her father Pratap Man Shakya.

During her time as a goddess, she will always wear red, pin up her hair in topknots, and have a "third eye" painted on her forehead.

Devotees touch the girls' feet with their foreheads, the highest sign of respect among Hindus in Nepal. During religious festivals the goddesses are wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees.

Critics say the tradition violates both international and Nepalese laws on child rights. The girls often struggle to readjust to normal lives after they return home.

Nepalese folklore holds that men who marry a former kumari will die young, and so many girls remain unmarried and face a life of hardship.

Nepal appoints 3-year-old as new living goddess

[Soldier4Christ]

Decision to teach kids to be 'gay' allowed to stand
'This despicable ruling not of the people, nor for the people, but against the people'

A federal court decision approving mandatory public school instruction for children as young as kindergarten in how to be homosexual is being allowed to stand, drawing a description of "despicable" from the parent who unsuccessfully challenged his school district's "gay" advocacy agenda.

The U.S. Supreme Court without comment has refused to intervene in a case prompted by the actions of officials at Estabrook Elementary school in Lexington, Mass., who not only were teaching homosexuality to young children, but specifically refused to allow Christian parents to opt their children out of the indoctrination.

The case on which WND has reported previously involves Massachusetts father David Parker, who with his wife now have withdrawn their children from public schools, for which they continue to pay taxes, and are homeschooling.

The decision by the Supreme Court leaves standing the ruling from the appeals court for Massachusetts, where Judge Sandra Lynch said those who are concerned over such civil rights violations "may seek recourse to the normal political processes for change in the town and state."

Earlier District Judge Mark Wolf had ordered that school officials' work to undermine Christian beliefs and teach homosexuality is needed to prepare children for citizenship, and if parents don't like it they can elect a different school committee or homeschool their children.

According to a new report from MassResistance, a pro-family organization following the case, the dispute was over the "Lexington Schools' aggressive policy of normalizing homosexual behavior to elementary school children and not allowing parents to be notified before or after, or being able to opt-out their kids from it."

The dispute grabbed headlines when Parker, on April 27, 2005, "was arrested and thrown in jail by school officials over his insistence on being notified regarding his son in kindergarten being taught about homosexual relationships by adults," Mass Resistance reported.

Another family was alarmed by a similar situation a short time later as the school not only continued its indoctrination, but "became more hostile to the Parkers, and local liberals and homosexual activists did their best to harass the family," Mass Resistance reported.

In fact, the school, led by Supt. Paul Ash, then stated in school publications they would not "compromise" on any points regarding the homosexual agenda.

"The [Supreme] court did not even bother to notify the Parkers or their attorneys," said Mass Resistance, which said what now will be enforced in the judicial district will be the lower bench rulings that the state has not only the right but "even the obligation … to promote homosexual relationships to young children."

"The unrelenting action of the Lexington schools to push homosexuality in the lower grades, as well as the ugly hostility of local liberals toward the Parkers and their children over this incident has taken its toll," Mass Resistance said. "This year the Parkers removed both of their children from the Estabrook Elementary School and have been homeschooling."

Parker gave no indication, however, he was quitting the overall battle against rampant normalization of homosexuality.

"The federal Supreme Court of the United States has tragically decided to deny our case from moving forward," Parker said in a statement. "We have exhausted all our legal options in the federal system for the protection of young children in the public schools. The Supreme Court has cowardly turned their backs on a parental rights issue that clearly has national significance with profound consequences.

"We believe that parents have the right and sacred responsibility to defend the psyches of their young impressionable children against such child predation. This includes more forceful measures to defend against, the inculcation and penetration, of perversion into their minds, behind the parent's back and against their will," Parker said.

"This despicable ruling is not of the people, nor for the people, and nor by the people – but against them. We, the people, must take back our government for the sake of our children and the sake of this nation," he said.

When Parker asked the Supreme Court for a review he noted the questions raised in the case have not been answered in previous cases. Those include: "Whether objecting parents have a constitutional right to opt their public school children out of, or even to receive notice of, undisputed government efforts to indoctrinate kindergarten, first and second grade school children into the propriety, indeed desirability, of same gender marriage."

Also at issue is whether those schools' "open and specific intention to indoctrinate … children into disbelieving core tenets of their families' deeply held religious faith constitutes a burden on the families' free exercise of religion."

The high court previously found, the request argued, the "primary role of the parents in the upbringing of their children is now established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition. Aspects of child rearing protected from unnecessary intrusion by the government include the inculcation of moral standards, religious beliefs, and elements of good citizenship."

In an earlier interview with WND, Parker warned allowing the appeals ruling to stand would "allow teachers in elementary schools to influence children into any views they wanted to, behind the backs of parents, to a captive audience, and against the will of the parents if need be.

"Teachers are being postured to have a constitutional right to coercively indoctrinate little children [into whatever they choose to teach,]" he noted.

[Soldier4Christ]

McDonald's surrenders!
Boycott declared over
Family group says fast-food giant
agrees not to promote 'gay' agenda

A corporate executive for McDonald's restaurants who had been on board of directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has stepped down following a boycott of the chain organized by the pro-family American Family Association.

McDonald's officials confirmed today to WND that Richard Ellis, who had been named to the "gay" chamber board after McDonald's contributed $20,000 to the organization, "made a personal decision to step down" after he accepted a new position with McDonald's Restaurants of Canada.

McDonald's officials also told AFA the company has no plans to renew its membership in the special interest group when it expires in December.

"We appreciate the decision by McDonald's to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations," AFA chairman Donald E. Wildmon said in a prepared statement.

WND reported in May when McDonald's signed onto the "gay" agenda, and one executive for the fast-food chain later accused Christian advocates of the traditional family of being motivated by "hate."

The AFA called for a boycott and established a website to facilitate the effort. However, AFA officials today said the boycott was being called off after the company notified the AFA Ellis has resigned from the board and "his seat on the board will not be replaced by McDonald's."

"McDonald's stated that the company would remain neutral in the culture war surrounding homosexual marriage," the AFA said.

The pro-family group noted that in an e-mail to McDonald's franchise owners, the company said, "It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same sex marriage or any 'homosexual agenda' as defined by the American Family Association."

McDonald's statement, from media relations vice president William Whitman, said the company "stands by and supports our people. Diversity and inclusion are integral components of our brand and our heritage. We continue to have strong employee networks throughout our company and will continue to align our brand with individuals and organizations that share our belief in supporting our people and the communities we serve."

The "gay" chamber said, "Like all our corporate relationships, McDonald's USA has been a good partner … there has been no discussion between the NGLCC and McDonald's regarding continuing membership, nor has the NGLCC been notified of any move not to renew our work together."

The organization continued, "The NGLCC will continue to align with corporate America in support of equal opportunity for all of America's worker (sic) and small businesses."

When Ellis joined the NGLCC board he proclaimed: "I'm thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce team and ready to get to work. I share the NGLCC's passion for business growth and development within the LGBT community and I look forward to playing a role in moving these important initiatives forward."

Ellis had only recently joined McDonald's USA, previously holding the position of vice president of communications and public affairs for McDonald's in Canada, a division to which he now apparently is returning.

The American Family Association is one of the largest pro-family organizations in the nation with between 2 and 3 million online supporters.

As WND previously reported, after Wal-Mart joined the NGLCC, its income started declining as Christian organizations reacted to the news.

CNN reported Wal-Mart officials later decided to pursue a lower level of homosexual promotions.

"We are not currently planning corporate-level contributions to GLBT groups," Mona Williams, the company's senior vice president of corporate communications, told CNN only months after the issues arose.

The chamber group describes itself as promoting the LGBT community first and always.

Under a "What we do" page is listed a variety of goals, including "disseminate news and information central to the success of LGBT businesses … ensure increased opportunity and equality for LGBT professionals … help LBGT businesses gain more procurement opportunities …. provide strong lobbying efforts for LBGT business causes."

Other corporate sponsors of the NGLCC include Coors Light and Kodak, who have been leaders in advocating homosexuality, as well as IBM, Wells Fargo, JPMorganChase, Motorola, Intel, Avis, Pepsico, OfficeMax and Coldwell Banker.

It also was revealed Happy Meals profits had been used to send 56 McDonald's staff members to a meeting in San Diego to strategize about promoting homosexuality within the company.

But the AFA had sought only a statement of neutrality in the culture wars from the company, not an abandonment of its workers or communities.

WND also has reported on AFA's documentation of McDonald's sponsorship of a homosexual festival featuring public nudity for both men and women.

The AFA revealed McDonald's sponsored the 2008 San Francisco "Gay" Pride parade with a television commercial. The ad originally was posted on YouTube by a McDonald's employee, the group said. "After AFA exposed it, it was removed by the McDonald's employee," the AFA said.

The original McDonald's position supporting the NGLCC agenda, however,  came down to a matter of dollars and cents for officials for a family of mutual funds.

They accused McDonald's officials of "neglecting" their "fiduciary" duty to stockholders by their pursuit of homosexual activism.

"It continues to amaze me that corporations, like McDonald's, continue to publicly and financially support things that alienate their consumer base," said Arthur Ally, the president of the Timothy Plan family of mutual funds.

The company refuses to invest with McDonald's.

"Shareholders as well as customers should be outraged," Ally said, "at the blatant position this company has taken on this issue. McDonald's corporation has a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to continue to earn profits and expand their company. By alienating such a large consumer base, the Christian community, they are undoubtedly neglecting this responsibility."

The AFA's boycott site comment forum had attracted thousands of comments such as:

    * "America is tired of corporations and organizations twisting the free speech and actions of its citizens into 'hatred' when we simply oppose the corporation's, or organization's, involvement in areas where we don't want our money going. Don't expect any more of my money."

    * "McDonald's is a thing of the past for me."

    * "We love your fries, but we will not compromise truth. You have taken money that our family, and millions of others, have contributed to the success of the McDonald's Corp. and chosen to use it for an agenda that defies the foundation of our nation, the family, as created by a man and woman."

    * "I will take [my] 10 great grand children to Wendy's, Burger King or some other place. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN!"

    * "Yes Wendy's, I will have a Frosty with that."

    * "Consider my family's patronage 'McGone.'"

[Soldier4Christ]

Connecticut court overturns same-sex marriage ban 
Finds law discriminates by limiting matrimony to heterosexual couples

Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have the right to marry, making that state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions.

The divided court ruled 4-3 that gay and lesbian couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry under the state constitution, and Connecticut's civil unions law does not provide those couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples.

"I can't believe it. We're thrilled, we're absolutely overjoyed. We're finally going to be able, after 33 years, to get married," said Janet Peck of Colchester, who was a plaintiff with her partner, Carole Conklin.
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Justices overturned a lower court ruling and found in favor of the plaintiffs, who said the state's marriage law discriminates against them because it applies only to heterosexual couples, therefore denying gay couples the financial, social and emotional benefits of marriage.

"Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice," Justice Richard N. Palmer wrote in the majority opinion that overturned a lower court finding.

"To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others," Palmer wrote.

The Family Institute of Connecticut, a political action group that opposes gay marriage, called the ruling outrageous.

"Even the legislature, as liberal as ours, decided that marriage is between a man and a woman," said executive director Peter Wolfgang. "This is about our right to govern ourselves. It is bigger than gay marriage."

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the ruling goes into effect Oct. 28 when it is implemented by action of the of the Superior Court. There will be no appeal, he said.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she disagreed with the ruling.

"The Supreme Court has spoken," she said. "I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision — either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution — will not meet with success."

Law to go into effect
State Sen. Michael Lawlor, chairman of the legislature's Judiciary Committee, said he expects the General Assembly will pass a gay marriage law next year codifying the Supreme Court ruling.

"It's important that both the legislature and the court weigh in," he said. "The court is saying that it's a constitutional requirement that marriage should be equally available to gays and straights and the legislature should weigh in saying whether or not it's constitutionally required, it's the right thing to do."

The court was sharply divided in the decision, with three justices issuing separate dissenting opinions.

Justice Peter T. Zarella wrote that he believes there is no fundamental right to same-sex marriage, and the court's majority failed to discuss the purpose of marriage laws, which he said is to "privilege and regulate procreative conduct."

Zarella added, "The ancient definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman has its basis in biology, not bigotry. If the state no longer has an interest in the regulation of procreation, then that is a decision for the legislature or the people of the state and not this court."

'Dreamed of being married'
The lawsuit was brought in 2004 after eight same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses and sued, saying their constitutional rights to equal protection and due process were violated.

They said the state's marriage law, if applied only to heterosexual couples, denied them of the financial, social and emotional benefits of marriage.

Supreme courts in Massachusetts and California also have ruled in favor of gay and lesbian couples, concluding the domestic partnerships were unequal to the rights given in heterosexual marriage.

Civil unions and a similar arrangement, known as domestic partnerships, are offered to same-sex couples in Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine, Washington and the District of Columbia.

Peck said that as soon as the decision was announced, the couple started crying and hugging while juggling excited phone calls from her brother and other friends and family.

"We've always dreamed of being married," she said. "Even though we were lesbians and didn't know if that would ever come true, we always dreamed of it."

[Soldier4Christ]

School takes 1st-graders
to see lesbian teacher wed
'This is an overt indoctrination
of children who are too young'

A public school in San Francisco bused 18 first-graders to City Hall yesterday, so the youngsters could scatter rose petals in celebration of their lesbian teacher's wedding.

The students, from Creative Arts Charter School, waited on the steps for their teacher with bags of pink rose petals, bottles of bubbles and, at least for some, with political buttons asking Californians to vote down Proposition 8, a ballot measure that seeks to define marriage in the state as a union between one man and one woman.

"She's a really nice teacher. She's the best," 6-year-old Chava Novogrodsky-Godt told the San Francisco Chronicle, wearing a "No on 8" button on her shirt. "I want her to have a good wedding."

As WND reported, supporters of California's Proposition 8 have claimed that combining legalized same-sex marriage with the state's mandate that schools "teach respect for marriage and committed relationships" would result in kindergartners being taught the virtues of homosexual marriage. Opponents have called such arguments fabrications and scare tactics.

Yesterday's field trip wasn't quite kindergartners, but it was close.

"It shows that not only can it happen, but it has already happened," said Chip White, press secretary for the Yes on 8 campaign.

"It's just utterly unreasonable that a public school field trip would be to a same-sex wedding," White told the Chronicle. "This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to have an understanding of its purpose."

The school's interim director Liz Jaroflow, however, defended the field trip to a homosexual wedding as academically justifiable.

"It really is what we call a teachable moment," she told the Chronicle. "I think I'm well within the parameters."

Jaroflow also told the Chronicle that despite the potential objections of some the decision was not controversial for her, and that "it's certainly an issue I would be willing to put my job on the line for."

According to the Chronicle, the field trip was a surprise to the teacher, Erin Carder, and originally proposed by a parent.

"How many days in school are they going to remember?" asked parent Mark Lipsett. "This is a day they'll definitely remember."

Carder married Kerri McCoy on the office balcony of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who officiated the ceremony.

As the couple held hands on the balcony overlooking the City Hall's rotunda, Carder proclaimed, "With this ring I thee wed!" shouting the last word for emphasis.

The couple told the Chronicle that they have participated in campaigning against Proposition 8 and planned to travel around the city after the ceremony in a motorized trolley car with banners reading "Just Married" and "Vote No on 8."

Two families of children in the class chose not to give permission for the trip, their children remaining at the school with another first-grade class.

[Soldier4Christ]

Connecticut's same-sex marriage may not be settled
Voters consider once-in-20-year opportunity for constitutional convention

Now that the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled same-sex couples have the right to wed, opponents of gay marriage are pinning their hopes on an infrequent ballot question in a longshot bid to block the unions.

Every 20 years, voters can force a convention during which delegates can rewrite the entire constitution. It's a long, painstaking process that could cost millions and, by coincidence, it's on the ballot this November.

"This is our one opportunity for the people to have a voice, for the people to be heard, for them to decide whether marriage will be protected as between a man and a woman," said Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut.

On Friday, the state Supreme Court ruled that Connecticut would be the third state, after California and Massachusetts, to allow gay marriage. The court said Connecticut's 2005 civil union law doesn't give same-sex couples the same status as married heterosexual couples.

Unlike California, where next month's ballot referendum will decide whether to outlaw gay marriage, Connecticut voters are being asked to consider only if they want a constitutional convention. If so, convention delegates would be appointed by the state General Assembly, which is largely comprised of Democrats who are sympathetic to same-sex issues.

State Rep. Mike Lawlor, co-chairman of the legislature's Judiciary Committee, said he's not sure everyone understands the constitutional convention process.

"It is a very elaborate, months-long process in which a group of people basically rewrite the whole state constitution," he said. "It costs millions of dollars and requires a special statewide election. If you just want to make a specific amendment to it, which it sounds like they are talking about, then there is a lot easier way to do it."

That would be the legislative amendment process, which typically requires a three-quarters vote of both General Assembly houses to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

There have been 30 amendments passed since 1965, the last time the state held a constitutional convention.

Wolfgang said his group has not ruled out seeking an amendment from lawmakers, but is focusing on getting out the "yes" votes in November.

"The real battle will be Election Day," he said. "Even in a state with a legislature as liberal as ours, we have defeated our opponents year after year through the legislative process. They could never have gotten same-sex marriage through the Democratic process. Democracy is gay marriage's worst enemy."

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a gay marriage opponent who also supports amending the Constitution to allow for initiatives and referendum, said she is "firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision either legislatively or by amending the state constitution will not meet with success."

Andrew McDonald, the Judiciary Committee's Senate co-chairman, said he expects the General Assembly to take up gay marriage next year - but only to codify the Supreme Court's ruling, and not to attempt to change the state's constitution.

"I continue to expect a bipartisan effort to eradicate any remaining vestiges of discrimination," he said.

Lawmakers will have some issues to discuss, such as what to do with state's civil unions law, which remains in effect. More than 1,500 civil unions have been granted since the General Assembly approved them in 2005.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said new marriage forms eventually will be needed, but in the interim, clerks can make them more gender neutral by simply crossing out references to man and woman or husband and wife on current forms.

The ruling does not mean churches or synagogues must perform same-sex marriages, but some are expected to embrace the new law.

"I think there is great rejoicing, although we are aware that for some people this is troubling and difficult," said. Rev. David Foy Crabtree, Connecticut conference minister for the United Church of Christ. "People come out all over the map on it, but among our clergy there is a very, very high percentage who will respond very favorably to this."

[Shammu]

A public school in San Francisco bused 18 first-graders to City Hall yesterday, so the youngsters could scatter rose petals in celebration of their lesbian teacher's wedding.

That is a abomination!! These kids are to young to even know about the queer society!!

I ain't even going to read the rest of this news article. Cause chances are I'll say something I shouldn't.