Last time I consulted an atlas, it is clear we are living in New York, in the United States of America – not in China or North Korea. In those countries, government presumes daily to “redefine” rights, relationships, values, and natural law. There, communiqués from the government can dictate the size of families, who lives and who dies, and what the very definition of “family” and “marriage” means.
But, please, not here! Our country’s founding principles speak of rights given by God, not invented by government, and certain noble values – life, home, family, marriage, children, faith – that are protected, not re-defined, by a state presuming omnipotence.
Please, not here! We cherish true freedom, not as the license to do whatever we want, but the liberty to do what we ought; we acknowledge that not every desire, urge, want, or chic cause is automatically a “right.” And, what about other rights, like that of a child to be raised in a family with a mom and a dad?
Our beliefs should not be viewed as discrimination against homosexual people. The Church affirms the basic human rights of gay men and women, and the state has rightly changed many laws to offer these men and women hospital visitation rights, bereavement leave, death benefits, insurance benefits, and the like. This is not about denying rights. It is about upholding a truth about the human condition. Marriage is not simply a mechanism for delivering benefits: It is the union of a man and a woman in a loving, permanent, life-giving union to pro-create children. Please don’t vote to change that. If you do, you are claiming the power to change what is not into what is, simply because you say so. This is false, it is wrong, and it defies logic and common sense.
Yes, I admit, I come at this as a believer, who, along with other citizens of a diversity of creeds believe that God, not Albany, has settled the definition of marriage a long time ago. We believers worry not only about what this new intrusion will do to our common good, but also that we will be coerced to violate our deepest beliefs to accommodate the newest state decree. (If you think this paranoia, just ask believers in Canada and England what’s going on there to justify our apprehensions.)
But I also come at this as an American citizen, who reads our formative principles as limiting government, not unleashing it to tamper with life’s most basic values.
In New York, four law-makers, including one Republican, who had same-sex marriage in 2009, announced yesterday that they would vote in support of the current measure, bringing the total confirmed yes votes in the Senate to 30. Thirty-two votes are needed to pass the bill.
Please consider calling as many of the following Senators and ask them to vote no on same-sex marriage.
Stephen Saland (845) 463-0840
Roy McDonald (518) 274-4616
Andrew Lanza (718) 984-4073
Greg Ball (845) 279-3773
Kemp Hannon (516) 739-1700
Charles Fuschillo (516) 882-0630
Betty Little (518) 743-0968
Also, please call Senator Dean Skelos to make clear that the people of New York not politicians or judges should define marriage. As Senate Majority Leader he should make sure that this question goes directly to the people.
Dean Skelos (518) 455-3171
Joe Addabbo Queens (518) 455-2322
James Alesi Rochester suburbs (518) 455-2015
Greg Ball Putnam County (518) 455-3111
Joe Griffo Utica (518) 455-3334
Mark Grisanti Buffalo, Grand Island, Niagara Falls (518) 455-3240
Shirley Huntley Queens (518) 455-3531
Carl Kruger Brooklyn (518) 455-2460
Andrew Lanza Staten Island (518) 455-3215
Betty Little North County - Plattsburgh to Glens Falls (518) 455-2811
Jack Martins Nassau County,Garden City (518) 455-3265
Roy McDonald Troy, Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park (518) 455-2381
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