Wednesday, October 1, 2008

CAP: AG Goddard opposes religious freedom, Flagstaff sexual orientation ordinance proposed

In this issue:

(1) Countdown: 35 Days Until Election Day
(2) Attorney General Opposes Religious Freedom
(3) Flagstaff Update


(1) Countdown: 35 Days Until Election Day

There are only six more days to register to vote in the November election. If you are not already registered, here's what you need to know:
· Any U.S. citizen and Arizona resident who will be 18 years old by November 4 can register to vote.
· At our Voter Information Center, you can register online or print the form to mail it in. You can also pick up a paper copy of the form at your local public library, post office, or county recorder's office.
· Voter registration forms and online registrations must be received by the Secretary of State's office by midnight on October 6. If you are mailing your form, make sure you send it by Friday to arrive on time.
· If you would like a Voter Registration Toolkit to help you get your friends and family registered by the deadline, please call us TODAY at 602-424-2525 or 800-FAMILY-1.


(2) Attorney General Opposes Religious Freedom

Last week, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard joined the attorneys general from twelve other states to oppose a new rule proposed by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The rule would protect medical professionals who refuse to perform procedures like abortion because of their religious beliefs. The new rule would require medical facilities to have policies in place to prevent doctors and nurses from being discriminated against based on their religious beliefs. Along with the other AGs, Goddard signed a letter claiming that the new rule "puts personal agendas before patient care" and that the new rule would "deter a woman's right to choose." Apparently, Goddard does not understand that employees should not be penalized for religious beliefs. An employee should not have to choose between his faith and his job.


(3) Flagstaff Update

In August, the Flagstaff City Council considered a radical proposed ordinance that would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" to the traditional protected classes in the law governing employment practices and "public accommodations" - a category that includes most businesses open to the public. The remarkably broad proposed ordinance would prohibit public places from having restrooms exclusively reserved for men or women and would interfere with employment decisions for private businesses. The ordinance would also prevent private business owners from operating their businesses in accordance with their moral or religious beliefs.
Why do ordinances like this matter? In May, the California Supreme Court said this type of so-called "non-discrimination" law is one reason why they decided to completely redefine marriage. A similar law has been used in New Mexico to punish owners of a photography business who refused, for religious reasons, to take pictures at a same-sex commitment ceremony. This proposed ordinance in Flagstaff would also restrict churches from making employment decisions based on their doctrines and beliefs.
The Diversity Awareness Commission will hold the last of its public forums on the ordinance tomorrow, October 1, at 10:00 a.m. at the Flagstaff Athletic Club East. If you live in Flagstaff, now is the time to speak up before your religious freedoms are taken away.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Twelve reasons gay marriage is wrong:

1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning. Also apparently those homosexual animals have picked up some unnatural behavior.

2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

3) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

11) Gay marriage should be decided by the people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of minorities.

12) Civil Unions, providing most of the same benefits as marriage with a different name are better, because a "separate but equal" institution is always constitutional. Separate schools for African-Americans worked just as well as separate marriages for gays and lesbians will.