http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=10&u=/nm/20050402/pl_nm/life_gaymarriage_dc



Kansans Debate Marriage, Gays and God Before Vote

By Carey Gillam

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Reuters) - Marriage is the big topic in Kansas this
weekend. Yard signs are up, radio ads are running and a "Mayday for
Marriage" rally planned.


Following the lead of more than a dozen other states, Kansas scheduled
a vote Tuesday on whether to amend the state constitution to ban
same-sex couples from marrying. One of the toughest in the nation,
Kansas' proposed ban also would prevent gays from receiving any of the
"rights and incidents" of marriage.


A coalition of Christian clergy from across the state are backing the
ban, with help from out-of-state supporters. They have raised more than
$125,000 and are blanketing communities with symbols of a veiled bride
and tuxedo-wearing groom and repeating whenever they can the mantra
"Protect Marriage."


A rally Sunday was expected to draw people from around the state to
Kansas City.


"We don't want same-sex unions to be considered equal to marriage,"
said Mike Farmer, Kansas Catholic Conference executive director. "Where
does it end? Any two people, any three people, any four people? People
who believe in traditional marriage want to do everything they can to
protect it."


Opponents say the measure does not do anything to protect marriage and
is purely discriminatory.


"We don't see anything about prohibiting adultery. This message about
protecting marriage just rings hollow," said Bruce Ney, chairman of
Kansans for Fairness, a coalition opposing the amendment. "This message
is about hate."


The opposition is holding its own rally on Sunday and has lined up
nearly 100 clergy who say the measure violates Christian teachings. Yet
they've raised only about $35,000, and they're prepared for a loss.


"We'll lose. But it's not right," said the Rev. Robert Meneilly, a
retired Presbyterian minister who opposes the amendment. "If we believe
that we are made in God's likeness, we all need to be respected and
treated the same."


PUBLIC POLICY, BIBLICAL BELIEFS


Kansas would become the 18th state to ban gay marriage through state
constitutional amendment. Thirteen states passed similar amendments
last year, and conservative Christians have cited the efforts as key in
shaping public policy.


Indeed, conservatives have criticized President Bush for not pushing
hard enough to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. His quest
for the amendment failed last year in Congress.


It is not just Kansans active in the Kansas vote. The Knights of
Columbus of New Haven, Connecticut, donated $100,000. The
Washington-based group Concerned Women for America, which aims to push
biblical teachings in public policy, as well as the Coalition of
African-American Pastors from Tennessee, are helping lead Sunday's
rally.


Movement leaders say they have to pursue constitutional amendments to
prevent a liberal judiciary from legalizing homosexual unions.


"If a culture cannot define and protect basic relationships such as
marriage then that culture will, I believe, find itself drifting
further into chaos and confusion," said Pastor J.K. Warrick of the
College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas.


As the vote nears, the debate is intensifying as once-private
sentiments surface between neighbors, church members, doctors and
patients, and parents on playgrounds.


"God loves all of us and we are all sinners. We have no right to say
this particular sin has to be targeted," said 54-year-old Linda Stoker,
a married mother from Johnson County who plans to vote against the
amendment.


Not so, said Yvonne DiFalco, another Johnson County married mother who
planted a pro-amendment sign in her yard.

"As a decent society, we want people to know they are loved," said
DiFalco. "But we will not waltz them into a life of hell."




- - -

This has been another enlightening moment, with:

Turin


I have such sites to show you...
------------------------
http://members.fortunecity.com/turinturambar/
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Men_First/
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"He who changeth, altereth, misconstrueth, argueth with, deleteth, or
maketh a lie about these words or causeth them to not be known shall
burn in hell forever and ever...."

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