An official in a conservative California county announced that her office will halt all civil wedding ceremonies as the state approaches the legalization of gay "marriage."
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(Photo: AP Images / Eric Risberg)Art Tomaszewski, left, and his partner David Bell, second from left, talk with Thomas Giap, right, of Infinity Productions about videotaping their wedding at a special wedding pavilion at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Buisness Expo in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett said her staff will continue to issue marriage licenses but will no longer officiate at civil ceremonies. June 13 is the last day county officials will perform civil weddings, as reported by The Associated Press.
Barnett cited budget and staff constraints for her decision in an announcement made last week. But gay activists and supporters, including San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom who has offered to perform same-sex “marriages” in Kern County, are suspect of her decision, with some calling it poorly disguised discrimination against same-sex couples.
On Tuesday, June 17, the California Supreme Court's decision to allow same-sex "marriage" takes effect and thousands of homosexual couples are expected to tie the knot this year. County clerks will be required by law to issue new gender-neutral marriage licenses.
Those fighting to preserve traditional marriage between a man and a woman have rallied in support of Barnett, who reportedly announced her decision after learning from county lawyers that she could not refuse to marry gay couples.
Heterosexual couples who planned to marry inside the clerk’s office in the coming days and weeks have rushed their weddings this week to make it before the county closes its doors on officiating weddings.
Bob Courtney, 61, who went to the clerk’s office Thursday with Debbie Garett, 51, to get a marriage license applauded Barnett’s decision, saying he believes marriage is between and man and a woman only, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Kern County residents overwhelmingly supported a 2000 ballot measure that defined marriage as between a man and a woman. The state Supreme Court overturned that measure on May 15 when it gave the green light to same-sex “marriages.” Opponents of same-sex “marriage” will go back to the ballot in November to vote on a constitutional amendment to preserve traditional marriage.
Comments
I've posted some these (as well as other) articles on my new blog:
http://wbmoore.wordpress.com
Hopefully my more long winded posts will be put there instead of here.
Biggie, go read my series of posts concerning your challenge in another forum:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/comment/20080615/32822_Anglican_Church%3A_Gay_%27Wedding%27_Broke_Rules.htm
Hello my fellow bretheren! How nuts are you all? Do you support EVERYTHING in the Bible 100%? If I were to cherry pick a phrase in the Bible, would you be 100$ for EVERYTHING I could find?
This should be interesting... Who here wants to lay their money on the table? Who here says they support 100% of what is in the Bible as true, accurate, and 100% endorsed by yourself?
If I find a phrase in the Bible you don't endorse, that means you are friggin hipocrites and liars. True or False?
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It is threads like these that make me want to turn away from the CP forever.
BLASPHEMY!!! I am 32; I've only been a Christian for just over a year; I worship and revere God in spirit and truth...
This is utter BLASPHEMY. It is absolutely true that Jesus is the light, and that the light makes manifest what has been festering in the dark.
When you hold God's Word up to garbage like the majority of the posts in here, it is so utterly clear that we, brothers and sister in Christ, are living in the TRUTH, and the END of this wicked system is near. Oh Lord please come soon. Judge those who hate you. Father, help me forgive those who despise you. You people absolutely GRIEVE the Holy Spirit. I pray that God will come as swiftly as the flood in the time of Noe. I marvel at how Jesus could be so forgiving on that cross. Soon brothers and sisters, they will look more beautiful than ever, and attract and draw together the entire heathen world, and they will HATE US because they HATE HIM. The persecution will be severe and we need to have faith. Lord, increase our faith. Lord that they would know Jesus.
In love, fear, trembling and with a broken heart,
Your Brother in Christ.
(Copied from my other post about the same topic)
Biggie,
I find it interesting that many homosexuals will argue that the Bible is old and outdated, even a fairy tale book, yet the very same people use Scripture to convey God's love, when their very own behavior is clearly identified as sin that God calls an abomination.
How does one reconcile in their heart accepting God's love and ignoring His coming wrath and judgment against sin? Wouldn't someone like that be considered a hypocrite, just like the person who calls themselves a Christian but is a closet homosexual, or addicted to pornography, or who is having an adulterous relationship outside of their marriage? Isn't that hypocritical? How is the Christian hypocrite any different from the homosexual hypocrite? And not all Christians are hypocrites just like not all homosexuals are hypocrites.
It is true, biblically true that Jesus Christ, who is God, represents love and His love is seen in the cross upon which Christ died on, for sin, not for love, but for sin.
Those who say that a homosexual lifestyle is not a sin are the very same people who are calling God a liar (1 John 1:10, Jeremiah 2:35) and God will present a clear case against them where they will not be found innocent.
There really is no joy in this matter at all, but sorrow. Sorrow for those who believe that what is wrong is really right. Sorrow for their very soul and the horrible eternal consequences that await them, unless they repent and find salvation in Jesus Christ.
Danile, thanks for getting back and clarifying that for me, be blessed as you serve Him, believer
Wow Biggie ... you DO understand what I've been saying!
Marriage between one man and one woman is love. Everything else is LUST! Jesus does represent love but had some really strong things to say about lust of the flesh! So did Paul in Romans where he said "Therefore God fave them over in the lusts of their hears to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them."
Sounds real clear to me. California is now dishonored. A dishonor they can repent of in November!
Bingo, Believer. It was based on the privacy of adults in a private setting ie the right to privacy. Now, if they had been 'doing it' in the bushes at a park or something that would have been a different issue.
Statements from the judges clearly stated it was a privacy issue between 2 consenting adults in a private setting that was the issue and that the government had 'too narrow a view of liberty" to include the private bedroom between consenting adults.
The courts often use a seperate issue to reach their desired conclusion without actually addressing the issue. One current example is the right of detainees at Gitmo to appeal the the US Supreme Court. Now THAT ruling is an exercise in hair-pin turns!
God Bless America!
Land that I love!
I am truly proud of all Americans for their tolerance and acceptance of others who are different from them into the family!
Christians - behold! This is a wonderous day! For your hearts have melted with love and admiration for LOVE in its graceful beauty.
Same-Sex Marriages have begun in California.
This is a historic day and a turning point advancing all that is good about America.
God Bless the wonderful country America is becoming. Embracing views of acceptance, embracing change, and abiding by its values enshrined in its Constitution.
Gay-haters: Do not fear this day. For as you learned to accept racial tolerance. The vast majority of you will also accept same-sex couples.
As you have learned to accept the world is not flat, that the sun doesn't revolve around the Earth, so too will you one day accept that Jesus Christ represents Love. And Love is what is being shared today between same-sex couples.
Christians - do not shed a tear for this historic day. For I know you have greatness within you. To accept change. To embrace Love. And to reinterpret your texts in a modern age based on love, acceptance, tolerance, and mutual respect.
Christians - I am proud of your progress you have achieved so much in changing your beliefs during the past two millenia. I know you will eventually do what's right, and accept Love.
God Bless all of the Same-Sex Couples getting married! Your wedding vows represent Love, and the Love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit embraces the sanctity of your Love!
daniel, help a novice here are you saying thatwhat the Lawrence case decided was simply that the public has no right to determine the right or wrong of what goes on in the privacy of the bedroom between two consenting adults and what they were doing is not relevant to the decison so the court did not rule on the behavior but rather their right to do the behavior in the privacy of their bedroom? thanks, believer
Luckily, for all of us, God sent Jesus to die for our sins.
John 3:16-18 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
If we trust in Him, we are saved from the cost of our sins. If however, we deny Him, or claim to know Him but have no change in our lives, then we are responsible for our sins.
Matthew 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
What is the will and work of God?
John 6:39-40
39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:29
29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
God will judge - not me, nor anyone else. Each of us will have to answer to God. If we know christ, then His righteousness will be counted as ours. But if not, then we will suffer the second death.
Revelation 21:6-8
6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
I pray each of us comes to understand this and accept it.
God loves you and wants you to love Him. But this means you have to also obey Him.
Actually blue... 'A' court has spoken and that court has no authority in the other 49 states.
Now, back to Biggie (and anyone else)... I actually have had friends through the years that were homosexual. I've even had one of them over for dinner...with my kids around (oh my!). Gay or not I see you are a very angry person who needs approval and lots of it. You need to be right. I gave up being right along time ago because when it came to me and Jesus...He was right and I was wrong...period. I gave up my gibberish as you put it for simply reading what was written in the Bible. I know this is foolishness to you but the Bible beat you to it. It says it is foolishness to you. Maybe your thinking isn't as independent and free as you may think since a 2000 year old book has you pegged. :-) The bottom line is I can never approve of what the Bible clearly disapproves.
Ever read a book where someone doesn't listen and then something really bad happens at the end? I looked at the end of the book...God wins. Those who disagree with Him lose (that's why He's God...).
You attack...we show you the love of God. You demean...I died along time ago so I am free to care about you as a person. I am not your judge...God is. God GAVE YOU THE RIGHT to do what you want. He gives each of us stewardship of our lives (Christian or not) and you will be held accountable for that. All the arguing and attacking here won't change that. Your aguement isn't with me but with God. It is my hope you come to understand that before that judgement happens.
Actually Lawrence vs Texas doesn't say it's legal. It says it's not illegal. Now...this may confuse the rational mind but it's a legal thing. My area of expertise is 504 and IDEA law (civil rights of special education and special ed law). I volunteer with familes with special needs children helping them get from the schools the services they need so I do know just a small bit about civil rights and the law.
"“Let me be clear that I have nothing against homosexuals, or any other group, promoting their agenda through normal democratic means. Social perceptions of sexual and other morality change over time, and every group has the right to persuade its fellow citizens that its view of such matters is the best ... But persuading one’s fellow citizens is one thing, and imposing one’s views in absence of democratic majority will is something else.”
—Scalia."
Once the Constitution of California is ammeded the court will have no right to an opinion on the subject as it is not over the Constitution but under it.
Also, this case was about bringing public opinion into the private residence where adults and ONLY adults are involved. It did not make it legal. It made it not illegal. I know this may be a bit of a brain twister but when you work with civil rights issues day after day you learn there is indeed a difference to which Shakespear said "kill all the lawyers"....
The basis of this statement is simple. The court can determine if a law is constitutional but cannot make law itself thus the term 'case-law' which is determinations based on existing law and the constitution. I know...clear as mud...and you wonder why our schools are 49th here is SC.
Sorry Barnett, your conservative 'halting' can not change gay marriage because the courts have spoken: no more discrimination!