Tell lawmakers you oppose same-sex marriage

The lame-duck session of our state Legislature is upon us, which must mean the issue of same-sex marriage is on the front burner again. The two must somehow be yoked together.

The state Senate is expected to vote Thursday on a bill that would change the definition of marriage in New Jersey to include the homosexual community. Lawmakers would not bring it up during regular sessions because too many people might be paying attention to Trenton and would raise a great battle cry against such an absurd proposal. So while the citizens are focused on Christmas shopping and such, maybe they can sneak it through just like they did for getting same-sex civil unions passed.

We've been asking for years for the legislators to put the question on a ballot and let the people decide on such an important change in our society, but they know what the outcome would be and they won't let that happen. So far, 31 states have put the question on a public ballot and all 31 states have turned it down. The state of Maine is the latest; the people voted to overturn the decision their legislators made regarding this issue. Let the people decide! This republic we live in is a representative form of government. And the legislators are supposed to uphold the Constitution of the United States and reflect the will of the people. It is obvious New Jersey legislators have their own agenda and could care less what the people want.

The truth of the matter is that the civil union bill gave all the same rights to homosexual couples that any heterosexual couple has. The New Jersey Equality group wants you to think otherwise, but they are not being truthful in the matter. Under the New Jersey Civil Union Law passed in 2006, same-sex couples in civil unions are guaranteed the same rights and protections, including hospital visitation rights, adoption rights, and health and insurance benefits. The "equality people" seem to think if they keep telling lies long enough and loud enough that people will start believing them.

I am not taking this public stand for myself. However this comes out, it will not affect me personally in any way. I will continue my 43-year marriage until death parts us. My concern is for my grandchildren and future generations that could be plagued with a society that adopts same-sex marriage as acceptable and normal. The truth is that same-sex attraction can be prevented and changed. There is no such thing as a "gay gene." We must stop lying to our children. Already our public school system is indoctrinating our children to accept the concept of two mommies or two daddies as appropriate in our society. This provides fodder for good people to rise up in favor of school vouchers so that parents can choose how their children are taught. The teachers union is being controlled by the same people who are behind this legislation. But that's another topic for another day.

I want to use whatever influence I have to make sure that the silent majority hears the side that believes we should not change the centuries-long tradition that marriage is between a man and a woman. To change such a long-term understanding of marriage to accommodate a small minority of the population seems ludicrous. Of the 8,600,00-plus individuals living in New Jersey, 37.2 percent are joined in one-man/one-woman marriage relationships. Conversely, 0.04 percent of New Jerseyans have entered into civil unions. The truth is that a small minority of homosexuals has taken advantage of civil unions, and that most are not interested in formalizing their relationships. It is only the activists who want this bill. The face that this minority is well financed and influential is what makes it such a public issue. My point is, if something so foundational to society is radically redefined to serve four one-hundredths of a percent of the population, then that can hardly be qualified as true equality.

President Obama has stated that America is not a Christian nation. He added that it's not a Jewish nation, nor a Muslim nation. The point was that America is a nation that includes people of many different religions. Whether we adhere to the Old Testament, the New Testament or the Qur'an, the teaching of the definition of marriage is the same -- the union of one man and one woman. It is the teaching of all the major religions of the world. But the majority of people who are citizens of this country call themselves Christians. The hallways of most of the government buildings in Washington, D.C., are engraved with scriptures from the Holy Bible. Since our beloved Constitution was framed out of biblical principals, a legitimate point can be made that from God's word, the Judeo-Christian opinion is that God's blessing is on the marital covenantal relationship between a man and a woman. We can thumb our nose at God and choose another way, but there will be consequences to pay. "God is not mocked, whatever a man sows he will also reap," (Galatians 6:7). In this case, whatever a state or nation sows, it also will reap. Maybe the reaping has already begun.

I am not taking this public stand for myself. However this comes out, it will not affect me personally in any way. I will continue my 43-year marriage until death parts us. My concern is for my grandchildren and future generations that could be plagued with a society that adopts same-sex marriage as acceptable and normal. The truth is that same-sex attraction can be prevented and changed. There is no such thing as a "gay gene." We must stop lying to our children. Already our public school system is indoctrinating our children to accept the concept of two mommies or two daddies as appropriate in our society. This provides fodder for good people to rise up in favor of school vouchers so that parents can choose how their children are taught. The teachers union is being controlled by the same people who are behind this legislation. But that's another topic for another day.

I want to use whatever influence I have to make sure that the silent majority hears the side that believes we should not change the centuries-long tradition that marriage is between a man and a woman. To change such a long-term understanding of marriage to accommodate a small minority of the population seems ludicrous. Of the 8,600,00-plus individuals living in New Jersey, 37.2 percent are joined in one-man/one-woman marriage relationships. Conversely, 0.04 percent of New Jerseyans have entered into civil unions. The truth is that a small minority of homosexuals has taken advantage of civil unions, and that most are not interested in formalizing their relationships. It is only the activists who want this bill. The face that this minority is well financed and influential is what makes it such a public issue. My point is, if something so foundational to society is radically redefined to serve four one-hundredths of a percent of the population, then that can hardly be qualified as true equality.

President Obama has stated that America is not a Christian nation. He added that it's not a Jewish nation, nor a Muslim nation. The point was that America is a nation that includes people of many different religions. Whether we adhere to the Old Testament, the New Testament or the Qur'an, the teaching of the definition of marriage is the same -- the union of one man and one woman. It is the teaching of all the major religions of the world. But the majority of people who are citizens of this country call themselves Christians. The hallways of most of the government buildings in Washington, D.C., are engraved with scriptures from the Holy Bible. Since our beloved Constitution was framed out of biblical principals, a legitimate point can be made that from God's word, the Judeo-Christian opinion is that God's blessing is on the marital covenantal relationship between a man and a woman. We can thumb our nose at God and choose another way, but there will be consequences to pay. "God is not mocked, whatever a man sows he will also reap," (Galatians 6:7). In this case, whatever a state or nation sows, it also will reap. Maybe the reaping has already begun.

What shall we do? For those who care about this, the hour has come. The Senate committee cleared the bill Monday. The full Senate could vote on the measure as soon as Thursday. 

Use telephone calls and e-mails to communicate what your opinion is to your state senators and assemblymen. It's too late for letters. The names, e-mails and telephone numbers for lawmakers are on our Web site, www.chestnutag.org. The New Jersey Family Policy Council has led the charge in this matter. A visit to their Web site would be beneficial for more facts (www.njfpc.org).