World Family Policy Center Newsletter

World Family Policy Center Newsletter

* News relative to protecting the family worldwide *

Volume 3 Issue 13 - April 22, 2004

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If no special attention is given to families, we’ll be denying to mankind something as important as the air he breathes and the blood in his veins. Those who are constantly hostile to the cause of families are perpetuating a kind of historical suicide.”

—Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo of The Family Pontific Council

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Today’s Contents:

A. Featured Articles:

1. Judge Orders Stop to Gay Marriage in Multnomah County

2. Same-sex Marriage Bill Advances in California

3. Adolescents Who Take Virginity Pledges Have Lower Rates of

Out-of-Wedlock Births

4. Week Focuses on Family Relationships

5. African Anglicans Shun US Money Over Gay Policies

B. Coming Events

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FEATURED ARTICLES

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1. Judge Orders Stop to Gay Marriage in Multnomah County

By William McCall

The Seattle Times

The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — A judge today ordered Multnomah County

to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples

while recommending that Oregon follow the example of Vermont

and agree to civil unions.

The ruling by Multnomah County Circuit Judge Frank Bearden

effectively ends gay marriage nationally, because Multnomah

County was the only jurisdiction known to allow it until May 17,

when the state of Massachusetts is slated to begin approving

same_sex marriage license applications following a state

Supreme Court ruling there.

But Bearden ordered the state to recognize nearly 3,000

gay_marriage licenses approved since March 3, a move

hailed by gay rights supporters, who said those would be

the country's first legally recognized gay marriages.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001907779_webgaymarriage20.html

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2. Same-sex Marriage Bill Advances in California

1st state legislative body to favor issuing licenses to homosexuals

April 20, 2004

WorldNetDaily.com

A bill to legalize same_sex marriage in California passed its first

legislative hurdle with approval by the Assembly Judiciary

Committee today.

AB 1967, introduced by homosexual Assemblyman Mark Leno of

San Francisco, would change the definition of marriage in the Family

Code from "a man and a woman" to "two persons."

The committee vote was split along party lines, with the eight

Democrats voting in favor and the 3 Republicans opposed.

"We are shocked and appalled that the majority of committee

members decided to ignore the will of the people they represent,"

said Karen England of the Sacramento_based Capitol Resource

Institute. "The people of California overwhelmingly voted in

Proposition 22 that marriage in California is between one man

and one woman only."

To read entire article:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38134

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3. Adolescents Who Take Virginity Pledges Have Lower

Rates of Out-of-Wedlock Births

by Kirk A. Johnson

Center for Data Analysis Report #04_04

Heritage Foundation

March 30, 2004 |

Young women who take a virginity pledge are about 40 percent less

likely to have a child out of wedlock when compared to similar young

women who do not make such a pledge, according to recently released

data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. These

dramatic findings are sustained when background factors, such as socio-

economic status, race, religiosity, and other relevant variables, are held

constant. This finding strongly suggests the potential for abstinence

education programs to reduce teen pregnancy and out_of_wedlock

childbearing.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/cda04_04.cfm

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4. Week Focuses on Family Relationships

Strong homes seen as benefit to community, nation.

By ASTA CORLEY

Anchorage Daily News

April 16, 2004

Anchorage residents Felicia and Jeremy Paskett believe that healthy

family relationships are the foundation of the community. . . . "Strong

families don't just happen on their own," [they] said. "It takes commitment

from parents and from every other member of the family to make it a

success."

During the kickoff, Mayor Mark Begich will preside during opening

ceremonies and will read an official proclamation declaring April 17_23

as Anchorage's Week of the Family.

[Sponsors, entertainment and seminar topics are included in the article.]

To read entire article:

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/4971659p_4899850c.html

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5. African Anglicans Shun US Money Over Gay Policies

Bishops last week said they will not sacrifice conscience.

By Mike Crawley | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

April 19, 2004

ACCRA, GHANA – From the welcome shade of a leafy neem tree

outside Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in Accra comes the hubbub

of postservice conversation. But an uncomfortable silence descends

when parishioners are asked about the ordination of gay clergy by

their US counterpart, the Episcopal Church.

"I don't think it's right," says Caroline Tetteh, impeccably dressed in

a crisp white dress accented by a sash of multi_colored woven kente

cloth. Nearby, Elizabeth Jackson_Davis doesn't hide her scorn. "It

shouldn't happen," she says.

To read entire article:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0419/p07s02_woaf.html

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COMING EVENTS

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October 6 -7, 2005

The Pacific and Asian Family Dialogue

Manila, Philippines

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November 29-30, 2004

The Doha International Conference for the Family

Doha, Qatar

The Doha International Conference for the Family follow upon the

celebration of the International Year of the Family and will be a

two-day conference in Doha, Qatar, under the patronage of Her

Highness Sheikha Mouza Bint Nasser Al-Misnad., Consort of His

Highness The Emir of Qatar and President of Supreme Council for

Family Affairs, State of Qatar.

The conference represents an international assemblage, bringing

together international VIPs, governmental and non-governmental

organizations (NGOs), scholars, academicians, and civil society

leaders who will be invited by the State of Qatar to participate in

a family conference. This conference will call upon all nations of

the world to restate the principles related to family life embodied

in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to adhere to

values and endeavor to promote the role of the family as it is the

natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to

protection by society and state.

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Note: The preceding article excerpts are highlights of current events and

do not necessarily represent the views of the World Family Policy Center

or Brigham Young University.

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Newsletter created and distributed by:

World Family Policy Center

J. Reuben Clark Law School

Brigham Young University

Managing Director: Richard Wilkins

Executive Director: A. Scott Loveless

Newsletter Editors: Joy S. Lundberg and Gary B. Lundberg

If you have any articles, editorials, or papers you would like

circulated through the WFPC News network, you may submit them to

lundberg@lawgate.byu.edu