World Family Policy Center Newsletter

* News relative to protecting the family worldwide *

Volume 3 Issue 9 - February 25, 2004

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “In human record there is no instance of

a society retaining its energy after a complete new generation has

inherited a tradition which does not insist on prenuptial and postnuptial continence.”

— Joseph Daniel Unwind, British Anthropologist

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Today’s Contents:

A. Featured Articles:

1. Congress Is Urged to Pass an Amendment to the Constitution

2. We Are in a Culture War--and All of Us Have Been Drafted!

3. For Better or for Worse?

4. Half of Young Americans to Get Sex Diseases

B. Coming Events

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FEATURED ARTICLES

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1. Congress Is Urged to Pass an Amendment to the Constitution

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Times

February 24, 2004

WASHINGTON -- President Bush backed a constitutional

amendment banning gay marriage Tuesday, saying he wants

to stop activist judges from changing the definition of the

"most enduring human institution."

Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural and moral roots, Bush said, urging Congress to approve such an amendment.

"After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence

and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local

authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental

institution of civilization," the president said. "Their action

has created confusion on an issue that requires clarity."

Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said in advance of

Bush's announcement that the president wanted to end "growing

confusion" that has arisen from court decisions in Massachusetts,

and San Francisco's permitting more than 3,000 same sex unions.

"The president believes it is important to have clarity," he said.

"There is widespread support in this country for protecting and

defending the sanctity of marriage."

To read entire article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/24CND-GAY.html?ex=1078290000&en=e5f0c8fd9f53e18b&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY

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2. We Are in a Culture War--and All of Us Have Been Drafted!

By Richard G. Wilkins

Defendmarriage.org

February 24, 2004

President Bush's announcement today of his strong support for a

constitutional amendment to protect marriage means that the pivotal

battle in the culture war has truly begun.

This is a battle that clearly can no longer be avoided. It has been

precipitated by a series of recent events:

* The actions of four activist judges in Massachusetts to impose

same-sex marriage in that state starting in mid-May and the inability

of the legislature to effectively deal with that threat.

* The open contempt for the rule of law demonstrated by San Francisco

officials in "marrying" thousands of same-sex couples.

* The decision of New Mexico county officials to issue marriage

licenses, stopped only by the command of the state attorney general.

* The scramble by a number of states to protect themselves from being

forced to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

All of these events - all occurring the past several weeks - have under-

scored the critical and growing need for a national answer to an absolutely fundamental question: What is marriage?

The step that will truly protect marriage is an amendment to the United

States Constitution. This amendment will trump the actions of activist

judges, the lawlessness of mayors and the arbitrary acts of county officials

and prevent future acts of anarchy from arising throughout the country.

To read entire article:

http://www.unitedfamilies.org/defendmarriage/newsletters/0012.html

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3. For Better or for Worse?

The federal marriage amendment would strike a blow for freedom.

By Mary Ann Glendon

The Wall Street Journal

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--President Bush's endorsement of a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage should be welcomed by all Americans who are concerned about equality and preserving democratic decision-making. "After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence and millennia of human experience," he explained, "a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization."

Those judges are here in Massachusetts, of course, where the state is cutting back on programs to aid the elderly, the disabled, and children in poor families. Yet a four-judge majority has ruled in favor of special benefits for a group of relatively affluent households, most of which have two earners and are not raising children. What same-sex marriage advocates have tried to present as a civil rights issue is really a bid for special preferences of the type our society gives to married couples for the very good reason that most of them are raising or have raised children. Now, in the wake of the Massachusetts case, local officials in other parts of the nation have begun to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples in defiance of state law.

To read entire article:

http://us.f118.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=2809_1804050_13279_1338_3398_0_14590_6906_2011607566&YY=42005&inc=25&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b&box=Inbox

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4. Half of Young Americans to Get Sex Diseases

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

Tuesday February 24, 08:31 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Half of all young Americans will get a sexually transmitted disease by the age of 25, perhaps because they are ignorant about protection or embarrassed to ask for it, according to several reports.

The reports, issued on Tuesday publicised by two non-profit sexual and youth health groups, said there were 9 million new cases of STD among teens and young adults aged 15 to 24 in 2000.

To read entire article:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040224/325/emux4.html

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COMING EVENTS

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February 28, 2004

Interfaith Conference on Defending Marriage & the Family

Sponsored by Family Action Council International

Washington, DC

Conference includes the following speakers:

Keynote: Rabbi Daniel Lapin, President, Toward Tradition

"The Origins and Destiny of Marriage and Family"

Vocal Solo Erika Harold Miss America 2003

"How Beautiful"

Panelist (1st): Monte Nyman, President, Southern Virginia University

"Marriage is Ordained of God"

Panelist (1st): Gerald McDermott, Professor of Theology, Roanoke College

"The Bible and Gay Marriage"

Panelist (2^nd): Allan Carlson, Howard Center, and Family Research Council

"Marriage and the American Experience"

Panelist (2^nd): Patrick Fagan, Heritage Foundation

"The Contribution to Society of the Intact Family

That Worships God Weekly"

Address: Sheri Dew, CEO Deseret Book Publishing Company

Address: Erika Harold, Miss America 2003

"Abstinence Education: Affirming Faith, Life and Marriage"

Performance: Michael McLean Family, Composer, Producer, Musician

"A Michael McLean Family Home Evening"

For more information: http://www.marriageconference.org

Please note: There is no charge for this conference; however, space is

limited. Those who are seated for the afternoon session (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

will be assured seating for the evening session (7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.); others will

be admitted only on a space-available basis.

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March 29-31, 2004

World Congress of Families III

Allan Carlson, Chair of the General Secretariat, announced that

the World Congress of Families III will be held at the spacious

Centro Banamex convention center in Mexico City, March 29-31, 2004.

For more information:

http://www.worldcongress.org/WCF3/wcf3_home.htm

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Note: The preceding 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: Gary B. Lundberg and Joy S. 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

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