World Family Policy Center Newsletter

* News relative to protecting the family worldwide *

Volume 3 Issue 18 _ June 1, 2004

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Around the world, families are the source

of help, hope, and stability for individuals and nations. As one of the

pillars of civilization, families must remain strong and we must defend

them during this time of great change.”

—President George W. Bush, quoted by Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey

at the World Congress of Families III in Mexico City

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Today’s Contents:

A. Featured Articles:

1. Australian Government Defends Marriage

Related article: The End of Marriage in Scandinavia

Related article _ an alert to the gay marriage agenda:

Group starts contest to get America to say 'I Do' to gay marriage

Related article: Same_sex marriage barricades erected

Related article: Catholic Parishioners Clash Over Gay Rights

2. Healthy Marriage Initiative Strengthens Michigan

3. Traditional Marriage Seen as Antidote to Welfare

B. Coming Events

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FEATURED ARTICLES

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1. Australian Government Defends Marriage

Media Release 27 May 2004

Philip Ruddock, MP

Attorney_General, Philip Ruddock, has announced that the Government

would act to protect the institution of marriage by legislating within the

limits of its responsibility, to ensure that same sex relationships cannot

be equated with marriage.

"Marriage is a central and fundamental institution in our society," Mr

Ruddock said. "It is vital to the stability of our society and provides

the best environment for the raising of children.

"The Government has decided to take steps to reinforce the fundamental

basis of the institution of marriage to reflect these views," Mr Ruddock

said.

Currently, the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 contains no actual

definition of marriage.

"The Government believes that the vast majority of Australians would

agree that marriage is the union of a man and a woman _ to the

exclusion of all others _ voluntarily entered into for life," Mr Ruddock said.

"The Government has decided it is time these words should appear in

the formal definition of marriage in the Marriage Act and will amend the

Act to achieve this result.

"I understand that some Australian same_sex couples are considering

travelling overseas to marry under the laws in these countries in the

hope that their marriage will then be recognised under Australian law

on their return.

"The Government will amend the Marriage Act to make it absolutely

clear that Australia will not recognise same_sex marriages entered into

under the laws of any other country," Mr Ruddock said.

In addition, the Government will legislate under the Family Law Act

to make it clear that adoptions by same sex couples, of children from

overseas under either bi_lateral or multi_lateral arrangements, will not

be recognised in Australia.

To read entire article:

http://www.ag.gov.au/www/ministerruddockhome.nsf/Web+Pages/500788404708518ECA256EA100134A66?OpenDocument

Related article: The End of Marriage in Scandinavia

The "conservative case" for same_sex marriage collapses.

by Stanley Kurtz

The Weekly Standard

02/02/2004, Volume 009, Issue 20

MARRIAGE IS SLOWLY DYING IN SCANDINAVIA. A majority

of children in Sweden and Norway are born out of wedlock. Sixty

percent of first_born children in Denmark have unmarried parents. Not coincidentally, these countries have had something close to full gay

marriage for a decade or more. Same_sex marriage has locked in and

reinforced an existing Scandinavian trend toward the separation of

marriage and parenthood. The Nordic family pattern__including gay

marriage__is spreading across Europe. And by looking closely at it we

can answer the key empirical question underlying the gay marriage

debate. Will same_sex marriage undermine the institution of marriage?

It already has.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/660zypwj.asp.

Related article _ an alert to the gay marriage agenda:

Group starts contest to get America to say 'I Do' to gay marriage

By LISA LEFF

Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO __ Borrowing a page from the playbook of online

political organization MoveOn.org, a national gay rights group is

sponsoring an advertising contest that it hopes will lead to television

audiences seeing positive images of same_sex marriage. . . .

"My hope is that we come up with a winning spot and an inventory of

other spots that speak to people in America who may not be quite

clear about where they stand on the issue of marriage rights, and it's

my hope these spots will move them, literally and emotionally," Garry

said.

To read entire article:

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040526/APN/405261194

Related article:

Same_sex marriage barricades erected

California court takes up issue as evangelical leaders plot fight

May 25, 2004

WorldNetDaily.com

As the California Supreme Court takes up the issue of same_sex

marriage today, evangelical leaders from across the country are

preparing for a fight some of them say is a battle for Western

Civilization itself. . . .

"I am not exaggerating when I say the next 12 to 18 months will

likely determine not only the future of this country, but of Western

Civilization," Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said.

Perkins and other pro_family leaders spoke to some 500 churches

and 1,500 radio stations via satellite and the Internet at an event

titled the "Battle for Marriage." The simulcast took place six days

after Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same_sex

"marriage."

To read entire article:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38639

Related article:

Catholic Parishioners Clash Over Gay Rights

Monday, May 31, 2004

CHICAGO — Parishioners who wore rainbow_colored sashes to Mass

in support of gays and lesbians were denied communion (search) in

Chicago, while laymen in Minnesota tried to prevent gay Roman

Catholics from getting the sacrament.

To read entire article:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,121345,00.html

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2. Healthy Marriage Initiative Strengthens Michigan

Michiganfarmily.org

Brad Snavely, executive director of Michigan Family Forum, praised

lawmakers who introduced legislation to strengthen marriages and

protect children of divorce. "The debate is over," said Snavely.

"Research irrefutably shows that both adults and children in healthy

marriages enjoy better health, greater financial stability and engage

in fewer harmful behaviors than individuals who have never been

married or are touched by divorce."

Healthy, lasting marriages enrich the lives of couples, their children

and the community around them. "Marriage is not just about private,

personal relationships. Strong marriages create strong families and

communities which will ensure a strong and stable Michigan," said

Snavely. He added that "many of the expenditures by the state are

closely tied to people harmed by failed or never formed marriages.

Any long_term strategy for reducing dependency on state social services

and ensuring economic growth must include a strategy for encouraging

healthy marriages."

http://www.michiganfamily.org/PressReleases/02_10_04%20marriage%20package.htm

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3. Traditional Marriage Seen as Antidote to Welfare

By Cheryl Wetzstein

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

It will take a "culture change" to revive traditional marriage in America,

but the nation seems poised to pursue it, a professor told a federal welfare conference last week.

"A shift in America's marriage culture is under way — the decline in

marriage has stopped, and we are rebounding," William J. Doherty,

author and director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at

the University of Minnesota, said at the conference sponsored by the

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The Bush administration has proposed spending more than $300 million

a year in welfare funds to promote healthy relationships and marriages,

but money is not all that's needed to reach America's population,

Mr. Doherty said.

To read entire article:

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040531_123213_3157r.htm

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COMING EVENTS

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August 23_25, 2004

The European Family Dialogue

Geneva, Switzerland

A gathering of invited scholars will present their research on issues

concerning marriage and the family in preparation for The Doha

International Conference for the Family.

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Early October 2004 (date to be announced soon)

The Asian/Pacific Dialogue

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A gathering of invited scholars will present their research on issues

concerning marriage and the family in preparation for The Doha

International Conference for the Family.

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November 29_30, 2004

The Doha International Conference for the Family

Doha, Qatar

The Doha International Conference for the Family follows 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

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