As of midnight today, September 1, 2009, same-sex 'marriages' began to be performed in Vermont.
Vermont became the fourth state to legally redefine 'marriage' on April 7th, and the first state to do so through legislation rather than through the courts. The new law gives full marriage rights to same-sex couples who choose to 'marry.'
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas vetoed the House of Representatives' April 6th vote in favor of the same-sex 'marriage' bill, but the next day his veto was overturned when the House obtained the needed votes for a two-third's majority.
Vermont was the first state to institute same-sex civil unions in July 2000. Following this legislation, the state became a sort of mecca for same-sex couples seeking this official status, and it is expected that the same will be true of the new 'marriage' bill. According to the Associated Press, 78 percent of Vermont's civil unions came from out-of-state couples.
Shari Rendall, director of legislation and policy for Concerned Women for America, told Focus on the Family's CitizenLink that the legislation is a disaster for America. "Marriage between one man and one woman is critical to maintaining social stability," she said. "Society as a whole pays a high price when marriage is devalued. You see divorce; you see single-parenting; you see a rise in out-of-wedlock pregnancies." -Read More
Healthcare Reform
The current national debate about health care reform should concern all of us. There is much at stake in this political struggle, and also much confusion and inaccurate information being thrown around. My brother bishops have described some clear “goal-posts” to mark out what is acceptable reform, and what must be rejected. First and most important, the Church will not accept any legislation that mandates coverage, public or private, for abortion, euthanasia, or embryonic stem-cell research. -Read More
Prejean Sues Miss California
The next contest for Miss California USA and its officials has a new and unusual location: California's Superior Court. The dethroned Miss California, Carrie Prejean, has decided finally to file a lawsuit against K2 Productions, which owns the Miss California USA franchise, and its officials, whom she says defamed and discriminated against her over her public support for traditional marriage.
Hollywood blog sites Big Hollywood and TMZ.com both report that Prejean filed court papers on Monday with the Los Angeles County Superior Court accusing K2 Productions officials, Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler, and publicist Roger Neal, of engaging in character defamation, religious discrimination, public disclosure of private facts, as well as both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Prejean's lawyer, Charles S. LiMandri, told Big Hollywood in a statement: "Over the past two months we have worked hard to provide overwhelming evidence that Carrie Prejean did not violate her contract with Miss California USA and did not deserve to have her title revoked by Keith Lewis. -Read More
Hollywood blog sites Big Hollywood and TMZ.com both report that Prejean filed court papers on Monday with the Los Angeles County Superior Court accusing K2 Productions officials, Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler, and publicist Roger Neal, of engaging in character defamation, religious discrimination, public disclosure of private facts, as well as both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Prejean's lawyer, Charles S. LiMandri, told Big Hollywood in a statement: "Over the past two months we have worked hard to provide overwhelming evidence that Carrie Prejean did not violate her contract with Miss California USA and did not deserve to have her title revoked by Keith Lewis. -Read More
Can't Explain Guadalupe
A physicist who has spent years researching the tilma bearing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is affirming that there is no scientific explanation for the phenomenon.
Adolfo Orozco stated this in a presentation given at an International Marian Congress that took place Aug. 6-8 in Phoenix.
The congress, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Phoenix Diocese and the Institute of Guadalupan Studies, was dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Orozco gave a presentation on the image of the Virgin imprinted on St. Juan Diego's tilma, stating that it is 'completely outside' any scientific explanation. He explained that due to the humid, salty environment around the basilica where the tilma is kept in Mexico City, the cloak material should have decomposed years ago.
In fact, the researcher noted, this is what happened to a painted copy of the image that was made in 1789, on a material similar to the original tilma.
Although the copy was preserved behind glass, like the original, it had to be discarded eight years later because it was falling apart and the painting was fading, the physicist reported.
The original image, however, which was imprinted on the cloak when the Blessed Virgin appeared to the saint, remains intact after 478 years.
Adolfo Orozco stated this in a presentation given at an International Marian Congress that took place Aug. 6-8 in Phoenix.
The congress, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Phoenix Diocese and the Institute of Guadalupan Studies, was dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Orozco gave a presentation on the image of the Virgin imprinted on St. Juan Diego's tilma, stating that it is 'completely outside' any scientific explanation. He explained that due to the humid, salty environment around the basilica where the tilma is kept in Mexico City, the cloak material should have decomposed years ago.
In fact, the researcher noted, this is what happened to a painted copy of the image that was made in 1789, on a material similar to the original tilma.
Although the copy was preserved behind glass, like the original, it had to be discarded eight years later because it was falling apart and the painting was fading, the physicist reported.
The original image, however, which was imprinted on the cloak when the Blessed Virgin appeared to the saint, remains intact after 478 years.
" -Read More
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