It's possibly the most fashionable word around these days, especially in Australia. Everyone wants it and no-one seems to have it. Every media outlet, organisation and business that wants to look hip is grooming its collective beard and committing to ensuring 'equality'. Even city councils are in on the act - and who'd ever thought for a moment that councils were not supposed to treat everyone equally? Surely councils are meant to collect the garbage of bigots and libertarians alike? The Greek philosopher Aristotle had something very interesting to say about all this. He said:
The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.
In facing up to ‘Group Think’ or ‘The Herd Instinct’, or ‘go with the flow, be modern, with it etc., believing in the majority view point, getting your views from ‘The Age’ and other similar media, to vote Yes to homosexual 'marriage', some things should be remembered as to why there is a crushing emptiness. Groupthink usually means you have handed over your mind, body, soul, conscience to the head of the herd or the master of Groupthink, to tell you what to think, say and do. This is the case in the good ‘ol’ of USA where the masses have fallen mindlessly, for example the National Riflemen’s Association and their complete opposition to gun control and the dire consequences.
Disability and Assisted Suicide: A Lethal Combination?
Written by Peter McCullagh
At the completion of the Rio Paralympics in 2016, Marieke Vervoort, a Belgian silver medallist in the 400 metres, and a winner of silver and gold medals at the London Olympics announced to a BBC interviewer that she had completed the requirements to receive medical assistance to commit suicide at a future time of her choosing.
Marieke explained that, notwithstanding her satisfaction at winning the medal: there is also another side to the medal, the side of suffering and of saying goodbye to the sport. Because I love the sport, sport is my life. Referring to her future plans, she confided: I know when it's enough for me, I have those papers.
10 Prominent Gays Who Don't Want Marriage Equality
Written by Kathy Clubb
This week, a young homosexual man was abused for opposing the redefinition of marriage in Australia. Angry Yes campaigners yelled insults and tried to drown out his speech at a rally held to promote that fact that 'It's Ok To Vote No.' This young guy took a very brave stance and should have been commended for swimming against the tide and breaking a stereotype that says all gay people want same-sex 'marriage.' Instead. for his trouble, he was met with ridicule and disrespect from those who claim they celebrate diversity. [click here to read more.] But this gay man is not alone in his desire to maintain the traditional definition of marriage. There are many other homosexuals who, for various reasons, are against same-sex 'marriage'. I don't agree with the reasoning of some of these commentators, but that isn't the point of this article. I simply want to illustrate the fact that there is a false narrative surrounding the Yes campaign - that the desire to redefine marriage is some kind of universally-held doctrine of the gay movement. So now follows a list of 10 prominent gays who don't want marriage equality.
In his essay in the Public Discourse, law professor Bradley Miller suggests studying the effects of redefining marriage using three criteria:
Anyone interested in assessing the impact of same-sex marriage on public life should investigate the outcomes in three spheres: first, human rights (including impacts on freedom of speech, parental rights in public education, and the autonomy of religious institutions); second, further developments in what sorts of relationships political society will be willing to recognize as a marriage (e.g., polygamy); and third, the social practice of marriage.
We're going to take a trip around the world to look at the consequences for Christians where same-sex marriage has been legalised. And it's not only Christians who have suffered after this legislation was passed, but also atheists, agnostics, Jews and even gays themselves. The following list is only 55 of those consequences from 13 of the countries that have redefined marriage. [Note regarding citations: Several consecutive examples have a common source; the link for this is given after the last example.]
Canada
Canada legalised same-sex marriage in 2002. Now:
- civil celebrants sacked for refusing to perform same-sex weddings
- writing a letter to the editor supporting traditional marriage is now considered hate speech
- professional governing bodies can be sued for discrimination
- for promoting traditional marriage over same sex marriage
- parents have lost authority over their children's education
- religious schools must tolerate groups who promote homosexuality. [Source]
- legal action is underway to secure marriage for polygamists.[Source]
- most cases of bestiality now legal [Source]
- Definitely no evidence of an increase in stability. [Source]
- Children can be removed from heterosexual parents who don't support same-sex marriage [Source]
- pop music, (eg a Dire Straits classic) can be banned for containing words the offend homosexuals [Source]
Britain:
Britain legalised same sex marriage in 2013 via parliamentary vote. Now:
- 'heteronormative' pronouns and words are prohibited in many places,
- churches are under pressure to no longer refuse to perform same-sex marriages (protections were given at the time legislation went through),
- Christians and other parents who oppose same-sex marriage may no longer adopt children,
- seven faith schools are close to being shut down for failing to teach that same-sex marriage is equivalent to traditional marriage
- no opt-out for students in sexualised school lessons, which begin at age 3. (Source)
- Christian relationship counsellors must counsel same-sex couples [Source]
- magistrates unable to opt-out of same-sex adoption cases [Source]
- social media criticism of same-sex marriage can lead to demotion/pay cut [Source]
- criticism of 'Pride' marches potentially constitutes a hate-crime [Source]
- Promoting Easter church services warrants enquiry into homosexual 'offence' [Source]
- Suggesting that homosexuals can change orientation warrants police enquiry [Source]
- Employees can be dismissed for supporting traditional view of marriage [Source]
- Clergy can be fined and sent to re-education for exercising employment rights [Source]
- polygamy is becoming more popular in the UK [Source]
Ireland
Ireland legalised same-sex marriage in 2015 by referendum. Now:
- small businesses can't refuse to service same-sex weddings [Source]
- The door has been opened for recognising polygamous marriages [Source]
Scotland
Scotland legalised same-sex marriage in 2014. Now:
- Christians are persecuted for preaching against homosexuality [Source]
- Clergy who oppose homosexuality committing an unofficial hate-crime [Source]
USA
The Supreme Court of the United States legalised same-sex marriage in 2015. Now:
- florists can't refuse to supply same-sex weddings [Source]
- Bakers can't refuse their services. [Source]
- employees can be fired for expressing their opposition to same-sex marriage
- lawyers can fail their bar test for not supporting same-sex marriage
- Catholic adoption agencies have closed rather than serve same-sex couples
- parents unable to opt children out of sexualised school classes [Source]
- Calls for polygamy to be made legal [Source]
- Calls for 'machinism' (a relationship between a human and a computer) to be made legal [Source]
- Gay 'pride' events have become more numerous and obscene
- gay domestic violence has increased greatly [Source]
Denmark
Denmark legalised same-sex marriage in 2012. Now:
- Churches are being forced to perform same-sex weddings (protections were initially offered.) [Source]
Belgium
Belgium legalised same sex marriage in 2003. Now:
- Clergy are persecuted for criticising homosexuality [Source]
Sweden
Sweden legalised same-sex marriage in 2009. Now:
- no priest in the Swedish Church can refuse to perform a sane-sex wedding [Source]
- preaching against homosexuality is a hate-crime [Source]
- It is a crime to question the homosexual agenda within the school system [Source]
- Christian groups who investigate the harms of homosexuality are persecuted [Source]
Spain
Spain legalised same-sex marriage in 2005. Now:
- On birth certificates, 'mother' and 'father' have been replaced by 'progenitor A' or 'B' [Source]
- Clergy are persecuted for criticising homosexuality, IVF for gay couples etc [Source]
Germany
Germany legalised same-sex marriage in 2017. Now:
- the media now links terrorism with 'homophobia' [Source]
Columbia
Columbia legalised same-sex marriage in 2016. Now:
- There is a push for legal recognition of polygamy [Source]
France
Legalised same sex marriage in 2013. Now:
- criticising same-sex relationships is a hate-crime [Source]
Netherlands
The Netherlands legalised same-sex marriage in 2000. Now:
- Celebrants are forced to perform ceremonies in some areas [Source]
- Same-sex couples have equal rights to adopt [Source]
- Businesses can be forced to provide services that promote homosexuality [Source]
- Persecution of clergy who fail to support homosexuality [Source]
- heterosexual marriage rates fell after same-sex marriage was legalised [Source]
13 Countries, 55 Consequences of Redefining Marriage
The examples above represent only some of the cases of persecution and discrimination that have occurred and are occurring where marriage has been redefined. In addition to these examples, there are reports to suggest that the legalisation of same-sex marriage will have an enormous impact on heterosexuals in other ways, and particularly on men. [Read more here] As Christians, we know that the push to redefine marriage is part of a broader attack on the family, one with its roots in Marxism. In fact, Marx himself declared war on the family and Christianity, when he said:
Thus, for instance, after the earthly family is discovered to be the secret of the holy family, the former must then itself be destroyed in theory and in practice.
We simply cannot trust Yes campaigners and politicians who tell us that same-sex marriage is 'all about love'. We know full well that redefining marriage is only the tip of the iceberg and that discrimination against marriage traditionalists is certain to ensue. It's not about love, it's all about the consequences. Please vote no.
In accordance with s 6(5) of the Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017, this communication was authorised by Kathy Clubb of Melbourne, Vic.
This letter was sent to me by a reader who felt that Christians are being misunderstood for their stance against redefining marriage. Please share this with gay friends or family members who may be having trouble understanding our point of view.
It sometimes seems that the current marriage debate is more about words than about expressing heartfelt opinions and ideas. And it's often about who can shout their words louder than the other side. Unfortunately, many of those words are four-letter ones. And they have nothing to do with the one word at the centre of the controversy: love. For it's more about 'love' than about marriage, if you believe the mouthpieces for the Yes camp. Love wins, choose love, drown out the hate with love - all these make for good hashtags. But beyond the slogan is another reality entirely, and it's more about another four-letter word: hate.
