CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA OF WASHINGTON
ACTION ALERT FEBRUARY 16, 2012
God “made them male and female” Mark 10:6
Dear CWA of Washington Member,
It is with heavy hearts that many of us have watched the Washington State Legislature ignore the sound testimony of supporters of traditional marriage between a man and a woman and choose to be persuaded by a tiny minority that for the sake of their feelings and so-called “fairness”, the definition of marriage must be changed to include persons and spouses rather than simply male and female, man and woman, husband and wife. Same-sex couples were granted “everything but marriage” three years ago when the legislature voted to provide homosexual couples all the rights, benefits and privileges of married couples under the domestic partnership law. Yet only one-quarter of one percent of the state’s population have registered as domestic partners. In 2012 they demanded complete freedom to marry on equal terms and to destroy all gender-related restrictions.
You may read the final bill that was passed at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6239&year=2011. While religious leaders (ministers, priests, rabbis, imans or similar officials) and their facilities are protected from forced participation in same-sex marriage ceremonies, private businesses are not. This means that if you own any business connected to weddings, you have no religious freedom or right of conscience with regard to participation in an activity that is counter to your sincerely held religious beliefs. There will no doubt be many lawsuits in our future. Please be in prayer for our First Amendment rights, for our state, and for the many citizens who will be adversely affected by this bill when it becomes law on June 6, 2012.
Therefore, many in the community of faith and secular citizens who realize that changing the definition of marriage opens up a plethora of problems for all of the people are prepared to reverse the Legislature’s decision and to preserve marriage as it has been throughout recorded human history between a man and a woman as husband and wife. It isn’t a Jewish or Christian or Muslim or Buddhist issue, it is simply human. With that fact in mind, be encouraged that some very courageous people have stepped up to reverse this bill. A referendum to refer this issue to the people for a vote was filed Monday after Gov. Gregoire signed 6239 with great fanfare. In addition, an initiative to strengthen the state Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is currently working its way through the state system. CWA will announce our position on both the referendum and the initiative after we have reviewed the full texts. Until then, please be in prayer with us for the future of our children and grandchildren.
LEGISLATION
February 14, 2012 Last day to consider bills in house of origin (5:00 p.m.)
February 24, 2012 Last day to read in committee reports from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
Please refer to recent action alerts for more information on any of the listed bills: http://wa.cwfa.org
FAMILY:
HB 2193 re: third-party visitations.
This bill has not moved since its January 23 Rules Review, but could go to the floor any time. Contact your two representatives and ask them to vote AGAINST 2193. Pray that the bill lies dormant or does not pass in the House. CWA opposes this bill.
SANCTITY OF LIFE:
SB 6185/HB 2330 re: all insurance policies forced to cover abortion
On February 7, SB 6185 was placed on second reading, so could go to floor for a vote.
HB 2330 already passed in the House of Representatives. On February 16, HB 2330 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 1:30 p.m. This means 2330 will be the bill used to force abortion coverage for all of us. Contact your state senator and ask for a “NO” vote to protect religious freedom and freedom of conscience with regard to insurance coverage. CWA opposes this bill.
EDUCATION:
HB 2448 re: government control of all preschools, birth until Kindergarten with absolutely no religious content or influence allowed and a new entitlement program
This bill will allow the eventual control of all education through a public system that disallows any religious content or influence, even in private preschools. Having passed in the House on February 20 this bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30 p.m. in anticipation of other legislative action. Contact your state senator with your thoughts on this bill. CWA opposes this bill.
Contact information: Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000. Individual legislators: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
UPCOMING EVENTS
There will be a citizen activist’s workshop/training in Olympia on February 20 – the last day of our planned trainings. The workshop will be held in room B12 in JLOB basement at 9:00 a.m. Please contact Research Mom at edresearch@hotmail.com for more details or if you plan to attend.
Finally, I leave you with these thoughts to ponder:
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24
And He (Jesus) answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? Matthew 19:4-6
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24: 15
In His Service,
Maureen Richardson, State Director
Concerned Women for America of Washington
P. O. Box 143 Woodinville, WA 98072 425-869-1923