Nom's Brian Brown Seems Terribly Confused

To get this week's dose of queer fear from National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown instructs us "to look north across the border to Canada and ask: Is this our future?" Oh Magic Eight Ball, what is in our future? Brown provides us with the usual litany of Christian victimization at the hands of the Canadian government, usually in the form of compromised free speech. There are three problems with all of this:

We are not in Canada — duh.
None of this has anything to do with same-sex marriage.
The First Amendment to the US Constitution is still in full force and effect (I think). This prohibits our government from infringing on free speech or prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

Of course Brown wants to do away with that pesky, inconvenient part of the First Amendment — the establishment clause. Brown and his fundamentalist friends want the government to impose their brand of religion on everyone else.

Brown is dashing off to the Value Voters Summit. There, he will get to see our favorite twinkie – Carrie Prejean – introduced by NOM's Maggie Gallagher. Mr. Brown writes "That I want to see!" Exactly what he wants to see is unclear.

Brown concludes this missive with "One of the things that sustains me in this fight is this: I'm not going to voluntarily agree to live in an America where you have to be afraid to speak truth to power about an idea as good as marriage."

Rubbish! This has nothing to do with free speech which is not connected – in any way – to recognizing same-sex marriage.

Brown and his friends want to ban same-sex marriage because of their religious beliefs. It is just that simple!

Speaking of the Value Voters Summit (which is being held over the Jewish New Year — so much for Judeo-Christian values), we are all going to miss some really good stuff (maybe Brian can fill us in).

Some of the more sparkling sessions include:

TRUE TOLERANCE: COUNTERING THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MARRIAGE: WHY IT'S WORTH DEFENDING AND HOW REDEFINING IT THREATENS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
GLOBAL WARMING HYSTERIA: THE NEW FACE OF THE "PRO-DEATH" AGENDA

Dear Friend of Marriage,

There's a lot happening around the country, but this morning I want to look north across the border to Canada and ask: Is this our future?

What happens when a government decides it has the right to redefine marriage because "equality" demands it? Some may have gotten used to the idea over the last few years, but when you stop and think about it, this is an awesome act of presumption on the part of the state. Government did not create marriage and government has no business trying to tamper with its basic meaning and purpose.

But as the state gets used to the idea that redefining marriage is within its powers, and indeed is even its constitutional obligation on behalf of gay equality, what else happens?

In Canada we've seen a lot already: We've seen a Catholic bishop brought up on human-rights charges for posting Catholic doctrine on a Catholic website. We've seen litigation against a religious organization (the Knights of Columbus) for refusing to permit same-sex ceremonies in its halls. In Canada, an evangelical ministry which helps disabled adults was told by the government that it may not requires its employees to live according to Christian moral teaching on sex--in fact, in a move reminiscent of George Orwell, these good people were ordered by the government to submit a re-education plan for all their employees. (Stories like these remind me of why NOM works so hard to protect not only our understanding of marriage, but also our great American tradition of religious liberty! Can you help us today?)

Could it get any worse? Yes. The Bishop of Peterborough, Nicola De Angelis, asked an altar server to step down because his public union with another man was causing dissension and scandal in the parish. (Twelve parishioners had written to the bishop calling for his removal.)

This man took the extraordinary step of going to the government of Canada and asking to be reinstated--as an altar server. His "human rights" complaint is directed not only at the bishop, but at the 12 ordinary citizens who complained.

Instead of dismissing the complaint out of hand and reprimanding this individual for misusing the power of government, what happened? An employee of the so-called human-rights system in Canada, according to Life Site News, actually helped the man craft his legal charges, finding "precedents." And the human rights tribunal has taken up the case.

What will happen next? Most likely--I'm hoping and praying--the charges will be dismissed. But that's not the point. Defending yourself against a flood of litigation is costly and expensive. Even the mere credible threat of such lawsuits will deter people who are not bishops from speaking up and acting on their faith--and that's the point.

I doubt the government of Canada will want to make a public martyr of a Catholic bishop--at least not yet. But the litigation being unleashed against good people in Canada serves a purpose of margainlizing [sic], stigmatizing and repressing Christians and other traditional faith communties [sic] --a social control system by the government against believers. We need to stand up and speak out for our beliefs! When you donate to NOM--maybe a monthly donation of just $2, or $20--you are showing that you won't be intimidated.

Here’s the future that is already here: We are going to be asked again and again about core tenets of our faith, not Leviticus but Genesis: "Male and female He made us."

Is it true? But also: Does it matter? What price are we willing to pay for Truth?

One of the things that sustains me in this fight is this: I'm not going to voluntarily agree to live in an America where you have to be afraid to speak truth to power about an idea as good as marriage. Power is a reality in this world. But so are courage and common sense, decency and civility. The "marriage equality" crowd is beginning to recognize one thing about NOM: We will not be bullied, silenced or intimidated. With your help, we will speak out for marriage.

In a few minutes I'm off to the Omni Shoreham for the Values Voters Summit. NOM is a co-sponsor this year. And our own Maggie Gallagher will be introducing Miss Carrie Prejean. That I want to see!

God bless you and your family,

Brian S. Brown
Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage

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