Thursday, July 10, 2008
Click here for more information! Advocates annual Fundraising Gala is just 4 months away. Justice '08 ~ Christianity, Culture, Significance, features internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker and author, John C. Maxwell. He is the founder of EQUIP and INJOY Stewardship Services and trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Join the California Education Committee »
As a brief reminder, last fall the California legislature passed Senate Bill 777, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, thereby redefining the term "gender" for all public schools in California. According to SB 777, you are what you think you are, regardless of your biological make-up. Further, gender is now a protected classification under California's nondiscrimination laws.
Among other tragic consequences, this law will require the girls’ locker room in public schools to be open to any boy claiming to be a girl and vice versa. Our lawsuit seeks to reverse this law and the new definition of "gender” on the grounds that it is unconstitutionally vague and violates the right to privacy guaranteed to all public school children by the California Constitution.
The State recently filed a motion to dismiss the case. On August 22, 2008, the Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments. We will vigorously oppose this motion, in addition to filing a motion for summary judgment asking the Court to rule in our favor and strike down SB 777 as unconstitutional.
Advocates for Faith and Freedom has created a booklet about SB 777, its author, and SB 777’s future impact, if it is not overturned. If you would like copies of the booklet for yourself or others, please visit our Resources page or contact us at (888)588-6888.
It is important to spread the word in order to find situations where this law has been applied. Do you know any situation where a student or adult in California was forced to share a locker room, restroom, or other private facility with the opposite sex? If you or any of your friends and family have heard of a situation where a student or teacher was negatively affected by the implementation of SB 777 please contact us immediately by clicking here.
You can support our ministry and the vital work we are doing to protect children in California’s public schools by making a generous financial contribution. Financial support is crucial as we litigate this monumental case against former governor, and current California Attorney General, Jerry Brown and the state bureaucracy.
We realize how difficult it may be to donate at this time, however, justice never sleeps and our children cannot wait for us to protect them. Your donation is needed today to cover the incredible expense of this litigation. Click here to donate online.
As we stand at the beginning of a long and difficult battle over the implementation of SB 777, we are extremely grateful to have so many individuals who are committed to standing with us.
Please keep Advocates’ attorneys in your prayers this summer as we work on the briefing for the Court and prepare for oral arguments.
Join the California Education Committee »
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The countdown begins...only 4 months until Justice '08, Advocates annual Fundraising Gala!
This year the event will be held at the beautiful Hilton Irvine in Orange County, California (offering discounted rates to Justice "overnight" guests). The evening will showcase a live and silent auction, gourmet dinner, emcee Warren Duffy, and internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author ... John C. Maxwell. He is the founder of EQUIP and INJOY Stewardship Services and trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide.
You and your business can be involved by becoming a Freedom Sponsor, advertising in our program, and donating an item or service to the auction. Click here for more information or call Joni at 951.304.5783 or email jrogers@faith-freedom.com.
SAVE THE DATE ~ OCTOBER 18, 2008 ~ JUSTICE 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
On June 4, 2008, the California Supreme Court denied requests to stay its decision legalizing same-sex marriage until after the November election. Read the News Release from the Judicial Council of California.
This denial has cleared the way for same-sex couples to get married beginning June 17, 2008, when state officials have said counties must start issuing new gender-neutral marriage licenses.
Despite the California Supreme Court’s continual refusal to respect the California voters by refusing to stay its decision, there is still hope for traditional marriage.
Advocates for Faith and Freedom is part of Protectmarriage.com, a coalition of grassroots organizations, churches, and voters who succeeded in putting together a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
On June 2, 2008, Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified the California Marriage Protection Act. If approved by a majority of voters, this measure would amend California’s Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Beginning June 16, 2008, at 5:01pm, county clerks across California will begin to issue licenses to same-sex couples who are rushing to the “altar” now that the Supreme Court has redefined marriage. However, employees of county clerk’s offices who have an objection to issuing the same-sex licenses due to their religious beliefs have a constitutional right not to participate in same-sex marriages, and a state-wide campaign has been launched to protect the religious freedom of employees across California.
It has been reported that some county clerks, including the Riverside County Clerk’s Office, have stated that all employees within the Clerk’s office must participate in same-sex marriages regardless of their religious views on the subject. We have also received similar information from the San Diego County Clerk’s Office.
On June 16, 2008, Advocates for Faith and Freedom, together with the Seventh-day Adventist Church State Council, faxed an advisory letter to California county clerks stating that under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, religious employees have the right to be protected from discrimination in their workplace and are entitled to a reasonable accommodation of their beliefs. This means that employees cannot be forced to participate in same-sex marriages in violation of their religious beliefs.
Read the full press release here.
To read the advisory letter to California County Clerks, click here.
If you would like to donated to Advocates, click here.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008, marked a significant day in the State of California and, by extension, the nation. California's Supreme Court issued a 4-3 ruling on one of the most controversial issues of our time.
After four years of working its way through the state courts, the "Marriage Cases," as they have come to be known, were finally sent to the state's Supreme Court for a final determination.
Justice Ronald C. George, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and author of the majority opinion, put it this way: "The question we (the Court) must address is whether... the failure to designate the official relationship of same-sex couples as marriage violates the California Constitution." To that question, the Chief Justice, and the three justices joining him in his opinion, answered a resounding "yes".
This is not so, however, argues dissenting Justice Marvin R. Baxter. In an impassioned dissenting opinion, Justice Baxter holds that the People of the state of California have made it clear that the term marriage ought to be reserved for the union between a man and a woman. And such is their constitutional right, he says. Likewise, it is the right of the People to change the designation of the term--but through the legislative process, not an activist court. While proponents of gay marriage in California have been gaining ground in recent years, a definitive majority in the state (61.4%) voted to define marriage as being between "one man and one woman" with the passing of Proposition 22 in 2000. On May 15th, however, the Court, "not satisfied with the pace of democratic change," mandated the institution of gay marriage throughout the State in defiance of the popular will of the People. This usurpation of the People's will as demonstrated through legislative processes Justice Baxter calls "an exercise in legal jujitsu."
Justice Baxter elaborated further: "History confirms the importance of the judiciary's constitutional role as a check against majoritarian abuse. Still, courts must use caution when exercising the...authority to articulate constitutional rights. Otherwise, judges with limited accountability risk infringing upon our society's most basic shared premise - the People's general right...to decide fundamental issues of public policy for themselves...."
Regardless of whether or not the justices unlawfully took it upon themselves to legalize homosexual marriages is now, unfortunately, a moot point. Within thirty days of the issuance of the opinion, homosexual couples will have unbridled access to marriage throughout the state. This is the case unless we are able to obtain a stay on the decision until the issue is put to a vote in California's November election, in which voters will have the opportunity to amend the California Constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
We at Advocates encourage you to get out and vote. The will of the People has been unfairly disregarded once, but an amendment to the state Constitution will right the wrongs of the activist Supreme Court and once again show respect for the sovereignty of the People of California.
For more information on what you can do, please visit Protect Marriage.com.
Please join with Advocates in our efforts to protect the sanctity of marriage by making a donation.
Monday, May 19, 2008
On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled against Proposition 22 and overturned California’s marriage laws uncovering a right to “same-sex marriage” under the California Constitution.
As Advocates for Faith and Freedom's Founder and General Counsel, I was the lead attorney in the trial courts back in 2004 when the mayor of San Francisco threw City Hall open to gay couples to get married in a calculated challenge to California law. Four thousand wed before the Supreme Court put a halt to the practice after a month. Two dozen gay couples then sued, along with the city and gay rights organizations. Advocates' remains co-counsel in this current litigation, supporting another legal organization which took the lead in making oral arguments before the California Supreme Court in March, 2008.
Although we are extremely disappointed at the Court’s decision, we knew this landmark case was going to be a lengthy one. Nonetheless, our financial resources are spread incredibly thin because of the number of new cases God has led us to our active case list. And with difficult economic times, our donations have been unexpectedly down for the last several months. So we are asking for your help and partnership. Your one time financial gift - or by adding Advocates to your monthly support list - will help us to be your voice in the courts as this important matter continues to unfold.
The last sentenced has not been written. The final paragraph is not yet complete. Would you please donate today? You can not personally file legal briefs in this case. You can not go into the courtroom and speak to these liberal judges. We are able to do that on your behalf. We are your voice in the courts of America standing up for the Constitution which guarantees our religious freedoms. Please cover our work with your prayers and send us your very best gift of support today.
Thank you.
Robert Tyler, General Counsel
Read more:
Advocates has been in the thick of media frenzy surrounding this controversial issue. In addition to being on NBC and KZSW TV, radio interviews have been conducted on KKLA and Radio America. Click on the links below to read additional articles:
Los Angeles Times
New York Times
The Press Enterprise
World Net Daily
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
On Wedesday, May 28th, the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments on what Advocates' General Counsel, Robert Tyler, calls "one of the most important cases in the nation."
In 2001, Dr. Christine Brody and Dr. Doug Fenton, doctors specializing in women's reproductive health at North Coast Women's Medical Group, found themselves defendants in a lawsuit when a lesbian patient accused them of discrimination based on her sexual orientation. As a Christian, Dr. Brody would not artificially inseminate the patient, as her religious convictions precluded her from doing so for any unmarried woman. Despite the fact that the patient was referred and then successfully inseminated elsewhere, she sued the doctors and the health center.
Now, nearly seven years after the initial filing of the lawsuit, the California Supreme Court convened to hear arguments regarding the question the court posited to counsel last year: "Does a physician have a constitutional right to refuse on religious grounds to perform a medical procedure for a patient because of the patient's sexual orientation, or [does state law] preclude such discrimination in the provision of services notwithstanding the physician's religious beliefs?" In other words, what is the State of California more interested in protecting: an individual's right to religious expression or an individual's sexual orientation?
Much is at stake in this precedent-setting case. Seven exhaustive years have passed, and now California's Supreme Court has been called upon to determine the hierarchy of values in the State of California and whether or not a person can exercise his or her faith in the workplace.
The court will issue a decision by late August.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Advocates argued before Federal District Court Judge Selna on the motion to intervene by the ...
California Teachers Association on April 28, 2008.
The judge granted its motion to intervene and to defend high school teacher, Dr. James Corbett, and the Capistrano Unified School District. It would be interesting to know if the Association would have intervened on behalf of the teacher if he were accused of promoting Christianity instead of atheism!
Advocates is providing legal assistance at no cost to Chad. We need you to stand firmly with us right now with your prayers and gifts of support so that we can continue to defend this devoted Christian young man. Please visit the "Donate Now" page to give your online tax-deductible contribution in support of Chad Farnan and all of our ongoing work across the country.
