North Carolina Family Policy Council
Tuesday, August 10, at the State Capital in Raleigh the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) will bring its “Summer for Marriage Tour 2010: One Man One Woman Rally” to North Carolina. The rally is aimed at sending a clear message that North Carolinians support a federal and state marriage protection amendment.
Citizens, civic organizations, and churches across the state are invited to attend. NC4Marriage and the North Carolina Family Policy Council are among the local groups co-sponsoring the NOM rally, which is scheduled for Tuesday from 12 PM-1 PM at the State Capital, South side.
Speakers for the event include Brian Brown, president of NOM, Rev. Olden Thornton, pastor of the Raleigh International Church, Mary Frances Forrester, head of the NC chapter of Concerned Women for America and wife of N.C. Sen. James Forrester who has introduced a state marriage amendment bill for the past seven years, Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, and Bill Brooks, president and executive director of the North Carolina Family Policy Council and NC4Marriage.
Raleigh is one of 20 cities that NOM’s “Big Bus for Marriage” is visiting over the course of a 31-day trek across the nation. North Carolina remains the only southern state whose citizens have been denied the opportunity to vote on an amendment to include the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman in the state’s constitution. In all 30 states that have put marriage protection amendments on the ballot, the measures have been approved by a majority of voters.
There has never been a greater need for a federal marriage protection amendment, as the Obama administration has repeatedly stated its desire to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage for federal purposes as between one man and one woman, and protects states from being forced to recognize same-sex “marriages” performed in other states. A recent federal court ruling found DOMA unconstitutional. In addition, on August 4, a federal judge in California overturned that state’s marriage amendment, Proposition 8, in an ongoing case that is expected to go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
NOM president, Brian Brown, who will be speaking at Tuesdays’ rally, has said that North Carolina was chosen as a stop on the “Summer for Marriage Tour” because it is a “really important battleground for marriage.” Brown continued, “The people of North Carolina deserve the chance to vote on a marriage amendment, and they’re being denied that opportunity right now. We need legislators that are willing to stand up and allow that to happen.” Go here and listen to the full interview with Brian Brown by the North Carolina Family Policy Council.
Rev. Mark Creech, Executive Director of the Christian Action League said, “There is no battle more critical to the soul of our great state that the one to protect the definition of marriage as one man and one woman. Rallies of this kind are just one way – but a very important way – to stand up and be counted. We must remember that we are fighting for our children’s future – for the sake of religious liberty – and a host of other issues tied to this matter. I hope and pray genuine followers of Christ everywhere in this state will make every sacrifice possible to come.”
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This story was adapted for posting on the Christian Action League’s web site with permission of the North Carolina Family Policy Council.