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League President Calls Clergy Bill "Chilling"

Rev. Dallas Henry of the Hosanna New Testament Church hand carried testimony to the Legislature's Judiciary Committee yesterday on LD 779, the controversial bill that would eliminate Christian clergy from legal marriage ceremonies in Maine.  Henry told the committee to reject the bill calling it "chilling."  Henry linked the bill to another controversial measure proposed by the homosexual lobby.  LD 375 seeks to expand the rights of non-married sexually active adults under a law that is supposed to honor, uphold and protect traditional families.  The homosexual partnership bill would amend a law known as the "Family Medical Leave Act."  Henry urged the rejection of both bills.  The League's emails on LD 779 were so effective that the committee killed the bill without requiring Henry's testimony.  The chair of the committee said, "From all the emails we have received you made your views abundantly clear."  They then indicated that a straw poll of the committee indicated the bill was dead.  The Christian Civic League of Maine has been associated with the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family since 1991.  Here is President Henry's persuasive testimony.

Chairman Hobbins, Rep. Simpson, distinguished members of the Judiciary Committee, my name is Dallas Henry. I am the President of the board of the Christian Civic League of Maine, and I am a clergyman. I am here to represent the concern of our state wide membership of individuals and churches. Thank you for providing this opportunity for me to offer testimony today on LD 779, “An Act to Remove Clergy as Signatories on Marriage Licenses.”

I want to begin by saying that the summary of this bill is chilling. It reads, “The bill removes the authorization of clergy members to solemnize marriages.” There is no good reason for this legislation. Because this is true, some are speculating that this bill further weakens our laws with respect to traditional marriage, and thus opens Maine to same sex marriage. This is an important point.

This bill is not unlike one that the Labor Committee is hearing now which equates non-married partnerships with marriages. If that bill and this bill pass then we will step even closer to the precipice over which many governments in the west appear all-to-willing to cast themselves. We will be endorsing and supporting sexual relationships outside of marriage. This is beyond dangerous or even tragic. It is evil.

If we wish to see where this is likely headed, we only have to look to Scandinavian countries where social mores about marriage have been very relaxed. These are countries in which homosexual marriage has been a matter of settled law for a decade or more. Everyone expected that the incidence of homosexual marriage would skyrocket. It made a statistical blip after its legalization years ago, but never rose above that blip. Instead, what has happened is that marriage itself – whether heterosexual marriage or homosexual marriage -- both have almost disappeared. It is destroying their society.

In a Christian marriage, God tells the husband to love his wife the same way Jesus loves His Church. A marriage can’t fail when this happens. This is why it is vital to our society for Clergy to be the primary tools for marriage in Maine.

Christian Pastors believe:

· Marriage is not of human origin — and it is not a disposable relationship.

· Marriage is not an institution dreamed up in the heart of man.

· Marriage is the product of God’s Divine Wisdom.

· Marriage is an exclusive relationship.

· God has provided the blueprint for marriage.

· God affirms both sexes.

· God blesses marriage.

· We believe it is God’s plan that marriage is for ever.

We believe that a successful marriage takes three; a husband, a wife and God. God calls marriage a covenant.

There are many benefits that Clergy provide for marriages in Maine. I am one of hundreds of pastors in our state who provide pre-marital counseling to prepare the bride and groom for a successful marriage. Christian Pastors agree that the divorce rate is way too high. By providing preparation, we are improving the odds and reducing the divorce rate. This, in turn, provides a great service to the state by keeping couples out of the courts.

I ran across a study made a few years ago in which it was discovered that church going families - where both husband & wife professed a strong personal faith in Christ and went to church together - experienced only 1 divorce for every 55 marriages. It really is true that "Families that pray together stay together."

The Christian Civic League of Maine urges you to unanimously reject this bill.

Thank you.

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TODAY'S LINK

There is something good and right about men and guns, yes, even in the Biblical tradition.  Maybe especially, maybe only there.  But a Godly man becomes more of a man when he is able to defend his family and country against invaders, foreign and domestic.  Just as there are those called to a monastic life, or to the life of the Amish, there are those called to pacifism.  That is a valid Christian witness to the fact that we can survive without weapons if we must.  But there is also a place for coercive force in the economy of God.  Civil government is essentially and rightly about coercive force -- some things are rightly to be enforced.  So weapons of coercion cannot be abandoned in principle by Christians.  When Jesus says, " Depart from me, I never knew you...," He is pulling the final trigger, no appeal.  -- F. Earle Fox, Anglican theologian