Illinois General Assembly—Senate Bill 1716: “civil unions” for homosexual behavior
From: Illinois Family Institute
“IFI Update: Same-Sex ‘Civil Unions’ May Be Called This Week
by David E. Smith, IFI Executive Director—Illinois Family Institute http://www.illinoisfamily.org/
During the first half of the Illinois Veto Session in Springfield (Nov. 16-18), IFI’s two lobbyists and I spoke to dozens of lawmakers about the ramifications of passing same-sex ‘civil unions’ legislation (SB 1716) in Illinois. Many lawmakers are unaware that section 10 of this bill states that any partner in a civil union shall be legally considered a ‘spouse’ and ‘family.’ (Do they read and understand the bills they vote on?—my addition) It isn’t just conjecture to say that the proponents of this bill are trying to redefine the very meaning of marriage and family.
To make matters worse, too many lawmakers do not realize that if passed, this legislation will open the floodgates to discrimination and civil rights lawsuits. Religious liberty and freedom of conscience will diminish for conservatives in Illinois.
Lawmakers will be in Springfield for the second half of the Veto Session Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week (Nov. 29-Dec. 1). According to one pro-homosexual website,
http://www.nowingaychicago.com/2010/11/calls-to-legislators-urged-on-civil.html
(The following is a quote from the website: “‘What it’s going to hinge on is whether our community can mobilize,’ Harris said. ‘The haters are out there calling. ... The question is are we in Illinois going to leave no stone unturned to get this passed.’” Two points from this quote: First, the “community” is homosexual activists. Second, he just can’t get over not using the same old erroneous tactic. If you are opposed to “civil unions”/“marriage” between homosexuals, then ipso facto, you MUST be a HATER. Consequently, to keep society as GOD directed and established, one has to be a hater. What total nonsense. It’s the continued attempt to try to made good/evil and evil/good. GOD is not fooled!!! Neither should we be fooled!—my addition)
a vote on this bill may come as early as Tuesday, November 30th.
Take ACTION:
Please call your State Representative during this time and ask him/her to vote ‘NO’ on SB-1716 and to inform you of his/her decision before casting a vote. Simply call the Capitol switchboard at (217)782-2000, tell the operator you need to find your state representative, and give the operator your zip code. You should be transferred to his/her Springfield office via the switchboard immediately.
The Left has a full-court press on. House Speaker Mike Madigan, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Chicago Mayoral candidates Rahm Emmanuel and Carol Moseley Braun are all lobbying state legislators for this bill. They need 60 votes to pass this bill in the Illinois House, and they are working hard to achieving that number.
That is why they must hear from us! Grassroots Illinoisans must be heard on this issue now. Voters in 31 states have rejected the redefinition of marriage and family at the ballot box. The people in Illinois are no different.
Thankfully, Cardinal Francis George and the Catholic Conference of Illinois issued a strong statement in a press release last week saying that ‘the public understanding of marriage will be negatively affected by passage of a bill that ignores the natural fact that sexual complementarity is at the core of marriage.’
Background
A recent e-mail from Penny Pullen, a former state lawmaker and current state president of Eagle Forum of Illinois http://www.eagleforum.org/, warned that the passage of a civil unions bill would result in the following:
1) Civil union legislation would force employers to grant registered same-sex cohabiters the benefits currently provided for spouses of married employees.
2) Such legislation undermines the unique position which marriage holds in our society as the foundation of the family.
3) It also will cost taxpayers to add unrelated persons to health insurance coverage for public employees and as dependents under workers compensation benefits.
4) And it will force employee benefit costs to rise in the private sector.
5) Additionally, based on experience with the impact of such legislation in other states, this corruption of Illinois’s official treatment of marriage will likely lead to mandates on schools to teach quasi-spousal relationships as equivalent to marriage.
SB-1716 is a jobs killer and an added burden for taxpayers. It will negatively affect our state’s moral climate and our children’s understanding of the family.
Equality Illinois, the state’s full-time pro-homosexual lobby and political group, lists the following organizations and unions as supporters (the usual suspects—my addition) of SB 1716:
01) Access Living
02) ACLU of Illinois
03) Anti-Defamation League
04) Advocacy Council for Human Rights, Bloomington
05) Chicago Bar Association
06) Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches
07) Citizen Action Illinois
08) Chicago Teachers Union
09) Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights
10) Illinois Department of Human Rights
11) Illinois Federation of Teachers
12) Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living
13) Illinois Planned Parenthood Council
14) Illinois State Bar Association
15) National Association of Social Workers of Illinois
16) Northwest Suburban Now
17) People for the American Way
18) Protestants for the Common Good
19) Quad Cities for Diversity
20) Service Employees International Union
21) Unite Here, Local 1
Prayer Request
Finally, I am urgently seeking your prayer covering this week as we work to educate our lawmakers on the perils of this bill. I ask you to pray that we are able to connect with the key lawmakers that we’ve identified as ‘on the fence’ and that the Lord would give us favor in their eyes. I ask you to pray that the Lord would give these lawmakers wisdom and understanding of how the passage of ‘civil unions’ will lead to the weakening of the family and God’s institution of marriage.
Please pray that these lawmakers would recognize how this will undermine the foundation of our Judeo-Christian culture and harden the hearts of people to the Gospel message through the promotion of sexual behavior and a humanistic ideology that the Bible clearly identifies as sin. And pray that God would give them the courage to stand for truth.
Take Action:
http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?aid=728&issueid=10350&atid=17922&siteid=0&app=GAC&isvisited=false”
Bottom Line:
Homosexual behavior is SIN. Any law that gives support to homosexual behavior is SIN. SIN has consequences for the individuals involved and for the State that permits and encourages that SIN to occur. We are at WAR against evil!
GOD intended marriage for one man and one woman—period!!! GOD created marriage for the benefit of one man and one woman—only!!! GOD does NOT need man’s assistance to improve upon HIS CREATIONS!!! GOD created man and woman. HE did NOT create man and man and/or woman and woman.
HE did that for a reason. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2: 24 [NIV] “‘Haven’t you read,’ he [JESUS, the SON of GOD—my addition] replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.’” Matthew 19: 4-6 [NIV] State legislators beware: Your pay grade is well below what is necessary to change what GOD has ordained through HIS WORD! You don’t have the power, you don’t have the authority, you don’t have the intellect to change GOD’S design for man!!!
We stopped this bill during the first veto session. We need to do it again, and again, and again until the legislature comes to its senses. Contact your representatives today, Wednesday, Thursday! Don‘t let them do this!
It is still we the people who are in charge if we are united. Don’t acquiesce to this nonsense!
One last comment: Why is the Illinois General Assembly even dealing with this “issue” during a veto session? The State of Illinois is violating the State Constitution because it has a 13+ billion dollar unbalanced budget. Where are the priorities of the members of the General Assembly? Balance the budget! Forget about social engineering! Balance the budget!
From: Illinois Family Institute
“IFI Update: Same-Sex ‘Civil Unions’ May Be Called This Week
by David E. Smith, IFI Executive Director—Illinois Family Institute http://www.illinoisfamily.org/
During the first half of the Illinois Veto Session in Springfield (Nov. 16-18), IFI’s two lobbyists and I spoke to dozens of lawmakers about the ramifications of passing same-sex ‘civil unions’ legislation (SB 1716) in Illinois. Many lawmakers are unaware that section 10 of this bill states that any partner in a civil union shall be legally considered a ‘spouse’ and ‘family.’ (Do they read and understand the bills they vote on?—my addition) It isn’t just conjecture to say that the proponents of this bill are trying to redefine the very meaning of marriage and family.
To make matters worse, too many lawmakers do not realize that if passed, this legislation will open the floodgates to discrimination and civil rights lawsuits. Religious liberty and freedom of conscience will diminish for conservatives in Illinois.
Lawmakers will be in Springfield for the second half of the Veto Session Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week (Nov. 29-Dec. 1). According to one pro-homosexual website,
http://www.nowingaychicago.com/2010/11/calls-to-legislators-urged-on-civil.html
(The following is a quote from the website: “‘What it’s going to hinge on is whether our community can mobilize,’ Harris said. ‘The haters are out there calling. ... The question is are we in Illinois going to leave no stone unturned to get this passed.’” Two points from this quote: First, the “community” is homosexual activists. Second, he just can’t get over not using the same old erroneous tactic. If you are opposed to “civil unions”/“marriage” between homosexuals, then ipso facto, you MUST be a HATER. Consequently, to keep society as GOD directed and established, one has to be a hater. What total nonsense. It’s the continued attempt to try to made good/evil and evil/good. GOD is not fooled!!! Neither should we be fooled!—my addition)
a vote on this bill may come as early as Tuesday, November 30th.
Take ACTION:
Please call your State Representative during this time and ask him/her to vote ‘NO’ on SB-1716 and to inform you of his/her decision before casting a vote. Simply call the Capitol switchboard at (217)782-2000, tell the operator you need to find your state representative, and give the operator your zip code. You should be transferred to his/her Springfield office via the switchboard immediately.
The Left has a full-court press on. House Speaker Mike Madigan, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Chicago Mayoral candidates Rahm Emmanuel and Carol Moseley Braun are all lobbying state legislators for this bill. They need 60 votes to pass this bill in the Illinois House, and they are working hard to achieving that number.
That is why they must hear from us! Grassroots Illinoisans must be heard on this issue now. Voters in 31 states have rejected the redefinition of marriage and family at the ballot box. The people in Illinois are no different.
Thankfully, Cardinal Francis George and the Catholic Conference of Illinois issued a strong statement in a press release last week saying that ‘the public understanding of marriage will be negatively affected by passage of a bill that ignores the natural fact that sexual complementarity is at the core of marriage.’
Background
A recent e-mail from Penny Pullen, a former state lawmaker and current state president of Eagle Forum of Illinois http://www.eagleforum.org/, warned that the passage of a civil unions bill would result in the following:
1) Civil union legislation would force employers to grant registered same-sex cohabiters the benefits currently provided for spouses of married employees.
2) Such legislation undermines the unique position which marriage holds in our society as the foundation of the family.
3) It also will cost taxpayers to add unrelated persons to health insurance coverage for public employees and as dependents under workers compensation benefits.
4) And it will force employee benefit costs to rise in the private sector.
5) Additionally, based on experience with the impact of such legislation in other states, this corruption of Illinois’s official treatment of marriage will likely lead to mandates on schools to teach quasi-spousal relationships as equivalent to marriage.
SB-1716 is a jobs killer and an added burden for taxpayers. It will negatively affect our state’s moral climate and our children’s understanding of the family.
Equality Illinois, the state’s full-time pro-homosexual lobby and political group, lists the following organizations and unions as supporters (the usual suspects—my addition) of SB 1716:
01) Access Living
02) ACLU of Illinois
03) Anti-Defamation League
04) Advocacy Council for Human Rights, Bloomington
05) Chicago Bar Association
06) Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches
07) Citizen Action Illinois
08) Chicago Teachers Union
09) Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights
10) Illinois Department of Human Rights
11) Illinois Federation of Teachers
12) Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living
13) Illinois Planned Parenthood Council
14) Illinois State Bar Association
15) National Association of Social Workers of Illinois
16) Northwest Suburban Now
17) People for the American Way
18) Protestants for the Common Good
19) Quad Cities for Diversity
20) Service Employees International Union
21) Unite Here, Local 1
Prayer Request
Finally, I am urgently seeking your prayer covering this week as we work to educate our lawmakers on the perils of this bill. I ask you to pray that we are able to connect with the key lawmakers that we’ve identified as ‘on the fence’ and that the Lord would give us favor in their eyes. I ask you to pray that the Lord would give these lawmakers wisdom and understanding of how the passage of ‘civil unions’ will lead to the weakening of the family and God’s institution of marriage.
Please pray that these lawmakers would recognize how this will undermine the foundation of our Judeo-Christian culture and harden the hearts of people to the Gospel message through the promotion of sexual behavior and a humanistic ideology that the Bible clearly identifies as sin. And pray that God would give them the courage to stand for truth.
Take Action:
http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?aid=728&issueid=10350&atid=17922&siteid=0&app=GAC&isvisited=false”
Bottom Line:
Homosexual behavior is SIN. Any law that gives support to homosexual behavior is SIN. SIN has consequences for the individuals involved and for the State that permits and encourages that SIN to occur. We are at WAR against evil!
GOD intended marriage for one man and one woman—period!!! GOD created marriage for the benefit of one man and one woman—only!!! GOD does NOT need man’s assistance to improve upon HIS CREATIONS!!! GOD created man and woman. HE did NOT create man and man and/or woman and woman.
HE did that for a reason. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2: 24 [NIV] “‘Haven’t you read,’ he [JESUS, the SON of GOD—my addition] replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.’” Matthew 19: 4-6 [NIV] State legislators beware: Your pay grade is well below what is necessary to change what GOD has ordained through HIS WORD! You don’t have the power, you don’t have the authority, you don’t have the intellect to change GOD’S design for man!!!
We stopped this bill during the first veto session. We need to do it again, and again, and again until the legislature comes to its senses. Contact your representatives today, Wednesday, Thursday! Don‘t let them do this!
It is still we the people who are in charge if we are united. Don’t acquiesce to this nonsense!
One last comment: Why is the Illinois General Assembly even dealing with this “issue” during a veto session? The State of Illinois is violating the State Constitution because it has a 13+ billion dollar unbalanced budget. Where are the priorities of the members of the General Assembly? Balance the budget! Forget about social engineering! Balance the budget!
posted by Christian Gunslinger at 6:00 AM
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