Washington, DC Catholics coordinate with Baptist and Evangelical effort to squash gay marriage movement
“We will continue to let the voice of the Church, the teachings of the Church, be heard as clearly as it can be heard. That is why we have sent out so much material to our priests to help them explain this to our faithful people…. This is not a local issue…. People always look at the District of Columbia through a magnifying glass, and we need to be aware of that.”
Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of the Washington Catholic Church, explaining why he sent out a letter to 300 area Catholic priests to remind them that their Church leadership opposes the legalization of, ceremonial performance of, and extension of equal status to gay and lesbian marriages. The timing of his letter points to a coordinated effort by being organized by religious and political organizations to head off the upcoming proposal members of the City Council for the District to allow legal marriage ceremonies within the District of Columbia. (Washington Post)
”It is ironic that at the same time the city is asking for voting representation in the U.S. Congress, its leaders are denying residents the opportunity to participate in the democratic process for an issue with widespread implications for children and families.”
Ronald Jackson of the DC Catholic Conference. (Archdiocese of Washington)
”And while there’s a push for voting rights and the idea that D.C. would have a right to vote in Congress, it’s a little incongruous that there’s this attempt to block the right of D.C. voters to have their say on an issue of this much import — the very definition of marriage.”
Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage. (WashBlade)
DC Board of Elections has a viewable document of Harry Jackson‘s ”Marriage Initiative of 2009” that seeks to add the following line to the laws of DC:
Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the District of Columbia.
The list of anti-gay marriage operatives which have publicly spoken about and petitioned for a restriction of marriage to heterosexuals only now include in part:
Donald Wuerl, Archdiocese of Washington, 145 Taylor Street NE
Ronald Jackson of the DC Catholic Conference, 145 Taylor Street NE
Harry Jackson Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, 1100 1st Street SE
Walter Fauntroy New Baptist Church, 17th Street NW
Howard Butler, Whittier Place, NW
Anthony Evans, 7th Street NE
Melvin Dupree, Naylor Road SE
Dale Wafer, 19th Street NE
Robert King, Apple Road NE
James Silver, Chestnut Street NW
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, 801 G Street NW
Austin Nimocks of the Alliance Defense Fund, 801 G Street NW
Timothy Trace of the Alliance Defense Fund
Brian Raum of the Alliance Defense Fund
Brian Brown, National Organization for Marriage, H Street NW (new office)
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