An Epidemic of Lawbreaking: San Francisco's Gay 'Marriages'

BreakPoint with Charles Colson ^ | 26 Feb 04 | Mark Earley

[Mr. Silverback]

Note: This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley.

A little story in the WASHINGTON POST sums up what's really going in San Francisco. Reporter Evelyn Nieves had just described how San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had decided to violate state law simply because he didn't like it: He ordered city and county officials to issue marriage licenses to homosexuals who wanted to "marry." As a result, thousands of homosexuals have defied the law, taking part in so-called "weddings."

Until days ago, the state attorney general of California -- whose job it is to enforce state law -- refused to intervene. So did Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay: He refused to issue even a temporary injunction stopping San Francisco's illegal marriages until he rules on a lawsuit. In effect, he's telling Californians to go ahead and break the law -- well, not just any law, as a handful of protesters found out.

Last week a dozen Christians blocked the door to the San Francisco office that is issuing these illegal marriage licenses, and sheriff's deputies didn't waste any time escorting them from the building. After all, they were breaking the law!

The story illustrates what happens when government officials refuse to uphold the rule of law. We have anarchy and the beginnings of tyranny.

If that sounds extreme, consider what happens whenever pro-life citizens try to change the law. When I was attorney general in Virginia, the legislature passed a bill banning partial-birth abortions. The new law was properly debated and voted on. Nevertheless, a federal judge immediately slapped an injunction on it while the abortion lobby pursued a lawsuit. The story was the same in many other states. Judges invented reasons for shooting down every single one of them.

And the same thing happens whenever states pass parental notification laws and parental consent laws. And heaven help the pro-lifers who engage in civil disobedience at abortion clinics. They're not feted in the pages of the NEW YORK TIMES, as Mayor Newsom has been. Instead, they're punished under RICO statutes.

To put it another way: Suppose a pro-life mayor announced he was revoking the licenses of clinics that perform abortions. How long do you think pro-abortion lawmakers would put up with that? They'd probably call in federal troops and have the mayor thrown in jail immediately. But ask lawmakers to take on the gay lobby, and they shrivel up like California raisins.

What's going on in California is truly frightening. When the rule of law breaks down, citizens no longer respect authority. In time, lawlessness becomes widespread, and people begin to long for order and safety. They look to anyone who promises to restore it -- no matter what the cost in freedom. And history teaches us that they often look in all the wrong places.

Christians must understand the complexity of these arguments as events in California and around the nation unfold. We must help our neighbors understand that what's at stake is not just the sanctity of marriage, as important as that is. What's also at stake is the future of the American experiment -- of the ordered liberty and rule of law our Founders created.

America's mayors and judges would do well to remember that -- and so should we, before it's too late.

[Mr. Silverback]

Whether it would be the right move to clap Newsom in irons is debatable. Whether this is a very bad development is not.

[Mr. Silverback]

BreakPoint/Chuck Colson Ping!

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[ClearCase_guy]

The story illustrates what happens when government officials refuse to uphold the rule of law.

This situation is really getting scary.

There's a quote from a MA legisltor "We used to have government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Now we have government by four people!" (Referring to the 4 MA judges who decided homosexual marriages were OK.)

And in CA, state officials have decided not to enforce some laws -- just because.

This is seriously bad stuff.

[concerned about politics]

Two straight guys got married in SF. They said no one said you have to be having queer sex to get the $$ freebies.
They said they'd still date their girlfriends, and divorce later.
They just wanted the free medical from employers and stuff.

[EdReform]

But ask lawmakers to take on the gay lobby, and they shrivel up like California raisins.

Ping

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

The Stamp of Normality

[Rutles4Ever]

What an interesting idea: Can a mayorship start REVOKING abortion clinic licenses on the basis of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", and since there is no generaly accepted, SCIENTIFIC time that a "fetus" becomes a child, then the only answer is that the fetus MUST be a child from the time it is conceived...

Law-breaking? Nah. Just a different interpretation. Who can we lobby on this? Are there any mayors not beholden to the Dems?

[Republicus2001]

today in Beverly Hills the powers that be will offer conceal carry gun permits in defiance of LA County restrictions

[concerned about politics]

Last week a dozen Christians blocked the door to the San Francisco office that is issuing these illegal marriage licenses, and sheriff's deputies didn't waste any time escorting them from the building. After all, they were breaking the law!

Discrimination. They should sue the Mayor for his lack of lawlessness diversity.

[Publius]

Last week a dozen Christians blocked the door to the San Francisco office that is issuing these illegal marriage licenses, and sheriff's deputies didn't waste any time escorting them from the building. After all, they were breaking the law!

In Canada this kind of protest is a felony, and it would have led to more than just being escorted from the building. We're talking hard time here, folks.

[concerned about politics]

today in Beverly Hills the powers that be will offer conceal carry gun permits in defiance of LA County restrictions

Are you spoofing, or has a friendly person decided to read the American Constitution for once?
"The right to bear arms shall not be infringed" is perfectly clear on that one.

[nobody_knows]

"When the rule of law breaks down, citizens no longer respect authority. In time, lawlessness becomes widespread, and people begin to long for order and safety. They look to anyone who promises to restore it -- no matter what the cost in freedom. And history teaches us that they often look in all the wrong places."

Yup!

[JamesA]

Yea right; I don't like the exhisting laws so I think I will make my own. Its Anarchy and must be stopped by whatever means necessary now.

[tinamina]

I'd like to see a large group of smokers go to City Hall and smoke cigarettes and cigars in the rotunda lobby. Everyone is equal, right? Smoker's civil rights are being violated in San Francisco, since you can't smoke anywhere there...Wonder how fast the smokers would get thrown in jail? Or would people in the liberal city be sympathetic to thier plight?

[Gritty]

BTTT

[Houmatt]

It will not be stopped because our elected officials, at least in California and Massachusetts, don't want it to. What needs to happen is a large group of people in each state need to get together and march directly to the state capitol and the Governor's mansion and demand something be done right then. No talking, no sidesteps, no excuses. This foolishness stops now or you will see some real anarchy.

[concerned about politics]

Rosie O'Donell is going to SF to marry that female she fondles. Kinda makes you want to puke, doesn't it?

[concerned about politics]

PS...It was Rosie who demanded people shouldn't have the right to own a gun, because SHE DIDN'T LIKE IT!.

[Samizdat]

Cool. Can I stop filing income tax returns now?

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping.

Thug/Clown "Mayor" Noisome. He is despicable. I wonder if some San Franciscans are sorry they voted for him? (If I lived in SF I would have sat this election out.)

Let me know if you want on/off this list.

[freekitty]

Rosie got married because she has no audience and no career.