Posted on 06/06/2005 7:26:23 PM PDT by texas_mrs
FORT WORTH, Texas - Using an evangelical school gymnasium as a backdrop, Gov. Rick Perry put his signature to legislation restricting abortions and added his backing to a measure barring same-sex marriage.
Perry signed a bill Sunday requiring girls under the age of 18 to get their parents' consent before having an abortion and also imposes more limits on late-term abortions.
"For too long, a blind eye has been turned to the rights of our most vulnerable human beings — that's the unborn in our society," Perry told a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered at the Calvary Christian Academy.
Texas already had a parental notification bill, approved in 1999. The new measure requires a parent to provide written consent for unmarried girls under 18. The bill also restricts doctors from performing abortions on women who have carried a child for more than 26 weeks unless having the baby would jeopardize the woman's life or the baby has serious brain damage,
During the 1 1/2 hour program, Perry also signed a resolution to amend the Texas Constitution by banning same-sex marriages. However, that signature was only ceremonial since voters must approve the ban in November.
"A nurturing home with a loving mother and loving father is the best way to guide our children down the proper path," said Perry, who was joined by several legislators. He also thanked the "pro-life" and "pro-family" organizations.
The ceremony brought out about 350 protesters, many carrying signs. They included opponents of the ban on same-sex marriage, including two with posters reading "Hate is not a family value" and "God values all families."
Others were there to protest the use of church property for a bill signing.
"It hurts that he can cheapen politics and religion by this kind of maneuver and people can think it's OK," said Karin Cagle, a 45-year-old from Fort Worth who carried a sign saying "Separate church and state — Keep America great."
"The critics are generally those who object to people of faith participating in government or the electoral process," said Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt. "There are a number of critics who would object to this bill-signing if it were in a public school, a library, a Wal-Mart parking lot or any other venue, because they oppose pro-life and pro-family issues."
Pastor Larry White, of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Houston, said the gathering there was about life, family and marriage. "There are those that would drive people of faith from the public square if they could," White said.
Good for him. Rick Perry for President in 2008!
Can he help us up here in CT?
Everything coming out of Hartford is 180 degrees out of whack.
Texas info
I agree that this was kind of "in-your-face". I have met him personally, but am not a big Perry fan. Good legislation here, though.
Actually - in this particular case - I would not have felt uncomfortable with him signing that particular legislation in one of those "other" places. The moral issues presented, if you follow the supposed theology of those other religions, apply.
YES!!!!!
John Gibson had Rick on today. I did not realize that John lives in Texas - comes here for weekends, and is a registered TX voter!
Some sick judge will just overturn it. Happens every time.
Bump
Some sick judge will just overturn it.
I see Rick is already gearing up for next years gubernatorial race
The ironic thing about all of it is, constitutionally, the Governorship of Texas is a weak office, a very weak office, but it's not term limited.
In order for a Texas governor to be able to do anything, he has to be able to work well with the legislature.
Braaahahahahahaha!!!!!!
(* taking in deep breath *)
Braaahahahahahaha!!!!!!
(Good law though....)
I wish they wouldn't use religion as a backdrop against abortion. Its not just religious objections and I don't want the church to be politicized. There are real gaps in reason in the argument in favor of abortion. We never hear them, we just see the protests.
And about that silly requirement too notify authorities about child rape?
We can start with Planned Parenthood for obstructing justice.
Supreme Court will be ruling in the fall on parental notification.
We need a constitutional amendment that the Supreme Court can't throw out laws made by legislatures or else the voice of the people is very harmed by judges that have to answer to no one and were elected by no one.
I have to agree, leave the church out of it..
I wish he would have signed it in a Planned Parenthood Horror House!
Nope, this ain't California. There are trial court judges who are Democrats in Texas, but there isn't a single one at the appellate level.
Kay Bailey Hutchison wouldn't have signed it. She's pro-abortion even though she adopted her only child. I've never been able to figure that out.
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