"The Amendment" Has Implications

Funded extremely well, the anti-amendment crowd in Wisconsin (calling itself "Fair Wisconsin" in an exquisitely ironic self-adulating chirp) mewls and moans that, if passed, The Amendment will interfere with all sorts of "rights" of non-married couples, both homo- and hetero-sexual.

We doubt that, with different reasons for different "rights" The Amendment would preclude. Most of their objections are fantasy--and most of the rest can and will be resolved through legislation.

But since those who want "Gay Marriage" don't concern themselves with facts and prefer the romantic oozing of "feelings," the ads will play on "feelings."

Here are some facts to consider:

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON made the announcement on March 10: It was getting out of the adoption business. "We have encountered a dilemma we cannot resolve. . . . The issue is adoption to same-sex couples."

...Massachusetts law prohibited "orientation discrimination" over a decade ago. Then in November 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered gay marriage. The majority ruled that only animus against gay people could explain why anyone would want to treat opposite-sex and same-sex couples differently. That same year, partly in response to growing pressure for gay marriage and adoption both here and in Europe, a Vatican statement made clear that placing children with same-sex couples violates Catholic teaching.

...Cardinal O'Malley asked Governor Mitt Romney for a religious exemption from the ban on orientation discrimination. Governor Romney reluctantly responded that he lacked legal authority to grant one unilaterally, by executive order. So the governor and archbishop turned to the state legislature, requesting a conscience exemption that would allow Catholic Charities to continue to help kids in a manner consistent with Catholic teaching.

To date, not a single other Massachusetts political leader appears willing to consider even the narrowest religious exemption. Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, the Republican candidate for governor in this fall's election, refused to budge: "I believe that any institution that wants to provide services that are regulated by the state has to abide by the laws of the state," Healey told the Boston Globe on March 2, "and our antidiscrimination laws are some of our most important."

...It's worth underscoring that Catholic Charities' problem with the state didn't hinge on its receipt of public money. Ron Madnick, president of the Massachusetts chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, agreed with Garvey's assessment: "Even if Catholic Charities ceased receiving tax support and gave up its role as a state contractor, it still could not refuse to place children with same-sex couples."

Should The Amendment pass, homosexual couples will have the right to adopt, and that right will be Constitutional in Wisconsin.

How long will it take for Roman Catholic adoption agencies to be put out of business? Or Lutheran Social Services? Or any comparable Baptist, Greek Orthodox, or Orthodox Jewish agencies?