Franklin Graham, Religion & Marriage Law

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 29, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Have you heard the good news? Billy Graham’s son Franklin began his Decision America Tour in Des Moines, Iowa on January 5th. His sixth stop is planned for Atlanta, where the program of Christian music, prayer for the nation and an evangelistic message is free-of-charge and open to the public, at Liberty Plaza, directly behind the State Capitol, at noon Wednesday, February 10th. So, come, bring your friends, and wear your most comfortable walking shoes (regardless of how they look.)

Meanwhile, please work on Representative Kevin Tanner’s two new religious liberty bills introduced January 14th. H.B. 756 is okay. It affirms the right of businesses to provide services and products without compromising their religious beliefs. Call Judiciary Chairman Willard at 404 656-5125 and ask him to pass H.B. 756 out of committee.

But Section 1 of H.B. 757 is not okay. In the introductory paragraph of Section 1, H.B. 757 repeals Georgia marriage law in Code Section 19-3-3.1 that (a) defines marriage as between a man and a woman, (b) prohibits same-sex marriage in Georgia, and (c) prohibits the recognition of same-sex unions performed elsewhere. Then, it replaces Georgia’s current marriage law with the following:

“No minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination, when acting in his or her official religious capacity, shall be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of his or her right to free exercise of religion under the Constitution of this state or of the United States.” Continue reading →

Marriage in Georgia & Elsewhere

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 15, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Because natural marriage was under attack nineteen years ago, Georgia Congressman Bob Barr (R) authored the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and introduced it in the U.S. House of Representatives; Oklahoma Senator Don Nickles (R) introduced it in the Senate; Congress passed it with veto-proof margins and Democrat President Bill Clinton signed it. Therefore, since September 21, 1996 federal law has defined marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman and spouse as a “person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.” But on June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of DOMA.

Before 1996, Georgia law simply defined marriage as “an actual contract,” without explaining who could enter the contract. So, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill in 1996 to clarify who could marry whom. As Governor Zell Miller signed it into law, he said, “H.B. 1580 defines marriage in Georgia as the union between a man and a woman. Further, the bill forbids the issuance of a marriage license to persons of the same sex or for the state of Georgia to recognize marriage licenses from other states which do not meet Georgia’s definition of marriage.”

Eight years later in 2004, the Georgia General Assembly passed S.R. 595 to amend the State Constitution with the language of the law and 72.6 percent of voters passed it on the 2004 General Election ballot. But, here we are eleven years later, facing nation-wide campaigns to redefine marriage, although the majority of voters always support natural marriage. Continue reading →