Neutral. That is what we want our government to be on “religion.” We don’t want our government to favor one religion over another.
But what about values? Do you think that when the Founding Fathers made sure that the federal government would “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” they anticipated some of the strange things that the future would bring? Do you think that they meant for Christian Morality and Christian Values to be forbidden as guidance in the making of laws?
Do you think they anticipated this: A court in Vermont has granted “parental rights” to a lesbian woman who was the “lover” of the biological mother at the time of birth? Now a court in Virginia must decide if that ruling will be enforced in Virginia in spite of Virginia’s Marriage Affirmation Act.
From Citizenlink.org:
“This is such a critical case because it affects the rest of the nation,†she said. “If the Virginia Supreme Court rules that a lesbian can have parental control over a child that has no biological connection or any legal connection then this would wipe away the authority of DOMA, of the state constitutional amendment that defines marriage, and the state law that defines marriage.
“It could also challenge the work that pro-family activists have done for over a dozen years to protect marriage.â€
If Isaiah the Prophet were alive today, I think he would cry out “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”
I am shocked and dismayed to hear that such things are even being considered. There is a lot of blindness out there. When you reject God, you reject reason and begin to lose your ability to think clearly.
We need revival in America, and I believe we can have one. I am shocked and dismayed, but my choice is to stand and fight. For all of you Christians out there – Do NOT be intimidated by such twisted ideas. It is not inevitable that we slide as a nation into insanity. We can intervene through our prayers and our actions and our votes.
Be Shocked, and be Dismayed. Then ACT. 🙂
ThirstyJon,
It sounds like you are asking for a Grizzly Groundswell!
Great post!
~Teddy Bear
so, is this woman the closest thing to ‘family’ that the girl has right now? what happened to her parents? aunts, uncles… does her orientation matter in the case at all? what does religion have to do with this case? i need to hear more of the story to really feel like i can make a judgement call.
Hey Cara!
I think you must not have read the article at Citizenlink. It appears that you don’t understand the case.
The woman who has been granted parental rights is the lesbian ex-lover of the biological mother! The biological mother has since “found God” and rejected lesbianism. The lesbian ex-lover is saying that she is the mother too and demanding parental rights to the child. The Vermont courts have backed her, but fortunately – so far – the Virginia courts have not.
Here is more at the New York Times.
Hopefully that will clear things up for you (or anyone else).
🙂
ThirstyJon
hmmm… difficult one to mull over. as much as i wish i always saw things in black and white, i am feeling the murky grey in this one. i think it’s because my relational dna compels me to empathize with a woman who feels like her child has been taken from her. biological connection or not, to be there during the pregnancy and birth, as well as the first few months, had to promote some very strong emotional ties between the woman and child. i agree with the court’s decision not to allow parental rights, since i know what kind of can of worms this would open for future cases. but i can’t help feeling sad for this woman. boy, the things we set in motion with our sin. it’s a sticky web we weave!
thanks jon~ i missed that link before (i almost put a smiley here but was afraid it would be interpreted as passive aggressive- haha :-)– i think that i’m a lot like jess- it is easy to empathize with a woman wanting to stay connected to a baby she felt would be her own (with the mother). on the legal side- lesbian or not, giving parental rights to a non-parent is a sticky issue and should be thoroughly investigated and definitely -one states laws regarding marriage should not be imposed on another state.
What does the kid want?
What does the kid want? first of all, giving kids all that they want, will only serve to setting them for doom. Only watch what is going on in schools and on the street.
Jon, you said it in a nutshell: :”When you reject God, you reject reason and begin to lose your ability to think clearly.” That is why this world is in a shamble . And yes! big battle ahead but we will “be strong and take courage…for the Lord our God He is the One who goes with us” Doing it any other way, we are bound to take the wrong turn at the crossroad.
We’re not talking about buying the kid an Ipod AND a computer AND a flatscreen tv AND,,, We’re talking about separating a child from one of the main caregivers that has been there all of her life. Big difference,,,
Personally, I may or may not hate this woman’s sin, but I can still love the sinner, and I pray that this turns out alright for all involved.
So, a court has told a biological mother that a another woman who is neither the biological mother nor the adopted mother of the child has rights to have access to the child as a parent? And y’all (Jess, Cara, Casper) don’t see the insanity in that? Have I mis-understood the situation? Do you have information that I don’t have?
All of you have children. What if someone who was a part of your life when your child was born won custody/parental rights in court and you could no longer protect your child from that person? How can you not see that this is nuts?
I don’t get it. I really don’t.
It is clear to me what this is all about. It is a direct attack on “what is marriage?” and “what are parents?” The truth is, we all know what marriage is and we all know what parents are. It is clear in natural law and clear in human tradition and very, very clear in Biblical teaching. There is an agenda from our Ancient Enemy himself to destroy the institution that is responsible for producing the future of the world by birthing and raising children. Some humans have gotten on board.
Sorry to be so black-and-white about it. No, acutally, I’m not sorry. Unless I have wrong information (which is always a possibility, sometimes more info about what is going on can clear things up) this is a pretty clear case.
🙂
ThirstyJon
P.S. When I have children (which I don’t) I want to be able to raise them according to God’s ways without interference from the State. The Bible commands parents to teach their children and raise them. It does not issue the same command to the State.
P.P.S. In this case it does not matter what the child wants. A mother has a right and a responsibility to protect her child from such insanity.
P.P.P.S. What is all this about how the other woman feels? As one human being to another, I care how she feels and I want her to be blessed by God. But that has nothing to do with the fact that a court is granting her RIGHTS here that she does not actually have in reality! We as humans do not have any right to re-define marriage or parenting according to our own standards. God set this stuff up in the Garden of Eden and we are sowing our own destruction if we ignore Him.
(I reposted this comment at: http://freedomthirst.com/2008/04/18/thirstyjons-rant-on-family/)