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PA Family Institute

PA Family Weekly Update

by News Release

FAMILY UPDATE

Volume 4, Issue 9

April 4, 2008

The Pennsylvania Family Institute's weekly update to concerned citizens.
Michael Geer, President

Attention: PA Family Institute has printable versions of the Family Update that can be downloaded and printed easily! Follow this link to get a 1-page version that you can hand out to your friends and family: http://www.pafamily.org/index.php?pID=78

!Please forward this email to family and friends!

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Quote of the Week
"Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other. The divine law, as discovered by reason and the moral sense, forms an essential part of both."
~ James Wilson

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Pennsylvania News
Will You Help with this Urgent Call to Action? Progress on the Marriage Protection Amendment (SB 1250) has stalled in the Senate. We need your help to get it moving, and quickly. Two weeks ago in a 10 to 4 vote, SB 1250 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The next stop is the Appropriations Committee, but thus far, the Majority Leader's office has not yet referred it to that committee. Precious time is being wasted. Please contact (by email, phone call or visit) Majority Leader Sen. Dominic Pileggi, and urge him to move SB 1250, The Marriage Protection Amendment, to the Appropriations Committee immediately, then on to a full Senate vote. Time is of the essence for the Marriage Protection Amendment - we need you to visit or call Sen. Pileggi's offices (capitol office and district office) and/or email his office as soon as possible. Unless Sen. Pileggi acts now, State Representatives in the House will never get to act on it!

Here is his contact information:
District Office Phone: (610) 565-9100
Capitol Office Phone: (717) 787-4712
Email Address: dpileggi@pasen.gov
District Address: 100 Granite Dr., Media PA 19063

Reform Needed for Ill-Conceived Slots Law in PA. Although 11 of the 14 potential slots licenses have been awarded, lawmakers say it's still important to change how the Gaming Control Board does business after a Pocono casino owner was charged in January with perjury for allegedly lying about his background to board investigators in 2006. "Trying to fix a desperately flawed law will require more than tinkering around the edges," PFI's Michael Geer said, in regards to proposed reforms for the PA slots law.
News posted daily at www.PAFamily.org!

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Marriage News

Marriage Amendment set for Public Hearing in Pittsburgh April 10th. You are invited to attend in support! There will be a public hearing in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 10th for SB 1250. Senators on the Judiciary and Appropriations Committees will hear testimony on the Marriage Amendment. Senate Appropriations members will be casting their votes in the near future on SB 1250. Hearing starts at 2pm at the Allegheny County Courthouse, Gold Room, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh.

Note: We also scheduled a bus from North Way Christian Community in Wexford, Pgh North Hills. To RSVP for a seat or for more info, call us at 1-800-FAMILY-1 (1-800-326-4591) or E-mail dbart@pa4marriage.org.

Chances of Making it "Until Death Do You Part" Higher, says New Survey. New data from pollster George Barna: Of all Americans who have ever married, only one-third have ever been divorced. This two-to-one ratio of marital success should encourage young people who may actually fear the "50-50" marriage myth. "Government statistics and a wealth of other research data have shown that co-habitation increases the likelihood of divorce, yet cohabiting is growing in popularity," Barna said.

Have you heard the new One Minute for Marriage radio spots covering the latest marriage news from around the country? Download or stream them online at www.pa4marriage.org.

News posted daily at www.PA4Marriage.org!

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Don't Miss These Events!

May 6, 2008 - Don't miss this special opportunity! 2008 Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast - Tuesday, May 6, 7:30a.m - 9:30a.m. at the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill. Keynote speaker is (Col.) Philip A. Mahalik, Chaplain, Army War College, Carlisle, Pa. Purchase tickets for $15 each or sponsor a table for $300. Checks made payable to Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast, c/o Elana Maynard, RD 2 Box 611, Millerstown PA 17060.

May 8, 2008 - Register Now! - PFI Pittsburgh Friends of the Family Banquet featuring Focus on the Family President and author Jim Daly at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Twp. Individual Tickets are complimentary, but reservations are required. Please call (800) FAMILY-1.

July 20-26, 2008 - Registration is open for the 2008 City on the Hill Youth Leadership Conference July 20-26, 2008. City on the Hill is for high-school students, ages 15-18. Download an application and send it in by June 24, 2008.

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PFI News
Voters' Guide: For important information on presidential and congressional candidates for the Primary Election, visit www.FRCAction.org to view guides published by our sister organization, the Family Research Council.

Prayer Partners Needed. We at PFI take seriously God's admonition to pray for our leaders and to, additionally, give our cares and concerns to our Lord, who loves for each of His children to do so, and experience His grace, mercy, and comfort in each of our lives. Now we have a request: would you prayerfully consider being a part of our prayer team? Should you desire to explore that with us, please email Bob Flower at bflower@pafamily.org or call Emily at (800) FAMILY-1 and give your name, address and telephone number. Bob will be in touch with you as to what your role would be as one of our prayer partners.

Join us:
June 7, 2008 - Day of Prayer at Lancaster Bible College. Contact Pennsylvania Family Institute at (800) FAMILY-1 for more information.

Don't Miss Michael Geer's The Common Good and Family Update Radio Shows on Christian Radio Stations throughout Pa. and online through our podcasts.
This Week's Guest: Lowman Henry, CEO of Lincoln Institute.
Topic: Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, April 25-26, 2008.

The Pennsylvania Family Institute is a non-profit organization made possible through financial donations from our supporters. To donate to Pennsylvania Family Institute, click here: www.pafamily.org/donate

23 N. Front St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 ~ Phone: 717-545-0600 ~ Fax: 717-545-8107 ~ www.pafamily.org