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PA Family Institute

Family Update

by Newsletter

FAMILY UPDATE
Volume 4, Issue 11
May 15, 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
"Statesmen my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand..." ~ John Adams

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Pennsylvania News
Keep the Calls Coming in Support of Senate Bill 1250! The Senate floor vote scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 on Senate Bill 1250, the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment, has been postponed, due to the apparent threat from House Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R-Philadelphia). According to the Philadelphia Gay News,

The bill was tabled after Speaker of the House Rep. Dennis O'Brien (R-169th Dist.) contacted Republican senators during the May 6 debate and informed them that if introduced in the House, the bill would be sent directly to the State Government Committee. Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.), chair of the committee, has pledged to kill the measure.

Wanting the amendment to succeed, with our support Sen. Brubaker asked his colleagues to hold off on a vote until the House leadership can be convinced by citizen contacts to place the bill in a committee where it can have a fair up or down vote.

Your urgent action is needed today to contact House leadership, your own Senator and Representative, and to encourage friends and family to do the same. Use our Citizen Action Center!

State Lawmakers Pursuing Casino Table Games. The state House Gaming Oversight Committee has scheduled a public hearing on legislation that would allow live high-stakes casino table games like blackjack and poker at Pennsylvania casinos. Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, as the main sponsor of the bill, is pushing the legislation with promises of increased revenue for the state. These increased revenues would come from the low-income, elderly and student populations in Pennsylvania. Not exactly a great deal.

News posted daily at www.PAFamily.org!

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Marriage News

California Supreme Court Overturns Traditional Marriage. The California Supreme Court ruled 4-3 Thursday that Proposition 22, the California Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, is unconstitutional. Alliance Defense Fund attorneys who defended Proposition 22 note that the outcome illustrates precisely why a state law alone is not sufficient to protect marriage.

New York Forced to Recognize Same-Sex "Marriages." Court decides state must recognize unions that are illegal within its borders. The Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York, decided to let stand a ruling that required the state to recognize same-sex "marriages" performed outside the state. New York law does not currently allow these counterfeit marriages. This is why Pennsylvania needs a constitutional amendment to protect marriage, and why we need a Federal Marriage Amendment. Learn more at www.pa4marriage.org.

Family Breakdown Increasing in Europe. One marriage breaks up and one abortion occurs nearly every 30 seconds in Europe, according to a report by the Institute for Family Policy.

Activists Work to Suppress Freedoms, Now Target Mail. EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere) Canada, the homosexual activist group that has consistently worked to silence opposition to homosexual activity, has sent a letter to the president and CEO of Canada Post, asking them to censor the mail. Derek Rogusky, Vice President of Family Policy and Community Impact for Focus on the Family Canada said, "The reality is that gay activists want to wipe out any dissenting opinion. It is ironic that those demanding tolerance are not offering tolerance as well."

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!

June 7 - William Wilberforce Day of Prayer at Lancaster Bible College , 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Visit www.pafamily.org for more details.

July 18-19 - Truth Project training with Dr. Del Tackett of Focus on the Family at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills (Philly area). You can register through Focus at www.truthproject.org.

July 20-26 - 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 May 24 for the early discount price!

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PFI News
Thanks to all who attended our Pittsburgh Friends of the Family banquet with keynote speaker Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family. It was an inspiring evening.

Early Registration ends soon 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 May 24 for the early discount price! Call (800) FAMILY-1 for promotional brochures for your church or school.

You Are Invited! Please join Pennsylvania Family Institute and the Pennsylvania Prayer Network for a day of prayer for our Commonwealth, its leaders and families. We will gather together in fervent prayer seeking God's grace and mercy, and we will receive inspiration from Scripture and the words of William Wilberforce.

New Issues of Pennsylvania Citizen and Pennsylvania Families Magazine hitting mailboxes soon!

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 Topics: Update on the Marriage Amendment and an interview with the staff of Good News Daily, a web and print publication.

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