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PA Family Institute

PA Family Update

by Newsletter

Volume 4, Issue 13
June 5, 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
"I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."
~ Ronald Reagan (Today is the 4th anniversary of Reagan's death)
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Pennsylvania News
Pennsylvania Needs a Marriage Protection Amendment! There is nothing standing in the way of a devastating court action similar to what happened in California (read the story under Marriage News) in Pennsylvania. All it would take is one court case. It is why our state needs a Marriage Protection Amendment, something 27 other states have already.
Take Action!
Go to our Citizen Action Center. Contact your State Senator and State Representative, and ask them to support SB 1250, and to ask their leaders to "Bring the Marriage Amendment up for a Vote." For more marriage info, see www.pa4marriage.org.
It's up to the people to decide the definition of marriage, not judges and not politicians. A state constitutional amendment is the only way to protect marriage in Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh Councilman Proposes Domestic Partner Registry for Homosexual, Unmarried 'Partners'. Pittsburgh Councilman Bruce Kraus proposed rules for domestic registry of unmarried couples, in a move that would allow any two unrelated city residents to make a "declaration of mutual commitment" indicating that they "contribute mutually to each other's maintenance and support." Here's another example of activists undermining the definition of marriage and family. If it means everything, then it means nothing.
Bill Prohibiting PA Teacher Strikes Stalled in Committee. HB 1369 prohibits teachers from striking, giving guidelines to facilitate negotiation and keep the public informed. Former teacher Rep. Todd Rock (R-Franklin) is the bill's primary supporter. The bill is sitting in the House Labor Relations Committee.
PA Gaming Board Director Steps Down. Anne LaCour Neeb announced her resignation from the committee, citing family reasons; she was hired as director in June 2005. Lawmakers have recently criticized Neeb for granting a casino license to allegedly mob-connected Louis DeNaples. For information on the fight against gambling in PA, visit www.nodicepa.org and www.casinofreepa.org.
News posted daily at www.PAFamily.org!
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Family News
U.S. Court of Appeals Upholds Regulation on Sexually-Oriented Businesses. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the rights of citizens to decide how, when, and where sexually-oriented businesses operate. This decision closed a case that sex-shop owners had filed against Grand Rapids, Mich., when a city ordinance prohibited them from operating at their chosen site. Concerned citizens supported the ordinance, protecting children at a nearby elementary school from exposure to the sex-shop business.
Parental Notification for Abortion - Is It Enough? On the ballot in California this fall is a measure that requires abortion providers to notify parents or another adult family member for consent before performing abortion on their teenage daughter. Read more commentary from Julia, a summer PFI intern, at the PA Family Blog: www.pafamily.wordpress.com and join the discussion!
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Marriage News
California Court Again Attacks Marriage, Chaos to Ensue. Another troubling 4-3 decision by the activist California Supreme Court, putting same-sex "marriage" in that state on the fast track, and guaranteeing cultural chaos in the Golden State. After last month's 4-3 to decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage law in California, attorneys from Alliance Defense Fund filed motions seeking a delay in same-sex marriage licenses until California voters can decide in November on whether to adopt a Marriage Protection Amendment. The court simply said, "No." Thus, same-sex marriage licenses will be issued beginning in a matter of days. What happens to those who get married before November, when the Marriage Protection Amendment on the ballot hopefully passes and their marriages are no longer recognized? What if they move to NY in that time, where the court has ruled that they need to recognize out-of-state same-sex unions? This is why Pennsylvania needs a Marriage Protection Amendment. We can't let that happen here.
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
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 Guest 1: Randall Wenger, chief counsel of the Independence Law Center, discussing what citizens can do to regulate sexually-oriented businesses in their communities.
Guest 2: Mark Houck of the King's Men on their work to end the illegal activity at a strip club in Quakertown (feature story in the newest Pennsylvania Families Magazine).

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