Anti-gay fundies meeting in Boston Tuesday, May 10th

[Ian David]

April 20, 2005

In this edition:

1. MFI welcomes Pope Benedict XVI
2. You’re Invited: 2005 Marriage Matters Celebration
3. Its official, MFI has a blog!
4. Justice Sunday: April 24
5. US Supremes refuse to hear buffer zone law
6. Reminder: TeenPact is next month
7. Upcoming Events
8. Encouragement of the Week

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*** MFI welcomes Pope Benedict XVI ***

Massachusetts Family Institute would like to congratulate Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger on his election to be the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Ratzinger, who has taken the name Pope Benedict XVI, served as Pope John Paul II’s chief theological advisor for 20 years, and is known for his strong belief in Catholic tradition. MFI looks forward to a papacy that will continue to stand up for the innocent unborn and defend the institution of marriage

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*** You’re Invited: 2005 Marriage Matters Celebration ***

The 2005 Marriage Matters Celebration, an event to honor marriage, is fast approaching and you are invited. On Tuesday, May 10th, Dr. Crawford W. Lorrits, Jr. will be the keynote speaker for this special evening at the Congregation Lion of Judah in Boston. Dr. Lorrits is the associate director of the U.S. Ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ and has also served with American Missionary Fellowship. He was also a church planter with the Black Evangelistic Enterprise, helping co-found Oakcliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Lorrits is the host of the daily radio program “Living a Legacy” and is a featured speaker for Promise Keepers

A signing ceremony will also take place, in which pastors from around the Boston Metro area will add their signatures to the Marriage & Family Agreement that states their commitment to strengthening marriages performed in their churches. This agreement includes a pledge to have counseling for couples leading up to their wedding day, as well as the development of marriage mentors who will work with newlyweds through their first year of marriage

MFI encourages all pastors and churches to pass this information on to the members of their congregation or parish. Be sure to explain to them that this event is open to everyone, not just pastors, and that Dr. Crawford Lorrits is the main speaker

What: 2005 Marriage Matters Celebration
When: May 10, 2005 – 7 p.m
Congregation Lion of Judah – 68 Northampton Street, Boston, MA
Fore reservations contact [phone]

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*** Its official, MFI has a blog! ***

Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) is happy to announce the official MFI web log, your source for the most up-to-date news and information regarding our efforts to strengthen the family in the Commonwealth

For over thirteen years, MFI has been a voice for families in Massachusetts, leading the way on issues ranging from protecting children from the dangers of the Internet to strengthening marriages through counseling and mentoring. MFI has always been on the frontlines of the battle to protect and defend marriage, and now MFI enters the world of the “blog” to better equip those who stand with us in the battle. This blog will allow us to get news and information into your hands more easily, so please check it often for the latest updates

The MFI blog is just the newest part of MFI’s online presence. The MFI website, www.mafamily.org, and weekly E-Alert will both continue on as usual, providing you with indispensable resources and important action alerts.

To view the MFI web blog: http://www.mafamily.org/blog/.

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*** Justice Sunday: April 24 ***

This Sunday, April 24, Family Research Council’s FRC Action will host a nationwide, live simulcast to engage values voters in the all-important issue of reining in our out-of-control courts. This exciting event will be held at the East Campus of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. Speakers include Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Al Mohler, and Chuck Colson

We are experiencing a judicial crisis in America, as we have become a nation ruled less and less by the consent of the governed and more and more by unelected judges. Our judicial system can only apply justice fairly to all citizens when judges follow the law, and stop writing their own. The filibuster is a valuable tool of democracy when applied to legislation—as originally intended by our Founders—but not when it is hijacked for partisan attacks against qualified judicial nominees

The ‘Justice Sunday’ simulcast will mark the beginning of a week in which citizens from around the country are asked to call their Senators and ask them to vote to stop the filibuster. It is very important that the Senate phones ring off their hooks if we hope to return the Constitutional standard of a simple majority necessary to approve judicial appointments. Some people believe this will be the most important vote taken in the Senate in 75 years. Certainly, we should keep it in our prayers

Message from FRC President Tony Perkins: http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=LH05D02
Registration for Individuals: https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=EV05D02&track=0
Registration for Churches: https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=EV05D03&track=0

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*** US Supremes refuse to hear buffer zone law ***

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal by pro-life activists who challenged a Massachusetts law creating a “buffer zone” around abortion clinics. Giving no comments, justices let stand a lower court ruling that had upheld the state law passed in 1994. Pro-life organizations, including Massachusetts Citizens for Life, had alleged that the state-mandated zones had unconstitutionally become places where only abortion rights rhetoric is permitted.

''The statute allows clinic speakers to tell patients to come into the clinic and not listen to pro-lifers, but if a pro-lifer offers information about alternatives, such as adoption or free medical care, they can go to jail," said Mark Rienzi, the lawyer for three female sidewalk counselors that challenged the law. ''The First Amendment is supposed to stop that kind of discrimination."

The law creates a six-foot buffer zone around patients within an 18-foot radius of the clinic entrance, prohibiting sidewalk counselors from offering women help and information on alternatives to abortion

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*** Reminder: TeenPact is next month ***

MFI is hosting the fourth annual Boston TeenPact conference. The conference, designed for high school students who have an expressed interest in learning about the way our state government functions, is held at the Massachusetts State House from May 23-27, 2005. TeenPact's number one objective is to break down the intimidation that many feel about involvement in our civil government. The future of our country is dependent upon the involvement of the next generation. Former attendees of TeenPact were an invaluable resource during last year’s Constitutional Convention, operating a phone bank and assisting with mailings. If you have a teenager that is interested in attending TeenPact, please contact the MFI office at [phone]. To find out more about the program, please visit www.teenpact.com

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*** Upcoming Events ***

For more information on all the events below, visit Massachusetts Family Institute’s “Events” page at http://www.mafamily.org/events.htm.

Dr. John Diggs, Jr. – “Living Chaste in an MTV World”
April 23 and 30 – 6:30 – 8:00 p.m
Evangelical Covenant Church – 915 Plumtree Rd., Springfield
Students are free, $3 donation for adults
More information: [phone]

Dr. John Diggs., Jr. – “Hidden Facts: Sex, Your Body, Your Future”
May 5, 2005 – 7:00 - 8:30 p.m
Westfield State College – Scanlon Hall Living Room
Contact Laura Pisano – [email protected]

Marriage Matters 2005
May 10, 2005
Congregation Lion of Judah – 68 Northampton Street, Boston, MA
More information: http://www.mafamily.org/marriagematters.htm

TeenPact 2005
May 23-27, 2005
Massachusetts State House – Boston, MA
More information: http://www.teenpact.com

Doin' it Right: 3 Miles for Abstinence Hike & Festival
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Blue Hills Reservation
Milton, MA
More information: http://hike.doinitright.org

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*** Encouragement of the Week ***

”Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. ... Whereas relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and 'swept along by every wind of teaching,' looks like the only attitude acceptable to today's standards. We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires.'' ~ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, just two days before being elected pope

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Massachusetts Family Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization
dedicated to strengthening and protecting the family

Cross-post in Massachusetts forum.

[sui generis]

1. Massachusetts Family Institute is dishonest cowardly bunch of

bigots who don't even have the balls to say what they mean.

Strengthening the Family as a phrase should never be coopted to mean "organizing to hate gays".

We have families too, no more and certainly no less than anyone else's. Strengthening our families means calling these sick bigots out and not letting them use doublespeak.

[woosh]

2. Such hate must be quite a burden.

[paineinthearse]

3. "this event is open to everyone"

Their words, not mine. Be sure to tell all your friends.

[dddem]

4. You know what?

Marriage DOES matter. It matters to everyone, gay or straight, young or old. I think it would be great if everyone who celebrated Massachusetts' decision on Gay Marriage were to go and support how important it is to allow people who love each other to celebrate their love by getting married! I am a straight woman who has been married for almost 20 years, and you know what has been a threat to MY marriage? Not gay people being able to marry. Not elderly couples marrying for the financial benefit, not even republicans marrying and creating more republicans. The threat to my marriage has been bush's
economic policies. The fact that my husband lost his job of 23 years threatened my lifestyle. Having no health insurance for my children was definitely an issue that was detrimental to my marriage. The sanctity of MY marriage is compromised every time a married person cheats on their spouse. Every time a parent neglects their child, the bonds of family weaken. People need to get a grip. If there is any more I can do as a straight person, please someone, let me know. I want to help ensure that ALL Americans enjoy the benefits (financial as well as emotional) of being able to marry if they wish. I'm getting sick of people thinking it's okay to discriminate against other humans just because we aren't all alike.
Sorry for my rant - it's late, I'm tired and I'm sick of the way we humans treat one another. I'm going to bed, and maybe in the morning the world will be better. If not, I'll keep up the good fight.