The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

December 2008

Marriage Amendments


On November 4, 2008, three states voted state constitutional amendments to make marriages legal only between a man and a woman. Of the three, Arizona, Florida, and California, the latter state saw by far the most money spent (estimated at $74 million) in promoting or opposing the issue. In California the issue was known as Proposition 8.

Mormons were substantial financial contributors to the campaign to approve Proposition 8. A Mormon leader called for a civil post-election healing process:

Now that California voters have outlawed same-sex marriage, an LDS [Latter-day Saints] Church leader called Wednesday for members to heal rifts caused by the emotional campaign by treating each other with "civility, with respect and with love."

"We hope that everyone would treat [each other] that way no matter which side of this issue they were on," said Elder L. Whitney Clayton, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Presidency of the Seventy. ("California's Prop 8: LDS leader calls for healing the gay-marriage rift," The Salt Lake Tribune, Nov. 6, 2008)

By the day after the voting, three lawsuits had been filed asking the California Supreme Court to overturn the proposition. The suits were filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. (ibid.)

Lawyers for same-sex couples argued that the anti-gay-marriage measure was an illegal constitutional revision -- not a more limited amendment, as backers maintained -- because it fundamentally altered the guarantee of equal protection. A constitutional revision, unlike an amendment, must be approved by the Legislature before going to voters. ("Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop. 8," www.latimes.com, Nov. 6, 2008)

Analyzing the results, another article reported:

Californians voted their religion, not their political party, when they pushed Proposition 8 to victory and banned same-sex marriage in the state, campaign officials and political experts said Wednesday.

With 100 percent of the state's precincts reporting, Prop. 8 leads by more than half a million votes, 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. Experts don't expect an estimated 3 million uncounted mail and provisional ballots to alter the outcome. ("Many Obama supporters also backed Prop. 8," www.sfgate.com (The San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 6, 2008)

Inspired commentary

Some prominent religious personalities also spoke against Proposition 8, even in such conservative groups as Seventh-day Adventists. One at least apparently dismissed the Bible statements regarding the sinfulness of homosexual behavior as subject to different interpretations. Is not the following clear?

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. Romans 1:22-27

President-elect Obama and Abortion


While a transition team develops and works to lead the way for U.S. President-elect Barak Obama to take office, some Roman Catholics are considering how his election will affect U.S. abortion laws.

The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, last night e-mailed his analysis, saying, "Catholic voters ignored the instructions of a group of vocal bishops and delivered 54% of their vote for Barack Obama as president of the United States." He cited a number of factors -- the importance of the economy, the endorsement of Obama by a few highly visible anti-abortion lay Catholic intellectuals, the presence of Biden on the Democratic ticket, and Obama's support for abortion reduction. But, Reese warned, "Will the abortion debate rise up again in four years at the next presidential election? A lot depends on President Obama and the Democratic Congress. If they push through the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), then they will have betrayed their pro-life Catholic supporters. This will make it nearly impossible for these people to support them again. On the other hand, if they make a priority the enactment of an abortion reduction bill, then it will be more difficult for the bishops and the Republicans to portray the Democrats as the pro-abortion party." ("Catholic Bishops Congratulate Obama," www.boston.com (The Boston Globe), Nov. 5, 2008)

Inspired commentary

While Bible prophecy indicates that the final great issue will revolve around interpretations of the Ten Commandments and how such interpretations should be reflected in civil law, it is of interest to note the apparent movements of some of the key players in the final events.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. Revelation 13:11-14

Catholic and Muslim Scholars Meet


Following up on the Pope's speech at Regensberg in 2006 and a letter to the Pope from Muslim scholars, a Catholic-Muslim Forum was held at Rome. A pre-conference news item stated:

Beirut (AsiaNews) - From November 4-6, 25 Catholic scholars and 25 Muslims will meet at the Vatican to study the possibilities for collaboration between the two largest religions in the world: 1.4 billion for the Muslims; 1.18 billion for the Catholics. The representatives of more than one third of the planet will meet on the theme of "Love of God and love of neighbor." On the first day, they will address theological-spiritual themes; on the second day, they will turn to "Human dignity," exploring issues related to human rights, religious freedom, religious respect, possibly alluding to the freedom to convert and change religions. ("Christians and Muslims: resuming dialogue, thanks to the Pope," www.asianews.it, Nov. 3, 2008)

Inspired commentary

Bible prophesy predicts that Rome's influence will increase:

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" Revelation 13:3, 4





Page created:10/21/08. Updated: 10/21/08
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