Family group: Marriage 'persecution' starts
'Already we see evidence that we will lose our First Amendment right of free speech'
At mid-morning on Friday the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it had created same-sex “marriage” for homosexuals and lesbians across the United States, using a convoluted logic from Justice Anthony Kennedy that included citations to Cicero and Confucius.
“Already we see evidence right in our state that we will lose our First Amendment right of free speech simply because we do not agree with today’s SCOTUS decision and understand the historic definition of marriage,” said a statement released by the American Family Association of Pennsylvania. “What better way to say all are on board with this decision than to silence the voices of those not in agreement?”
The comments stemmed from an announcement from editorialists at Pennlive.com. that they would no longer allow opinion or editorial pieces “in opposition to same-sex marriage.”
“These unions are now the law of the land,” the publication said.
And it likened those who still support traditional and biblical marriage, despite the court’s opinion, to those who are “racist, sexist or anti-Semitic.”
The family group responded, “Pennlive, the Harrisburg area news organization, has announced a change in op-eds and letters to the editor, stating, ‘As a result of Friday’s ruling, Pennlive/The Patriot-news will very strictly limit op-eds and letters to the editor in opposition to same-sex marriage.’”
Said Diane Gramley, the organization’s chief, “Already we see evidence right in our state that we will lose our First Amendment right of free speech simply because we do not agree.”
The organization said, “This newspaper organization is equating homosexuality to race – a big mistake as race is immutable or unchangeable and homosexuality is changeable as evidenced by the thousands who have left the lifestyle. PennLive/The Patriot-News has bought into the lie!”
Gramley continued, “Penn/Live/The Patriot-News wants to end the debate, but it has only just begun. Five unelected Justices of the Supreme Court cannot redefine true marriage any more than one unelected judge in Pennsylvania can. Marriage is still and always will be between one man and one woman. As pointed out in Justice Scalia’s dissenting opinion, America has always been about the freedom to debate an issue. To stifle that debate is to stifle the American way.
“However, we will see an increase in persecution against those who hold the traditional view of marriage, as evidenced by the newspaper’s change in policy. This decision is not a march to progress, but the exact opposite,” she said.
The Daily Caller jumped on the controversy, calling the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, company’s stance “hardcore.”
The report said the publication at first said it would “no longer accept, nor will it print, op-eds and letters to the editor in opposition to same-sex marriage.”
The DC reported newspaper officials later added, “Clarification: We will not foreclose discussion of the high court’s decision, but arguments that gay marriage is wrong/unnatural are out.”
Commenters, the DC reported, were ticked.
“Nice to see strict speech codes will be enforced by the ‘free’ press,” wrote an anonymous “Big Jasper.” “No need to worry about that messy ‘freedom of expression’ thing anymore.”
The newspaper’s reporting followed its editorial policy already: “In the more than four decades since, a union that was viewed as unnatural and even a hideous provocation to violence is now commonplace and celebrated. On Friday, the United States crossed a similar threshold, continuing a long road to acceptance of same-sex unions.”
The news organization eventually confirmed “some” letters critiquing the court decision will be accepted.
It did describe some of those submissions with criticisms as “hate speech.”
Read more at http://mobile.wnd.com/2015/06/family-group-marriage-persecution-starts/#iiAQOiz4SvvrE20Z.99
1 comment:
“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick, twisted and evil society.”
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