Rev. Billy Graham Endorses Marriage Amendment

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Rev. Billy Graham Endorses Marriage Amendment

Special Report - May 4, 2012
Native North Carolinian Billy Graham is urging voters across the state to join him in voting for the Marriage Protection Amendment in next week’s primary election. On May 8, North Carolina voters will vote on whether to amend the State Constitution to include a provision that reads: “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.” The Rev. Graham said in his statement of support for the Marriage Protection Amendment that, “Watching the moral decline of our country causes me great concern. I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected.”

According to his website, Rev. Graham will be running a full-page ad in 14 newspapers across North Carolina lamenting that, “At 93, I never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage.” The ad will also quote Rev. Graham saying, “The Bible is clear—God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote for the marriage amendment on Tuesday, May 8. God bless you as you vote.”

In related news, legislative leaders continue to vocalize their support for the Marriage Protection Amendment. House Majority Leader Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam (R–Wake) wrote an article for the Biblical Recorder on May 1, outlining what the amendment will do and why its passage is so important. In the article, Rep. Stam emphasizes that, “the Amendment makes clear that it would not prohibit private companies from entering into private contracts based on relationships chosen by the company. Private employers, for example, could continue to offer domestic partnership or civil union benefits to an employee’s same sex or opposite sex partner. But the Amendment would prohibit the government from forcing a company to provide such benefit. The Amendment would prohibit the government from creating ‘same sex marriage’ by calling it something else, such as a civil union.” He goes on to refute other erroneous claims that the Marriage Protection Amendment will “adversely affect North Carolina’s economy, ... the enforcement of domestic violence laws, … child custody, and visitation rights of unmarried parents.” The article closes by reminding voters that courts in other states have used the lack of a constitutional amendment protecting marriage as part of the grounds for forcing same-sex “marriage” in those states.

Additionally, Senate President Pro Temp Sen. Phil Berger (R–Rockingham) released a video on May 3 reiterating his belief “that the citizens of North Carolina should define marriage in our State Constitution, and that marriage should remain a union between one man and one woman.”

Polling continues to show double-digit leads among supporters of the Marriage Protection Amendment. A poll of Democrat and Republican primary voters released by the John W. Civitas Institute yesterday found that a majority of voters in both parties continue to support the MPA. Republican voters support the Marriage Protection Amendment at a more than 60-point margin (78 percent support to 15 percent oppose). Democrat voters are more split at 48 percent support and 44 percent opposed. The Civitas press release announcing the poll results also stated that when these poll numbers are applied “to current voter turnout trends and anticipated election day voting,” the amendment is projected to pass “by no less than a 16 percentage-point margin.” Additionally, a Public Policy Polling poll released earlier this week found support and opposition holding steady with a 14-point lead (55 percent to 41 percent) for supporters of the Marriage Protection Amendment. Interestingly, the poll also found less confusion among voters about the purpose of the amendment. The percentage of voters who erroneously believe the Marriage Protection Amendment will legalize same-sex “marriage” dropped from 10 percent last week to seven percent this week.

The North Carolina Family Policy Council is one of several organizations offering resources and information to voters ahead of the primary election in four days on Tuesday, May 8. Some of the best resources can be found here:

North Carolina Family Policy Council Marriage Resources page, including frequently asked questions, talking points, bulletin inserts, a comprehensive nationwide map of state marriage laws, and several policy papers on marriage.
VoteForMarriageNC website, including campaign materials, news, frequently asked questions, MPA fact sheets, refutations of MPA opposition arguments, brochures, palm cards, and several documents on marriage and the MPA.
CatholicVoiceNC, a project of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Raleigh and Charlotte, has a that includes many resources, including several videos and letters from both Bishop Michael Burbidge and Bishop Peter Jugis on marriage and the importance of the MPA.website

“In these final few days before the May 8 primary, we encourage North Carolinians to use these resources to educate themselves and their communities about the Marriage Protection Amendment and what it actually does, and to be sure to either take advantage of early voting through Saturday or take the time to go to the polls on Tuesday, May 8, to cast their vote FOR marriage,” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council.

The North Carolina Family Policy Council also has a Voter Resources page with information on voter registration, one-stop early voting, plus candidate responses in the NCFPC’s 2012 Primary Election Voter Guide to help inform and prepare voters to participate in the May 8 primary election.