Welcome back the Lamb of God

Jesus Christ is back in the state house.  Some foolish men thought they could keep him out and will probably try again.  Some fearful men adhered to a dismissed argument to not invoke His name and they'll probably hide again.  So be it.

God bless the strong and unashamed people of Christ who are willing to stand. Senator Kruse led prayer in the name of Jesus Christ in the Senate.  Senate Pro Tempore David Long displayed courage and steadfastness in the face of what should be a non-issue and we at Veritas Rex applaud him for his leadership.  Had Representative Bosma been Speaker I'm certain he would have, too.  Nothing happened - lightening didn't strike or non-Christians didn't fall over.  Yet on the flip side we know that blessings will abound for those who stand for their Savior.

As for the people's worldly business -- property tax is king.  After the usual first day greetings, the House and Senate got down to business immediately to show that they are taking action.  It's going to get complicated, and as we read different versions of the bills we're sure to get weary -- I challenge all Veritas Rex readers to hunker down and stay abreast of the details to see this thing through.  Let's all help the voters to stay engaged, too, as it is usually hard to recognize the final bill at the end of session after so many twists and turns.

Here's a pic of Ryan McCann and Sue Swayze monitoring first-day activities for the Indiana Family Institute.  The marriage amendment is our priority.  It has arguably more long-term impact on Hoosiers than property taxes, but both are paramount to the future- one for your pocketbook and one for your cultural norms.  IFI believes that both can be devastating to Hoosier families in the wrong doses.

Indiana Family Institute will also monitor bills this session that can strengthen families in the areas of positive marriage incentives, education, family strengthening, pro-life issues and more.  While the marriage amendment is a top priority, we hope that we can expand the dialog and encourage efforts to shore up the family in other areas, as well.

Enjoy some well-deserved R&R and have a happy Thanksgiving holiday.  Veritas Rex is sure to heat up when legislative committees start in December and the session reconvenes in January.

Comments

[Reasonable Republican]

The marriage amendment should not be a top priority. There are more important issues at hand. The only thing holding Republicans back from leading this state to the top is the radical left and its intolerant ways. If you don't like gay people that is fine, but if I do that should be fine as well.

[Hmm...]

don't you mean the radical Right.. or have they gone so far off the beam that they've come back around the being the Left. Oops.. they don't believe the earth is round either.. hehehe..

Happy Turkey Day-- I'm sure some of those fellas at the legislature are a lil afraid these days.

[Friendly Critic]

The Indianapolis Star reports this morning that Speaker Bauer said he consulted with Republican Attorney General Steve Carter, who is the lead in representing Indiana in the litigation, whether or not to disobey Judge Hamilton's order, and that Carter advised him to continue to obey it because it was still pending with remaining appeal avenues in the 7th Circuit. Given the deference Carter has otherwise been given by Republicans and conservatives, I think that piece ought to have also been mentioned in your piece.

[Kristen]

It's always interesting to read comments by people who clearly don't understand our position. The comment, "If we don't like gays..." shows the lack of understanding by assuming our policy positions are based on dislike for a person or group of people.

This commenter couldn't be more wrong.

[Friendly Critic]

Kristen, although sometimes I cringe to do so, I accept the fact that you and at least the folks at IFI that I have some knowledge of don’t dislike gays and lesbians. (I don’t tend to use the word “hate” except maybe for Fred Phelps and Company, because it tends to get over-used and hence tends to lose its value when it may really apply to a situation). As a corollary to that statement, I also accept the fact that you may be genuinely puzzled and upset why many gays and lesbians think you and your compatriots do. In your world-view, the Bible, reflecting immutable and singular Divine Truth, declares their actions sinful, and if uncorrected, leading to an eternal loss of Heavenly status. So you find it very difficult, if not impossible, to accept the proposition that because you are simply reflecting your beliefs, which in turn reflect the essence of goodness itself, could be viewed as something evil or ill-intended.

And unless, perhaps, something akin to St. Paul getting knocked off his horse and blinded by a light asking why he was persecuting God Himself when persecuting Christians happens, that view isn’t likely to change.

So perhaps I’m better off by simply thinking of you as the nice, if somewhat eccentric next door neighbor, runs her own household by a strict set of guidelines now and forever, and thinking that because my own living quarters next door reflect some kind of disorder that violates those principles, and if only I could see the light and straighten up (no pun intended here…well…I lied…yes there was), keeps coming over. That would be perhaps an unwelcome minor nuisance, but in addition, she’s continually down to the neighborhood association trying to get something passed to force me to run my own household in a certain way, namely hers and the book she swears by. Not only that, but she has a problem with any hint that the association in any way recognizes or legitimizes how I choose to arrange my furniture or fold my underwear. But she doesn’t really dislike me…she wants to help me…..and wants the neighborhood association to enforce her viewpoint.

I think that means she’s an active neighborhood busybody. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t like me. And I sort of like her. She feels sorry for my lack of enlightenment, and I of hers.

If it were all that benign, it would make a nice Sunday evening soap opera. Unfortunately for most gays and lesbians whose lives are personally affected by busybodies trying to dictate public policy, it isn’t at all that simple. I truly wish it were.

[Sue Swayze]

FC - a very poignant post. I dig it. I've no time to respond now, which is ok because I want to let it sink in. Peace and rest for the holiday. -SS

[hoosier1]

excellent post FC! I am going to use that one....

[AuntieEm]

You make a nice point, Friendly Critic. I couldn't have done it better myself.

Your explanation reminded me of a friend, a lovely woman I met at church, we used to get together with some of the other girls for shopping, helping out in the food pantry, etc. Once, when I was in the hospital, Eunice sent me a nice card. I could barely read her scrawl -- the letters were all twisted and disconnected (I'm surprised the mailman could read the address). I was afraid maybe it was HER that was sicker than me, maybe a stroke?? Anyway, one of the other girls visited me and I mentined Eunice's handwriting and showed them the card. That's how I found out that Eunice was left-handed. But Eunice grew up in the 1920's when left handed kids were forced to write with their right hands. So Eunice learned to write with her right hand, but it was very awkward, even to hold the pencil. And later, as an adult, she was so self conscious about her writing that she avoided writing (I remember at the food pantry she always managed to not do anything that required writing).

I did some reading, and did you know that the word "sinister" pertains to being left handed? And how about "left handed compliment" being derogatory? Eunice then told me how difficult it was for her -- the nuns at the school quoted Bible verses that they said meant being left handed was evil and had to be overcome (I wasn't raised Catholic and this practice had stopped by the time I was in school, but perhaps someone here can give us some of the Bible verses that were used back then). Eunice lives a full life -- devoted husband, lovely children, had a fulfilling job (one where she didn't have to write much) and a happy retirement. And though she now realizes there's nothing evil about being left handed, it is too late for her to learn to write with her left (though she does most everything else with the left). An important part of her was stifled because of someone else's views that it was evil -- that she was in a burning house and needed to be rescued (when in fact all she needed was to learn how to write with her dominant hand in this case the left not the right).

I was thinking of this analogy to the marriage issue. If people are born naturally drawn to settle down with someone of the same sex, should they be denied that? And if they do get married to the same gender, how does that interfere with the marriages of someone attracted to and marrying the opposite sex? (I have NEVER heard a logical explanation of that one). Should they be faced with either hiding their orientation and forced to have an awkward mariage with someone of the other sex?

I'm sure the nuns who taught Eunice to write truly believed they were helping her in a loving way, and saving her from evil. (just like the neighbor who drags someone out of a building they think is burning, or who thinks that your "disordered" house, Friendly Critic, is dangerous to your health and life).

I'm sorry if I may not be making total sense here -- I had to get up at 4 to start the turkey, and this isn't my best time of the day.... perhaps someone can explain it better?

AuntieEm

[Friendly Critic]

Hey Sue and Ryan:

Nice picture of you. I see no horns. As to priorities in this legislature, maybe here is a way to have property tax relief and your own top priorities, too:

"Exemption from property taxation in Indiana shall apply only o real estate rented or owned by the union of one man and one woman. This Constitution, or any other Indiana, may not be construed to require that exemption from property taxation, nor the legal incidents of exemption, be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups
near the Statehouse."

A no-brainer, I would say. Very clear and unambiguous, don't you think?

[Friendly Critic]

OOOOPS....if you want to you can delete the first on, or leave it up as a sign of my carelessness in proofing:

Hey Sue and Ryan:

Nice picture of you. Despite the rumors, I see no horns. As to priorities in this legislature, maybe here is a way to have property tax relief and your own top priorities, too:

"Exemption from property taxation in Indiana shall apply only to real estate rented or owned by the union of one man and one woman. This Constitution, or any other Indiana law, may not be construed to require that exemption from property taxation, or the legal incidents of exemption, be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.

A no-brainer, I would say. Very clear and unambiguous, don't you think?

[Rachel]

If family is your main concern feel free to work on your own families. There are more than enough family resources out there. What makes a family? It isn't as cut and dry as many make it out to be. My family could consist of me, my partner and our "kids" meaning our pets. Now you want to take away the minimal benefits that we as gays receive because you think that our definition of family is wrong. It would be no benefit to my partner to have me away from her if she were ever to be in the hospital. It is already illegal in Indiana for gays to marry. Most of us accept that fact and we deal with it for now. But why should anyone support something that takes the small benefits we as gays and "singles" have just because our definition of family differs from yours. Heterosexual married couples already get plenty of benefits. There are plenty of married heterosexual couples that could benefit from counseling sessions. Just because you are married and heterosexual doesn't mean that you have the God given common sense to be married. To be a stable couple doesn't mean that you have to be married. I know plenty of people who aren't married, but who are stable and loving. On the other hand I know married couples who have unstable and unhealthy relationships. Maybe one day those of you who support this will understand my point. Love is love. Families come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

[dwinters]

Rachel,

Number one, it's about following God's law, not about "stable relationships."

Number two, supporters of the marriage amendment know that it will NOT take away any rights or privileges or benefits you already have.

They support it to protect marriage from judges who would legislate from the bench unconstitutionally.

I challenge you to name instances where anything was taken away from gays due to marriage amendments in some 20+ states.

And love is love? What the heck does that mean? People have affairs and claim to love their mistress. That doesn't make their actions right. Besides, the true meaning and definition of love has gone by the wayside. People don't commit for life and they don't sacrifice because they are too selfish and hung up on instant gratification.