Alaska homosexual rights law voted down

The following comes from an April 4 story in the Anchorage archdiocese paper, the Catholic Anchor. Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, based in Seattle, Washington, was the single largest donor (at least $25,000) to the pro-homosexual side.

Anchorage residents rejected a ballot initiative that sought to add “sexual orientation” and “transgender identity” to the list of protected legal classes in the city code.

With nearly 98 percent of votes counted, the measure was failing 58 percent to 41 percent. More than 54,000 residents voted on the April 3 ballot — far more than city officials had expected….

One Anchorage, a coalition of homosexual rights advocates, pushed the initiative behind the backing of several national gay rights organizations. According to state records, the group raised about $350,000 in support of the initiative — three times more money than opponents raised. 

But the measures opponents, which included more than 100 area pastors and priests, spoke out against the initiative. In particular, concerns were raised that the proposed law could have required faith-based schools, private businesses and area churches to employ openly homosexual and transgender employees, while also forcing service companies and rental organizations to promote and facilitate causes and events that are contrary to their moral beliefs.

Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz was among the prominent religious leaders who urged residents to vote against the ballot measure.

In the lead up to the vote, Archbishop Schwietz wrote an open letter to area churches warning that Proposition 5 threatens the religious freedoms of churches, schools, businesses and other organizations.

The letter denounced any attempt to “advance disrespect or unjust discrimination against people of homosexual orientation” but stated that there is “an essential distinction between unjust discrimination, which is the arbitrary violation of human rights, and the necessary limitations on the exercise of our rights when it is required to protect the justice that is due to others, and the common good.”

Archbishop Schwietz added: “Proposition 5, regrettably, makes no such distinctions. It sweeps with a broad brush, and would usher in a new era of intolerance in Anchorage, all done in the name of ‘ending discrimination.’”

To read original story, Click here.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 5:52 AM By Juergensen
The sodomites aren’t going to stop until they get “equal rights” to our boys under the “equal protection” clause of the Constitution. And trust me, as I write, already there are “justices” on the Supreme Court willing to grant them such a “right”. Remember, five of the “justices” on the Court granted sodomites a constitutional “right” to sodomy just a few years ago. The leap from there to a “right” to others’ boys is not long.

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 6:16 AM By St. Christopher
Compare, good readers, the highly successful actions of Abp. Schwietz and Cardinal Dolan. Due to the unequivocal opposition — without mincing or apologizing — of homosexual oriented proposed law changes for Anchorage by Archbishop Schwietz, the law failed. The failures of Cardinal Dolan to confront NY State Catholic legislators is well documented, with the result that NY State now has a homosexual marriage law that invigorated the efforts in other states to proceed with their own moral outrage legislation. Yes, it is that simple. Yes, it is a matter of personal courage and conviction. Yes, it is a difference of acting on one’s beliefs versus looking over one’s shoulders to gauge the opposition and the winds of political support. The Catholic Church needs warriors, like Rev. Hoye and Archbishop Schwietz; not the timid titmouse characters of so many of its bishops.

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 7:28 AM By Canisius
Chalk up one for decency…..Deos Gratias

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 8:54 AM By dixibehr
Homosexual orientation is no indication that a person is sexually active, any more than heterosexual orientation is an indication that the person is virginal or monogamous. And pedopohilia has NOTHING to do with homosexuality. I would like for Abp. Schweitz to explain how discrimination against homosexuals or transsexuals/transgenered people (again, NOT the same thing) protects the common good.

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 9:14 AM By Ronnie
Dixibehr writes: pedopohilia has NOTHING to do with homosexuality…Are you kidding? Over 80% of the abuse in the church’s sex abuse scandal was homosexual abuse. Of course, I’m not suggesting that all gays are abusers, but the majority of our Church’s abuse was definitely homosexual….

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 9:21 AM By Abeca Christian
Praise Be JESUS CHRIST!!

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 9:37 AM By Kevin
“Homosexual orientation is no indication that a person is sexually active” There is no such thing as “homosexual”. There are people, that is all. If someone is promoting the common law crime of buggery, then it is the responsibility of citizens to uphold the law.

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 9:43 AM By Bud
Sorry dixibehr, Just who is pushing, supporting, bullying, trying to deny our Religious rights to bow to the gay agenda. And, the only way any of it has passed is by denial of the priviledge of voting, bribing, lobbying and now you want the children to be brainwashed. Is that the common good you refer to! Your paranoia and arrogance in deciding that your are a group similar to slavery that demands protection.

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 10:28 AM By I am not Spartacus
Dear dixibehr Homosexuals are to children what lions are to lambs. There is long and reliable documentation that the homossexual, who constitute, at most, 3% of society, commit pederastic crimes at a far far higher rate that what would be expected given their low % of the population numbers.

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2012 11:31 AM By Dixibehr
\\Dixibehr writes: pedopohilia has NOTHING to do with homosexuality…Are you kidding? Over 80% of the abuse in the church’s sex abuse scandal was homosexual abuse.\\ Ronnie, I’ve had many discussions with a Christian therapist whose practice is dedicated to treating pedophiles, their victims, and their families. She assured me that “homosexual pedophilia/-ile” are NOT terms used by professionals in this context. A respected pediatrician my my city was found guilty of abusing over 100 of his female patients. You wouldn’t call this “heterosexuality”, would you? Bud, what is this “gay agenda” that you are talking about? Only ones I’ve seen and heard mention it are heterosexuals. And if it matters to anyone, I am a faithful son of the Catholic Church living in chastity. Anything you think of me beyond that is just the result if your own imaginations, for which you need to consult your spiritual directors.