Demonstrations / Intimidation Getting Out of Control
Prayer Urgently Needed

Intimidation and abuse of supporters of Prop 8 is increasing in California and protest demonstrations are expanding across the country. The Yes on 8 campaign is responding with a press conference on Friday, November 15 in Santa Ana at noon PST.

The opponents of Prop 8 in California have convinced a large number of people that they have a right to redefine marriage and anyone standing in their way is motivated by hate. Leaders of the ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ "rights" movement and the politicians who have supported them must take responsibility for creating what has become a dangerous situation. The news media is also culpable for refusing to cover the systematic persecution of people for merely participating in the democratic process.

The names and addresses of many supporters have been posted on websites, encouraging retribution. As a result, businesses are being boycotted, careers are being threatened and a large number of supporters have received intimidating phone calls. Mormon temples have been attacked and defaced, and a Catholic church near Sacramento was desecrated with eggs and feces.
 
One man in Sacramento was forced to resign from a theatrical production company after 25 years of exemplary service. His only mistake was to donate $1,000 to ProtectMarriage.com. Systematically, opponents are trying to make us afraid to witness the truth about the human person, the nature of marriage, and human sɛҳuąƖity. This would be a good time to write charitable letters to the editor.

This is a spiritual battle so please put out a call for prayer for our opponents and for all Prop 8 supporters who may be suffering retribution in any way. Our most powerful weapons are the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.. Also, consider spending time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament over the next few days.

Be sure to stay away from any demonstrations in your area for your safety and to avoid anything that might antagonize. For Californians, we suggest removing any "Yes on 8" signs or bumper stickers for your safety and that of your family.

With the passage of Prop 8, the ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ agenda suffered the first reversal in their 35 year campaign to redefine marriage, the family and human sɛҳuąƖity. Finally the American people are seeing the real agenda. It has never been about tolerance and acceptance, it has been about compliance with their vision of marriage, family and human sɛҳuąƖity which is being forced on our children.

This is tyranny, but "if we adopt the tactics of our opponents, we have lost," an Archbishop once told me. First, remember, we can do nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit. We must give ourselves over to the One who died for our sins. Our response must be prayerful and our witness of the truth must be charitable.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. I have posted below, a statement from the ProtectMarriage.com campaign that provides more information. For the Common Good,

Bill May, Chairman
Catholics for Protect Marriage
 (415) 651-4171

ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on Proposition 8

Dear Friends of Marriage:

It has been a week and a half since Proposition 8 passed and we won a resounding victory for marriage. Since then, the voters, volunteers and donors in support of Prop 8 have come under an unprecedented, vicious and outrageous assault.

The voters, who have twice passed propositions in favor of the definition of traditional marriage, have had their will disrespected by unruly protests and a series of lawsuits designed to overturn their vote.

But as bad as this has been, the most outrageous attacks have come against volunteers and donors who worked so hard to help us pass Proposition 8. Because we are required by law to report our donors' names, occupations and employers with the Secretary of State, the opponents of marriage have been threatening boycotts and blacklisting of our donors. As noted below, some of our supporters have been forced to resign.

They have also defaced churches and in at least one case, attacked a woman who counter-protested a No on 8 rally.

We teach our children that getting involved in the political process, as a voter, volunteer, or donor, is a good thing. Civic involvement and participation in democracy is at the core of our nation's most cherished freedoms. The unruly mob that has emerged out of the failed No on 8 campaign is attacking all of these freedoms and values.

The election for Proposition 8 was hard fought, but in the end, as before, traditional marriage won. That is our process in a democracy. As noted in the Sacramento Bee editorial below, (and remember the Bee was a strong No on 8 supporter) the other side has crossed the line of appropriate political discourse.

We appreciate how hard you all worked to help us succeed, and the quiet dignity in which you have celebrated our victory. We assure you that we will vigorously defend our victory in the courts of law and the courts of common decency and respect for democracy.

In the meantime, here are some articles we thought you would like to read.

Sincerely,

Jeff Flint
Campaign Manager
Yes on Proposition 8

Elton John: HeterosɛҳuąƖ Couples Have Marriage, Same-Sex Couples Have Civil Partnerships

USA Today published an article yesterday in which Sir Elton John spoke about his position on Proposition 8. John clarified his position on Prop 8 while attending the annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He was accompanied by his longtime partner David Furnish, whom he joined in a civil union in 2005. John was quoted as saying, "We're not married. Let's get that right. We have a civil partnership. What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage."

John went on to emphasize that civil unions grant same-sex couples the same rights afforded to married heterosɛҳuąƖ couples. He stated, "I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gαy people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership . . .the word marriage, I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. HeterosɛҳuąƖ people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

Sacramento Bee Editorial: No on 8 Supporters Cross the Line that Separates Civil Protest from Harassment

An editorial in the Sacramento Bee today takes a close look at the outrageous actions undertaken by many No on 8 supporters following the passage of Prop 8.

The editorial summarizes the opposition's actions, citing that, "Angry opponents of Proposition 8 are targeting businesses and individuals who contributed money to the Yes campaign. Vandals have hit churches that supported the initiative. Sparked by the speed and reach of the Internet, supporters of gαy and lesbian rights are organizing protests from California to Salt Lake City , the home of the Mormon Church."

And while the editorial takes a sympathetic approach to the opposition's protests, saying their "charged reaction is understandable," it does not justify that by "venting their anger and in exercising their right to challenge Proposition 8, some opponents risk crossing the line that separates civil protest from harassment. And by crossing that line, they undermine the message that some gαy and lesbian leaders are trying to impart: that everyone's rights should be respected."

The editorial went on to acknowledge that the No on 8 campaign has not adequately addressed the acts of violence and harassment undertaken by their supporters, saying that "a lone statement" on their Web site asking supporters to not isolate those who oppose their views is simply not enough.

Sacramento Musical Theatre Director Resigns Due to Harassment by No on 8 Supporters

Today the Sacramento Bee announced that Scott Eckern, artistic director for the California Musical Theatre, resigned under pressure Wednesday as a growing number of artists threatened to boycott the organization because of his $1,000 donation to the Yes on 8 campaign. This kind of blacklisting shows that the No on 8 campaign, which claimed to be all about tolerance, is in fact a imbued with intolerance and bigotry.

The double standard in this situation is deplorable. Imagine the outrage, and outcry from the press, if the circuмstances were reversed and it was the Prop 8 opponents who were suffering harassment and retribution.