A recent report by polling company Pew Research appears to show that there has been growing support for same-sex marriage over the last 10 years. This is unsurprising, given factors such as the media bias on the issue (see last week’s CNN segment with Piers Morgan and Ryan Anderson for just one example), President Obama and Vice-President Biden supporting it, and the growing number of celebrities and public figures in favour.

According to the report, 14% of Americans have changed their minds and now support same-sex marriage. These people were asked to give reasons for why they changed their minds.

The most common reason given (32% of those who changed minds) was that they know someone who is homosexual. Republican Senator Rob Portman, who a few weeks ago said he supported same-sex marriage because of his… click here to read whole article and make comments

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone speaks at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco on July 27.(Photo: Michael Short, AP)

USA Today has an excellent Q&A with the Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, on same-sex marriage. Archbishop Cordileone also chairs the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. His answers are clear, positive and uncompromising -- well worth a read. It begins like this:

Q: What is the greatest threat posed by allowing gays and lesbians to marry?

A:The better question is: What is the great good in protecting the public understanding that to make a marriage you need a husband and a wife?

I can illustrate my point with a personal example. When I was Bishop of Oakland, I lived at a residence at… click here to read whole article and make comments

MARCH 27 – Ryan Anderson, of the Heritage Foundation, and MercatorNet partner site Public Discourse, gives a great explanation of issues being debated before the US Supreme Court. 

MARCH 26 -- Piers Morgan bullies Ryan T. Anderson over same-sex marriage. Probably Suze Orman, who tells Anderson that she feels sorry for him, should stick to finance.

click here to read whole article and make comments

This 11-year-old girl from Minnesota gives an excellent summary of what every child deserves: a Mom and a Dad. 

click here to read whole article and make comments

Yesterday, after much thought and prayer, I painted a target on myself. I usually try to avoid that kind of thing; in my opinion I've had enough conflict to last me the rest of my life. But then again I traded in my opinion 33 years ago, and darned if it doesn't affect my behavior sometimes.

On FaceBook I noticed a handful of people who put up the above equal sign icon to show their support for re-defining marriage, and I can see why they would. (I know, I know; it's uncomfortable! It's unpopular! But it's important, so bear with me for a minute.) What bothered me - and still does - was the absence of meaningful dialogue from those for natural marriage, and the openly rude shunning treatment toward anyone who disagrees. Taboo! Why so much vitriol from such a tolerant… click here to read whole article and make comments

The push for same-sex marriage in France is encountering more significant opposition. In January this year, nearly 1 million people marched in protest of the Socialist Government’s bill legalising same-sex marriage. On Sunday, huge crowds again turned out in Paris, with estimates ranging as high as 1.4 million people.

It is inspiring the way the French have mobilised impassioned support for traditional marriage. They have done a good job of overcoming the smoke and mirrors and focusing on the core issues. We can see this by the common signs held in the protest on Sunday:

Perhaps these signs given us a good indication of the best way to present arguments for traditional marriage: keep them simple. 

click here to read whole article and make comments

At last New Zealand's leading newspaper has acknowledged that support for gay marriage has declined ever since a bill to legalise it was introduced six months ago. The NZ Herald's front page headline today reads, "Gay marriage shock" and the summary beneath it: "Religious sacremongering blamed for surprise increase in Kiwi's opposition to law change". Of course there had to be a sinister reason for Kiwis coming to their senses.

The fact remains that barely half the country supports same-sex marriage legislation which is already two-thirds of its way through Parliament. Asked in a Herald-DigiPoll "Which of the following best fits your view about marriage law? -- It should remain only between a man and a woman. OR It should be changed to allow it to be between same sex couples." -- 48 percent chose the first option and 49.6… click here to read whole article and make comments

Hundreds of thousands (not "1000s"!) protest in Paris against same-sex marriage. But will the legisltors listen? A same-sex marriage bill has been passed by the lower house but the Senate has yet to vote. Prime Minister Francois Hollande's Socialists dominate both houses.

click here to read whole article and make comments

click here to read whole article and make comments

An interesting (and surprisingly fair) article in the New York Times today, interviewing young opponents of same-sex marriage. Many of them are extremely savvy and articulate. Ryan T. Anderson (pictured above) is a 31-year-old Princeton grad who recently wrote a report for the Heritage Foundation on gay marriage, Marriage: What It Is, Why It Matters, and the Consequences of Redefining It. He has been lobbying members of Congress. But the fight is not easy. 

“The primary challenge that our side faces right now is the intense social pressure,” said Joseph Backholm, 34, the executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington. “To the extent that the other side is able to frame this as a vote for gay people to be happy, it will be challenging for us.”

This is a problem I can… click here to read whole article and make comments