THE BRIEFING | Meredith Flynn
Illinois marriage law gets court defender
A Chicago-based legal organization will work to uphold Illinois’ definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
The Thomas More Society was granted intervenor status by a state judge last week, meaning they will oppose the lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal on behalf of 25 gay and lesbian couples who were not allowed to marry in Cook County.
The couples say Illinois’ 1996 Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman) is unconstitutional, based on the state’s equal protection clause.
Soon after the lawsuits were filed, Peter Breen, executive director of the Thomas More Society, told World News Service the suits would not hold up in court under the constitutional arguments.
“Going around the will of the people is not the right way to change an institution that has thousands of years of history and is sound in its reasons for existing,” Breen said.
The society has filed a motion to dismiss the case, and oral arguments will be heard Sept. 27. Read the full story at BPnews.net.
Other news:
Presbyterian Church USA divided over same-sex marriage
By a very narrow margin, the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) voted to maintain its definition of marriage as “between a woman and a man,” rather than change it to “between two people.” Delegates to the denomination’s General Assembly voted 338-308 against the recommendation to change the definition. The PCUSA last year lifted its ban on partnered gay clergy. Read more at christianpost.com.
New books focus on Christianity and politics
As campaigns heat up in advance of the upcoming party conventions, at least two authors are addressing how Christians interact with the political scene. Wheaton College professor Amy Black just released “Honoring God in Red or Blue: Approaching Politics with Humility, Grace and Reason.” And pastor and culture writer Jonathan Merritt’s “A Faith of Our Own” focuses on a younger generation’s attempts to reconcile social justice with conservative views. Read an interview with Merritt about the book on pastorsedge.com.
Economy still affecting giving to churches
A recent Barna Group study found 41% of adults surveyed have reduced their giving to non-profit organizations in the last three months, and 11% have stopped giving altogether. That’s an increase from 4% of Americans who said they had stopped giving in 2008. Go to barna.org for the full story.
Purdue QB promotes ‘Choose2’
Caleb TerBush, a senior quarterback at Purdue University, is wearing a blue Choose2 wristband in advertisements for the team’s upcoming season. TerBush’s father Ken is the pastor of Elm Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in East Peoria, Ill. Choose2, a ministry of the Illinois Baptist State Association, asks participants to pick two family members or friends who don’t know Christ and pray for them twice a day. Read more about the initiative at IBSA.org.
iB2 News 