Editorial: Gay Marriage, Abortion on the California Ballot
La Opinión, Editorial, Staff, Posted: Oct 09, 2008
Editor's Note: In November, California voters will decide on Proposition 8, which would change the state's constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage and Proposition 4, which would require parental notification before a minor terminates a pregnancy. Spanish-language newspaper La Opinión published editorials this week opposing both propositions.
An unnecessary proposal
Proposition 8 seeks to amend the California Constitution to expressly guarantee that marriage must be between a man and a woman.
We believe this is an unnecessary initiative that would impose a constitutional restriction on rights now held by a group of Californians whose mutual commitment before the law and society poses no danger whatsoever.
The idea behind this initiative and the title its proponents wanted to give it was the "California Marriage Protection Act".The state attorney general changed the title to the more accurate "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry."
That right was declared in May by the California Supreme Court, ruling that such a ban is discriminatory. To arrive at that decision, the judges based their opinion on a 1948 legal precedent that determined that it was illegal to prohibit marriage of couples of different races.
It is subjective to claim that the voluntary marriage between two adults is a threat to an institution which, ironically, these people are fighting to join.
The true threats to marriage are lack of communication, infidelity, domestic abuse, and economic pressures.
The driving force behind the measure comes from Evangelical, Catholic, Mormon, Baptist, Orthodox Jewish, and Adventist congregations, with money, sermons, prayers, fasting, and very respectable and respected opinions.
But that does not mean it is acceptable to impose these beliefs on all of society, and much less, change the State Constitution.
We recommend voting NO on Proposition 8.
A limited political agenda
For the third time in four years, voters have been presented with a ballot initiative like Proposition 4, requiring parental notification before a minor terminates a pregnancy. Voters have rejected it twice and there is no reason for them to change their minds.
The measure argues the parents' right to know what their daughters are doing, which should be a part of regular family communication in a normal home. The problem is that this reasoning seeks to overturn a law aimed at protecting minors who come from abusive homes.
Proposition 4 represents a variation with respect to previous measures by including an "alternative family member notification." Actually, given its legal dynamics, this change could create more problems for the minor afraid of telling her parents about the pregnancy.
This fact doesn't matter to the measure's proponents, because their intention is simply to impose a legal restriction on abortion at any cost.
One example of this was baptizing the initiative "Sarah's Law," to call attention to a specific case, as has occurred on other occasions. The difference is that this Sarah never existed. The case chosen was that of Jammie García Yanes-Villegas, who had nothing to do with the initiative, because she was a married resident of Texas in 1994.
The fact that the proposition's sponsors could not find a single case in California and have wrongly used one that occurred 14 years ago in another state shows how unusual the situation is that the initiative is trying to remedy. This is the case of a solution in search of a problem.
Moreover, it is estimated that fewer than 3% of teens get pregnant annually , and that the vast majority tell their parents about it. In the few cases they don't, it is out of fear of violent reactions, being kicked out of their homes, or as victims of rape or incest. The current law protects this minority.
We believe the efforts invested in this initiative would be better aimed at preventing teen pregnancy and promoting regular family communication. But those promoting the proposal are only interested in a limited political agenda to change the law and restrict the right to abortion, a legal medical procedure.
Vote no on Proposition 4!
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Get Us to the Church on Time – Gays Rush to Marry Before November
I Should Have Chosen Abstinence
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User Comments
Sophia Yen MD on Oct 29, 2008 at 16:03:07 said:
As a pediatrician that specializes in teenagers, I know what happens when a young teenager is faced with an unwanted pregnancy and feels that her privacy will be violated - she may hope that the pregnancy "will just go away" (which it won't) thus delaying seeking medical care. Studies have shown that if suggest that you will tell their parents, teenagers will avoid medical care BUT still keep having sex.
Most teenagers involve their parents in their decision about an unwanted pregnancy, but those that don't, have good reason - they fear being beaten, kicked out of the house, etc. This law does not cause family communication. This law will result in a letter from an MD to the parent. Or the police knocking at the family door.
Talk to your children. You don't need this law. Vote No on 4.
Is your need to know more important than a young woman's life or health?
Talk to your children.
Sophia Yen MD on Oct 24, 2008 at 16:36:47 said:
As a pediatrician that specializes in teenagers, I know what happens when a young teenager is faced with an unwanted pregnancy and feels that her privacy will be violated - she may hope that the pregnancy "will just go away" (which it won't) thus delaying seeking medical care. Studies have shown that if suggest that you will tell their parents, teenagers will avoid medical care BUT still keep having sex.
Most teenagers involve their parents in their decision about an unwanted pregnancy, but those that don't, have good reason - they fear being beaten, kicked out of the house, etc. This law does not cause family communication. This law will result in a letter from an MD to the parent. Or the police knocking at the family door.
Talk to your children. You don't need this law. Vote No on 4.
Is your need to know more important than a young woman's life or health?
Talk to your children.
Glory to God on Oct 23, 2008 at 13:36:00 said:
La Opinion...shame on you! Again...homosexuality and abortion...two behaviors that are against God! Again..no there is no mention in God's word, the Bible, that homosexuality and abortion are right. No matter what anyone says, life starts at conception and abortion is MURDER! Period! The bogus reasoning that Proposition 4 is to protect a minor is false. If the minor wasn't out fooling around, she wouldn't get pregnant. And yes, terrible things like rape, incest, etc, can occur, but it doesn't give the person the right to terminate a life. Give the baby up to adoption, there are plenty of people that cannot have babies. This country keeps on sinning and then we wonder why the country is in a state that its in. God will be coming back and judging us all..repent now while you can. Draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you. God will give you eternal life with Him in heaven. Everything that happens is in His control and He will NOT MOCKED!!
Ransome on Oct 09, 2008 at 18:13:50 said:
The degree of tolerance of homosexuality has varied at different times and in various societies. The question is whether the nature of the taboo is appropriate to the current context? One can imagine 200,000 years when Early Man, our African ancestors were down to 2000 people or similar situations where the good of the whole mandated such a taboo because populations needed babies. Now, however, I see no good reason for the repression of homosexuals. Although, I am uncomfortable watching two men kiss, that does not justify the denial of their civil rights. The same can be said for religion, No harm, no foul! We need help in raising children.
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