By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
LOS ANGELES, August 27, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – California churches are joining together in a determined effort in support of Proposition 8, the November ballot referendum that opposes the California Supreme Court’s ruling in May allowing same-sex marriages to be performed in the state.
Organizers of the ambitious interfaith alliance plan to coordinate a synchronized expression of support of Proposition 8 by having 1 million people place signs on their yards, which say “Yes on Proposition 8”, in unison late in September.
“This is a rising up over a 5,000-year-old institution that is being hammered right now,” said Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Church, an evangelical congregation in La Mesa, California, in an LA Times report.
“What binds us together is one common obsession: . . . marriage,” Garlow said, adding that people of faith, regardless of their religion, believe that “if Proposition 8 fails, there is an inevitable loss of religious freedom.”
Garlow said pastors are planning a 40-day fast leading up to the election day. He is also planning several rallies, including one that he hopes will involve 300,000 youths.
Political analysts have observed that this groundbreaking interfaith effort could pave the way for new manifestations of political coalitions, especially those concerned with social issues.
“Pan-religious, faith-based political action strategies . . . I think we are going to see a lot more of [this] in the future,” said Gaston Espinosa, a professor of religious studies at Claremont McKenna College.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Judge Nixes Suit over Wording of California Marriage Proposition: Critics Argue Wording Biases Voters against Proposition 8
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08080810.html
California Attorney General Heavily Biases Ballot Initiative Wording in Favor of Same-Sex ‘Marriage’
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08073008.html
Marriage Amendments Getting Ready to Go on Ballot in Four States
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jan/08010808.html