Most Americans Still Oppose Gay Marriage

By Audrey Barrick

Christian Post Reporter

June 1, 2009 - On the heels of the recent Proposition 8 ruling, the Gallup Poll released a new survey revealing most Americans are still opposed to same-sex marriage. Fifty-seven percent of Americans say marriages between same-sex couples should not be recognized by the law as valid. While a significant drop from 1996 when 68 percent said so, opposition to same-sex marriage has remained stable between 53 and 59 percent since 2004.

Support for legal same-sex marriage is currently at 40 percent. Although a jump from 27 percent in 1996, support has stalled in recent years, peaking at 46 percent in 2007.

The survey results come as same-sex marriage remains banned in California. In late May, the state Supreme Court ruled 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8 – a voter-approved measure defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

While the court decision prompted celebrations among various Christians and family groups, some didn't see the ruling as a complete victory and foresee continuous battles over marriage. Family Research Council president Tony Perkins said the high court's decision to keep intact the estimated 18,000 same-sex marriages that were performed before California voters passed the amendment "seeds the ground for a possible legal battle before the U.S. Supreme Court."

Randy Thomas, executive vice president of Exodus International, didn't join the ranks of thousands of Christians in "hollering" over a win.

"I understand my Christian siblings’ excitement. I am glad Prop 8 has been upheld," Thomas wrote on his blog. "Yet my personal pervading sense is sadness that a lot of gay identified people are going to be very angry and not understand our perspective."

Liberal columnist Mark Morford wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that traditional marriage supporters have already lost the marriage battle, citing the views of the younger generation.

"Gay marriage is a foregone conclusion. It's a done deal. It's just a matter of time," Morford wrote. "For the next generation in particular, equal rights for gays is not even a question or a serious issue, much less a sinful hysterical conundrum that can only be answered by terrified Mormons and confused old people and inane referendums funded by same."

According to the Gallup Poll, younger Americans are most likely to support the legalization of same-sex marriage. Over half (59 percent) of 18- to 29-year-olds say marriage for gay and lesbian couples should be recognized by the law as valid. For all other older age groups, the majority say same-sex marriage should not be legal.

Traditional family groups, however, believe the Proposition 8 ruling points America in the right direction especially when considering the next generation.

"Marriage is worth protecting because it is the way we teach the next generation: children need mothers and fathers," said Maggie Gallagher, president of National Organization for Marriage. "This victory for Prop 8 is a victory for children, for civil rights, and for the common good."

Oprah and Michael J. Fox shocked by Dr. Oz's truth

By Michele Combs

Michael J. Fox sat as a guest on Oprah's show in stunned silence. Oprah was speechless. What caused their astonishment was some truth-telling by Oprah's other guest, a popular physician named Dr. Mehemet Oz. Indeed, Dr. Oz, a cardiovascular surgeon at Columbia University and regular guest on Oprah, is so popular with the daytime diva that she has called him "America's Doctor."      

Last month Oz appeared on the show and explained to Oprah and Fox, the premier promoter of human embryonic stem cell research because of his Parkinson's disease, that human embryonic stem cells are not the solution to the cure for Fox or any other disease. Indeed, he warned them, and a lot of Americans who are so enamored with this immoral research, that these human embryonic stem cells multiply at such a rapid pace, they cannot be controlled.

Injecting such cells into mice has caused life-ending cancerous tumors. Oz warned Fox that would happen if such human embryonic stem cells were injected into him.

Billions of dollars, much of it provided by taxpayers, have been wasted on this highly controversial research already. Indeed, the state legislature of California, with the signature of the governor, appropriated a whopping $3 billion of tax dollars for useless human embryonic stem cell research.

Oz did not leave Fox and those who have diseases like him, without hope. Instead, he shared how his own skin cells can be used to eventually cure Parkinson's disease. The doctor told him that he would not be cured by using human embryonic stem cells, the use of which is opposed by millions of Americans.

What Oz described to Fox and Oprah was a process called induced pluripotent Stem Cell research (iPS.)

"We went to a place we never thought we would go," he says. "I can take a little bit of your skin, take those cells and get them to go back in time so they're like they were when you were first made."

Dr. Oz says these skin cells, which contain your genes and are less prone to cancer, will be the ones that are ultimately used to cure Parkinson's.

The question now is, will the large majority in Congress who support immoral human embryonic stem cell research, with the support of President Barack Obama, put aside a politically-correct viewpoint and pay attention to scientists such as Dr. Mehemet Oz who say that such research is obsolete?

Or, will they continue to spend tens of billions of tax dollars for research which has not and which will not work, and instead provide money for proven research such as iPS and adult stem cell research which has led to cures for over 70 diseases? "I think we are single digit years away from making a big impact in the lives of Parkinson's disease (victims) but also diabetics, heart attack victims, people who have had a lot of problems," Oz stated, eliciting a dropped jaw response from Oprah.

Americans need to watch this issue carefully and monitor what happens in Congress during the next few months. Truth in science should prevail over special interests looking for billions to waste on failed embryonic research.