Ceremony at Christian
school draws protesters
Perry signs abortion
bill and gay marriage resolution
By Aman Batheja and
Jack Douglas Jr., Star-Telegram.com, From the Web, June 6, 2005
FORT WORTH -- Social
conservatives withstood a protest from picketers at a Fort Worth Christian
school Sunday as Gov. Rick Perry signed legislation that some believe will
ignite a "battle in Texas" over moral issues.
Perry signed a bill requiring written permission from a parent before a minor
can get an abortion. He also symbolically signed a proposition defining
marriage as between a man and a woman, though it will be up to Texas voters to
decide whether to amend the state constitution to reflect it.
The governor drew criticism for choosing Calvary Christian Academy for the
ceremony because some said it potentially violated a constitutionally guaranteed
separation between church and state.
Perry, who has recruited a network of conservative pastors to help his
re-election efforts next year, defended his selection of the school, which is
affiliated with the Calvary Cathedral International church.
"Those people would be complaining; it [wouldn't] make any difference where we
signed this piece of legislation. If we'd been in a Wal-Mart parking lot
[instead], they'd still be griping about it."
While many protesters outside chanted "Separation of church and state," Perry
said: "They don't like people of faith to be involved in this process.
And people of faith are going to be involved in this process."
As an estimated 300 protesters picketed outside, some of the country's top
socially conservative leaders shared the stage, each preaching the need for more
religious faith in government to an overflow crowd of 1,000.
"The time is now to reclaim our spiritual heritage," said Rod Parsley, from the
Ohio-based Center for Moral Clarity.
Parsley stressed the importance of pastors and others working for the approval
of the gay marriage proposition.
Dwight McKissick, senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, said
that, as an African-American, he was insulted by comparisons of the gay marriage
movement to the civil rights movement. Homosexuals shouldn't "compare your
sin with our skin," he said to wild applause.
Parsley also accused the gay lifestyle of causing a "breeding ground of
disease," resulting in shortened life spans for homosexuals.
Facing political challenges from his own party and from the Democrats, Perry's
religious recruitment of preachers could backfire, said Jim Riddlesperger, a
political science professor at Texas Christian University.
The governor is certain to energize the most conservative of his party, but the
GOP's more populous mainstream may think he is "overstepping the bounds" by
testing the long-held belief that the U.S. Constitution guarantees a separation
of church and state, Riddlesperger said.
"I think people get a little nervous," he said, "when they don't feel like there
is that separation, regardless of their religious affiliation."
Perry, the last to speak, bellowed, "Marriage is a sacred institution between
one man and one woman. I am one of many Texans who believe the institution
of marriage must be protected."
He scored points with the religious leaders inside the basketball gym.
"Isn't it awesome," said Rabbi David Stone, "to have a godly governor?"
As Perry spoke, two men stood on a bleacher in protest, holding hands and
wearing white T-shirts with a large red heart and the inscription: "Love
makes a family."
Across the street, protesters held signs reading, "Jesus was a liberal" and
"Real Issues Not Wedge Issues." Their motivations varied widely and
included groups representing teachers, nurses and the elderly.
Many were simply dismayed by one or both bills being signed.
There was a strong showing from North Texas members of the Stonewall Democrats.
"Gay and lesbian taxpayers deserve the same rights as heterosexual taxpayers,"
said the Rev. Michael Piazza, from the Cathedral of Hope, a gay and lesbian
church in Dallas.
Some protesters were irked by the collapse of school-finance legislation during
the Legislature's regular session, which ended last week. "We feel like
Rick Perry has left the children behind," said J. Nile Fischer, executive
director of the Tarrant County Democratic Party.
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