United Families Arizona hopes the year
2006 will be full of family success!

February traditionally brings to mind thoughts of sweethearts and romantic love. Hopefully the blessings of a happy marriage are connected to those loving thoughts. The topic of marriage is being brought to the forefront as we campaign to protect traditional marriage with a definition of marriage in our state constitution. What is so important about marriage that we feel we need to protect it with an amendment to our constitution? Consider the following:

1. A healthy, loving marriage provides irreplaceable personal happiness. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, married people live longer and suffer less from illness and disease. One marriage scholar summarized the research by admonishing couples, "Remember, working briefly on your marriage every day will do more for your health and longevity than working out at a health club."
   
2. Marriage promotes security in society. Children who are raised by both their mother and their father in a committed marriage have the best chance of becoming healthy contributors to society. As the seedbed of civic virtue and moral character, successful marriages and families do much to drive out crime and violence.
   
3. Joseph Unwin, a renowned anthropologist of the early 1900's set out to prove that marriage was irrelevant. After chronicling the historical decline of 86 different cultures he was forced to conclude that once a society departs from a social norm of absolute marital fidelity, "social chaos ensured within three generations."
   
4. Marriage is under attack. A group of determined activists are using the courts to redefine marriage in America. President George Bush said, "When judges insist on imposing their arbitrary will on the people, the only alternative left to the people is an amendment to the constitution-the only law a court cannot overturn."

Truly marriage promotes social and personal security. Perhaps its merits are best described in these words from Maggie Gallagher. “The future belongs to those people and cultures that deeply commit to ideas grounded in human nature: Men and women are not interchangeable units, sex has a meaning beyond immediate pleasure, society needs babies, children need mothers and fathers, marriage is a word for the way we join men and women to make the future happen.”

It certainly makes sense for all of us individually and as a society to do whatever we can to protect and strengthen marriage.

Warm Wishes,

Carol Soelberg

Don't Miss our Campaign Kick-Off Rally!

The fight to put the Protect Marriage Arizona Amendment on the 2006 ballot is underway. There is an urgent need for volunteers to run a successful campaign to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman in the state of Arizona.

There will be several different opportunities to help throughout the campaign. Come find out how you can get involved with Protect Marriage Arizona by joining us at the following Campaign Kick-off Rally.

When: February 11th 10-11:00am
Where: Freestone Park in Gilbert (Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating)

Courtside Ramada
1015 E. Juniper, Gilbert
(Off of Lindsay Rd., between Guadalupe & Elliot Rds.)

Come Rally In Support of Marriage

Arizona Legislative Update

Last month I highlighted two important pieces of legislation relating to abortion. Both bills have thus far successfully navigated the legislative process. The first bill, called, “No Taxpayer money for Abortions” (SB1325) has been assigned to the Senate Government committee chaired by Sen. Jim Waring. It has also been assigned to the Senate Family Services committee chaired by Sen. Karen Johnson.

The second bill requires notarized parental consent before a minor can obtain an abortion. This bill (HB2666) was assigned to the Judiciary committee in the House of Representatives chaired by Rep. Eddie Farnsworth.

The good news is both bills have been assigned to friendly committees and supportive committee chairmen. After receiving a hearing in the respective committees the bills will head to the floor for a Third Read and subsequent vote.

A third bill of interest is HB2696. This bill relates to adoption and establishes a preference for married couples when considering applications for adoption with appropriate exceptions for family members and other specific situations. This bill was also assigned to the House Judiciary committee and will likely make it to the floor for a final vote.

You can help by calling these committee chairmen and thanking them for their support of these excellent pieces of legislation. You may reach them by calling the legislature’s switchboard at 602-926-4221. We will continue to update you on their status as the legislative session proceeds.

Kirk Adams

Current Events

Here are just a few examples of the great things that have already happened this year: Judge Alito has been confirmed and hopes are high that he will help in reining in an activist Supreme Court. During this legislative season many states are actively working on Informed Consent laws, Fetal Pain Awareness laws, Parental Consent laws and laws banning partial birth abortion. There’s “a change in the air” and positive momentum is really beginning to build for the pro-life movement. Thanks to the public outpouring of disgust, NBC pulled the plug on their sacrilegious program “The Book of Daniel. Yes, you really can make a difference.

The list of states that are working to put marriage protection amendments on their ballots this fall continues to grow. President Bush, in his State of the Union address, mentioned the challenge that we face: "(M)any Americans, especially parents, still have deep concerns about the direction of our culture, and the health of our most basic institutions," he said. "They're concerned about unethical conduct by public officials, and discouraged by activist courts that try to redefine marriage." Arizonans are concerned as well and the Protect Marriage Amendment is another step in our efforts to protect the family for future generations.

In the “we’re not surprised, but we are disappointed” category, we note the recent passage of an outrageous European Union Resolution that requires members states to ban what it calls “homophobia.” The resolution compares “homophobia” to anti-Semitism and racism and calls on all members states to pass hate-crimes legislation to silence critics of homosexual behavior and stifle discussion of its consequences to society. Really scary stuff!

Marcia Barlow

Cottage Meetings

We have had a great response from volunteers for cottage meeting presenters! We now have 34 men and women who have attended one of our five training sessions and are preparing to present “Marriage and the Family Under Siege: Why We Need a State and Federal Marriage Amendment”. It has been most rewarding to feel their enthusiasm as they prepare to take this important message to the people of Arizona. We are united in a great effort to educate our citizens as to the need for a state and federal marriage amendment as well as other important family issues. We know that the service they are providing will be rewarding to them and very beneficial to
our United Families cause.

We encourage our United Families supporters to call or visit the website to schedule your personal cottage meeting with one of our great presenters. Every person we educate is one more voice to speak out in defense of families!

February Calendar

*Marriage March Begins February 12th*

Act Now!

• Renew your United Families Arizona Membership and/or Contribute to the effort to defend marriage by sending in a donation.
  
• Participate in Marriage March by completing a petition. Contact Us for petitions.
  
• Call Sen. Jim Waring, Sen. Karen Johnson, and Rep. Eddie Farnsworth and thank them for their support of current legislation (see Kirk Adams’ Article above). You may reach them by calling the legislature’s switchboard at 602-926-4221.
  
• Sign up to host a Cottage Meeting and get educated on the importance of the Arizona Amendment.
  
• Volunteer!!! There will be many ways to volunteer your time during this special month as we celebrate Marriage. Please join us in our efforts!

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United Families Arizona