Bush Administration apparently trying to keep appearance with Fringe Right meeting under their hats

[ck4829]

At a convening of U.S. religious-right activists and reactionary leaders from around the world, Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey passed along an important message. “I bring you greetings from President Bush!” she told the World Congress of Families in Poland, helping to legitimize the controversial conference. Sauerbrey also specifically thanked the Illinois-based Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society “for all of their hard work in organizing this wonderful opportunity to celebrate and reflect upon the family and its vital role in society.”

WCF was organized around the theme of the “natural family”; in practice, that meant, as the Howard Center’s Allan Carlson put it, the “religious right … gone global.” Carlson’s group warned of a “demographic winter” in Europe with declining birthrates in many countries. Naturally, women bore much of the blame for this. Paige Patterson, president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, noted that 60 percent of college students are female and warned that the advance of feminism and “the marginalization of men” are leading to a dire threat to the home. Soon, Patterson warned, men will be underrepresented in “the intelligentsia.” David Mills of Touchstone Magazine decried that even conservatives “will often ‘stiffen and scowl’ when they’re told the calling of each girl is to become a wife and mother,” as the American Family Association’s news service reported. And Patrick Fagan of the Heritage Foundation declared: "Feminists of Europe take note, the safest place for children is in the natural family.”

Speakers at the conference also took aim at gays and lesbians. “Marriage will be destroyed by making all relationships equal,” warned Ben Bull of the Alliance Defense Fund. Lynn Wardle, a law professor at Brigham Young University, said, "Legalizing same-sex marriage will drain marriage of its social meaning.”

The centerpiece of the conference, however, was the anti-gay activism of the Polish Education Minister, Roman Giertych. Giertych, a leader of the right-wing League of Polish Families party, drew fire from the European Union for his recent proposal to fire teachers found to be promoting “homosexual culture.” Giertych – along with the president of Poland – spoke at the conference, declaring his efforts to combat the vaguely-defined “propagation of homosexuality” in Poland as “something I have to do.”

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/05/religious_right_18.html

White House has no news about this little fringe right psycho get-together.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22World+Congress+of+Families%22+site%3Awhitehouse.gov

[AndyA]

1. So divorce doesn't drain marriage of its social meaning?

Lynn Wardle, a law professor at Brigham Young University, said, "Legalizing same-sex marriage will drain marriage of its social meaning.”

If you ask me, the ability of married couples to just walk away from their commitment to each other after signing a few docs is what is draining marriage of its social meaning. What real value does something so easily put aside truly have?

A marriage should last a lifetime. Not just until things get tough or something better comes along.

Someday, people like Wardle will drown in their hypocrisy.

[triguy46]

2. "...will drain marriage of its social meaning."

Whereas multiple marriages, serial matrimony ala Rudy, enhances the social meaning of marriage. Or like Wolfie, getting a $200K job for a "live in companion" enhances marriage as a social construct.

methinks they are to be hoisted by their own petard. The more they attempt to be the party of values as some co-workers belligerently assert, the more their hypocrisy is spotlighted.

I'm not naive, nor a prude. Life is a bitch and sometimes marriages don't work, sometimes marriage is not the answer, but they need to frickin shut up about this crap.

[dicknbush]

3. Easy answere........Bring back...

Polygamy!

[Lobster Martini]

4. "...men will be underrepresented in 'the intelligentsia.'"

Have to agree with that part, men are getting dumber. Would provide examples but that would be unkind.

[dogday]

5. Marriage in and of itself is draining the meaning when

we have a 50% divorce rate.. Many couples deciding not to marry... etc...

[HockeyMom]

6. As I have taught my daughters growing up,

get a good EDUCATION, learn job skills, get job experience and don't give it up to raise a family. Work PART TIME, if you must, be stay current in the work force.

Your husband could DIE, lose his job, or divorce you. Then what? How are you going to raise your children? Try getting a job without skills, or having been out of the workforce for 5, 10, 15 years. Will you be able to support yourself and them ALONE?

Their idea of a nice "traditional" family is all well and good, but what happens if life throws a monkey wrench into your comfy world? Will these women be PREPARED? I think not.

I am sure they would probably consider my views a "feminist" attitude, but I speak from real life experience. Been there, done that.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Any representatives from Iraq or Afghanistan? Or don't their families count?

[ck4829]

8. No, no, no. Brown skinned people visiting doesn't make it all white...

I mean alright then.