Summer for Marriage tour visits Ocean State

Protesters try to disrupt ‘One Man, One Woman’ rally at State House

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute, had just begun to make her argument that marriage between a man and a woman is the most ideal to raise children when a long line of counter-protesters began marching down Francis Street, singing and chanting pro-homosexual marriage slogans.

The counter-protesters, many of them holding rainbow flags and signs, shouted and rattled plastic bottles filled with coins to drown out the speakers. A small handful of the protesters also yelled statements mocking religious faith and attacking Christianity.

Morse told the group of about 140 traditional marriage supporters that those actions were meant to intimidate them.

“This is an intellectually bankrupt movement that you see behind me,” Morse said.

Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, which organized the rally, approached the podium after Morse.

“This is the face of tolerance,” said Brown, who moments later was confronted by two young homosexual marriage support ers shouting at him. The situation got heated to the point that Brown asked the capitol police to intervene. Officers moved people around at times but did not arrest anyone.

“I think the people who have come to break up a peaceful rally have shown their true colors,” said Brown, who urged his audience not to lash out, but rather to “respond to hatred with love.”

Sunday’s rally was part of the “Summer for Marriage 2010 Tour,” which is organized by the New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage. Rallies have been planned in 23 cities in 19 states with the goal of mobilizing at least two million supporters of traditional marriage.

The Providence State House rally featured remarks from Morse, Brown, NOMRI board member Scott Spear, an attorney at Blish & Cavanagh, and Father John Codega, NOMRI board member and pastor of St. Brendan Church in East Providence.

“This rally is a chance to have the people of Rhode Island stand up to make them know that they’re not alone when they want to defend marriage,” said Christopher Plante, executive director of NOM Rhode Island.

People on both sides of the debate agree that the state elections this year will play a huge role in whether Rhode Island joins four other New England states that currently sanction same sex marriage. Last year, the Maine legislature passed a bill that legalized same sex marriage, but that state’s voters later repealed it.

Four current candidates for Rhode Island governor—Democrat Frank Caprio, Independents Lincoln Chafee and Todd Giroux, and Moderate Party candidate Ken Bloch—have expressed their support for legalizing homosexual marriage. Republican candidate Victor Moffit, who attended the rally, stated that he opposes the redefinition of marriage. Republican candidate John Robitaille opposes same sex marriage but said he would consider supporting domestic partnerships for gay couples.

“If the people don’t vote their conscience on marriage, life and family in November, it is very likely they won’t be able to speak their conscience by the end of next year,” Plante said.

There is a good chance the issue could soon reach the U.S. Supreme Court in the wake of a recent federal court ruling. Two weeks ago, a U.S. District Court judge in Boston ruled that the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. DOMA, which was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton, says a state may not recognize a same sex marriage ratified in another state. Also, a U.S. District Court decision on California’s Proposition 8, which overturned the state’s legal recognition of homosexual marriage is expected within weeks.

The rally’s organizers said it was important for citizens to contact their elected officials to let them know their position on the issue, which Brown called “the great civil rights cause of our day.”

Father Bernard A. Healey, diocesan lobbyist and director of the Office of Governmental Liaison, attended the rally.

“The aggressive tactics and unruly behavior of the homosexual marriage advocates displayed today was an outrage. Their attempt to silence us is a harbinger of the attacks upon religious liberty and free speech we can expect if marriage is redefined,” Father Healey said.

Elaine Layton, a member of St. Brendan Parish in Riverside, held a “One Man, One Woman” as she stood feet away from gay marriage supporters. She argued that marriage was not a civil right, but a privilege.

“It’s the way that the Lord made it. It goes back thousands of years,” Layton said.

David Atkin, 55, of Coventry, signed a petition to express his support for traditional marriage. He said he has been married to his wife, Ellen, for 32 years and together they raised two children.

“What God joins together we should not be trying to rip asunder,” Atkin said.

Father Codega led a prayer at the end of the rally. He said Bishop Thomas Tobin supported their efforts to defend traditional marriage, and pointed out that their cause was not intended to be a personal attack against homosexual marriage advocates.

“That is not to say that these people are evil. They are not,” Father Codega said.

“They are very driven. They are very compassionate people. They are very sincere people. But they are wrong.”