The Michigan House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a package of bills to strengthen marriage on Tuesday, March 30 at 9:00am. Five of the bills will promote marriage education and enrichment programs by creating modest tax credits, encouraging clergy to be more involved in strengthening marriages and by providing basic marriage education information.

Three of the bills in the package will strengthen the safety net for children caught in broken marriages. The three bills will require parents to participate in a divorce impact program, cooperatively work out custody issues and ensure that the child’s best interests are presented to the court.

Click here for information on how to contact your representative to ask for their support. Click here to view further information about the marriage package.

The Michigan Senate is expected to vote this coming Tuesday on SB 943 and SB 944. These bills will establish common sense guidelines for schools to follow when teaching abstinence education. This legislation would also give parents more of a voice in the sex education curriculum taught in their local school district.

It is imperative that state senators hear from you on this important piece of legislation. Opposition has been strong and the legislature needs to hear from constituents committed to a strong abstinence message. Visit the Citizen Action Center for more information and to contact your state senator.

Efforts are underway to launch a petition drive to place a marriage amendment to the Michigan constitution on the November ballot. A recent Michigan House vote on the amendment failed to get a two-thirds majority leading supporters to consider a petition drive so the people can decide this important issue.

More than 400,000 signatures must be gathered by July 6 for the campaign to be successful. Michigan Family Forum will alert supporters when petitions are available, where to get them, and where to be trained how to distribute them.

In the wake of rulings by activist judges in other parts of the country, supporters of the campaign believe voters should have the final say on what "marriage" means in Michigan. More information on how to get involved will be posted to MFF’s website soon.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings earlier this week on a proposed amendment to the U.S. constitution defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Both sides offered testimony at the hearing. As part of the process, a minor change was made to the amendment to help clarify its purpose and intent. As a result of the change, the proposed federal amendment now makes it clear that the issue of so-called "civil unions" would be determined by each state. This reality makes Michigan’s marriage protection amendment (see above article) more important than ever.

Michigan’s U.S. senators need to hear from you. Ask for their support of the "Allard/Musgrave Amendment." Click here for contact information.

Right to Life of Michigan has developed a new set of bulletin inserts to show appreciation to parents on Mother’s and Father’s Day. The glossy inserts include special photos, poems and prayers.

Click here for ordering information.

Forum Online

© 2003 Michigan Family Forum

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Executive Director: Brad Snavely

Editor: Jon Stanton

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