Federal prosecutors in Mexico are trying to overturn Mexico City's recently-passed gay marriage law (which also allows same-sex couples to adopt children). The law was passed in December and was to take effect this March. Federal prosecutors filed an appeal to the country's Supreme Court, asking the Court to void the law. The prosecutors are trying to overturn the law on the grounds that it violates the Constitution. The federal Attorney General's Office said in a statement that the law "violates the principles of legality because it strays from the constitutional principle of protecting the family." They cited an article in Mexico's Constitution that they say suggests (though it does not explicitly state) that the framers considered families to consist of men, women, and children. The article states: "Men and women are equal before the law. This protects the organization and development of the family." Obviously the original framers considered families to be made up of heterosexual couples. But times are different. I don't think anything in that article indicates families have to consist of a man and a woman.
The Roman Catholic Church in Mexico and President Felipe Calderon's conservative National Action Party have also criticized the law and are mounting a campaign against it. Previously, federal prosecutors challenged Mexico City's law legalizing abortion, but the Supreme Court upheld the measure. Hopefully they do the same again with this same-sex marriage law. (Full Story)
An anti-abortion commercial is set to air during the Superbowl. The ad is from Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes abortion. The commercial features Tim Tebow (the University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner) and his mother, Pam. The two talk about Pam's choice not to abort Tim when she became ill on a mission trip to the Philippines, and the doctor urged her to end the pregnancy for medical reasons but she refused.
For years, CBS and other networks have banned advocacy commercials. However, CBS says they will now accept advocacy ads that are produced "reasonably". Some think this is a financial decision -- with the tough economy, demand for Superbowl ads is down and CBS was more desperate to sell ad space. In addition to women's rights and pro-choice groups, some football fans are also unhappy about this decision. They say they don't want to see these type of ads during the Superbowl. They want funny and entertaining ads, not controversial political ones. The spokesman for Focus on the Family said that the ad is not political. He said, "I can tell you there's nothing controversial about it, there's nothing political about it. It is simply a very inspirational 30 seconds about celebrating life and celebrating families." (Full Story)
Not political?! Focus on the Family is a group that is against abortion, and they're showing a commercial that talks about abortion and celebrates someone not getting an abortion. How is that not political?
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