COMMUNITY VALUES: A
CONSISTENT ETHIC OF LIFE IN PUBLIC POLICY
1. Do
municipal governments have a responsibility to advance a
consistent ethic regarding the respect of human life? A
consistent ethic of life focuses first on
abortion, but also on issues such as end of life care, poverty,
crime, capital punishment, war, racism, nuclear arms and
exploitation. While these are nationally debated issues,
they have street level manifestations that municipalities can
address. A consistent ethic of life recognizes that each
and every human being is unique and important, that no person is
defined by someone else's choices, and that no one exists solely
as a means to someone else's happiness. The choices we
make, as individuals and as a society, must be weighed in light
of their impact on human life and dignity. Do
municipal governments have a responsibility to implement public
policies and facilitate community action that furthers a
consistent respect of all human life? YES
COMMUNITY PREGNANCY
CENTERS
2. Currently,
attempts are being made by pro abortion advocates to pass
legislation in several states targeting pro-life pregnancy
centers, even though such centers provide those states with
valuable community services. In Washington State HB
1366 and SB
5274require: 1. The listing of non-provided services
both orally and in writing. This sets a dangerous
precedent allowing any organization with political clout to
saddle its competitors with burdensome requirements of saying or
listing what they do not do. In January of this year, a
federal judge ruled in
Maryland
on a similar law that "the
Ordinance violates the Freedom of Speech Clause of Article I of
the Constitution of the
United States" (pg. 2) and has
a "lack of viewpoint neutrality ... a particularly offensive
form of content-based discrimination" (pg. 20). 2. These
bills allow any Planned Parenthood employee, private citizen, or
government entity to bring petitions for injunctions even if
they are repeatedly thrown out of court. A local
pregnancy center, surviving on donations, cannot defend itself
in Superior Court pro se (without representation) and cannot
afford to pay a lawyer to defend them even once, yet alone
multiple times. 3. These bills do not regulate
conduct, but instead are directed only at the speech of
pregnancy centers (www.protectwomenwa.com,
2011). Do
you oppose bills such as HB 1366 and SB 5274 that attempt to
burden pro-life pregnancy centers? YES
PUBLIC LIBRARY
PORNOGRAPHY
3. In the US
Supreme Court ruling United
States v. American Library Association, Inc, 2003, which
upheld the use of library internet pornography filters, Chief
Justice Rehnquist stated for the plurality that "to fulfill
their traditional missions, public libraries must have broad
discretion to decide what material to provide to their patrons.
Although they seek to provide a wide array of information, their
goal has never been to provide 'universal coverage,'" and "most
libraries already exclude pornography from their print
collections because they deem it inappropriate for inclusion."
In 2010, the
Washington State Supreme Court ruled that
public libraries' use of internet filters does not violate the
state constitution. Will you as a city council person appoint,
recommend or request (depending on your level of authority) only
library board candidates who oppose the inclusion of pornography
in public libraries, whether by internet or as printed
materials? YES
REGULATION OF
SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
4. The
U.S. Supreme Court in Young
v. American Mini Theaters, Inc., (1976) and Renton
v. Playtime Theater, Inc., (1986), concluded that
municipalities have "substantial governmental interests" in
protecting and preserving the quality of life for its community
against the adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented
businesses while allowing for "reasonable alternative avenues of
communication." Land Use Studies from cities around the
United States
were cited in both U.S. Supreme Court cases documenting the
harmful secondary effects including 1. Increased Crime - rape,
sexual assault, prostitution and illegal drug sales; 2.
Decreased Property Values - both residential and commercial; and
3. Urban Blight - people and businesses fleeing the community.
Will you diligently seek and maintain zoning ordinances,
licensing procedures, permit requirements and operational
regulations which serve to minimize the adverse secondary
effects of Sexually Oriented Businesses? YES
ABORTION
5. Do
you believe that it is scientifically accurate to say that human
life begins at conception? YES
If not at conception, when? ___ 3 mths ___
6 mths ___ 9 mths ___ 1 yr ___ 18 yrs?
6. The 14th
Amendment states "nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny
to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws." The Supreme Court in Roe
v. Wade, 1973, stated that "if this suggestion of
personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course,
collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed
specifically by the [14th] Amendment." The Court
regrettably concluded though that "we need not resolve the
difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in
the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology
are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this
point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a
position to speculate as to the answer." Do you
believe that life begins at conception and that the State has a
compelling interest in protecting that life? YES
7. Is
taking the life of a pre-born child through abortion ever
permissible? Check all that apply:
|
__X__
No, it's never permissible
_____ Yes,
to save mother's life
_____ Yes,
in cases of rape or incest
_____ Yes,
for physical deformity
_____
Yes, for genetic predispositions
|
_____
Yes, for gender
_____
Yes, for race
_____
Yes, for economic hardship
_____
Yes, to punish spouse
_____
Yes, it's always permissible
|
8.
Do you support parental notification and/or consent before a
minor (under 18 years of age) could have an abortion? A judicial
bypass of parents would be allowed when necessary.
Notification? YES,
I will always protect parental rights.
Consent? YES,
I will always protect parental rights.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
9. Should
your city partner in any way with the nation's biggest abortion
provider, Planned Parenthood, who received $363.3
million dollars in governmental grants and contracts in
2009 and aborted 332,278 babies? Planned Parenthood was
also found by the
State of Washington in 2010 to have overbilled the state and was
required to repay $345,000. Should Planned
Parenthood be contracted with to make community presentations,
provide literature, birth control chemicals or devises, and/or
abortion services? NO,
this is not a responsibility of government.
GAMING
10. The
recently approved casino off I-5 near Ridgefield would be one of the largest in the
nation. What is your position on the building of this
casino? Gambling
causes many family problems. Socially,
the casino will have a negative net impact on our community. Local
government and citizens have the right to establish ethical and
moral standards in regards to zoning and building regulations.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
11. "Religious
communities are the largest and best-organized civil
institutions in the world, claiming the allegiance of billions
across race, class, and national divides. These communities have
particular cultural understandings, infrastructures, and
resources to get help where it is needed most" (World
Conference of Religions for Peace).
Southwest Washington has a broad range of
religious communities that contribute substantially to the
welfare of families, children, seniors, the homeless, sick, and
refugees. They are a highly valued part of our community
which respects and defends human life at every stage. Are
you an active member in a church, synagogue, temple, mosque or
other religious assembly? YES
If so, you may
state here where at: Real
Life Christian Center - Salmon Creek
FAITH-BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS
12. The White
House's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
ensures that religious and other community organizations are
able to compete on an equal footing for participation in Federal
programs without impairing the character of such organizations
and without diminishing the religious freedom of those served.
Does the collaboration of government with faith-based charitable
works lawfully ensure fair treatment of religious organizations,
and is it good for our communities?
I disagree with
federal funding or programs for religious groups. They
should be granted rights of free-association without government
money or control or interference.
14. May LIFE
PAC post your returned survey on our website? Surveys are
posted only with your permission. YES
http://cory4council.com / cory@cory4council.com
/ 360-901-6544
