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Life Issues / Family Ethics Political Action Committee of Southwest Washington |
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Survey Response: A CONSISTENT ETHIC OF LIFE AND THE COMMON GOODA Consistent Ethic of Life and The Common Good require respectful,inclusive dialog and broad application of moral principles valuing the sacredness of human life. While the major threats to life (abortion, fetal plundering, euthanasia) are nationally debated, there are local manifestations that can be addressed, such as failing schools, library pornography, problem pregnancies, homelessness and crime. Threats to The Common Goodinclude governmental despotism, illicit acquiescence to special interests(e.g. the abortion lobby) and governmental coercion (e.g. State agencies) that promote moral degradation, and the violation of the principle of subsidiarity. Will you as a city council member work for public policythat promotes a Consistent Ethic of Life and The Common Good?Yes.
PUBLIC LIBRARY PORNOGRAPHY The US Supreme Court in its 2003 ruling United States v. American LibraryAssociation, Inc, upheld the use of library internet pornography filters. ChiefJustice 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 WashingtonState Supreme Court ruled that public libraries' use of internet filters does notviolate the state constitution. See FVRL porn history here. Will you as acity councilor 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 printed materials? Yes.
PUBLIC LIBRARY DRAG QUEEN STORY HOURS Recently, some public libraries have been hosting Drag Queen StoryHours . These events use men dressed as burlesque and flirtatious women toread gender dysphoria stories to children, with the purpose and effect of facilitating gender confusion. More information here. What is your positionon public libraries hosting Drag Queen Story Hours? _____ Support __X__ Oppose _____ No Opinion _____ Other:
REGULATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES The U.S. Supreme Court in Young v. American Mini Theaters, Inc., (1976)and Renton v. Playtime Theater, Inc., (1986), concluded that municipalitieshave "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 of these businesses 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 zoningordinances, licensing procedures, permit requirements and operational regulations which serve to minimize the adverse secondary effects of Sexually-Oriented Businesses? Yes.
REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND PARAPHERNALIA Recreational marijuana was legalized in Washington State in 2012 by Initiative 502. The drug though is still banned federally, andconsidered dangerous by many, including the AMA, the APA, and TheAmerican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry . CitizensAgainst Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) states "The normalization,expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana in our communities are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to the safety of our society." The Alaska Association of Police Chief describe some of the negative aspects of legalizing the drughere . For additional dangers see here. For an extensive report by theNational Academy of Sciences (Jan 2017) see here. What is yourposition on the legal production, processing and sale of recreational marijuana in the jurisdiction of the office you are seeking? _____ Support __X__ Oppose _____ No Opinion _____ Other:
CITY PLANNING According to this 2014 research by Tate Twinam, there is "a long tradition inthe sociology literature of linking high densities to pathological behavior (Sampson 1983, Wirth 1938)." Given the importance of livable andaffordable neighborhoods for the city's wellbeing, is quality city planning important to you? __Yes__
Would you apply Critical Race Theory to city zoning toproduce equitable demographic outcomes? __No__
ABORTION Even dedicated proponents of abortion acknowledge that life begins atconception. What do you believe? Does a unique human life beginsat conception? Yes.
If not, how long after conception does a human life begin? ___3 mths ___6 mths ___9 mths ___1 yr ___18 yrs? 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, theappellant'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 the right to life of theunborn child is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment? Yes.
Is taking the life of a pre-born child through abortion ever morally permissible? Check all that apply: _____ No, it's never permissible __X__ Yes, to save mother's life _____ Yes, in cases of rape or incest _____ Yes, for physical deformity _____ Yes, for gender _____ Yes, for race _____ Yes, to punish spouse _____ Yes, it's always permissible
PLANNED PARENTHOOD The nation's biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, in the 2021-22fiscal year received $670 million in tax payer funding and aborted374,155 babies. Should Planned Parenthood be contracted with to makecommunity presentations, provide literature, birth control chemicals or devices, and/or abortion services? No!
HOMELESSNESS Will you work for compassionate solutions to homelessness? Yes.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS "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" ( WorldConference of Religions for Peace ). Southwest Washington has a broad rangeof 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, mosqueor other religious assembly? Yes.
If so, you may state where at: I am the Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church which meets in Vancouver, Washington. Website: solochristo.org
FAITH-BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS 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. Is the collaboration of government with faith-basedcharitable works good for our communities? Yes—so long as religious convictions are not weakened or compromised.
CIVIC PRAYER In the 2013 US Supreme Court ruling of Greece v. Galloway, all nine justices( following Marsh (1983), affirmed the acceptability of having an invocation atthe beginning of public meetings. Writing for the court, Justice Kennedy stated: "Ceremonial prayer is but a recognition that, since this Nation was founded and until the present day, many Americans deem that their own existence must be understood by precepts far beyond the authority of government to alter or define and that willing participation in civic affairs can be consistent with a brief acknowledgment of their belief in a higher power, always with due respect for those who adhere to other beliefs. The prayer in this case has a permissible ceremonial purpose. It is not an unconstitutional establishment of religion." What is your position on your city councilinstituting (or continuing) a prayer at the start of the meeting? __X__ Support _____ Oppose _____ No Opinion _____ Other:
QUALIFICATIONS Please state your professional experience, community involvement, education, family successes and other qualifications for a mayoral or city council position. I am a minister and an author, having published a number of fiction and nonfiction books. I’m also a commercial real estate investor and have been since 1994. I taught philosophy to undergraduates for approximately a decade at Eastern Nazarene College in the Boston area. I’ve been married to my wife Marla since 1985, we have 3 grown children who are all married, and we have 5 grandchildren. I am an alumnus of Harvard Divinity School (among other institutions of higher learning). I have been a board member of the Academy of Philosophy and Letters, New Saint Andrews College, and other private and forprofit organizations. I’ve been published in numerous magazines and journals, including National Review and First Things. For a decade I was active in the nonprofit sector in Boston and was a founder of The Boston Education Collaborative—an organization dedicated to serving impoverished communities.
POLICY POSITIONS You may state here any policy positions you have in relation to the office you are seeking: May LifePac post your returned survey on our website? Surveysare posted only with your permission. Yes. Please give your campaign web address if you have one: |
