"I'm proud... to be the first African-American coach to win [the Super Bowl], but again, more than anything...[Chicago Bears head coach] Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. And we're more proud of that." -Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy

Inside this issue Parkers and Wirthlins have day in court Expanded gambling heats up on Beacon Hill Anti-embryonic stem cell research professor denied tenure at MIT Australia reiterates opposition to same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage activists mock marriage with initiative South Dakota, Virginia legislators approve ultrasound bills Timely Commentary - Rebecca Hagelin: "Separate and Unequal" Timely Commentary - Jay Sekulow: "You're Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage--You Must be a Member of the Ku Klux Klan" Upcoming Events Parkers and Wirthlins have day in court With about 30 supporters standing outside the courthouse with black and white "We support parental rights" signs, and another group inside the courtroom in silent prayer, David and Tonia Parker, along with Robb and Robin Wirthlin, had their case for parental rights heard before a federal judge this afternoon. According to those in attendance, the judge understood the seriousness of the topics being discussed, and was very carefully considering arguments on both sides of the issue. The arguments being made by the two couples with young children centered on their First Amendment rights to practice their religion, and their parental rights to direct the moral upbringing of their children. The school, on the other hand, argues that same-sex marriage is a legal reality in Massachusetts, and therefore it is their duty to teach about it to all students. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Lexington school district. Overall, the hearing lasted about an hour and twenty minutes, with both sides given ample time to explain their arguments to the judge. The judge said he was going to take the case under advisement and as is customary, gave no indication as to when he would issue a ruling. If any further details about today's hearing become available, we will report them to you in a special E-Alert. Top Expanded gambling heats up on Beacon Hill In what appears to be an annual event, the talk about expanding gambling in Massachusetts is heating up on Beacon Hill. Gov. Deval Patrick has said that he will carefully consider if and how to expand gambling in the Commonwealth, and will name a study panel to examine the prospects. Meanwhile, Attorney General Martha Coakley, who says she does not have a position on expanded gambling, warned in a speech last week of the potential dangers that new gambling would carry with it. "It's a cash business ... it's going to be subject to infiltration by - and I use the term 'organized crime' very loosely - some sort of money laundering, organized crime costs," she told a gathering of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. "I understand the attractiveness of it, but be very careful, I think, before we do it." Coakley warned that the expansion of gambling would create a potentially expensive state law enforcement obligation that could eat into any new state revenue from slot machines and casinos. She referred to the "very seductive" nature of expanded gambling as a solution for the state's budget shortfalls. "I just think that people always see it as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And I'm here to say, as someone who's been a prosecutor ... the pot doesn't have as much gold in it as people think," Coakley explained. In related news, the Mashpee Wampanoags are reportedly looking for land to purchase that could become the site of a resort casino should the state allow expanded gambling. The tribe expects to receive final federal recognition in July and a new status as a "sovereign nation" that could eventually allow it to open a casino. "As it takes land into trust, the tribe will be thinking about the possibility of a destination casino depending, on where the state is in allowing (that)," said tribal spokesman Scott Ferson, though refusing to talk about the details of the tribe's search. New Bedford is considered by many to be a leading community due to their signaled interest in a casino. Massachusetts Family Institute is opposed to any expansion of gambling in Massachusetts. As specific legislation comes up in the Legislature, we will alert you on each bill and provide you with the tools to contact your legislators in opposition to the legislation. Top Anti-embryonic stem cell research professor denied tenure at MIT A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stem cell researcher has begun a hunger strike over the college's decision to deny him tenure. Dr. James L. Sherley, a black associate professor of biological engineering, is opposed to human cloning and embryonic stem cell research that requires the destruction of human embryos. Sherley believes he has been a victim of racism. Sherley has been an outspoken advocate against human cloning including therapeutic cloning, which scientists want to use to create and destroy human embryos for their stem cells. He has been fighting for tenure at MIT for over two years and hopes a hunger strike will change the minds of top school officials. "I will either see the provost resign and my hard-earned tenure granted at MIT, or I will die defiantly right outside his office," Sherely wrote in a letter in December. Sherley's adult stem cell research has been widely heralded and, in September, he won a prestigious Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health and a $2.5 million grant. He regards embryonic stem cell research as the taking of human life because days-old unborn children are destroyed in the process. Dr. Sherley told the Boston Globe that Douglas A. Lauffenburger, the director of the Biological Engineering division, told him that he had strong recommendations letters for tenure but that he was denied it because of his views on stem cell research. Top Australia reiterates opposition to same-sex marriage The attorney general of Australia has confirmed that the federal government will block plans by one of the country's territories to legalize same-sex partnerships. Philip Ruddock said that the traditional marriage ceremony would be threatened by granting marital rights to homosexuals. He also said that because under the new law minors under the age of 18 would be allowed to have civil partnerships with parental consent, the law passed by the Australian Capital Territory would be a threat to children. "I indicated that while a number of changes had been made there still remained significant issues that likened the civil unions to marriage that the Commonwealth [of Australia] found unacceptable," said Mr. Ruddok, referring the territories efforts to change the law to accommodate the government's opposition. The Australian government, headed by John Howard, incorporated the old common law formulation of marriage into the Marriage Act of 2004, which defines marriage as "the union of a man and woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life." Top Same-sex marriage activists mock marriage with initiative The Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance, a same-sex marriage advocacy group in Washington State, has filed a ballot initiative that proposes to annul any marriage between a man and a woman that has not produced children within three years of the wedding. The initiative would add the phrase, "who are capable of having children with one another" to the legal definition of marriage. The initiative is in response to the 2006 Washington Supreme Court decision that affirmed the "legitimate interest" of the state in recognizing the essentially procreative nature of marriage that offers a stable environment for children. Speaking to the Seattle Times, the group's spokesman, Gregory Gadow, said the initiative is a parody meant to challenge the concept that marriage is necessarily related to the possibility of natural procreation. "We want people to think about the purpose of marriage. If it exists for the purpose of procreation, they must understand that these are the consequences," Godow said. The Washington Supreme Court decision, however, in denying the possibility of "gay marriage" recognized that there is no physical equivalence between natural sexual relations between a man and a woman and the homosexual act which by its nature is antithetical to procreation. The group will need to collect 224,880 signatures by July 6, and the state's leading gay rights groups have said publicly that they will not support the initiative. Related Commentary Ben Shapiro - "The Homosexual Assault on Traditional Marriage" - CLICK HERE Top South Dakota, Virginia legislators approve ultrasound bills The state Houses in both South Dakota and Virginia took positive steps towards bringing ultrasound technology into abortion clinics. The South Dakota state House voted in favor (43-24) of a bill that would require abortion facilities to show women considering an abortion an ultrasound of their unborn child beforehand. The measure would not mandate that women contemplating an abortion see an ultrasound but would require the abortion facility to allow them to do so. In Virginia, a similar bill was approved by the House of Delegates this week. Like the South Dakota bill, the Virginia bill would require abortion clinics to provide a woman seeking an abortion the opportunity to see an ultrasound, while not forcing the woman to view the ultrasound. "It's medically responsible, it's logically responsible and it's also very important for women to have this information," said Del. Kathy Byron, the sponsor of the ultrasound measure. The Virginia House of Delegates also approved a bill that requires abortion clinics to tell women considering an abortion after 20 weeks into pregnancy that the baby will likely feel intense pain during the abortion procedure. The bills now head to their respective state senates. Ultrasound technology has been used in crisis pregnancy centers, and most women who see their unborn children on the ultrasound screen elect to have their baby instead of aborting him or her. Massachusetts currently has informed consent laws on the books, but these laws are rarely enforced. Many believe that the consistent pro-abortion stance of state attorney generals has resulted in the lack of enforcement. Massachusetts Citizens for Life has filed again this year a Woman's Right to Know bill, which would upgrade and strengthen current informed consent laws in the Commonwealth. If there is any movement on this bill in the Legislature, we will let you know. Top Timely Commentary - Rebecca Hagelin: "Separate and Unequal" Rebecca Hagelin, of The Heritage Foundation, wrote a column last Friday titled "Separate and Unequal." She speaks about her great desire to see her three teenagers be happily married and raising children of their own. She writes that its "politically incorrect" to spread the truth that "God's design is for children to be born of and raise by two married parents." She cites the statistics that show 36 percent of single-mother families living under the poverty line, while only 6 percent of married couples find themselves in that position. Here is an excerpt: Our founding fathers had a good grasp of it, though. "To the institution of marriage the true origin of society must be traced," James Wilson, a member of the Continental Congress, wrote in 1790. Growing up with married parents reinforces the values that underlie Western civilization: virtue, self-sufficiency, industriousness. In short, self-government begins at home. CLICK HERE to read the full column or visit www.townhall.com. Top Timely Commentary - Jay Sekulow: "You're Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage--You Must be a Member of the Ku Klux Klan" Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), writes this week about a disturbing case of a teacher and school system infringing on the First Amendment rights of a student. Justin Boone, and senior high school student at Community Schools in Michigan, along with three of his classmates, presented their public speaking project about the same-sex marriage issue. All four students received failing grades for the project. The day after the presentation, the teacher told Justin that he "reminded" him "of the Ku Klux Klan." Justin's mother wrote a letter to the principal asking him to intervene, but he refused. The ACLJ had to intervene on behalf of the students, getting the failing grades withdrawn and getting the school to require the teacher to demonstrate civility and decency when dealing with students. There is more to this story, so we encourage you to read the full column by clicking below. CLICK HERE to read the full column or visit www.townhall.com. Top Upcoming Events Marriage Matters Conference Featuring Dr. John Townsend, author of Boundaries in Marriage Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM First Congregational Church of Hopkinton - 114 E. Main St. Hopkinton, MA Tickets are $75 per couple More Information: Rev. Jim Ennis at (508) 740-1515 or jim@mafamily.org TeenPact Boston May 14-17, 2007 State House - Boston, MA More Information: http://www.teenpact.com/stateclass/stateclass.php?state=MA Top

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