FRC's Tony Perkins Urges Conservative Coalition to Hold Fast to Principles of Life, Marriage, Religious Liberty

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Sep 14, 2010, 09:22 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins addressed the Faith and Family conference in Washington, D.C. He is releasing a transcript of the speech today in advance of this week's Values Voter Summit and next week's vote in the Senate on overturning the law on homosexuality in the military.

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Here are a few key excerpts from his speech in which he urged the conservative coalition to hold fast to the sanctity of life, the centrality of marriage and the imperative of religious liberty.

On "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" debate:

"Once again, we see the intersection of national security and social policy when it comes to the recent effort by the Obama administration to overturn the historic ban on homosexuality in the military. Yesterday's ruling by a federal judge in California seeks to require the military to permit practicing homosexual men and women to serve. As the 1993 law says, 'The presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk...' In a single action of judicial arrogance, a judge arbitrarily decided to overturn more than 200 years of American military policy. This shows contempt for history, contempt for law, contempt for Congress and contempt for the American people."

On same-sex "marriage":

"Some self-professed conservative leaders are now turning away from the defense of marriage. Some appear at homosexual fundraisers or serve on the boards of small but vocal homosexual Republican organizations that are using the courts to thwart the voice of the people and redefine marriage. Is this conservatism?

"Some have bought into the lie that we should just accept same-sex marriage because it is inevitable. Other conservatives suggest that because this supposedly private conduct doesn't affect them, it should be permitted.

"This is not true conservatism. Conservatives, especially Christian conservatives, realize we must love people enough to be willing to speak the truth and the truth is that we cannot redefine marriage without opening the door to all manner of moral and social evil."

On Abortion:

"So to suggest, as some have, that abortion should be sidelined as part of the conservative agenda is not only morally wrong, it simply doesn't make sense economically. The idea that children are economic burdens that draw down on a limited supply of resources is a deceptive message that endangers our republic. There is no greater natural resource than a human being."

On Religious Liberty:

"Only a belief that our rights come from God - itself a very religious proposition that is foundational to our country - assures that those rights will be protected by government. Our Creator has bestowed our rights, not Uncle Sam. If we jettison this religious affirmation, we jettison the whole basis of the United States of America."

The full transcript of the speech can be downloaded here.

Contact the FRC Press Office at (866) FRC-NEWS for press credential information, or log onto www.valuesvotersummit.org

SOURCE Family Research Council