Dear Friend,

I have good news to share during this Lame Duck session of Congress--yesterday, the Senate failed to muster enough votes to move ahead with the plan to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"--along with the underlying 1993 law that states homosexuality is incompatible with military service. The repeal had been attached to the Defense Authorization bill, which authorizes funding for our military operations, making a "no" vote a very difficult choice for senators to make.

Also attached to the Defense Authorization bill was an amendment from Sen. Roland Burris to end a longstanding ban on abortions on U.S. military bases. This provision would have allowed abortions to be performed in taxpayer-funded facilities in the States and abroad. While the Defense Authorization bill must be passed at some point in the future, it's not likely to resurface until the new Congress begins in January.

Together, you and I can thank God for the outcome of this vote and for the fact that the religious-liberty rights of our servicemen and women to speak freely about God's design for human sexuality remain intact, as well as the preborn lives that would have been lost as a result of making abortion more readily available. This is a significant victory, indeed, and one in which the voices of concerned citizens made a difference!

We must remain vigilant, though, because there's talk of bringing up the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as a stand-alone bill before the Lame Duck session ends. We'll keep you informed if it moves forward.

Marriage Case Underway in New Court
On the other side of the country, however, there remains an ongoing matter that needs much prayer. On Monday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case. As you may remember, Prop. 8--which restored marriage to the union of one man and one woman--was approved by California voters in 2008. Earlier this year, a federal judge found the amendment unconstitutional, and the appeal to that decision is now underway at the 9th Circuit.

	CitizenLink® Judicial Analyst Bruce Hausknecht was in California to hear both sides argue their case. On this week's CitizenLink Report, Bruce joins Stuart Shepard to offer insight into what he heard in the Proposition 8 courtroom. Watch our important update now.

At the heart of the debate is whether marriage as between a man and a woman benefits society and is therefore a rational law. We know the answer to those questions is undoubtedly "yes"--as well as the fact that kids do best on every measure of well-being when raised by their mom and dad. Not only do children benefit from marriage, though: couples who are married are much more likely to be healthy and financially stable.

We fully expect that this case will eventually find its way to the U.S. Supreme Court and become a landmark case on the issue of marriage. We will continue to keep you updated on the case's progress and how it could impact your family and what your children will be taught about marriage in public schools.

Thank you for your prayers on behalf of marriage and for our elected officials in Washington.

For faith and family,

Tom Minnery
Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy