Fred Hutchison
Legislative protection of women & children
By Fred Hutchison
(Document submitted with testimony by Fred Hutchison before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee, January 20, 2004, concerning the Ohio Defense of Marriage Act)
The Ohio Senate as Protector of the Weak
The Ohio Senate can become the protector of women and children by passing the Ohio Defense of Marriage Act. Traditional marriage was designed by our society for the protection of women and children. A stable family united by an indissoluble marriage covenant is the best place for children to find large amounts of nurture, love, and personal attention. The moral guidance, character formation, and social education of children can best occur under the shelter of the traditional family. The family is the chief generator of good citizenship. This almost self-evident truth has been proven in countless studies which compare the social problems of children from broken homes with children in a family with a stable marriage of a man and a woman.
The family is being subjected to many unwholesome influences and many marriages have broken up. The hyper-sexualization of our culture — which has been intensified by the dissemination of gay values — weakens the commitment to marriage. The state at great expense is obliged to deal with the damaged children from broken homes and the resulting social problems. The imperfect outcomes of these programs compare very poorly with the good citizenship of those raised in healthy families which have a mother and a father.
The Gay Lifestyle may be Unwholesome for Children
Sexual perversions must be learned through continual experimentation. A lifestyle devoted to such experimentation is of necessity narcissistic and hedonistic and is very often promiscuous. Such is not the generally tendency of those committed to traditional marriage. A lifetime of fidelity to a spouse tends to work in the direction of sexual moderation, sexual responsibility, and decency and consideration to one's spouse in sexual matters. In short, it is a safe and wholesome place for children to live.
The tendency of sexual deviation towards dysfunctional outcomes calls into question the wisdom of placing adopted children in the homes of gay couples. The apparent statistical correlations between pederasty and homosexuality is still a matter of study and debate. If the state is hasty in defining gay partnerships as "marriages," it will force the issue on adoptions — before we know what we are doing. We should be allowed to learn about the probable fate of children in gay homes before placements of children for adoption are made. A premature decision about gay "marriage" represents a reckless indifference to the welfare of children.
The honorable institution of marriage has proven its value to society. It is worthy of its own name, its own social status, and its own laws. Homosexuality does not have a good track record in producing good morally reliable people. It is unworthy of the exalted social status of marriage. The prestige which marriage has rightfully earned ought not be bestowed gratis upon self-indulgent homosexuals. It would sanction homosexuality and weaken marriage. Homosexuality is problematic and trouble-prone in unique ways and requires its own categories and its own laws. If the state would begin to refer to homosexual unions as "marriages" it would immensely confuse the unique problems inherent in homosexuality.
A Destructive Rationalization
Those who think that homosexuality is a valid alternative lifestyle make common cause with those who believe in easy divorce, adultery, and sexual promiscuity. Many of the people in these groups claim that the psyche of adults is fragile and needs coddling but that the psyche of children is tough and resilient. This is the opposite of the truth, of course. Yet, the notion that children are resilient and can adapt to any change or deprivation is a common rationalization used by those who want to downplay the ill effects of their sexual irresponsibility. The truth is that children are vulnerable, fragile, and easily damaged.
The notion that adults are fragile and need unrestricted sexual experimentation in a process of self-therapy, self-nurture, and self-actualization is highly questionable. It is far more probable that sexual promiscuity and sexual perversion will lead to dysfunctional and destructive results rather than to healthy results. Sexual responsibility is one aspect of character development. Sexual irresponsibility is one aspect of character dissolution.
The idea that children are more resilient to trauma and than adults is simply preposterous. An adult does not require the protection a child requires precisely because an adult has a stable identity and character, and has life experiences and mental perspectives which equips him for dealing with trouble.
The Senate should not be deterred by pernicious fallacies put forward to cover up the evil consequences of sexual irresponsibility. The Senate should courageously and forthrightly declare that in Ohio, a marriage consists of a man and a woman.
The Universal Moral Law
There is a universal moral law written in all men's hearts. When laws are passed which agree with the universal moral law, it reinforces men's consciences to do the right thing even if it requires personal sacrifice. When the laws of civil government contradict the consciences of men, many become morally confused. They become more open to the self-interested rationalizations for doing wrong. They are more likely to suppose that self-indulgence is necessary for their fragile egos — and dismiss their responsibilities by rationalizing that the children are tough and can fend for themselves.
A legislator has a moral duty to protect the weak and vulnerable of society. A legislator has no duty to indulge the self-seeking whims of sexually irresponsible adults. If a legislator crafts a law which contradicts the universal moral laws, he bears a measure of responsibility for the destruction of many vulnerable children.
A message from Stephen Stone, President, RenewAmerica
I first became acquainted with Fred Hutchison in December 2003, when he contacted me about an article he was interested in writing for RenewAmerica about Alan Keyes. From that auspicious moment until God took him a little more than six years later, we published over 200 of Fred's incomparable essays — usually on some vital aspect of the modern "culture war," written with wit and disarming logic from Fred's brilliant perspective of history, philosophy, science, and scripture.
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Fred was in a class by himself among American conservative writers, and I was honored to feature his insights at RA.
I greatly miss Fred, who died of a brain tumor on August 10, 2010. What a gentle — yet profoundly powerful — voice of reason and godly truth! I'm delighted to see his remarkable essays on the history of conservatism brought together in a masterfully-edited volume by Julie Klusty. Restoring History is a wonderful tribute to a truly great man.
The book is available at Amazon.com.
© Fred Hutchison
(Document submitted with testimony by Fred Hutchison before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee, January 20, 2004, concerning the Ohio Defense of Marriage Act)
The Ohio Senate as Protector of the Weak
The Ohio Senate can become the protector of women and children by passing the Ohio Defense of Marriage Act. Traditional marriage was designed by our society for the protection of women and children. A stable family united by an indissoluble marriage covenant is the best place for children to find large amounts of nurture, love, and personal attention. The moral guidance, character formation, and social education of children can best occur under the shelter of the traditional family. The family is the chief generator of good citizenship. This almost self-evident truth has been proven in countless studies which compare the social problems of children from broken homes with children in a family with a stable marriage of a man and a woman.
The family is being subjected to many unwholesome influences and many marriages have broken up. The hyper-sexualization of our culture — which has been intensified by the dissemination of gay values — weakens the commitment to marriage. The state at great expense is obliged to deal with the damaged children from broken homes and the resulting social problems. The imperfect outcomes of these programs compare very poorly with the good citizenship of those raised in healthy families which have a mother and a father.
The Gay Lifestyle may be Unwholesome for Children
Sexual perversions must be learned through continual experimentation. A lifestyle devoted to such experimentation is of necessity narcissistic and hedonistic and is very often promiscuous. Such is not the generally tendency of those committed to traditional marriage. A lifetime of fidelity to a spouse tends to work in the direction of sexual moderation, sexual responsibility, and decency and consideration to one's spouse in sexual matters. In short, it is a safe and wholesome place for children to live.
The tendency of sexual deviation towards dysfunctional outcomes calls into question the wisdom of placing adopted children in the homes of gay couples. The apparent statistical correlations between pederasty and homosexuality is still a matter of study and debate. If the state is hasty in defining gay partnerships as "marriages," it will force the issue on adoptions — before we know what we are doing. We should be allowed to learn about the probable fate of children in gay homes before placements of children for adoption are made. A premature decision about gay "marriage" represents a reckless indifference to the welfare of children.
The honorable institution of marriage has proven its value to society. It is worthy of its own name, its own social status, and its own laws. Homosexuality does not have a good track record in producing good morally reliable people. It is unworthy of the exalted social status of marriage. The prestige which marriage has rightfully earned ought not be bestowed gratis upon self-indulgent homosexuals. It would sanction homosexuality and weaken marriage. Homosexuality is problematic and trouble-prone in unique ways and requires its own categories and its own laws. If the state would begin to refer to homosexual unions as "marriages" it would immensely confuse the unique problems inherent in homosexuality.
A Destructive Rationalization
Those who think that homosexuality is a valid alternative lifestyle make common cause with those who believe in easy divorce, adultery, and sexual promiscuity. Many of the people in these groups claim that the psyche of adults is fragile and needs coddling but that the psyche of children is tough and resilient. This is the opposite of the truth, of course. Yet, the notion that children are resilient and can adapt to any change or deprivation is a common rationalization used by those who want to downplay the ill effects of their sexual irresponsibility. The truth is that children are vulnerable, fragile, and easily damaged.
The notion that adults are fragile and need unrestricted sexual experimentation in a process of self-therapy, self-nurture, and self-actualization is highly questionable. It is far more probable that sexual promiscuity and sexual perversion will lead to dysfunctional and destructive results rather than to healthy results. Sexual responsibility is one aspect of character development. Sexual irresponsibility is one aspect of character dissolution.
The idea that children are more resilient to trauma and than adults is simply preposterous. An adult does not require the protection a child requires precisely because an adult has a stable identity and character, and has life experiences and mental perspectives which equips him for dealing with trouble.
The Senate should not be deterred by pernicious fallacies put forward to cover up the evil consequences of sexual irresponsibility. The Senate should courageously and forthrightly declare that in Ohio, a marriage consists of a man and a woman.
The Universal Moral Law
There is a universal moral law written in all men's hearts. When laws are passed which agree with the universal moral law, it reinforces men's consciences to do the right thing even if it requires personal sacrifice. When the laws of civil government contradict the consciences of men, many become morally confused. They become more open to the self-interested rationalizations for doing wrong. They are more likely to suppose that self-indulgence is necessary for their fragile egos — and dismiss their responsibilities by rationalizing that the children are tough and can fend for themselves.
A legislator has a moral duty to protect the weak and vulnerable of society. A legislator has no duty to indulge the self-seeking whims of sexually irresponsible adults. If a legislator crafts a law which contradicts the universal moral laws, he bears a measure of responsibility for the destruction of many vulnerable children.
A message from Stephen Stone, President, RenewAmericaI first became acquainted with Fred Hutchison in December 2003, when he contacted me about an article he was interested in writing for RenewAmerica about Alan Keyes. From that auspicious moment until God took him a little more than six years later, we published over 200 of Fred's incomparable essays — usually on some vital aspect of the modern "culture war," written with wit and disarming logic from Fred's brilliant perspective of history, philosophy, science, and scripture.
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Fred was in a class by himself among American conservative writers, and I was honored to feature his insights at RA.
I greatly miss Fred, who died of a brain tumor on August 10, 2010. What a gentle — yet profoundly powerful — voice of reason and godly truth! I'm delighted to see his remarkable essays on the history of conservatism brought together in a masterfully-edited volume by Julie Klusty. Restoring History is a wonderful tribute to a truly great man.
The book is available at Amazon.com.
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
