New Mexico’s 2014 legislative session is underway. The Legislature continues to consist of a majority of Democrats in both houses. The House consists of 37 Democrats and 33 Republicans. The Senate has 25 Democrats and 17 Republicans. Governor Susana Martinez is a Republican.
With the beginning of this year’s 30-day session, it must be observed that New Mexico’s judiciary has pre-empted our lawmakers’ opportunity to debate New Mexico’s moral and religious issues.
Instead the courts have handed down judgments on major issues that concern our Christian community. The legislators, commissioned to debate and pass or defeat new laws, have convened only to find that the moral issues of our day have been usurped by New Mexico’s judges. Following are two examples:
Same-Sex “Marriage”
For years the New Mexico State Legislature debated the question of same-sex marriage. Consistently the Legislators decided not to decide. On December 19, 2013, the New Mexico State Supreme Court uttered the magic word – “unconstitutional” – possibly ending the debate and opening the door to its enormous ramifications. New Mexico became the 17th state to allow same-sex “marriages.”
Two attempts have been made to overturn same-sex “marriage” and the consequences that in other states have resulted in homosexual indoctrination in schools and open displays of homosexual behavior in local communities. The County Commissioners who issued licenses illegally have been sued and a Constitutional Amendment has been proposed. Both of these actions have been undertaken by Senator Bill Sharer (R-Farmington).
Senator Sharer’s Senate Joint Resolution 6 (SJR 6) proposes a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would define marriage in New Mexico as only between one man and one woman as determined by a vote of the people. SJR 6 is now on the legislative docket, but it must survive assigned committees and votes in both chambers before it appears on a New Mexico ballot. Even Republican support for a Constitutional Amendment may be softening, with the Governor calling it “now the law of the land” even though no “law” has been passed.
The committee hearing SJR 6 is the Senate Rules Committee. The Rules Committee is chaired by Senator Linda Lopez who, incidentally, is running for Governor. Members of the committee include Senator Jacob Candelaria, a homosexual activist and former head of Equality New Mexico, a homosexual political organization, and Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino, the sponsor of a bill legalizing marijuana.
The resolution may not be scheduled for a hearing before the session ends and, if heard, could possibly go no further than a vote to “table” this session.
Euthanasia
Decriminalization by District Judge Nan G. Nash, January 13, 2014
Call it what you may: “Right to Die,” “Mercy Killings” or “Death with Dignity,” euthanasia has morphed into “Aid in Dying.” The 2009 Legislators gave euthanasia an “Action Postponed Indefinitely,” and it has not been heard from since.
Now Albuquerque Judge Nan G. Nash has decided that doctors who help kill patients commit neither murder nor suicide. Prior to the decision, state law classified euthanasia as a fourth-degree felony. Attorney General Gary King, also a gubernatorial candidate, is considering challenging the changed law. The Catholic Church has taken a firm stand against the judge’s finding. No legislation has been proposed opposing euthanasia in New Mexico.
Noticeably absent in 2014 is legislation proposing notification of parents when an underage girl is taken for an abortion.
Please keep our legislators in prayer. Pray that the 2014 will be one in which they experience God’s grace and act accordingly.
God bless New Mexico.
New Mexico Watchman
Pastor Dewey on the left and New Mexico Watchman Jose Vasquez on right. Jose is also a Board Member of FGGAM.
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
