Social Issues Passed General Election
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PEAPAC Recommends: NO

While the Bible affirms equality, ERAs are used legally to enforce same-sex marriage and tax-funded abortions.

Summary

Adds an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Oregon Constitution.

Biblical Reasoning

The Bible clearly asserts the equality of men and women. They both are image-bearers of God (Gen. 1:27), joint-heirs of the gracious gift of life (1 Pet. 3:7), and in Jesus Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female (Gal. 3:28).

But God created men and women as a complement to one another in marriage, and insists that only such marriages are legitimate… Abortion and same-sex marriage are clearly in opposition to the plain teaching of God’s Word.

Genesis 1:27 — “They both are image-bearers of God”
1 Peter 3:7 — “joint-heirs of the gracious gift of life”
Galatians 3:28 — “in Jesus Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female”

Election Results

64%
36%
YesNo

Voters approved the Equal Rights for Women amendment (64% Yes).

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: Measure 89 Enacts Oregon Equal Rights Amendment

The Bible clearly asserts the equality of men and women. They both are image-bearers of God (Gen. 1:27), joint-heirs of the gracious gift of life (1 Pet. 3:7), and in Jesus Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female (Gal. 3:28). So our Bible-informed instinct is to support a Measure that purports to desire simple equality of men and women.

The sad fact, however, is that state Equal Rights Amendments (ERAs) such as this one change more than the equality of men and women. First, they have been used as Constitutional support for same-sex marriages. The supreme courts of Hawaii and Massachusetts ruled that ERA requires same-sex marriage. The reasoning seems to be that laws must be “sex-blind” (think color-blind), so to speak. So marriage should be blind as to the sex of those entering into it. But God created men and women as a complement to one another in marriage, and insists that only such marriages are legitimate.

Second, in relationship to abortion funding, the New Mexico Supreme Court, for instance, ruled that ERA requires the state to pay for all abortions for low-income women. The American Civil Liberties Union has argued in other states, with varying degrees of success, that ERA requires tax funding for abortions because it is classified as a medical procedure. State ERAs increase abortions, which is the killing of pre-born infants.

Abortion and same-sex marriage are clearly in opposition to the plain teaching of God’s Word. That’s why Oregon Right to Life strongly opposes this Measure, and we also urge your No vote on Measure 89

← PreviousMeasure 88 (2014)