Ken Starr files brief for the church to defend of Prop 8

Ken Starr (who investigated President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky) is the chief counsel and author of the amicus brief for the church and three other religious institutions defending Proposition 8 before the California Supreme Court.

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO FILE AMICI CURIAE BRIEFAND STATEMENT OF INTEREST OF AMICI CURIAE TO THE HONORABLE RONALD M. GEORGE, CHIEF JUSTICE, AND THE HONORABLE ASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA:

 Pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 8.200(c), amici curiae The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, California Catholic Conference, National Association of Evangelicals, and Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America respectfully request permission to file the accompanying brief in support of Respondent State of California.  The brief will assist the Court by setting forth the uniquely important perspective of four major faith communities with respect to marriage.  Amici have a profound interest in the established definition of marriage and in the outcome of this case:

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian denomination with approximately 800,000 members in California.  Marriage and the family are central to the Churchs doctrine and beliefs.  The Church teaches that marriage between man and woman is ordained of God and that the traditional family is the foundation of society.  (See The Family:  A Proclamation to the World, The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (September 23, 1995), available at http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html [The family is ordained of God.  Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan.  Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.].)  The Church believes that marriage and family supply the crucial relationships through which parents and children learn to live basic moral norms and acquire public and private virtue.  The Church opposes changing the traditional male-female definition of marriage because of the harm such a change will cause to marriage and the family.

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/documents/calcathconfamicus.pdf