August 01, 2022 02:42 PM UTC

"Disheartening"--Centennial Institute Director Slams Joe O'Dea

• 6 Comments
• by: Erik Maulbetsch

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

By Isla Lader, Colorado Times Recorder

One day after the U.S. House passed the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404) on July 19 with support from 47 Republican federal lawmakers, the director of Colorado Christian University’s Centennial Institute and chairman of the Western Conservative Summit, Jeff Hunt, announced on a local talk radio show the launching of a petition effort to pressure Colorado’s two U.S. Senators to vote against the bill which seeks to codify federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.

The Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University is a think tank that holds public policy seminars and describes its mission as such, “By proclaiming Truth, we aim to foster faith, family, and freedom, teach citizenship, and renew the spirit of 1776.”

The petition against H.R. 8404 stands against the federalization of same-sex marriage, but also what the petition supporters claim is an expansion of marriage definitions.

“It is a startling expansion of what marriage means—and who may be sued if they disagree—that threatens the freedom of numerous ‘decent and honorable’ Americans of different faiths, creeds, and walks of life who wish to live consistent with their deeply-held beliefs.”

The Respect Marriage Act also includes measures to give statutory authority to interracial marriages. The petition clarifies that the Centennial Institute does not oppose interracial marriage, though, and is focused primarily on opposition to same-sex marriage.

“We do not oppose interracial marriage. The deceptively titled “Respect for Marriage Act” attempts to make marriage genderless, standing in direct contrast to Christian values, threatens traditional morality, and undermines states’ ability to determine their own standards based upon the beliefs and mores of their society. Please ask your Senator to vote ‘NO’ on H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act,” reads the text on the Centennial Institute’s petition

The Centennial Institute would not comment on if they’d support the federalization of interracial marriage.

Before the petition’s release, Hunt expressed his concerns over Colorado Republican U.S. Senate nominee Joe O’Dea’s support for the Respect Marriage Act in an interview with radio pundit Dan Caplis on 630 a.m., KHOW.

Joe O’Dea, challenging incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet, is on record saying he was glad to see the H.R. 8404 pass in the House.

“You’ve got a lot of politicians in both political parties who spend way too much time trying to tell people how to live their lives,” O’Dea had said. “That’s just not me. I live my life. You live yours,” O’Dea said. “Let’s get on with solving the huge challenges facing the American people.”

Responding to O’Dea’s comments, Hunt said to Caplis, “The Republican nominee for [U.S.] Senate in Colorado is, quote, ‘glad to hear’ that we may have some Jack Phillips situations here? That’s disheartening. It’s disappointing to see both sides willing to embrace this approach.”

Hunt’s statement refers to Jack Phillips, the Lakewood baker known for his role in the Supreme Court case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

When asked by Caplis if, by definition, someone like O’Dea could justifiably identify as a conservative while holding a pro-choice position, Hunt responded, “You absolutely can’t. Conservatives recognize that rights come from God. Where do our rights come from? They don’t come from the government, they come from God.”

Caplis has stated in the past that he would not vote for Joe O’Dea due to his stance on abortion, and he repeated this sentiment later in the show that day.

However, In a statement made to the Colorado Times Recorder, Caplis clarified that while O’Dea’s stance on same-sex marriage concerns him, but would not stop him from voting for O’Dea.

“Balancing [same-sex marriage] against the horrors of Michael Bennet? That would not stop me from voting for O’Dea, but his pro-abortion position makes it impossible for me to vote for him,” said Caplis.

Hunt has taken to advertising the petition on Twitter.

“If you are ashamed of the Bible’s definition of marriage,” read Hunt’s tweet on Thursday, “you are ashamed of the Gospel. Don’t be ashamed! Stand strong!”