Easier every year

By Jerry Falwell

“It gets easier every year.”

So said Rosie O’Donnell on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Wednesday night after Larry asked her if society is more accepting of homosexuals than several years ago.

And of course she’s right. Society has indeed become more accepting of lifestyles and actions that several years ago we would not have sanctioned. While Rosie celebrates this fact, I lament the deterioration of the Judeo-Christian values on which our nation was founded. I believe these time-honored values to be the bedrock of our society.

However, I want to make one thing perfectly clear: I do not hate Rosie O’Donnell. She seems like a very nice lady. She’s funny and charming, and I believe she has a generous heart and giving spirit. I simply disagree with her on some core issues that are facing our nation.

Succinctly stated, I don’t believe homosexuals should have the ability to adopt children. Rosie O’Donnell is currently campaigning to have Florida overturn its ban on gay adoption.

Again, my position on this issue is not based on hate for homosexuals. I believe this is a wise and reasonable policy because children should be protected at all costs. The recent pedophilia controversy in the Catholic Church demonstrates the visible need to painstakingly safeguard our children. This is a terribly sinful world. Why would we place children into potential harm’s way solely because we don’t want one group to feel excluded? It doesn’t make sense to me. The children are the issue here.

On the other hand, we need to be diligently working to ensure that every child in need of adoption is given the ability to be linked with a mom and dad who will love him or her.

I try to put my money where my mouth is on this issue. My ministry includes the Liberty Godparent Home for unwed mothers and the Family Life Services adoption agency in my hometown of Lynchburg, Va.

For many years, we have been involved in providing a home away from home (including medical and education services) to young girls who find themselves with child. These girls aren’t shunned or publicly shamed like young Hester Prynnes. We love and nurture these girls, teaching them to value themselves through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In addition, we frequently place their little babies in the homes of Christian parents who have not been able to have children of their own. These are two ministries of true joy for me. My heart has been blessed on several occasions when I have literally handed an innocent little baby to a precious young couple who have prayed for such a day.

The church should be unrelentingly involved in these types of ministries. We have no right to complain about deteriorating social mores if we are doing little to provide excellent alternatives.

I will anger some people with this statement, but it’s true. The church is largely to blame for the social/moral decline in our nation because our leaders have refused to stand in the gap.

It is time that men and women of God stand up and be counted. The homosexual-rights community has flourished because people like Rosie O’Donnell and others have been willing to be pioneers in that movement. Because of roaring silences in many pulpits, Rosie and her allies continue to succeed in pressing the agenda. If we are not there to compassionately challenge them, our fellow Americans will continue to allow their values to be challenged.

And 10 years from now, Rosie will be able to say once again, “It gets easier every year.”

Jerry Falwell

Rev. Jerry Falwell, a nationally recognized Christian minister and television show host, was the founder of Jerry Falwell Ministries and chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Read more of Jerry Falwell's articles here.