Contact: Ermias Alemayehu, BOND, 323-782-1980, 213-804-1872 mobile

LOS ANGELES, May 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, Founder and President of BOND, Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, blasted the California Supreme Court for its 4-3 decision overturning Proposition 22, the initiative passed in 2000 affirming that only marriage between a man and woman is "valid or recognized in California." The following is Rev. Peterson's statement on this issue:

"Sixty-one percent of California voters supported Prop 22 and now activist judges are overruling the will of the people. This decision should outrage and motivate all decent and law abiding Americans to support a marriage amendment. Homosexual activists are relentless in trying to normalize their abnormal lifestyle; and now a Republican-majority court is doing their bidding.

"The time is now for conservative black churches to join with white Christians in opposing this ruling. For far too long churches have sat on the sidelines while serious moral issues have been decided without their participation. This issue is about right and wrong. Changing the definition of traditional marriage to include homosexuals is wrong and Christians have a moral duty to speak out against it. Black ministers must encourage their congregations to support grassroots coalitions that seek to protect traditional marriage."

A coalition of churches and citizens has submitted 1.1 million signatures to California's 58 counties to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2008. Based on the reported number of signatures, it appears the initiative known as the California Marriage Protection ACT will qualify for the ballot.

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is Founder and President of The Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND), a nationally respected nonprofit organization dedicated to "Rebuilding the Family by Rebuilding the Man." He is also the host of "The Jesse Lee Peterson Radio Show." For more information visit www.bondinfo.org