Marriage amendment?

Federal Marriage Amendment

Religious voices need to be raised against the Federal Marriage Amendment [7-10-04]

Clergy of all faiths are being urged to sign on to a letter to senators, expressing opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment, which will likely come up for a vote in the US Senate next week. Senators are being pressed hard by the religious right, and other voices need to be heard.

This appeal comes from The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, but is clearly open to all faiths.

Click here for background, the text of the letter, and a sign-on page.

SoulForce also provides background papers, resources, sample letters, and suggestions for action.

Interfaith Working Group responds to marriage amendment announcement

Cites radical misuse of constitutional amendment process

Media release on 7-12-01, posted here on 7-13-01

Here's one news report.

(Philadelphia, PA) - The Interfaith Working Group (IWG), a Philadelphia based progressive interfaith organization representing 22 religious organizations and congregations and 77 clergy from 16 religious traditions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, issued a statement today countering an announcement that a coalition of conservative religious organizations will be proposing an amendment to the US Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

The IWG statement begins: "The United States Constitution is not a dictionary, a religious document, or a tool for oppression. The proposed amendment would give the civil institution of marriage a religious definition that is not shared by all religions. This is oppressive to religious and governmental bodies that may wish to define marriage differently, and to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans who will be denied equal protection under the law."

Chris Purdom, IWG Co-coordinator, added, "Several of the groups proposing this amendment have lost votes denying equal rights to same-sex couples either in local government or in religious debates within their denomination," noted IWG Co-coordinator Chris Purdom. "This is a desperate, and completely pointless attempt to settle questions of religious debate and local governance through the US Constitution." Several years ago, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia failed to stop Philadelphia's City Council from life partnership ordinances granting benefits to same-gender couples and just this year, the Presbyterian Coalition's proposal to eliminate blessings for same-gender couples in the Presbyterian Church (USA) lost by a much wider than expected margin in local voting. Both these organizations are supporting the attempt by the "Alliance for Marriage" to introduce an amendment to the Constitution.

Currently, religious organizations are free to define marriage in their organization as they see fit, and there are many different variations and restrictions. The proposed definition is specifically contrary to practices in Reform Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, the Unitarian-Universalist Association, the Church of God Anonymous, the Ecumenical Catholic Church, and many Quaker and United Church of Christ congregations, which do not restrict marriage to mixed-gender couples.

"Marriage means many things to many people," stated IWG Co-coordinator Barb Lamond Purdom. "The groups' proposed so-called marriage amendment can only delay and complicate the inevitable granting of equal rights to all people without consideration of gender."

"This amendment would trample on the free speech, free exercise of religion, freedom from the establishment of religion, free association, and the right to redress for grievances," continues the IWG statement. "We support equal marriage rights for same-gender couples, and the right of religious institutions to define religious marriage for themselves."

The complete text of the "IWG Statement on Marriage and the Constitution" can be found at http://www.iwgonline.org/statements/ . More information on religious support for equal marriage rights is available online at http://www.iwgonline.org/marriage .

The Interfaith Working Group (IWG) provides a voice and a forum for religious organizations, congregations, and clergy who support equal rights for sexual minorities, reproductive freedom, and the separation of church and state. Based in Philadelphia, the IWG's national and local education and organizing work is supported by 22 religious organizations and congregations and 77 clergy from 16 religious traditions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

This press release was written and distributed for the Interfaith Working Group by IMPACT (Interfaith Movement for Progressive Action and Cultural Transformation).