President Bush officially called for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as an institution between one man and one woman in a Feb. 24 statement.
“Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society,” Bush said. “Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife.”
Bush’s announcement came in the wake of San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsome issuing thousands of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in defiance of California state law. Judges in that state have refused to stop what one conservative group has called “municipal anarchy.” The announcement comes on the heels of the Massachusetts Supreme Court ordering the state to begin issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples in May.
“After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence, and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization,” Bush said. “Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires clarity.”
Bush reaffirmed the freedoms Americans enjoy, but said freedom cannot undermine morality. “America is a free society, which limits the role of government in the lives of our citizens,” he said. “This commitment of freedom, however, does not require the redefinition of one of our most basic social institutions. Our government should respect every person, and protect the institution of marriage. There is no contradiction between these responsibilities.”
Some Republicans in Congress expressed caution over the prospect of a constitutional amendment and emphasized such a process would move slowly. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said it would take time to gauge the level of support in Congress for a constitutional amendment. He suggested the difficulty of passing one may cause lawmakers to take a different approach to preserving marriage as a solely man-woman union. “We don’t want to do this in haste,” DeLay said.
A majority of Americans — sometimes by as much as a 2–1 margin — oppose legalizing homosexual marriages, according to The Associated Press.
At least 38 states and the federal government have approved laws or amendments barring the recognition of homosexual marriage. Ratification by three-fourths of the states (around 33 states) is required to pass a constitutional amendment.
The president’s statement was immediately cheered by conservative Christian groups, who were growing impatient for such a stand from the White House, and condemned by supporters of marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Pro-family leaders supporting a constitutional amendment were pleased with Bush’s statement. “We are delighted the president has stepped forward on this issue and his announcement serves as a critical catalyst to energize and organize those who will work diligently to ensure that marriage remains an institution between one man and one woman,” Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, said in a statement.
Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Bush’s action will cause divisions within the religious community.
“President Bush is just wrong,” said Lynn. “A growing number of religious groups perform marriages for same-sex couples. Bush’s proposal gives some religious traditions favored treatment.” (EP, BP)
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