Protestants say marriage amendment unnecessary

WASHINGTON — Leaders from several mainline Protestant churches that are deeply divided by homosexuality said a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage would force all churches to accept only one definition of marriage.

The Washington offices of the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America told Congress the amendment would restrict a church’s ability to bless gay unions if it chose.

“It is not the task of our government and elected representatives to enshrine in our laws the religious point of view of any one faith,” they said in a joint letter to Congress June 3.

Twenty-six groups joined the letter, including Quakers, Sikhs, the Interfaith Alliance, American Jewish Committee and the Loretto Women’s Network, an order of liberal Catholic nuns.  (TAB)