Respect For All Families

Some religious leaders and politicians want to use the government to define marriage in a way that favors some religious traditions over others. Religious-political interests are seeking a Federal Marriage Amendment -- or similar state constitutional amendments -- that would limit marriage only to “the union of a man and a woman.” This would discriminate against the growing number of faith groups that perform same-sex marriages.

Houses of worship have the freedom to consecrate marriages based on their theology. As required by the Constitution, the government must accommodate the diversity of beliefs on this issue. Denying rights based on specific religious traditions is unconstitutional and is not the American way.

Americans value families in which love and commitment, not politics, define the home. Happy, healthy families deserve respect and should be free to live according to their own beliefs. As responsible adults, it is our freedom to make personal choices about family life and raising our children, without coercive politics invading our homes and privacy.
 
America’s various faith traditions take different approaches to marriage. Respecting the rights of those in our diverse communities of faith who deem same-gender marriage to be consistent with their religious creed ensures that the United States will continue to protect the religious liberty of all Americans.
 
 

In The News:

"Don't drop `don't ask, don't tell,' Pace says"
The Chicago Tribune - March 13, 2007

"Episcopal Church head attacks impatience on gays"
Washington Post - February 28, 2007

"Rhode Island Steps Toward Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage"
The New York Times - February 23, 2007


"Anglican Seeks to Ease Church's Conflict Over Gays"
The Washington Post - February 18, 2007

"Episcopal Head 'Will Not Waver' on Gay Stance"
The Christian Post - February 16, 2007


"Initiative ties marriage, procreation"
Seattle Times - February 7, 2007

"Report: Most Rabbis Support Ordaining Gays"
The New York Sun - February 1, 2007

"Officeholders will Raise Right Hands, and a Ruckus"
Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer - January 22, 2007

"Gay Marriage Amendment Case Argued"
Associated Press - December 13, 2006

"Gays kept separated; church and state not"
Chicago Tribune - November 19, 2006


"Feeling Unwelcome, Some Gays Vacate Virginia"
The Washington Post - August 7, 2006

"As Vote Nears, Opponents Attack Ban's Wording"
The Washington Post - July 31, 2006

"Washington State Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage"
The Washington Post - July 27, 2006


"Efforts to Ban Gay Adoption Really Hit Home"
The Baltimore Sun - March 27, 2006

"Interracial or Same-Sex: marriage in a historical perspective"
The Richmond Times-Dispatch - February 5, 2006



From Americans United for Separation of Church and State:
 
AU Press Release -- November 3, 2006 
Religious Right Leaders Ought To Focus On Their Own Family Before They Try To Fix Everybody Else's, Says AU's Lynn
 
AU Press Release -- October 12, 2006 
Religious Right Claim That Gay Rights Threaten Church Freedom Masks Extreme Agenda, Church-State Watchdog Group Charges
 
AU Press Release -- July 18, 2006 
House Marriage Vote Was 'Political Theater,' Says AU's Lynn
 
AU blog – July 2005 
It also includes a "Cultural Diversity Statement," which reads in part, "Bethany will serve children and families, regardless of their cultural, ...
 
AU Blog – June 5, 2006 
A wide array of religious leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., today to respond to President George W. Bush’s embrace of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would graft the Religious Right’s view of marriage onto the Constitution.
 
Church and State – March 2005 
 
AU Press Release - September 30, 2004 
Vote Was Scheduled To Give Election Ammo To Religious Right, Watchdog Group Says
 
AU Press Release - June 24, 2004 
Testimony By Dannemeyer And Schlafly Proves Amendment Drive Is Out Of Touch With Mainstream Opinion, AU Asserts
 
AU Press Release - January 21, 2004 
Are Congress, Bush Administration Planning To Fund 'Conversion Therapy' For Gays Through 'Faith-Based' Initiative? Asks Americans United
 
Church and State – October 2003 
 
AU Press Release - February 20, 2002 
Americans United Says Moore's Church-State Views Echo Dark Ages
 

From The Interfaith Alliance Foundation:
 
TIA Website, August 2006 
A constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman is discriminatory and violates religious liberty by imposing one religious definition of marriage over other religious views.
 
TIA Press Release, June 2006 
The Interfaith Alliance applauds the United States Senate for striking down the Federal Marriage Amendment that would impede on the religious liberty of all Americans.
 
State of Belief Radio, June 2006 
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s President Rev. C. Welton Gaddy talks with the president of the Unitarian Universalist Association and hears from grassroots religious leaders about the Federal Marriage Amendment.
 
TIA Press Release 
In response to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in favor of the plaintiffs in Goodridge et al. vs. Department of Public Health, the Board of Directors of The Interfaith Alliance thanked the court for demonstrating a commitment to basic civil liberties.
 


In The News:

"Don't drop `don't ask, don't tell,' Pace says"
The Chicago Tribune - March 13, 2007

"Episcopal Church head attacks impatience on gays"
Washington Post - February 28, 2007

"Rhode Island Steps Toward Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage"
The New York Times - February 23, 2007


"Anglican Seeks to Ease Church's Conflict Over Gays"
The Washington Post - February 18, 2007

"Episcopal Head 'Will Not Waver' on Gay Stance"
The Christian Post - February 16, 2007


"Initiative ties marriage, procreation"
Seattle Times - February 7, 2007

"Report: Most Rabbis Support Ordaining Gays"
The New York Sun - February 1, 2007

"Officeholders will Raise Right Hands, and a Ruckus"
Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer - January 22, 2007

"Gay Marriage Amendment Case Argued"
Associated Press - December 13, 2006

"Gays kept separated; church and state not"
Chicago Tribune - November 19, 2006


"Feeling Unwelcome, Some Gays Vacate Virginia"
The Washington Post - August 7, 2006

"As Vote Nears, Opponents Attack Ban's Wording"
The Washington Post - July 31, 2006

"Washington State Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage"
The Washington Post - July 27, 2006


"Efforts to Ban Gay Adoption Really Hit Home"
The Baltimore Sun - March 27, 2006

"Interracial or Same-Sex: marriage in a historical perspective"
The Richmond Times-Dispatch - February 5, 2006



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