March 16, 2000
Orthodox Union applauds California voters and West Virginia legislature for opposition to same sex marriages
Orthodox Union President Mandell I. Ganchrow, M.D., issued the following statement opposing same sex marriages:
“The Orthodox Union has long expressed its opposition to alternate lifestyles and same sex marriages, following the biblical prohibition against homosexuality that decrees it an abomination. Thus, the Union’s leadership is deeply concerned when advocates of homosexuality attack public personalities who are observant Jews for stating their religious beliefs.
“At the same time, the Union has always advocated civility towards, and compassion for each and every human being regardless of sexual preference, as well as to those individuals who suffer from sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS or who are HIV positive.
“The Union commends the voters of California for passing Proposition 22 as well as the West Virginia Legislature which voted on Saturday to ban homosexual marriages and prohibits the state from recognizing such marriages performed in other states.
“According to Jewish law, the only acceptable marriage – which is a holy union, sanctified by God – is that between a man and a woman. To entertain the notion of changing Jewish law, based on public opinion polls suggesting that ever more people view homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, is to engage in situational ethics, an anathema to Torah Judaism.”
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