December 20, 1999

ORTHODOX UNION DEEPLY TROUBLED BY
VERMONT RULING FOR SAME-SEX COUPLE RECOGNITION

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America - the
nation's largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, through its
Institute for Public Affairs, was deeply troubled by the Vermont Supreme
Court's ruling that same-sex couples must be extended the same benefits
and privileges as traditionally married couples.

Orthodox Union president, Dr. Mandell Ganchrow issued the following
statement in reaction to the court's ruling:

Today's ruling from Vermont's Supreme Court is deeply troubling.  While
the court stopped short of explicitly calling upon Vermont to initiate
marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples, it did endorse the notion that
same-sex relationships are a legitimate alternative lifestyle and that
same-sex partners are entitled to the same benefits that the law grants
to traditional married couples.  While the Orthodox Jewish community in
no way condones discrimination against individuals on the basis of their
private conduct, we believe that America's moral values and traditions,
of which traditional Judaism is a fountainhead, clearly assert that the
unique status of marriage is reserved for the sacred union of a man and
woman in a loving relationship.  We regret that the Vermont Supreme
Court's ruling today has retreated from these bedrock values.

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