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May 15, 2002
Union Of Orthodox Jewish Congregations Welcomes
Introduction Of Constitutional Marriage Amendment
Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of
America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization
representing nearly 1,000 congregations welcomed the introduction in the
U.S. House of Representatives of the Federal Marriage Amendment by a
bipartisan group of co-sponsors.
Nathan Diament, the Union’s director of public policy, issued the
following statement:
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America welcomes the
introduction of the Federal Marriage Amendment because we believe that
this text is a reasonable and appropriate response to recent decisions by
America’s courts in an important arena of social policy.
The Jewish tradition has long recognized the centrality of the institution
of marriage, so much so that the term in Judaism for marriage is kiddushin
– or, ‘holiness’ – our most central aspiration. Moreover, Judaism
recognizes that the institution of marriage is central to the formation of
a healthy society and the raising of children.
The Federal Marriage Amendment (“FMA”) will enshrine this critical
institution in our nation’s foundational law. Recent decisions by the
supreme courts of some states -- such as Hawaii, Vermont and New York –
clearly indicate that the definition of marriage will be increasingly
subjected to court challenges in the coming years. The FMA is a reasonable
and measured response to this trend. The proposed amendment will prevent
America’s courts from unilaterally changing the institution of marriage
and require such decisions to be made in legislatures and popular
referenda. The FMA does not sanction discrimination against homosexuals,
it will not deprive them of certain civil benefits that state or local
legislatures might afford to homosexuals, it won’t even prevent the
legislation of civil unions. It will, however, enshrine in law the
traditional and historical definition of the institution of marriage. This
is probably too little for some, and too much for others, but it is the
right thing to do.”
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