Today, the leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America issued the following statement in reaction to the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit striking down "Proposition 8."
(Proposition 8 was a ballot referendum in California through which voters overturned an earlier state court decision legalizing same sex marriage.)

"The Orthodox Union is disappointed by today's federal appeals court ruling striking down Proposition 8.

Jewish law is unequivocal in opposing same sex relationships.

Moreover, marriage and family has long been a prime value for the Jewish people.

While Judaism also teaches respect for others and condemns discrimination we, as Orthodox Jewish leaders, oppose any effort to change the definition of marriage to include same sex unions.

Legalizing same sex marriages is problematic from a moral and social point of view.

Such legalization is also problematic with regard to religious liberty, as dissenting institutions are pressured to support or recognize relationships they cannot.

The Orthodox Union will support the appeal of this ruling to the United States Supreme Court.

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