Leaders and Members of Over 3000 Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues Issue Joint Statement in Support of Constitutional Amendment Initiative
2/7/2004
Today, the Roman Catholic Dioceses of the state of Massachusetts joined
with over 3000 other religious communities within the state to offer a
joint statement in support of a constitutional amendment defining marriage
as a union between a man and a woman. The list of names appended to the
statement shows how truly broad-based support for this amendment is among
the mainstream religious communities of the state of Massachusetts. The
ongoing reference in the media to leaders or congregations supporting
same-sex marriage has created a myth of religious support. Our signatures
speak otherwise. The racial, cultural, and theological make-up of the
communities represented by the signatories lays to rest any argument that
support of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between
a man and a woman is limited to only a few faith communities. It is our
hope that the legislature of the state of Massachusetts will respond to
this petition from its constituents and vote to allow this amendment to
come before the people.
Among the signers are the leaders of Vision New England (2,053 Churches in
Massachusetts), the four Roman Catholic Dioceses of Massachusetts (about
1000 Catholic Churches), the Orthodox Churches (about 100 Churches in MA),
the Islamic Council of New England (representing 25 Islamic Centers and
Mosques), the Black Ministerial Alliance (about 80 Churches), Jewish
congregations, and various Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian
communities as listed. We anticipate other signers will be notifying us of
their desire to endorse this statement as well.
STATEMENT
We stand together today, as religious and academic leaders, and as citizens
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to affirm a common and deeply-held
conviction: Marriage must be defined in our civil law as the union of one
man and one woman. Each of the traditions we represent has long upheld the
institution of marriage as a unique bond between a man and a woman, a bond
which is the very foundation of the family and of our society.
This understanding of marriage is not, however, primarily a religious
doctrine. It is based on common sense and human reason. It has been shared
by every human culture for thousands of years. The marriage of one man and
one woman is the basis for family life, into which children are born,
nourished, and educated. This understanding of marriage and family
predates and precedes the authority of the state.
Should the Supreme Judicial Court's decision to redefine marriage as any
voluntary union of persons become the law of the land, it would have an
enormously negative impact on our society. The citizens of the
Commonwealth know that such a law, which places all voluntary relationships
on the same level as marriage, would inevitably lead to far-reaching
changes in the institutions of our society, more importantly those which
educate our children and grandchildren.
The court's re-definition of marriage explicitly divorces the institution
of marriage from the procreation and education of children. Despite the
experience of all human cultures and the empirical data of sociological
studies, the court ignores the fact that the stable, permanent relationship
of a husband and wife is the optimal basis for child rearing. The court's
decision will harm our children, who are entitled to be able to count on
their parents' marriages as the secure foundation of their family lives.
John Adams, when writing the Constitution of the Commonwealth, enshrined
in it the principle of the separation of powers, Executive, Legislative and
Judicial. Four Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court have overstepped their
authority in redefining marriage. We believe that the people of
Massachusetts have a right to vote to maintain the definition of marriage
as the union between a man and a woman. Therefore, we urge the members of
the legislature, in the strongest of terms, to allow the citizens of the
Commonwealth to vote on this most important issue. We also ask that Senate
President Robert Travaglini allow the amendment to come before the
legislators in the joint session scheduled for February 11.
We encourage all members of our religious traditions to offer prayers
concerning this issue, to be active in the public debate, and to encourage
others to be active as well. This matter is crucially important for the
good of society as a whole. In the spirit of unity, let us stand together
for the good of our families, state, country, and all humanity. All eyes
are on Massachusetts; may they see our courage and resolve to safeguard the
fundamental institution of marriage.
The Reverend Ernest Bergeson, New England Synod ELCA
The Reverend Douglas M. Bernhart, Christ Church (Episcopal)
Rabbi Naftoly Bier, Kollel of Greater Boston
The Reverend Jeffrey Brown, Pastor, Union Baptist Church Cambridge
The Most Reverend George Coleman, Roman Catholic Bishop of Fall River
The Reverend Deliann Coops, Newton Presbyterian Church
Dr. Ron Crews, President, Mass Family Institute, Evangelical Presbyterian
Church
The Reverend John Chung, Pastor, Bethany Presbyterian Church
The Most Reverend Thomas Dupre, Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
The Reverend Herbert Eddy, New England Conference, African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Reverend Michael P. Fruth, First Lutheran Church
Rabbi Dr. Gershon C. Gewirtz, Young Israel of Brookline
The Reverend Dr. Ray Hammond, Bethel AME Church.
The Reverend Gordon P. Hugenberger, Senior Minister, Park Street Church
The Islamic Council of New England
Dr. M. Saleem Bajwa, Executive Director, Dr. Seraj-ul Haque, President of the Islamic Council of New England
The Reverend Stan Johnson, First Presbyterian Church of Quincy
The Reverend Barton L. Kelso, Pastor, First United Presbyterian Church,
Cambridge
Grand Rabbi Y. A. Korff, Zvhil-Mezbuz Rebbe
Reverend William Leahy, S.J., President of Boston College
The Reverend Young Ghil Lee, Korean Church of Boston
Metropolitan Methodios, Presiding Hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of
Boston and All New England
The Reverend Dr. David M. Midwood, President, Vision New England
Archbishop Sean O'Malley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston
Dr. Alvin Padilla, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston (Center for
Urban Ministerial Education)
The Reverend Rob Perkins, Newton Presbyterian Church
The Reverend Dr. Rodney L. Petersen, New England Presbytery
The Most Reverend Daniel Reilly, Roman Catholic Bishop of Worcester
The Reverend Eugene F. Rivers III, Azusa Christian Community. Co-Founder,
Boston Ten-Point Coalition
The Reverend Wesley Roberts, President, Black Ministerial Alliance, and
Pastor,
Peoples' Baptist Church of Boston
