Union for Reform Judaism
The quest for equality has defined America’s path since its founding, and the U.S. Constitution embodies our national achievements toward that end. Through Constitutional amendments, we have extended rights to groups of Americans who were previously denied them: we have abolished slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law to all citizens regardless of race, and given women the right to vote. The Marriage Protection Act would tarnish our rich tradition of progress, enshrining discrimination in our nation’s most sacred document, undermining the principle of equal protection for all citizens under the law and reversing America’s history of expanding, rather than restricting rights by Constitutional amendment. We oppose the MPA because we believe strongly that the Constitution should not be used for this divisive and regressive purpose.
The freedom of individual religious traditions to decide whether or not to sanction same-sex union s must remain unabridged. The public policy question of same-sex marriage should relate exclusively to civil, not religious, marriage. Whether or not individual religious traditions choose to recognize such unions, we believe that committed same-sex couples should enjoy the right to legally affirm their relationships under civil law.