ACTION ALERT

Oppose Constitutional Amendment defining civil marriage contracts in theological terms

Final update: We won! The Senate vote was 49 to 48, so this constitutional amendment failed to obtain the necessary votes for cloture (3/5 or 60). To see how your member of Congress voted, go here. A "NAY" voting member of Congress should be thanked, and a "YEA" voter should be reprimanded.

Update: On May 18, the committee voted out the amendment -- the full Senate is expected to vote on the measure on June 6.

Update: The Judiciary Committee delayed acting on the Federal Marriage Amendment (they are now calling it the Marriage Protection Amendment) until after the committee completes testimony on immigration. Congress will be in recess mid-April, so the MPA is expected to come up in committee at the end of April or some time in May.

Mar. 1, 2006 - Tomorrow (3/2), the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to determine whether to send a Constitutional Amendment defining civil marriage using a theological definition (male/female only) out of committee. If such an amendment were to pass, it would be the first time in our nation’s history that a religious definition of a civil contract was placed into the United States Constitution.

If approved, this amendment will impose a religious standard on the civil marriage contract. The proposed amendment states that "Marriage in the United States shall consist of a man and a woman." The legislation would also prohibit state legislatures from making their own determinations on marriage, and civil unions, for same-sex couples in the future.

Many proponents of changing the U.S. Constitution to specifically exclude same-sex marriage explain that, "God didn't make Adam and Steve; He made Adam and Eve." They cite biblical support for their version of who civil marriage rights should be open to. The Secular Coalition for America opposes the use of religious doctrine to specifically define civil marriage rights.

Currently, religious entities may choose to join same-sex couples, even in states where such a union is not legally recognized, as part of their free exercise of religion. In states in which same-sex marriage is legal (currently only Massachusetts), religious entities may choose not to join same-sex couples as part of that same free exercise. The Secular Coalition for America supports the free exercise of religion as concerns performing religious marriage ceremonies. We oppose crafting civil marriage contractual rights on the basis of theology. Civil marriage is the legal document which confers numerous specific legal rights and benefits.

Take a Stand: Regardless of what state you live in, your calls or e-mails to the Chair and Ranking Member of the committee will be important. They are Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) respectively. For those of you who live in their districts, calls and e-mails to the following members asking them to be present at the "mark-up" of the Federal Marriage Amendment and to speak against it, will also help in the effort to keep the Constitution from reflecting a specific religious interpretation of a civil contract: Sen. Edward Kennedy(D-MA); Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE); Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI); Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI); Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY); Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL).

You can contact these Senators through their websites or through the Legislator/Media Lookup by Zip Code.