San Francisco archbishop urged Bush to back marriage amendment

Published: 2004-02-25

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Five days before President Bush called for a federal constitutional amendment "defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and a woman as husband and wife," Archbishop William J. Levada of San Francisco sent him a letter strongly urging such an amendment. "Given the judicial activism in Massachusetts and the 'mayoral' activism in San Francisco," Archbishop Levada wrote Feb. 19, "it seems to many of your fellow citizens that only a constitutional amendment can now assure that marriage between a woman and a man, and the family they raise, can remain into the future a foundational element of our society." In announcing his support for a constitutional amendment Feb. 24, Bush called marriage "the most fundamental institution of civilization." "Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society," he said. Archbishop Levada noted that the U.S. Catholic bishops support such an amendment. They publicly addressed the issue last fall.

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