Religious leaders among those urging support for marriage amendment

Published: 2004-07-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The general secretary of the U.S. bishops' conference joined a panel of clergy and activists July 12 to encourage Congress to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment. "Marriage is not an arbitrary social arrangement that can be altered by either the church or the state," said Msgr. William P. Fay at a Capitol event to support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. "It is God's will for humanity and the keystone of every human community." Msgr. Fay was among a dozen speakers, including Christian and Jewish clergy and representatives of the Congress on Racial Equality, the National Black Leadership Roundtable and the Ten Point Coalition of Boston, an ecumenical group that works with inner-city youths. Msgr. Fay and other clergy also spoke at another press conference July 13. Senate leaders hoped to bring a marriage amendment bill to a vote the week of July 12, but even supporters of the amendment conceded it was unlikely to pass on its first hearing.

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