Judge says marriage amendment OK'd by Nebraska voters far too broad

Published: 2005-05-17

LINCOLN, Neb. (CNS) -- A federal judge May 12 struck down a state constitutional amendment approved by Nebraska voters in 2000 to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. Known as Initiative Measure 416, the marriage amendment passed with 70 percent of the vote during the 2000 general election. At the time, the state's Catholic bishops backed the initiative and called on all voters, including Catholics, to support the measure. They said that only the union of a man and a woman "should be defined as marriage or treated as the legal equivalent of marriage." In his decision, U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon said the amendment goes way beyond defining marriage to limiting the rights of gay couples, foster parents and people who have other living arrangements. The amendment says: "Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska. The uniting of two persons of the same sex in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar same-sex relationship shall not be valid or recognized in Nebraska."

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