UUCC
Social Action Committee
Sent to the Daily Freeman, Poughkeepsie Journal, Register-Star March 5, 2004 Religious Organizations Support Freedom to Marry While many people hold religious and ethical convictions that marriage should be limited to a union between one man and one woman, many others hold equally strong religious and ethical convictions that same-sex couples are entitled to be married. Still others may be uncomfortable with marriage between same-sex couples, but support the notion that same-sex civil unions and marriages are a matter to be debated and resolved at the state level. Our Constitution has been occasionally amended to protect and extend the rights of the American people. It has never, and should not now be used to cut this debate short and attempt to permanently deny rights to marriage to a group of Americans. Amending the United States constitution to deny same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage would be to enshrine discrimination into the document that provides the foundation for our democracy. Many religious organizations, including the Unitarian Universalist, have joined the "Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry" (www.rcfm.org) in an effort to oppose any Constitutional amendment banning marriage among same-sex couples, and to promote the fundamental right of same-sex couples to share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitments of civil marriage. As a religious organization that holds the dignity and worth of every human as one of our guiding principles, we support the legalization of marriage between same-sex couples within New York state. While civil unions can provide some benefits, there are currently over 1000 separate Federal benefits and about 300 NY state benefits that apply only to married couples. And while some may hold to the husband / wife ideal as the preferred parental arrangement for raising children, the fact is that many gay couples are raising children. To deny these children the stability and benefits that come from having married parents is a travesty to all involved that benefits no one And finally, we denounce the cynical move by any politician who would seek to exploit this issue in a divisive manner for their own political gain in an election year. Signed, The Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills Kingston, NY |