Gay marriage may be religious right's 'wedge' issue in 2004 elections.Religious Right groups, eager to find a divisive social issue to exploit during the 2004 elections, believe the Supreme Court has handed them one: gay marriage. Several groups are urging President George W. Bush to step up his opposition to gay marriage to motivate Religious Right activists in 2004. Last summer, the Supreme Court struck down a Texas law banning homosexual sodomy between consenting adults. Although the case had nothing to do with gay marriage, Religious Right leaders insist that the ruling opens the door to government recognition of gay unions. Several Religious Right groups are working with members of Congress to promote a constitutional amendment that would limit marriage to heterosexuals. (See "Marriage Proposal," October 2003 Church & State.) Bush has not officially endorsed the amendment, but he did say he believes marriage should be limited to unions between men and women. In mid September, three U.S. senators joined clergy for a Washington press conference advocating the amendment. "In my view, it is incontestable that marriage is a valuable thing," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). "The formal definition of marriage as we've understood it for so many years is the union of a man and a woman in holy matrimony MATRIMONY. See Marriage. ." Sens. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) also attended the event. Also present were representatives of various conservative religious bodies, including Rabbi Abba Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. of Agudath Israel of America Agudath Israel of America (or Agudas Yisroel of America or Agudat Yisrael of America or simply the Agudah [agudah is Hebrew for "gathering" or "union"]), is a Haredi Jewish communal organization in the United States loosely affiliated with the and Sayyid Syeed of the Islamic Society of North America The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), based in Plainfield, Indiana, USA, is an umbrella group that describes itself as the largest Muslim organization in North America. . Bush has also taken symbolic steps to show his support for the Religious Right. In early October he issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 12-18 "Marriage Protection Week." The proclamation, heavily backed by Religious Right groups, states that marriage "is a sacred institution, and its protection is essential to the continued strength of our society." Meanwhile, Republican strategists are urging candidates to use the gay marriage issue to shore up their campaigns. Last May, GOP pollster poll·ster n. One that takes public-opinion surveys. Also called polltaker. Word History: The suffix -ster is nowadays most familiar in words like pollster, jokester, huckster, Richard Wirthlin called the marriage amendment "an ideal wedge issue" in a memo distributed to party operatives. Wirthlin said the issue "does not alienate the base" and may attract African-American voters to the GOP. "In sum," concludes the memo, "it is an issue that if handled properly can work very much to the advantage of Republican candidates, if it gains some visibility prior to the 2004 election." In early October, a wide array of Religious Right and other right-wing leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., to plot strategy on the issue. According to World magazine publisher Joel Belz, the session drew everyone from Jerry Falwell and Michael Farris to Paul Weyrich and Bill Bennett. Representatives attended from Focus on the Family, the Southern Baptist Convention Noun 1. Southern Baptist Convention - an association of Southern Baptists association - a formal organization of people or groups of people; "he joined the Modern Language Association" Southern Baptist - a member of the Southern Baptist Convention , Eagle Forum, Family Research Council, National Religious Broadcasters, Empower America, American Family Association The American Family Association (AFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values.[1][2][3][4] It was founded in 1977 by Rev. , Concerned Women for America Concerned Women for America is a conservative Christian political action group active in the United States. The group was founded in 1979 by Beverly LaHaye, wife of Christian Coalition co-founder Timothy LaHaye, as a response to activities by the National Organization for Women and , Home School Legal Defense Association The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a United States-based "nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. and American Family Association. The group agreed to press for a sweeping constitutional amendment that will ban not only gay marriage, but also civil unions in any form. "Our people," said Farris, "simply won't be rallied by a lesser effort." |
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