Religious leaders seek to protect marriage.

Washington, D.C. -- What is being described as an "unprecedented grassroots coalition" of denominations is urging Senators to pass a Marriage Protection Amendment to the Constitution. The issue comes to the floor on June 6. The Religious Coalition for Marriage on April 26 released a statement supporting passage of such an amendment, which would define marriage as being exclusively the union of one man and one woman.

More than fifty top religious figures have joined, including Rick Warren, author of the best-selling Purpose-Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church; Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship; James Dobson, Founder and Chairman of Focus on the Family; and Ted Haggard, President of the National Association of Evangelicals (www.christianpost.com, May 1, 2006).

On behalf of Catholics, seven cardinals as well as nine bishops and archbishops, have signed on to the campaign. Among the other religious leaders are representatives of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Church of God in Christ, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the Orthodox Church in America, Episcopalian bishops, the Anglican Communion Network, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, and many independent church leaders.

"We cannot sit idly by. It is our duty to speak," the signatories affirmed. "Sanctioned by and ordained of God, marriage both precedes and sustains civil society.... We are convinced that (a constitutional amendment) is the only measure that will adequately protect marriage from those who would circumvent the legislative process and force a redefinition of it on the whole of our society."

In March, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote all U.S. bishops, asking that they and Catholics in general support becoming involved in the passage of the amendment. The Knights of Columbus, meanwhile, has initiated a national postcard campaign, distributing 10 million postcards throughout the nation. At the state level, voters in 19 states have approved marriage-protection measures (Catholic Online, April 25, 2006; U.S. Newswire, April 26, 2006; The Wanderer, March 18, 2006).

These developments have not been enough to placate all U.S. Catholics. Writer Gary Morella, in an e-mail, remarked that it is "a sad commentary on the state of the Catholic Church in America" when a relatively small percentage of archbishops and bishops get behind an initiative that should be a "no-brainer" for faithful Catholics. "The entirety of the USCCB board should be on board, formally encouraging this amendment," said Morella.