Bush Backs Federal Amendment to Ban Gay Marriages

Satisfying the requests of over 1 million petitioners in the nation, President Bush backed a constitutional amendment banning gay "marriages", Tuesday, February 24.

"If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America. Decisive and democratic action is needed, because attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country," the President said to the press from the White House Roosevelt Room.

Bush's statement came after the recent events in San Francisco, in which the mayor opened the doors of city hall to homosexuals, and sanctioned "marriage"
licenses to over 3,000 same-sex couples. Soon afterwards, indignant conservative groups filed suit against the mayor and the city, and called for an immediate halt to the illegal sanctions. However, both of the cases that were heard by the court were left in the air with a toothless "cease or desist" order in which the city would answer to the court of their actions at a later date in court.

Similar ordeals arose in other states: in November, the Massechusetts court legalized civil unions and same-sex "marriages" upon the dismay of Christians and faithful worldwide. Last week, New Mexico issued several same-sex "marriage licenses," and homosexual couples sued cities nationwide for the "right" to "marry."

"After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence, and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization. Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires clarity," Bush added.

Bush then mentioned the ethical and moral chaos that can arise from such direct disobedience to the law, echoing the concerns of conservative faithful.

"Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife. said Bush.

However, Bush allowed room to legalize civil unions in each respective jurisdiction.

"The amendment should fully protect marriage, while leaving the state legislatures free to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage," Bush said. "America is a free society, which limits the role of government in the lives of our citizens."

Nonetheless, Bush concluded with the statement: "This commitment of freedom, however, does not require the redefinition of one of our most basic social institutions."