Posted on 07/13/2004 6:19:30 AM PDT by kattracks
CNSNews.com) - With the Federal Marriage Amendment front and center in the U.S. Senate this week, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has urged senators of that state to vote against the "dangerous action" of limiting marriage to one man and one woman through a change in the U.S. Constitution."The amendment itself has the potential to write discrimination into our Constitution for the first time in history," said Edwin Yohnka, spokesman for the ACLU of Illinois.
Yohnka also described the Federal Marriage Amendemnt as "harmful to children who live in a same-sex household."
But neither Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) nor Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill.) had seen the letter as of Monday afternoon and representatives said both senators had made up their minds long before the ACLU attempted to intervene.
"Senator Fitzgerald supports the Federal Marriage Amendment," said Laura Miller, a spokeswoman for Fitzgerald. "He's been consistent on his position for quite awhile.
"Sen. Fitzgerald has always believed that it benefits children and society to legally define marriage as between one man and one woman," Miller added.
While Durbin opposes homosexual marriage, his spokeswoman said that the issue does not rise to the level of a constitutional amendment.
"Senator Durbin is opposed and will vote against the Federal Marriage Amendment," said spokeswoman Angela Benander. "At this point, to amend the Constitution is unnecessary and premature."
Fitzgerald is one of 18 cosponsors of the joint resolution that was introduced by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) calling for a constitutional amendment defining marriage.
The letter written to both senators alleges that the amendment seeks to compare marriages between homosexuals to marriages between interracial couples.
The letter explains: "States have used marriage laws in the past to enshrine discriminatory 'tradition,' but our Constitution was not altered to define marriage as these traditions were overturned."
The national ACLU's website describes the Federal Marriage Amendment as a "mean-spirited proposal" and encourages Americans to work against the amendment.
is this the same ACLu that defended kiddie-porn?
Edwin is constitutionally challenged, histroically inaccurate and just plain wrong.
ACLU makes me want to gag.
I would think that having a same-sex household is MORE harmful to the children in those households.
But that's just me.
Article written by Sarah Junk!? Is she the ACLU's in house 'scientist'?
Can we sue to have the ACLU banned from America because they are harmful to kids???
If anyone is truly in favor of marriage being between one man and one woman, there should also be no divorce. Marriage should not be entered into lightly. It should be a lifetime committment no matter what, unconditionally. Divorce should be banned BEFORE gay marriage. Divorces are hurting the sanctity of marriage as bad as, or worse than, gay couples. I know people who have had 3 - 6 divorces. That is worse than a gay couple who has lived together totally committed to each other for 30 years.
"Sen. Fitzgerald has always believed that it benefits children and society to legally define marriage as between one man and one woman,"
History has shown that it is ALWAYS beneficial to obey The Lord in all matters, the evidence is overwhelming!
According tio the ACLU, that is.
Agreed. Divorce on demand, also known as no-contest divorce, is wrong. But do you think we'll ever see 67 Senators vote to outlaw it? Probably about as soon as we see 67 of them vote for the FMA.
My thought exactly! The "Anti-Christian Liberals' Union" has been doing enormous damage to American children lately with their shenanigans.
Sorry Buffyt, you can't make a good argument to ban same sex marriage by pointing out some other evil in our society. Today we are encouraged by hollywood and the media to accept more and more decadence. Proponents of the ban have finally said enough.
gotta ping this one out - later! Fingers sore from yesterday.
>>Divorce should be banned BEFORE gay marriage<<
Gay marriage is not banned. They can marry anyone of the opposite sex they like.
I agree with you that divorce hurts kids but geez, two wrongs don't make a right. Sorry, marriage is two people of the opposite sex. Gay unions are two people of the same sex living together and looking for a pass.
How many gay couples do you know that have been together 30 years? Personally.
I can name many more marriages (one man/one woman). My best friend who has been married to the same man since 1983. That's 20 years out of her 40 year life.
ACLU has become irrelevant, and is only cheered by the uber-left. ACLU is on its last legs.
I sure hope you are right. They have wrecked havoc on this nation. I hope that bill that was introduced in Washington DC to stop the forced funding of ACLU gets passed. Then they are dead!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.