BOSTON, February 12, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The battle over marriage is raging in the Massachusetts state legislature where yesterday lawmakers narrowly defeated two constitutional amendments defining marriage and dealing with civil unions. The compromise measure would have codified homosexual civil unions in the state.
The combined House-Senate conclave, meeting as a Constitutional Convention, deliberated for six hours before adjourning. The proceeding recommenced today at noon.
On the table now is a clear measure either defending traditional marriage or permitting homosexual ‘marriage’. While the vast majority of the state legislators are Democrats, most are also Catholic. The non-compromise vote will now force legislators to come clean on their pro-family or anti-family stand, in plenty of time for the upcoming November elections. Concerned Women for America (CWA) praised the legislature for rejecting the compromise measure. “We are very pleased the legislators refused to legitimize faux marriage by putting it into the state’s constitution last night,” said Jan LaRue, CWA’s Chief Counsel. CWA is supporting a Marriage Protection and Affirmation Amendment offered by Democrat Rep. Phil Travis that defines marriage and contains language that could be construed to bar civil unions. To date, thirty-eight states have banned recognition of homosexual ‘marriage’. Five states – California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. – allow domestic partnership status, and only Vermont recognizes homosexual civil unions.