|
AU-OC
3337 S. Bristol, #251
Santa Ana,
CA 92704
orangecountyau@yahoo.com
Download our Latest
Newsletter
Communicate with other AU-OC members through our
Enrolling is easy!
Connect to
AU-OC on Facebook
Connect to
AU on Facebook
Download AU-OC
Photos at Flickr
Download AU Photos at Flickr
AU News on Twitter
Current
Terror Alert Level
Thanks to Geek and Proud, Alan Penner
Legislation in Congress:
Search Our Site:
| |
Bush's Renewed Call for Marriage Amendment Kowtows to Religious Right
State-Of-The-Union Endorsement Is Sop To Extremists Who Want To Merge Religion
And Government, Says AU's Lynn
After dismissing the likelihood of Senate passage of a Federal Marriage
Amendment, President George W. Bush is suddenly promoting the idea again.
The about-face shows the continuing influence of the Religious Right on the
White House, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
During his State of the Union address Feb. 2, Bush said, "Because marriage is a
sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by
activist judges. For the good of families, children and society, I support a
constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage."
Americans United criticized the president's remarks.
"The election is over," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of
Americans United. "The president can stop pandering to the Religious Right by
promising to rewrite our Constitution to meet the demands of extremists like
James Dobson and his band of TV preacher pals."
Bush was less enthusiastic about the amendment before the speech. In a recent
interview with The Washington Post, Bush dismissed talk of an amendment, saying
it would never pass the Senate. He said the same thing during a meeting with
black conservatives a few days later.
Bush's tepid support for the amendment infuriated Religious Right leaders like
James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Dobson and his allies in the "Arlington
Group," a coalition of major Religious Right activists, sent Bush political
advisor Karl Rove a stern letter Jan. 18 demanding a change in course. The
religious conservatives threatened to refuse to support Bush's controversial
Social Security plan unless the president actively pushed for a marriage
amendment.
In the State of the Union two weeks later, Bush adopted the Religious Right
line. In the speech, he also reflected Religious Right views on stem-cell
research, abortion and the "faith-based" initiative.
Lynn said polls show that most Americans do not support altering the
Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
"The Religious Right treats our Constitution like a first draft," said Lynn.
"They are eager to tack on all of their pet notions and turn their theological
perspectives into the law of the land."
Continued Lynn, "The unholy matrimony of George Bush and the Religious Right
threatens the rights of all Americans. It's time for a divorce."
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in
Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about
the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
|
