Week Ending October 17, 2003
Religious Freedom Coalition
October 17, 2003 2:31PM EST
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 17, 2003
CONGRESS IN SESSION
MARRIAGE PROTECTION
Social conservative leaders met again this Wednesday on Capitol Hill. The purpose of the meeting, which included many notables in the pro-family movement, was to agree on tough language for the Federal Marriage Amendment. It is my prayer that agreed upon language can be presented to the House Subcommittee on the Constitution chaired by Congressman Chabot (R-OH) before the year is out. Once agreed to during a "mark-up," final language would then be presented to the full House Judiciary Committee chaired by Congressman Sennsenbrenner (R-WI),
It is hoped that a first vote could be held on a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as being between one man and one woman before the general elections next year. While I am hopeful, I do not believe that any Constitutional Amendment since the Bill of Rights has passed the House on a first vote, or even within the first term it was entered. In fact many of the current Constitutional amendments took as many as seven years to pass and ratify. In the meantime what do we do to defend the institution of marriage?
Congressman Hostettler (R-IN), who is a member of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, has proposed the Marriage Protection Act of 2003. His bill would strengthen the already existing Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996 by restricting the jurisdiction of federal courts. In Hill lingo this is referred to as the "super-DOMA" because it uses Article III, Section I & II of the Constitution to restrict the jurisdiction of federal courts, including the Supreme Court. This is not an unusual act and the Congress passes several bills a year with language attached that forbids Federal courts from interfering with congressional acts. Most Americans believe there are three "equal" branches of government. This is false. All power rests with the Congress. The Congress can fire judges, or the President, for that matter. The Congress has the power to shut down any Cabinet office or to restrict the courts in virtually any manner. Because the Congress is often politically divided, the power is rarely used.
I fully support Congressman Hostettler in his efforts to pass the Marriage Protection Act. The Religious Freedom Coalition will work on two tracks to protect marriage. We will support an Amendment to the Constitution and we will support strong legislation such as the Marriage Protection Act. If nothing else, we can have Congressman Hostettler's legislation in place while the lengthy process of a constitutional amendment plays itself out.
REMEMBER:
Marriage Protection Week as proclaimed by President George W. Bush continues through Saturday the 18th. There is time for you to take action. Sign the online petition to your congressman and Senators today.Send your congressman and Senators an actual letter
through the mail. This is a powerful way to make your point. We have letters prepared for you to sign. We will send you these letters already addressed to your congressman and your Senators for your signature. Sign them and send them directly to your legislators. Click here for more information.Learn more about the issues surrounding the attack on marriage.
Dr. Bill Bennett has written an excellent book entitled The Broken Hearth which details the attack on the family today. The Religious Freedom Coalition has obtained copies of The Broken Hearth at a special price. For more information click here.To protect our society and the future of our children, marriage must remain between one man and one woman and not between two men or even a group of polygamists. Next week we will return to our normal format reporting on various issues important to families including the status of "under God" in the Pledge to the Flag.
William J. Murray, Chairman -
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