Marriage amendment necessary to stop ‘despotic judges’, says Catholic League

Washington D.C., Jul 13, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Catholic League president William Donohue said the Federal Marriage Amendment is necessary “because those who support homosexual marriage have already proven to be ruthless in the pursuit of their goal”, including judges who have appropriated the power to change marriage, a power they are not ascribed in the law.

The Catholic League issued the statement yesterday as the Senate debated the amendment, which would preserve the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. A decision is expected this week.

“To be explicit, more than a few judges have shown nothing but contempt for the democratic process by sanctioning gay marriages,” said Donohue.  “Because these judges have arrogated to themselves powers, nowhere found in law, they must be stopped. 

“Unfortunately, there are so many of these despotic judges in the states that nothing less than a constitutional amendment will work,” he continued. “That is why we urge every senator to affirm the traditional understanding of marriage by supporting this amendment.”

Donohue said the question for the majority of Americans, who support the traditional definition of marriage, is not whether same-sex marriage should be sanctioned, but “whether a constitutional amendment is the right remedy.”

Donohue noted that marriage, as the union of a man and a woman, has been universally embraced in all cultures throughout history.

“No society in all of human history, up until very recently, has ever given a second thought to the propriety of two men getting married,” he said. “Indeed, it was considered so taboo that only the deranged would voice such nonsense. Sadly, things have changed.”