President, governor respond to same-sex marriage licenses

In a move many conservatives have been waiting on for months, President Bush officially called for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as an institution between one man and one woman in a Feb. 24 announcement.

“Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society,” Bush said. “Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife.”

Bush’s announcement came in the wake of San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsome issuing thousands of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the last two weeks in defiance of California-state law. Judges in that state have refused to stop what one conservative group has called “municipal anarchy.” The announcement also comes on the heels of the Massachusetts Supreme Court ordering the state to begin issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples in May.

“After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence, and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization,” Bush said. “Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires clarity.”

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenneger issued a statement Feb. 17 condemning the marriages and calling on the courts to take quick action to reverse the practice. “I support all of California’s existing laws that provide domestic partnership benefits and protections,” he said. “However, Californians spoke on the issue of same-sex marriage when they overwhelmingly approved California’s law that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. I support that law and encourage San Francisco to obey that law. The courts should act quickly to resolve this matter.”

Schwarzenegger and former Gov. Pete Wilson have said California Attorney General Bill Lockyear needs to act on the lawlessness in San Francisco, specifically the action of Mayor Newsom’s issuing of “marriage” licenses to some 3,000 homosexual couples, an abomination to the overwhelming majority of the American people according to Jan LaRue, Concerned Women for America’s chief counsel.

“A real terminator would end the anarchy by enforcing the law he swore an oath to uphold,” said LaRue.

LaRue said California’s Penal Code 115, states: “Every person who knowingly procures or offers any false or forged instrument to be filed, registered, or recorded in any public office within this state ... which instrument, if genuine, might be filed, registered, or recorded under any law of this State or the United States is guilty of a felony.”

Two California Supreme Court judges refused to put an immediate stop to the “marriages” that clearly violate state law, instead allowing city officials until March 29 to argue the merits of their case.

The Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund had asked the court for an immediate halt to the city’s illegal issuing of marriage licenses. After a three-hour hearing Feb. 18, Judge James L. Warren ruled that there was not enough evidence of harm to the plaintiffs to justify immediate action. Instead, he issued an order to the city to either “cease and desist...solemnizing the same-sex marriages” or return to court by March 29 to outline reasons why they should be allowed to continue.