LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
TO:       Agudath Israel of America constituents and friends
FROM:  Rabbi Abba Cohen, Director and Counsel, Agudath Israel, Washington
Office
RE:       federal marriage amendment
DATE:   17 Tammuz 5764/July 6, 2004
Next week the U.S. Senate is scheduled to take up a proposal which,
arguably, is one of the most important pieces of legislation it has ever
considered:  the Federal Marriage Amendment.  This legislation is intended
to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex "marriage" throughout the
country.*
As you know, Massachusetts is already allowing such marriages.  Other
states are certain to follow.  It is not necessary to explain the
implications of such a development on our society, our community, and our
families suffice it to say that it is a breach of such magnitude that we
simply cannot stand by idly.  Indeed, if marriage comes to be seen in
American law as including these types of relationships, our communitys
mosdos may suffer certain severe consequences for our refusal to join the
trend.   We must do everything we can to stop marriage from being so
radically redefined.
The Senate is expected to take up the legislation the week of July 12.  We
urge you to mobilize your communities now to contact your states United
States Senators and urge them to vote "yes" on the Federal Marriage
Amendment.  Our experience is that phone calls are far more effective than
e-mails.  To reach your Senators, simply call the Capitol switchboard at
202-224-3121.
Tragically, the Reform movement, and some other Jewish groups, are pushing
hard to defeat the amendment.  It is absolutely essential that our
community is heard from as well.
Please call your Senators today, and please distribute this e-mail to as
many people as possible.
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*Here is the complete text of the Federal Marriage Amendment:
    Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man
    and a woman.  Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any
    State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal
    incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a
    man and a woman.