 Kirkpatrick urges President Bush, Congress to back homosexual unions By John H. Adams The Layman Online Friday, February 4, 2005 Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has sent letters to President George W. Bush and members of Congress calling for "legislation to change state laws to include the right of same-gender persons to civil union and, thereby, to extend to them all the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities of civil union, and urges all persons to support such changes in state laws." The letters stop short of calling on Congress to enact laws granting same-gender couples the right to marry, but they also fail to note all that the 216th General Assembly had to say about the issue. The General Assembly, in addition to calling for full civil rights for homosexuals, said in response to Item 10-16, "Nothing the 216th General Assembly (2004) has said or acted upon is to be construed to state or imply a position for or against the Federal Marriage Amendment. General Assembly entities shall not advocate for or against the Federal Marriage Amendment." The Federal Marriage Amendment would prohibit homosexual marriages. Alan Wisdom of the Institute of Religion and Democracy, a Christian research and public policy organization, sent copies of Kirkpatrick's letters and other material to Presbyterian media organizations Friday afternoon. Although Kirkpatrick's letters to Bush and members of Congress were dated Jan. 11, no mention had been made of them on the PCUSA Web site. Wisdom said Kirkpatrick's letters did not state explicitly that the PCUSA supports civil marriage for gay couples. In fact, Kirkpatrick said the General Assembly "affirms the Presbyterian Church's historic definition of the meaning of marriage as a 'civil contract between a woman and a man' yet recognizes that committed same-sex partners seek equal civil liberties in a contractual relationship with all the civil rights of married couples." But Wisdom said he was "disappointed" that Kirkpatrick missed the opportunity to include in his lobbying letter mention of Item 10-16. And he said the Washington Office had previously lobbied against the Federal Marriage Amendment, once comparing proponents of the amendment to 1950s segregationists. During his state of the union speech this week, Bush reaffirmed his support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposal that arose as homosexuals sought marriage rights in a number of states. Wisdom said he does not believe the PCUSA staff has made any subsequent communications correcting their advocacy of homosexual marriage in contradiction to the PCUSA's Constitution. "Letters such as those of January 11 would have been an appropriate occasion to clarify the matter. And it would not have cost a penny more to add a couple of sentences referring to Item 10-16. I am disappointed in the stated clerk for having missed this opportunity. The necessary work of correcting all the mis-statements made last year about the Federal Marriage Amendment remains to be done." Wisdom, a Presbyterian who also works with Presbyterian Faith in Action, said he learned about Kirkpatrick's letters through a story that was published in the Baltimore Sun on Jan. 30. The story was about the debate between conservatives and church liberals over proposed state efforts to get the courts in Maryland to sanction same-sex marriages. Kirkpatrick also mailed a copy of separate policy statement to leaders of congregations, presbyteries and synods. That statement also did not include the General Assembly's stand on Item 10-16. Text of letter to President Bush January 11, 2005 President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: The 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a resolution recognizing Civil Rights for Same-Gender Couples. The resolution affirms the Presbyterian Church's historic definition of the meaning of marriage as a "civil contract between a woman and a man" yet recognizes that committed same-sex partners seek equal civil liberties in a contractual relationship with all the civil rights of married couples. (Minutes of the General Assembly, 1996, Part I, p. 122). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) declares that all persons are entitled to equal treatment under the law (Constitution of the United States of America). We therefore are urging state legislations to change state laws to include the right of same-gender persons to civil union and, thereby, to extend to them all the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities of civil union, and urges all persons to support such changes in state laws. We further, urge the Congress of the United States of America to recognize those state laws that allow same-gender union and to change federal laws to recognize all civil unions licensed and solemnized under state law to apply in all federal laws that provide benefits, privileges, and/or responsibilities to married persons. This resolution reaffirms the longstanding commitment of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to the historic definition of marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman, while at the same time expressing concern for the legal and civil rights of same gender couples. We urge you to do all within your power to protect the rights of same-gender persons. May God bless you in the responsibility you hold for the good of all people in our nation. Cordially yours, Clifton Kirkpatrick Stated Clerk of the General Assembly CK:jee Text of letter to members of Congress Office of the General Assembly Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk January 11, 2005 TO: Members of the United States Congress Dear Congresspersons The 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a resolution recognizing Civil Rights for Same-Gender Couples. The resolution affirms the Presbyterian Church's historic definition of the meaning of marriage as a "civil contract between a woman and a man" yet recognizes that committed same-sex partners seek equal civil liberties in a contractual relationship with all the civil rights of married couples. (Minutes of the General Assembly, 1996, Part I, p. 122). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) declares that all persons are entitled to equal treatment under the law (Constitution of the United States of America). We therefore are urging state legislations to change state laws to include the right of same-gender persons to civil union and, thereby, to extend to them all the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities of civil union, and urges all persons to support such changes in state laws. We further, urge the Congress of the United States of America to recognize those state laws that allow same-gender union and to change federal laws to recognize all civil unions licensed and solemnized under state law to apply in all federal laws that provide benefits, privileges, and/or responsibilities to married persons. This resolution reaffirms the longstanding commitment of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to the historic definition of marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman, while at the same time expressing concern for the legal and civil rights of same gender couples. We urge you to do all within your power to protect the rights of same-gender persons. May God bless you in the responsibility you hold for the good of all people in our nation. Cordially yours, Clifton Kirkpatrick Stated Clerk of the General Assembly CK:jee Text of statement to churches, presbyteries, synods January, 2005 TO: Pastors of Churches and Clerks of Sessions Where There is No Installed Pastor, Stated Clerks and Executives of Presbyteries and Synods Dear Friends: The 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a resolution recognizing Civil Rights for Same-Gender Couples. The assembly also directed the Office of the General Assembly to communicate this action to all middle and lower governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as well as to the president of the United States of America and to all members of the Congress of the United States of America. The Statement is as follows: Statement The 216th General Assembly (2004) does the following:
May God continue to bless and strengthen your ministry. Cordially yours, Clifton Kirkpatrick Stated Clerk of the General Assembly CK:jee |
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