Defending Traditional Marriage

February 24, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush backed a U.S. constitutional amendment banning gay marriage Tuesday, saying he wants to stop activist judges from changing the definition of the ``most enduring human institution.''

Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural and moral roots, Bush said, urging Congress to approve such an amendment.

``After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence and millenia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization,'' the president said. ``Their action has created confusion on an issue that requires clarity.''

Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said in advance of Bush's announcement that the president wanted to end ``growing confusion'' that has arisen from court decisions in Massachusetts, and San Francisco's permitting more than 3,000 same sex unions.

``The president believes it is important to have clarity,'' he said. ``There is widespread support in this country for protecting and defending the sanctity of marriage.''

McClellan said Bush believes that legislation for such an amendment, submitted by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave,``meets his principles'' in protecting the ``sanctity of marriage'' between men and women.

But Bush did not specifically embrace any particular piece of legislation in his announcement. White House officials have said that support for Musgrave's proposed amendment has been unraveling in the Senate.

Bush decided to take action partly because the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that it is unconstitutional to bar gay couples from marriage. That decision could result in gay weddings there as early as May, McClellan said. ``We're two months away,'' he said.

McClellan said 38 states have passed laws protecting the ``sanctity of marriage and the president will call on Congress to move quickly to pass legislation that can then be sent to the states for ratification.

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