New York – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has brought together a broad coalition of organizations, representing diverse faiths, traditions and cultures, urging the United States Supreme Court to reject efforts to impose one particular religious understanding of marriage into law.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The League filed amicus briefs in two pending cases: Hollingsworth v. Perry, which challenges the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the California ballot measure restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples, and United States v. Windsor on the constitutionality of Section 3 of the 1996 “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA).
“In both cases, we have brought together an incredibly diverse and impressive coalition of religious and cultural organizations,” said Deborah M. Lauter, ADL Civil Rights Director. “In Windsor, we argue that religious views of marriage should be kept distinct from a civil understanding of marriage. The ill-conceived and discriminatory 1996 law flouts this longstanding constitutional principle by codifying one particular religious understanding of marriage into federal law.”
“In Perry, we urge the Court to land on the right side of history,” said Christopher Wolf, ADL Civil Rights Chair. “Time and time again, religious and moral disapproval as a basis for discriminatory laws has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The Court needs only to look at its decisions ending slavery, segregation, interracial-marriage bans, and laws restricting women’s roles in public life to reach the right conclusion.”
“The original purpose behind DOMA and Proposition 8 was to express religious and moral condemnation of gay and lesbian people. That is certainly not a legitimate interest of the government,” Ms. Lauter said. “As these briefs demonstrate, there are religious voices that strongly oppose both laws.”
ADL was joined on the briefs by Americans United for Separation of Church and State; Bend the Arc – A Jewish Partnership for Justice; The Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Women of Reform Judaism; Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST); Hadassah – The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.; The Hindu American Foundation; The Interfaith Alliance Foundation; The Japanese American Citizens League; Jewish Social Policy Action Network (JSPAN); Keshet; Lutherans Concerned/North America; Metropolitan Community Church; The National Council of Jewish Women; Nehirim; People for the American Way Foundation; The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund; Truah: Rabbis for Human Rights-North America; and Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.
The law firm Ropes and Gray LLP prepared the Windsor friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of ADL. The law firm of Hogan Lovells US LLP prepared the Perry friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of ADL.
Agudas Israel of America should file a brief to put on record the position of authentic Jewry. Even if they lose, it is vital to make a stand( Michaah). Violation of two cardinal principals of the Noahide Laws is something to protest about. The two aforementioned principles are A. Immorality and B.Making laws to legitimize same.
Dis just gives me a groiseh feeling of emisdikkeh yiddishe naches
Yes there was a brief submitted to the Supreme Court that stated marriage should be limited to a man and a woman, on public policy grounds, based on the view of the Torah that homosexual relationships are destructive to society and destructive to the people themselves. Religious authority should be given no less weight than testimony of psychologists, sociologists and other academics. A copy of the brief is available at http://zehjournal.com/images/USvWindsor.AmicusCuriae.DovidZSchwartz.pdf
When the idea of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness is impeded for the few, the actual constitution will step in. Expect a positive outcome for the same sex marriage interests by the supreme court I think. But of course it is not the final stage in human development and the heavens are filled with the reality that a man and man or a woman and woman who “tie the knot” are not in a real trusted Torah relationship and thus they will not be in the weight of honor and sanctuary in the end of days at the time of our redemption.
ADL shows its true colors.
Bnai brith is a joke. They want to now corrupt the whole world with this filth. They want to make everyone happy. Fine. Let every man marry his sister or mother or father or horse. And why not a man marry 17 wives and visa versa. Happiness. The fault is us frum yidden we only care about money and so many of our children,yes with the nice thick streimlech are going down the tubes religiously. If we would display idealism we won’t look like fakers. So many young married heimisha couples in their twenties are more at risk than 15 year olds. But we have leadership that only worships the dollar. So what can you expect from our youth.