Defending Marriage

We join together as members of many different races, creeds and colors, as leaders representing Maryland’s diverse communities of faith and those who practice no religion, and all those dedicated to the common good.  We stand united to uphold marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and to express our opposition to any effort which would drastically redefine marriage in our state law as a union between any two persons.

Our support for marriage is positive and uplifting.  Marriage as an institution of a man and a woman has been the fundamental building block of human civilization since before recorded history and predates Maryland as a state.  It is the tie that binds past generations to the future and is the most pro-child institution ever created. While death, divorce, and other circumstances too often prevent it, the overwhelming body of evidence is that children do best when raised by their married, biological parents.

We do not support discrimination against any individual because of his or her sexual orientation. As faith and community leaders, we embrace, minister to, and provide services to all people. We firmly believe however, that the institution of marriage can only belong to the union of one man and one woman because nature – not social preference – has given this relationship the unique capacity to bring children into the world and bind them to their parents.

We collectively join together as the Maryland Marriage Alliance to address our common concern for the future of marriage. As we begin this endeavor, we wish to clarify for each other and for the public the core principles on which our joint venture will proceed:

• We are deeply committed to the good of marriage as the union of one husband with one wife; and to marriage as the foundation of the human family, and the building block of the common good.

• We are deeply committed to the welfare of every child in Maryland, regardless of his or her parents’ marital status. Every boy and girl is a child of God and deserves our compassionate concern.

• We are deeply committed to advocating for marriage between one man and one woman through a positive, nonpartisan, and charitable message.

• We are deeply committed to civility amid disagreement. As the public discourse on the definition of marriage proceeds, we pledge to treat every one of our neighbors and fellow citizens with respect for the basic human dignity with which each person is endowed.