Source: The Boston Globe
On March 8, 2004 The Boston Globe reported, "Religious groups on opposing sides of the gay marriage debate held prayer services to rally supporters and promote their causes yesterday on the last Sunday before the Legislature reconvenes to try to resolve an issue that has focused the nation's attention on Massachusetts. The Legislature is set to meet Thursday in a joint session in which lawmakers are expected to debate a proposal to change the state Constitution to ban gay marriage but create civil unions for same-sex couples. The Legislature's attempt to address the issue last month ended in a deadlock. Yesterday, religious groups that support same-sex marriage organized sermons, letter-writing campaigns, and discussion groups at churches from Cape Cod to Lowell. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people attended a service in Mattapan organized by black ministers opposed to gay marriage. At the Old South Church in Boston, congregation members met after morning services and wrote 30 letters urging lawmakers to oppose any constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The group also approved a resolution supporting gay marriage that will be voted on by the church council in the next two weeks."