Religious Leaders Join Rally to Oppose Gay Marriage

February 9, 2004

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0402/29/a03-58833.htm

On February 9, 2004 The Boston Globe reported, "Boisterous opponents of same-sex marriage sang, cheered and chanted Sunday at a rally to build support for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The demonstration on the Boston Common, a short distance from the Massachusetts Statehouse, broke out into chants of 'Let the people vote!' while demonstrators held aloft banners with phrases such as 'Marriage, ancient, sacred,' and 'Repent or perish.' Police estimated the crowd at 2,000 people. Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston said the rally was not about “hatemongering,” as some critics have charged. 'We are here because we are concerned about marriage and about family,' he told the cheering crowd.'Good strong marriage and family are good for our country, for society...'" On Saturday, leaders of churches, synagogues and mosques around Massachusetts condemned the high court’s ruling in a joint statement and urged a constitutional ban on such unions. Signers included O’Malley; the Rev. David M. Midwood, president of Vision New England, an organization of evangelical churches; the Islamic Council of New England, which has about 25 centers and mosques; the 80-church Black Ministerial Alliance; 100 Christian Orthodox churches; and two Jewish leaders."