The Battle Rages On: United States Supreme Court Declines

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Mat Staver - 407-875-2100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2004

The Battle Rages On: United States Supreme Court Declines
To Address Massachusetts Same-Sex Marriage Dispute

Boston, MA -Today, the United States Supreme Court denied review of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's ("SJC") 2003 decision legalizing same-sex marriage. Since the decision, approximately 3,000 same-sex Massachusetts couples have married. The plaintiffs in this case are Robert Largess, Vice President of the Catholic Action League, and eleven Massachusetts legislators. Plaintiffs are represented by Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family.

The issue of same-sex marriage will likely come before Massachusetts voters in the 2006 elections, as state legislators are already discussing a ballot initiative to define marriage. In 2004, 11 out of 11 states voted overwhelmingly to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Mathew Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, stated: "This decision highlights the need for an amendment to the United States Constitution protecting marriage and defining it as the union of one man and one woman. Marriage will be defined by someone. I would rather have it defined by the people of the United States instead of the judiciary." Staver concluded, "This battle is far from over. The Constitution should protect the citizens of Massachusetts from their own state Supreme Court's usurpation of power."

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