President Bush criticized the New Jersey Supreme Court today for ordering the state Legislature to grant homosexual couples the same rights as married couples – either by passing a law legalizing same-sex marriage or by creating civil unions.
"We believe in family values. We believe values are important," Bush said during a speech in Des Moines, Iowa. "And we believe marriage is a fundamental institution of civilization.
"Yesterday in New Jersey, we had another activist court issue a ruling that raises doubts about the institution of marriage. I believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and I believe it's a sacred institution that is critical to the health of our society and the well-being of families, and it must be defended.
Meanwhile, former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who resigned in 2004 after acknowledging his homosexuality, said he hopes to wed his same-sex partner if gay marriage is legalized in the state, The New York Times reported.
McGreevey, who left his wife after admitting to a homosexual affair with a former state employee, now lives with a 43-year-old Australian businessman. Though he is not yet divorced, he said he looks forward to marrying his partner.
“Marriage would offer the ability to bless our relationship in a committed way,” he said. “I applaud the court’s courage.”
Family advocates, though, aren’t doing much clapping.
Focus on the Family Chairman Dr. James Dobson called the ruling a “travesty” Wednesday, and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins is urging New Jersey lawmakers to resist the court’s bullying and push for a marriage-protection amendment to the state constitution.
“This is nothing more than a veiled act of judicial activism,” he said. “As in Massachusetts and Vermont, the New Jersey Supreme Court has acted as a super-legislature imposing their will on the people.
“The Legislature should ignore this ruling and follow the lead of 20 other states that have already passed marriage amendments.”
