Jewish:

Orthodox Rabbinical Council Endorses PROP 102 YES FOR MARRIAGE

The Orthodox Rabbinical Council of Greater Phoenix submits that it is, or ought to be, an urgent objective of public policy not only to strengthen the institution of marriage, but to do so in a manner that promotes a sense of responsibility to children.

The historical genius of marriage is not merely that it constitutes the legal union of man and woman, but that it furnishes the foundation of family. We therefore wish to affirm our shared commitment to the ordinance of God, the Almighty One, who created man and woman in the divine image, so that they might share as male and female, as helpmates and equals (Gen. 2:21-24), in the procreation of children (Gen. 1:28) and the development of society.

We now confront a demand that same sex unions be classified as marriage. Advocates of this position argue that to do otherwise is to engage in a form of discrimination against homosexuals. We recognize that all persons share equally in the dignity of human nature and are entitled to have that human dignity protected, but this does not justify the creation of a new definition for a term whose traditional meaning is of critical importance to the furtherance of a fundamental societal interest.

God's design for the continuance of human life, as seen in the natural order, as well as in the Bible (Gen. 1-3), clearly revolves around the union of male and female, first as husband and wife, and then as parents. A unique goal of marriage, which is reproduction and the raising of families, exists apart from that of same sex unions, which cannot equally participate in this essential function. While others may claim the right to establish private relationships between persons of the same gender that simulate marriage, the legal classification of such relationships as marriage dilutes the special standing of marriage between a man and a woman. Since the future of every society depends upon its ability to reproduce itself according to this natural order and to have its young people reared in a stable environment, it is the duty of the state to protect the traditional place of marriage and the family for the good of society. Legalizing same-sex marriages -- which, by biological definition, can never have anything to do with procreation would obscure further still the vital link between marriage and children. The message is subtle, but in our view devastating.

Therefore, we join religious groups all over the country, including the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, Agudath Israel of America and the Rabbinical Council of America we call upon our Jewish brothers and sisters and all people of faith to "Vote Yes for Marriage" ; Vote Yes on Prop 102 in November which states clearly.

"Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state."

Orthodox Rabbinical Council of Greater Phoenix