FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)
"These county officials are brazenly flaunting the law; substituting their personal views for those of the people...Their actions go beyond marriage and implicates the integrity of the rule of law." — Brian Brown, NOM president —
Washington, D.C. — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) condemned the actions of officials in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in allowing homosexual couples to obtain marriage licenses in violation of state law that defines marriage solely as the union of one man and one woman, and demanded that state courts put an end to it. The group called on the Legislature to immediately put a marriage amendment on the 2014 ballot to preserve traditional marriage.
"This illegal action by Montgomery County officials is an insult to voters, legislators and the rule of law," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "We demand that state judges put an immediate end to this lawlessness. In addition, we call on the Pennsylvania Legislature to act immediately to pass a proposed marriage amendment preserving marriage as it has always existed throughout the state's history as one man and one woman."
As is the case in every state in the union, Pennsylvania law defines marriage on a statewide basis. County officials have no role in defining marriage and are powerless to change state law. Despite this, Montgomery County officials have invited same-sex couples to engage in illegal marriages in opposition to state law.
"These county officials are brazenly flaunting the law; substituting their personal views for those of the people as expressed through their elected representatives in state government," Brown said. "Their actions go beyond marriage and implicates the integrity of the rule of law. This cannot be allowed to stand. We will explore every opportunity to hold these officials responsible for intentionally violating the law, including paths leading to their removal from office. In the meantime, we call on the state Legislature to put an amendment on the ballot preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Such a proposed constitutional amendment will give voters the ability to decide this issue for themselves, rather than allow state officials to impose their own views with no say so from the people."
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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected], at 703-683-5004.
Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).
