FRC Optimistic DOMA Will Now Receive Vigorous Legal Defense

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins commended House Speaker John Boehner for his announcement today that the House leadership will intervene in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This action was required following President Obama's troubling decision to abdicate defending DOMA even though the President has the duty to defend federal laws whose constitutionality is attacked in court.

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Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments:

"We commend Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor for intervening to defend DOMA. This follows President Obama's decision to abdicate the requirement of his constitutional oath that he 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed.' A forceful intervention is a necessary response that will limit the dangerous precedent set by President Obama's refusal to defend DOMA.

"We thank Speaker Boehner for working to protect the rule of law and the institution of marriage. The Speaker is sending a bold message that Congress will not stand idly while the President picks and chooses which laws will be nullified by Executive Branch surrender to antagonistic litigants.

"Marriage as the union of one man and one woman has been easily defended in court and overwhelmingly supported by the American people. President Obama's failure to defend DOMA places 29 state marriage amendments in jeopardy as well as the other 12 states with statutes defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. We are optimistic that DOMA will now receive a vigorous legal defense. Until now, this statute, passed by overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate and signed into law by President Clinton, has only received an anemic defense by the Obama Justice Department. That falls far short of the vigorous and intelligent effort that the federal definition of marriage and American families deserve.

"We urge the federal courts to recognize these legitimate governmental interests, preserve the traditional understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and safeguard the right of the people to enact legislation defining the public institution of marriage," concluded Perkins.

Click here to read FRC's new publication on the Defense of Marriage Act: http://www.frcblog.com/2011/03/the-future-of-the-defense-of-marriage-act-doma/

SOURCE Family Research Council