VOL. 17 ISSUE NO. 8   | FEBRUARY 23 – MARCH 1, 2011

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

ADF statement in response to DOJ letter on Defense of Marriage Act

Obama administration says it will no longer defend key component of DOMA

WASHINGTON — In response to a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice informing the speaker of the House that the DOJ and President Obama will no longer defend a key component of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the Alliance Defense Fund is issuing the following statement from ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks:

“The American people have a right to expect their laws to be defended by the very people whose job it is to do so:  their government officials.  But the administration is making clear that they are simply not going to defend marriage.”

“Marriage is a unifying issue in America.  The federal Defense of Marriage Act reflects the reality that 90 percent of states protect marriage and that the citizens in those states believe in marriage as a union only between one man and one woman.  Tragically, the Department of Justice has chosen to appease a small – but vocal and wealthy – constituency and abandon its duty to the people.”

“This only confirms what has appeared to be the case in several recent lawsuits.  In those defense-of-marriage cases, the DOJ has undermined rather than defended DOMA.  It’s unfortunate that the administration won’t defend such an important law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.  Either the House of Representatives or the Senate have the legal authority to intervene in pending lawsuits to defend the federal DOMA statute.  In addition, ADF will not waver in its ongoing defense of marriage nationwide.”

readers love sonoran news