Contact: Dane Rose, Program Director, Faith and Action, 202-546-8329, 703-447-1072 cell

WASHINGTON, June 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Massachusetts Legislature today denied the citizens of their state an opportunity to protect traditional marriage.  In voting against a measure that would have put the issue before the people on the 2008 ballot, politicians took away the rights of members of society to strengthen the institution of marriage and correct a misguided court ruling.

Proponents of the amendment sought to reverse the impact of the Supreme Judicial Court's Goodridge decision that legalized same-sex marriage in 2003.  Massachusetts remains the only state that recognizes the union of same-sex couples as "marriage".

Volunteers gathered over 170,000 signatures to place an amendment to the state constitution before voters that would define marriage only as the union of one man and one woman.  The process required approval in two successive legislative sessions to qualify as a statewide referendum.  The measure gained approval in last year's constitutional convention but failed today after intense political maneuvering led by Democratic governor Deval Patrick and pressure from the homosexual political lobby.

National Clergy Council President Rev. Rob Schenck (pronounced SHANK) said, "For legislators to flout the expressed will of the people is a travesty. It is clear they don't represent the people, but only their own narrow social and political agenda. The outcome of this violates the spirit of the law, denies citizens their right to self-government and breaks the moral law of God. Massachusetts will go down as an embarrassment and a shame for America."