Posted on Aug 25, 2004 | by Staff

NEW YORK (BP)--A Republican platform panel endorsed language supporting a constitutional marriage amendment Aug. 25 and sent it to the full platform committee, which was scheduled to tackle the issue later in the day.

Republicans are in New York City working on their platform, which reflects the general position of the party on a host of issues. An initial draft of the platform opposes same-sex "marriage" and supports President Bush's position on stem cell research. Stances on the marriage amendment and stem cell research are additions to the 2000 platform.

Like recent platforms, pro-life language supporting a constitutional amendment banning abortion is included in the 2004 platform draft, The New York Times reported.

According to The Times, the platform draft says that the party "strongly support[s] President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage," and it calls marriage "the most fundamental institution of civilization."

"Attempts to redefine marriage in a single city or state could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a constitutional amendment, passed by Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges," the draft platform reads.

The Republican National Convention begins Aug. 30.
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For more information about the national debate over same-sex "marriage," visit http://www.bpnews.net/samesexmarriage