The U.S. Senate this week debated a proposed constitutional amendment that would outlaw same-sex marriage. What do you think of the proposal?

This Constitutional Amendment says, ≥Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.≤ To become effective both houses of Congress must approve it by a two-thirds vote. Then it must be approved by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states within seven years.

President Bush said in his weekly radio address, "Marriage is the most enduring and important human institution, honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith. Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and a wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society.≤

I think this amendment would be very helpful. But this is a difficult process. Nevertheless laws both state and federal should help young families more. We have too few children. In the United States our growth rate is less than zero. We need more young people to support our economic system. The same thing is happening in Western Europe. In both cases the lack of workers is filled by immigration.

Children are very expensive. They require a lot of time and love. Parents train children and children force parents to grow in virtue and become more God like. But families need more help. It is far wiser to spend money on families and children now, than to remedy the bad consequences that otherwise will come later.

REV. GENE FRILOT

Pastor Emeritus

Incarnation Catholic Church

Glendale