Debate brings out religious controversy
Issue date: 10/20/04 Section: News
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Tom Strode
Baptist Press
WASHINGTON (BP)--Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry denied homosexuality is a choice, while President Bush said he was uncertain if it was a choice during the final debate before the Nov. 2 election.
Both men addressed questions on domestic issues during the 90-minute debate on Oct. 13 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., covering such issues as their religious faith, domestic security, the shortage of flu vaccine, job outsourcing, health insurance, and assault weapons bans.
About 30 minutes into the debate, moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News said he wanted to find out the basis for both men's opposition to same-sex "marriage." Schieffer asked, "Do you believe homosexuality is a choice?"
Responding first, Bush said, "I don't know. I just don't know. I do know that we have a choice to make in America and that is to treat people with tolerance and respect and dignity. It's important that we do that.
"And I also know in a free society people, consenting adults, can live the way they want to live. And that's to be honored," he said.
"But as we respect someone's rights, and as we profess tolerance, we shouldn't change -- or have to change -- our basic views on the sanctity of marriage. I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I think it's very important that we protect marriage as an institution between a man and a woman."
Bush said he endorsed a constitutional amendment to limit marriage to a man and a woman because he "was worried that activist judges are actually defining the definition of marriage. ... I'm deeply concerned that judges are making those decisions and not the citizenry of the United States."
He said he was concerned a court would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal law that protects states from having to recognize homosexual "marriages" performed in other states.
"And if it gets overturned, then we'll end up with marriage being defined by courts, and I don't think that's in our nation's best interests," Bush said.
Baptist Press
WASHINGTON (BP)--Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry denied homosexuality is a choice, while President Bush said he was uncertain if it was a choice during the final debate before the Nov. 2 election.
Both men addressed questions on domestic issues during the 90-minute debate on Oct. 13 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., covering such issues as their religious faith, domestic security, the shortage of flu vaccine, job outsourcing, health insurance, and assault weapons bans.
About 30 minutes into the debate, moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News said he wanted to find out the basis for both men's opposition to same-sex "marriage." Schieffer asked, "Do you believe homosexuality is a choice?"
Responding first, Bush said, "I don't know. I just don't know. I do know that we have a choice to make in America and that is to treat people with tolerance and respect and dignity. It's important that we do that.
"And I also know in a free society people, consenting adults, can live the way they want to live. And that's to be honored," he said.
"But as we respect someone's rights, and as we profess tolerance, we shouldn't change -- or have to change -- our basic views on the sanctity of marriage. I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I think it's very important that we protect marriage as an institution between a man and a woman."
Bush said he endorsed a constitutional amendment to limit marriage to a man and a woman because he "was worried that activist judges are actually defining the definition of marriage. ... I'm deeply concerned that judges are making those decisions and not the citizenry of the United States."
He said he was concerned a court would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal law that protects states from having to recognize homosexual "marriages" performed in other states.
"And if it gets overturned, then we'll end up with marriage being defined by courts, and I don't think that's in our nation's best interests," Bush said.