WASHINGTON (BP)–Social conservatives concerned about the future direction of the Republican Party were heartened Feb. 24 when Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele made it clear he opposes not only “gay marriage” but also civil unions.
As reported by Politico.com, Steele made the comments to radio host Mike Gallagher, who asked, “Do you favor civil unions?” Civil unions grant all the legal benefits of marriage, minus the name.
“No, no no. What would we do that for?” Steele responded. “What are you crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? … I mean, this is a foundational principle of this country. It is a foundational principle of organized society. It isn’t something that, you know, in America we decided, ‘Let’s make it between a man and a woman; oh well now, let’s change our mind and make it between anyone and anyone.'”
Steele said that if homosexual couples simply want the benefits of marriage, they can take care of it through an attorney.
“There’s a whole number of ways in which two individuals can care for each other and look out for each other without having to put the imprimatur of marriage on their forehead,” Steele said.
Steele concluded, “I don’t understand why you need to weaken an institution that is a foundational institution of not just America, of mankind. I mean, this is something that as human beings, we have organized ourselves around — this thing called a family unit. This is how we’ve defined it…. I don’t think there’s hate in it. I don’t think there’s discrimination. It’s just a core, foundational principle of our society that this is what we believe and this is what we adhere to.”
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Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press.
