http://www.crosswalk.com/news/1268822.html
Allie Martin and Jody Brown
Agape Press
June 17, 2004
Southern Baptists gathered in Indianapolis cheered as President Bush reiterated his support for traditional marriage, and as denominational leaders urged the messengers to do their part by demanding passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment.
While it is not official, press reports say the U.S. Senate is moving toward a mid-July vote on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. A Capitol Hill newspaper quotes Senator Rick Santorum, the Republican Conference chairman, as saying GOP leaders want a July vote, but have not yet set a date. If a vote does occur then, it would come just before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts -- where same-sex marriage is now legal.
On Tuesday, speaking to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention via a satellite hookup, President George W. Bush said he drew strength from the prayers of evangelical Christians -- and that he supports a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of a man and a woman. He noted that marriage is honored by every religious faith, but needs defending from activist courts and local officials.