United First Parish Church Quincy, Massachusetts

This historic church, the congregation of John Adams, author of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has a tradition of concern for individual rights and protection of the minority, extending from the early days of the Commonwealth through John Adams to the present day. Thus, while we cannot know Adams' opinion on the present matters, we are moved from that tradition to speak publicly on present efforts to amend the Constitution of the Commonwealth.

As thinking and caring people, we believe marriage is an important institution that supports loving couples, nurtures children, and deepens the bonds between families and their communities.

As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings, affirming the equal value of all people.

We believe in the right of individual conscience and in civil liberty, and when there is no objective public harm, government should protect those individual liberties.

We believe justice and equity are best served by recognizing the right of marriage for same-sex couples.

And, our compassion for same-sex couples and recognition of their current unfair treatment compels us to respond publicly to this issue.

THEREFORE, this congregation resolves:

To support the right of same-sex couples to marry and to receive all the rights and benefits of that civil institution under the laws of the Commonwealth;

To urge the people and government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to abide by the decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Goodridge v. Board of Health; and

To request that the legislature cease efforts to amend the Constitution, as the proposed amendment erodes the principles underlying the constitutions of both Massachusetts and the United States.