March 15, 2016
To whom this may concern:
We European Unitarian Universalists declare support for Dávid Gyerő, Deputy Bishop of the Hungarian Unitarian Church, in his personal statement of February 5, 2016. We stand with Dávid Gyerő and the other Romania church leaders who have spoken out against the proposed amendment to paragraph 48 of the Romanian constitution, which would redefine marriage under Romanian constitutional law as the union between one man and one woman. The reverend’s letter has been published as a personal statement on the website of the Hungarian Unitarian Church and an English translation has been provided on Facebook.
Romania is signatory to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and as such has pledged to take steps toward reducing discrimination. We European Unitarian Universalists assert that amending the Romanian Constitution to exclusively grant the right to marry to a legally defined man and a woman is a step back in the advancement of human rights for European citizens.
Unitarian Universalists have witnessed in our communities the growth and advancement that comes through diversity. A fundamental principle of our faith, and we believe the best qualities of all faith traditions and of humanity, is the respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
To deny consenting adults the right of a legal union in marriage denies those individuals their dignity and the legal rights associated with marriage, and renders Romanian and European Society less equitable. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned that this degradation of equity could unintentionally lead to further discriminatory practices and human rights violations in Romania and Europe.
We, the undersigned representatives of the European Unitarian Universalists, declare our support of Deputy Bishop Dávid Gyerő’s personal statement. We strongly oppose the proposed amendment to paragraph 48 of the Romanian Constitution.
Respectfully,
Matt Gilsenan Jeanette Wild-Sievers
President Vice President
Tony Zamparutti John Hertz
Secretary Treasurer
Tina Huesing Jodi Ellen Stolzenbach
Social Action Co-Coordinator Social Action Co-Coordinator
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