Following the US Supreme Court's decision legalising same-sex marriage in the US, an online petition has been launched to urge Congress to pass a constitutional amendment declaring that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.
Conservative website LifeSiteNews.com launched the petition, which had already drawn more than 60,000 signatures out of its goal of 100,000 as of Monday.
It said the Supreme Court ruling goes "against the will of the millions of Americans who voted to pass laws and amendments defending traditional marriage in dozens of states" and "also flies in the face of the nature of marriage as accepted for millennia of human history, the clear will of God, and human nature itself."
Same-sex marriage, it said, "undermines the right of children to a mother and father, and effectively makes it open season on religious liberty in America."
It said marriage between a man and a woman is the "bedrock" of any health society and to defend it "is not to be motivated by prejudice or hatred."
"This decision will have serious consequences worldwide, as other nations take inspiration from this misguided example of judicial activism," it said.
In the US, it said, the only way to protect marriage is for Congress to pass an amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
"Congressmen need to hear from their constituents that they will not tolerate inaction. The time to act is now. For the sake of our nation, the world, and our children, Congress must pass a pro-marriage constitutional amendment," it said.
The pro-forma petition says:
"To: All U.S. Congressmen and Senators
"We, the undersigned, believe that marriage can only be defined as the union of one man and one woman, and that this definition of marriage is the only definition that protects the rights of children, promotes the welfare of society, and corresponds with the will of God, human nature, and the truth about marriage itself.
"In imposing so-called same-sex 'marriage,' the United States Supreme Court has arrogated power it does not rightfully possess and has ignored the will of the American people in the numerous states that have voted to protect true marriage.
"As such, I demand that you immediately respond to this egregious overreach of judicial power by passing a constitutional amendment reaffirming the true definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman."
To view the petition, go to https://www.lifesitenews.com/petitions/congress-pass-marriage-amendment-now