Bishops Applaud Maine Vote Defending Marriage

Marriage unique institution between one man, one woman, say bishops; Defense
of marriage does not allow 'unjust discrimination' against homosexual persons;
Marriage must be strengthened, not redefined

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The U.S. bishops applauded the
decision of voters in Maine to repeal a state law allowing same-sex
"marriage." The position of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB) was stated by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, chairman of
the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage.

"Yesterday on November 3rd, the people of Maine voted to uphold the true
nature of marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Archbishop Kurtz
said in a November 4 statement. "The voice of the people in this country has
spoken once again on the side of justice, in favor of the truth about
marriage."

He underscored the fact that the Church "stands for the basic rights of all
people, including homosexual persons" and "decries any unjust discrimination
against persons who experience same-sex attraction."

"Protecting marriage between a man and a woman has nothing to do with denying
basic rights to anyone, though it is often framed in such terms," he said.

"Especially in our society where we see so many marriages fail, we should work
to strengthen marriage rather than redefine it," Archbishop Kurtz said also.
"Marriage must be protected and promoted today for what it is and what it is
meant to be: the lifelong, exclusive union between husband and wife. There are
many ways to uphold the basic human rights of all people, but sacrificing
marriage can never be one of them."

Efforts of the Ad Hoc Committee are part of an overall USCCB Marriage
Initiative to strengthen marriage. Other efforts include a proposed pastoral
letter on marriage set for a vote at the November USCCB in Baltimore, and a
popular Web site www.foryourmarriage.org.

The entire statement follows.

Statement on behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage
concerning the Maine November 3rd vote on marriage

Yesterday on November 3rd, the people of Maine voted to uphold the true nature
of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The voice of the people in
this country has spoken once again on the side of justice, in favor of the
truth about marriage.

Marriage is an institution which precedes all others, whether political or
religious. It deserves the state's reinforcement and protection. The Catholic
Church recognizes that this truth is contentious and difficult for some to
accept. Yet it is a truth both accessible to human reason and confirmed by
revelation, and the Church reasonably and compassionately urges all to respect
it. The nature of marriage is written in the truth of who we are as human
persons, as man and woman. One can say it is written not merely on our hearts,
but in our very bodies.

The Church stands for the basic rights of all people, including homosexual
persons. She decries any unjust discrimination against persons who experience
same-sex attraction. Protecting marriage between a man and a woman has nothing
to do with denying basic rights to anyone, though it is often framed in such
terms. In fact, protecting marriage is safeguarding the rights of our most
dependent and vulnerable among us--our children, who deserve to be welcomed as
a gift of spousal love and not to be intentionally deprived of a mother and a
father. Protecting marriage affirms the unique and indispensable roles of
mothers and fathers, and recognizes the particular responsibilities that
husbands and wives bear in society. Protecting marriage affirms the permanent
and exclusive love between a husband and a wife as a wonderful and
incomparable good in itself which also is of great social and practical
consequence. Their sexual difference, man to woman and woman to man, is real
and valuable--not a social construct, and not an aspect of the human person
that may be disregarded at will and without cost. This difference is essential
for marriage and is the relational context for the formation of the human
person. Sadly, the attempts to redefine marriage today ignore or reject the
unique identity and gifts of man and woman. Such a dismissal only fosters
confusion about what it means to be human.

Protecting marriage between one man and one woman is a matter of justice. It
is a matter of truth. Law should be at the service of truth and justice. Laws
based on untruths are unjust. Working for justice presumes that we work to
preserve the true meaning of marriage. Especially in our society where we see
so many marriages fail, we should work to strengthen marriage rather than
redefine it. Marriage must be protected and promoted today for what it is and
what it is meant to be: the lifelong, exclusive union between husband and
wife. There are many ways to uphold the basic human rights of all people, but
sacrificing marriage can never be one of them.

On behalf of the bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, I
express my deep gratitude to Bishop Malone and to all those organizations,
individuals and voters who worked to support the truth of marriage in Maine.
The Ad Hoc Committee urges all people of good will to pray that our leaders
and all people of this great country will promote and protect the truth and
beauty of marriage and its fundamental place in service to the dignity of
every person and to the common good.

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz
Archbishop of Louisville
Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage

Keywords: Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
USCCB, gay marriage, same-sex marriage, Maine, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz,
defense of marriage, homosexual persons, homosexual

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, O:
+1-202-541-3200, H: +1-301-587-4762