New York Catholic bishops strongly oppose legalized same-sex 'marriage'

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Gov. David Paterson / Archbishop Timothy Dolan

New York City, N.Y., Jun 4, 2009 / 10:50 am (CNA).- While New York's senators debate whether or not to legalize same-sex "marriage" in their state, the seven Catholic bishops of New York have issued a statement strongly opposing "such a drastic measure."

David Paterson, the governor of New York, introduced a measure to legalize same-sex "marriage" on April 16, claiming that it was the "right way" to proceed from a spiritual standpoint.

The New York State Assembly later passed the bill by an 89-52 vote, with five Republicans voting in support. The measure now awaits a vote in the Senate, but Sen. Tom Duane (D-Manhattan), the bill's main sponsor, is still trying to garner the 32 votes he needs to secure its passage.

On Monday, all of the Catholic bishops of New York, headed by the newly-installed Archbishop Timothy Dolan, issued a statement on the attempt to legalize same-sex "marriage."

"We face today the prospect of a law in New York which would radically change the timeless institution of marriage. As pastors of citizens from every corner of our great state, we stand unified in our strong opposition to such a drastic measure," the bishops said, urging Catholics to contact their senators.

Beginning with a historical approach, the group of bishops noted that "throughout history ... the one constant has been the conviction that marriage is the union of a man and a woman in an enduring bond, ordered for the procreation and stable rearing of children."

Although Catholic opposition to same-sex "marriage" is frequently cast as solely religion-based, the New York bishops stated that, "Just as importantly, it is based on reason, sound public policy, and plain common sense." They pointed out that "the state has a compelling legal interest in promoting marriage between men and women in order to create stable families and provide for the safety, health and well being of children.

On the other hand, "the state has no such compelling legal interest in recognizing a relationship between two people of the same sex," the prelates said.

Addressing the argument that homosexual couples face discrimination and must be protected by legalizing same-sex "marriage," the New York bishops advised, "If there are injustices against those in relationships other than marriage, those injustices can certainly be reformed and corrected in a way other than by drastically redefining marriage."

The statement from the bishops closed by recalling that their "firm beliefs about marriage … must not be misconstrued to be in any way a condemnation of homosexual people or an attack on their human dignity."

The statement was signed by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan (New York), Bishop Howard Hubbard (Albany), Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio (Brooklyn), Bishop Edward U. Kmiec (Buffalo), Fr. Terry R. LaValley (Diocesan Administrator of Ogdensburg), Bishop Matthew H. Clark (Rochester), Bishop William F. Murphy (Rockville Centre) and Bishop Robert J. Cunningham (Syracuse).

Comments: 33

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Louis Albert Raj
Bangalore,India 06/14/2009 10:14 AM EST

Dear Bishops of New York Firstly I want to Thank all of you to stand against homosexuals and gaymarriages.
As have read all comments which supports all you Holy bishops of New York I wil remeber you in my daily Prayers.
People of America is it not your right to protest against such unnatural acts,
Arise and Fight against such unnatural things which is attacking the US and Western countries,
Just because of all these things Today The US and Western Countries are facing Econonomic Problems.
God Made Man and Women to be married and bear childern and later on when A man and Women becomes old, it is the Children who automatically takes care of thier parents. Because of this problems arising in western countries and the Govt supporting them, They are destroying their own countries and there will be no population in western countries and others will take over the west.
So Please my dear Brothers and Sisters in Chirst Jesus Please Pray and follow Family Life and please Discourage Gay marriges, Live in relationships, divioce, abortation Etc..
We are Human Beings and not Animals we have to control our selfs and practice self control, Please all of you Go to chruch regularly and Pray Everyday and It will change your lives.

God Bless,
Your in Chist Jesus,
Louis Albert Raj,
Bangalore,
India.

Published by: psalm
Detroit 06/11/2009 03:27 PM EST

"In our current culture, people get married because they love each other and want to make a life-long commitment. In other words, it's a 'romantic' marriage"

Hate to quote Tina Turner here but "What's Love got to do with it"? In the eyes of the state that is? Of course love is important but are you going to make 'romantic love' the standard by which a marriage exists? By what principle would we then exclude any combination of 'romantic love'? Uncle and nephew, Mother and son....

Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass. USA 06/11/2009 04:38 AM EST

The action of magnets is scientific proof of marriage. The dissimilar poles of the magnet attract each other. The similar poles of a magnet repel each other.
God made them male and female.
The key and the padlock prove marriage. The key unlocks the padlock. The relationship is monogamous. Only one key is designed to work each lock. The action of the key and the lock is an open and closed case. This is like 2 people joined together as soul mates for a lifetime. Their love is a commitment before God for a lifetime to be spent together and that is a Holy Marriage,male/female. Children are the fruit of the womb. This is a Holy and Eucharistic commitment that is sanctioned through the Holy Catholic Church. Two dissimilar sexual beings become one in Christ,through the power of the Holy Spirit to live and raise offspring for the Glory of God.As Pope John Paul2 stated"as the family goes,so goes the nation,and so goes the whole world in which we live".
I hope this helps Dave from Houston to understand the meaning of "Marriage" as heterosexual. Let the "Circle not be broken". President Obama also needs help with a "scientific proof"for Marriage. The whole issue is really simple logic scientifically and spiritually.

Published by: DAVID LARSEN
Scituate Mass 06/10/2009 07:37 PM EST

Friendship is a bond of love between anyone,that can be for a lifetime! Marriage is a commitment to love for a lifetime and in the Catholic understanding of it,the relationship includes procreation. If a Husband or a wife deny each other the procreative aspect of the relationship and this is possible,the resulting unhappiness can cause enough conflict so that the relationship can be annulled.In the eyes of the Catholic church this marriage has no legal existence.
Interracial marriages between men and woman work and the fruit of the relationship are examples of people like Derek Jeter of the Yankees. If in a marriage a couple can't have children for medical reasons they may adopt them.
The male/female dynamic is important in the development of children. This is because men and woman so completely compliment each other that in their loving commitment to each other they become soul mates. A good woman makes a good man and a good man makes a good woman. This also makes for great children!
If one wants to argue that love is independent of sex,I agree. This is why it is possible to fall in love with the rest of humanity.

Published by: felix
ondo/ondo/nigeria 06/10/2009 09:44 AM EST

THANKS CHRISTIAN OKAFOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU ARE TRULLY A SON OF THE LAND.BRAVO!!!!!!!!CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN NEW YORK,MORE POWER TO UR ELBOW.I BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS UNIVERSAL.AS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH IN NIGERIA,I SAY:KUDOS TO U ALL.

Published by: David
Houston, TX, USA 06/09/2009 05:31 PM EST

@ David Larsen:

I have a couple issues with your post. First, producing and bringing up offspring is not the definition of marriage, nor is it required for marriage. People produce offspring without getting married. People get married without ever producing offspring. In our current culture, people get married because they love each other and want to make a life-long commitment. In other words, it's a 'romantic' marriage. Not a duty bound ceremony promising to repopulate the species.

Second, you're using circular logic to make your argument. You said, "The problem is that the term marriage can't be applied to same sex attraction that desires only to be termed married." You're saying gay people can't use the term marriage just because they desire to use the term marriage? Couldn't the same argument be used against interracial marriage? The current version of marriage has only been around a few hundred years. (Women were considered property before that.) Add the current divorce rate to the debate, and the claim on 'marriage' seems like a bit of a stretch. Having gay people call marriage something else, is basically saying gay relationships should be perceived as something inferior to the straight version. Separate is NEVER equal.

Published by: David Larsen
Scituate Mass 06/08/2009 11:37 PM EST

The dynamics of being male and female compliment each other and form a balance in producing and bringing up offspring.This is natural law and that is marriage. This issue has nothing to do with discrimination or civil rights.It has nothing to do with homophobic tirades.There is no hate for homosexuals or discrimination. The problem is that the term marriage can't be applied to same sex attraction that desires only to be termed married.Just call it something else never marriage.Whats wrong with that?

Published by: fern
Brussels - Belgium 06/08/2009 02:30 AM EST

Delenda ecclesiae est.
Since AD 325 The Christian church ruled from Rome as the Roman empire was split Constantinople (east) Rome (west). Since then we've all been brainwashed to a certain extent, the way I learned about gays in concentration camps was with a teacher, a grin on his face saying they had to wear pink tags.
In these days we hetero never knew about gay people, they were deep in the closet, to us it was all right to insult, make fun of them or bash their heads in.
This was my Christian education in the lower working class were their priests are thriving. I still would be like that if it wasn't for a gay teacher who taught me languages helped me learn about arts and philosophy out of the goodness of his heart (no sex) I owe him my life. From the pope on down, priests and nuns should be confined in their convents and monasteries where they can "grow and develop" their sick society.

Published by: David
Houston, TX, USA 06/05/2009 09:23 PM EST

@ Michael Austen, ON, Canada:

Hearing your fabricated diatribe coming from a citizen of Canada is disheartening. Canada has shown for the past 5 years that same-sex marriage has had little effect on society as a whole.

As a straight person how exactly do you know what the relationship dynamics of gay people are? Answer: You don't. All of the gay people I know (including myself and my husband) are not promiscuous. The idea that people have this perception might be that gay people aren't afforded the opportunity to make a legal life-long commitment. As for a life-long bond being a hindrance. That is complete nonsense. Being in a 14 year relationship, I dreamt of having the same chance to marry the person that I fell in love with, just like my parents did. That dream came true in California last August. The only thing that gay people want is to be treated equally and given the same opportunities as all citizens. I don't think that is an unreasonable demand.

As for the claim that everyone has the same rights. That is patently false. The smallest amount of research would show you that gay people are discriminated against in numerous ways at the state and government level.

Published by: declan
massachusetts 06/05/2009 05:37 PM EST

The Catholic Church needs to end its reign of terror against gay people. I hope, as a former Catholic priest who had the good sense to leave the institution, that the church will grow up, and listen and learn about the lives of gay folks in their midst. But please stop the ignorance.

Published by: keith Marino
United States 06/05/2009 04:53 PM EST

This is to Dan again:

Dan...Also, if you really believe that it was good Christians' bigotry which lead to Nazi-ism, then how do you explain the Christian Saints who died alongside the Jews in Nazi concentration camps. How do you explain how Pope Pius XII spoke out strongly against Hitler from early on. How do you explain how the same Pope hid thousands of Jews in and around Rome to protect them from the Nazis (this is attested to by the Rabbi of Rome). Would one say that the Catholic Church, who stood up against Hitler and the things he did (including the laws he passed) would be a bigot for believing (rightly so) that the laws his regime passed were bad laws and thus should not be followed by people of good will. I fear there are many who may not be interested in seeing the good in Christianity, perhaps they may not be ready to turn from their ways. Christ is calling us all to repentance. In the Holy Bible (in one of the New Testament epistles - I can't recall which one at the moment) it says "woe to him who calls evil good and good evil." We may all fall into evil (sin) from time to time, but let us not rejoice in it. We must lift one another up so we may all live to a higher standard. That standard is Christ.

God Bless

Published by: Keith Marino
United States 06/05/2009 04:42 PM EST

This message is in reply to Dan's comment:

Dan said "Last I checked my history book, it was the good christians of germany acting on centuries of bigotry towards jews, gays and gypsies that resulted in nazi atrocities. We're the ones that need protection from you, not the other way around."

Dan...Even Christ said to the people regarding the Pharisees and Sadducees "Do as they say and not as they do." Now regarding Christians...specifically the Roman Catholic Church, there have always been good and bad characteristics in the people who make up the Body of Christ. Christ said "There will be tares with the wheat." If you want to find an issue with anything it won't be hard to do, but if you want to truly know Christ and thus live a fully human life then look to Christ and those who have given the example of how to live in Christ...these people are called Saints. While the Catholic Church may have many sinners in Her midst, she will always be the home of the Saints. The whole purpose the Church exists is to call sinners to repentance and although some of her people (including myself) may not always live up to the standards of perfection that Christ sets for us, She nonetheless is guided by the Holy Spirit to All Truth. She is the Pillar and Bulwark of Truth. Christ promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Her.

I have more but I am running out of characters.

God Bless

Published by: psalm
Detroit 06/05/2009 02:47 PM EST

Nick,

"These catholics opposed to gay human beings civil rights are bigots, plan and simple. They hide behind Christ and use him as an excuse for their hatred."

Show me SPECIFICALLY where the Catholic Church teaches hate or bigotry. Is it in the Catechism? An encyclical perhaps? Do you even know what the Church teaches? The Church teachings are ground in rational arguments drawing from natural law, logic, anthropology etc. Why not argue against these teachings instead of hiding behind baseless accusations and rhetoric? I'll wait for your counter arguments. How about starting with natural law.

Published by: psalm
Detroit 06/05/2009 02:40 PM EST

"I checked my history book, it was the good christians of germany acting on centuries of bigotry towards jews, gays and gypsies that resulted in nazi atrocities."

Huh? Please explain this line of thinking. How was Christianity somehow responsible for nazi crimes against humanity?

Wow. You should buy a new history book.

Published by: Dan
Omaha, NE 06/05/2009 12:37 PM EST

To Jack Angelo Territo - Typical catholic rhetoric to selectively choose statements to make their case while ignoring the fullness of medical research that disputes their pre-existing bigotry. From the APA: "There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation. Research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology. Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Both have been documented in many different cultures and historical eras."

Published by: Dan
Omaha, NE 06/05/2009 12:27 PM EST

To Keith Marino: Last I checked my history book, it was the good christians of germany acting on centuries of bigotry towards jews, gays and gypsies that resulted in nazi atrocities. We're the ones that need protection from you, not the other way around.

Published by: David Hart
NY, NY 06/05/2009 12:02 PM EST

"The American PSYCHOLOGICAL Association Publication includes an Admission that there is no homosexual 'GENE' "
=============
Actually, the APA has not said that. Moreover, a genetic component is not a requisite for sexual orientation being biological. The twin studies and male sibling effect research are quite compelling.

Published by: Jean
NY 06/05/2009 12:02 PM EST

Anyone read Father Harvey's book Homosexuality and the Catholic Church?
Anyone gone over to the Courage Apostolate to see the work going on there?

Published by: Nick
NY 06/04/2009 09:19 PM EST

These catholics opposed to gay human beings civil rights are bigots, plan and simple. They hide behind Christ and use him as an excuse for their hatred. Although they will deny they hate, they should be pitied for they are so blind they cannot see their own hatred! But they will loose. Evil always looses and truth and justice ultimately will win!

Published by: Josh Schwartz
Dallas/TX/US 06/04/2009 04:16 PM EST

To Gill Bates: What does one have to do with the other? Does the Catholic Church not have the right to condemn immoral behavior because certain of its members have chosen to violate some of it's other moral teachings?

To Chuck: If you were raised in the Catholic faith, you were robbed of good teaching. Marriage's primary end (of which it is ORDERED to) is procreation. If we rob marriage of this purpose, it is DISORDERED. Why would we encourage people to live a disordered lifestyle? Of course we should encourage the ideal.

Nor is there a condemnation of damnation for those who are afflicted with Same Sex Attraction Disorder. It is simply an acknowledgment of what is clearly true...that attraction to the same gender, and marriage of these couples, is disordered (it can never lead to procreation).

Published by: Keith Marino
New Orleans/Louisiana/USA 06/04/2009 04:14 PM EST

Chuck...again you say "co-opting the law to force people to do their bidding is the real abomination." So...you agree then, that your statement equally applies to "forcing" people to accept gay marriage and all that comes with it. Isn't this "co-opting" the law and thus a "real abomination" as you call it?

Published by: Keith Marino
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA 06/04/2009 03:53 PM EST

This is in reply to Chuck Anziulewicz' comment about the 14th amendment. Chuck, you say "This is a law that applies to all of us -- Straight, Gay, Black, White (and everything in between); able-bodied or disabled; Christian, Muslim, Jew, or Zoroastrian. That's why I like living in America." Well...Law that's based upon nothing but one's personal preference, or one that is interpreted in a subjectively preferential way, can lead to bad places (i.e. Nazi-ism). Law must be based upon something higher (i.e. Divine Law) in order to help us make laws that are truly good for society as a whole. The goodness of a law should be determined based upon how we are made and not how we "feel." If one were to follow your logic to is ultimate conclusion then we'd have to allow anything that anyone wants to do to be protected by law else the law would be seen as being discriminatory against a person or group who may "feel" that something is good which may not in fact be good, objectively speaking. What if a man is in love with his son and they want the gov't to recognize a marital union b/w them, or a daughter with her mother, brother with sister, aunt with nephew, or...what if there was a woman who wanted to marry her chimpanzee (very lonely perhaps); would we, who disagree as to the goodness of these acts, then be categorized as bigots by one such as yourself. Marriage transends mere "sentimentality" and this is what I believe most gay "rights" activists don't understand. God Bless.

Published by: psalm
Detroit 06/04/2009 03:42 PM EST

Chuck Anziulewicz,

A violation of the 14th ammendment? Should a man be able to marry his sister or his daughter? Why or why not? Should two biological sisters be able to shack up and call it marriage in order to receive marital benefits? Why or why not?

Published by: unimpressed
nc 06/04/2009 03:04 PM EST

I don't know how it was conducted but I read a survey recently that stated most Catholics have no problem with gay civil unions. I seriously doubt the majority of gay couples are concerned with whether or not the Catholic Church will receive them. They probably just want the same rights as anyone else when it comes to privileges the state gives married couples. If you can find someone to love more power to you and I think it's hateful to try and force the idea down their throats that there doing something that God is mad about. Eventually this Church will have to recognize that people are going to get fed up with condemning anyone who isn't a straight white Catholic male. It does a great job educating open-mindedness but when it comes to how the Church stands on the books, a lot of people are unimpressed.

Published by: Michael Austen
Pembroke, ON, Canada 06/04/2009 02:43 PM EST

"Why is it that Straight couples are encouraged to date, get engaged, marry and build lives together in the context of monogamy and commitment, and that this is a GOOD thing ... yet for Gay couples to do exactly the same is somehow a BAD thing?"

Chuck, the unstated premise to your argument is that heterosexual and homosexual relationship dynamics and patterns are the same - they are not.

Not even looking at the biological incompatibilities, homosexuals are many times more promiscuous than heterosexuals. A life-long bond would actually be a hindrance for most homosexuals. Same-sex marriage, for the most part, will be used as a club to beat on individuals and institutions who hold traditional moral codes.

It's not about equal rights - everyone already has the same rights (except the unborn). Marriage is not a right - it's a privilege.

If the state has any interest in its self-preservation, it will work to strengthen traditional marriage - not tear it down.

Published by: Amanda Stewart
San Antonio, TX 06/04/2009 02:34 PM EST

This is Chuck Anziulewicz.

You make an interesting point in saying that no one is forcing the church to marry gays. At this point you are correct. But should a law be made that gays can marry, the church would then be discriminating against gays by not marrying them. If the church is discriminating against the laws of a country, the USA could take away its tax protections.

An example, the KKK still are around and are free to practice what they feel is pure white power or something, but they have to pay taxes due to the fact that they discriminate against people, but the KKK considers themselves a church or religious order.

If you look at countries that have already legalized gay unions and/or marriages, you can see that the church IS being forced to do things it believes are morally wrong, even though everyone said no one would go to them because they thought they were going to hell. (Canada and England)

Also for the record, since no one can marry someone of their same sex it isn't discrimination. It would only be discrimination if we allowed some people to do something and not others.

Published by: Alfredo Hurtado
New Yor NY 06/04/2009 02:01 PM EST

Any citizen (s)of the world should be entitled to marry each other and no state and/or religion should dictate policy in this matter

Published by: Elizabeth Forshaw
Chesterfield, Mo. USA 06/04/2009 01:22 PM EST

Thank God for the leadership of Archbishop Dolan. Our Blessed Lord has blessed New York with him in charge.

Published by: Gill Bates
NY 06/04/2009 12:26 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Catholics oppose same gender marriage?

What a hoot!
Child abusers oppose marriage.

Really, one can't write stuff like this.

Published by: Chuck Anziulewicz
Spring Hill, West Virginia, USA 06/04/2009 12:23 PM EST

So Catholic bishops are opposed to marriage equality for Gay couples. Fine, no one is forcing them to marry Gay couples. If they think Gay folks are committing an abominable sin and will face fiery judgment from their maker, well then that's their right. But co-opting the law to force people to do their bidding is the real abomination.

The fact is, "defining" marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution violates the 14th Amendment, which states:
"No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

This is a law that applies to all of us -- Straight, Gay, Black, White (and everything in between); able-bodied or disabled; Christian, Muslim, Jew, or Zoroastrian. That's why I like living in America.

Why is it that Straight couples are encouraged to date, get engaged, marry and build lives together in the context of monogamy and commitment, and that this is a GOOD thing ... yet for Gay couples to do exactly the same is somehow a BAD thing? To me this seems like a very poor value judgment, and I speak as someone who was raised in the Catholic faith.

Published by: David Hart
NY, NY 06/04/2009 12:08 PM EST

I gather that Catholic "News" Agency is of the opinion that gratuitous quotes around the word marriage - when it pertains to same-sex unions- will make it go away. Rather petty, I think.

Published by: Christian O. Afor
Lagos, Nigeria 06/04/2009 12:04 PM EST

"New York's senators debate whether or not to legalize same-sex "marriage" in their state, the seven Catholic bishops of New York have issued a statement strongly opposing "such a drastic measure.""

What is the world turning out to be? My candid advise to the Bishops is to continue to fight against this social evil. I pray that God will strength you and the good people of New York to fight this evil - Amen.

Published by: Jack Angelo Territo
Buffalo,ny usa 06/04/2009 11:47 AM EST

The American PSYCHOLOGICAL Association Publication includes an Admission that there is no homosexual "GENE" meaning its not likely that homosexuals are born that way. homosexuality is a BBEHAVIOR and deserves no special rights.

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