Archbishop Wuerl: Proposed D.C. 'marriage' law does more than redefine marriage

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 13

Washington D.C., Nov 25, 2009 / 04:45 pm (CNA).- In an interview with Dr. John Haas of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington D.C. stated that the proposed same-sex “marriage” law in D.C. doesn't only redefine marriage, it lacks the conscience protections necessary to allow the social services of the Church to continue partnering with the civil government. On Dec. 1, D.C. council members are scheduled to vote on a bill which would legalize same-sex “marriage” in D.C. and require Catholic Charities and other religious institutions to “recognize and promote” it as Archbishop Wuerl has previously stated.

The prelate told Haas that the Church has two reservations about the proposed law.

First is the definition of marriage itself. “Marriage has been defined across human history, across cultures, nations, and time, in a very specific way,” Wuerl said.

Secondly, Wuerl noted that the new law would “prohibit us from carrying out our social service ministry if we did not subscribe to this new definition.” If, on December 1, the D.C. city council votes in favor of the law as it is now, the partnership between Catholic Charities and the civil government will be over, and not simply out of spite.

The archbishop noted that Catholic Charities will continue to operate, but only “with our resources.” However, the “long history of partnership with the civil government” will be over.

Ultimately, the position of the archdiocese is that “ if you are going to enforce this law, you have to provide freedom of conscience,” declared the archbishop.

Comments: 13

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Jacqueline Kruger
Florham Park,NJ,USA 11/30/2009 12:56 PM EST

For the life of me, I cannot understand why Catholic Bishops cannot speak in a clear definite tone saying "No" when the Word of God says no and saying "Yes" when the Word of God says yes. All else in between is not of God, but rather of Satan. No more lame excuses, Bishops. No more dancing around the truth. The truth is long overdue!Do your job. Please step up to the plate and say that we, Catholics will not support any legislature that is contrary to the teachings of Christ...Together, we, the American Christian people will put Jesus back on the throne of this country where He belongs. This is a Nation Under God. It is time for all of us to speak out instead of waiting for someone else to step forth. Wimps go to the rear or sit in the corner.

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 11/28/2009 08:56 AM EST

A Civil law is for the people and by the people. In the City of Washington D.C., we have a gay councilman drafted the laws and lobbied the rest to endorse it. What laws is that? Let's put on the ballot and let people decide. Further, Archbishop Wuerl was merely asking for a religious freedom exemption so that we can continue our work in the city for the poors. The illegal city government should not the gay right law down to our throats and try to change our religion. To Mr. Steve Hansen, if you believe John Boswell's novel is true on how the writer distorted the facts and the timing. I suggest you read two more available books: The Satanic Bible; and the Gospel According to Saint Judah. Good luck.

Published by: raymeo
louisville, ky, usa 11/27/2009 04:22 PM EST

When the Christ returns to Jerusalem to rule and reign with an iron rod over the planet from the throne of David, do you think He will allow "same sex" marriages to be legal ? Do you think He will allow abortion for any reason ? Do you think He will allow liquor sales ? Do you think He will allow gambling of any kind, bingo included ? NO HE WON'T allow such things !

Published by: raymeo
louisville, ky, usa 11/27/2009 04:10 PM EST

Published by: ray
baltimore/md/usa 11/27/2009 01:39 PM EST

While I appreciate Steve and Daneel's comments, they are a bit incomplete. Boswell has a theory about Serge and Bacchus; however, it should be noted that most church historians and theologians do not subrscribe to his theory that they were sexual lovers or that the brother-love ceremony they supposedly went through was a marriage -certainly not the Orthodox and Catholic churches. As to the examples of changes in the concept of marriage,none have anything to do with the central issue as it pertains to same-sex unions. Most Christian churches arrive at their theology of marriage from scripture. God created humankind in God's image and likeness. What we know for sure is that God created gender, males and females, each a bit dfferent, to express that image and likeness. It's also a fact that God created a sexual-genital system in males and females that is certainly biologically designed to be compatible and to procreate. God told the first humans to be fruitful and multiply. Jesus described marriage as a man leaving his family and a woman leaving her family and the two become "one flesh." Since God created them, husbands and wives and mothers and fathers must matter. Was God's design a whim, a mistake, not to be used as God designed it? The Church isn't likely to leap to any of those conclusions and change it's theology about the essential qualities of marriage. In fact, marriage is so significant that both testaments mention it as the best example of Divine love.

Published by: Paul C
Germantown 11/26/2009 01:14 PM EST

The gays want us to celebrate their immoral behavior, not just love them - and until we celebrate their immoral behavior, they will keep trying to tighten the noose of the hangman upon our liberties. This law is but a point in a many dotted line if we do or don't reject it. This is not about respecting another human being of God's love and creation, this is ONLY about the enemy of man, satan, trying to slkowly cajole God's people into celebrating the sin, but we only will love the human being, come acceptance of US or the discrimination of us or the eventual imprisonment or death of us. That's our faith. Go Wuerl! Go TRUE Love, Go TRUTH.

Published by: Joan L. Roccasalvo
Bronx 11/26/2009 11:29 AM EST

The challenge facing Archbishop Wuerl may be the first to test the Christian and Catholic determination to exercise civil disobedience in the face of opposition to conscience protection. Is this country free of religious coercion or not? The proposed law as stated will embolden civil disobedience across the country.

Published by: Steve Hansen
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 11/26/2009 11:14 AM EST

Both of Wuerl's objections to the proposed law are patently not true. King Solomon had 700 wives. Saints Serge and Bacchus were a same-sex couple, and were married in the Catholic church. And, the Catholic church had a rite for same-sex marriage from the early church until just two centuries ago. (John Boswell, 1995, "Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe", Vintage Books, ISBN 0-679-43228-0) The claim that the proposed law would prohibit the church from doing social-service ministry is just laughable. The bishop might not be willing to comply with the conditions that come with accepting public funds, but that is not a prohibition by any stretch of the imagination.

Published by: Daneel
Argentina 11/26/2009 10:50 AM EST

“Marriage has been defined across human history, across cultures, nations, and time, in a very specific way,” This is BS and Wuerl should know better. Marriage has change quite a bit from the woman being the property of the husband, political unions to preserve unity of the land, arrangements between the parents. It was the last century when in the USA interracial marriage was legalized.

Published by: psalm
Detroit/MI/USA 11/26/2009 12:12 AM EST

bluprntguy, Please show me specifically where the Catholic Church preaches "hate" in regards to homosexuals. Is it in the catechism? An encyclical perhaps? If you cannot produce an answer to this question, maybe you shouldn't be throwing around the "hate" as if it has any true relationship to the church and its teachings.

Published by: John
Joliet, IL, USA 11/25/2009 08:59 PM EST

There is vocal minority in our nation who wish to legitimize sexual sin. We must pray and work to prevent this, but even if they succeed in making civil laws that redefine marriage in 21th century USA, we would do well to remember that this is not new at all. Sodom and Gomorrah did it thousands of years ago. And they perished. King Henry the 8th did it in the 1600's when he wanted a divorce. Hundreds of Catholics were martyred for that one. But alas, the church is built on the blood of martyrs. Our Lady of Fatima said in 1917 that more souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh than any other. She also predicted WWII if men did not cease offending God. And she predicted who would be Pope when WWII broke out. Her predictions came true. Christ's dying and rising brings new life to all who repent. I invite all who are embracing sexual sin of any kind to repent and drink in God's mercy. The greater the sinner, the more right he has to Christ's mercy

Published by: bluprntguy
North Shore 11/25/2009 05:18 PM EST

Rate: Regular

I'm really terribly sorry that the CIVIL law will no longer allow your religious institution to take money from the TAXPAYERS in return for your SERVICES while you DISCRIMINATE against the very AMERICAN CITIZENS that you took the tax money from. It's truly a horrible day for justice. (yes, it's sarcasm). I'm sure that the government of DC will find someone else to perform the services that YOU have decided not to continue. There are many people that are willing to provide for the poor, clothe the homeless, and love their neighbors without requirements that conform to YOUR religious beliefs. By the way, the law won't require that you 'subscribe' to marriage equality or change your religious beliefs in any way. It requires that you treat everyone fairly and justly per the law. You remain free to continue to preach your hate and animosity against 'those homosexuals.'

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass. USA 11/25/2009 05:08 PM EST

Charity is the sharing of a God who is the salvation of all. God is expressed in charity. God's love is charity. We are God's creatures and God designed all of us to share charitably what we are and what we have. Charity doe not depend on the acceptance of some unpopular forced agenda.If this were true than charity itself has no human dimension or value. As a matter of fact this is the best way to discourage all charity.

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com