Washington D.C., Jun 25, 2015 / 23:00 pm
A new bill protecting the religious liberty of traditional marriage advocates has the support of two leading U.S. bishops. But will the First Amendment Defense Act be enough to stem the rising tide of anti-discrimination lawsuits across the nation?
The First Amendment Defense Act establishes protections – largely regarding federal taxes and benefits – for individuals and organizations who conscientiously believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and that no sexual relations should take place outside this bond.
"In a climate of increasing intolerance, these protections are very much needed," wrote Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore in a letter to the bill's sponsors. Archbishop Cordileone chairs the U.S. Bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, while Archbishop Lori chairs the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.
"The teaching of the Catholic Church about marriage is based on both faith and reason," the archbishops wrote. "Using right reason, one can know that given the nature of the human person, created as male and female, marriage is the union of one man and one woman."