Baltimore, Md., Feb 26, 2010 / 04:17 am
The Catholic bishops of Maryland and political leaders have taken “strong exception” to the state attorney general’s decision to recognize same-sex “marriages” contracted in other jurisdictions. They charged the ruling shows “a fundamental disregard for the nature and purpose of marriage.”
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler on Wednesday declared that Maryland will recognize the unions and that state agencies should immediately grant them the same rights as marriages between men and women.
Gansler, the Washington Post says, is a Democrat who supports same-sex “marriage.” He used his authority as state agencies’ top legal adviser to issue the opinion, which came in response to a legislator’s request.
He based his ruling on the principle that a marriage that is valid in the place of celebration remains valid in Maryland.