Washington D.C., Mar 7, 2013 / 17:49 pm
Leading U.S. bishops explained that despite a commitment to fight domestic violence, they could not endorse a prominent federal bill due to its inclusion of troubling gender and sexuality language.
"Unfortunately, we cannot support the version of the 'Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013' passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate because of certain language it contains," several bishops explained in a letter.
Released by the U.S. bishops' conference on March 6, the letter was written by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore and Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles.
The bishops serve as the heads of conference committees involving domestic justice and human development, marriage and family life, religious liberty and migration.