Catholic laity, seminarians and a contingent from the Colorado Springs-based evangelical Christian ministry Focus on the Family will be among the attendees.
A rally for supporters of the bill, including homosexual activist groups, will take place at the same time on the western steps.
The proposed legislation would grant “the legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities that are granted under the law to spouses” to both same-sex and heterosexual civil unions for unrelated individuals. These benefits include property inheritance, dependent coverage under life insurance and health insurance policies, and hospital visitation rights.
However, according to the website of the gay activist group Human Rights Campaign, as of July 2009 any two unmarried Colorado adults can "enter into a Designated Beneficiary Agreement providing certain rights and responsibilities, including hospital visitation, medical decisionmaking, and inheritance."
The civil unions legislation has already passed the Senate by a vote of 23-12. The House begins debate on the bill on March 31.
E. Christian Brugger, a professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, said in an e-mail circulated to Catholics that there is a chance of defeating the legislation in the House.