Seattle, Wash., Jul 26, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Archbishop Alexander Brunett congratulated the Supreme Court of the State of Washington yesterday, after they decided to uphold the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The Washington Supreme Court ruled by a 5-4 majority that the state legislature had the power to limit marriage to one man and one woman.
The text of the decision said that the court was ruling on the constitutionality of the law, not on the issue of same-sex marriage. It said it saw no reason why the rights of marriage should not be extended for gays and lesbians through a state ballot, reported Reuters.
Regardless of the court’s reasons for upholding the ban, Archbishop Brunett expressed gratitude to the court for its decision.
“The court has shown wisdom and insight in recognizing the separation of powers that grants authority to the Legislature for enacting legislation designed to promote the wellbeing of children and all persons,” he wrote in an official statement.
“The essential reality of marriage as a creative union for the protection and education of children is a long-held understanding not only by the Church but by virtually all civilized societies throughout history,” he also wrote.
In an earlier pastoral letter, the archbishop stated that Church teaching on marriage as the union of one man and one woman does not detract, “from the dignity of and respect owed to each individual person.” The court’s decision, he said, “in no way diminishes that dignity nor encourages unjust discrimination.”
The archdiocese had filed a brief with the state Supreme Court last week, which warned that changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions would “lead the way to an inevitable collision with religion.”