My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Morality and public policy intersect today on the issue of same-sex marriages that has been introduced into our current gubernatorial race.  It is incumbent upon the Church to teach clearly about the moral implications of public policy, which affects our society and public morality.

With respect to Catholic teaching, same-sex marriage is a contradiction in terms.  Marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, not between persons of the same sex.  The biblical origins of marriage are clear in the Old Testament and New, as well as in the natural order of creation, which allows us to reason that marriage is between persons of the appropriate sexes.  Marriage does come from the hand of God; it does not originate from the State or the Church, but both institutions regulate its practice.  Neither the Church nor the State, therefore, can alter the meaning or structure of marriage in such a way as to grant civil status to same-sex unions.

Marriage is both a natural institution and sacred union rooted in the Divine plan for creation.  The fact that marriage can only exist between a man and woman is a truth woven into the human spirit and also into human biology.  Men and women are complementary. From the shared love and unity they have for one another, life is brought into the world.  It is clear for all the marriages in society. For this reason society has a vital interest in preserving the institution of marriage as a means of populating the society and maintaining the proper atmosphere in which children can be raised.

Only a man and a woman have the complementarity to make marriage what it should be.  It is not without difficulty that we see the institution of marriage rocked today by infidelity, divorce and neglect.  None of these negative phenomena, however, reduce the place of marriage in society in its uniqueness and irreplaceability.  Marriage is the fundamental pattern for male and female relationships.  It contributes to society because it models the way in which women and men live interdependently and commit themselves for their whole lives to seek the good of each other.  The State rightly recognizes this relationship as a public institution in its laws because the relationship makes a unique and essential contribution to the common good. 

Although ideas of marriage have changed for some over the years, proposals to legalize same-sex marriage would radically redefine marriage.  It would make it the equivalent of marriage between a man and a woman, which will certainly lead to the further erosion of the state of marriage.  There are voices in society that claim that marriage is only for the pleasure and enjoyment of an intimate sexual relationship of the individuals. They do not consider the social character of marriage and that ultimately family is the result of the union, which can procreate and care for children. 

It is not unjust to deny legal status to same-sex unions, because marriage and same-sex unions are essentially different realities.  In fact, justice requires society not to grant such legal status.  The legal recognition of marriage, including benefits associated with it, is not only about personal commitment, but also about the social commitment of a husband and wife. It would be wrong to define marriage merely as a means to provide benefits to those who cannot rightly enter into marriage.  Laws can be enacted to further guarantee the rights of individuals to confer benefits on others, but certainly it would be overreaching to recognize same-sex unions as marriage to accomplish these goals.

In June of 2003, Pope Benedict XVI was still Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; he issued a statement entitled “Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition between Homosexual Persons.”  An important aspect of that proposal was the moral indication to politicians with regard to legislation in favor of homosexual unions.  The instruction clearly defined the obligation of Catholic politicians to follow ethical guidelines in not upholding same-sex unions, which are immoral and can damage the common good. 

It is never easy to find candidates who completely support our Catholic moral principles; it is an exercise of putting out into the deep to carefully evaluate and then choose those who most closely reflect our point of view.  We are responsible for placing in office persons who will uphold moral principles.  We have a right to make our voice heard and stand up for our principles in the public forum.

How can you make your voice heard? Call the candidates: Eliot Spitzer (212) 529-2006; John Faso (212) 584-2006; members of the State Senate and Assembly: (518) 455-2800. Check the other candidates running in Senate and Assembly elections. Our civic responsibility gives us the opportunity and the imperative to do so.

             

 

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