US Bishops condemn court ruling on same-sex marriage

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, denounced Tuesday’s decision of a federal court rejecting the constitutionality of Proposition 8, a voter-approved initiative in California that recognizes marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Proposition 8 was approved by California voters in 2008, and reversed a court decision to legalize same-sex marriage. The decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the August 4, 2010 decision of a federal district judge who had ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan called the decision a grave injustice, and said it ignored the reality that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

Archbishop of Los Angeles, José Gomez, issued a statement saying government has no competence and no authority to “redefine” marriage or “expand” its definition to include other kinds of relationships. He added this would have grave consequences for children and for the common good of our society.

He wrote he would continue to pray for an ultimate outcome that supports and strengthens the true meaning of marriage.

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