NY Bishops say same-sex marriage law undermines family
The Catholic Bishops of New York said last night’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage
will undermine both marriage and the family.
The new law makes New York the
sixth state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage.
Here is the
full statement by the bishops:
June 24, 2011 The passage by the Legislature
of a bill to alter radically and forever humanity’s historic understanding of marriage
leaves us deeply disappointed and troubled. We strongly uphold the Catholic Church’s
clear teaching that we always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect,
dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one
man and one woman in a lifelong, loving union that is open to children, ordered for
the good of those children and the spouses themselves. This definition cannot change,
though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be
ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against
churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths. We worry
that both marriage and the family will be undermined by this tragic presumption of
government in passing this legislation that attempts to redefine these cornerstones
of civilization.
Our society must regain what it appears to have lost – a true
understanding of the meaning and the place of marriage, as revealed by God, grounded
in nature, and respected by America’s foundational principles.” +Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of New York +Howard J. Hubbard Bishop of Albany +Nicholas
DiMarzio Bishop of Brooklyn +Edward U. Kmiec Bishop of Buffalo +Terry
R. LaValley Bishop of Ogdensburg +Matthew H. Clark Bishop of Rochester +William
F. Murphy Bishop of Rockville Centre +Robert J. Cunningham Bishop of Syracuse