(Vatican Radio) Below is a statement by the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops' on the US Supreme Court's ruling on Wednesday triking down part
of the Defense of Marriage Act. The U.S. Supreme Court decisions June 26 striking
down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a challenge
to California’s Proposition 8 mark a “tragic day for marriage and our nation,” said
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee
for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. The statement follows. “Today is
a tragic day for marriage and our nation. The Supreme Court has dealt a profound injustice
to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage
is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation
of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth,
including the truth about marriage. It is also unfortunate that the Court did not
take the opportunity to uphold California’s Proposition 8 but instead decided not
to rule on the matter. The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon
a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble
our efforts in witness to this truth. These decisions are part of a public debate
of great consequence. The future of marriage and the well-being of our society hang
in the balance. “Marriage is the only institution that brings together a man and
a woman for life, providing any child who comes from their union with the secure foundation
of a mother and a father. “Our culture has taken for granted for far too long what
human nature, experience, common sense, and God’s wise design all confirm: the difference
between a man and a woman matters, and the difference between a mom and a dad matters.
While the culture has failed in many ways to be marriage-strengthening, this is no
reason to give up. Now is the time to strengthen marriage, not redefine it. “When
Jesus taught about the meaning of marriage – the lifelong, exclusive union of husband
and wife – he pointed back to “the beginning” of God’s creation of the human person
as male and female (see Matthew 19). In the face of the customs and laws of his time,
Jesus taught an unpopular truth that everyone could understand. The truth of marriage
endures, and we will continue to boldly proclaim it with confidence and charity. “Now
that the Supreme Court has issued its decisions, with renewed purpose we call upon
all of our leaders and the people of this good nation to stand steadfastly together
in promoting and defending the unique meaning of marriage: one man, one woman, for
life. We also ask for prayers as the Court’s decisions are reviewed and their implications
further clarified.”
Speaking to Vatican Radio following the Supreme Court's
decision, Kim Daniels spokeperson for the President of USCCB, Cardinal Timothy Dolan
said, ""We feel that this is a real injustice and a sad day" She also points to
the fact that religious liberty "is going to be a growing concern", following this
ruling. Listen