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, released a statement on today’s Supreme Court rulings on marriage.
The two called it a “profound injustice” and say the Court “got it wrong.”
“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.”
June 26, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Well. If the good Cardinal could make up his mind whether to cozy up to the politicians or to remain true to Church teachings, he might be more effective in making public pronouncements. Truly, most of us respond more positively when actions comport with words.
June 26, 2013 at 6:26 pm
I'm going out on a limb here and thinking that this document was written by Archbishop Cordileone. I'm surprised that he got Dolan to sign off on it.
June 26, 2013 at 6:26 pm
I'm going out on a limb here and thinking that this document was written by Archbishop Cordileone. I'm surprised that he got Dolan to sign off on it.
June 26, 2013 at 6:32 pm
It 's hard to dump on the Cardinal after he issues statements like this but alas I have to: Cardinal Dolan has helped bring about this sorry state by (his own admission) not preaching the Faith loudly and clearly and by "cozying up", as Mr Meyer puts it, to the swinish politicians and presidents who force these horrors upon us.
The Sodomy Juggernaut is not going to stop until the Church stops it. And the only way the Church can stop it is by ceasing to be "nice" and "politic" and start thundering again. We need less smiles and cheer from Popes and Bishops and more seriousness of purpose. Until that happens these monsters will swarm all over us and usher in a reign of hell on earth.
June 26, 2013 at 6:38 pm
"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. "
Really? Both are made up of human beings, and most of them are corrupt. Why does he suppose that the federal government SHOULD have been a more stalwart friend of traditional marriage than the governments of some states?
June 26, 2013 at 7:17 pm
The case was decided correctly. Read it. The State of NY gets to decide who gets a marriage license.
June 26, 2013 at 7:48 pm
So, legally speaking, Dolan is wrong. And culturally speaking, I think he's also wrong. "The future of marriage … hangs in the balance"????? No it doesn't! My marriage to my wife isn't threatened.
Also, I think allowing the gays to marry will STRENGTHEN the institution of marriage.
June 26, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Also, I think allowing the gays to marry will STRENGTHEN the institution of marriage.
Yes, and eating bob-bons all day will make me lose even more weight.
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/can-we-save-infidelity
June 26, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Sadly Cardinal Dolan can't speak and expect anybody to take him seriously. Even sadder, marriage was destroyed decades ago.
June 26, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Paul: When we changed the law to grant women voting rights, was that good for voting in general or bad for voting in general? Did that hurt the institution or strengthen it?
June 27, 2013 at 12:49 am
Totally subjective.
June 26, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Pat is unaware that homosexual relationships do not mirror marriages in the slightest. Overwhelmingly, male+male unions are not exclusive, but rather open to other males. This is considered the norm and will spread to real marriages as well, damaging the institution further. In reality, non-conjgual unions (which are only friendships) do not require exclusivity since sexual acts cannot produce children. No need to be exclusive save for feelings, and if you're partner is down with it, why not? Among female+female unions, women tend to be "serially" monogamous. This means that they set up a train of relationships, each succeeding the other, with divorces in between. This is obviously disastrous for adopted children who get caught up in the wrecks.
Homosexuals claiming to be "married" will affect marriage as an institution – eliminating all connection with exclusivity and stability for the sake of children. This is a negative impact, to say the least.
Those of us who have done the research know better, Pat. This is not about feelings. This is about truth.
June 26, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Pat:
Can you try again with an analogy that actually works?
June 26, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Jericho,
If you show me credible, peer-reviewed research evidencing your bald assertions I will send you $100.
On the contrary, a recent peer-reviewed research report from Australia shows that children in gay families thrive. Shall I send it to you?
Also, Massachusetts divorce rates have PLUMMETED since gay marriage was made legal there.
And you have the nerve to tell us that 2 gay men getting married to each other is going to make you cheat on your wife with the town floozie??
Please.
June 26, 2013 at 9:23 pm
Paul: You mean like when we changed the law to grant [interracial couples] [marriage] rights?… was that good for [marriage] in general or bad for [marriage] in general? Did that hurt the institution or strengthen it?
OK. There. But I still like the voting analogy, so feel free to answer all 4 questions, pal.
June 26, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Well at least you're improving your analogies, so you get credit there.
Anti-miscegenation laws irrationally discriminated against couples that fulfilled the basic requirements of married life. There is nothing contrary to nature to individuals of different races marrying each other. In other words, their coupling can produce offspring, which is not in the case of same sex marriages.
But I still like the voting analogy
That's nice. I'll be sure to treat you to some ice cream and cookies next time we meet.
And you have the nerve to tell us that 2 gay men getting married to each other is going to make you cheat on your wife with the town floozie??
Since I can see that you are not really interested in good faith argumentation, I'm gonna bail out here.
June 26, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Pat…
http://www.citizenlink.com/2012/06/11/study-children-of-parents-in-same-sex-relationships-face-greater-risks/
http://voxspeak.co.uk/post/2013/01/27/Definition-Of-Consummation-In-Gay-Marriage-Renders-Adultery-Obsolete.aspx
http://protectthepope.com/?p=5293
You can direct deposit my acct. the $100.
June 27, 2013 at 12:33 am
When the priests of this country are obligated by law to perform same-sex marriages under pain of heavy fines or incarceration, what example will Cardinal Dolan give then? Will he risk a more dire priest shortage by encouraging his diocesan priests to do the right thing and imitate St. John the Baptist, who went to jail for speaking the truth and not backing down from it? Or will he say something like, "Go ahead and perform the ceremonies. It's not like they're valid marriages anyway"?
June 27, 2013 at 12:53 am
Pat's definition of "peer-reviewed" research is one Left-Wing dingbat professor signing off on the "research" of another. It would be better if you didn't think us stupid, Pat. Go sell your propaganda somewhere else.
June 27, 2013 at 1:54 am
I'm not a pat Buchanan or Jerry Falwell type of Protestant who says god is punishing us for things with hurricanes and earthquakes…
But..
God almighty is punishing us. Or no fault divorce. Our married 5 times. Or casual attitude towards a great sacrament…Because of our negligence He let it be taken away.
Are we going to let that happen to the Eucharist? Holy orders?
Because as we have seen our casual demeanor towards these two great sacraments suggests they are next.
June 27, 2013 at 2:01 am
Who is "pat" commenting that gays will strengthen marriage?
Please don't promote your ignorance here. As a phd who feel very unwelcome in this blog, I can tell you a lot of research indicating gay couples and children of gay couples are very high risk for so many issues. It is not the same. It is not strengthening anything. In a culture of feminine progress we see more objectification and sexual abuse against women than during the "patriarchal" era. I suspect we will see the same. By lowering our expectations for children as we have done for women, the appearance of promotion may be realized.