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USCCB Reaffirms Support for Federal Marriage Amendment

However, also urges avoiding debate of homosexual issue

By Gudrun Schultz and Steve Jalsevac

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States, March 16, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Administrative Committee issued a statement yesterday reaffirming its support for the federal Marriage Protection Amendment and stating firmly the responsibility of all Christians to “promote, preserve, and protect marriage.”

“The Catholic Church believes and teaches that marriage is a faithful, exclusive, and lifelong union between one man and one woman, joined as husband and wife in an intimate partnership of life and love. Marriage exists so that the spouses might grow in mutual love and, by the generosity of their love, bring children in to the world and serve life fully.”

“Therefore, it is our duty as pastors and teachers—a responsibility we share with the Christian faithful and with all persons of good will—to promote, preserve, and protect marriage as it is willed by God, as generations have understood and lived it, and as it has served the common good of society.”

The committee warned that the defence of marriage today requires advocacy for legislative and public policy initiatives that will offer protection and support for marriage “as a unique, essential relationship and institution.”

“At a time when family life is under significant stress, the principled defence of marriage is an urgent necessity to ensure the flourishing of persons, the well being of children, and the common good of society.”

Disregarding gay activism that is driving the marriage redefinition push in order to force acceptance of homosexulity, the bishops encourage defenders of marriage to avoid debate on homosexuality and instead focus on the value and importance of the marriage relationship. A significant number of homosexual supportive Catholic clergy have been expressing support for granting marriage rights to same-sex couples.

The USSCB statement continues that “The Church’s teaching about the dignity of homosexual persons is clear…[E]qually clear is the Church’s teaching about the meaning of sexual relations and their place only within married life. What are called “homosexual unions”…cannot be given the status of marriage.”

“We call on Catholics and other persons of good will to join with us in advancing this positive view of the importance of marriage for children and for society, and to defend these principles and the institution of marriage. This is especially important when popular culture, media and entertainment often undermine or ignore the essential role of marriage and promote equivalence between marriage and homosexual relationships.”

The committee ends by stating, “Thus, we strongly oppose any legislative and judicial attempts, both at state and federal levels, to grant same-sex unions the equivalent status and rights of marriage—by naming them marriage, civil unions or by other means.”

Read the full statement of the USCCB Committee here:
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2006/06-052.shtml

See related articles:

Same-Sex 'Marriage' and the Culture War
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jul/050711a.html

Same-Sex “Marriage,” “Hate Crimes,” and the New Totalitarianism
by Michael D. O’Brien
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/feb/050228a.html

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