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\u2019s Proposition 8 mark a \u201ctragic day for marriage and our nation,\u201d 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\u2019 Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.<\/p>\n
The statement follows.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarriage 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur culture has taken for granted for far too long what human nature, experience, common sense, and God\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Jesus taught about the meaning of marriage \u2013 the lifelong, exclusive union of husband and wife \u2013 he pointed back to \u201cthe beginning\u201d of God\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow 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\u2019s decisions are reviewed and their implications further clarified.\u201d<\/p>\n
Editors: Background information can be found at\u00a0http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/issues-and-action\/marriage-and-family\/marriage\/promotion-and-defense-of-marriage\/backgrounder-on-proposition-8-and-doma.cfm<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From a statement released a short time ago: 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\u2019s Proposition 8 mark a \u201ctragic day for marriage and our nation,\u201d said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[378,45],"tags":[11206,1026],"class_list":["post-24217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gay-rights","category-ripped-from-the-headlines","tag-gay-rights","tag-supreme-court"],"yoast_head":"\n
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