by Jennifer Roback Morse
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a strongly worded statement, supporting
natural marriage. Here are some highlights from the statement, issued by the President of the Conference, Archbishop of Louisville, Joseph Kurtz.
- Just as Roe v. Wade did not settle the question of abortion over forty years ago, Obergefell v. Hodges does not settle the question of marriage today.
- It is profoundly immoral and unjust for the government to declare that two people of the same sex can constitute a marriage.
- The unique meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is inscribed in our bodies as male and female. The protection of this meaning
is a critical dimension of the “integral ecology” that Pope Francis has called us to promote. - Mandating marriage redefinition across the country is a tragic error that harms the common good and most vulnerable among us, especially children.
The law has a duty to support every child’s basic right to be raised, where possible, by his or her married mother and father in a stable home. - Jesus Christ, with great love, taught unambiguously that from the beginning marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman. As Catholic bishops,
we follow our Lord and will continue to teach and to act according to this truth.
Charitable, yes. But no “wiggle room” on the crucial moral issues.
We urge everyone to write to Archbishop Kurtz and the Bishops’ conference, thanking them for their leadership and clarity. You do not have to be Catholic
to do this. These men will appreciate your support, whatever your religious tradition may be. If you are Catholic, and have not heard anything from
your own priests or bishops, feel free to send this statement along to them, with a note, respectfully asking them to consider reading this from the
pulpit.
In any case: THANK ARCHBISHOP KURTZ!
When our clergy do something so right, so positive, so clear and charitable, we must support them. I suggest you write to the Archbishop in care of
the Bishops Conference, and in his home Diocese. (Addresses are below.)
And yes, do it the old-fashioned way: paper, ink. envelopes, stamps, the Whole Nine Yards of courtesy!
If you don’t do this small task, please do not complain to me about how the country is going to hell in a hand-basket, ok?
thx
Dr. J
The Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph Kurtz,
President, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street NE
Washington DC 20017
And, in his home diocese:
The Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph Kurtz,
Archdiocese of Louisville
PO Box 1073
Louisville KY 40201-1073