Posted on August 5th, 2010 by c4me
Catholics for Marriage Equality celebrates California Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that barring same-sex couples from civil marriage is unconstitutional. He found, based on compelling evidence, that same-sex marriages are no different from heterosexual marriages in their potential for life-long loving bonds that produce, nurture and honor the family commitments central to our civic and religious ideals. The ruling clearly addresses only civil marriage rights and responsibilities. The Catholic Church retains its constitutional right to determine whose marriages it solemnizes whose marriages it deems valid. It is time for our Catholic hierarchy to respect the constitutional rights of states and of other faith traditions to marry same-sex couples. Civil marriage is not within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic hierarchy.
A 2010 Gallup poll found that 63% of American Catholics support full legal equality for lesbian and gay people. According to a Public Religion Research Institute 2010 survey, 57% of Latino American Catholics support full legal equality for lesbian and gay Americans. Full legal equality includes the right to civil marriage.
Catholics for Marriage Equality [C4ME]
