Resources

Response to the Bishop

This summer the Diocese of Portland (Maine) produced inserts that were placed in all Parish bulletins for 6 consecutive weeks. The Bishop used distortions of civil law cases, fears for parental rights, threats to public schools, etc. to scare people from supporting same-sex marriage. Each argument has been and continues to be used in any state where marriage equality is considered.  Below are responses by a Catholic lawyer to those inserts.
Please click any of the resources below to download a PDF to print or share.
 

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.