Public Policy - Defend Marriage

• Action Alert
• Resources for Clergy and Parishes
• Defend Marriage -- A Campaign from the U.S. Bishops
• General Background and Resources
• Prayer for Marriage
• Make your voice heard - Join the Catholic Advocacy Network

Action Alert

On June 24, 2011, the Legislature passed the "Marriage Equality Act", and the Governor signed the bill that same day, thus legalizing same-sex "marriage" in New York.   The law takes effect on July 24.

Please contact your Senator and Assembly representative and give them your feedback about their vote.  You can contact them through the Catholic Advocacy Network.

It is especially important for us to express our gratitude to those legislators who against the bill.  Here's some sample language that you may wish to use:

I am writing to thank you for your recent vote to preserve the authentic definition of marriage by opposing the so-called "Marriage Equality Act".  The union of one man and one woman in marriage is the foundation of society, and your vote to defend that definition was an important way to preserve the stability of society, and to promote the best interests of children.  Thank you.

If they voted to re-define marriage, express your disappointment respectfully.  You may wish to use this message:

I am writing to express my profound disappointment that you voted to re-define marriage by supporting the so-called "Marriage Equality Act".  Marriage is a union of one man and one woman.  Same sex couples have the right to live as they wish, but nobody has the right to re-define marriage for all of society.  Your vote was a serious blow to the stability of society, and will undermine the institution of marriage, which is essential for the best interests of both adults and children.

We in the Family Life Office would like to express our gratitude to the many people who worked tirelessly to defend marriage in this legislative effort.  May God bless you.

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Resources for Clergy and Parishes

The effort to defend marriage has not ended because our state has now legalized same-sex "marriage".  Marriage is still under attack in other states, and in our federal government.  It is vitally important the we continue to educate the faithful on the real nature of marriage.

• The statement by Archbishop Dolan and all the New York State Bishops on same-sex "marriage", in English and in Spanish.
• A sample letter to legislators (which is also in Spanish) and a sample bulletin announcement (also in English and Spanish).
• Our Office's fact sheets, which you could use as a flyer or a bulletin insert:
  • "Why Marriage Should Not Be Redefined", and
  • "Redefining Marriage Would Threaten Religious Liberty".   This was also published in a full-page ad in Catholic New York.
• The "Resource Guide for Priests, Deacons, Catechists, and Teachers" from the U.S. Bishops Conference, with homily tips and other resources (you can read it online or download it)

Here are some other resources that contain useful information and background on same-sex "marriage" bills:

• Archbishop Dolan's recent statement, on behalf of the bishops of the United States, regarding the Defense of Marriage Act.
• His Eminence, Cardinal Egan's statement and column on defending marriage. 
• The U.S. Bishops' statement on marriage, "Between Man and Woman".
• The statement from the United States Bishops, "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care".

We also have sample articles and homilies by:

•  Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre:

• "Marriage and our Future"

• Fr. Roger Landry of Fall River: 

• "The Joint Defense of Marriage and Democracy"

• "Doing Whatever Christ Tells Us About Marriage"

• "Strengthening Marriage"

• "The Harms of Same-Sex Marriage"

• Msgr. Charles Pope of Washington: 

• "Turning Back the Tide: One Pastor’s Attempt to Assert the Biblical Teaching on Homosexuality In an Age of Confusion"

• "Do We Need a New Word for Marriage",

• "Is Marriage About Civil Rights or Is It About What Is Best For Children?"

• "A Downturn Described And a Way Back Prescribed – On the Shocking Decline in the Number of Marriages"

• "Rediscovering God’s Vision For Family Life"

• Fr. Paul Scalia of Arlington:

• "Same-Sex Attraction: The Church's Pastoral Response"

• Bishop Robert Evans (Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, RI), "Our Baptismal Call to Defend Marriage"
   
• Archbishop Thomas Wenski (Archbishop of Miami, FL), "Uphold Traditional Man-Woman Union"
   
• Archbishop John Nienstedt (Archdiocese of St. Paul - Minneapolis), "Marriage Amendment Deserves our Support" (Commenting on Minnesota's proposal to affirm the authentic definition or marriage)
   
• Fr. Paul Check, Fr. John Harvey and others from the Courage Apostolate
   
• Kathleen Gallagher of the New York State Catholic Conference.
   
• Edward Mechmann of the Family Life/Respect Life Office:
   
  • "Why Not Civil Unions?"
  • "How Same-Sex 'Marriage' Threatens Religious Liberty"

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Defend Marriage -- A Campaign from the U.S. Bishops

The institution of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, dedicated to their well-being and to the procreation and education of children, is under constant attack in our nation.  Efforts in legislatures and courts threaten this institution by seeking to fundamentally re-define it.   In response, the U.S. Bishops have begun a new initiative, the "Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage", with many resources on this issue.  Please check out their website.

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General Background and Resources

Here is a video presentation from the Knights of Columbus on the issue of same-sex "marriage" and how it would affect the common good:

It is often heard that the authentic definition of marriage is "indefensible", "irrational", or "discriminatory".  Yet courts -- both federal and state -- have consistently upheld the definition of marriage as one man-one woman, with only a few exceptions.  For more information, see this legal analysis on the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, and this legal analysis of state marriage laws.

You may also wish to consult two documents from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:

• "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons", which contains important considerations on the moral responsibilities of Catholic citizens and public officials.  
• "Family, Marriage and De Facto Unions", which provides valuable theological foundations for this issue.

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Prayer for Marriage

The defense of marriage must always be rooted in prayer.  Here is a beautiful prayer for marriage, from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (which is also available in Spanish)

God our Father,
we give you thanks for the gift of marriage:
the bond of life and love, and the font of the family.

The love of husband and wife enriches your Church with children,
fills the world with a multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service,
and is the sign of the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, for his Church.

The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the request of the Blessed Mother.
May your Son, through the intercession of Mary,
pour out upon us a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
as we join with all people of good will
to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage.

May your Holy Spirit enlighten our society
to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife,
and guide our leaders to sustain and protect
the singular place of mothers and fathers in the lives of their children.

Father, we ask that our prayers be joined to those of the Virgin Mary,
that your Word may transform our service
so as to safeguard the incomparable splendor of marriage.
We ask all these things through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.

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Sign up for the Catholic Advocacy Network

The most effective tool we have to influence our legislators is the Catholic Advocacy Network. 

In addition, we encourage you to visit the National Organization for Marriage and sign up for their news alerts and action items related to "same-sex marriage"

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Edward T. Mechmann, Esq.,
Public Policy Coordinator
 edward.mechmann@archny.org
646.794.2807