Bishop John McCormack on Passage of ‘Same-Sex’ Marriage Bill
Posted By The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary On June 3, 2009
Manchester — (for news story, see “Gay marriage bill signed into law in New Hampshire [1]“) Bishop McCormack released the following statement today:
I am deeply disappointed that the bill to legalize same sex marriage in New Hampshire was signed into law today. The new law passed our Legislature through the narrowest of margins with precipitous haste and without extensive study. The law strikes a blow to the cornerstone on which our entire civilization is built and sustained: the marriage between one man and one woman.
In a manner unlike any other relationship, the union of a husband and wife makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the common good of society. A man and a woman in a marriage bring children to life and model the way in which women and men live interdependently and commit, for the whole of life, to seek the good of each other. Our state has an obligation to protect the unique gift of marriage between one man and one woman.
As bishop, I will continue to teach that marriage is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. This is a natural truth that has been confirmed by divine Revelation in Sacred Scripture.
As a citizen of this state, I am troubled that those who respect and treasure marriage as it has been understood for thousands of years have been marginalized while others position same sex marriage as a “civil rights” issue. Marriage and same-sex unions are essentially different realities. Upholding marriage as it has always been understood is just and neither offends the dignity nor the rights of homosexual persons. Indeed, the New Hampshire civil union law passed by the Legislature in 2007 expressly conferred the same rights offered to heterosexual couples to same-sex couples.
I pray that the citizens of this state will recognize the clear need for a constitutional amendment on marriage.
I pray that the citizens of this state will recognize the clear need for a constitutional amendment on marriage.
If California can do this, so can New Hampshire. This is not a 'civil rights' issue but that is the tactic being used to justify these bills. Here in NY, the Assembly passed a similar bill which is now before the state Senate. They won't vote on it until they are sure there is sufficient support from the senators.