June 9, 2006
Support amendments to protect traditional marriage
Bishop Michael Sheridan, S.T.D.
Jun 23, 2006 2:00 PM

Just a few decades ago few, if any, of us would have thought that we would be in need of a legal and binding definition of marriage. After all, marriage has been around since the creation of man. We’ve always known what marriage is. In virtually every culture throughout history marriage has been understood as bringing together a man and a woman into a public relationship that has both rights and responsibilities. Marriage has always been about the procreation of children by means of a loving and permanent union of a man and a woman. Until recently both Supreme Court and lower court decisions regularly affirmed this understanding of marriage and its contribution to the common good.

But things are different now. The attacks on marriage and family life have come fast and furiously in the last few years. No-fault divorce now makes it possible for any spouse to walk away from his or her marriage and family commitments for no other reason than the desire to do so. Contraception, once touted as the savior of marriage because it would prevent unwanted children, has, in fact, contributed significantly to the breakdown of marriages. Cohabitation, a generation ago considered a shameful arrangement, is now taken for granted by many as the best preparation for marriage. Again, far from helping marriage, cohabitating couples are more likely to fail at marriage than those who do not live together before marriage.

Now there is the push to recognize "same-sex unions," sometimes called "gay marriages." More than simply a means to gain legal benefits for people in same-sex relationships, same-sex marriage is an attempt to redefine marriage itself. Proponents of a new definition of marriage seem to believe that we can change the reality of something simply by changing its definition. This way of thinking in philosophical terminology is known as "nominalism." Nominalists do not believe that realities have meaning or essences in and of themselves. They have only the meaning that we give them by the way that we name them.

Following this highly-flawed way of thinking to its logical conclusion, we must assume that marriage need not be limited to the union of only two people — whether of the same sex or different sexes. Marriage could just as easily be defined to include the union of three or more people. Or why must it be confined to human beings alone? Why couldn’t marriage be further redefined to include relationships with animals?

If this sounds absurd to us it is because we know that marriage does, in fact, have a meaning which is permanent and real. Marriage was instituted by God and revealed in his creation of man and woman in their mutual complementarity. Before it was a sacrament, marriage was a natural institution and the means determined by the Creator for the propagation of the human race. This task can be undertaken only by a man and a woman.

If same-sex marriage becomes a legal reality in the United States, we may well be in the same situation as the church in Canada. Because marriage has been redefined in that country to include same-sex unions, any religious teaching which condemns homosexual acts is considered hate speech and is punishable by imprisonment. This reduces the Christian view of marriage and sexuality to bigotry. If same-sex marriage is legalized here, churches that refuse to perform these "weddings" could lose their tax-exempt status. In Massachusetts, the first state to recognize same-sex marriage, Catholic Charities immediately faced the possibility of having to close its doors rather than cooperate with government-mandated adoptions by same-sex couples.

Because of activist judges who have proved that they can and will act in ways that are beyond their competence, we need a federal marriage amendment. This will ensure that no judge can change or overturn the will of the people. Short of that, however, we need a state constitutional amendment here in Colorado.

Together with the bishops of the United States I endorse these amendments, and I encourage Catholics and all people of good will to add their voices to the voices of the bishops. Let your federal and state legislators know that you stand firmly in favor of protecting marriage for the good of children and of society as a whole. In the comingweeks you will be asked to add your names to a petition to get a marriage protection amendment on the ballot in Colorado. These petitions will be available following Sunday Masses in all our parishes. Your pastor or parish director will advise you further. Let’s all do our best to make sure that marriage and family life survive in our state and in our country.