Campaign to Protect Marriage Moves Forward
 

Over the years and across many religious beliefs and cultures, marriage has been and remains the foundation of the family. The family, in turn, is the basic unit of society.

Catholic doctrine teaches us that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman. This natural institution is rooted in God’s divine plan for creation – an exclusive lifelong union of one man and one woman joined in an intimate communion of life and love.

Nationwide, activist groups throughout the country are asking courts to redefine marriage as something other than a relationship between one man and one woman. The legalization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts and the legal recognition of “civil unions” in six other states have created an urgent need for Pennsylvania to join 27 other states that have voted to protect the institution of marriage by amending their state constitutions.

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is currently conducting a campaign to encourage support for the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment.

In conjunction with this effort, Bishop Martino invited all priests serving in the Diocese of Scranton to a special presentation on Oct. 10 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in Pittston. The priests, as well as deacons and parish personnel, attended the session hosted by representatives from a state-wide coalition known as “ Pennsylvania for Marriage.”

In discussing the necessity of a constitutional amendment to protect marriage, the coalition’s executive director, Eleanor Rossman, said “the traditional definition of marriage is under attack. Even though Pennsylvania has a “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) defining marriage between one man and one woman, it’s not enough to prevent a judge from ruling our DOMA unconstitutional.”

Mrs. Rossman stressed that “what is needed is quick and decisive action by the people in the Scranton Diocese to demand that their elected representatives allow the citizens, not a judge, to decide the future of marriage in Pennsylvania .”

In expressing his hope that concerned Catholics across the Diocese will voice their support for this new amendment, Bishop Martino said, “As you are aware, it has been suggested by some that the Church should not interfere in this matter…(but) should I as your Bishop not care for, and love, those who are tempted to violate the truth of their own nature, and God’s ultimate design, for fear of offending certain civic and cultural norms? As Christians, we cannot afford to remain silent, and that is why I am asking you to support the Pennsylvania for Marriage campaign.”

In the last session of the Pennsylvania legislature, members from both parties voted in favor of the marriage amendment in the House of Representatives. The final vote was 137 to 60. Although the House version was amended in the state Senate, the legislative session ended before both versions could be reconciled. The goal now is to reintroduce the bill in the Senate this fall.

Following the Oct. 10 meeting, pastors were asked to submit the name of a parish leader who would serve as a liaison for marriage amendment efforts. These parish liaisons will in turn be encouraging parishioners to visit, call or send a message to the state senator in their district, urging them to support the Marriage Protection Amendment.

Contact information is published in this issue of The Catholic Light and also can be found on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseofscranton.org and on the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference website at www.pacatholic.org. For more information on the Pennsylvania for Marriage campaign, concerned Catholics can log on to www.PA4marriage.org and www.youranswermatters.com.

In expressing his gratitude to faithful across the Diocese for supporting marriage protection, Bishop Martino said “I wish to thank you in advance for all of the efforts so many of you will make in the defense of marriage in Pennsylvania . I would especially like to thank all of you currently living out the vocation of marriage. The holiness of your marital relationship is the greatest asset the Church possesses for evangelizing our culture on the fundamental role marriage and the family play in society.”