The Debate about "Same-Sex Marriage"
Marriage is a basic human and social institution. Though it is regulated by civil laws and church laws, it did not originate either from the church or the state, but from God. Therefore, neither church nor state can alter the basic meaning and structure of marriage.
Marriage, whose nature and purposes were established by God, can only be the union of a man and a woman and must remain such in law. In a manner unlike any other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the common good of society, especially through the procreation and education of children.
The union of husband and wife becomes, over a lifetime, a great good for themselves, their family, communities, and society. Marriage is a gift to be treasured and protected.
Statements of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Bishops Bring Concerns about Same-Sex Unions to YouTube (En Español) - A Message in Defense of Marriage
"Marriage is not something we invent or change to suit our own purposes," explains Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, the Archbishop of Louisville, and chair of a bishops' committee to defend marriage as only the union of a man and a woman...
View YouTube Video in English
"El matrimonio no es algo que podamos inventar o cambiar para servir a nuestros propios propósitos", explica el Arzobispo José Gomez, Arzobispo de San Antonio, en este comentario que defiende el matrimonio como la unión solamente de un hombre y una mujer...
View YouTube Video en Español
- The Bishops' President Urges Support for a Federal Constitutional Marriage Amendment; Knights of Columbus Plan national Postcard Campaign
(April 2006)
- The Bishops’ Administrative Committee Reaffirms Support For Federal Marriage Amendment
(March 15, 2006)
- The President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Support of the Federal Marriage Amendment (2004)
- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (2003): Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers about Marriage and Same-Sex Unions
- The Administrative Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (2003): Promote, Preserve, Protect Marriage
- The Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and Family and the Committee on Domestic Policy (1996): Statement on Same-Sex Marriage
Statements of the Vatican
- The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (2003): Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons
- The Pontifical Council for the Family (2000): Family, Marriage and “De Facto” Unions
- The Pontifical Council for the Family (2000): Declaration regarding the Resolution of the European Parliament dated March 16, 2000, making de facto unions, including same sex unions, equal to the family
- John Paul II (1994) Letter to Families See #6, 7, 12, & 17
- John Paul II (1981) Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio. See #45, 46, & 81
- Catechism of the Catholic Church. See #2357-2379
Statements of Local Catholic Bishops
- The Marriage Law Project at the Catholic University of America (Washington DC) monitors the progress of state and federal legislation regarding marriage and same-sex unions. It provides information regarding headline news, legislation and public policy, marriage issues and arguments, case and statute law, and a review of the stance of different religions regarding marriage law.
- Human Sexuality, Marriage, and Same-Sex Unions is a question and answer brochure by The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. Copies may be ordered from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference by calling 717-238-9613.
- Marriage Matters is a question and answer leaflet by The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), working with the Canadian Catholic Bishops.
- "Preserving Marriage: The Union of One Man and One Woman" is a letter from the Bishops of MD.
- "Bishops Letter to Legislatures on Same Sex Marriage" is from the MO Catholic Conference.