A Columbus in search of unequal America

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08/10/2011

by Jeremy Hooper

The Knights of Columbus, a major supporter and funder of the National Organization For Marriage, is once again using its networked Catholic muscle to push marital discrimination into our nation's body of state and federal civil law. Here's the resolution that KOC just adopted at its 129th Supreme Convention:

WHEREAS, Marriage is a natural institution based on ancient human values that have evolved over time into a unique and deeply rooted social, legal and religious institution; and

WHEREAS, Marriage reflects the natural biological complementarities between men and women which predates the state and which is woven into the social and religious fabric of every major culture and society; and

WHEREAS, The Catholic Church, based on Scripture and the Judeo-Christian tradition, teaches that marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman joined in an intimate partnership of life and love; and

WHEREAS, Marriage provides for the mutual fulfillment of spouses as well as the procreation and education of children; and

WHEREAS, This mutual bond provides the most favorable environment in which to protect the rights and best interests of children; and

WHEREAS, During his apostolic journey to the United States in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI described marriage as an unconditional and unreserved “yes” to love and a “yes” to the aspirations at the heart of our common humanity, and implored us to proclaim boldly the arguments based on faith and reason that marriage is a “life long commitment between a man and a woman that is open to the transmission of life.”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That we will never waver in our efforts to promote the Church’s understanding of marriage as the faithful exclusive and lifelong union of one man and one woman joined in an intimate partnership of life and love; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That we will pray that the Holy Spirit enlighten elected officials to adopt laws, and judges to make judicial decisions that affirm the family and the authentic nature of marriage; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That we join with the Bishops of Canada, United States and throughout the world in their efforts to achieve legal and constitutional protection at the national, provincial and local levels for the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
Support for the Institution of Marriage [KofC.org]

WHEREAS, American has a separation between chosen church doctrine and shared public policy; and

WHEREAS, LGBT people pay taxes; and

WHEREAS, Civil marriage equality activists have more than ably made their case for full and equal representation; and

WHEREAS, No civil marriage equality activist is trying to stifle any church's deserved religious freedoms, with most, in fact, quite fully supporting the right of churches to deny any number of things to LGBT people (including marriage ceremonies)

NOTHING IS RESOLVED, so long as groups like the Knights of Columbus insist on forcing everyone to follow their chosen church doctrine at the expense of civil freedoms!