Marriage General

Archbishop Gomez Speaks Out
Appeals Court Prop 8 Decision
LOS ANGELES, February 7, 2012 -- The court’s decision reflects a basic confusion about what marriage is and what marriage is for, and about why the government has an interest in promoting and strengthening marriage.

9th Circuit Prop 8 Decision
Coming Tuesday AM
SAN FRANCISCO, February 6, 2012 -- We could be surprised, but given the reputation of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, it is likely they will uphold Judge Walker's radical decision to overturn Prop 8 when they announce their decision on Tuesday morning at 10 AM.

Seattle Archbishop Testifies Against
State's Attempt to Redefine Marriage
OLYMPIA, WA, JANUARY 25, 2012 -- A Washington state bill that would recognize same-sex “marriage” poses a “grave challenge” to the common good, Archbishop of Seattle J. Peter Sartain warned.

Record Drop in US Marriages
Caused by Social Changes
WASHINGTON D.C., December 16, 2011-- The fact that the number of Americans getting married is at a record low is due to changes in society’s values, public policy decisions and economic factors, says sociologist Dr. W. Bradford Wilcox.

Prop 8 Defense Lawyer Makes Strong Close
In 9th Circuit Conflict of Interest Argument
See Video
SAN FRANCISCO, December 9, 2011 -- The Prop 8 Legal Defense team went to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals again on Thursday to present arguments on two motions. The first hearing was to appeal the decision of Federal District Court Chief Judge David Ware to reverse the commitment of trial Judge Vaughn Walker that a video he made for his own use would never be made public. In the second hearing, Charles Cooper, on behalf of the voters of California, argued that Walker's decision must be set aside and a new trial granted because he did not disclose that he was in long-term committed same-sex relationship, the same circumstances as the plaintiffs seeking to overturn Prop 8. In other words, Walker was sitting in judgment of his own case, the defense team argued.

“Senators Throw Rights of Children
Under Bus”
DOMA Repeal Passes US Senate Judiciary
CCG Issues Press Statement
SAN FRANCISCO, November, 10, 2011 -- Today, the US Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senator Diane Feinstein's bill to repeal DOMA on a straight party-line vote. Catholics for the Common Good issued the following statement to the media:

CCG to Senate Judiciary Committee:
Don’t Oppose Only Institution Uniting Children with Parents
SAN FRANCISCO, November 7, 2011 -- In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, CCG President, William B. May cautioned the Senators that voting to repeal DOMA is “a statement that the government has no interest in the only institution that promotes that children be raised by their mothers and fathers.”

Bishop Cordileone to Senate Judiciary Committee
Don't Redefine Marriage
Defend Human Rights of Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. November 2, 2011—The Senate Judiciary Committee should uphold the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage at the federal level as the union of one man and one woman, because of its importance to human rights and the common good, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Promotion and Defense of Marriage efforts. In a November 2 letter, Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland and an episcopal adviser to Catholics for the Common Good, asked the Committee to oppose any bill that would repeal DOMA, particularly the Respect for Marriage Act (S. 598).

Experts Predict
Erosion of Society, Religious Liberty
If DOMA Is Repealed
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 31, 2011 -- Marriage advocates are warning that a repeal of the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act could have disastrous consequences for the nation, including the further erosion of religious liberty and a continued effort to legalize multiple-partner relationships.

Repeal of DOMA Hearing Set for Nov. 10
Threatens Marriage Nationally
Call or Write U.S. Senate Committee Members
WASHINGTON, DC, October 26, 2011 (updated Nov 4)-- The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has called a hearing for November 10 on California Senator Diane Feinstein's bill to repeal the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act. It is important to understand the consequences of this bill and its impact on marriage across the country. (NOTE: the hearing and vote has been changed from November 3 to November 10.)

Military's Gay Wedding Rule
'Seems to Ignore' Federal Law
WASHINGTON D.C., October 1, 2011-- The head of the U.S. Military Archdiocese says that a new set of rules, allowing chaplains to perform same-sex “marriages” on military property, seems to disregard federal law.

US Bishops Warn Obama of National Conflict
Over Failure to Uphold DOMA
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 28, 2011 -- Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference, urged President Obama and his administration to end their attack on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the religious freedom of those who support it.

CCG County Leader’s Push for Sacred Vows
SAN FRANCISCO, August 10, 2011 -- St. Thomas More Parish in San Francisco is hosting a wedding for as many as 20 couples — one parish’s response to a decline of almost 50 percent in weddings among Catholics in the past two decades.

Vatican Official: UN Gay 'Rights' Agenda
Endangers Church's Freedom
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, July 8, 2011-- The Vatican's representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva says a recent resolution on “sexual orientation and gender identity” is part of an agenda that could restrict the Church's freedom.