Redefining marriage would harm families, says Boston archbishop

Published: 2003-10-10

WAYLAND, Mass. (CNS) -- "The institution of marriage, so crucial to the raising of children and a sound family life, is in crisis," Boston Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley said at the "Summit of October to Save Marriage" in Wayland. "Any redefinition of marriage must be seen as an attack on the common good. The weakening of the institution of marriage has already had too high a social cost," he said Oct. 2. He called for respect for the rights and dignity of homosexuals but said that does not mean that same-sex unions are entitled to be granted the same status in society as marriages. "Marriage is not a creation of the state nor of the church, and neither has the legitimate authority to change its nature," the archbishop said. "To dismiss people's legitimate concerns about the institution of marriage as an unjust discrimination against homosexual persons is to miss the point of the centrality of marriage for the well-being of society." About 200 people, including several religious leaders, attended the summit, organized by the Massachusetts Family Institute and dubbed "SOS Marriage."

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .