Bishops add statement on marriage and same-sex unions to agenda

Published: 2003-11-11

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops took the first step Nov. 11 toward issuing a short teaching document on why marriage is different from same-sex unions. By unanimous voice vote the second day of their Nov. 10-13 meeting in Washington, the bishops changed their agenda to add time for debate and a vote on a draft statement, "Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions." The debate and vote were to take place later in the meeting. Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah, Ga., chairman of the USCCB Committee on Marriage and Family, said the proposed statement is intended, "first and foremost, to help our Catholic people participate in the current social debate about marriage." The 2,000-word draft says marriage between a man and a woman is God's plan, seen in nature and in divine revelation. "A same-sex union contradicts the nature of marriage," it says. "It is not based on the natural complementarity of male and female; it cannot cooperate with God to create new life; and the natural purpose of human sexuality cannot be achieved by a same-sex union."

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