Bishops say same-sex unions are not equivalent to marriage

Published: 2003-11-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops overwhelmingly approved a short teaching document Nov. 12 on why same-sex unions should not be given the social or legal status of marriage. Meeting in Washington, the bishops adopted the statement, "Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions," by a vote of 234-3. Introducing the statement the day before, Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah, Ga., chairman of the USCCB Committee on Marriage and Family, said it was intended, "first and foremost, to help our Catholic people participate in the current social debate about marriage." The 2,000-word statement says marriage between a man and a woman is God's plan, seen in nature and in divine revelation. "Marriage, whose nature and purposes are established by God, can only be the union of a man and a woman and must remain such in law," it says.

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