California Catholic Conference wants same-sex ruling overturned

Published: 2005-03-15

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) -- The executive director of the California Catholic Conference has expressed hope that the California Supreme Court will overturn a lower court ruling permitting same-sex marriages in the state. The ruling, which declares that state law banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, violates sacred church traditions and a fundamental aspect of civil society, said Ned Dolejsi, executive director of the conference, the public policy arm of the state's Catholic bishops. The ruling was made March 14 by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer, who said that the current situation of denying marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples is discriminatory. "Simply put, same-sex marriage cannot be prohibited solely because California has always done so before," said the ruling.

Copyright (c) 2005 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .