Minnesota bishops launch campaign against same-sex marriage

Published: 2006-01-23

ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) -- Minnesota's seven Catholic bishops have launched a postcard campaign, urging Catholics to write their legislators in support of a November ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to define civil marriage as between one man and one woman. Led by New Ulm Bishop John C. Nienstedt, the bishops have asked all parishioners to send postcards by Feb. 12, which is designated as the World Day for Marriage. The postcards were to be made available in parishes by early February. In a joint statement issued Dec. 22 under the aegis of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, their public policy arm, the bishops called for the postcard campaign and reiterated church teaching that "marriage and family life are essential to a proper social and political order." The authentic meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman must be "preserved, protected and promoted in both private and public realms," they said.

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