Catholic leaders decry court ruling striking down ban on gay marriage

Published: 2008-05-16

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco and other California Catholic leaders condemned the May 15 ruling by the California Supreme Court that struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage. In a statement released shortly after the ruling, Archbishop Niederauer said Catholic teaching on marriage is clear and based on the teaching of Jesus Christ, who said God "made them male and female" and "for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife." "At a moment in our society when we need to reinforce the strength of marriage and family, this decision of the Supreme Court takes California in the opposite direction," he said. Several gay and lesbian couples joined the city of San Francisco and gay rights groups to sue the state government to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage. The 4-3 ruling -- which said that domestic partnerships currently recognized by the state are an inadequate substitute for marriage -- would make California the second state after Massachusetts to allow same-sex couples to wed. Opponents said they would fight the ruling; the court's order was to become final in 30 days.

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