WASHINGTON (April 3, 2006)—Bishop William S. Skylstad, President of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has written to all
Catholic Bishops asking that the bishops and the people in their dioceses
become involved in the effort to support a federal constitutional marriage
amendment.
In the letter, Bishop Skylstad also informed the Bishops that the Knights
of Columbus have initiated a national postcard campaign with respect to
public advocacy for the Protection of Marriage Amendment.
“Today there is a growing sense shared by many people, including a wide
range of religious leaders, that a Marriage Protection Amendment is the
only federal-level action that ultimately will protect and preserve the
institution of marriage,” Bishop Skylstad said. “In particular, timely and
focused efforts are needed to help the Catholic faithful form their
consciences on such an important matter.”
Noting he was writing at the request of the USCCB Administrative
Committee, Bishop Skylstad said: “In a matter of months we will have the
opportunity once again to stand publicly in support of marriage as the
God-given union of a man and a woman.”
He was referring to the likelihood that the Protection of Marriage
Amendment (S. J. Res. 1) will be introduced in the Senate in June. The
proposed text of the amendment reads as follows:
Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and
a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State,
shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof
be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.
“I am aware that the time is short for taking action so I urge you to do
whatever you can, given the situation and the resources available to you,”
Bishop Skylstad wrote. “I am also aware that in some states there are
upcoming votes for either legislation or constitutional amendments
defining marriage. We are challenged, therefore, to give attention to the
interplay of state and federal level policy as well as to focus our
efforts where they are most needed and can do the most good.”
“Married love is a gift of God to humankind and to his Church,” Bishop
Skylstad said. “It needs to be promoted, preserved, and protected now and
for the future. Indeed, in his first encyclical letter, Deus caritas est,
Pope Benedict XVI places the highest value on love between a man and a
woman ‘where body and soul are inseparably joined and human beings glimpse
an apparently irresistible promise of happiness.’”
“Sharing this conviction, I reiterate the importance of leadership by the
bishops individually and as a Conference for the support of marriage and
for its protection in society,” Bishop Skylstad said.
In the letter, the Bishop recalled that an attempt was made to pass a
Federal Marriage Amendment two years ago. The USCCB expressed support for
an amendment in a policy statement of the Administrative Committee
(September 2003) entitled Promote, Preserve, Protect Marriage, and in
subsequent letters from the Conference president to members of Congress.
The Conference also submitted testimony to the House and Senate Judiciary
Committees. In November 2003 the full body of bishops approved and
published an educational statement entitled Between Man and Woman:
Questions and Answers about Marriage and Same-Sex Unions. In addition to
emphasizing the value of marriage, the two statements also call attention
to church teaching about respecting the dignity and rights of homosexual
persons.
Bishop Skylstad told the bishops that the Knights of Columbus have offered
to extend their campaign to every diocese and parish in the country, thus
increasing its impact and effectiveness. The Knights will distribute the
postcards through their system of state, district, and local councils in
April and May.
On March 14, 2006, the USCCB Administrative Committee formally and
unanimously reaffirmed its position of support for the amendment as
expressed in Promote, Preserve, Protect Marriage; endorsed again a
two-fold strategy of education and advocacy concerning the amendment; and
requested that Bishop Skylstad communicate with all the bishops concerning
the reaffirmation, the strategy, and its implementation.
Note: Conference statements on the amendment are available on the USCCB
Publishing Website at:
http://www.usccbpublishing.org/client/client_pages/bulletininserts.cfm.