There is indeed a gathering storm coming as suggested by a new ad campaign sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage.
This gathering storm is the legal recognition of same-sex marriage as courts and legislatures redefine marriage and remove the rights of men and women to keep marriage as the union of a husband and wife. It is a storm that severely threatens marriage, family life and religious freedom throughout our state and nation. It began in Massachusetts, spread to Connecticut and settled over Iowa and Vermont which recently recognized same-sex marriage. Its clouds are now gathering over New Hampshire and Maine where legislation that would redefine marriage is gaining support. And there is no doubt that this gathering storm of same-sex marriage is a severe threat in Rhode Island.
Unfortunately advocates for same-sex marriage supported by arrogant jurists and fearful legislators have attempted to characterize the debate as one about equal rights. They wrongly suggest that those opposed to their redefinition of marriage are intolerant bigots. This ridiculous suggestion is an insult to every man and woman who ever entered into the covenant of marriage and to the many people of faith and good will who support the age old truth that marriage is defined as the union between one man and one woman. Same-sex marriage is not about equal rights but rather the radical redefinition of the foundation of our society, marriage and family life. Those who oppose this attack upon traditional marriage are not bigots as same-sex marriage advocates and their allies in the media would have the world believe. Rather they stand up for marriage as a union between one man and one woman because marriage, motherhood and fatherhood have been proven over a millennia to be a societal good and the foundation of cultural life in our world.
Already, Boston Catholic Charities has been denied its adoption agency license because of their religious beliefs concerning marriage and the welfare of children. In New Jersey, a Methodist church group has been denied property tax exemption because they cannot in good conscience permit civil union ceremonies in church facilities. Religious liberty experts have said that these sorts of conflicts just scratch the surface of what we are likely to see if same-sex marriage becomes widespread. These attacks upon religious freedom are the direct result of the gathering storm of legal recognition of same-sex unions.
This gathering storm is amassing its dark clouds over the State House on Smith Hill where once again legislation that would redefine marriage and legally recognize same-sex unions is before the Rhode Island General Assembly. The National Organization for Marriage and its Rhode Island Chapter are correct in their call for vigilance and awareness in protecting marriage from those who would radically redefine it. Governor and Mrs. Carceiri understand the consequences of legal recognition of same-sex marriage and had the moral courage of their convictions to stand up and be counted at the NOMRI press conference last week. We call upon all Rhode Islanders, especially those who hold public office, to exhibit a similar courage of conviction and work to promote and protect marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The gathering storm over our state is guided by the advocates of same-sex marriage and their allies in the General Assembly and the news media. The storm can only be averted if we act together now. We urge all Catholics to call your legislators and tell them not to redefine marriage and further undermine family life and religious freedom in our state.
