May 15, 2008 Statement
Statement on California Supreme Court decision by Archbishop of San Francisco George H. Niederauer
In regard to this decision of the court, the Catholic Bishops of California have
said that "Catholic teaching maintains that marriage is a faithful, exclusive
and lifelong union between one man and one woman joined in an intimate
partnership of life and love-a union instituted by God for the mutual
fulfillment of the husband and wife as well as for the procreation and education
of children."
This teaching of the Church follows forth from the teaching of Jesus Christ:
"Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and
female' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and
be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?" (Matthew 19: 4-5)
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. This action challenges those in society who believe in the
importance of the traditional understanding of marriage to deepen their witness
to the unique and essential role that marriage between a man and a woman has in
the life of society.
CONTACT: Maurice Healy, 415-614-5636
