Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Arizona (Fides Service) - “Why is marriage important for the Catholic Church?” is the question-title of a Pastoral Statement dated March 1 issued by the Catholic Bishops of Arizona in the United States. In a joint statement Bishop Donald E. Pelotte Gallup, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson and Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix express profound concern for a growing movement in favour of equalling same sex unions with marriage. In response to this movement the Bishops urge citizens to “reflect deeply on the real meaning of marriage in itself”.
The Bishops define marriage “marriage as designed by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love They commit themselves completely to each other and to the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them”. They say these truths are not purely religious “the truths about marriage are found in the order of nature and can be perceived by human reason” and they are confirmed by Sacred Scripture and the teaching of the Church. For the Church marriage is also a sacrament, “a saving realty and a path to holiness” which allows the world to see “something of the faithful, creative, self-emptying, abundantly life-giving love of our Lord.”.
“In marriage, husband and wife give themselves totally to each other in their masculinity and femininity, and only such a sexual union can cooperate with God in the procreation of new human life.” Therefore “Only such a union fulfils God’s plan both for sexuality and for marriage itself”. In this the Bishops affirm, “so-called “same-sex unions” lack both natural complementarity and the ability to generate new human life naturally. They have a different meaning entirely.” The statement recognises that marriage is the foundation of society and the place which offer the best conditions for educating children.
In the present situation the Catholic Bishops of the state of Arizona express their commitment “to preserve the unique and irreplaceable status that marriage always has held in our society.” They express full support for the Protect Marriage Arizona initiative and call on all citizens in Arizona “to preserve the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman” by supporting this initiative. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 7/3/2006 - righe 30, parole 410)
