NY Bishops: Same-sex union bill will radically change nature of marriage

ALBANY, June 5, 2009– IT’S NOT marriage if it’s between same sex.

The Catholic Bishops of New York urged the state senate of New York to reject a bill, already passed by the New York State Assembly, which will legalize same-sex “marriage.”

According to the letter signed by every member of the New York bishop’s conference, the measure is “ill-advised” and “would radically change the timeless institution of marriage.”

The bishops wrote: “Throughout history, different cultures have had different customs regarding marriage. But the one constant has been the conviction that marriage is the union of a man and a woman in an enduring bond, ordered for the procreation and stable rearing of children.”

“Nature and our common heritage,” and not simply Catholic teaching, defines the meaning of marriage,” they said. “The state has a compelling legal interest in promoting marriage between men and women in order to create stable families and provide for the safety, health and well-being of children.”

The letter was issued to contradict New York governor David Paterson’s assumption that same-sex “marriage” is a civil right and the “right way” to go from a spiritual standpoint. Paterson supported and forwarded the bill on April 16 which was later passed in the Assembly by an 89-52 vote.

The New York Senate has until June 22 to approve the bill. Its sponsor, state Sen. Thomas Duane, told the New York Daily News that he has the votes needed to approve the bill. However, his claim is disputed by the Senate’s foremost opponent of same-sex “marriage,” Ruben Diaz Sr., and a recent NY1 poll of senators.

The NY1 poll tallies only twenty committed “yes” votes – all Democrats, and only two of them upstate representatives. On the other hand, 22 Republicans and 6 Democrats have stated they will vote “no.”

Credits:
Cited from an original article by Hilary White for lifesitenews.com dated 06/05/09