As the Indiana General Assembly
prepares to consider a proposed constitutional amendment which would
ban gay marriage in the state, Indiana's six Roman Catholic bishops
have weighed in on the issue.
In a December 4 joint statement, the
bishops said that they “respect the equal dignity of all persons”
but marriage is the “intimate communion of life and love between
one man and one woman.”
“With deep respect for all our
brothers and sisters, we affirm the institution of marriage as the
intimate communion of life and love between one man and one woman.
Marriage is an intimate sharing of conjugal life and love. It
involves the total gift of self in a partnership for the whole of
life. Only by means of the complementarity between a man and a woman
can this total gift of self be fully given and received,” the
bishops wrote.
“We respect the equal dignity of all
persons while upholding the uniqueness of the covenant of marriage as
established by our Creator. The well-being of children, of the
family, and of society is closely bound to the healthy state of
marriage and respect for its true nature and purpose.”
Without naming the upcoming debate, the
bishops “urged the people of Indiana” to “defend the dignity
and … truth about marriage, according to God's plan and law, with
charity toward all.”
“On the one hand, I hope that the
statement serves to affirm the great esteem we afford to the
institution of marriage, a way of life that is prior to the
nation-state and any government,” Indianapolis
Archbishop Joseph Tobin said. “On the other hand, we hope to
reinforce the dignity of every human being, whom the Church accepts
as a unique creation of our loving God.”
(Related: Mary
Cheney argues gay marriage is conservative value at Indiana
appearance.)