Maryland Catholics “disappointed”
over Governor Martin O'Malley's decision to sponsor a gay marriage
bill.
O'Malley announced on Friday that
legalizing gay marriage would be a priority of his administration
during the next regular session of the General Assembly in January.
“As a free and diverse people of many
faiths, we choose to be governed under the law by certain fundamental
principles or beliefs, among them equal protection of the law for
every individual and the free exercise of religion free of
interference from government,” he told reporters in Annapolis.
“Other states have found a way to
protect both these fundamental beliefs.”
“Therefore in the 2012 legislative
session, I will sponsor legislation that protects religious freedom
and protects marital equality rights equally under the law.” (The
video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)
Mary Ellen Russell, the executive
director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, called O'Malley's
decision “disappointing.”
“The moral and social impacts of
redefining marriage would be pervasive and severe,” Russell said in
a statement. “Stripping marriage of its unique connection to
parenthood disregards the reasons why government has always elevated
marriage over all other relationships as the fundamental building
block of society.”
“Treating heterosexual and same-sex
relationships differently is not unjust discrimination. Upholding
the truth of marriage furthers the rights and equal dignity of all
human persons by promoting a social fabric where children can benefit
from the unique gifts of a mother and a father.”
If approved, Maryland would become the
seventh state to legalize gay marriage. New York's recently approved
law takes effect on Sunday.