The Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
will support the effort to repeal gay marriage in Washington state.
Archbishop J. Peter Sartain and
Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo said in a letter to the faithful
that the diocese would help collect signatures for Referendum 74, the
Seattle
Post-Intelligencer
reported.
The officials argued that denying
marriage to gay and lesbian couples is not tantamount to
discrimination.
“Treating different things
differently is not unjust discrimination. Marriage can only be
between a man and a woman because of its unique ends, purpose and
place in society. The word 'marriage' isn't simply a label that can
be attached to different types of relationships.”
“Instead 'marriage' reflects a deep
reality – the reality of the unique, fruitful, lifelong union that
is only possible between a man and a woman. There is nothing else
like it, and it can't be defined or made into something that it
isn't”
Democratic state Senator Ed Murray, a
Catholic and a primary sponsor of the law, called the move “fairly
reprehensible.”
“As a gay person, and a Catholic, I
can understand their refusal to perform [gay] marriages,” Murray
told the paper. “Using the church in promoting a referendum … is
very disappointing.”
Washington's gay marriage law was
signed by Governor Chris Gregoire in February. Gay and lesbian
couples may wed in the state starting on June 7. That is, provided
opponents do not gather sufficient signatures to put Referendum 74 on
the ballot, in which case marriage equality would be put on hold
pending the outcome of a November election.
(Related: Washington
Archbishop Peter Sartain testifies against gay marriage bill.)