U.S. Roman Catholic bishops on Monday
pledged to uphold marriage as a heterosexual union.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB) held their first assembly in Baltimore since the Supreme
Court declared that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional
right to marry.
According to the
AP, some who attended the gathering vowed to reverse the June
ruling.
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas
City, Kansas called for a concerted effort to “build a consensus”
to overturn the decision.
“I don't think because five Supreme
Court justices change the public policy on such a fundamental issue
that we should just accept it,” he said. “I think we have to be
as strong as we have on the pro-life issue.”
Others said that they support legal
protections for individuals and businesses who oppose marriage
equality.
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the
Vatican official who arranged a controversial meeting between Pope
Francis and Kim Davis, received a warm welcome at the gathering.
Davis is the Kentucky clerk who is
fighting to keep her office from issuing marriage licenses to gay
couples.
Vigano received two standing ovations
from the bishops during his remarks.