Marriage needs support, not redefinition

MADISON -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino, head of the Diocese of Madison, expressed his disappointment at the vote taken June 7 failing to approve Senate Joint Resolution 1, the Marriage Protection Amendment.

	Marriage amendment: Fails in U.S. Senate -- Posted: 6/8/2006, 3:50 a.m. Central Time WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate has rejected a motion for consideration of the marriage amendment in a 49-48 vote June 7. Both Wisconsin senators voted against the motion to end debate. The tally fell 11 short of the 60 votes (three-fifths) needed to end debate on the matter and send it to an up-or-down vote. To then pass the measure, the Senate would have needed 67 votes (two-thirds). The amendment is not expected to be considered again this session. The House is expected to vote on the amendment in July. But without the Senate's passage it cannot be sent to the states, where it would need to be ratified by three-quarters of the legislatures. The Marriage Protection Amendment would define marriage as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman. Its second clause prevents states from requiring that "marriage or the legal incidents thereof" would be conferred on any other type of union.
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"A sincere understanding of marriage and its importance to the vitality and the future of a society must be explored," said Bishop Morlino. "Marriage does not need to be defined differently, it needs each of us to look at its great value and true purpose in building families and creating a stable society."

For many years, the Diocese of Madison has offered a variety of marriage courses to help couples build a firm foundation for their relationship. Programs, including Madison Marriage Encounter, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, FOCCUS and REFOCCUS, Natural Family Planning, and Retrouvaille, are offered at various sites throughout south-central Wisconsin during the year.

"Our clear stand is to teach that all people must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. I can appreciate the difficulties relating to health insurance coverage, medical permissions and other areas faced by unmarried people," Bishop Morlino added, "but fixing those problems could and should be done by tackling them head-on, not redefining marriage.

"Marriage plays an essential, foundational role in the continuation of society. Every effort must be made to strengthen it, not redefine it," Bishop Morlino said. "Our Church will have to respond with renewed vigor in preparation for the state marriage referendum in November."

	Clergy changes: New appointments of priests in parishes throughout the Diocese of Madison effective June 15, 2006 are listed here (5/25 edition).
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