(From the Missouri Catholic Conference)
The Missouri Catholic Conference expresses its profound disappointment in Attorney General Koster’s decision not to appeal Kansas City Circuit Judge J. Dale Youngs’ decision last week invalidating Missouri law defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman as it relates to out of state “same-sex” marriages.
“Even if he doesn’t want to pursue the appeal for political or other reasons, he should,” said Tyler McClay, General Counsel for the MCC. “In a democratic republic, one judge should not be given so much power on such an important issue.”
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last summer in Windsor left intact that portion of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) giving states the right not to recognize “same-sex” marriages entered in other states.
Moreover, the federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, in which Missouri lies, ruled in 2006 that defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman does not violate the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Other federal circuit courts have yet to decide the issue of state “same-sex” marriage bans, and a conflict in the circuits could arise requiring definitive action by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Judge Youngs’ ruling undermines Missouri’s definition of marriage, denies the truth about what marriage is, and ignores the will of Missouri citizens, who voted overwhelmingly in 2004 in support of Missouri’s marriage law.
Catholic teaching respects the dignity of all people, including those with same-sex attraction; but this same teach-ing proclaims the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman only. This teaching on the true nature of marriage is shared by many other faith traditions, as well as people of good will.
There is still time to appeal this ruling. The Missouri Catholic Conference calls upon Attorney General Koster to do so.
No comments:
Post a Comment