PHOENIX — Arizona’s two Catholic bishops are urging the faithful to vote to constitutionally ban gays from marrying in this state.
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Olmstead was out of the state on personal business. But Kincanas told Capitol Media Services he sees nothing improper about urging people to put the church’s view on marriage into the state constitution.
“The church has always and will continue to address issues especially that are related to moral and ethical principles,” he said. “We believe that marriage is a sacred relationship, that it is at the heart and core of society.”
And Kincanas, whose diocese includes Cochise County said it’s not just an issue for Catholics: He pointed out that the Union for Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America also has issued a statement saying that Judaism “affirms marriage only between a man and woman.”
“So it’s not a denominational question as much as it’s a societal question because marriage is at the core and heart of our society,” Kincanas said.
The Catholic Church has taken an active role in the issue: The bishops directed Ron Johnson, their lobbyist, to convince legislators to put the measure on the November ballot.
Thursday’s pastoral statement reinforces the church’s view, with Kincanas saying these kind of documents “reflect on the church’s understanding of a particular issue” for followers.
The bishops’ comments drew criticism from David Felten, minister of Fountains United Methodist Church in Fountain Hills.
“People have got this idea that they can speak for God and speak universally for all Christians,” he said. And he noted it took the Catholic Church nearly 400 years to admit that Galileo was right and that the Earth is not the center of the universe.
Kincanas, however, said he sees the issue before voters in absolute terms.
“The purpose of this proposition is to assure the fact that in the state of Arizona, the institution of marriage as, from time immemorial, is a relationship between one man and one woman,” he said.
And what of the mention in the Old Testament of men with multiple wives?
“The reality is there have always been people who have lived in common-law relationships or perhaps have polygamous relationships,” Kincanas said. “But that doesn’t necessarily change the understanding of the institution of marriage because there are other possibilities.”
Comments
Robert Blair Kaiser wrote on Sep 17, 2008 10:26 AM:
Patrick miller wrote on Sep 12, 2008 12:11 PM:
Billy wrote on Sep 12, 2008 8:58 AM:
MichaelNYC wrote on Sep 11, 2008 5:14 PM:
Bob from DC wrote on Sep 10, 2008 3:36 PM:
Nobody can give us a logical explanation on how gay marriages can harm a society. There is no problem in Canada, Holland or Massachusetts. Using a bible reference serves only a weapon, bashing gays. "