
SPECIAL: USCCB Urges Support For Federal Marriage Amendment
FREE Catholic Classes
WASHINGTON (July 13, 2004) --- Speaking at a press conference in the nation's capitol, Msgr. William P. Fay said "the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gives its full and unequivocal support to the Federal Marriage Amendment that would amend the United States Constitution to define marriage as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman."
"Safeguarding the nature of marriage has always been one of the Catholic Church's constant concerns," Msgr. Fay said. "The Church believes and teaches that marriage is created by God. It is a faithful, exclusive lifelong and loving union of a man and a woman who are the foundation of the family unit, which itself is the bedrock of society and culture. Marriage is not an arbitrary social arrangement that can be altered by either the Church or the State. It is God's will for humanity and the keystone of every human community."
Msgr. Fay, General Secretary of the USCCB, participated in a July 12 press conference conducted by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and the Alliance for Marriage, a diverse, non-partisan coalition advocating passage of a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The Senate has begun debate on the Federal Marriage Amendment and a vote is expected this week.
In his statement, Msgr. Fay said the Bishops of the United States support the Federal Marriage Amendment "in view of the growing efforts of a small but vocal minority...to redefine marriage as something that it is not."
"The protection of marriage is essential to the health and well-being of our nation, and the vast majority of Americans know this," Msgr. Fay said. "In those states where the electorate was given the opportunity to safeguard marriage as the union of a man and a woman, they did it overwhelmingly. More than two-thirds of the state legislatures have enacted measures to protect marriage, but marriage remains unprotected," he continued. "Because Americans want that protection, there is every reason to believe that the amendment before the Senate today will be well-received and ranked by them as important as were the amendments introduced in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to protect the citizenship and voting rights of every man or woman born or naturalized in the United States."
"Just as we know from natural reason that we cannot ignore or violate, without grave consequences, the structure and integrity of the physical world which is our environment, so too we cannot ignore or violate the natural structure of our human relationships which has marriage as the center and foundation of our human community," Msgr. Fay stated. "The failure to protect marriage at this important moment in our history will have devastating consequences for our society and our nation."
In his statement, Msgr. Fay recalled that Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, President of the USCCB, wrote to the Senate on July 6 saying "Recent actions in various state courts have placed the institution of marriage under serious attack and in grave danger." Bishop Gregory urged the Senate to vote in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment after turning back any attempt to prevent consideration of the measure. On June 24, the USCCB President wrote to all Catholic Bishops asking them to personally urge their Senators to support the Amendment, as well as to generate additional support through pastors from throughout the Catholic community.
In addition to Msgr. Fay, other participants in the July 12 press conference included Matt Daniels, President, Alliance for Marriage; Roy Innis, Chairman, Congress of Racial Equality, and Walter Fauntroy, former D.C. delegate to Congress.
Contact
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2004/04-132.htm
DC, US
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 202 541-5413
info@yourcatholicvoice.org
Keywords
Marriage, Homosexual, Gay, Catholic, Life, Family, Same Sex
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

What Really Happens to the Brain During Pregnancy? A Catholic Look at One Groundbreaking Study

Pope Leo XIV to Religious Sisters: Let God Be Your Everything

Catholic Online AI Open Letter
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Tuesday, July 01, 2025
St. Junipero Serra: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, July 01, 2025
Prayer of the Chalice: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, July 01, 2025
Daily Readings for Monday, June 30, 2025
First Martyrs of the See of Rome: Saint of the Day for Monday, June 30, 2025
- Good Night My Guardian Angel: Prayer of the Day for Monday, June 30, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.