Catholic condemnation for same-sex marriage ruling
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Julie Goodridge, left, and Hillary Goodridge, one of seven couples who sued for the right to wed, go to a news conference in Boston after the November 18 ruling.
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(CNN) -- Roman Catholics in Massachusetts heard a call by bishops Sunday challenging this month's Supreme Judicial Court ruling that cleared the way for legal same-sex marriages in the state.
The 4-3 ruling on November 18 said government attorneys "failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason" to deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry and gave the Massachusetts Legislature six months to rewrite state marriage laws.
In a letter from the Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC) read at Masses this weekend, the bishops, including Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley, called the ruling "a national tragedy," "a misguided decision" and "a sure formula for chaos." It urged Catholics to contact Gov. Mitt Romney in support of a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman.
"We hope that all citizens will come to recognize what is at stake and work to ensure that marriage as the fundamental institution of society will be safeguarded," the letter said. "The misguided decision has also served to promote divisions in society by villainizing as bigotry the legitimate defense of thousands of years of tradition."
Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay rights organization in the United States, said the organization was "disappointed that the bishops had chosen to interject politics into the issue."
"It's very disappointing that the bishops have opted to write a letter that spreads division when we all ought to be coming together, especially at this time of thanksgiving," she said.
In the letter, the bishops said, "The recent ruling of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which radically redefines marriage is a national tragedy."
But it is "not the intention of the Catholic community to infringe on the civil rights of homosexuals or anyone else," the letter said.
The bishops said the ruling violates the rights of "the generations to come."
"The deleterious effects of the court's ruling are compounded by the directive to implement its decision in 180 days," the letter said. "This time frame is a sure formula for chaos. ... Every effort must be made to extend the stay beyond the 180 days mandated by the court."
The bishops also said the MCC would provide more information about how to help "in the coming weeks."
In addition to O'Malley, Daniel Reilly, Bishop of Worcester; Thomas Dupree, Bishop of Springfield; and George Coleman, Bishop of Fall River; signed the letter.
Vermont is the only state in the United States that allows same-sex couples the rights and benefits of marriage, but not the right to legally "marry." Vermont calls the arrangements civil unions, rather than marriage.
Legal observers said the Massachusetts case took a significant step beyond the 1999 Vermont state Supreme Court decision that led to civil unions in that state. (The ruling)
California's State Assembly recently passed a domestic partnership law to provide similar benefits, but it stops short of allowing same-sex couples to marry. (States determine marriage laws)
