My Dear Friends in Christ,
Recent discussions in the media and President Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage prompt me to repeat for all the church’s teaching on marriage. This teaching on marriage is one that is shared by many Christian denominations and millions of people who do not belong to a Christian or any religion.
The discussion of marriage and, in particular, same-sex marriage in the United States is being framed in terms of human civil rights. There is no question that all of us are endowed by our creator with human rights and dignity. But marriage cannot be defined only in terms of civil rights. It is much more.