Abp. Cordileone lauds “victory in the Land of Lincoln”

From the folks at the USCCB:

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, applauded the “victory in the Land of Lincoln” as the Illinois state House failed to vote on a bill to redefine marriage before the legislative session ended last Friday.

“The fact that the Illinois state House did not vote on the marriage redefinition bill reflects a failure to have the votes to pass the bill,” said Archbishop Cordileone.  “This victory in the Land of Lincoln demonstrates that marriage redefinition – even in the face of intense political pressure – is not inevitable, a likely reason we haven’t heard much about it in the national media.”

A diversity of faith leaders joined together to defend marriage in Illinois.

“Leaders of various faith traditions spoke eloquently on the reality that nature and nature’s God make clear that marriage is the union of one man and one woman,” Archbishop Cordileone said.  “Catholics will continue to proclaim with people of other faiths and of no particular faith that marriage is the one-flesh union of one man and one woman.  Indeed, both faith and reason lead us to this truth.”

Archbishop Cordileone also addressed the claim that equality requires redefining marriage in law.

“All persons have inherent dignity and must be treated equally with the respect and justice that is their due,” he said.  “That is part of the purpose of the law; it is not the purpose of the law, though, to give people social status, as the advocates for marriage redefinition contend.  For a well-ordered society, laws must reflect reality; for them to contradict reality would be simply irrational.  Our children deserve as much and depend upon all of us, especially our leaders, to protect the reality of marriage, not redefine it in the law.  Many thanks go to all those who let their voices be heard in defense of marriage in Illinois,” Archbishop Cordileone said.

The bill to redefine marriage that was not brought to a vote in the Illinois state House had passed the Illinois state Senate earlier in the year.  Proponents of marriage redefinition in Illinois may try again to advance the bill in the Illinois legislature later this year.