The family is in crisis, the leader of Maine’s Catholics tells the Legislature.
AUGUSTA – Outgoing Catholic Bishop Joseph Gerry warned Maine legislators not to legalize marriage for gay couples, saying it goes against “natural law” and is not in the interest of society.
The bishop made his comments Tuesday during his 11th annual luncheon for Maine lawmakers, the last one for Gerry because of his retirement.
The bishop spoke about what he described as disturbing trends in society in the name of individual freedom. The very concepts of right and wrong, and what is the truth, have become subjective, he complained.
Cultural, social and political factors are “creating a crisis in the very notion of the family,” Gerry told lawmakers. The value of marriage between a man and woman has decreased; “demands are made for the recognition of de facto relationships as if they were comparable to legitimate marriages,” he said.
Marriage and family used to be viewed as fundamental building blocks of society, but “are now redefined in terms never before applied to these institutions,” Gerry said.
“The very idea of the husband and wife providing male and female role models to their children is seen as just another model among many, one no better than the other. Even our understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, in a lifelong bond, is now being challenged as biased and discriminatory in the courts, all in the name of diversity, personal freedom and inclusivity.”
The bishop said his comments are not meant to convey gloom and doom, nor to disenfranchise homosexuals. Everyone is in need of love, community and support, he said. However, the realization of the common good can only come from a commitment “to an order that is in harmony with our human nature,” Gerry said.
There is no proposal to legalize gay marriages before Maine lawmakers, according to the Legislature’s Information Office and the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance. However, a law to legalize gay marriages is currently in the Massachusetts courts, while Vermont and California both recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships between gay couples, according to MLGPA.
With the subject of gay marriages being discussed throughout the country, Gerry wanted to make his position clear to legislators, he said after his speech.
The bishop said the weakening concept of family is one of several signs of social fragmentation happening throughout the world. Other signs, he said, include ethnic conflicts, racism, inter-religious tensions, certain groups behaving selfishly and obsessed with their own personal interests, and less concern for ethics and the common good.
As policy makers, “you play a uniquely important role in society,” the bishop said to lawmakers gathered at the Oblate House. “The example you set, the laws you choose to create,” not only establish legal boundaries but establish standards in the minds of citizens as to what is good and what is evil, Gerry said.
The luncheon was attended by Gov. John Baldacci, legislative leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers, including several from Lewiston-Auburn and surrounding towns.
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