In 2009, by the narrowest of margins, the New Hampshire Legislature passed a law that overturned thousands of years of Western civilization by redefining marriage as the union of any two adults. In 2011, HB 437 was introduced to repeal that law and restore the definition of “marriage” as the union between one man and one woman. The Legislature is expected to vote on an amended version of HB 437 within the next two weeks.
In addition to repealing same sex marriage, the amended version of HB 437 would also re-establish civil unions for same sex couples. Civil unions were in place before the legislature created same sex marriage, and they were repealed when the same-sex marriage law was passed. Thus, the proposed amendment to HB 437 largely reinstates the situation which was in place before the same sex marriage law took effect. The Diocese of Manchester consistently has opposed legislation that would establish civil unions. However, the proposed amendment to HB 437 falls into a category of legislation which the US Bishops have previously considered: bills in civil law which may not reflect the fullness of the Church’s teaching, but which nonetheless provide an “incremental improvement” in the current law and a “step toward full restoration of justice.” USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 32. Because the proposed amendment to HB 437 would accomplish the tremendously important goal of repealing the same sex marriage law, the Diocese supports HB 437.
The starting point for any discussion about the Catholic Church’s position on same sex marriage is that every person is of incomparable worth and has intrinsic dignity—a dignity that can never be taken away. The Church believes that affirming the meaning of marriage as a union between a man and a woman affirms the meaning and dignity of the human person, created as male and female.
One man and one woman are essential to marriage because of their differences—the difference is the difference, and true union is only possible in and through their difference. Marriage is a unique bond of husband and wife fundamentally open to the possibility of new life and is the context for mothering and fathering.
The uniqueness of marriage flows from the unique identities of man and woman. Each brings distinctive physical, emotional, and spiritual gifts to the marital union. Men and women complement one another. No other form of relationship between persons can be considered equivalent to a natural relationship between a man and a woman out of whose love it is possible for children to be born and reared by both a mother and a father.
Marriage is not merely a private institution or a personal commitment between two people who love one another. It is the foundation of the family, which has been, and must continue to be, the bedrock of every human society. There is no other relationship which symbolizes life and love as marriage between a man and a woman does. Justice requires that marriage as the union of one man and one woman be restored and protected.
This is not a matter of discrimination. Treating different things differently is not unjust discrimination. It is respecting the unique reality of the relationship between a husband and a wife who alone are capable of forming a union open to new life.
Please see Bishop Libasci’s statement on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Family (12/29/11), CLICK HERE.
For more information on how to express your support or opposition to state legislation, CLICK HERE.
Diocese of Manchester
The Catholic Church in New Hampshire
153 Ash Street, Box 310
Manchester, NH 03105-0310
Fax: (603) 669-0377
© Diocese of Manchester