DOMA Challenged Again - By Our Side!

Let's see what the gutless USCCB is going to do about THIS.

Thanks for the heads up from the Catholic Caveman

Thirty-five Catholic lawmakers cosponsor bill to Repeal Defense of Marriage Act

New York Congressman introduces bill to eliminate protections for traditional marriage in the United States which would lead to litigation forcing states to recognize same-sex marriages

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as a "legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws, and provides that states need not recognize a marriage from another state if it is between persons of the same sex." Thirty-nine states have passed legislation and constitutional amendments to protect marriage as the union between one man and one woman.

Last week Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-New York) introduced the Respect Marriage Act - H.R. 3567. In reading the title one might think this bill is about protecting traditional marriage...just the opposite.

In a statement on his website, Rep. Nadler writes, "The introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act responds directly to a call from President Obama for congressional action on the issue. As the president recently confirmed: 'I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. It's discriminatory, it interferes with states' rights, and it's time we overturned it."

H.R. 3567 is off to a good start having 90 co-sponsors at its introduction -- 35 Catholic.

If it is true that all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in keeping with their responsibility as politicians.

When legislation in favour of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favour of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral.

When legislation in favour of the recognition of homosexual unions is already in force, the Catholic politician must oppose it in the ways that are possible for him and make his opposition known; it is his duty to witness to the truth.

Below is a list of the Catholic U.S. Representatives co-sponsoring H.R. 3567. Please ask them to reconsider their support and remind them of their responsibility as a Catholic lawmaker.

MaryJo Kilroy, (D-OH15) Mr. Bob Brady (D-PA1) Ms. Carol Shea-Porter(D-NH1)
Jackie Speier, (D-CA12) Mr. Luis Gutierrez(D-IL3) Mr. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI1)
Raul M Grijalva, (D-AZ7) Mr. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH10) Mr. Paul Tonko(D-NY21)
Peter Welch, (D-VT-at large) Mr. Frank Pallone (D-NJ6) Mrs. Grace Napolitano(D-CA38)
Linda T Sanchez(D-CA39) Mr. John Larson(D-CT1) Mr. John Tierney(D-MA6)
Mike Capuano(D-MA8) Mr. Xavier Becerra(D-CA31) Mr. Joe Courtney(D-CT2)
Mr. Jose Serrano (D-NY16) Mr. Jim Moran(D-VA8) Mr. Michael Doyle(D-PA14)
Mr. Ed Markey (D-MA7) Ms. Lucille Roybal-Allard(D-CA34) Mr. Charles Rangel (D-NY15) Ms. Nydia Velazquez(D-NY12) Mr. Ed Pastor (D-AZ4) Mr. Dan Maffei(D-NY25)
Mr. George Miller(D-CA7) Mr. Bill Delahunt (D-MA10) Ms. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT3)
Mr. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY22) Mr. Jim McGovern(D-MA3) Ms. Betty McCollum (D-MN4) Ms. Diane Watson(D-CA33) Mr. Joe Sestak (D-PA7)