USCCB Subcommittee Chair Applauds ‘Victory in the Land of Lincoln’

WASHINGTON—ArchbishopSalvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, applaudedthe "victory in the Land of Lincoln" as the Illinois state House failed to voteon a bill to redefine marriage before the legislative session ended last Friday.

"Thefact that the Illinois state House did not vote on the marriage redefinition billreflects a failure to have the votes to pass the bill," said ArchbishopCordileone."This victory in the Land ofLincoln demonstrates that marriage redefinition – even in the face of intensepolitical pressure – is not inevitable, a likely reason we haven't heard muchabout it in the national media."

Adiversity of faith leaders joined together to defend marriage in Illinois.

"Leadersof various faith traditions spoke eloquently on the reality that nature andnature's God make clear that marriage is the union of one man and one woman,"Archbishop Cordileone said."Catholicswill continue to proclaim with people of other faiths and of no particularfaith that marriage is the one-flesh union of one man and one woman.Indeed, both faith and reason lead us to thistruth."

ArchbishopCordileone also addressed the claim that equality requires redefining marriagein law.

"Allpersons have inherent dignity and must be treated equally with the respect and justicethat is their due," he said."That is part of the purpose of the law; it is not the purpose ofthe law, though, to give people social status, as the advocates for marriageredefinition contend.For a well-orderedsociety, laws must reflect reality; for them to contradict reality would besimply irrational.Our children deserveas much and depend upon all of us, especially our leaders, to protect thereality of marriage, not redefine it in the law. Many thanks go to all those who let theirvoices be heard in defense of marriage in Illinois," Archbishop Cordileonesaid.

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

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Keywords:Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Illinois, marriage, U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops, bishops

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