Letter
Letter from Archbishop Cordileone to Congress on State Marriage Defense Act (2014)
Letter from Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Chairman, USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage to U.S. Representative Randy Weber on State Marriage Defense Act, January 10, 2014
As the Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, I write in strong support of your bill, H.R. 3829, the State Marriage Defense Act of 2014.
As you know, various agencies of the Executive Branch have decided to use a “place of celebration” rule rather than a “place of domicile” rule when determining the validity of a marriage for purposes of federal rights, benefits, and privileges. These agencies include, among others, the Internal Revenue Service, Office of Personnel Management, Department of Defense, Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security.