The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued two new resources on the issue of defending marriage and efforts by some to redefine marriage in our country. Two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court raise the question of marriage’s definition in law.

The USCCB has joined with many other organizations and individuals in urging the Court to uphold both the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8, which define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Negative rulings could redefine marriage throughout the country, creating a “Roe v. Wade” moment for marriage.

Marriage is a great gift to men, women, children, and society. The Church serves and strengthens marriage by providing pastoral care to engaged couples and marriages at all stages, and in any difficulty. The church promotes and defends marriage by preaching and teaching about marriage's authentic meaning.

The latest challenge to marriage, the proposal that sexual difference doesn’t matter, removes the very basis of marriage’s meaning as a one flesh communion, open to children, making the definition of marriage in law (and thereby culture) open to limitless variation and ultimately meaningless. Read more in the links below.

1. ) A new bulletin insert "Marriage and the Supreme Court" for parishes to use in anticipation of the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8 and;

2.) "Lead Messages on Marriage Redefinition" - concise points that can assist clergy and leaders, and can also be used by all the lay faithful in discussing marriage with family and friends.

The following statement if from Andy Pugno, General Counsel for the official proponents of Proposition 8:

"Today's unprecedented move by the Obama Administration to intervene against Proposition 8 is very disappointing.

"In his first term, President Obama clearly expressed his view that Americans can maintain a special designation for marriage between man and woman, and that supporters of traditional marriage can hold that position without discriminatory animus.  He later remarked that it would be a "mistake" to transform the debate over redefining marriage into a federal issue.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on January 29 filed amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court in support of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8, both of which  confirm the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

DOMA was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1996 and defines marriage for federal and inter-state recognition purposes. Proposition 8 is a state constitutional amendment approved by the citizens of California in 2008. Both laws are challenged because they define marriage exclusively as the union of one man and one woman.

Urging the Court to uphold DOMA http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/united-states-v-windsor.pdf  the USCCB brief in United States v. Windsor says that “there is no fundamental right to marry a person of the same sex.” The brief also states that “as defined by courts ‘sexual orientation’ is not a classification that should trigger heightened scrutiny,” such as race or ethnicity would.