 |
|
|
Marriage rally set to oppose civil unions bill
By Nissa LaPoint
Colorado may become the sixth state to support civil unions, but not without a fight.
Some legislators in the Colorado General Assembly proposed a new version of the Colorado Civil Unions Act this session that would authorize a same-sex couple to form a union, affording similar rights to those of a married couple.
|
"Protect and Support Marriage Rally" When: noon-1 p.m. Jan. 25 Where: west steps of the Capitol, 200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver What: pray and show support traditional marriage. |
The Colorado Catholic Conference is responding to the contentious hearings anticipated on the bill by organizing a “Protect and Support Marriage Rally” noon-1 p.m. Jan. 25 at the state Capitol in Denver.
“We need to show our elected officials that this is an important issue to us,” said Jenny Kraska, director of the conference, the state-level, public policy arm of the Catholic Church.
The bill threatens marriage, instituted by God between one man and one woman, and is an effort to redefine the institution.
In the Jan. 11, 2012, Denver Catholic Register, then Denver auxiliary Bishop James Conley, now bishop of Lincoln, wrote: “Make no mistake about it, ‘civil unions’ are an effort to redefine marriage by creating an equivalent, legally-protected relationship for same-sex couples, which will further erode the unique status of marriage.”
Those who support traditional marriage are urged to attend—and to bring friends and family—to pray and witness to the institution. It will be held on the west steps of the Capitol, 200 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver.
Kraska said the proposed bill violates current state laws and the will of the people.
The act contradicts the voter-approved Amendment 43, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. It also opposes Referendum I, an equivalent proposal for civil unions, which voters rejected in 2006.
Thirty-six other states limit marriage to relationships between a man and woman. Five states allow civil unions including Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Three states have pending same-sex marriage laws.
Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www.twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||