Judge John E. Jones, III, a federal district court judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, declared this week that Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, is unconstitutional. He also ruled that Pennsylvania must recogniz
It is easy to understand the private and intimate nature of marriage between a husband and wife. Reality TV aside, most of us can clearly draw the line between our public and private lives. It is more difficult to describe the public significance of marriage. What do we really know
During a recent meeting in San Antonio, TX, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops received an update from its Ad Hoc Committee on Defense of Marriage from its chairman, Loiusville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz (formerly of the Diocese of Allentown).
On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, Senator John Eichelberger (R-Blair County) announced his intention to introduce a constitutional amendment defining marriage in Pennsylvania as strictly the union between one man and one woman. Sen. Eichelberger said, “As more and more states begin to
On Wednesday, May 6, 2009, Gov. John Baldacci of Maine signed a bill into law legalizing same-sex marriage in that state. It becomes the fifth state to allow gay marriage joining Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa.
Two significant actions affecting marriage took place today – the state legislature in Vermont passed legislation legalizing gay marriage in that state, overriding the governor’s veto. It becomes the first state to implement gay marriage directly through legislative action
In a unanimous decision, the Iowa Supreme Court today held that Iowa’s defense of marriage statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the Iowa Constitution. The decision effectively legalizes gay marriage in that state.
Are you a bigot? Most of us would answer no. Same-sex marriage proponents argue there is no morally relevant difference between their relationships and marriage between a husband and wife; to believe otherwise you are a bigot. That is their opinion. But, if same-sex marriages, sometim
Many people are embarrassed to talk about sexuality, yet our culture surrounds us with references, jokes and outright displays of sexual behavior. The media portrays sex as recreational and impersonal, and homosexuality as “not that there’s anything wrong with it.”Se