Catholic World News

Obama administration grants ‘full and equal recognition’ to same-sex marriage

February 10, 2014

Attorney General Eric Holder has announced that the Obama administration will grant “full and equal recognition” to same-sex marriages.

“On Monday, I will issue a new policy memorandum that will – for the first time in history – formally instruct all Justice Department employees to give lawful same-sex marriages full and equal recognition, to the greatest extent possible under the law,” he said in remarks delivered at a gay and lesbian organization’s gala on February 8.

“This means that, in every courthouse, in every proceeding, and in every place where a member of the Department of Justice stands on behalf of the United States – they will strive to ensure that same-sex marriages receive the same privileges, protections, and rights as opposite-sex marriages under federal law,” he continued. “And this policy has important, real-world implications for same-sex married couples that interact with the criminal justice system.”

For example, he said that “federal inmates in same-sex marriages will also be entitled to the same rights and privileges as inmates in opposite-sex marriages. This includes visitation by a spouse …”

“Everyone in this room, and everyone in the LGBT community, must be committed to ending all discrimination – discrimination based not only on sexual orientation, but also on race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin,” continued Holder, who made no reference to discrimination based on religion.

“I am profoundly optimistic about the country – and the world – that we will imagine; that we will plan for; and that each of us will surely help to create,” he concluded.

 


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  • Posted by: TheJournalist64 - Feb. 10, 2014 7:10 PM ET USA

    This is part of a highly coordinated attack by the so-called Human Rights Council and their useful idiots. This week liberal judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio will begin hearing a challenge to Texas's one-man-one-woman marriage constitutional amendment, and, since I know the man, I believe he will declare Texas's constitution unconstitutional. More 14th amendment malarkey. This is happening all over, and the target is the Catholic Church.

  • Posted by: nix898049 - Feb. 10, 2014 2:16 PM ET USA

    Does anyone else have the feeling this is just the opening act for a larger production starring the Supreme Court of the United States? Coming soon the a courthouse near you!!!

  • Posted by: jacquebquique5708 - Feb. 10, 2014 12:57 PM ET USA

    Cokie Roberts of ABC News commented on this issue this morning on Nat Publ Radio. She stated that the Administration is looking for issues for the mid term elections. She stated that there was widespread support for gay marriage among the young. She state that this was an attempt by Eric Holder to galvanize the young into voting in the mid terms. She finished by saying that the young traditionally do not vote in that election.

  • Posted by: jg23753479 - Feb. 10, 2014 6:44 AM ET USA

    “I am profoundly optimistic about the country – and the world – that we will imagine; that we will plan for; and that each of us will surely help to create." The words of a man trapped in his own adolescence. It's both frightening and instructive to realize that Obama once taught law at what pretends to be a top rate university. Is it any wonder that many American lawyers parrot sodomite propaganda as if it had some intellectual substance? With "teachers" like Obama, what else could we expect?