Archbishop Dolan defends New York bishops' effort against same-sex marriage

July 11, 2011

Archbishop Timothy Dolan has rejected analysts’ claims that Catholic leaders were half-hearted in their efforts to stop the acceptance of same-sex marriage in the state of New York.

The bishops were “resolute in their conviction” that they must oppose the legislation, the archbishop said, and the New York State Catholic Conference organized a strong grassroots campaign against the legislation. The effort failed, Archbishop Dolan said, because of imposing forces arrayed for the bill. “The forces on the other side were a Goliath indeed—with tons of money, ‘glitterati’ from entertainment circles, political pawnbrokers, and the media,” he said.

Some political analysts had suggested that the Catholic bishops of New York could have been more outspoken in their campaign against same-sex marriage. Although Archbishop Dolan spoke clearly in opposition to the measure, he left town prior to the final vote. The state bishops’ conference issued a strong formal statement condemning the bill only after the legislation was approved.

Archbishop Dolan said that opposition to bishops’ involvement was badly tainted by anti-Catholic bias, so that “the real forces of ‘intolerance’ were unmasked here.” He insisted that Church leaders were not opposing anyone, but defending marriage. Now, the archbishop added, Catholics must be prepared for legislative battle on marriage issues again, “worried that the next step will be another redefinition to justify multiple partners and infidelity.”

 

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Further information:

• After New York’s marriage vote, Archbishop Dolan warns of further redefinition (CNA)
• Some Afterthoughts (Archbishop Dolan's blog)