By Father Brian Jordan and Edward J. Malloy

Published:June 28, 2009, 1:20 PM http://www.buffalonews.com/incoming/article161649.ece

Updated: August 21, 2010, 12:13 AM

Understandable controversy surrounds the same-sex marriage bill. We would like to state what we in the building trades unions believe in, rather than what we are against.

We believe marriage is a religious institution and that government should stay away from equating marriage to civil unions. There has been substantial legislation in New York State protecting the rights of same-sex couples regarding benefits and justified measures against discrimination in the workplace. However, to equate same-sex unions with the sacredness of marriage is unacceptable. Why?

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, marriage is both unitive and procreative. This is the coming together of a husband and wife, creating the institution of family in which children are born and nurtured. The couple are making a covenant between themselves and their creator. It is unfortunate that homosexual couples cannot engage in that unitive and procreative relationship. This is both a biblical mandate and a social institution of creating and nurturing the family.

Governments and systems of law rely upon the social institution of the family to produce something they need but they themselves cannot produce. Families are decent, hard-working people of good will who can take their rightful place in society. Governments can sanction civil unions but cannot equate these unions to religious marriages.

To reiterate, we are stating what we believe as true marriage and do not intend to discriminate against anyone. Two statements from the U. S. Catholic Conference of Bishops demonstrate their concern for homosexual persons. First, in 1986, in their document “Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons,” the bishops state, “The teachings of the Church make it clear that the fundamental human rights of homosexual persons must be defended and that all of us must strive to eliminate any forms of injustice, oppression or violence against them.”

Also, in 1997, in their document, “Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Pastoral Ministers,” the bishops write, “God does not love someone any less simply because he or she is homosexual. God’s love is always and everywhere offered to those who are opened to receiving it.”

We respect the viewpoints held by those who attempt to advocate same-sex marriage. However, please respect what we believe in the centuries-old religious tradition that marriage is solely between a man and a woman.

It may be helpful to find another word or another phrase to make your claim. One cannot equate baptisms with bar mitzvahs. Please don’t equate marriage with civil unions. May God bless all relationships — whether heterosexual or homosexual.

Father Brian Jordan is chaplain of the New York City Building and Construction Trades Council. Edward J. Malloy is president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Edward J Malloy