In the past few months, Catholic bishops have made plenty of noise about the so-called Catholic vote, focusing mainly on the presidential race and reinforcing the mistaken idea that Catholics should only vote on one issue.
However, the bishops are expanding their single-issue mindset. Unfortunately, this expansion has only managed to get them as far as double-issue voting. The bishops are now throwing their weight behind California’s Proposition 8, Florida’s Proposition 2, and Arizona’s Proposition 102, propositions that would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.The California Catholic Conference made a statement in support of Proposition 8:
“As citizens of California, we need to avail ourselves of the opportunity to overturn this ruling by the California Supreme Court. On the November general election ballot, there will be Proposition 8 which reads: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” That language simply affirms the historic, logical and reasonable definition of marriage—and does not remove any benefits from other contractual arrangements.”
Mike Phelan, director of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Respect Life Issues in Phoenix, Arizona commented on the Arizona bishops’ backing of Proposition 102:
“This tinkering with the legal meaning of marriage is a social experiment which will weaken marriage further and will contribute to its disappearance. If it’s not about one man and one woman raising a family and having a stable relationship in which to raise a family, then ultimately, it is about what any adult pleases.
The Florida Catholic Conference also offered their support for Proposition 2:
“This amendment to the Florida Constitution affirms Florida’s existing marriage law (Section 741.212 FS) and protects marriage as currently defined in law from being negated or overturned by legislative process or judicial ruling…Our support for this proposed constitutional amendment is not motivated by discrimination or animosity toward any group…”
This wave of two-issue voting has moved beyond individual states to the national scene. The Knights of Columbus has donated over $1 million to the Proposition 8 cause. And the US Bishops Conference has joined the Knights to develop a national plan of action in “defense of marriage.”
So, two issues it is for the bishops.
It is such a relief that the Catholic hierarchy does not represent the wider Catholic population in the US.
