OPINION:
The Catholic Bishops’ comments in “Bishops blast Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling as ’tragic error’” (Web, June 26) miss the mark in condemning the recent Supreme Court ruling that affords lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people equal rights and protections under the law. Real “religious freedom” upholds an individual’s decision to live in accordance with their sexual identity and religious values. Discrimination on the basis of such is not a Catholic value.
Catholics agree. The majority of American Catholics overwhelmingly support same-sex couples and their right to receive the same benefits and protections as heterosexual couples. Bishops do not speak for the Church. Catholics as a whole speak for the Church.
This decision stood on the side of love and justice. It stood on the right side of history. While the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops may wish to paint this decision as a “tragic error” or relegate it to moral relativism, Catholics know better. Affirming love — for all of us — is core to who we are as Catholics living the Gospel call.
JIM FITZGERALD
Executive director, Call to Action
Chicago
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