Prop. 8 is the same 14 words California voters approved before, but this time it will be put into our constitution. “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
The August letter from Lenny Matthews misunderstands the issue. She said, “Marriage equality is a core civil liberties issue”. This is incorrect.
Marriage is a basic human and social institution. Although civil law and church law regulates it, it did not originate from either, but from God, therefore neither civil nor church law can alter the basic meaning or structure of marriage.
The natural structure of human sexuality makes man and woman complementary partners in the transmission of human life. Only a union of male and female can express sexual complementarity willed by God for marriage.
For several reasons same-sex union contradicts the nature of marriage. Same-sex union is not based on the on the natural law, and it cannot cooperate with God to create new life. Persons in same-sex unions cannot enter into a true conjugal union, therefore it is wrong to equate their “relationship” to marriage. When marriage is redefined to make other relationships equivalent to it, the institution of marriage is devalued and weakened.
To uphold Gods intent for marriage is not to offend the dignity of homosexual persons. The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual persons should be accepted with respect and sensitivity.
Some benefits currently sought by person in the homosexual unions can already be obtained without regard to marital status. For example: individuals can agree to own property jointly, can designate a beneficiary, and can name a person who has the legal right to determine end of life issues if one is incapacitated.
YES on Prop 8 protects the people”s will and restores the definition of marriage.
Carol Bohner
Ventura
