Letter to the Bishops

In an attempt to urge the bishops’ pastoral leadership in the struggle to defend the family in America, representatives of the American TFP delivered eight boxes of signed petitions to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington D.C. on November 1, 2005. The petition, which calls on America’s bishops to launch a relentless national crusade to stop homosexual “marriage” and defend the family (The text of this petition can be read by clicking here.) was signed by concerned Catholics from across the nation.

At the same time, American TFP President Raymond Drake sent a letter to every bishop in America, informing them of these filial concerns and beseeching their leadership. The complete text of this letter is reproduced below.

Your Excellency:

In Washington, D.C. earlier today, representatives of the American TFP delivered eight boxes of signed copies of its Reverent and Filial Petition to the Catholic Bishops of America (to read this text, click here) to Sharon Marshall of the Committee on Marriage and Family.

As Your Excellency well knows, the Catholic family has been under assault by our secularist culture for decades. However, with the Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas and Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court decision in Goodridge v. Department. of Social Services, the homosexual movement launched a massive assault on the sacred institution of marriage.

Last year, twelve states passed ballot measures amending their state constitutions defining marriage as “the union of one man and one woman.” Next week, Texas votes on a similar proposal. Several other states are lining up votes in 2006. In Congress, pro-family legislators are striving to pass a federal constitutional amendment.

The homosexual lobby fights intelligently, and when same-sex “marriage” seems unfeasible in the short run, they demand “civil unions” and “domestic partnerships.” Homosexual activists package the latter two as “concessions” on their part when in fact they are no more than highly effective, strategic stepping stones across the river of vehement public opposition to their agenda.

Thus, in the Bay State, homosexual lobbyists fought tooth and nail to prevent the legislature from approving a ballot measure defining marriage as “the union of one man and one woman.” Faced with overwhelming public outcry though, they pretended to retreat, unfairly forcing upon voters a single ballot measure that would properly define marriage while at the same time giving “civil unions” constitutional approval. Since then, the conservative reaction has successfully scuttled this ignoble political maneuver, replacing the flawed ballot measure with another, which, while not perfect, should be supported.

In California, 61% voted in favor of traditional marriage, passing Proposition 22 in March 2000. The homosexual lobby has been trying to undermine this election victory ever since. In 2003, the state legislature legalized “domestic partnerships” (AB 205) granting them practically all of marriage’s privileges under the law. Two months ago, the California Legislature proved bolder and approved same-sex “marriage” (AB 849), but their efforts – thank God! – met with Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger’s veto on September 30.

Last week, Alaska’s Supreme Court imposed “partnership benefits” on the state – despite voters approval of a state constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage some years ago – arguing that it was unconstitutional to exclude same-sex partners.

The above are mere examples illustrating how the battle over same-sex “marriage” rages everywhere in the nation. There is hardly a town or college campus where ground is not being hotly disputed inch by inch. Defending traditional marriage has become one of the most active battlefronts in the Cultural War.

Indeed, the homosexual movement represents today the cutting edge of the sexual revolution. Homosexual activist Paul Varnell wrote tellingly in the Chicago Free Press that “the gay movement, whether we acknowledge it or not, is not a civil rights movement, not even a sexual liberation movement, but a moral revolution aimed at changing people’s view of homosexuality.” In After the Ball, homosexual authors Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen outline the same radically immoral goal:

Laws shape social acceptance and custom. The legal recognition of same-sex “marriage” will powerfully influence people to first tolerate, then accept as moral, the practice of homosexual acts. Society’s acceptance of homosexual acts and same-sex “marriage” constitutes a grave collective offense to God and His Law.

On July 31, 2003, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in a document signed by its Prefect, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, published Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons. While addressed to everyone, this document makes particular mention of Catholic bishops and politicians, since they can more directly intervene against the homosexual movement’s legislative offensive.

Thus, the American TFP respectfully requests Your Excellency to give top priority to the battle against homosexual acts and same-sex “marriage” by intervening urgently, and decisively, in this Cultural War at the diocesan and national levels. With all the respect of sons of the Church, we urge you to speak out clearly and courageously, encouraging the faithful to stand firm in the public square, and reminding them of Our Lord’s words: