Catholic Church Thanks Prop 8 Supporters, Joins Forces with Mormons

Over the weekend, the Roman Catholic Church in the United States expressed its appreciation to California voters for passing Proposition 8, which threatens to permanently define marriage as only between a man and woman in the state. The Catholic Church has also made it clear that they will stand by the Mormon Church, which poured millions of dollars into the Golden State to see the anti-gay marriage amendment passed, but now faces stiff criticism and protest from an angry gay electorate bent on ensuring that Proposition 8 never become law.

Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles thanked his parishioners in a statement released after last Tuesday's election. "I am grateful to the Catholic Community of Los Angeles for your commitment to the institution of marriage as fashioned by God and to work with such energy to enshrine this divine plan into our state's Constitution," he said.

"Proposition 8 is not against any group in our society. Its sole focus is on preserving God's plan for people living upon this earth throughout time. The Catholic Church understands that there are people who choose to live together in relationships other than traditional marriage. All of their spiritual, pastoral and civil rights should be respected, together with their membership in the church," he added.

According to an All Headline News report, the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah also demonstrated support for Mormons in the their state who are facing a strong back lash from same-sex marriage proponents who have engaged in protests at Mormon temples.
Church President Thomas Monson released a statement from the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City denying that the church's opposition to same-sex marriage has anything to do with bigotry.

"It is important to understand that this issue for the church has always been about the sacred and divine institution of marriage -- a union between a man and a woman. Allegations of bigotry or persecution made against the church were and are simply wrong. The church's opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians," he said.

"Even more, the church does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches," Monson added.

According to SFGate.com, network exit poll show that they Catholics accounted for 30 percent of the California electorate on November 4 and that 64 percent of them voted "yes" on proposition 8.