The word family could be described as that fundamental social group formed by the more or less permanent union of one man with one woman, or of one or more men with one or more women, and their children. Across times, cultures, and very different religious beliefs, marriage is the foundation of the family. The family, in turn, is the basic unit of society.
Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. They commit themselves completely to each other and to the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them. In marriage man and woman are so firmly united as to become—to use the words of the Book of Genesis—"one flesh" (Gen 2:24). Male and female in their physical constitution, the two human subjects, even though physically different, share equally in the capacity to live "in truth and love".
In other, simpler, terms, the specific identity of marriage is designed by God. It’s part of the natural law and essential to the well being of the human family. Any attempt to undermine that identity by creating so-called “domestic partnerships,” heterosexual or homosexual, is fraudulent and morally unacceptable. Some claim that the Church’s opposition to “domestic partner” benefits is discriminatory against homosexuals. Not true. The Church’s teaching about homosexuality should be well known by now. It revolves around the distinction between homosexual activity and homosexual persons.
First, the Church teaches that homosexual activity is immoral. “Homosexual acts are a grave transgression of the goals of human sexuality and of human personality, and are contrary to the will of God. (Principles for Confessors, NCCB, 1973) And again, “Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law . . . Under no circumstances can they be approved.” (Catechism, #2357)
The Church also insists, however, that homosexual persons are valued members of the human family and must be treated with the same respect and love as every other child of God. The Church says that homosexuals “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” (Catechism, #2358
Though treating homosexual persons with respect and dignity does not mean, however, that their living arrangements are equivalent to matrimony, or that they can presume benefits traditionally given to married persons. “We can also see how incongruous is the demand to grant ‘marital’ status to unions between persons of the same sex . . . Marriage cannot be reduced to a condition similar to that of a homosexual relationship: this is contrary to common sense . . . ‘De facto unions’ between homosexuals are a distortion of what should be a communion of love and life between a man and a woman in a reciprocal gift open to life.” (Family, Marriage and “De Facto” Unions, #23)
Conclusion: The family in the context of marriage is a basic human and social institution. Though it is regulated by civil laws and church laws, it did not originate from either the church or state, but from God. Therefore, neither church nor state can alter the basic meaning and structure of marriage. Marriage, whose nature and purposes are established by God, can only be the union of a man and a woman and must remain such in law. Marriage is a fundamental building block of every society and culture. The Church believes that persons with homosexual tendencies are children of God and our brothers and sisters, deserving of our respect and prayers. She believes, however, that homosexual activity is immoral, that it is contrary to the natural law, the tenets of the Bible and the teaching of the Church.
Finally she also believes that the concept of gay marriage or civil unions detracts from the common good and is harmful to families, and that the state should not, and in fact cannot, ratify such unions. The union of husband and wife becomes, over a lifetime, a great good for themselves, their family, communities, and society. Marriage is a gift to be cherished and protected.
