Letter to Editors of the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Worcester Telegram, and Cape Cod Times, From Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, Worcester Diocese re Oct. 23 Testimony on Civil Unions

October 30, 2003

Dear Editor:

Press coverage of my remarks at a State House committee hearing on Oct. 23 misreported that the position of the Roman Catholic Church or the Catholic Bishops in Massachusetts has changed on same-sex relationships.  The Church has never endorsed, and cannot support the legal recognition of such relationships, whether through marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership bills.  In a statement issued this past summer, the Vatican acknowledged that homosexual persons have individual “rights as persons and citizens”.  But they do not possess the right to have a same-sex relationship treated as “a basis for entitlements”.  We can join the discussion with respect to individual rights and whatever socioeconomic benefits flow from those individual rights, but not with respect to the group claims of same-sex couples seeking entitlements by virtue of their homosexual relationship.  Nothing I said during or after the hearing changed or conflicted with this position of the Church.

Sincerely,

 

Bishop Daniel P. Reilly

Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester