Appeal ruling on marriage

By Michael J. McMonagle

On May 20, U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones 3d declared Pennsylvania's law that defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman unconstitutional. The next day, Gov. Corbett refused to appeal the ruling, which represents a betrayal of his duty as governor and his promises to voters.

Pennsylvania's elected representatives overwhelmingly passed the law defining marriage in 1996, and it was signed by Gov. Tom Ridge. Yet 18 years later, Jones and Corbett have decided that gender no longer matters to marriage, instituting a huge public policy change without the approval of the state's citizens.

Just last year, Corbett had forcefully criticized Attorney General Kathleen Kane for not defending Pennsylvania's marriage law. He is now similarly derelict in his duty.

Corbett says an appeal of Jones' ruling is unlikely to succeed. Not necessarily. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court put same-sex marriage on hold in Utah.

When Corbett ran for attorney general in 2008 and for governor in 2010, he signed a pledge saying he supported Pennsylvania's marriage law. He has abandoned that pledge, and the most likely explanation for this change of heart is that he believes his political interests are best served by not appealing. But here's the reality: Corbett's failure to appeal greatly reduces his reelection chances, as many pro-life voters will not reward such betrayal.

Civil marriage exists primarily to provide tangible benefits for children, not emotional benefits for adults. Thus, Corbett and Jones have decided to end the only legal relationship that unites children with their mom and dad. Their decision means that more children will be raised without a mom or a dad, adoption agencies that are faithful to Christian teaching will be forced to close, and there will be increased attacks on the civil and religious rights of citizens who don't support same-sex marriage.

Corbett is wrong to suggest that his decision does not conflict with his Catholic faith. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is necessarily heterosexual. The conjugal relationship between husband and wife, because it is capable of creating a third person, reflects God's image in the Holy Trinity. Human life is sacred because human beings are created in God's image. Thus, the undermining of God's image through same-sex marriage undermines the sanctity of human life.

The state's clergy must boldly proclaim the truth about the nature and purpose of marriage. Citizens need to courageously take a public stand. We all should demand that Corbett appeal Jones' decision, making our voices heard in Harrisburg and at the March for Marriage June 19 in Washington.