The Archdiocese of Boston on Thursday criticized a ruling that makes gay marriage an imminent reality in Massachusetts and urged Catholics to lobby politicians to keep marriage exclusively for heterosexuals.
Wading deep into the waters separating church and state, Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley blasted the "overly activist" justices responsible for a Wednesday court ruling that all but guaranteed civil marriage rights to gays and lesbians.
"Clearly, the justices who issued this opinion seem determined to blur the constitutional separation of powers and to usurp the rightful role of the legislature," O'Malley said in a blunt statement.
O'Malley, head of the emotional heart of America's Catholic Church, said the ruling "deserves a commensurately strong response" and commanded Catholics to pressure their elected representatives to amend the state constitution and define marriage exclusively as between a man and a woman.
"Catholic citizens and all men and women of good will who value such a traditional, positive and forthright understanding of marriage must unite to take action to defend this important institution," he said.
On Wednesday the state's top court told lawmakers to allow full-fledged marriage for same-sex couples because anything less would make them "second-class" citizens.
The move left no wiggle room for state lawmakers who were pushing for a law that would create Vermont-style civil unions -- a parallel form of marriage for gays and lesbians.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
O'Malley's argument -- that justices are overstepping their bounds and that constitutional change may be the only remedy to preserve the institution of marriage -- has been used in recent months by everyone from rank-and-file Christian conservatives to President Bush.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist used strikingly similar language on Thursday when he vowed that the Senate would block any effort to legalize same-sex marriage.
In Massachusetts, amending the state constitution is a process that can take years. Meanwhile gay couples are expected to begin to marry here as soon as mid-May.
O'Malley, who was brought in last year to put the archdiocese back on track after a damaging clergy sex abuse scandal, spoke as Massachusetts legislators mulled their options ahead of a meeting next week when they could vote on an amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
An informal poll of state lawmakers published by The Boston Phoenix found that it is too soon to tell whether the amendment would pass.
While the Catholic church remains opposed to gay marriage -- whether in the civil form or as a sacrament -- dozens of other religious leaders in the state gathered in Boston to demonstrate their support for same-sex marriage and to ask lawmakers to reject such a constitutional amendment.
"Government cannot and should not tell any religion what to do, but government must ensure that everyone in America is treated fairly under the law," the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry said in a statement.
"It is not fair to deny the rights and protections of marriage to couples who love each other and take on all the responsibilities of marriage."