Catholic Gov. Says Archbishop Wrong on 'Gay Marriage'

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Baltimore Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien recently engaged in an exchange of letters that signifies both how Catholic influence has grown within U.S. culture and the Catholic Church's struggle with that very same culture.

“. . . on the public issue of granting equal civil marital rights to same sex couples, you and I disagree.”
-- Gov. O’Malley

For background, read 'Gay Marriage' Bill Pushed by Maryland Governor

-- From "O’Malley, archbishop at odds over same-sex marriage, letters show" by John Wagner, Washington Post 8/8/11

Edwin F. O’Brien, the archbishop of Baltimore, said in a letter late last month that sponsoring the bill would “deeply conflict” with O’Malley’s Catholic faith and that he should resist pressure to do so . . . “We urge you not to allow your role as the leader of our state to be used in allowing the debate surrounding the definition of marriage to be determined by mere political expediency. The people of Maryland deserve no less.”

O’Brien’s letter also signals that the Catholic Church is gearing up for another fight on the issue in a state where the governor and both presiding officers of the legislature are Catholics.

O’Malley . . . until recently advocated civil unions as an alternative to same-sex marriages.

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From "In Maryland, a 21st century church-state exchange" by Tom Roberts, National Catholic Reporter 8/9/11

O'Malley is a Catholic (he attended Our Lady of Lourdes School in Bethesda and Gonzaga College High School and graduated from The Catholic University of America), and a regular Mass attender who's sent his children to Catholic schools. He's openly on record as an advocate for a list of issues that match up to the church's social justice agenda. But he's also recently announced plans to sponsor a same-sex marriage bill.

O'Malley also told O'Brien he would never "question or infringe upon your freedom to define, to preach about and to administer the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church." At the same time, he said, "I respect your freedom to disagree with me as a citizen and as a religious leader without questioning your motives."

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