The promotion and protection of marriage between man and woman as the fundamental cell of society is the objective of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a non-profit association founded in 2007, in planning the third consecutive "Marriage March" for April 25th, in Washington. On the occasion of this initiative, supported by the US Bishops' Conference, Msgr. Richard Malone and Msgr. Salvatore Cordileone, respectively presidents of the Episcopal Commissions for the Family and for the Protection of marriage, emphasize, in a joint statement, the importance of this event, which "will take place three days before the Supreme Court's debate on the constitutionality of preserving the legal definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman in the United States."
On April 28th, the US Supreme Court will in fact have to decide whether the 14th Amendment of the Constitution–one that protects the equality of all persons before the law–also implies that each State must deliver a marriage license to homosexual couples and whether the States should recognize gay marriage licenses that have been delivered elsewhere.
Cardinal Seán O'Malley, President of the Bishops' Commission for the Activities in favor of life, expressed his support of the March: "It is a great blessing–he writes in a message–to be joined in prayer with thousands of Catholics nationwide. The Call to Prayer is a reminder for all of us that we rely on God for everything; it is an invitation to grow in faith and love as we pray and fast together for the protection of life, marriage and religious liberty," because "everyone can make a difference for the good of the Church and society."
The US Bishops invite the faithful to join in prayer for the sake of renewing a culture of life, marriage and religious freedom and propose material on their website:
www.usccb.org/pray
