Leaders of 30 groups sign letter on marriage
1/21/2012WASHINGTON -- Representatives of more than 30 U.S. religious communities have signed an open letter voicing their commitment to maintaining the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.
The open letter, titled "Marriage and Religious Freedom: Fundamental Goods That Stand or Fall Together," has been signed by leaders of Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, Lutheran, Mormon, and Pentecostal communities.
Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was one of four Catholic bishops who signed the letter.
"Marriage and religious liberty are at a crisis point in the United States," he said. "This letter is a sign of hope. Not only are tens of millions of believing citizens represented in the letter's signatories, but the letter itself testifies to the growing and shared awareness of just how important marriage and religious freedom are to the well being of our country."
The full text of the letter is available online at usccb.org.