Cardinal opposes civil unions

'No one has the right to change the nature of marriage'

BY DAVE McKINNEY Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief
SPRINGFIELD -- The head of Chicago's Roman Catholic archdiocese Monday portrayed legislation authorizing civil unions between gay and lesbian couples as an initiative that would ''change the nature of marriage'' and urged state lawmakers to reject it.

''Everyone has a right to marry, but no one has the right to change the nature of marriage,'' Cardinal Francis George said in a statement. ''Marriage is what it is and always has been, no matter what a Legislature decides to do; however, the public understanding of marriage will be negatively affected by passage of a bill that ignores the natural fact that sexual complementarity is at the core of marriage.''

George went on to argue that the legislation could require faith-based institutions to provide adoption and foster-care services or other social services to couples in civil unions. He also contended it could hit small employers who opt against providing family benefits to workers in same-sex civil unions.

Backers of the civil unions legislation, which would be the first major expansion of gay rights in the state since 2005, could seek a vote on the initiative as early as next week when lawmakers return to Springfield.

The proposal, pushed by Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and Rep. Deb Mell (D-Chicago), would grant new spousal rights to same-sex partners in a civil union, putting them on par legally with heterosexual married couples when it comes to surrogate decision-making for medical treatment, survivorship, adoptions and accident and health insurance, for example.

But Harris said the legislation does nothing to change the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman, which currently is spelled out in state law.

''I'd say either he is being misinformed about the state of the law in Illinois or they're trying to make more of it than there really is,'' Harris said in response to George's statements.

A portion of Senate Bill 1716 explicitly states that the proposal is not intended to ''interfere with or regulate the religious practice of any religious body.'' The bill goes on to state that religious bodies are ''free to choose whether or not to solemnize or officiate a civil union.''

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/2915608,CST-NWS-george1123.article