Bishop Jarrell issues statement on same-sex court ruling

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States.
The court ruled 5-4 that states will have to stop enforcing bans on same-sex marriages.
Bishop Michael Jarrell of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette issued the following statement.
On June 26, 2015, in a reversal of immemorial tradition, the United States Supreme Court by a
decision of 5 to 4 ruled that homosexual couples have a right to marry nationwide.
We are deeply saddened by this decision. Let me state very plainly that no human court has the
authority to change what God has written into the law of creation. This ruling is irreconcilable
with the nature and definition of marriage as established by Divine Law. The marital covenant
was established by God with its own proper nature and laws.
I realize that this ruling will create conscience problems for many Catholics, especially those in
public office. In some cases civil disobedience may be a proper response. No priest or deacon
of this Diocese may participate in the civil solemnization or celebration of a same-sex marriage.
All Catholics are urged not to attend same-sex marriage ceremonies. No Catholic facility or
property, including but not limited to parishes, missions, chapels, meeting halls, Catholic
educational, health or charitable institutions, or facilities belonging to benevolent orders may be
used for the solemnization of same-sex marriage.
The upcoming Synod of Marriage and the Family is scheduled for this October. It is dedicated to
the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world. It may give
consideration to the problems created by the alteration of the traditional law about marriage.
As Catholics we have a profound respect for the dignity of all of God’s children. Nevertheless
there is no basis in law or in nature for altering the traditional definition of marriage, established
by God from the beginning.