Cardinal Dolan 'Saddened' by Obama Support for Same-Sex 'Marriage'

By Junno Arocho

WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 10, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed his sadness over U.S. President Barack Obama’s recently declared support for redefining marriage. 

"The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better," the cardinal said in a statement. "Unfortunately, President Obama’s words today are not surprising since they follow upon various actions already taken by his Administration that erode or ignore the unique meaning of marriage." 

Obama went on ABC News on Wednesday and affirmed his belief that "same-sex couples should be able to get married."

"I pray for the President every day," Dolan stated, "and will continue to pray that he and his Administration act justly to uphold and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

The President’s statement comes at a time where voters in North Carolina passed, with an overwhelming margin, a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as solely between one man and one woman. North Carolina is the 30th state in the U.S. to pass such a constitutional amendment. 

According to the N.C. State Board of Elections, 61% voted for the amendment while less than 39% percent voted against it.

"The success of this amendment demonstrates people’s awareness of the essential role that marriage, as the union of a man and a woman, plays for the common good,” said Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland. Bishop Cordileone serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Promotion and Defense of Marriage of the USCCB.  

“Despite his comments yesterday, I would hope that President Obama would recognize this essential role as well," Cordileone continued, saying that marriage is not a partisan issue, "but a matter of justice, fairness and equality for the law to uphold every child’s basic right to be welcomed and raised by his or her mother and father together."