During a period of economic decline, growing unemployment and rising poverty, the Rhode Island House of Representatives completed its first order of business last week.
Their first act was not to pass legislation that would generate jobs for the nearly 58,000 or lift Rhode Island from recession, aid the unemployed or care for the poor; rather their first act was passage of legislation that would redefine marriage. In a shocking 51 to 19 vote last Thursday, state representatives passed House Bill 5015 – the so-called same-sex marriage bill, striking a substantial blow to the very foundation of our culture.
Ignoring the cries of a majority of Rhode Islanders that they address the states dire economic condition these elected officials instead tragically chose to tip the first domino in the social experiment of genderless marriage. They glibly dismissed the reasoned and logical opposition to the bill offered in his impassioned defense of marriage during the floor debate from Representative Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence). They callously cast aside the calls of leaders of many faith communities, academic leaders and others of good will who have prophetically called for the strengthening of marriage between one man and one woman not its virtual elimination.
Heeding the call of a very well-financed, yet small group of Rhode Islanders, state representatives ignored history and nature as well as common sense and the common good and sought the politically correct path of redefining marriage between a man and a woman. The passage of a bill redefining marriage in Rhode Island is far from a historic day in Rhode Island but rather a day of sadness. The children and families of our state deserve a better and secure future. Through this social experiment called same-sex marriage, the House has failed them yet again.
Among the 75 members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives only 19 demonstrated the courage of their convictions and proved to be modern day Thomas Mores. These brave 19 stood strong in the face of the constant demagoguery of the same-sex marriage activists who filled the Statehouse and despite the political threats to submit or else. They remained loyal to the truth that marriage can only ever be between one man and one woman.
Sadly, among the 51 who supported same-sex marriage is a number of whom describe themselves as Catholic. Rather than following the wisdom of their faith they chose to follow the secular shepherd of social experimentation and political correctness and sacrifice the sanctity of marriage for their own political gain. During his trial for treason, Saint Thomas More learned that his betrayer, Richard Rich, had perjured himself against More in order to be appointed the Attorney General of Wales. St. Thomas asked: “Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales?” We might ask those Catholic state representatives who voted for same-sex marriage what their price was to undermine the sanctity of marriage for future generations of Rhode Islanders?
