The following is the most recent statement of Bishop John McCormack on this issue (see article in the Nashua Telegraph).
We believe that we should be doing all we can as a society to support and protect marriage, which is a union of a man and woman and has been throughout history.
We further believe that trying to redefine marriage on the run, with the slimmest of legislative margins and without a robust investigation into all possible conflicts between same sex marriage legislation and religious liberties is contrary to the spirit of New Hampshire. Quite simply, if this legislation is allowed to become law there will be many unintended consequences that will undoubtedly lead to unnecessary confusion, litigation and denial of rights to many people in our state.
When a change of this momentous scope is proposed and there is not adequate time to not only look at all the implications of it, but also not to hear in depth from the people whom it will affect, then there are going to be serious problems. Short of preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman, there must be adequate protections for churches, but also for individuals who have a genuine conscientious objection to participating in or assisting ceremonies of same sex couples.
We urge Governor Lynch to veto this legislation, if for no other reason than it leaves too many unanswered questions regarding protections for religious organizations and persons of conscience.
Argent, on a Cross of Gules,
a sheaf of five arrows,
a staff surmounted by a lily,
all of the first.
The coat of arms of the Diocese of Manchester. The arms are composed of a silver (white) field upon which is displayed a red cross of the Chirstian faith. In the center is a sheaf of five arrows, an emblem taken from the seal of the “Colony of New Hampshire,” adopted in 1776. The five arrows denote the then five counties bound together in a strong union. The staff in the midst of the arrows is the symbol of Saint Joseph, titular of the Cathedral-Church in the See in Manchester.
(Description from the book, Upon This Granite, Catholicism in New Hampshire 1647-1997 by Wilfrid H. Paradis.)
