NEW: Bishop Tobin Calls for Defeat of Civil Unions

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Greg Berman, GoLocalProv News Contributor

Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, issued a statement today urging lawmakers to vote down legislation that would allow for civil unions in Rhode Island.

Late last month, House Speaker Gordon Fox and Senate President Teresa Pavia Weed dropped the prospect of passing a full-fledged gay marriage bill on pragmatic grounds—recognizing improbability of pushing such legislation through the senate—and came out in support of a civil unions bill instead.

In his statement, Tobin labeled the bill as an “unpopular and last minute attempt at a compromise that satisfies no one and accomplishes little.” Tobin contended that passage of the law would only further “divisive debate,” not resolve it.

“The civil unions legislation under consideration has no protection for freedom of conscience or religious practice for individuals or institutions who oppose this challenge to traditional moral values,” said Tobin, who then asserted that “the legislation itself is discriminatory since it provides certain legal rights only to those in same-sex relationships that mimic marriage while ignoring the needs of many other Rhode Islanders.”

As an alternative, Tobin encouraged lawmakers to consider “reciprocal benefits legislation,” which he felt would provide same-sex as well as non-same sex couples with crucial benefits “without reference to marriage and without compromising the traditional understanding of marriage and family in our society.” Such legislation has existed in places like Hawaii and covers not only same-sex couples, but also inter-family relationships—such as siblings who desire the legal right to make medical decisions for one another.

A House floor vote on the bill is scheduled for this Thursday.

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Comments:

Charles Drago

4:47pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Do as you wish in your church.

Exercise your right to free speech everywhere.

But know that your denial of love is an abomination -- especially to those of us who, free from the ill-disguised political shackles of all organized religions, follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, among other prophets and wise men and women.

Portsmouth Citizen

6:59pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011

In his statement Tobin writes that the, "civil unions legislation under consideration has no protection for freedom of conscience or religious practice."

That is a lie, plain and simple, and so Bishop Tobin is a liar.

There is nothing in the civil union bill that would force any religion to conduct a civil union that is against its teachings. Just like the current marriage laws can't force the Catholic Church to marry two non-Catholics who refuse to commit to raising their children as Catholics, so the civil union bill leave all churches completely free to follow their "conscience and religious practice."

Once again, Bishop Tobin proves that he will and say anything, even lie, to deprive Rhode Islanders of their civil rights if he doesn't approve of them.

Sean DeBobes

7:19pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011

" “the legislation itself is discriminatory since it provides certain legal rights only to those in same-sex relationships"

Well this seems very familiar to the current situation same sex couples find themselves in right now...

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