Catholic bishops oppose VAWA because they say LGBT community is "unjustly exploited for purposes of marriage redefinition"

The Violence Against Women Act was signed yesterday by President Obama, but not without opposition from five Catholic bishops over the LGBT provisions, which they say are unjustly exploiting the LGBT community in the interests of redefining marriage as being between a man and a woman.  Religion News Service describes the opposition by the bishops:

“These two classifications are unnecessary to establish the just protections due to all persons. They undermine the meaning and importance of sexual difference,” the bishops said in a statement released by the USCCB on Wednesday.

“They are unjustly exploited for purposes of marriage redefinition, and marriage is the only institution that unites a man and a woman with each other and with any children born from their union,” the statement continued.

The bishops also take issue with the lack of “conscience protection” for faith-based groups that help victims of human trafficking, an addition they sought after the Obama administration decided in 2011 to discontinue funding for a Catholic group that works with trafficking victims, many of whom were forced to work as prostitutes.

The administration instead funded other groups that, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, could provide a full range of women’s health services, including referrals for contraception or abortion, both of which the Catholic Church opposes.

The bishops want the legislation revisited in the future so that those provisions can be taken out.  The Internet was quick to respond, with this from The Daily Kos:

The VAWA, as we all know, was caught up in GOP games and it's passing has been drawn out far too long as it is.

Now the Bishops are all SO concerned that we will go to hell.  See you there fellas.

Dakota O'Leary

Dakota O'Leary is a freethinker, and often sassy, scholar of theology and literature. She got her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theology from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, and her Master of Arts degree in Theology and Literature from Antioch University-Midwest. She is a contributing writer focusing on eschatology, biblical prophecy, and general religious news. Dakota is a co-host of the God Discussion radio show, offering insight to the news stories of the week. We like to call her "our in-house Biblical prophecy expert" as her articles on eschatology have received over 200,000 views on God Discussion.

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