It is understandable that much attention has been focused in recent months on the upcoming presidential election. There is another matter Arkansas voters will see on the ballot to which I would like to draw your attention this week: Proposed Amendment 3, with the popular name, “An Amendment Concerning Marriage,” for which I urge your support.
The proposed amendment reads as follows: “Marriage consists only of the union of one man and one woman … Legal status for unmarried persons which is identical or substantially similar to marital status shall not be valid or recognized in Arkansas, except that the legislature may recognize a common law marriage from another state between a man and a woman … The legislature has the power to determine the capacity of persons to marry, subject to this amendment, and the legal rights, obligations, privileges, and immunities of marriage.”
Some have questioned whether such an amendment is necessary since we have a law that states, “Marriage shall be only between a man and a woman. A marriage between persons of the same sex is void,” (Arkansas Code 9-11-109) and another law that excludes “a marriage between persons of the same sex” from the list of “all marriages contracted outside the state” that shall be valid in Arkansas (Arkansas Code 9-11-107). An amendment to the state constitution will afford the greatest legal protection for marriage as a union of a man and a woman. Marriage laws in other states have been challenged, and should this happen in Arkansas, having a clear definition of marriage in the state constitution will preserve the civil institution of marriage as being between a man and woman.
Others have suggested that marriage is a purely civil matter and should be considered immune to traditional moral values or religious teaching. To the contrary, we know that marriage has its origin in God, who created us and set forth his plan for the love of husband and wife, the procreation of children, the meaning of family life, and the central place of marriage in society.
When the family breaks down, society breaks down. When attempts are made to re-define marriage as something it was never intended to be, all of society is harmed. Humanity’s vital moral heritage regarding marriage – shared by Christians, non-Christians, and non-believers alike – must be preserved for the good of our country and the future of our children. For us, it is a matter of faith and fidelity to God’s will as well as a matter of responsibility to our state and country. As you know, the bishops of this country have also encouraged support of a federal marriage amendment.
A same-sex union is not equivalent to marriage. It is not based on the complementary natures of males and females; it cannot cooperate with God to create new life; it cannot be a true marital union.
I have distributed to every parish copies of a document issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions.” When you attend Mass this weekend, please take a copy home and read it. Besides answering many questions about the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage, it will help make clear the moral reasons for supporting Proposed Amendment 3 on Nov. 2.
It reads, in part:
“The call to marriage is woven deeply into the human spirit. Man and woman are equal. However, as created, they are different from but made for each other.”
“The natural structure of human sexuality makes man and woman complementary partners for the transmission of human life … The permanent and exclusive commitment of marriage is the necessary context for the expression of sexual love intended by God both to serve the transmission of human life and to build up the bond between husband and wife.”
Marriage and family life have already been weakened by many forces, and the cost has been high. It is important that we not allow marriage to be weakened further by attempts at re-definition. We should be doing everything in our power to strengthen marriage as God sees it and to help young people grow up with a mature understanding of the roles of wives and husbands and the blessings that come from living as God calls us to live. This is a moral debt we owe to the future.
Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain’s prayer? If so, send it to him c/o Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock AR 72217.

It is understandable that much attention has been focused in recent months on the upcoming presidential election. There is another matter Arkansas voters will see on the ballot to which I would like to draw your attention this week: Proposed Amendment 3, with the popular name, “An Amendment Concerning Marriage,” for which I urge your support.
The proposed amendment reads as follows: “Marriage consists only of the union of one man and one woman … Legal status for unmarried persons which is identical or substantially similar to marital status shall not be valid or recognized in Arkansas, except that the legislature may recognize a common law marriage from another state between a man and a woman … The legislature has the power to determine the capacity of persons to marry, subject to this amendment, and the legal rights, obligations, privileges, and immunities of marriage.”
Some have questioned whether such an amendment is necessary since we have a law that states, “Marriage shall be only between a man and a woman. A marriage between persons of the same sex is void,” (Arkansas Code 9-11-109) and another law that excludes “a marriage between persons of the same sex” from the list of “all marriages contracted outside the state” that shall be valid in Arkansas (Arkansas Code 9-11-107). An amendment to the state constitution will afford the greatest legal protection for marriage as a union of a man and a woman. Marriage laws in other states have been challenged, and should this happen in Arkansas, having a clear definition of marriage in the state constitution will preserve the civil institution of marriage as being between a man and woman.
Others have suggested that marriage is a purely civil matter and should be considered immune to traditional moral values or religious teaching. To the contrary, we know that marriage has its origin in God, who created us and set forth his plan for the love of husband and wife, the procreation of children, the meaning of family life, and the central place of marriage in society.
When the family breaks down, society breaks down. When attempts are made to re-define marriage as something it was never intended to be, all of society is harmed. Humanity’s vital moral heritage regarding marriage – shared by Christians, non-Christians, and non-believers alike – must be preserved for the good of our country and the future of our children. For us, it is a matter of faith and fidelity to God’s will as well as a matter of responsibility to our state and country. As you know, the bishops of this country have also encouraged support of a federal marriage amendment.
A same-sex union is not equivalent to marriage. It is not based on the complementary natures of males and females; it cannot cooperate with God to create new life; it cannot be a true marital union.
I have distributed to every parish copies of a document issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions.” When you attend Mass this weekend, please take a copy home and read it. Besides answering many questions about the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage, it will help make clear the moral reasons for supporting Proposed Amendment 3 on Nov. 2.
It reads, in part:
“The call to marriage is woven deeply into the human spirit. Man and woman are equal. However, as created, they are different from but made for each other.”
“The natural structure of human sexuality makes man and woman complementary partners for the transmission of human life … The permanent and exclusive commitment of marriage is the necessary context for the expression of sexual love intended by God both to serve the transmission of human life and to build up the bond between husband and wife.”
Marriage and family life have already been weakened by many forces, and the cost has been high. It is important that we not allow marriage to be weakened further by attempts at re-definition. We should be doing everything in our power to strengthen marriage as God sees it and to help young people grow up with a mature understanding of the roles of wives and husbands and the blessings that come from living as God calls us to live. This is a moral debt we owe to the future.
Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain’s prayer? If so, send it to him c/o Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock AR 72217.

It is understandable that much attention has been focused in recent months on the upcoming presidential election. There is another matter Arkansas voters will see on the ballot to which I would like to draw your attention this week: Proposed Amendment 3, with the popular name, “An Amendment Concerning Marriage,” for which I urge your support.
The proposed amendment reads as follows: “Marriage consists only of the union of one man and one woman … Legal status for unmarried persons which is identical or substantially similar to marital status shall not be valid or recognized in Arkansas, except that the legislature may recognize a common law marriage from another state between a man and a woman … The legislature has the power to determine the capacity of persons to marry, subject to this amendment, and the legal rights, obligations, privileges, and immunities of marriage.”
Some have questioned whether such an amendment is necessary since we have a law that states, “Marriage shall be only between a man and a woman. A marriage between persons of the same sex is void,” (Arkansas Code 9-11-109) and another law that excludes “a marriage between persons of the same sex” from the list of “all marriages contracted outside the state” that shall be valid in Arkansas (Arkansas Code 9-11-107). An amendment to the state constitution will afford the greatest legal protection for marriage as a union of a man and a woman. Marriage laws in other states have been challenged, and should this happen in Arkansas, having a clear definition of marriage in the state constitution will preserve the civil institution of marriage as being between a man and woman.
Others have suggested that marriage is a purely civil matter and should be considered immune to traditional moral values or religious teaching. To the contrary, we know that marriage has its origin in God, who created us and set forth his plan for the love of husband and wife, the procreation of children, the meaning of family life, and the central place of marriage in society.
When the family breaks down, society breaks down. When attempts are made to re-define marriage as something it was never intended to be, all of society is harmed. Humanity’s vital moral heritage regarding marriage – shared by Christians, non-Christians, and non-believers alike – must be preserved for the good of our country and the future of our children. For us, it is a matter of faith and fidelity to God’s will as well as a matter of responsibility to our state and country. As you know, the bishops of this country have also encouraged support of a federal marriage amendment.
A same-sex union is not equivalent to marriage. It is not based on the complementary natures of males and females; it cannot cooperate with God to create new life; it cannot be a true marital union.
I have distributed to every parish copies of a document issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions.” When you attend Mass this weekend, please take a copy home and read it. Besides answering many questions about the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage, it will help make clear the moral reasons for supporting Proposed Amendment 3 on Nov. 2.
It reads, in part:
“The call to marriage is woven deeply into the human spirit. Man and woman are equal. However, as created, they are different from but made for each other.”
“The natural structure of human sexuality makes man and woman complementary partners for the transmission of human life … The permanent and exclusive commitment of marriage is the necessary context for the expression of sexual love intended by God both to serve the transmission of human life and to build up the bond between husband and wife.”
Marriage and family life have already been weakened by many forces, and the cost has been high. It is important that we not allow marriage to be weakened further by attempts at re-definition. We should be doing everything in our power to strengthen marriage as God sees it and to help young people grow up with a mature understanding of the roles of wives and husbands and the blessings that come from living as God calls us to live. This is a moral debt we owe to the future.
Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain’s prayer? If so, send it to him c/o Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock AR 72217.