The New York State Catholic Conference Wednesday hailed the bipartisan defeat of a New York state Senate bill that would have allowed marriage by same-sex couples. The Senate voted 38 to 24 against the bill.
Richard E. Barnes, executive director of the Catholic conference, which represents the state’s bishops in matters of public policy, called the vote a rejection of the concept that marriage can be anything other than the union of one man and one woman.
"While the Catholic Church rejects unjust discrimination against homosexual men and women, there is no question that marriage by its nature is the union of one man and one woman," Barnes said in a statement.
Barnes’ statement that polls across the country have demonstrated support for a traditional definition of marriage.
"This is a victory for the basic building block of our society," Barnes noted.
A roll call vote from the State Senate Web site was not immediately available, but the Albany Times Union reported that the bill was opposed by all 30 Republican senators and eight Democrats: Ruben Diaz Sr., Joseph Addabbo, Shirley Huntley, Darrel Aubertine, Carl Kruger, Hiram Monserrate, George Onorato and William Stachowski.
