Massachusetts Catholic Church Open to Domestic "Benefits"
Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Massachusetts yesterday told lawmakers that the state's bishops would "join the discussion" of granting domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples, but that they remain opposed to legalizing gay marriage or civil unions.
The commitment, delivered in testimony by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly of Worcester on behalf of the state's four bishops, was made as the Legislature considers several bills that would make same-sex marriage or civil unions the law of the Commonwealth.
Although Reilly reiterated the church's longheld position that "we cannot support" any bill seeking to alter the definition of marriage, his testimony appeared to signal a new openness on the part of church leaders to take a role in crafting legislation to create some form of domestic-partner benefits that leave the state's marriage laws untouched.