News

State referenda draw spirited discussions

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

Related articles: from Oct. 27, 2006 issue: • Eye on the Capitol --     Legislature acts to strengthen families     Families are most important for our society     as a whole • Stewardship: A Way of Life --     Faithful Citizenship 2006 (Sixth in a Series)     One man, one woman, one union: Questions     and answers on Wisconsin's constitutional     amendment to define marriage • Find more election resources on our Links page.

"It is not just a partnership. It is not a civil union. It is a vocation."

That's how Dcn. Paul Umentum described marriage, from the standpoint of the Catholic Church, at last week's panel discussion on the upcoming death penalty and marriage referenda in Wisconsin, held at St. Matthew Parish in Allouez.

"We believe that a man and woman in marriage are called by God to be married," he said. "We also believe that marriage is under attack. Now in the U.S., less than half of couples are married. You need to pray. You need to put God in the middle of your marriage. Society tries to tear it apart."

The Wisconsin Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter in June in support of the marriage amendment.

"If it passes or doesn't pass, it won't change our church law," said Dcn. Umentum, who serves at St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Green Bay. "The bishops feel it will strengthen Christian marriage."

The panel discussion was organized by Br. Steve Herro, O.Praem., diocesan consultant for Social Concerns.. A session was also held the previous week at St. James Parish, Cooperstown. Both featured presentations followed by small and large group discussions. Tom Donovan, consultant for Stewardship and Respect Life, also offered presentations on the referenda in Oshkosh and Marinette.

The marriage amendment sparked mixed reactions from the faithful at the St. Matthew session. While many supported it, others raised concerns about the wording of the amendment, and some viewed it as an attack against homosexuals.

Br. Herro recommends that people read the letter from the Wisconsin Catholic Bishops.

"In the second to last point in the letter, the bishops make it very clear that it is not intended by any means to demean any partnerships that differ from a traditional married union," he said. "There is a danger of people reading too much into the amendment."

"On the issue of the marriage amendment, I was happy that people felt comfortable enough expressing misgivings, expressing support," he added. "I was very happy that people felt comfortable expressing disagreements with each other and airing their feelings."

The group was united against the death penalty amendment, which the Wisconsin Catholic Bishops oppose. David Liners, regional organizer for the justice organization WISDOM, encourages people to look at the issue from both sides to gain a better understanding.

"People often feel that the world is out of control," he said. "The world is scary. What can we do to make the world safer? What can we do to take back control? I don't think people in favor of the death penalty want to kill the poor. They don't like to see people die. They are afraid. They see fear instead of hope."

He emphasized forgiveness and redemption as main reasons to oppose the death penalty.

"Forgiveness, first and foremost, is something that helps the person that forgives," he said. "The death penalty is for closing a person's opportunity for redemption. It doesn't mean that all of them will, but we are taking away that chance. The death penalty is taking some of God's ability to redeem away."

Marge Mattice spoke in opposition of the death penalty from a victim's perspective. In 2001, her brother, Tom, was stabbed to death in Houston, Texas. Her mother could barely speak when delivering the news over the phone only three weeks after 9/11.

The murder was not a capital case, so the man convicted of killing her brother did not receive the death penalty. He died in prison of natural causes in 2005.

"I had embraced Catholic social teachings in my life," said Mattice. "Would I change my mind? How could I continue to oppose the death penalty after seeing the pain my parents felt? It was above all a journey of grace. Lack of personal forgiveness can destroy someone's integrity. The death penalty needs to be framed as a human rights issue not a criminal justice issue. As a justice issue, we understand it as they get what's coming to them. I have a huge sense of loss, inexplicable loss that is beyond anger. The sense of loss is much greater."

The event was sponsored by the St. Matthew Adult Enrichment Committee and the Justice & Human Concerns Committee. The JOSHUA Core Team sponsored the death penalty discussion. Dan Kiernan served as the facilitator for the discussions.

The pastoral letters on the death penalty and marriage released by the Wisconsin Catholic Bishops are available at www.wisconsin.nasccd.org.