NALC Bishop Paull Spring joins U.S. religious leaders in significant message on marriage

The Rev. Paull Spring, bishop of the North American Lutheran Church, is among the leaders of religious communities in the United States who released an open letter Monday, Dec. 6, defending traditional marriage.

"The Protection of Marriage: A Shared Commitment” is an open letter signed by religious leaders of different faith communities throughout the United States that expresses a shared commitment to protecting marriage in our society as the union of one man and one woman.

The Most Rev. Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, signed as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the organizer of the inter-religious effort. He said that Roman Catholic parishes are being asked to share the letter with American Catholics by including it in parish bulletins shared with worshipers.

The Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, President of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and the Most Rev. Robert Duncan, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, were among the other religious leaders who signed the letter. Signatories include leaders of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant and Evangelical Christian groups, Orthodox Jewish, and other religious traditions.

“Marriage is the permanent and faithful union of one man and one woman. As such, marriage is the natural basis of the family. Marriage is an institution fundamental to the well-being of all of society, not just religious communities,” the letter states.

“As religious leaders across different faith communities, we join together and affirm our shared commitment to promote and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We honor the unique love between husbands and wives; the indispensable place of fathers and mothers; and the corresponding rights and dignity of all children.

“Marriage thus defined is a great good in itself, and it also serves the good of others and society in innumerable ways. The preservation of the unique meaning of marriage is not a special or limited interest but serves the good of all. Therefore, we invite and encourage all people, both within and beyond our faith communities, to stand with us in promoting and protecting marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” the religious leaders state.

The letter is the result of discussions among leaders from a wide variety of religions represented in our nation. Against the backdrop of legal and legislative attempts to redefine marriage in ways that are contrary to reason and religious conviction, these leaders decided that it would be important and helpful to publicize their shared commitment to defending marriage as an institution that is fundamental to the health of our society.

“It is significant that religious leaders from diverse Christian communities and from other faith traditions have been able to work together to affirm and defend God’s intention for marriage and its importance for our society,” said Bishop Spring.

“‘We believe and confess that the marriage of male and female is an institution created and blessed by God. From marriage, God forms families to serve as the building blocks of all human civilization and community,’” said Bishop Spring, quoting from The Common Confession affirmed by the North American Lutheran Church. “Alongside all faithful Christians, Lutherans have affirmed this traditional understanding of marriage for nearly 500 years.”

“The broad consensus reflected in this letter — across great religious divides — is clear: The law of marriage is not about imposing the religion of anyone, but about protecting the common good of everyone,” said Archbishop Dolan. “People of any faith or no faith at all can recognize that when the law defines marriage as between one man and one woman, it legally binds a mother and a father to each other and their children, reinforcing the foundational cell of human society.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website includes the letter in various formats as well as a news release and Frequently Asked Questions document.