WASHINGTON — The District’s top Catholic leader has weighed in on the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage.
鈥淭he law of the land is the law of the land,” says Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl. “We certainly follow what the law says.聽That doesn鈥檛 mean we change the word of God. That doesn鈥檛 mean we change the scriptures, or the church鈥檚 millennia-long tradition of what marriage is.鈥�
Everyone is welcome to the faith, Wuerl says: 鈥淣obody is turned away because of their sexual identity, because of their race because of their ethnic background. And are we not all struggling to live the gospel?鈥�
The Catholic church teaching will not change, but Cardinal Wuerl says Pope Francis has been more inclusive.
鈥淗e keeps saying, 鈥楪o out. Go out and meet people where they are. And in that encounter, walk with them, accompany them,'” Wuerl continues. “I think that鈥檚 what the church is saying. We all need to walk together as we try to make our way closer and closer to God.”
Churches across the country are divided over same-sex marriage.聽According to a recent , 56 percent of Catholics support same-sex marriage, while 55 percent of Protestants do not. Eighty-five percent of religiously unaffiliated people support gay marriage.
