Rhode Island Catholic bishop: Same-sex marriage is ‘immoral’ and a threat to ‘religious freedom’
The leader of Rhode Island’s Roman Catholic Diocese has described same-sex marriage as “immoral and unnecessary.”
Bishop Thomas Tobin released a statement on Monday urging lawmakers to drop legislation to allow gay couples to marry.
According to the Associated Press, the bishop said the Catholic Church rejected the “homosexual lifestyle” and claimed equal marriage posed a threat to religious freedom.
Bishop Tobin also argued that Rhode Island should wait for the US Supreme Court to weigh in on the federal law defining marriage as being between a man and a woman.
He said that if the state must consider equal marriage, it should be placed before voters as a referendum.
Rhode Island is the only New England state without marriage equality.
State representatives are expected to vote on the matter this month.
