On the institution of marriage

Every generation will witness to the truth that marriage--the union of a man and woman, husband and wife, father and mother--is the very institution that determines whether our civilization stands or falls. As the most fundamental unit of society, marriage is founded on the anthropological truth that men and women are different and complementary, the biological fact that the union of a man and woman also creates new life, and the social reality that children need a mother and father to raise them in order for optimum healthy psychological, emotional and sexual health. Marriage reflects these realities that are unique to our gendered selves: Man and woman come together as husband and wife to be a father and mother to any children their union produces. But marriage is not just for pro-creation. Even for those who marry after child-bearing age, or who do not wish to have children, marriage is complementary. Men and women were created to complete each other, whether they have children or not. The Institution of marriage has existed since the beginning of creation. The definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman cannot be changed just because a small percentage of the population wishes it to be different. This would be to deny the truth written in our genes and in our sexual organs. And no amount of rhetoric can change that.