Minnesota Catholic bishops mailing 800,000 anti-gay DVDs

Winona, Minn. — Catholic Archbishop John Nienstedt of Minnesota is spearheading an effort in that state to "defend marriage" by mailing out 800,000 anti-gay DVDs and letters to every Catholic in the state.

"I hope that you will read the letter and watch the DVD. Then, I hope that you will become one of the thousands of Catholics who have contacted legislators and told them that marriage is a lifetime relationship between one man and one woman," Bishop John Quinn said. "Any other kind of relationship simply is not a marriage."

The mailing is being paid for by a "large donation," reported KSTP ABC 5 Eyewitness News.

Nienstedt told the ABC station the DVD is meant as a "teaching tool" in advance of the November election. Two of Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates support legalizing same-sex marriage, while the Republican does not.

"It's not partisan politics in any way. But you know, it's kind of rallying the troops around this issue and pointing out to Catholics that this is an important issue in every election year," archbishop Nienstedt said.

The Human Rights Campaign issued this statement in response: "There is a difference between civil marriage, that is marriage under the law, and marriage in the religious sense. If marriage equality becomes law in Minnesota, no church would be forced to recognize any marriage they do not agree with. This is a matter of basic equality under the law and has nothing to do with religion. This is a matter of fairness."

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