At the behest of New Jersey's seven Roman Catholic bishops, the Prayer of the Faithful in parishes across the state today was to focus on the importance of marriage..jpg)
The prayer says, in part, "God our almighty Father has given married love, its faithfulness and its fruitfulness, a special significance in the history of salvation."
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The timing of the prayer, about a week after New Jersey became the third state to offer civil unions to same-sex couples, is deliberate.
While not specifically addressing the issue, the prayer is intended to remind Catholics that the church opposes gay marriage, said Patrick R. Brannigan, executive director of the state Catholic Conference.
Gay-rights advocates see the law allowing civil unions as a step toward gay marriage. Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay couples to marry.
"We would be foolish to sit silently knowing that people are very effectively articulating a position that is in opposition to our church teaching," Brannigan said.
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