Catholic and Baptist leaders react to Obama's gay marriage support

News Channel 9 ^ | May 9, 2012 | NC9



Leaders of the nation's two largest religious denominations are expressing distress and sadness at President Barack Obama's newly announced support for gay marriage.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who heads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, says Obama's remarks "undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society." He adds, "The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better."

The Rev. Bryant Wright, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, predicted that voters will hold Obama accountable for what Wright calls "a calculated, politically expedient decision that completely ignores the biblical foundation of marriage."

But in the ABC interview, Obama linked his decision to his faith in Jesus Christ and the Golden Rule, which he paraphrased as: "Treat others the way you would want to be treated.