Catholic group urges veto of marriage bills Baltimore Sun

The Maryland Catholic Conference called on Gov. Martin O'Malley yesterday to veto two bills the group contends would undermine the legal status of marriage in Maryland.

The bills would grant couples who declare themselves domestic partners, which can include same-sex partners, some of the rights of married couples. One bill would exempt domestic partners from paying transfer taxes when adding each other to home property deeds to create joint ownership, a right that married couples have. Another would allow them hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights. The Catholic Conference contends that the domestic partnerships can be too easily entered into and dissolved. Catholic group urges veto of marriage bills Baltimore Sun