Philadelphia mayor Edward G. Rendell has conceded defeat in his attempt to pass a”domestic partners” bill in Philadelphia. The strong opposition of religious leaders and organizations like the Catholic League was credited with bringing the proposal down. The Christian Action Council, the Philadelphia Black Clergy Council, and the Muslim Temple of Islam were among the other religious groups speaking in opposition to the measure.
Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilaqua was the most prominent of the area clergy who testified. Five League members including chapter executive director Jim Nolan testified at the hearings.
The proposed legislation would have legitimized homosexual couples as well as unmarried heterosexual couples. While many opponents of such measures stress the “economic impact” of extending health and pension benefits to “partners,” the religious leaders stressed the need to affirm families and repudiate so-called “alternative” family models.
