WASHINGTON, D.C., FEB 24 (ZENIT).- The Catholic Bishop of Burlington, Vermont, issued a pastoral letter earlier this week condemning attempts to legitimize homosexual "marriage" or "domestic partnership." Now a coalition of 17 religious leaders, led by Episcopal and Methodist bishops, has come out in favor of the legislation.

    The liberal religious leaders claimed that the institution of marriage "can only be strengthened by extending our understanding of marriage to include the faithful committed relationships of same gender couples," according to "CultureNotes."

    In his pastoral letter, Catholic Bishop Kenneth A. Angell wrote: "Today in Vermont, the sacredness of marriage and the family as ordered by God is in jeopardy, and we are called to defend it with courage and conviction." Bishop Angell also voiced his opposition to domestic partner legislation, stating that "one can love and respect others without accepting all their actions and without wanting the government to provide special incentives for their lifestyle."

    The Bishop called upon Catholics as well as "all our friends of every faith" to join him on the steps of the Capitol in Montpelier, to demonstrate "our opposition to same-sex marriage, our opposition to domestic partnerships, and our unyielding support of traditional marriage between a man and a woman." ZE00022421