It is tragic that a federal judge would overturn the clear and expressed will of the people in their support for the institution of marriage. No court of civil law has the authority to reach into areas of human experience that nature itself has defined.”
— Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, denouncing the Aug. 4 decision of a federal judge to overturn a California voter-backed initiative that essentially banned same-sex marriage

“This tragedy has been politicized and become an apparent forum for the illegal immigration agenda. . . . While grieving and dealing with the death and severe injuries of our sisters, we would like to refocus attention on the consequences of drinking and driving, and on Christ’s command to forgive.”
— From an Aug. 3 message issued by the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, after one of its sisters was killed and two seriously injured following a head-on collision Aug. 1 with a vehicle allegedly driven by a drunk driver who reportedly was in the U.S. illegally

“Regardless of the distances, and the differences in our social or political systems, you have been brothers to the Cuban Catholics and have shown us your solidarity.”
— Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino of Havana, who received the Knights of Columbus’ highest award Aug. 3 during the States Dinner at the organization’s international convention in Washington, D.C.

“In quiet contradiction to all of the other lifestyles, options and opinions, we are to be champions of the new evangelization. [We are] empowered to be, through our words and deeds, through our proclamation and acts of charity, a sign — a living sign, visible sign and effective sign — of the risen Christ present in our world.”
— Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, speaking Aug. 3 at a Mass opening the Knights of Columbus’ 128th annual supreme convention