Little public outcry over gay marriage in New Mexico, even from Catholic Church

New Mexico’s three bishops issued a statement reiterating their belief that marriage is a unique institution between a man and a woman, saying Ellins’ action was “a significant matter that affects society at large and as such is one that is best decided through the legislative branch of government.”

Andrew Chesnut, a Catholic scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University, said he believes the bishops were following the lead of Pope Francis, who despite fervent opposition to same-sex marriage while archbishop in Argentina has now “been mostly mute on this subject.”

The last time the state was embroiled in the gay marriage issue was in 2004, when then-Sandoval County Clerk Victoria Dunlap began to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The state’s attorney general at the time, a Democrat, ordered her to stop and she didn’t run for re-election.

New Mexico has no law explicitly legalizing or banning same-sex marriage.

Because of that Ellins, a lawyer, said he began looking closely at state laws after several lawsuits were filed this year seeking to force county clerks in Santa Fe and the state’s largest county, Bernalillo, to issue the licenses. Seeing that the legal process was doomed to drag on, he said, “I said, `Enough is enough. It’s time to move forward.'”

Unlike 2004, the Democratic attorney general made no attempt to intervene this time. When asked for comment, Republican Gov. Susana Martinez said it is a matter that should be decided by voters.

A week later, a state district judge, in Albuquerque ruled same-sex marriage was legal. Shortly thereafter, several other county clerks also began issuing licenses. At the request of county clerks, the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing next month to decide if same-sex marriage is legal under the state’s constitution.

One billboard opposing same-sex marriage was spotted recently at an evangelical church in Espanola. But the Catholic Church has said little beyond one statement after Ellins began issuing licenses.

Chestnut said the response of church officials in New Mexico isn’t all that surprising, given that places around the world with sizeable Catholic populations – such as countries in Latin America – have led the way on gay marriage. Likewise, he said, Hispanics in the U.S. tend to be more approving of same-sex marriage than the overall population.

Allen Sanchez, spokesman for the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, denied a shift or softening in the church’s position. And he pointed to the pope’s recent call for compassion and tolerance for gays.

The difference to the response and lack of public action in New Mexico, he said, “is the difference between legislative and legal strategy. Had this been up for a legislative vote, you would have seen a much different process.”