Bishop Thomas John Paprocki testified in opposition to a bill to legalize gay marriage before an Illinois Senate Executive committee late Thursday afternoon, Jan. 3, in the lame duck session of the Illinois General Assembly.

Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, joined Bishop Paprocki to testify against the bill.

As he began his testimony, Bishop Paprocki said, "I also join the leaders of 1,700 faith communities that yesterday (Jan. 2) wrote you a letter opposing the bill before you."

Bishop Paprocki asked that the Senate members vote against The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.

The bill, he said "would redefine marriage."

"I ask that you vote against this bill, because the legislation fails to recognize certain truths: neither two men, nor two women can possibly form a marriage.  Our law would be wrong if it said it could.

"The basic structure of marriage as the exclusive and lasting relationship of a man and a woman, committed to a life with the potential of having children, is given to us in human nature, and thus by nature God's," he said.

Other speakers — both in favor and opposed — addressed the committee, then the senators were individually called to cast their vote.

The Senate committee voted 8-5 in favor of the bill. However, Senate President John Cullerton cancelled its Friday schedule, and said lawmakers are unlikely to return to Springfield before Jan. 9, when new lawmakers are sworn into office.

"The Catholic Conference is excited that we were able to hold off the same sex marriage bill in the lame duck session," said Zach Wichmann, director of government relations for the Illinois Catholic Conference. "It will require hard work on everybody's part to protect marriage and fend off its redefinition in law."

To view the testimony in its entirety, access the video at: new.livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/1779336. Bishop Paprocki's testimony begins at the 57- minute mark.