Three state-wide initiatives defining marriage and eliminating domestic partnership rights have recently been approved for circulation by the California attorney general's office. But the measures may never make the ballot because of funding problems, according to the California Catholic Conference (CCC).

While the first two initiatives, or proposed constitutional amendments, state that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California, the second also declares, "This provision shall not affect the rights, benefits and obligations conferred by California law on other domestic relationships." ProtectMarriage.com is the major sponsor of both initiatives.

The third initiative also provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. But it "voids or makes unenforceable certain rights and obligations conferred by California law on same-sex and opposite-sex couples registered as domestic partners," including community property, interstate succession, stepparent adoption, child custody and support, hospital visitation, health care decisions for an incapacitated partner, insurance and death benefits, and recovery for wrongful death.

All three initiatives need nearly 695,000 signatures by mid-December to qualify for the June 2008 ballot.

The California Catholic Conference is co-sponsoring the first and second initiatives.

The third is sponsored by the Campaign for California Families (VoteYesMarriage.com). "We do not work with them as their tone, tactics and rhetoric are disturbing," explained Carol Hogan, the CCC's Pastoral Projects and Communications Director. "Their initiative - which 'defines' what a man is and what a woman is, and which rescinds domestic partnership - is also facing fund-raising challenges."

Hogan pointed out that as a matter of protocol California bishops make no "statement of support for or opposition to" when a proposed initiative is issued until it has qualified for the ballot.

The legality of "gay marriage" and the applicability of Proposition 22, the 2000 initiative declaring that only marriage between a man and women is valid and recognized in California, is pending in a consolidated case before the state's supreme court.