Mark Mallett

First published December 1st, 2006.

WHY? Why would the Catholic Church be against love?

That is the question many people ask when it comes to the Church’s prohibition against gay marriage. Two people want to get married because they love each other. Why not?

The Church has answered clearly, using logic and sound reason rooted in natural law, Sacred Scripture, and Tradition in two brief documents: Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons and Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. 

The Church has answered as clearly and firmly as it does when it maintains that adultery is morally wrong as are co-habiting before marriage, or stealing, or gossiping. But Pope Benedict (who was signatory of both documents) raised an important point lately:

So often the Church’s counter-cultural witness is misunderstood as something backward and negative in today’s society. That is why it is important to emphasize the Good News, the life-giving and life-enhancing message of the Gospel (cf. Jn 10:10). Even though it is necessary to speak out strongly against the evils that threaten us, we must correct the idea that Catholicism is merely "a collection of prohibitions".  —Address to Irish Bishops; VATICAN CITY, OCT. 29, 2006

MOTHER AND TEACHER

We can only understand the Church’s role as "mother and teacher" in the context of Christ’s mission:  He came to save us from our sins. Jesus came to free us from the bondage and slavery that destroys the dignity and potential of every human being made in God’s image.

Indeed, Jesus loves every gay man and woman on the planet. He loves every adulterer, fornicator, thief, and gossip. But to each and every person He proclaims, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 4:17). "Repent" from wrongdoing so as to receive "the kingdom of heaven".  Two sides to the Coin of Truth.

To the adulteress caught red-handed, Jesus, seeing the red-faced crowds drop their stones and walk away says, "Neither do I condemn you…". That is, 

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  (John 3:17) 

No, Jesus ushers in the age of Mercy. But Mercy also seeks to liberate, thus speaks the truth.  So Christ says to her, "Go and sin no more."

"…whoever does not believe has already been condemned."

He loves us, and therefore, He wishes to free and heal us from the illusion and effects of sin.

Thus, when the Church proclaims the limits of the law and boundaries for human activity, she is not restricting our freedom. Rather, she is continuing to point out the guardrails and signposts which direct us safely toward true freedom. 

Freedom is not the ability to do anything we want, whenever we want. Rather, freedom is the ability to live responsibly the truth of our relationship with God and with one another.  —POPE JOHN PAUL II, St. Louis, 1999

It is because of the Church’s love for the person struggling with their sexual orientation that she speaks clearly about the moral danger of following through with actions contrary to the natural moral law. She calls the person to enter into the life of Christ who is the "truth which sets us free." She points the Way given to us by Christ Himself, that is, obedience to God’s designs—a narrow road which leads to the beatitude of eternal life. And like a mother she warns that the "wages of sin is death," but does not forget to shout with joy the latter part of that Scripture:

…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

THE TRUTH IN LOVE 

And so, we must be clear, speaking the truth in love:  the Church is not only saying that the word "marriage" can only belong rightly to heterosexual couples; she is saying that union of any sort between homosexual persons is "objectively disordered." For this reason,

Legal recognition of homosexual unions would obscure certain basic moral values and cause a devaluation of the institution of marriage. —Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons; 6.

It is not a cold uncompassionate commandment, but an echo of Christ’s words "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The Church recognizes the struggle, but does not dilute the remedy:

…men and women with homosexual tendencies “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." They are called, like other Christians, to live the virtue of chastity. The homosexual inclination is however “objectively disordered” and homosexual practices are “sins gravely contrary to chastity."  —Ibid. 4

So are adultery, fornication, stealing, and gossiping grave sins. And Christ desires to free us from it all—whether one is homosexual or heterosexual.

 
EPILOGUE

The Canadian government [had] another opportunity to reverse its decision that redefined marriage in Canada.  The vote, which [has taken place], is more important than any vote on health care or the economy. It has to do with the future of society, which John Paul II said "passes through the family." And for the one who has eyes to see and ears to hear, it also has to do with freedom of speech, and the future of Christianity in our country [see Persecution! (Moral Tsunami)]. It is incumbent that Christians make known their views to their politicians before they vote.

Canada has a well-earned reputation for a generous and practical commitment to justice and peace… At the same time, however, certain values detached from their moral roots and full significance found in Christ have evolved in the most disturbing of ways. In the name of ‘tolerance’ your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of spouse, and in the name of ‘freedom of choice’ it is confronted with the daily destruction of unborn children. When the Creator’s divine plan is ignored the truth of human nature is lost.

False dichotomies are not unknown within the Christian community itself. They are particularly damaging when Christian civic leaders sacrifice the unity of faith and sanction the disintegration of reason and the principles of natural ethics, by yielding to ephemeral social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls. Democracy succeeds only to the extent that it is based on truth and a correct understanding of the human person… In your discussions with politicians and civic leaders I encourage you to demonstrate that our Christian faith, far from being an impediment to dialogue, is a bridge, precisely because it brings together reason and culture.  —POPE BENEDICT XVI, Address to Bishops of Ontario, Canada, "Ad Limina" Visit, September 8th, Vatican City