{"id":332,"date":"2015-05-28T00:00:04","date_gmt":"2015-05-28T06:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=332"},"modified":"2017-04-17T21:58:40","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T01:58:40","slug":"the-hard-truth-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-hard-truth-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"On Gay Marriage","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"lwedding_Fotor\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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THE HARD TRUTH – PART II<\/div>\n
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WHY?<\/strong> Why would the Catholic Church be against love?<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/em> and Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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, stealing, or gossiping. But Pope Benedict (who was signatory of both documents) raised an important point that seems to have been forgotten:<\/p>\n

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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 <\/strong>(cf. Jn<\/em> 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”.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014Address to Irish Bishops<\/em>; VATICAN CITY, OCT. 29, 2006<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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MOTHER AND TEACHER<\/p>\n

We can only understand the Church’s role as “mother and teacher” in the context of Christ’s mission:\u00a0 He came to save us from our sins<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Indeed, Jesus loves every gay man and woman on the planet. He loves every “straight” person. 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)<\/em>. “Repent” from wrongdoing so as to receive “the kingdom of heaven”.\u00a0 Two sides to the Coin of Truth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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,\u00a0<\/p>\n

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God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.\u00a0 (John 3:17)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Or perhaps as Pope Francis put it, “Who am I to judge?” No, Jesus ushers in the age of Mercy. But Mercy also seeks to liberate, thus speaks the truth.\u00a0 So Christ says to her, “Go and sin no more.”<\/p>\n

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“…whoever does not believe has already been condemned.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He loves us, and therefore, He wishes to free and heal us from the illusion and effects of sin.<\/p>\n

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\u2026indeed his purpose was not merely to confirm the world in its worldliness and to be its companion, leaving it completely unchanged.<\/strong> \u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, <\/span>September 25th, 2011; www.chiesa.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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<\/em> freedom.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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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.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014POPE JOHN PAUL II, St. Louis, 1999<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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<\/em> to God’s designs\u2014a 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:<\/p>\n

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…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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THE TRUTH IN LOVE<\/p>\n

And so, we must be clear, speaking the truth in love:\u00a0 the Church is not only saying that the word \u201cmarriage\u201d can only belong rightly to heterosexual couples; she is saying that \"\"<\/a>union of any<\/em> sort between homosexual persons is \u201cobjectively disordered.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Civil laws are structuring principles of man’s life in society, for good or for ill. They \u201cplay a very important and sometimes decisive role in influencing patterns of thought and behaviour\u201d. Lifestyles and the underlying presuppositions these express not only externally shape the life of society, but also tend to modify the younger generation’s perception and evaluation of forms of behaviour. Legal recognition of homosexual unions would obscure certain basic moral values and cause a devaluation of the institution of marriage.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/span><\/strong>Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons<\/em>; 6.<\/a><\/span>
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It is not a cold uncompassionate commandment, but an echo of Christ\u2019s words \u201cRepent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\u201d The Church recognizes the struggle, but does not dilute the remedy:<\/p>\n

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\u2026men and women with homosexual tendencies \u201cmust be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.\u201d They are called, like other Christians, to live the virtue of chastity. The homosexual inclination is however \u201cobjectively disordered\u201d and homosexual practices are \u201csins gravely contrary to chastity.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong> \u2014Ibid. 4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So are adultery, fornication, stealing, and gossiping grave sins. The married man who falls in love with his neighbour\u2019s wife because it \u201cjust seems so right\u201d also cannot follow through with his inclinations, no matter how strong they are. For his (and her) actions, then, would be against the law of love that bound them in their first vows. Love, here, being not a romantic feeling, but the gift of self to the other \u201cuntil the end\u201d.<\/p>\n

Christ desires to free us from objectively disordered inclinations\u2014whether they are homosexual or heterosexual inclinations.<\/p>\n

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CHASTITY IS FOR ALL<\/p>\n

The Church does not call only single persons, clergy, religious, or those with homosexual tendencies to chastity. Every<\/em> man and woman is called to live chastity, even married couples. How is that, you might ask!?<\/p>\n

The answer again lies in the true nature of love, and that is to give<\/em>, not only receive. As I wrote in An Intimate Testimony<\/em><\/a>, birth control is not part of God\u2019s plan for married love for a number of reasons\u2014purposes that are crucial to a healthy marriage. Thus, when one gets married, it is not suddenly a \u201cfree for all\u201d when it comes to sex. A husband has to\"\"<\/a> respect the natural rhythms of his wife\u2019s body, which passes through \u201cseasons\u201d each month, as well as her \u201cemotional seasons.\u201d Just as the fields or fruit trees \u201crest\u201d during winter, there are also periods when a woman\u2019s body goes through a cycle of rejuvenation. There are seasons too when she is fertile, and the couple, while remaining open to life, may abstain at these times also so as to plan their family accordingly in a spirit of love and generosity toward children and life. [1]<\/sup><\/a>cf. Humanae Vitae<\/a>, <\/em>n. 16<\/span><\/span>