The bishops on marriage

Any "pastoral letter" from most Catholic bishops appointed by John Paul II or Benedict are instantly viewed with suspicion and in many cases, derision because of their hypocrisy, arrogance, backward and ignorant thinking and their closed and decidedly un-Christ like behavior on a variety of important issues facing humanity. Their violent language toward women and GLBT human beings have caused physical and emotional harm to these groups and have incited the narrow minded right wing elements within churches to act out their violence on those whose lifestyle or views do not match their own. The fact that the bishops are indeed "struggling to promote their narrow vision of marriage" in a world that is starving, hungry, without adequate housing and healthcare tells us what kind of bishops that last two Bishops of Rome have foisted on The People of God. It's a folly but it is also a moment of defining clarity as we see the old imperial Roman model of the Latin Rite Church on the verge of implosion. We all know there are a few truly decent men who managed to become Catholic bishops but they are small in number. The vast majority are shills for two of the most reactionary and fundamentalist men to fill the shoes of the fisherman, Peter. So many Catholic families I know welcome their gay and lesbian children's partners into their families and they all support the Church at least blessing these unions and calling all Catholics, especially women, to serve as their deacons, priests and bishops. I know of no Catholic families who think otherwise. Yes, a few are undecided about whether marriage should be performed in a Catholic ceremony but most of them do not object to a civil ceremony outside of the church. Most Catholics I know, view the bishops as men who acted criminally be covering up the crimes of priest and brother bishops who were child molesters. They are still waiting for the strong arm of justice to put a great many bishops and cardinals behind prison bars for their crimes and unethical behavior. They allowed their children to be raped and only became concerned when it might become public. So, for all the hate filled speech that right wing reactionary elements bring to the threads that follow these finely reported news pieces by the great NCR, there a millions upon millions of faithful Catholics who find their authority in Jesus and side step having to deal with a decaying and corrupt system that has become the current hierarchy. Can it be saved? YES, but we all know The Bishop of Rome will only regain his honorary position among the world's bishops, (including Orthodox and Anglican Bishops) as The First Among Equals, when we see the Church envisioned by the Council Fathers of Vatican II fully realized. I believe it will be much sooner than most Catholics expect. The People of God are going to get their church back and it will mirror the teachings and love of Jesus, not a bunch of megalomaniacal and dysfunctional men who run around in long watered silk and velvet dresses and capes that belong to another century already seven hundred years passed.

Nicole Sotelo's views are imbued with popular culture, and not with substantiative moral teaching. Ethics imbued with Thomistic philosophy regarding natural law clearly articulate the dangers of same sex unions. It's not about depriving gays/lesbians of dignity. They are holy, infact called to a higher degree of holiness perhaps because of their attractions- by that I mean they must choose chastity - which would improve the dignity of the entire human family. It is a complex struggle, but is an invitation to heroic virtue.

Children need parents of each gender. It is the core of the human experience.
Same sex unions can not naturally provide this and it inadvertently causes harm to offspring--as generations are exposed to this we will see the unfortunate outcomes.

Nicole, as you grow older, I hope you will be able to revisit your view honestly and see that you were duped by popular culture. Trust the long view of the church on this.

April Boone

It does not matter one iota what the people of this nation, Catholic or non, young or old, married or single, support, favor or want. The truth is the truth and public opinion polls do not matter at all in the consideration of what is right and what is wrong.

Homosexuality is intrinsically disordered. Homosexuals are called to lives of chastity. Homosexual activity (homosexual sex, marriage, etc.) is gravely sinful because it is an abuse of God's gift of sexuality, a gift that is supposed to build intimacy, reflect God's love, and lead to procreation and children. Homosexual sexuality does none of that.

The truth is the truth. What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong, and public opinion has no bearing on that. The day when morality and truth is determined by majority opinion is that day when morality and truth vanish off the face of the earth.

God preserve us from that day.

It's a sad commentary that so called Catholics support an aberration like "gay marriage" which is an oxymoron. Even if you try to just take the civil angle and not the moral angle as in abortion, sort of the Mario Cuomo approach, it just doesn't cut the ice.

Catholics are not supposed to support civil legislation which violates the moral law. Admittedly it is possible to compromise to some extent in the civil society when it comes to law but still the most restrictive laws on moral issues possible should be advanced by Catholic legislators. Democracy after all deals with majority rule. The nation is pretty well split on the question of abortion but this is not the case with "gay marriage." In every instance where the people have had their say on this issue, the answer is "thumbs down"!

So Catholics who try to advance this issue in terms of democracy are on very shaky grounds indeed! Furthermore, the bishops are right to try and protect normal marriage in this society. The family is the basis of society and marriage forms the basis of the family. For some Catholics to attack the bishops on this issue is very sad indeed. The Liberals in the Church can't have it both ways. If they want to support "gay marriage" & abortion in the law, they should be shown the door! Exit, stage left!

Chris Smith, VAtican II did not call for the blessings of "Gay Marriage" and your "Dark Ages" theory is played out and old.

As a Convert to Catholicism The Catholic Church was the inspiration for the founding of the Universities. Look at the University of PAris, OXford and the University of Salamanca.

IT was Catholic Civilization that preserve Western Culture through IRish and Benedictine Monks who copied Greek and Latin Manuscripts and The Writings of the Ancient Greek Philosophers.

It was the Catholic Church that contributed to Canon Law, Art, Music,Archect. and Higher Education.

As Catholics yes we are supposed to accept gays and Lesbians. Gays and Lesbians are treated just like everyone to LIVE A LIFE OF HOLINESS.

VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS rejected Gay MArraige in Maine and California.

As far As I know Traditional Catholic Religious Orders are the ones flourishing. They are the ones attracting YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO RELIGIOUS LIFE WHILE PROGRESSIVE ORDERS ARE DYING OUT DUE TO SECULARISM.

I found it appalling Chris that the Gay Movement is not very tolerant of those who disagree with your views.

You go around insulting those by calling them "Wearing velvet dresses and silk robes"

I thought Progressive Catholics were open minded? Calling people's name defeats the Progressive wing of the Church because the face of the Progressive movement is hateful and intolerant. Although there are no "Conservative" or Progressive wing but ONE HOLY APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC CHURCH.

One problem is that there are a considerable number of Catholic school teachers, CCD teachers, DREs, directors of catechist formation, priests and even some bishops who are not in communion with the Catholic Church and her faith. They pass on their ignorance and dissidence, sometimes tacitly, as if it is compatible with Catholic faith. Catholics who support same-sex pseudo marriage and the normalization of homosexual acts are largely ignorant on the matter. They base their decision on the fads of society and emotion rather than on an objective analysis of human nature and eternal truths of the moral order. Ask how many Catholics who attend Mass faithfully every Sunday and Holy Day of obligation support she sham of same-sex marriage, and the percentages in favor of it drop considerably.

Nicole, you seem to be confusing Catholic doctrine with popular sentiment. The Church’s position on Gay marriage is dogmatic; which means they can never and will never change. The Church is not about the contemporary whim of the majority, it is about the truths of Jesus Christ and His Mystical Body. I get it that you don’t believe in the Church’s teaching on gay marriage. I get it that you have your little bully pulpit here on the internet to reject the teachings of your Church. But neither of those things changes the fact that in fifty years, two hundred years, and two thousand years, the Universal Church will not accept your viewpoint on this subject. Truth is truth. Accepting that is part of what makes us Catholic – to accept in our frailty and with humility that the God and His Church knows better then we do. It is totally a difficult pill to swallow in today’s society.

You are in a very frustrating position. That can’t be pleasant. Sometimes we have to admit that God knows best and submit to His holy will. Teresa of Jesus writes that there are three requirements to make progress in the spiritual life. Love of neighbor, detachment, and humility.

We all struggle with our weaknesses. If yours happens to be homosexuality, there are great resources available; most notably the group Courage. You can find information about their ministry at www.couragerc.net. Peace.

The big question here is where does the Church's teaching on homosexuality come from? What is this "moral law?" The Church rarely explains why the teachings are the way they are and we are left to assume that they were always there from the beginning, when perhaps this is not entirely the case.