“Regardless of what a narrow majority of the Supreme Court may declare at this moment in history, the nature of the human person and marriage remains unchanged and unchangeable.”For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
-- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Vatican Says Gay Agenda is 'a Defeat for Humanity'
Pope Refutes Homosexualists: Kids Need Mom & Dad
Pope Slams Gay Agenda, Defends Natural Family
Pope Said the Gay Agenda is the Work of the Devil
-- From "Marriage and the Supreme Court" by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Summer 2015
The Supreme Court has tragically declared that states must issue marriage licenses to two persons of the same sex and recognize same sex “marriages” that were contracted in another state.
This broad, adverse ruling redefines marriage in the law throughout the entire country, changing thousands of laws regarding marriage, family and children and threatening religious freedom in numerous ways.
-- Archbishop Kurtz, President of the USCCB
What is marriage?
Marriage is the permanent and exclusive union of one man and one woman, for the good of the spouses and for the procreation and education of children.
One man, one woman, for life.
The difference is the difference.
Men and women are equal and different. Sexual difference is essential to marriage and raising children. Ignoring or removing “the difference is... the problem, not the solution” (Pope Francis).
Mothers and fathers matter.
They aren’t interchangeable. While single parents and others raising children often make heroic sacrifices and deserve support, society should also affirm every child’s basic, natural right to come from and be raised in the loving marital union of his or her own father and mother.
Support religious freedom
The First Amendment Defense Act is one way that Congress is seeking to protect religious believers from being coerced to accept, condone, or participate in same-sex “marriage.”
To read the entire USCCB Nationwide Bulletin Insert above, CLICK HERE.
From "Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision" by Bishop Joseph Edward Strickland, Diocese of Tyler Communications (Northeast Texas) 6/26/15
. . . the [Supreme] Court has acted in contradiction to their duty to promote the common good, especially what is good for families. I join with the Bishops of the United States in calling this decision a “tragic error.”
Let me unambiguously state at the outset that this extremely unfortunate decision by our government is unjust and immoral, and it is our duty to clearly and emphatically oppose it. In spite of the decision by the Supreme Court, there are absolutely no grounds for considering unions between two persons of the same sex to be in any way similar to God’s plan for marriage and the family. Regardless of this decision, what God has revealed and what the Church therefore holds to be true about marriage has not changed and is unchangeable.
. . . our continued commitment to the pastoral care of homosexual persons cannot and will not lead in any way to the condoning of homosexual behavior or our acceptance of the legal recognition of same-sex unions.
While some of us may have family members who have same-sex attraction, and there are even some who are members of our local churches, this decision to require the legal recognition of so-called marriage between homosexual persons should in no way lead us to believe that the living out of this orientation or the solemnizing of relationships between two persons of the same sex is a morally acceptable option.
We know that unjust laws and other measures contrary to the moral order are not binding in conscience, thus we must now exercise our right to conscientious objection against this interpretation of our law which is contrary to the common good and the true understanding of marriage.
Given this and recognizing my responsibility and moral authority as the shepherd of this Church of Tyler, I will shortly issue a decree in this Diocese establishing, as particular law, that no member of the clergy or any person acting as employee of the Church may in any way participate in the solemnization or consecration of same-sex marriages, and that no Catholic facilities or properties, including churches, chapels, meeting halls, Catholic educational, health or charitable institutions, or any places dedicated or consecrated, or use for Catholic worship, may be used for the solemnization or consecration of same-sex marriages.
To read the entire statement above, CLICK HERE.
Here's a related story, NOT from the Catholic church:
From "Chicago priest protests same-sex marriage, won't sign civil marriage licenses" by Manya Brachear Pashman, Chicago Tribune 7/3/15
"The strange situation in the United States is clergymen not only act in the name of the church, they also act in the name of the state," said [Rev. Patrick Henry] Reardon, the pastor of All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago's Irving Park community. "The clergymen wear two hats. I'm making a political statement in this sense: I'm accusing the state of usurping the role of God. What I'm saying is, 'I don't agree with you and I'm going to change the way I do things. I will not act in your name. … I will not render unto Caesar that which belongs to God.'"
The unusual protest has inspired other Christian clergy — Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant — to consider following his lead, a shift Reardon hopes will lead the nation to a different model of marriage, one that no longer deputizes clergy to sign marriage licenses and, in his opinion, effectively uphold the state's definition of marriage.
Archbishop Blase Cupich, Chicago's Roman Catholic leader, said in a recent interview . . . "Civil marriage doesn't make people promise and keep the promise of permanence because of the ease of divorce," Cupich said. "We ask people to be married until death do you part and we really mean that. ... It's important to recognize we already have a difference between civil marriage and church marriage because of the promises."
Indeed, the government's view of marriage as a legally binding contract already contradicts the Orthodox Christian understanding of marriage as a sacrament — blessing a union that already existed because it was created by God. And therein lies the problem, Reardon said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also click headlines below to read previous articles:
Pastors Face Fines, Jail for Refusing 'Gay Wedding'
Religious Liberty in Homosexualists' Crosshairs
ACLU Sues Christians for Refusing 'Gay Marriage'
Homosexuals Force Closure of Iowa Christian Wedding Chapel
