Cardinal George Says Same-Sex Marriage 'Against The Common Good,' Do You Agree?
Cardinal Francis George releases a strongly worded letter as the State Legislature moves closer to a vote on gay marriage.
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As gay marriage is debated in the Illinois General Assembly, Cardinal Francis George has released a letter attacking the notion of same-sex marriage itself and urging Catholics to voice their objections.
Illinois State Senate members went home on Thursday without voting the bill up or down in the final days of the veto session, although a senate committee did vote in favor of the bill to allow same-sex marraige. Supporters are hoping the bill will be passed after new lawmakers are sworn in on Jan. 9.
The marriage equality bill's failure to go before the senate for a full vote on Thursday was credited to pushback from the Catholic Conference of Illinois and Cardinal Francis George, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Illinois would become the 10th state in the country to allow same-sex marriages.
In his letter, George argued that because same-sex marriages cannot be consummated and are not undertaken for the purpose of conceiving children that government, "has no power to create something that nature itself tells us is impossible."
He qualifies his argument by writing that the Catholic church offers support for the gay community through various ministries. George argues that opposition to the potential law is crucial because of societal acceptance same-sex marriage would gain if it is viewed as legal.
"Human dignity and human rights are then reduced to the whims of political majorities," he writes.
Supporters of same-sex marriage have long argued that legalization is a human rights issue and the restriction of marriage rights to heterosexual couples is its own form of discrimination.
The law would force no religious institutions to perform same-sex marriages.
Gay marriage has been gaining support nationally at a comparatively rapid rate in recent years. Recent polls have consistently indicated that over half of Americans support it. That number spikes to 72 percent of Americans between 18 and 29 years of age, according to a CBS News poll.
Russ
8:48 am on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Love is love, and all Americans should have the same rights - that is what the phrase "separation of church and state" means. Religions should (and do) have the right to hate, demonize, and exclude whomever they wish. Folks can decide to belong or not - but America must treat all Americans equally. If marriage must be so vigorously defended by the righteous, why are they not spending their millions trying to "illegalize" divorce? My advice to the Cardinal would be “Get your own house in order; you just appear to the rest of the world to be a grumpy old man in a dress trying desperately to control the sex lives of everyday Americans with absolutely no experience, expertise, empathy, or success whatsoever. “
Christine
9:35 am on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Whoa, Russ. First, all Americans have the right to marry. For 5,000 years marriage has been defined as between a man and a woman. Don't co-opt my tradition because you feel like it. Second, separation of church and state is not part of the Constitution. It actually means the government has no right to control which religion to participate in, and there is to be no national religion. Thomas Jefferson wrote that phrase in one of the Federalist Papers. Third, religious people are people, and they all have the capacity to hate and judge (you are an example of that). The "Righteous" do not condone divorce so that really adds nothing to the conversation.Finally, sexual orientation is not equivalent to civil rights, as you are attempting to posit. Sex is behavioral. Historically, the purpose of marriage is to depend on the possibility of procreation. Nature know families are best for successfully raising children. Statistics bear this out (70% of children in poverty in the US are in single parent homes.)
J. Ann
3:29 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
I agree Christine, and I posted most of the same thoughts, but it looks like my post was deleted...hmmm, something fishy in political correctness land?? Or did it just get lost in cyberspace? What's up, Dan/Karen/Dawn?
Katie Fobert
4:58 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
I agree with Christine, the cardinal pointed out that marriage was around long before the church and that he nor any other human establishment has the right to redefine it. also if it is just about love then why not many women and one man or vice-versa or adult and child ? where would this logic stop? you would have to allow marriage for any who profess love. So I do not agree that love is love.
Pastor Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle
8:44 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Christine, can you tell me where the definition of marriage began 5,000 years ago? And, if the purpose of marriage is to depend on the possibility of procreation, should we disallow infertile couples or couples beyond child-bearing years from getting married? I am a Christian but I believe the religious argument against same-sex marriage should have no bearing in the civil discussion of marriage. If churches/religious organizations do not want to perform or recognize same-sex marriages that is their right. However, decisions related to civil marriage, which allows for many, many benefits, should be about legal rights. And, I just cannot understand how, in America, we can withhold legal rights from any segment of society simply because of their sexual orientation.
Russ
10:11 am on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Christine - thanks for the clarification. I did not know until now that I am not an American. And please don't refer to civil rights as a tradition.
Jayme Slager
3:12 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
"In his letter, George argued that because same-sex marriages cannot be consummated and are not undertaken for the purpose of conceiving children that government, "has no power to create something that nature itself tells us is impossible.""
I didn't marry my husband for the purpose of conceiving children. I'm sorry, but Catholic ideals and beliefs are very archaic. And I say that as someone who was raised, baptized, and confirmed as a Catholic. I'd also argue that gay people can absolutely consummate their marriage, but I won't get into that discussion...
J. Ann
3:35 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
I'm not a Catholic, but I don't believe their ideals and beliefs are archaic at all. They reflect what the Bible has to say, and it stands firm throughout the ages. God knows what's ultimately best for us and He loves us dearly and does not want us to suffer. Problem is, we want to define things by our own judgments and feelings, thus making ourselves little gods. That's very dangerous!
Pastor Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle
8:47 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Unfortunately, J. Ann, much of what the Roman Catholic Church believes is not Biblical. They, like many "organized religions" have many man-made rules and beliefs. Trying to discern those that are Biblical from those that are man-made is not always easy but something we should definitely do.
Eileen Bettenhausen
5:33 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
They be married according to the law but I do not believe these marriages are sanctified in the eyes of God.
Russ
10:31 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Nor would they care…
Pastor Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle
8:49 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
While I don't agree 100% with Russ that they don't care, because I know there are many same-sex couples who are Christian and care very much that their marriages are blessed, as I said in my comment to Christine, most are simply asking for legal marriages, not religious ones. Marriages in the eyes of the church are something different, perhaps, for some. Legal should be the same whether you are gay or straight.
John Roberts
1:33 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
The illusion continues as to why anyone cares.....the little piece of paper is a symbol of mine,yours and mine...wife and I been together for 16 years married for going on 14 ...we love each other but wanna know why we finally said well we might as well get married?...my work benefits,...she was pregnant but I had 2 kids from before...now the baby on the way..was best to get married and have the benefits pay for it,that's what I pay for it to do....religion is not supposed to play a part in politics but politics likes to use religion when ever it can...know how many insurance companies will be pissed that some one is covered under someone else and not have to have their own coverage plan separate from their spouse?.its cheaper to run under another's plan.now with the laws for healthcare demanding citizens to get coverage it all plays a part as to how much money a company stands to make.and they make a lot more with separate plans..how many people think that the men in the military that are gay will start to marry each other,that has a total different effect on a person when it is the person they care most about being in war,yeah there are rules set so people do not have relationships but are they working? Nope...there are other sides the government will not outright say but you have to look at everything in a whole...no piece of paper says you love each other but that piece of paper entitles you to other benefits,and tax filings..the church is a joke..a pawn,
Russ
9:15 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Point of clarification - Pastor Suzanne I agree with you 100%…my "union" was blessed by the Unitarian Church in 2005. The Unitarians have a lot of love and not too much Leviticus. My comment "nor would they care" was in reference to Eileen speaking on behalf of God; or at least his eyes.
J. Ann
6:03 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Wellllll.... GOD cares, and that's enough for me. It's really not about a religion, but about a Supreme Being who cares for us and wants to have a loving relationship with us and He says specifically in Romans chapter 1 (as well as Leviticus) that there are major problems with a homosexual or lesbian sexual relationship; we were CREATED to be united as "man and woman" according to nature. And according to the first amendment I have a right to believe and say that without being called a hater or being harassed by those who may disagree! It's NOT about judging or hating people at all, though unfortunately some have passed judgment, but about honoring God and His right to be Sovereign. He really does know what's best for us! It's very hard when our will comes up against His, but it's wisdom to listen to Him.