Same-sex controversies - Revision history

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "--" to " — "

2022-12-10T10:18:16Z

Text replacement - "--" to " — "

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "â€”" to " — "

2022-12-10T09:35:08Z

Text replacement - "â€”" to " — "

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:35, 10 December 2022
Line 193:		Line 193:
	:; [http://catholiclane.com/gay-marriage-and-contraception/ "‘Gay' Marriage and Contraception."]		:; [http://catholiclane.com/gay-marriage-and-contraception/ "‘Gay' Marriage and Contraception."]

	:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to ~~abortionâ€”and~~ from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.		:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to abortion — and from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.

	:: At this point in our history as a nation, and particularly as Catholics, we should be able to see clearly, based on what has already transpired in the culture and the law, that Wednesday's Supreme Court decisions are not really a surprise at all. In fact, they represent a natural progression in man's desire to denigrate the natural law, distort it, and otherwise trample on truth in deference to politically popular buzzwords such as “freedom of choice” or “personal rights.”		:: At this point in our history as a nation, and particularly as Catholics, we should be able to see clearly, based on what has already transpired in the culture and the law, that Wednesday's Supreme Court decisions are not really a surprise at all. In fact, they represent a natural progression in man's desire to denigrate the natural law, distort it, and otherwise trample on truth in deference to politically popular buzzwords such as “freedom of choice” or “personal rights.”
Line 254:		Line 254:
	:: Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. They commit themselves completely to each other and to the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them.		:: Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. They commit themselves completely to each other and to the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them.

	:: Marriage is '''both a natural institution and a sacred union because it is rooted in the divine plan for creation.''' In addition, the Church teaches that the valid marriage of baptized Christians is a ~~sacramentâ€”a~~ saving reality. Jesus Christ made marriage a symbol of his love for his Church (see Eph 5:25-33). This means that a sacramental marriage lets the world see, in human terms, something of the faithful, creative, abundant, and self-emptying love of Christ. A true marriage in the Lord with his grace will bring the spouses to holiness. Their love, manifested in fidelity, passion, fertility, generosity, sacrifice, forgiveness, and healing, makes known God's love in their family, communities, and society. This Christian meaning confirms and strengthens '''the human value of a marital union''' (see CCC, nos. 1612-1617; 1641-1642).		:: Marriage is '''both a natural institution and a sacred union because it is rooted in the divine plan for creation.''' In addition, the Church teaches that the valid marriage of baptized Christians is a sacrament — a saving reality. Jesus Christ made marriage a symbol of his love for his Church (see Eph 5:25-33). This means that a sacramental marriage lets the world see, in human terms, something of the faithful, creative, abundant, and self-emptying love of Christ. A true marriage in the Lord with his grace will bring the spouses to holiness. Their love, manifested in fidelity, passion, fertility, generosity, sacrifice, forgiveness, and healing, makes known God's love in their family, communities, and society. This Christian meaning confirms and strengthens '''the human value of a marital union''' (see CCC, nos. 1612-1617; 1641-1642).

	== Ratzinger, CDF, 2003 ==		== Ratzinger, CDF, 2003 ==

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "â€" to "”"

2022-12-10T09:21:15Z

Text replacement - "â€" to "”"

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "â€™" to "'"

2022-12-10T09:21:12Z

Text replacement - "â€™" to "'"

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "â€œ" to "“"

2022-12-10T09:21:08Z

Text replacement - "â€œ" to "“"

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "â€˜" to "‘"

2022-12-10T09:21:03Z

Text replacement - "â€˜" to "‘"

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:21, 10 December 2022
Line 191:		Line 191:
	Both groups assert that marriage exists for the benefit of the couple rather than for the benefit of children.		Both groups assert that marriage exists for the benefit of the couple rather than for the benefit of children.

	:; [http://catholiclane.com/gay-marriage-and-contraception/ "~~â€˜Gayâ€™~~ Marriage and Contraception."]		:; [http://catholiclane.com/gay-marriage-and-contraception/ "‘Gayâ€™ Marriage and Contraception."]

	:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to abortionâ€”and from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.		:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to abortionâ€”and from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.
Line 206:		Line 206:
	:: This holds true not only for same-sex parenting, but for any choice to parent a child in a less-than-ideal setting for a less-than-grave reason. Itâ€™s abuse, for example, for a single parent to adopt a child when many other equally good two-parent homes are available. Itâ€™s abuse for parents to divorce simply for reasons related to their own emotional happiness. Itâ€™s abuse for LGBT couples to create children through IVF and then deprive them of a mother or father.		:: This holds true not only for same-sex parenting, but for any choice to parent a child in a less-than-ideal setting for a less-than-grave reason. Itâ€™s abuse, for example, for a single parent to adopt a child when many other equally good two-parent homes are available. Itâ€™s abuse for parents to divorce simply for reasons related to their own emotional happiness. Itâ€™s abuse for LGBT couples to create children through IVF and then deprive them of a mother or father.

	:: After months of presenting a whitewashed portrait of same-sex parenting, the Post finally ran a letter from Tommy Valentine of Alexandra, Virginia, warning the proponents of homosexual adoption that â€œA child is not a commodity to be coveted, like the car or house,â€ and â€œEven with an ~~â€˜open~~ adoptionâ€™ arrangement with his birth mother, Kyler [the adoptee] is being deprived of the unique, irreplaceable impact of a life with a mother and father.â€		:: After months of presenting a whitewashed portrait of same-sex parenting, the Post finally ran a letter from Tommy Valentine of Alexandra, Virginia, warning the proponents of homosexual adoption that â€œA child is not a commodity to be coveted, like the car or house,â€ and â€œEven with an ‘open adoptionâ€™ arrangement with his birth mother, Kyler [the adoptee] is being deprived of the unique, irreplaceable impact of a life with a mother and father.â€

	:: Every child has a mother and father, and when that figure is missing, there is a narrative that is experienced as pain, loss, and at times shame.		:: Every child has a mother and father, and when that figure is missing, there is a narrative that is experienced as pain, loss, and at times shame.

Mxmsj: /* Specious reasoning */

2015-07-17T15:56:39Z

Specious reasoning

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:56, 17 July 2015
Line 304:		Line 304:

	Please note well that I am ''not'' saying that same-sex actions are the moral equivalent of genocide. The reason I invoke Hitler in this argument is that I think it is an easy case to see what is wrong with the argument. In the Catholic tradition, God does ''not'' [[predestination\|predestine any of his children to Hell.]] Jesus died for all of us--[[Pro multis\|for all sinners, not just for a few "good" sinners.]] Preaching the Good News that God loves us all must be accompanied by the call for us to repent of our sins that nailed Jesus to the Cross, not to suppose that there is no such thing as sin.		Please note well that I am ''not'' saying that same-sex actions are the moral equivalent of genocide. The reason I invoke Hitler in this argument is that I think it is an easy case to see what is wrong with the argument. In the Catholic tradition, God does ''not'' [[predestination\|predestine any of his children to Hell.]] Jesus died for all of us--[[Pro multis\|for all sinners, not just for a few "good" sinners.]] Preaching the Good News that God loves us all must be accompanied by the call for us to repent of our sins that nailed Jesus to the Cross, not to suppose that there is no such thing as sin.

			Relationships require the consent of both parties. God offers us a relationship with Him. It makes a huge difference to us whether we accept or reject that relationship. The assertion that "God's love for me will not ever change, regardless of what I do" does not mean "I can reject God and still have a good relationship with God." That is nonsense!

	== References ==		== References ==

Mxmsj: /* C. S. Lewis on homosexuality */

2015-07-16T12:38:19Z

C. S. Lewis on homosexuality

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 16 July 2015
Line 296:		Line 296:

	:: All I have really said is that, like all other tribulations, it must be offered to God and His guidance how to use it must be sought.		:: All I have really said is that, like all other tribulations, it must be offered to God and His guidance how to use it must be sought.

			== Specious reasoning ==

			There is a widespread and fundamental confusion in our culture. Many people argue that because God loves everyone, God loves gays, and therefore that God loves gay sex. It ''seems'' that some people have same-sex attraction by nature; if same-sex activity is natural for them, then it must be a natural law that their use of their sexual powers is just as natural as the use of sexual powers in heterosexual marriage.

			The conclusion does not follow from the premises. God certainly loved Hitler, but God could never have loved Hitler's efforts to eradicate the Jews. God's love is not stupid. Because God ''is'' love, He stands against all of our actions against love. Many people ''seem'' to be born with deficient consciences. Hatred of other races, the desire to murder, to rape, to commit incest, to fornicate, to commit adultery may all ''seem'' perfectly natural to sociopaths and psychopaths, but we cannot condone their actions. We must preach that God loves all of His children without exception while not supposing that strong passions and impulses are necessarily loving acts.

			Please note well that I am ''not'' saying that same-sex actions are the moral equivalent of genocide. The reason I invoke Hitler in this argument is that I think it is an easy case to see what is wrong with the argument. In the Catholic tradition, God does ''not'' [[predestination\|predestine any of his children to Hell.]] Jesus died for all of us--[[Pro multis\|for all sinners, not just for a few "good" sinners.]] Preaching the Good News that God loves us all must be accompanied by the call for us to repent of our sins that nailed Jesus to the Cross, not to suppose that there is no such thing as sin.

	== References ==		== References ==

Mxmsj: /* From Privacy to Publicity */

2015-07-16T12:24:02Z

From Privacy to Publicity

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:24, 16 July 2015
Line 165:		Line 165:
	Same-sex activists and hedonists both demanded a right to privacy. "What happens in the bedroom between consenting adults is of no concern to anyone else."		Same-sex activists and hedonists both demanded a right to privacy. "What happens in the bedroom between consenting adults is of no concern to anyone else."

	Now that has morphed very rapidly into a demand to place abnormal relationships on par with the norm. "We want everyone to know what we are doing in the privacy of our own home."		Now that has morphed very rapidly into a demand to place abnormal relationships on par with the norm. "We want everyone to know what we are doing in the privacy of our own home. Society must place the actions that give us pleasure on par with those actions that have the power to produce new life."

	=== Consequences of calling same-sex relations "marriage ===		=== Consequences of calling same-sex relations "marriage ===

Mxmsj: /* It isn't even sex! */

2015-07-16T12:23:01Z

It isn't even sex!

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:23, 16 July 2015
Line 121:		Line 121:
	As Bill Clinton said so well, "I never had sex with that woman."		As Bill Clinton said so well, "I never had sex with that woman."

	Real sexual union is always between a male and a female, and always involves the proper use of their genitals--the organs designed to generate new life.		Real sexual union is always between a male and a female, and always involves the proper use of their genitals--the organs designed to generate new life. In the natural act of marriage, the two truly become "one flesh" because the couple is engaging in the only biological activity that, by its very nature, has the power to produce new life. The two acting together have a power that no other form of genital stimulation can produce: reproduction requires two acting as one organism.

	Everything else is a parody of sex. The sexual organs are stimulated and respond ''as if they were being used in the procreative manner,'' but it is only simulation of sex, not the real thing.		Everything else is a parody of sex. The sexual organs are stimulated and respond ''as if they were being used in the procreative manner,'' but it is only simulation of sex, not the real thing.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 10 December 2022
Line 121:		Line 121:
	As Bill Clinton said so well, "I never had sex with that woman."		As Bill Clinton said so well, "I never had sex with that woman."

	Real sexual union is always between a male and a female, and always involves the proper use of their genitals--the organs designed to generate new life. In the natural act of marriage, the two truly become "one flesh" because the couple is engaging in the only biological activity that, by its very nature, has the power to produce new life. The two acting together have a power that no other form of genital stimulation can produce: reproduction requires two acting as one organism.		Real sexual union is always between a male and a female, and always involves the proper use of their genitals — the organs designed to generate new life. In the natural act of marriage, the two truly become "one flesh" because the couple is engaging in the only biological activity that, by its very nature, has the power to produce new life. The two acting together have a power that no other form of genital stimulation can produce: reproduction requires two acting as one organism.

	Everything else is a parody of sex. The sexual organs are stimulated and respond ''as if they were being used in the procreative manner,'' but it is only simulation of sex, not the real thing.		Everything else is a parody of sex. The sexual organs are stimulated and respond ''as if they were being used in the procreative manner,'' but it is only simulation of sex, not the real thing.
Line 139:		Line 139:
	To deny that sex is naturally oriented toward procreation is to deny the truths of biology. The motivation for the denial is easy to see: pleasure feels good, while becoming a parent entails a lifetime of service to the child. The body can be fooled into thinking that it is engaged in the procreative act when, in fact, it is not.		To deny that sex is naturally oriented toward procreation is to deny the truths of biology. The motivation for the denial is easy to see: pleasure feels good, while becoming a parent entails a lifetime of service to the child. The body can be fooled into thinking that it is engaged in the procreative act when, in fact, it is not.

	From the standpoint of the Church's teaching on [[natural law]], same sex unions are '''"pseudogamy"'''--[[counterfeits]] of marriage. Same-sex couples may take on all of the outward appearances of a husband and wife, but they lack the one thing necessary: the power to give life through a natural act of love. The fact that doctors can artificially arrange for a child to be born of one member of the couple through ''in vitro'' fertilization (IVF) does not change this basic fact that the children so created are not the fruit of a ''natural'' act of love but are, lamentably, products of scientific technology.		From the standpoint of the Church's teaching on [[natural law]], same sex unions are '''"pseudogamy"''' — [[counterfeits]] of marriage. Same-sex couples may take on all of the outward appearances of a husband and wife, but they lack the one thing necessary: the power to give life through a natural act of love. The fact that doctors can artificially arrange for a child to be born of one member of the couple through ''in vitro'' fertilization (IVF) does not change this basic fact that the children so created are not the fruit of a ''natural'' act of love but are, lamentably, products of scientific technology.

	:; Piero A. Tozzi, J.D., [http://www.turtlebayandbeyond.org/2011/family/my-lewinsky-moment/ "My Lewinsky Moment":]		:; Piero A. Tozzi, J.D., [http://www.turtlebayandbeyond.org/2011/family/my-lewinsky-moment/ "My Lewinsky Moment":]

	:: The State, for its part, has no legitimate interest whatsoever in licensing same-sex relationships, be they based on friendship or misdirected eros. The State's interest in marriage originates in a simple biological fact: when men and women congress, children inevitably result. The State thus has an interest in regulating and promoting stable unions among men and women--and for that matter, discouraging unstable ones--such as by privileging marital unions through the tax code and the allocation of benefits, as ''it is parents who uniquely provide for the common good by ensuring the continued existence of civilization into the future. [emphasis added]''		:: The State, for its part, has no legitimate interest whatsoever in licensing same-sex relationships, be they based on friendship or misdirected eros. The State's interest in marriage originates in a simple biological fact: when men and women congress, children inevitably result. The State thus has an interest in regulating and promoting stable unions among men and women — and for that matter, discouraging unstable ones — such as by privileging marital unions through the tax code and the allocation of benefits, as ''it is parents who uniquely provide for the common good by ensuring the continued existence of civilization into the future. [emphasis added]''

	=== Intrinsically sterile actions ===		=== Intrinsically sterile actions ===
Line 303:		Line 303:
	The conclusion does not follow from the premises. God certainly loved Hitler, but God could never have loved Hitler's efforts to eradicate the Jews. God's love is not stupid. Because God ''is'' love, He stands against all of our actions against love. Many people ''seem'' to be born with deficient consciences. Hatred of other races, the desire to murder, to rape, to commit incest, to fornicate, to commit adultery may all ''seem'' perfectly natural to sociopaths and psychopaths, but we cannot condone their actions. We must preach that God loves all of His children without exception while not supposing that strong passions and impulses are necessarily loving acts.		The conclusion does not follow from the premises. God certainly loved Hitler, but God could never have loved Hitler's efforts to eradicate the Jews. God's love is not stupid. Because God ''is'' love, He stands against all of our actions against love. Many people ''seem'' to be born with deficient consciences. Hatred of other races, the desire to murder, to rape, to commit incest, to fornicate, to commit adultery may all ''seem'' perfectly natural to sociopaths and psychopaths, but we cannot condone their actions. We must preach that God loves all of His children without exception while not supposing that strong passions and impulses are necessarily loving acts.

	Please note well that I am ''not'' saying that same-sex actions are the moral equivalent of genocide. The reason I invoke Hitler in this argument is that I think it is an easy case to see what is wrong with the argument. In the Catholic tradition, God does ''not'' [[predestination\|predestine any of his children to Hell.]] Jesus died for all of us--[[Pro multis\|for all sinners, not just for a few "good" sinners.]] Preaching the Good News that God loves us all must be accompanied by the call for us to repent of our sins that nailed Jesus to the Cross, not to suppose that there is no such thing as sin.		Please note well that I am ''not'' saying that same-sex actions are the moral equivalent of genocide. The reason I invoke Hitler in this argument is that I think it is an easy case to see what is wrong with the argument. In the Catholic tradition, God does ''not'' [[predestination\|predestine any of his children to Hell.]] Jesus died for all of us — [[Pro multis\|for all sinners, not just for a few "good" sinners.]] Preaching the Good News that God loves us all must be accompanied by the call for us to repent of our sins that nailed Jesus to the Cross, not to suppose that there is no such thing as sin.

	Relationships require the consent of both parties. God offers us a relationship with Him. It makes a huge difference to us whether we accept or reject that relationship. The assertion that "God's love for me will not ever change, regardless of what I do" does not mean "I can reject God and still have a good relationship with God." That is nonsense!		Relationships require the consent of both parties. God offers us a relationship with Him. It makes a huge difference to us whether we accept or reject that relationship. The assertion that "God's love for me will not ever change, regardless of what I do" does not mean "I can reject God and still have a good relationship with God." That is nonsense!
Line 315:		Line 315:
	* [http://www.couragerc.net/ Courage,] a Catholic support group for Catholics who wish to live a chaste life in spite of their same-sex attractions.		* [http://www.couragerc.net/ Courage,] a Catholic support group for Catholics who wish to live a chaste life in spite of their same-sex attractions.
	* [http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/boston-archdiocese-releases-non-discrimination-policy-after-school-admittance-controversy/ Boston Archdiocese Releases Non-Discrimination Policy for Catholic Schools.]		* [http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/boston-archdiocese-releases-non-discrimination-policy-after-school-admittance-controversy/ Boston Archdiocese Releases Non-Discrimination Policy for Catholic Schools.]
	* [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XZDXXczHQGw/UDAA5HElTyI/AAAAAAAAFYA/YXQprsVHEeU/s1600/natural-law-and-homosexuality.jpg "Natural Law and Homosexuality"--an argumentative flow chart.]		* [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XZDXXczHQGw/UDAA5HElTyI/AAAAAAAAFYA/YXQprsVHEeU/s1600/natural-law-and-homosexuality.jpg "Natural Law and Homosexuality" — an argumentative flow chart.]
	* [http://catholiclane.com/was-jesus-really-silent-on-same-sex-marriage/ "Was Jesus Really Silent on Same Sex Marriage?"]		* [http://catholiclane.com/was-jesus-really-silent-on-same-sex-marriage/ "Was Jesus Really Silent on Same Sex Marriage?"]
	* [http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/09/6197 "Why California's Three-Parent Law Was Inevitable,"] by Jennifer Roback Morse: "The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to each other and to their children."		* [http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/09/6197 "Why California's Three-Parent Law Was Inevitable,"] by Jennifer Roback Morse: "The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to each other and to their children."

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:21, 10 December 2022
Line 195:		Line 195:
	:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to abortionâ€”and from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.		:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to abortionâ€”and from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.

	:: At this point in our history as a nation, and particularly as Catholics, we should be able to see clearly, based on what has already transpired in the culture and the law, that Wednesday's Supreme Court decisions are not really a surprise at all. In fact, they represent a natural progression in man's desire to denigrate the natural law, distort it, and otherwise trample on truth in deference to politically popular buzzwords such as “freedom of ~~choiceâ€~~ or “personal rights.~~â€~~		:: At this point in our history as a nation, and particularly as Catholics, we should be able to see clearly, based on what has already transpired in the culture and the law, that Wednesday's Supreme Court decisions are not really a surprise at all. In fact, they represent a natural progression in man's desire to denigrate the natural law, distort it, and otherwise trample on truth in deference to politically popular buzzwords such as “freedom of choice” or “personal rights.”

	* [http://thwordinc.blogspot.com/2013/07/sane-talk-about-sex.html "Sane Talk about Sex."]		* [http://thwordinc.blogspot.com/2013/07/sane-talk-about-sex.html "Sane Talk about Sex."]
Line 206:		Line 206:
	:: This holds true not only for same-sex parenting, but for any choice to parent a child in a less-than-ideal setting for a less-than-grave reason. It's abuse, for example, for a single parent to adopt a child when many other equally good two-parent homes are available. It's abuse for parents to divorce simply for reasons related to their own emotional happiness. It's abuse for LGBT couples to create children through IVF and then deprive them of a mother or father.		:: This holds true not only for same-sex parenting, but for any choice to parent a child in a less-than-ideal setting for a less-than-grave reason. It's abuse, for example, for a single parent to adopt a child when many other equally good two-parent homes are available. It's abuse for parents to divorce simply for reasons related to their own emotional happiness. It's abuse for LGBT couples to create children through IVF and then deprive them of a mother or father.

	:: After months of presenting a whitewashed portrait of same-sex parenting, the Post finally ran a letter from Tommy Valentine of Alexandra, Virginia, warning the proponents of homosexual adoption that “A child is not a commodity to be coveted, like the car or house,~~â€~~ and “Even with an ‘open adoption' arrangement with his birth mother, Kyler [the adoptee] is being deprived of the unique, irreplaceable impact of a life with a mother and father.~~â€~~		:: After months of presenting a whitewashed portrait of same-sex parenting, the Post finally ran a letter from Tommy Valentine of Alexandra, Virginia, warning the proponents of homosexual adoption that “A child is not a commodity to be coveted, like the car or house,” and “Even with an ‘open adoption' arrangement with his birth mother, Kyler [the adoptee] is being deprived of the unique, irreplaceable impact of a life with a mother and father.”

	:: Every child has a mother and father, and when that figure is missing, there is a narrative that is experienced as pain, loss, and at times shame.		:: Every child has a mother and father, and when that figure is missing, there is a narrative that is experienced as pain, loss, and at times shame.
Line 214:		Line 214:
	:: For many kids of same-sex couples, this was a familiar experience: we only count when we make gay people look good. Otherwise, we must shut up.		:: For many kids of same-sex couples, this was a familiar experience: we only count when we make gay people look good. Otherwise, we must shut up.

	:: Many gay parenting advocates say these are more noble scenarios since they ~~“wantedâ€~~ the child, but they are wrong. They imposed their vision ruthlessly on a helpless being and then extorted gratitude. The false equivalency used in order to make the child ~~“loveâ€~~ a second parent of the same sex is coerced and injurious.		:: Many gay parenting advocates say these are more noble scenarios since they “wanted” the child, but they are wrong. They imposed their vision ruthlessly on a helpless being and then extorted gratitude. The false equivalency used in order to make the child “love” a second parent of the same sex is coerced and injurious.

	:; [http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/15089 "What About the Children? American College of Pediatricians Warns Against Same-Sex Families."]		:; [http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/15089 "What About the Children? American College of Pediatricians Warns Against Same-Sex Families."]
Line 220:		Line 220:
	:: But one organization that does not endorse homosexual parenting is the American College of Pediatricians.		:: But one organization that does not endorse homosexual parenting is the American College of Pediatricians.

	:: “The environment in which children are reared is absolutely critical to their development,~~â€~~ the college states in a position statement about homosexual parenting posted in the “Position ~~Statementsâ€~~ section of its website, acpeds.org.		:: “The environment in which children are reared is absolutely critical to their development,” the college states in a position statement about homosexual parenting posted in the “Position Statements” section of its website, acpeds.org.

	:: “Given the current body of research, the American College of Pediatricians believes it is inappropriate, potentially hazardous to children, and dangerously irresponsible to change the age-old prohibition on homosexual parenting, whether by adoption, foster care, or by reproductive manipulation,~~â€~~ it says. “This position is rooted in the best available science.~~â€~~		:: “Given the current body of research, the American College of Pediatricians believes it is inappropriate, potentially hazardous to children, and dangerously irresponsible to change the age-old prohibition on homosexual parenting, whether by adoption, foster care, or by reproductive manipulation,” it says. “This position is rooted in the best available science.”

	:: The American College of Pediatricians' position statement references the many studies that have found that children thrive best in families with a married mother and father.		:: The American College of Pediatricians' position statement references the many studies that have found that children thrive best in families with a married mother and father.
Line 269:		Line 269:
	::: The scope of the civil law is certainly more limited than that of the moral law,(11) but civil law cannot contradict right reason without losing its binding force on conscience.(12) Every humanly-created law is legitimate insofar as it is consistent with the natural moral law, recognized by right reason, and insofar as it respects the inalienable rights of every person.(13) Laws in favor of homosexual unions are contrary to right reason because they confer legal guarantees, analogous to those granted to marriage, to unions between persons of the same sex. Given the values at stake in this question, the State could not grant legal standing to such unions without failing in its duty to promote and defend marriage as an institution essential to the common good.		::: The scope of the civil law is certainly more limited than that of the moral law,(11) but civil law cannot contradict right reason without losing its binding force on conscience.(12) Every humanly-created law is legitimate insofar as it is consistent with the natural moral law, recognized by right reason, and insofar as it respects the inalienable rights of every person.(13) Laws in favor of homosexual unions are contrary to right reason because they confer legal guarantees, analogous to those granted to marriage, to unions between persons of the same sex. Given the values at stake in this question, the State could not grant legal standing to such unions without failing in its duty to promote and defend marriage as an institution essential to the common good.

	::: In this area, one needs first to reflect on the difference between homosexual behavior as a private phenomenon and the same behavior as a relationship in society, foreseen and approved by the law, to the point where it becomes one of the institutions in the legal structure. This second phenomenon is not only more serious, but also assumes a more wide-reaching and profound influence, and would result in changes to the entire organization of society, contrary to the common good. Civil laws are structuring principles of man's life in society, for good or for ill. They “play a very important and sometimes decisive role in influencing patterns of thought and ~~behaviorâ€~~.<ref>John Paul II, Encyclical Letter [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html ''Evangelium vitae''] (March 25, 1995), 90.</ref> 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 behavior. Legal recognition of homosexual unions would obscure certain basic moral values and cause a devaluation of the institution of marriage.		::: In this area, one needs first to reflect on the difference between homosexual behavior as a private phenomenon and the same behavior as a relationship in society, foreseen and approved by the law, to the point where it becomes one of the institutions in the legal structure. This second phenomenon is not only more serious, but also assumes a more wide-reaching and profound influence, and would result in changes to the entire organization of society, contrary to the common good. Civil laws are structuring principles of man's life in society, for good or for ill. They “play a very important and sometimes decisive role in influencing patterns of thought and behavior”.<ref>John Paul II, Encyclical Letter [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html ''Evangelium vitae''] (March 25, 1995), 90.</ref> 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 behavior. Legal recognition of homosexual unions would obscure certain basic moral values and cause a devaluation of the institution of marriage.

	::: As experience has shown, the absence of sexual complementarity in these unions creates obstacles in the normal development of children who would be placed in the care of such persons. They would be deprived of the experience of either fatherhood or motherhood. Allowing children to be adopted by persons living in such unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development. '''This is gravely immoral''' and in open contradiction to the principle, recognized also in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, that the best interests of the child, as the weaker and more vulnerable party, are to be the paramount consideration in every case.		::: As experience has shown, the absence of sexual complementarity in these unions creates obstacles in the normal development of children who would be placed in the care of such persons. They would be deprived of the experience of either fatherhood or motherhood. Allowing children to be adopted by persons living in such unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development. '''This is gravely immoral''' and in open contradiction to the principle, recognized also in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, that the best interests of the child, as the weaker and more vulnerable party, are to be the paramount consideration in every case.
Line 285:		Line 285:
	::: When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. '''To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral.'''		::: When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. '''To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral.'''

	::: When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is already in force, '''the Catholic politician must oppose it in the ways that are possible for him and make his opposition known; it is his duty to witness to the truth.''' If it is not possible to repeal such a law completely, the Catholic politician, recalling the indications contained in the Encyclical Letter [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html ''Evangelium vitae,''] “could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public ~~moralityâ€~~, on condition that his “absolute personal ~~oppositionâ€~~ to such laws was clear and well known and that the danger of scandal was avoided.(18) This does not mean that a more restrictive law in this area could be considered just or even acceptable; rather, it is a question of the legitimate and dutiful attempt to obtain at least the partial repeal of an unjust law when its total abrogation is not possible at the moment.		::: When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is already in force, '''the Catholic politician must oppose it in the ways that are possible for him and make his opposition known; it is his duty to witness to the truth.''' If it is not possible to repeal such a law completely, the Catholic politician, recalling the indications contained in the Encyclical Letter [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html ''Evangelium vitae,''] “could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality”, on condition that his “absolute personal opposition” to such laws was clear and well known and that the danger of scandal was avoided.(18) This does not mean that a more restrictive law in this area could be considered just or even acceptable; rather, it is a question of the legitimate and dutiful attempt to obtain at least the partial repeal of an unjust law when its total abrogation is not possible at the moment.

	== C. S. Lewis on homosexuality ==		== C. S. Lewis on homosexuality ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:21, 10 December 2022
Line 143:		Line 143:
	:; Piero A. Tozzi, J.D., [http://www.turtlebayandbeyond.org/2011/family/my-lewinsky-moment/ "My Lewinsky Moment":]		:; Piero A. Tozzi, J.D., [http://www.turtlebayandbeyond.org/2011/family/my-lewinsky-moment/ "My Lewinsky Moment":]

	:: The State, for its part, has no legitimate interest whatsoever in licensing same-sex relationships, be they based on friendship or misdirected eros. The ~~Stateâ€™s~~ interest in marriage originates in a simple biological fact: when men and women congress, children inevitably result. The State thus has an interest in regulating and promoting stable unions among men and women--and for that matter, discouraging unstable ones--such as by privileging marital unions through the tax code and the allocation of benefits, as ''it is parents who uniquely provide for the common good by ensuring the continued existence of civilization into the future. [emphasis added]''		:: The State, for its part, has no legitimate interest whatsoever in licensing same-sex relationships, be they based on friendship or misdirected eros. The State's interest in marriage originates in a simple biological fact: when men and women congress, children inevitably result. The State thus has an interest in regulating and promoting stable unions among men and women--and for that matter, discouraging unstable ones--such as by privileging marital unions through the tax code and the allocation of benefits, as ''it is parents who uniquely provide for the common good by ensuring the continued existence of civilization into the future. [emphasis added]''

	=== Intrinsically sterile actions ===		=== Intrinsically sterile actions ===
Line 191:		Line 191:
	Both groups assert that marriage exists for the benefit of the couple rather than for the benefit of children.		Both groups assert that marriage exists for the benefit of the couple rather than for the benefit of children.

	:; [http://catholiclane.com/gay-marriage-and-contraception/ "~~‘Gayâ€™~~ Marriage and Contraception."]		:; [http://catholiclane.com/gay-marriage-and-contraception/ "‘Gay' Marriage and Contraception."]

	:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to abortionâ€”and from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.		:: In every nation, bar none, contraception has led to abortionâ€”and from abortion to infanticide, the prelude to full-blown euthanasia! Once the purposes of sex are torn loose from procreation and the family, the homosexual thrust rears its ugly head, teen pregnancies and abortions sky-rocket, VD burgeons out of control, the divorce rate escalates, the birthrate falls, while the barnyard approach to birth control called sterilization becomes commonplace. Soon we see the swift disintegration of the family.

	:: At this point in our history as a nation, and particularly as Catholics, we should be able to see clearly, based on what has already transpired in the culture and the law, that ~~Wednesdayâ€™s~~ Supreme Court decisions are not really a surprise at all. In fact, they represent a natural progression in ~~manâ€™s~~ desire to denigrate the natural law, distort it, and otherwise trample on truth in deference to politically popular buzzwords such as “freedom of choiceâ€ or “personal rights.â€		:: At this point in our history as a nation, and particularly as Catholics, we should be able to see clearly, based on what has already transpired in the culture and the law, that Wednesday's Supreme Court decisions are not really a surprise at all. In fact, they represent a natural progression in man's desire to denigrate the natural law, distort it, and otherwise trample on truth in deference to politically popular buzzwords such as “freedom of choiceâ€ or “personal rights.â€

	* [http://thwordinc.blogspot.com/2013/07/sane-talk-about-sex.html "Sane Talk about Sex."]		* [http://thwordinc.blogspot.com/2013/07/sane-talk-about-sex.html "Sane Talk about Sex."]
Line 204:		Line 204:
	:; [http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2013/07/10474/ "Same-Sex Parenting: Child Abuse?"]		:; [http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2013/07/10474/ "Same-Sex Parenting: Child Abuse?"]

	:: This holds true not only for same-sex parenting, but for any choice to parent a child in a less-than-ideal setting for a less-than-grave reason. ~~Itâ€™s~~ abuse, for example, for a single parent to adopt a child when many other equally good two-parent homes are available. ~~Itâ€™s~~ abuse for parents to divorce simply for reasons related to their own emotional happiness. ~~Itâ€™s~~ abuse for LGBT couples to create children through IVF and then deprive them of a mother or father.		:: This holds true not only for same-sex parenting, but for any choice to parent a child in a less-than-ideal setting for a less-than-grave reason. It's abuse, for example, for a single parent to adopt a child when many other equally good two-parent homes are available. It's abuse for parents to divorce simply for reasons related to their own emotional happiness. It's abuse for LGBT couples to create children through IVF and then deprive them of a mother or father.

	:: After months of presenting a whitewashed portrait of same-sex parenting, the Post finally ran a letter from Tommy Valentine of Alexandra, Virginia, warning the proponents of homosexual adoption that “A child is not a commodity to be coveted, like the car or house,â€ and “Even with an ‘open ~~adoptionâ€™~~ arrangement with his birth mother, Kyler [the adoptee] is being deprived of the unique, irreplaceable impact of a life with a mother and father.â€		:: After months of presenting a whitewashed portrait of same-sex parenting, the Post finally ran a letter from Tommy Valentine of Alexandra, Virginia, warning the proponents of homosexual adoption that “A child is not a commodity to be coveted, like the car or house,â€ and “Even with an ‘open adoption' arrangement with his birth mother, Kyler [the adoptee] is being deprived of the unique, irreplaceable impact of a life with a mother and father.â€

	:: Every child has a mother and father, and when that figure is missing, there is a narrative that is experienced as pain, loss, and at times shame.		:: Every child has a mother and father, and when that figure is missing, there is a narrative that is experienced as pain, loss, and at times shame.
Line 224:		Line 224:
	:: “Given the current body of research, the American College of Pediatricians believes it is inappropriate, potentially hazardous to children, and dangerously irresponsible to change the age-old prohibition on homosexual parenting, whether by adoption, foster care, or by reproductive manipulation,â€ it says. “This position is rooted in the best available science.â€		:: “Given the current body of research, the American College of Pediatricians believes it is inappropriate, potentially hazardous to children, and dangerously irresponsible to change the age-old prohibition on homosexual parenting, whether by adoption, foster care, or by reproductive manipulation,â€ it says. “This position is rooted in the best available science.â€

	:: The American College of ~~Pediatriciansâ€™~~ position statement references the many studies that have found that children thrive best in families with a married mother and father.		:: The American College of Pediatricians' position statement references the many studies that have found that children thrive best in families with a married mother and father.

	== Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1986 ==		== Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1986 ==
Line 317:		Line 317:
	* [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XZDXXczHQGw/UDAA5HElTyI/AAAAAAAAFYA/YXQprsVHEeU/s1600/natural-law-and-homosexuality.jpg "Natural Law and Homosexuality"--an argumentative flow chart.]		* [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XZDXXczHQGw/UDAA5HElTyI/AAAAAAAAFYA/YXQprsVHEeU/s1600/natural-law-and-homosexuality.jpg "Natural Law and Homosexuality"--an argumentative flow chart.]
	* [http://catholiclane.com/was-jesus-really-silent-on-same-sex-marriage/ "Was Jesus Really Silent on Same Sex Marriage?"]		* [http://catholiclane.com/was-jesus-really-silent-on-same-sex-marriage/ "Was Jesus Really Silent on Same Sex Marriage?"]
	* [http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/09/6197 "Why ~~Californiaâ€™s~~ Three-Parent Law Was Inevitable,"] by Jennifer Roback Morse: "The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to each other and to their children."		* [http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/09/6197 "Why California's Three-Parent Law Was Inevitable,"] by Jennifer Roback Morse: "The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to each other and to their children."
	* [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons," 3 June 2003]		* [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons," 3 June 2003]
	* [http://www.blackstonefilms.org/films/the-third-way/ "The Third Way: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church."]		* [http://www.blackstonefilms.org/films/the-third-way/ "The Third Way: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church."]