"In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane."
-Oscar Wilde
Which is Cheesier?
A plate of assorted cheeses and pecans?
Or
Miss California, Carrie Prejean?
Ok, here's the thing. Everyone is entitled to live their life as they see fit. Just as everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We can all agree on those points... right? With that being said, I am having a great deal of difficulty understanding some opinions. Like the idea that marriage has to somehow be protected. I am in favor of marriage. Period. Man and a woman, woman and a woman, man and a man. Marriage is a lifelong commitment to the one you love. How is that a bad thing? To date, I have never heard a clear and concise explanation as to how Gay marriage endangers the institution of marriage, but I am open to opinions, so, if you feel differently then I do, feel free to leave your opinion in the comment thread, but be forewarned, messages of hate will be deleted, so be respectful of others. Fair enough?
Opinions, opinions. What do you think?
-Carly
2 comments:
She's entitled to her opinion I guess. Someone said something funny the other day about her. I can't remember who said it but it went something like this.
"Imagine what all her "Gay" makeup artists and hair stylists have to say about what she's saying! She might need to be careful, or she might end up with a mullet"
HAHAHA
Connie
I think only the intolerant think that gay marriage will somehow damage or destroy the institution.
From a Catholic perspective, it's not one of destruction, but possibility. Marriage is a sacrament. What's the big deal, right? That's always the question - two people of God's creation love each other - let them marry!
Well, here's the snag -
All sacraments (in catholic teaching) must have proper matter, form, and intention. The form is the sacramental sign, the verbal and physical liturgical action, e.g. the "this is my body" spoken during communion. The matter is the part of the sacrament to which something is done, the physical objects, e.g. the waters of baptism (although not all physical objects used in administering a sacrament are considered essential matter). Intention means that the priest or minister must have the willful intention to do what the Church does (facere quod facit ecclesia)
Right - so in Matrimony (the actual sacrament we're talking about here), you've the marriage rite, the ring, and the spiritual bonding of a man and a woman's soul to one another *and to God* as one being. You agree to bond yourself, your soul and its well being, to another's life and soul, and the two of you together, bind yourselves through God's grace - it's a three way contract - and one of the requirements is that the marriage be consummated by the couple with the intent to be open to create life.
And therein lies the rub. Gay marriages cannot be open to the creation of children (which is, in Catholic belief) another union of husband, wife, and God (creation of the child, imbued with a soul). It's why people get confused - it's not a sin to be gay, it's just who you are. The tricky bit is creating life!
The Catholic church supports full and equal civic rights for gays, but the problem is one of nomenclature - Americans use the term marriage in both a secular and a religious sense - yet, to the Catholic church, marriage is not the same inside the church and inside the courthouse. Marriage (and there's tons of stuff on this, by the way, if you want to read about it, pick up some stuff on the Theology of the Body) is a holy compact in which grace is delivered by God, of which one of the requirements is to be open to life. That's the reason, by the way, that priests can't marry in the catholic church - their soul has already been given fully to God - how can you then bond your soul to that of another on earth if you've given it fully to God?
So anyhow, given my layman's understanding that's the best I can do on short notice to explain the Catholic teaching. Obviously i'm not a priest and simplifying a LOT here, but you asked for a rationale, and I attempted to provide :)
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