Our Family in Faith - St Mary Immaculate Parish

I am writing this reflection on Wednesday, the day
of rulings by the Supreme Court of the United States
(SCOTUS) on several issues related to granting legal
marital status to same-sex couples. Essentially, it
appears that the Court has done several things
today:
• Struck down California’s proposition 8 law which
was enacted by popular referendum but found to be
unconstitutional by a court in that state. The
SCOTUS found that Prop 8 was illegal because those
that put forward the referendum (private citizens)
had no standing to do so. The Court did not rule on
the merits of same-sex marriage.
• The SCOTUS held that in states that have given
legal status to same-sex marriage, there can be no
denial at the federal, state or local level of the
benefits due to heterosexual
married couples (this is where
the SCOTUS struck down parts
of the federal Defense of
Marriage Act [DOMA]).
• The SCOTUS declined to declare same-sex
marriage a fundamental right and affirmed states’
rights to define marriage (but apparently this can
only be done in states by legislatures and courts, not
citizens voting in a referendum).
• The Court left intact a provision within DOMA
allowing for states not to recognize the legal status
of same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Reflections from Fr. David
Big News this week from
the Supreme Court
there have yet to be statements issued by either
Bishop Conlon or Cardinal George.
As you likely know, I am a strong advocate of our
Church’s teaching on the value and integrity of all
persons, regarding of issues of sexual preferences.
All people are created by God, they are our neighbors
to be loved (as instructed by the Lord) and many are
our brothers and sisters in faith to be treasured.
But what is going on with issues of marriage is
breathtaking both in its rapidity and in its scope and
ambition.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently described
the push for legalization of same-sex marriage as
“... a long journey that we’ve been [on] as a
country…” However much I might like the mayor
of my hometown, his statement is a false
description. What is happening
in our nation is not part of a
long journey but rather like a
tsunami of political action that
has come not from considered
public discourse. Instead there has been great social
pressure to put the agenda forward for legalization
of same-sex marriage.
Many people in our nation and others disagree with
this trend. Many people within our Church
disagree, too. And to disagree is not to hate! The
demand that all people think the same without
allowing for true discussion and diversity of opinion
is not part of a truly democratic society.
As you can imagine, the response from the Bishops
of our nation has been one of deep disappointment.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York
and President of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, said: “Today is a tragic day for
marriage and our nation...The Court got it wrong.
The federal government ought to respect the truth
that marriage is the union of one man and one
woman, even where states fail to do so...The
common good of all, especially our children,
depends upon a society that strives to uphold the
truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our
efforts to witness to this truth…” As of this writing,
Among my many reasons for concern is the trend in
our nation and others (notably the United Kingdom)
that, in legalizing same-sex marriage, adultery laws
are either being abandoned all together (as a
grounds for divorce) or adultery is defined as sexual
contact by a married person with someone not their
spouse who is of the opposite gender! Is this marriage
equality? Only heterosexuals can commit adultery?!
This is not about marriage equality but rather an
effort directed toward the total reworking of our
society’s understanding of appropriate
relationships, values and boundaries. It is a tragedy
that most people do not really understand this.
June 30, 2013 One Family in Faith Making Christ Known Page 3