Catholic Outlook August 2016

FAMILY & LIFE www.parrafamlife.org.au @parrafamlife parrafamlife
Two Men
Talked About
Marriage
By Meg Griffin, Family & Life Office, Parramatta
MANY OF us may be aware of the official doctrine of the
Catholic Church, stated within her catechism, on the
subject of homosexuality and ‘same-sex marriage’. But
on this matter, many of us also struggle to engage with our nonreligious
friends, and the broader secular society which tends to
‘switch-off ’ when Catholic doctrine is mentioned.
On Thursday 14 July, we were presented with a new resource
embodying a fresh approach! The Family and Life Office,
Parramatta hosted the launch of the new book, Two Men Talk
About Marriage, which presents the collaborative work of authors
Dr Jeremy Bell and Mr John McCaughan.
The night began with a reception at the Novotel Parramatta at
which the Hon Greg Smith SC acknowledged the important work
of the authors in engaging in discussion on this issue.
At the public talk that followed in St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall,
the authors began their presentation with common ground to
all, the universal desire to love and be loved. The development of
their argument then covered the natural purpose of sex and went
on to explore ideas around marriage, childbearing and parenting.
Dr Bell, who once identified as exclusively homosexual, related
his own personal experience in pondering these big questions
regarding nature, marriage and sex.
Now engaged, he recounts, “at the end of 2010 … I rediscovered,
after many, many years, an interest in women”. Having converted
to Catholicism two years later, and having integrated Church
At the book launch were (from left): the Hon Greg Smith SC, Damien
Tudehope MP with the authors Dr Jeremy Bell and John McCaughan.
PHOTO: GIOVANNI PORTELLI PHOTOGRAPHY.
teaching into the views to which he already held, he states, “it is
very important to me when talking to people about this subject
to stress that, yes I think that a rational case can be made for what
is nonetheless seen as a typically religious position, that marriage
should be between a man and a woman.”
McCaughan shared personal anecdotes that at times moved
the audience to laughter or tears. Drawing from his parents’
experience and example, McCaughan pointed out, “the greatest
school of love is marriage”. On talking about the great importance
of marriage, he explains, “What is it that keeps them (his parents)
together … love only has two words – you and always! You
because you are unique, wonderful and beautiful, and always
because it is forever … marriage for me is the ultimate symbol of
love. Why? Because in love you are not replaceable, in sex you are.
And that made all the difference.”
A NEW LIFE IN THE
SMITH FAMILY
Ben Smith, Director of
the Family & Life Office,
and his wife, Julianna,
last month had the great
pleasure of welcoming
John-Paul Louis Joseph
Smith into their family,
a baby brother for their
four daughters and (very
grateful) other son.
Ben Smith with his newborn
son, John-Paul.
SAVE THE DATE - SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER
2nd annual Diocesan Family Sunday.
Theme: Family - The Oasis of Mercy.
Guest presenter: Fr Leo Patalinghug from Grace
before Meals.
Location: Shrine of the Holy Innocents in Kellyville.
With a brief look at where we have come from as a society and
where we are going, the night’s discussion concluded and was
followed by a book signing.
In a world where people are in the habit of responding to slogans
and have instantaneous access to information, it is the authors’
intentions to encourage their readers to take time in pondering
the material in their book, in reading and rereading, becoming
familiar with the points of discussion so that each reader may
make the material their own.
Copies of Two Men Talk About Marriage can be purchased from
the publisher Connor Court, http://www.connorcourt.com
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6 CatholicOutlook | AUGUST 2016
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