Commentary: Senator Biden, Prop 8, Marriage and the New 'Know Nothings�

By Deacon Keith A Fournier
10/28/2008
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

To all of our fellow Catholics, other Christians, and all people of faith and good will who value true marriage and the family founded upon it -and live in California- VOTE YES on Proposition 8!

In our age we face a real irony. Some of the people opposing the Defense of Marriage, in initiatives like Proposition 8, are Catholics in public life like Senator Joe Biden. However, the teaching of the Catholic Church is crystal clear. Faithful Catholics must defend the right to life from conception to natural death and they must defend marriage against all efforts to redefine and undermine it.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online)- The �Know-Nothing Party� was rooted in the anti-Catholic bigotry which flourished in America between 1852 and 1856. America was the home of a nativist movement that opposed the immigrations of that era, especially from Ireland and Germany. The influx of new Americans brought many Catholics �yearning to be free� as promised by Lady Liberty.Some Americans did not want us here. At the beginning it was predominantly a movement of Democrats but then shifted to include Republicans as well. Then as now, the political labels were a problem. After all what characterizes a political party is its ideas and the people who lead it. This movement was known as the �know-nothings� because its members answered "I know nothing" when asked about their true anti-Catholic aims. They hid their bigotry behind such denials, with a wink and a nod. The �Know Nothings� did not like the way Catholics believed, lived or practiced their faith. They hated the way Catholics refused to separate their faith from their public service. It angered them that Catholics infused their faith within the cultural framework in which they lived their daily lives. I assert that in our own age there is a new �Know Nothing� movement which really feels the same way, at least as it relates to serious Catholics who refuse to compromise on truth. Ironically, some of its leaders are Catholics themselves. In fact, Catholics in Public Life who openly oppose the infallible teaching of the Church on the dignity of every human life as well as the truth concerning the nature of true marriage.

On June 3, 2003 the then Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, issued a directive entitled �Considerations regarding Proposals to Give Legal recognition To Unions Between Homosexual persons.� Along with millions of Catholics I received it with gratitude. I remember stopping to pray after my first reading of the document. I thanked the Lord for the clarity, wisdom, pastoral concern, and proper exercise of authority demonstrated by the Catholic Church in addressing one of the most vital issues of our day. The document presented nothing new concerning Marriage and rejected any effort to give equivalent legal status to homosexual unions. It restated the unbroken tradition of the Catholic Christian Church for over two thousand years. It sought to help Bishops and direct Catholics in Public Life: �The present Considerations do not contain new doctrinal elements; they seek rather to reiterate the essential points on this question and provide arguments drawn from reason which could be used by Bishops in preparing more specific interventions, appropriate to the different situations throughout the world, aimed at protecting and promoting the dignity of marriage, the foundation of the family, and the stability of society, of which this institution is a constitutive element. The present Considerations are also intended to give direction to Catholic politicians by indicating the approaches to proposed legislation in this area which would be consistent with Christian conscience�

The directive came at a time when a forceful restatement was absolutely necessary. As election day 2008 draws near and Ballot initiatives such as Proposition 8 in California will be placed before voters, it needs to be proclaimed from the pulpits of every Church and from the housetops, especially in California. There is a social and cultural revolutionary movement underway in the United States and beyond. One of its goals is the complete redefinition of the word Marriage and the building of some sort of brave new world. It is led by those on the fringes of the homosexual activist community who want to force legal recognition of homosexual unions and then enforce an equivalency with true marriage using the Police Power of the State. They will stop at nothing less than this legal �equivalency� between homosexual unions and true marriage. In fact, having learned from the evil of the movement to make the taking of innocent life in the womb through abortion �a right�, they are masters with words. They have reframed this anti-marriage movement as a movement for �marriage equality� much like the proponents of abortion succeeded in calling killing the unborn a �choice�. This movement undermines true marriage and the family founded upon it. It is destructive to the civil order and to the common good. However, Catholics must be brutally honest about some in our own house. Purporting to speak for the Church or to promote some �new way�, certain Catholic voices, (some deeply confused or misinformed, others deluded or disingenuous, and still others overtly rebellious) undermine the teaching of our Church, do violence to the truth, cause scandal, injure the common good and put their own souls in jeopardy. The most recent example of this was the action of the candidate for the U.S. Vice Presidency on the Democratic ticket, ...

1 | 2 Next Page

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 24 Comments

chance
3 years ago
Why does every person with homosexexual tendencies think they are being attacked by the Catholic Church. People hurt people, not our church.
Yes, there is unfortuantely those who discriminate unjustly against many people for many reasons. All are wrong for doing so.
However Marriage itself is a union to one flesh, concecrated by God between man and woman. Not by politics for social or secular agendas.

This is an exeprt from the doctrine stated in the article "Sacred Scripture condemns homosexual acts �as a serious depravity... (cf. Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). This judgment of Scripture does not of course permit us to conclude that all those who suffer from this anomaly are personally responsible for it, but it does attest to the fact that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered�.(5) This same moral judgment is found in many Christian writers of the first centuries(6) and is unanimously accepted by Catholic Tradition.Nonetheless, according to the teaching of the Church, men and women with homosexual tendencies �must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided�.(7) They are called, like other Christians, to live the virtue of chastity.(8) The homosexual inclination is ever �objectively disordered�(9) and homosexual practices are �sins gravely contrary to chastity�.(10)

Every person created has a vocation assigned them by God. The diciples who walked with Christ talked about it. Not being attracted to those of the opposite sex is not a sin. Those people have vocations to not be married. "Eunuch" is mentioned in the Bible as being created by God for God. And no it doesn't mean castrated, it means no sexual relations. Homosexuality is the active and concious decision made by the person to act upon those tendencies which are outside the concecrated life. All Christians should love one another, and for the most part "Practical Catholics" do.
So I still don't understand why the Catholic Church is targeted saying we hate, or don't love, when it is obvious our Doctine is and always has been about love, understanding and compasion.
For those who attack Chirsts Church, for any reason, it is done solely to justify their disobediance to Gods will, they need prayer, love, and help if they are willing to accept it.
Christ did not change his teaching to satisfy those who crucifed him. And the Catholic Chuch will not change Christs teachings either.
"Vivat Jesus"
Holly
3 years ago
For those who wish to know what the church teaches regarding same sex attraction go to Courage Apostolate and check out Father Harvey's book Homosexuality and the Catholic Church Clear Answers to Difficult Questions.
Also the Courage Apostolate Website also has other books and Im sure they can recommend more.
I read Fathers book and I also went over to Knights of Columbus site to see what is taught on pastoral care of Same Sex Attraction.
Dan
4 years ago
I can clearly state I was a Catholic until the day I finally realized how much those you teach christianity dont even follow it themselves.

As the catholic church continually attack "gays" and fail to "love their neighbor as they love themselves" maybe the following could help reopen their own eyes...

"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Protestants,
but I didn't speak up because I was Catholic.
Then they came for me, and by that time
there was no one left to speak up for me."

I also want to thank the church for turning its back on me in my time of need. I wonder what words of wisdom the church has for its gay "brothers and sisters"
Holly
4 years ago
No persecution is not what Im saying. What Im saying is if Prop 8 doesnt go through and protect the rights of the Church the Church will be persecuted by the law. She already is being hit with lawsuits.

The Same Sex Community states though that we the Christian Community have nothing to worry about. Obviously with open marriage/living together your not going by our beliefs anyway and we arent judging anyone for that. We dont put our beliefs on anyone but why is it people are coming down on the Church for defending herself later on down the road?

Constitution law isnt always followed obvious by the Supreme Court in California overturning this the 1st time.

They write there of precedence.
Your right it should be freedom of religion but is freedom of religion always followed?
Ben
4 years ago
The role of government is not to be condoning sin. This is what legalizing gay marriage is about. And to those like Denise I say this: Catholicism isn't about letting poeple do what ever they want. Despite that we live in a secular era we must still obey God's laws or face his divine wrath.
Denise Eden
4 years ago
I am Catholic and voting no on Prop 8. It is none of my business who grown adults want to do, nor is it my place to take away the rights of others. Political rehtoric and fear allow the lies of the Yes on Prop 8 campagin to continue.
Mary
4 years ago
Christian Friends,

Firstly, I appolgize sending out a mass email. I myself am Catholic, but felt compelled to send this information on behalf of all Christian churches as the information below raises a very good point about honesty and truth and how, during such political times, these things can be drowned out by political rehtoric. I feel that as a Christian, I should help to spread truth, not lies. Please read the link below.

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/18/local/me�]gay18.

God bless you all
Rachel
4 years ago
So the lesson of the once-persecuted is to persecute someone else when your turn comes around? The Catholic church already maintains its own requirements for marriage that do not match the state laws. Why now does everyone who is not Catholic have to live by those rules? Freedom of religion guarantees that no one is persecuted because of their beliefs and Prop 8 is nothing but that.
Holly
4 years ago
Jesus said, I didnt come to abolish the law or change it.
He came to fullful it.
Its not about the marriage itself its what will come after it when put into law.
People say no one will be affected but there have been lawsuits already because of this issue same sex marriage and not inseminating someone already because of someone's conscience not their bigotry.
Many people forget that Catholics also have been and still are persecuted because of their beliefs.
Hopefully we will all get to the bottom of this.
Also the Bible has been watered down for modern times with inclusive (not original) language. This also is wrong.
Jesus in the end is going to ask each of us what kind of justice we did on this planet.
Im trying to be as peaceful and knowledgeable as I can.
There are definitely two forces going on here and one is going to win out.
I love people but I love our Church and the Laws that Jesus came to fullfil.
Anyway anyone who wants to can go to Courage.com and Pro-life Phillipines. Dont forget to read about Same Sex Attraction over at Headline Bistro for that "Special" research
Holly
4 years ago
Dont forget to read about Pastoral Teaching on same sex marriage on Headline Bistro.
Also go over to Pro-Life Phillipines and read an article from the same sex community under Homosexuality.
Also dont forget to visit the Courage Web site.

Prev12 3 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment