The following is an excerpt of a First Things article by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone:
The union of husband and wife is unique: Together they make a baby, and their marriage is the best way to ensure that that baby grows up with both mother and father. Marriage is a good thing. Society needs this institution.
Until a few years ago, virtually every culture in existence recognized the unique stake society has in affirming these unions. Even cultures that condoned sexual relations outside the bond of marriage—including between people of the same sex—never confused these relations with marriage. And today, after five decades of consistent social science data showing the devastating social ills resulting from fatherlessness, you would think Congress would want to do something to put the family back together. Instead, last week, it took a decisive step in the opposite direction.
They call it the “Respect for Marriage Act.” It passed both Houses of Congress and now goes to President Biden to be signed into law. It requires the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages as legitimate. Its cheerleaders celebrate it as an advancement in equality, liberty, and respect. But equality and liberty for whom? Respect for what?
Certainly not for children. The best thing we can do for children is give them a married mother and father in a stable, life-long, low-conflict relationship.
Nor does the curiously misnamed “Respect for Marriage Act” protect or treat equally the millions of Americans who believe the basic social good of marriage should be protected and promoted. It is bad enough that this legislation does not provide adequate protections for those of us in the new minority, but most offensive of all is that the purported protections are presented as a license to “discriminate,” saying, in effect, “We will give religious people a right to discriminate in this case, but no one else may.”
This is an inaccurate and appalling way to describe the right to religious freedom and the public exercise of one’s faith. Unjust discrimination is wrong all the time, by everyone. And, in point of fact, the vendors who have had to go to court to defend their right to live according to their conscience never ask their customers what their sexual orientation is before giving them service. What is actually happening here is that the legislation fails to protect a person’s right not to be forced to act according to the beliefs of another, beliefs with which he or she does not agree. We have moved from “tolerance” to imposing the dogmas of secular orthodoxy on the entire populace, stripping away the rights of those who believe differently to act according to those beliefs.
Another deceptive technique in the act: It claims that the view that marriage is uniquely between a man and a woman is somehow a religious belief. However, acknowledging the basic social good of marriage is not a question of faith, but of reason.
Full story at First Things.
A Democrat would perceive so much evil in that photo:
1. No racial diversity
2. Heteronormativity and Cisnormativity
3. Too many children = irresponsible breeding
4. White privilege
5. Nuclear family normativity
But to me that photo might as well be a Norman Rockwell painting, depicting what used to be great about America and American families. The photo depicts greatness and beauty.
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2020/2/19/21052356/norman-rockwell-the-problem-we-all-live-with-saturday-evening-post
Is this more accurate?
https://www.popmatters.com/night-gallery-rod-serling-feature
I am not a Democrat and if you hadn’t all that out I would never have noticed.
I do not need anybody else to validate or support my way of life.
Living wholesome can be difficult. It is made most difficult by family members, church members and community members.
When I needed support to prevent some family members from stealing from elderly family members at the end of their life, there was no one to support me. In fact, I was undermined by other family members.
Ironically, the picture is from a place called My therapist NC. It is a stock photo that is used by many websites,
The website shows much more diversity and declares
We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all, regardless of gender, age, gender identity, race, health status, national origin, relationship status, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and religion.
I would like to know why this post was disliked?
The lies of the gay syndicate are enshrined into law by corrupt government, expect persecution…
I am not sure why they edited this out.
How, then, should those in the new minority respond to these discouraging developments? By loving their spouses and their children enough to discipline their sexual desires (or their future spouse, if not yet married). By eschewing abortion, practicing chastity, staying married if already married, resolving family conflicts peaceably, and treasuring children as a gift from God—all to show that there is a better alternative to the now dominant narrative.
The key, simple, fundamental statement to say to fellow catholics and non-catholics, religious and non-religious, is the Archbishop’s summary statement, “The best thing we can do for children is give them a married mother and father in a stable, life long, low conflict relationship ….that society has a stake in supporting this…..” that the consequences because we do not currently do this result in many difficulties for children growing up, and many of the problems of society,
Therefore,when Justice Thomas speaks of “due process”, not only about abortion, but also about marriage and even contraception, one must weigh the rights of a child to grow up in such a family of a stable mother- father relationship that marriage conveys, that even contraception undermines this good by treating what is sacred as something temporary.
For those who say “marriage is only between a woman and a man” is discriminatory, adults who choose to live together as domestic partners already have access to legal protections for all that that signifies, be it for health insurance, or property rights or other rights, but the rights of these adults to call their relationship “marriage” do not outweigh the right of a child to life and well being conveyed by the marriage of the child’s parents, or the right of society to the stability of society that this conveys.
The civil definition of marriage (whatever it might be now-I don’t even know) is not the same as a sacramental marriage.
Back in the 1990s there was a movement to create what was called covenant marriage as a legal marriage. It kind of fizzled out.
If you have not read the whole article, at the end is what we really need to do. Live our way scrupulously and show that it is better.
Right now, we really don’t do that.
Marriage is really not looked at as a covenant. When you are married, the daily routine takes precedence over spirituality unless you make a commitment to a time together for praying over that.
Traditional Man-Woman Marriage and Family, is the foundation of every society, and of all civilizations. God Himself created the natural, lifelong, loving union of Man and Woman, bringing forth children by His loving hand, establishing families and entire societies. There is no such thing as gay marriage– it is a delusion, an ignorant lie. God did not create two disordered, sick, delusional, same-sex people, with misguided, disordered romantic notions, and corrupt, sick, delusional sex attractions, for the unique union of Marriage, at all. So-called “romantic love” between two same-sex people, is extremely sick, disordered, and delusional— never meant to be, by God, in His Creation. And the LGBTs should never be permitted to adopt children– all children should be kept far away from disordered, sick relationships of LGBTs– and their filthy, dangerous, sinful sex acts! Especially, BDSM– and dangers of child sexual exploitation, and pedophilia! Gay sex acts are evil, filthy, dangerous, and sinful– they should be discouraged, even outlawed. LGBT propaganda should be definitely outlawed, for children and adults. Our society and its political and clergy leaders should strongly support Traditional Marriage and Family, Christian Morality, Chastity, and self-control for all unmarried people, and LGBTs. LGBT disorders should be correctly defined in medical books, as abnormal and sick conditions, and properly classified under Disability for government purposes, with eligibility to receive appropriate help in accordance with their needs, such as: counseling, life adjustment skills, social adjustment skills, help to learn to live chastely, leading good lives, and housing, food, medical care, and and job help, especially for those who are homeless, drug or alcohol-addicted, or impoverished.
The editors took off my italics, in my comment of Dec.14 at 6:31pm, where I said: There is no such thing as “gay marriage.” And again, towards the end of my comment, where I said that I thought LGBT conditions should be classified under “Disability,” for government purposes. (etc.) There are a great many situations that exist, in which children as well as adults, must adapt to painful new situations, due to accidents, serious illnesses, or disabilities. Also, the tragic loss of a spouse, or loss of a child, can be overwhelmingly devastating. With intelligent and workable ideas, and lots of love and support, everyone can slowly adjust to the reality of what they have to deal with– and still lead a happy, and successful life. God has a good Life Plan for each person.
Beam me up Scotty, this planet…
Have courage! Spiritual warfare is necessary, for Jesus!
The group, America Needs Fatima, will have a Rosary Rally on Sat. Dec. 17, at 1pm, at Cesar Chavez Park, 194 S. Market St., in San Jose, CA. This is to protest the blasphemous “Satanic Christmas Tree” to be displayed at the “family friendly” annual “Christmas in the Park” celebration. Call Philip at (831) 214-2006, or (844) 830-3570. You can also email Protest@TFP.org for more information. The “Satanic Christmas Tree” will feature horrific, Satanic ornaments and decorations, mocking Christianity. This evil “Satanic Christmas Tree” by a Satanic “hate” group, is religious discrimination, exactly like anti-Semitic or KKK groups. It should be illegal.
Stay away from it.
Pray the rosary at another location.
No– you must have COURAGE and be a public witness for Christ! The “Satanic Christmas Tree” is a horrific abomination! It should be forbidden by law– a “hate” crime against Christians! Be eager to join the group, as a public witness for Christ, to end this blasphemous evil!
Matthew 6:5
I hate to be a wet blanket but I looked up that organization and it looked OK until I ran into the page where they say you can give a Christmas gift to Mary…by donating to them.
then I looked up how much that organization makes- $15 million a year.
Shawn Carney, of 40 Days for Life, said that in the extremely cruel recent NPR broadcast of an abortion, actually TWO babies– TWINS — were aborted. I didn’t know that. Oh, how abominably cruel. TWINS were murdered.
Sad.