Pope urges U.S. bishops to defend marriage from gay people
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has once again sparked controversy after urging U.S. bishops to preserve marriage between opposite-sex couples.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has once again sparked controversy after urging U.S. bishops to preserve marriage between opposite-sex couples.
The address – which capped the prelates’ad limina visit to the Vatican – followed U.S. state Maryland becoming the eighth American region to allow same-sex marriage, last week.
"Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage,"he said.
"Marriage and the family are institutions that must be promoted and defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature."He also warned against "the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage."
The comments are the latest in a series of anti-gay remarks made by the papal.
In January this year, he claimed that gay marriage will doom humanity.
"Marriage and the family are institutions that must be promoted and defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature."He also warned against "the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage."
The comments are the latest in a series of anti-gay remarks made by the papal.
In January this year, he claimed that gay marriage will doom humanity.
In a New Year address to the Vatican, he told diplomats from nearly 180 countries that "pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman."
He then added: "This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself."The family unit is fundamental for the educational process and for the development both of individuals and states; hence there is a need for policies which promote the family and aid social cohesion and dialogue."
He then added: "This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself."The family unit is fundamental for the educational process and for the development both of individuals and states; hence there is a need for policies which promote the family and aid social cohesion and dialogue."
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My Response:
So, Gay marriage will be the doom of humanity. mmmm! and I thought global warming was one of the most devastating issues facing human beings on this planet.
Damian and I have been Married for 8 years and humanity hasn't fallen yet.
However, the hatred and bigotry that I and my Brothers and Sisters along with the blatant judgemental attacks we have received from "so-called" Christians has been nothing less than sad and disturbing.
I believe in the God of the Bible. I believe the Bible has tenets for instruction in the way to live a godly life in this world; to extend, through ourselves, the love and ministry of Christ as members of his body; in this world.
However, I do not believe that the bible is inerrant. I believe that the principles taught within its leaves are worth adapting into our own lives.
But, even the rules and dictates of the Old testament had been modified by the time of Christ; obviously owing to the knowledge humanity had developed by that time.
Well, 2000 years have passed since then. Humanity has access to more and more science and knowledge than those who penned the hallowed documents we both love and respect.
The human search for knowledge is innate; provided by the creator himself. Are human beings to bury their heads in the sand and to deny valid scientific discovery? Or, are we, by papal bull required to deny the creativity; the desire for knowledge; the craving to know who we are and where we came from and why we are here?
As human beings we are expected to search for truth; to seek God so that he may be revealed to us. One of the greatest ways he does this is through his creation; the world around us.
Our search for knowledge, our study doesn't suit the religiously fundamentalist who believe that there is only one book of knowledge; or in the case of the Holy Roman Church; one single arbiter of what is right or wrong.
This is neither the dark ages, the inquisition, nor the period of Roman conquest. This is the 21st Century and the sum of human knowledge has increased dramatically.
Some elements of the "Church" would prefer humanity abandon its knowledge and turn solely to the bible as our guide for life.
However, can the bible tell us about inoculation against smallpox; Polio; Measles; Mumps; Rubella and even now HPV (for boys and girls) to eradicate the cause of cervical cancer in Women and other cancers in males.
As the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London has suggested: "Gays and lesbians who want to embrace the institute of marriage should be welcomed by the church." Their greatest condemnation against us is 'promiscuity' surely the desire to commit to one another flies in the face of such an accusation.
Pax Vobiscum
Graham
