Catholic bishop: battle for same-sex ‘marriage’ destroying U.S. democracy

[Abyssinia]

The leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ committee tasked with defending marriage this week stated that political elites in the United States are subverting democracy and using the issue of same-sex “marriage” to consolidate power into their hands, away from the people.

“It is a curious irony that in this moment of history, when people in a number of countries in the Middle East are agitating for change from dictatorship to democracy, here in our own country, the oldest democracy with a written constitution in the world, there is a movement of the ruling class toward taking more and more power into its own hands,” wrote Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, chairman of the USCCB ad hoc committee for the defense of marriage, in a column for the Catholic Voice, Oakland’s diocesan newspaper.

lifesitenews.com/news/catholic-bishop-battle-for-same-sex-marriage-destroying-us-democracy

 

[JimG]

I agree with the headline of the bishop’s column: “Future prospects of marriage, democracy go hand-in-hand.”
And in the body of the article, there is this:
“The fact of the matter is, wherever “gay marriage” has become the law of the land, it has happened in a way that avoids the democratic process, and sometimes even goes directly against it. On the other hand, whenever the people have had the chance to vote on marriage, they have consistently affirmed it.” When given a chance to vote on the matter, people reject gay marriage. That’s why the elites who are pushing this agenda do not trust the electorate with this matter. They wouldn’t allow a popular vote in DC, insisting that the matter be decided only by the city council. The elites don’t want your opinion, just theirs.

 

[RosMa]

It´s amazing to me how absent God is in today´s world (by our choice). It is written in Rom 1:20 ss what God has ´abandoned´ us to as a result of our choices. It is obvious that more and more we are turning our backs on Him, so what can we expect from HIM. He has communicated only truths to us. Indeed, we must struggle against what goes against the Church, but we must also turn ourselves inside out and examine ourselves to see what we´re doing to lose that grip. I believe our behavior/attitudes have brought about these ´punishments´. Medidate the Word and we will discover the message and what God wants from us…he protects those who truly love Him. At what level are we with God?

 

[Santi2]

I agree with the headline of the bishop’s column: “Future prospects of marriage, democracy go hand-in-hand.”
And in the body of the article, there is this:
“The fact of the matter is, wherever “gay marriage” has become the law of the land, it has happened in a way that avoids the democratic process, and sometimes even goes directly against it.” .

This mirrors the abuse of the democratic process employed by our gay affirming Parliamentarians over here with the proposed amendment to lift the ban on religious elements on civil partnership legislation. An amendment was tabled at the eleventh hour (literally) at the House of Lords which left little room for debate and was passed on a free vote.

 

[Abyssinia]

I agree with the headline of the bishop’s column: “Future prospects of marriage, democracy go hand-in-hand.”
And in the body of the article, there is this:
“The fact of the matter is, wherever “gay marriage” has become the law of the land, it has happened in a way that avoids the democratic process, and sometimes even goes directly against it. On the other hand, whenever the people have had the chance to vote on marriage, they have consistently affirmed it.” When given a chance to vote on the matter, people reject gay marriage. That’s why the elites who are pushing this agenda do not trust the electorate with this matter. They wouldn’t allow a popular vote in DC, insisting that the matter be decided only by the city council. The elites don’t want your opinion, just theirs.

Such a good point made by the Bishop.

 

[Elizabeth502]

My Main Man, as they say. (I had already seen the article.)

I love this guy so much. EWTN has called him courageous. I second that. He is a Christian in the largest Lion’s Den in the country, the state of California.

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

This would / will be a moot point if / when the majority in this country wants gay marriage. And speaking of majorities, we don’t have a democracy but a democratic republic wherein the majority vote elects a representative to speak or make policy for all within the government seat or office.

The majority opinion against gay marriage is only as strong as the number of people voting against it and is far from not only a safe argument but is even further from a good one. Gay marriage as a denigration of the human person created by God and for God and the dignity of compatibility between male and female with the production of children and the rearing thereof, even if rejected, is better than relying on a majority opinion. Equal protection for polygamy, incest, or bestiality as a natural result from the change of the meaning of marriage would be more accepted by the secular among the, for now, “minority opinion”.

The democratic part of our republic is being ruined by many things, in which the fight over gay marriage is only a symptom.

 

[cathgal]

Bring in Madame Guillotine !

jk…really, we need to take back our democracy one way or another

 

[PatrickSebast]

Voting on minority issues simply isn’t always going to be a fair solution. Were things like slavery or blacks/womens rights to vote left to a majority decision they would have been rejected at certain times in our countries history. That doesn’t mean at that time slavery was moral, and blacks/women were undeserving of voting rights.

Besides if you want the issue to be purely voter based then I hope you are willing to accept what happens in the next 10-20 years as the baby boomer generation begins to dwindle and the current youth become far more influential voters. If (and more than likely this is a case of “when”, not “If”) same-sex marriage suddenly becomes something that 51% of the country is willing to say yes to would this bishop then find it politically acceptable?

 

[Elizabeth502]

Voting on minority issues simply isn’t always going to be a fair solution. Were things like slavery or blacks/womens rights to vote left to a majority decision they would have been rejected at certain times in our countries history. That doesn’t mean at that time slavery was moral, and blacks/women were undeserving of voting rights.

Besides if you want the issue to be purely voter based then I hope you are willing to accept what happens in the next 10-20 years as the baby boomer generation begins to dwindle and the current youth become far more influential voters. If (and more than likely this is a case of “when”, not “If”) same-sex marriage suddenly becomes something that 51% of the country is willing to say yes to would this bishop then find it politically acceptable?

Patrick, I’m not trying to be critical on a personal level; I just note that your ID does say Catholic, so I presume you know the position papers issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a Conference of which “this bishop” is a member.

You bring up the usual false connections among slavery, minority, women’s rights and the institution of marriage.

I don’t know if your ending question was rhetorical, but the answer (since I know this bishop well) is No. And the reason is that he is not thinking politically, nor should Catholics be primarily thinking politically. He’s applying objective moral truth as handed to the civil arena, which we all should do as Catholics.

 

[JaredM]

From my estimations eventually the entire USA will legalize same sex marriage. It will be another trumpet for equality for America. What they really should be working on is a federal LGBT protection anti-discrimination laws though out the whole country.

 

[John21652]

From my estimations eventually the entire USA will legalize same sex marriage. It will be another trumpet for equality for America. What they really should be working on is a federal LGBT protection anti-discrimination laws though out the whole country.

Oh well said!!

Said just like a smiling assassin as he draws his knife to run you through. Only trouble is, this time you stabbed yourself in the foot and didn’t even know you did it!! What a hoot.

Did you read the article that quoted the good Bishop? Probably not, because a thinking person would not have been blind to the logic of what the Bishop was saying.

He said, in reference to the undermining of democracy -

“…the actions of political elites should alarm both opponents and supporters of same-sex “marriage” alike.”

And what did you do? You came out with a statement that was typical of a politically elite class. You called for a special law for the benefit of one particular class of people. Once you do that, not everyone is equal before the Law and that is exactly what undermines democracy.

And by the way, if you do get around to reading the article, notice how he had the word “marriage” in inverted commas. That’s because the phrase "same-sex ‘marriage’ " is an oxymoron.

 

[JaredM]

And what did you do? You came out with a statement that was typical of a politically elite class. You called for a special law for the benefit of one particular class of people. Once you do that, not everyone is equal before the Law and that is exactly what undermines democracy.

So we should get rid of of all of special laws protecting the rights of women, race, religion, and national origin, because everyone should be equal right?

 

[Charlemagne_II]

Jared
*
So we should get rid of of all of special laws protecting the rights of women, race, religion, and national origin, because everyone should be equal right?*

We should get rid of any law that offends common sense!

Who were the first idiots to propose the marriage of a man to a man or a woman to a woman?

 

[dusty_david]

Bring in Madame Guillotine !

jk…really, we need to take back our democracy one way or another

Since homosexuals are only about 0.5% of our population, that means there’s only about one and half million of them. A doable number.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Boy if you guys didn’t have California to bash 24/7, what would you do? I’m proud to live in this state and wouldn’t live anywhere else. We’re going through a rough patch and Arnie the Republican and the Republicans in the senate and assembly sure haven’t made it any easier with irresponsible governance for the last 6 years or so…borrowing money like crazy while lowering taxes…real genius. If you took the time to look at California, my entire region, the Central Valley or San Joaquin Valley, is STAUNCHLY Republican. Orange County is staunchly Republican. Ventura and parts down by San Diego are very conservative. The main liberal areas are San Francisco and the surrounding environs and Los Angeles and its environs. Those have the most population and seats in the House so that’s why California goes blue. The entire state is not some left-wing hornets nest.

I never hear anyone bashing the other liberal states, just California…

My Main Man, as they say. (I had already seen the article.)

I love this guy so much. EWTN has called him courageous. I second that. He is a Christian in the largest Lion’s Den in the country, the state of California.

 

[John21652]

So we should get rid of of all of special laws protecting the rights of women, race, religion, and national origin, because everyone should be equal right?

Why should everyone be equal? Are immigrants allowed to stand for President? Are convicted sex offenders allowed into child care jobs? Are drivers licences subject to age limits? Not everyone is equal and not all things are equal.

 

[JaredM]

Why should everyone be equal? Are immigrants allowed to stand for President? Are convicted sex offenders allowed into child care jobs? Are drivers licences subject to age limits? Not everyone is equal and not all things are equal.

“Yeah how dare those “immoral faggots” strive for equality!!!”
:nope:

An American homosexual adult isn’t an immigrant, sex offender, or underage. They should be given the same rights as everyone else.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

Jared

*An American homosexual adult isn’t an immigrant, sex offender, or underage. They should be given the same rights as everyone else. *

You guys just never do get it, do you? You could read the following two sentences a thousand times and you would go on as if you had never read them.

Homosexual acts are unnatural, and there is no lawful requirement for equality of status for those who purposely violate nature. Where in the Constitution does it say that unnatural conduct must be celebrated and dignified with lawful status by fiat of the State?

If a black man offered to buy a white man from another white man, and the owner of the white man agreed to the sale, and so did the white man who was sold, would that act be considered Constitutional? Would the black slave owner be entitled to his right to own the white man because all parties were consenting adults?

The Constitution does bar such a sale. And there is only one reason why it does so: it is unnatural for one man to own another, even if he consents to be owned.

 

[estesbob]

I agree with the headline of the bishop’s column: “Future prospects of marriage, democracy go hand-in-hand.”
And in the body of the article, there is this:
“The fact of the matter is, wherever “gay marriage” has become the law of the land, it has happened in a way that avoids the democratic process, and sometimes even goes directly against it. On the other hand, whenever the people have had the chance to vote on marriage, they have consistently affirmed it.”
When given a chance to vote on the matter, people reject gay marriage. That’s why the elites who are pushing this agenda do not trust the electorate with this matter. They wouldn’t allow a popular vote in DC, insisting that the matter be decided only by the city council. The elites don’t want your opinion, just theirs.

Abortion was imposed the same way