Catholics responsibility in reguards to defining marriage

[WillDieTrying]

I have heard questions as to whether it is a Catholics responsibility to support the definition of marriage between one man and one woman. This post is only in regards to what a Catholics duty is concerning this issue.

Regardless of the foundation for a person’s beliefs, when they are expressed through civil l laws they will affect all people who are bound by them. It is a weak argument when we say the Catholic Church should not impose their views on society when this is what any person, company, religious or secular institution is doing when they express their support or condemnation an issue.

(CCC 2246) It is a part of the Church’s mission “to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it. The means, the only means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances.”

Remember Catholics define the “Church” as all of us baptized in Christ, Bishops *and *those in the pews are included in this bunch. As Catholics we are called to action “whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it”. As christians our understanding is that the acts included in marriage of this type are condemned specifically in the Old Testament and the new testament by Paul in numerous places. Jesus also defines what marriage is in Mathew (19:4-6) by calling out the Old Testament “…have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’?..”

So the Church states that* “salvation of souls”* (all people of God, not just Catholics) are at stake in the case of marriage definition, then as members of the Church, our mission is to “to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics”. The time is now and every election where issues concerning the “fundamental rights of man and salvation of souls” are at stake. Right now in many states the circumstance “The means…according to the diversity of times and circumstances” are through support of laws in our democratic process to enshrine marriage according to God.

 

[Iron_Donkey]

Agreed.

 

[WillDieTrying]

I meant to say…

Right now in many states the ***means ***(“The means…according to the diversity of times and circumstances") are through support of laws in our democratic process to enshrine marriage according to God.

 

[Lancer]

Its really a quite clear and simple issue…except for when pride in the “almighty self” is so strong that we say things like:

“…ah, excuse me Holy Spirit, but you are sitting on my throne…please move…I have some important Church doctrines…“truths”… to make known and to lead Christ’s Church into these “truths” about Man–male and female, marriage and family, and the long term well being of societies and nations…”.

or…

“…ah, excuse me Saint Peter (Pope Benedict), but you are sitting in my Chair…please move…I have some important Church…“doctrines”…to make known and to lead Christ’s sheep into the “doctrines” about Man–male and female, marriage and family, and the long term well being of societies and nations…”.

From our Lord Jesus Christ Himself:

Matthew 19:4-6
Knox Bible (KNOX)

4 He answered, Have you never read,** how he who created them**, when they first came to be, created them male and female; and how he said,** 5 A man, therefore, will leave his father and mother and will cling to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?**[a] 6 And so they are no longer two, they are one flesh; what God, then, has joined, let not man put asunder.

Luke 10:16
Knox Bible (KNOX)
Sending Out the Seventy Two

16 He who** listens to you, listens to me;** he who despises you, despises me; and he who despises me, despises him that sent me.

From the Vicar of Christ on Earth: Pope Benedict XVI

Address to Bishops of the United States of American from Region VIII on their “Ad Limina” Visit(March 9, 2012)

“Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage. **Defending the institution of marriage as a social reality is ultimately a question of justice, since it entails safeguarding the good of the entire human community and the rights of parents and children alike.”
**
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2012/march/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120309_us-bishops_en.html

Homily in Santiago de Cuba during Apostolic Journey to Mexico and Cuba(March 26, 2012)

“In his loving plan, from the beginning of creation, God has entrusted to the family founded on matrimony the most lofty mission of being the fundamental cell of society and an authentic domestic church.”
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20120326_santiago-cuba_en.html

Address to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See (January 9, 2012)

“In addition to a clear goal, that of leading young people to a full knowledge of reality and thus of truth, education needs settings. Among these, pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman. 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.** It is in the family that we become open to the world and to life and, as I pointed out during my visit to Croatia, ‘openness to life is a sign of openness to the future’.”**
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2012/january/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120109_diplomatic-corps_en.html

Pax Christi

marriageuniqueforareason.org/

 

[Bill_7154]

I have heard questions as to whether it is a Catholics responsibility to support the definition of marriage between one man and one woman. This post is only in regards to what a Catholics duty is concerning this issue.

Regardless of the foundation for a person’s beliefs, when they are expressed through civil l laws they will affect all people who are bound by them. It is a weak argument when we say the Catholic Church should not impose their views on society when this is what any person, company, religious or secular institution is doing when they express their support or condemnation an issue.

(CCC 2246) It is a part of the Church’s mission “to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it. The means, the only means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances.”

Remember Catholics define the “Church” as all of us baptized in Christ, Bishops *and *those in the pews are included in this bunch. As Catholics we are called to action “whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it”. As christians our understanding is that the acts included in marriage of this type are condemned specifically in the Old Testament and the new testament by Paul in numerous places. Jesus also defines what marriage is in Mathew (19:4-6) by calling out the Old Testament “…have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’?..”

So the Church states that* “salvation of souls”* (all people of God, not just Catholics) are at stake in the case of marriage definition, then as members of the Church, our mission is to “to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics”. The time is now and every election where issues concerning the “fundamental rights of man and salvation of souls” are at stake. Right now in many states the circumstance “The means…according to the diversity of times and circumstances” are through support of laws in our democratic process to enshrine marriage according to God.

Maybe this makes me a bad Catholic, but in part, I try to live my life by the creed of: Judge not, lest ye be judged. While having concerns about the morality of anyone other than a man and woman being married, I also have moral concerns about government. Governments use force to accomplish their goals, unlike the Church which does not use force to accomplish its goals. So I believe that it is the Churches place to do what she will in regards to marriage, and support the Church as it works to accomplish the will of God and in suppporting me and all others to live our lives according to the way that Jesus Christ would have me live my life. This, for me, does not include violence, or the threat of violence. Governments use violence, and/or the threat of violence or force to accomplish its goals and I have a real problem with that. Our current government here in the USA might be the best we can do as a society, using that tool of government which inherently uses threats of force as its tool to accompish its goals, I’m not sure. But I have a problem with that.

So I have a strong preference to be a member of the Catholic Church and participate as a member of the Church supporting its efforts to aid men and women to live their lives according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. I believe that the Church, and its members, can work together without using violence or threats of violence to accomplish its goals. Since government uses threats of force to accomplish its goals, that is where my support of the Church and its efforts to aid all men and woman to live their lives according to the teachings of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, stops. I do not vote. I pay taxes because there are men with guns who threaten to punnish me if I do not. Part of the tax money that I pay supports things that I believe go against the teachings of Jesus Christ (I would be surprised if someone could convince me that every single law, and every single action of the US Gov’t is 100% in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ). And as I have said I also have objections to the way government conducts its business in general, using threats of violence as its method of conducting business.

So I support the Church, and as a human being am fallible and fall short of living my life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, as I am less than perfect despite my best efforts as I am a human being so am not capable of living 100% perfect in the eyes of Jesus. I do my best but have more than my share of weaknesses, I rely on the Church and God to assist me in my efforts to live my life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Assertiveness is difficult for me, as are many things. So I am far from the best in witnessing and testifying as to the goals of the Church and the will of my Lord and Savior as I understand it to be. My preference is to have the goals of the Church accomplished through prayer and individuals cooperating with one another without any threats of force or violence in the mix. Maybe that makes me a bad Catholic, I’m not sure. But that is where I am at with respect to this issue and the way I approach life in general.

Peace to you all and God Bless Everyone,
Bill