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RayDove12
Guest
Why does the Catholic Church oppose same-sex civil marriages? I thought the church doesn’t recognize civil marriage in general, so why the concern.
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catholic03
Well-known member
The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Homosexuality:
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, 141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” 142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, 141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” 142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved
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VanitasVanitatum
Guest
Neither are valid, so it’s consistent.I thought the church doesn’t recognize civil marriage in general, so why the concern.
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RayDove12
Guest
Why is the Catholic church against same sex marriage? It would make sense if the church is against same sex marriage if there were laws that didn’t abide by the separation of church and state. Meaning, no one is forcing the Catholic Church to perform such acts. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
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VanitasVanitatum
Guest
The Church hasn’t been campaigning against civil marriage in the first place.
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catholic03
Well-known member
There is no point in the Church supporting something that is not real. Marriage is between one man and one woman. The Church would not support same sex ‘marriage’ as that would be to support something that is intrinsically wrong in accordance with Divine Law.
We have great compassion for homosexuals, but that does not mean we must validate a lifestyle that is immoral. We also have no reason to pretend that it is marriage.
Here is what Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster has to say on this issue:
“The moral teaching of the Church is that the proper use of our sexual faculty is within a marriage, between a man and a woman, open to the procreation and nurturing of new human life.”
We have great compassion for homosexuals, but that does not mean we must validate a lifestyle that is immoral. We also have no reason to pretend that it is marriage.
Here is what Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster has to say on this issue:
“The moral teaching of the Church is that the proper use of our sexual faculty is within a marriage, between a man and a woman, open to the procreation and nurturing of new human life.”
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RayDove12
Guest
That’s what I wanted to know, whether the Catholic Church takes action against it. Or they simply just reject the idea.
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Rau
Guest
Which idea?That’s what I wanted to know, whether the Catholic Church takes action against it. Or they simply just reject the idea.
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Kindnessmatters
Guest
What type of action are you speaking of?
The church will not perform same sex marriages. Those in same sex marriages are welcome in church but as with anyone actively sinning, should not go to communion. Nobody goes after or bothers same sex couples from the church, nor anyone who sins in other ways (the priest won’t be at my door if I disrespect my mother, or commit gluttony, for example,). The church will speak of same sex marriage generally as a general issue, but not to embarrass or attack any individual.
If a priest is aware of the relationship, he should not offer communion to parties to a gay marriage but can offer a blessing. This is not punishment but protection, as recieving communion while not in a state of Grace is itself a grave sin.
One can resolve this by discontinuing the gay relationship, confessing and committing to avoid the sin in the future. It is admittedly a lot to ask. All Catholics not in a Catholic marriage between one man and one women are called to fully abstain from sexual activity, not only gay people.
The church will not perform same sex marriages. Those in same sex marriages are welcome in church but as with anyone actively sinning, should not go to communion. Nobody goes after or bothers same sex couples from the church, nor anyone who sins in other ways (the priest won’t be at my door if I disrespect my mother, or commit gluttony, for example,). The church will speak of same sex marriage generally as a general issue, but not to embarrass or attack any individual.
If a priest is aware of the relationship, he should not offer communion to parties to a gay marriage but can offer a blessing. This is not punishment but protection, as recieving communion while not in a state of Grace is itself a grave sin.
One can resolve this by discontinuing the gay relationship, confessing and committing to avoid the sin in the future. It is admittedly a lot to ask. All Catholics not in a Catholic marriage between one man and one women are called to fully abstain from sexual activity, not only gay people.
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RayDove12
Guest
Yes I’m aware that the church doesn’t perform same sex marriage. I just wanted to know if the church took any action. Like say preventing the law from passing. Kind of like abortion.
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RayDove12
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The idea of same-sex marriage
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Kindnessmatters
Guest
The church and members of it spoke out against ssme sex marriage. Of course. The laws passed anyway
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JulianN
Guest
The Church does recognize civil marriage, unless one of the parties is Catholic and failed to obtain a dispensation.I thought the church doesn’t recognize civil marriage in general, so why the concern.
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Joe_5859
Guest
This is incorrect. The Church does not distinguish between “civil marriage” and “Church marriage”. The distinction is between “valid marriage” and “invalid marriage.”I thought the church doesn’t recognize civil marriage in general, so why the concern.
So, yes, the Church absolutely does recognize civil marriages—provided they are valid. This is why a divorced and remarried non-Catholic looking to enter the Church would still need an annulment: their first marriage is still presumed valid until an investigation can prove otherwise.
Marriage is either valid or not. And if it is valid and both husband and wife are baptized, then it is also sacramental. It doesn’t matter if the parties are baptized Catholic, Lutheran, Baptism, Methodist, etc.
If one or both parties are not baptized, then it is a valid natural marriage. This is because it is impossible for a person to receive any of the other sacraments until they are baptized.
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KMC
Guest
The Church cannot “prevent” any law from passing, not even abortion. It certainly does teach that to support such laws is contrary to the faith, and to actively support such the implementation of such laws is sinful.Yes I’m aware that the church doesn’t perform same sex marriage. I just wanted to know if the church took any action. Like say preventing the law from passing. Kind of like abortion.
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whichwaytogo47
Guest
Depends on if you’re trying to call it a marriage or not.The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Homosexuality:
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, 141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” 142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved
One of the biggest problems I have with civil marriage laws is that it did away with civil unions and domestic partnerships. Definitions matter, especially when it comes to morality as marriage implies a sexual union between two people whereas a civil union is an agreement to share a life together.
If a civil union allowed two great friends to share benefits and was short of the requirements of a marriage, I think that would be a great distinction not just for same-sex couples, but opposite sex couples as well. There’s a lot more planning involved if there’s not a mechanism for sharing financial resources with one another, not a mechanism for confidentiality within the relationship (aka spousal privilege), and an automatic next of kin when a person’s in the hospital. And of course the tax disadvantages of a union. Those things, I don’t think the church has a problem with - it’s the same-sex sexual attraction and the acting out of that relationship that the church suggests is of grave matter. The church has a problem because the definition of marriage is between a man and a woman as a conjugal union with the intent to have children.
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Polak
Guest
Funny, I used to have this view on gay marriage. I mean, I know the Catholic church is against it, but I would try to explain it to myself by saying, well, the church can still refuse a gay marriage, and a state marriage isn’t a marriage in the eyes of God, so to us Catholics, it isn’t really a marriage. Therefore if gay people get a state marriage, they are not married in reality, it’s a sham, so we don’t have to care. So gay marriage being legal isn’t concerning, because only state marriage is legal, and that isn’t marriage (if you understand what I mean).
After a while though, I felt that this was just me looking for an easy way out not to have to deal with the pressures of society.
After a while though, I felt that this was just me looking for an easy way out not to have to deal with the pressures of society.
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whichwaytogo47
Guest
+1 Agreed. Satan works thru the culture to see for whom he may devour. St Michael is needed more than ever.After a while though, I felt that this was just me looking for an easy way out not to have to deal with the pressures of society.
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KMC
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The problem we all deal with is this: society demands acknowledging untruths as truth. If you teach your child that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman, and your child says that in school, they will be punished! If you call a person with XX chromosomes a “woman” if they “Identify as a man”, you will be punished!
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goout
Guest
The Church isn’t against happiness. The Church isn’t against relationships. Or bonding. Or lifelong commitment. Or lifelong financial support. Or good family ties between family members of all kinds. The Church recognizes the goodness in all of that.
The Church is against deception and disorder. Because those dehumanize people.
The Church is against deception and disorder. Because those dehumanize people.
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