Clerks and Judges and the Obegefall Decision

[Yeoman]

I’m not sure if this is the right forum, so if it isn’t, I hope the moderator will move it to the correct one.

Here are my questions.

With five of the nine Supreme Court Justices deciding to rewrite the law on the definition of marriage to suit their social concepts, what are the moral obligations of Catholics, and other Christians, who do not hold such a marriage to be valid. I.e., they hold the view that same gender marriages are invalid.

More specifically, is it scandalous for a Catholic Clerk to cooperate with evil, to an extent, and issue a marriage license to a same gender couple? Or is the fact that its merely ministerial mean that they can so cooperate.

Clerks have been issuing marriage licenses to the divorced, etc. is this any different?

Catholic judges have been performing civil marriages, which I’ve never really understood. Accepting that, however, what about when they’re asked to perform a same gender marriage. Morally illicit for them to do so?

Same question about divorced people who seek to have a civil marriage.

I.e, what are these people to do? Or what can they do?

 

[BlueKnight]

First I would call for individual repentance and conversion.

Then I would pray and fast for America on my knees. If I was a catholic politician I would call for 40 days of prayers and fasting for America.

Then I would take it to the town square and be ready to defend myself in the courts, with understanding that prison may befall me.

Remember that over the Supreme Court is he Creator of all who will have the final say.

I think God will act in America in a startling way and there will be revival in America.

I would strategically place myself in Gods plan by asking him for direction and begging for mercy on my knees in prayer and fasting for Amercia.

This really isn’t a war for a law to be passes or not passed or even for the Constitution as it was interpreted by our Christian forefathers.

This is a war for souls. First for our own then for our brothers and sisters and nation.

For me and my house we serve he Lord. And my weapons are spiritual.

I invite you to join me in a 54 day novena for the conversion of Americans and the victory of the Sacred heart of Jesus and the Immaculate heart of Mary in America. I ask only that it be done on the knees and at least once a week in adoration.

I will start this next Monday.

Bk

 

[Murmurs]

I’m not sure if this is the right forum, so if it isn’t, I hope the moderator will move it to the correct one.

Here are my questions.

With five of the nine Supreme Court Justices deciding to rewrite the law on the definition of marriage to suit their social concepts, what are the moral obligations of Catholics, and other Christians, who do not hold such a marriage to be valid. I.e., they hold the view that same gender marriages are invalid.

More specifically, is it scandalous for a Catholic Clerk to cooperate with evil, to an extent, and issue a marriage license to a same gender couple? Or is the fact that its merely ministerial mean that they can so cooperate.

Clerks have been issuing marriage licenses to the divorced, etc. is this any different?

Catholic judges have been performing civil marriages, which I’ve never really understood. Accepting that, however, what about when they’re asked to perform a same gender marriage. Morally illicit for them to do so?

Same question about divorced people who seek to have a civil marriage.

I.e, what are these people to do? Or what can they do?

I think you have to separate the Catholic identity of the individual judge (or whomever is holding a public office) - and their status as one holding a public office. Their public duty comes first, and if they can’t do it in all good conscience (something a few people I imagine will make fun of but probably others even some gay marriage supporters would actually respect), they should resign. Free exercise of religion doesn’t mean that when doing something that the state is paying you to do, you get to impose your own beliefs on other citizens. So a number of your questions can be answered with a - they should do their job - type answer.

Whether or not it constitutes a scandal, and what the Church considers to be their moral obligations, I am not sure (it might be to resign? but I don’t think even the Catholic Church would make such a stipulation that it would endanger an individual’s livelihood!). Maybe some states will make accommodation that those who have objections will be able to find another judge to take their place for proceedings (though the onus ought to be on the objector not the state I think).

Generally speaking we should not co-operate with evil (it goes without saying!!) but I think it is probably down to individual conscience at what point you start to count as “co-operating” in this instance. (There are for instance a range of views among Catholics as to whether or not it’s right to even attend the wedding of a divorced person, so I can’t begin to imagine the arguments that this will produce!!)