How utterly condescending.
It is what it is…
You’re a Catholic. Your church teaches you that it is morally wrong. I can’t recall the Pope every saying that contraception, or sex outside marriage or any number of scenarios that the church says are immoral only apply to Catholics. Is there a preamble in the Catechism that says ‘Note: The following is only applicable to those of the Catholic faith’? If the Pope is asked about the morality of people having pre-marital sex, does he shrug his shoulders and say: ‘Hey, as Zoltan said, as long as they’re not Catholic who am I to say they are morally wrong’.
True, the pope and the Catechism make no mention of morals pertaining exclusively to Catholics. But who else would be obligated to follow such teaching?
Do you feel obligated to attend Mass because the pope says so?
And this gets to the crux of the matter. It’s an important point and I don’t think you’ve grasped it. If you argue from a religious point of view, then it concern you alone. Most people’s reaction to you saying: ‘As a Catholic, I say it is wrong’, would be to reply: ‘Well, as a Catholic, don’t do it – and keep your nose out of my business’. And also probably say exactly as you said above: ‘There are things that would be wrong for you but OK for me’. And of course, they would ask you to ask yourself the same question as you did earlier:
Yes, this is the crux. What we are actually dealing with in this case is** TRUTH**
The Church’s teaching on homosexuality and marriage is “Catholic” because it is
true, not true because it is Catholic.
Therefore I can rightfully state: “The conclusion that same-sex relationships should not be afforded legal status is based on the** truth,** not just on Catholic teaching.”
Yet, saying that makes this conclusion all the more controversial. If it were based simply on Catholic teaching, you could say, in a pluralistic context,: “You Catholics are entitled to your opinion, but that is not binding on others.”
In reality,
truth is the reason that same-sex relationships should not be afforded legal status. Of course this is offensive to those who deny the existence of
truth, who prefer to live in a world dominated by what Pope Benedict XVI termed a “dictatorship of relativism.”
So here is the crux…If you acknowledge that
truth exists, then we can discuss and even argue about whether or not I, or the Catholic Church, correctly understands the
truth of this matter. But if you deny that there is such a thing as
truth, that is, the
truth, not just my truth and your truth, then the matter becomes merely an exercise of raw political power in terms of who has more votes to impose an agenda, and that is what makes it ultimately tyrannical.
And if you argue from a secular viewpoint, then everyone can see how facile the arguments are (It’s harmful! They’ll get STDs! Look at the alcoholism!). Your concern for the well-being of gay people shines through in every post. It’s touching…
I say keep up the good work.
I detect a bit of sarcasm. But I will not take it that way. It seems like Zoltan, the resident homophobe, really is the only one on this forum who really cares for the well-being of gay people . I suppose it takes the experience of watching an old and very dear friend die an agonizing death due to AIDS…to see the utter stupidity of homosexual relations. I cannot fathom those who support, promote and sympathize with this choice.
