Should Catholics support civil unions?

[bruisedreed]

I am a Catholic but I was never persuaded by arguments against the institution of unions recognized by law for same sex couples. Nor have I been convinced I am required to hold to this as a Catholic on pain of sin.

On the other hand, the sacrament of marriage could not be offered to same sex couples on the ontological level; even should a priest, for a same sex couple, say the same words in the same liturgical action as he would for a man and woman, it would have no sacramental effect. The sacramental limits of the act to a man and woman is not some mere discipline of the Church.

But regarding legislation for same sex civil unions the arguments opposed to this seem contingent and imprudent to me, rather than based on some philosophical or theological necessity.

 

[childinthefaith]

pair of elderly priests who were best friends. They could not afford to live on their own and pooled their savings and lived in the same house. They were able to reduce their financial burdens and attain certain legal protections by entering into this type of civil union.

I think cases like this are rare for ppl desiring a “civil union.” Perhaps the law should allow for financial partnerships between two adults who would otherwise face financial hardships. But “union” IMO crosses into marriage territory and is therefore not ok…

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’d say they should.

I don’t support civil unions because, putting on my lawyer hat from a legal standpoint, there’s too much legal uncertainty and inefficiency to create a whole second body of law dealing only with civil unions.

 

[Sarcelle]

How about single parents?

Are there any laws for the protection of their children?

 

[Thorolfr]

whichwaytogo47:

I’d say they should.

I don’t support civil unions because, putting on my lawyer hat from a legal standpoint, there’s too much legal uncertainty and inefficiency to create a whole second body of law dealing only with civil unions.

Which is probably one reason why most gay people aren’t interested in “civil unions” whatever those are. They’re probably equivalent to the “domestic partnership” laws that some states created. Better from the standpoint of same-sex couples to have a civil marriage which is governed by all the laws pertaining to civil marriage that apply to married straight couples. No need that way to create a whole second body of law.

 

[Thorolfr]

For some gay couples I know, their children are the biological children of one of the two and were conceived in the usual way because the parent was previously in a heterosexual marriage.