Should the catholic church not offer civil marriage?

[JamesG]

Just wondering if this would help protect the church.

It that not the root cause of this issue? Perhaps we should give to Caesar what is Caesars

 

[Della]

Protect the Church from what? Besides, every minister no matter what denomination or religion s/he represents is a lawful representative of the government where marriages are concerned.

Here’s a good article on the topic.

 

[JamesG]

Della:

Protect the Church from what? Besides, every minister no matter what denomination or religion s/he represents is a lawful representative of the government where marriages are concerned.

Here’s a good article on the topic.

It will protect the church from gay activits revoking the churches charitable status.

This is infact already happening.

 

[Della]

JamesG:

It will protect the church from gay activits revoking the churches charitable status.

This is infact already happening.

I doubt it would make much different considering our bishops, priests, and deacons already have the authority to declare two people legally married as a part of the wedding rite. It will take counter legislation, perhaps a constitutional amendment, to stop this attack by homosexuals not the Church changing its teachings on the sacrament of marriage. Otherwise, the Church has always been counter-cultural when the culture has defied or strayed from God’s law and suffered for it. Jesus promised us the world would persecute us, so we shouldn’t be surprised or even alarmed when it happens since life with Christ and his truth is worth it all.

 

[asquared]

I did not vote becaue I do not understand the questions. Are you speaking of America? I was not aware that the Catholic Church in America “offers civil marriage contracts.” Are you asking if Catholic priests should continue to witness sacramental marriages and sign the civil marriage licenses of those couples, and attest to the legality of the marriage according to the laws of the state?

I am unable to come up with a reason why the answer would be “no.” If they stopped compying with civil law regarding marriages then in effect they are denying marriage to CAtholic couples, and denying them an the protections of the law for couple and their children. Since those are precisely the protections under attack by “gay marriage” advocates, I am unable to determine why the Church should cooperate in such an endeavor.

 

[JamesG]

asquared:

I did not vote becaue I do not understand the questions. Are you speaking of America? I was not aware that the Catholic Church in America “offers civil marriage contracts.” Are you asking if Catholic priests should continue to witness sacramental marriages and sign the civil marriage licenses of those couples, and attest to the legality of the marriage according to the laws of the state?

yes this is what I am asking. I see no reason why the church should. when they do that they are offering a public service.

I am unable to come up with a reason why the answer would be “no.” If they stopped compying with civil law regarding marriages then in effect they are denying marriage to CAtholic couples, and denying them an the protections of the law for couple and their children.

I’m a catholic that lives in canada and I can tell you that civil marriage now means nothing to me. All I care about is the scarment of marriage.

The law doesn’ t offer much more in the way of protection. After some time a couple will become common law. So there is no need for the church to offer a public service that is also offered to gays. The church shouldn’t offer what it doesn’t support.

In mexico, for example, you can’t go to a church to get a civil marriage contract. The sacrament of marriage is very different then the civil contract of marriage. This is the way it should be. When people get married in a church it will be for the sacrament of holy matrimony only. And that will put focus on what a catholic marriage is all about.

 

[JamesG]

Della:

I doubt it would make much different considering our bishops, priests, and deacons already have the authority to declare two people legally married as a part of the wedding rite. It will take counter legislation, perhaps a constitutional amendment, to stop this attack by homosexuals not the Church changing its teachings on the sacrament of marriage. Otherwise, the Church has always been counter-cultural when the culture has defied or strayed from God’s law and suffered for it. Jesus promised us the world would persecute us, so we shouldn’t be surprised or even alarmed when it happens since life with Christ and his truth is worth it all.

Why would the church have to change its teachings on the sacrament of marriage? I see no reason why the sacrament would be worth less if the church rejected civil marriage contracts.

In my country, Canada, the homosexuals are all ready attacking the catholics through the fact that the church offers a public service.

 

[Della]

Maybe we’re talking past each other. The only marriages the Church recognizes and indeed can ever recognize is between a man and a woman free to marry. I don’t understand how the services of the Church being open to everyone should mean that it has to change its teachings to suit homosexuals who want to marry in the Church. I guess I just don’t understand your dilemma.

 

[JamesG]

Della:

Maybe we’re talking past each other. The only marriages the Church recognizes and indeed can ever recognize is between a man and a woman free to marry. I don’t understand how the services of the Church being open to everyone should mean that it has to change its teachings to suit homosexuals who want to marry in the Church. I guess I just don’t understand your dilemma.

let me tell you about something that happened to a catholic school where I live (toronto).

The school would not allow two gay students to attend the prom. The story broke the news and the school was forced to let them go the prom. The gay activists forced the school to capitulate by having the courts threaten the school with the removal of their charitable status.

This has also started to happen with parishes that don’t allow gays to get married under the roof of a church. The building is considered a public building since it is a charitable organization and doesn’t pay tax. The gays know this and they use it to their advantage. That is main reason why the gays here are so happy that Canada has approved same sex marriage. They can use it to now justify their attacks on the Catholic Church. The now has a strong case to say to the church, you either capitulate or open your doors to homosexual marriage or we shut you down.

This is why I think it is so very dangerous for the church to continue to hand out civil marriage contracts.

What is even more disturbing is when the contract contains new wording. Imagine having to get married and see the taint of homosexual evil on your civil marriage contract when you sign it.

My main point is this. The civil marriage contract has no basis in the churches teachings. Only the sacrament of holy matrimony does. In fact, the contract itself is now (in Canada) worded in twisted way.