Thoughts on the synod from one gay-ish Catholic

[Joie_de_Vivre]

And is, at least in part, used by revisionists as the reason why marriage should be redefined and also why there is tension with the Church’s view on what marriage is. There has been a de facto redefinition of the term “marriage” by secular culture which is behind the push on the Church to relax its understanding.

I am not sure what your point is, except, perhaps, to express agreement that the problem has originated in secular culture and that has put the Church in a vexing position because its view of marriage is not the same as the modern western view - which is misconceived to begin with.

In any case, I think Prodigal_Son answered my concern and your point is moot.

The core of marriage has been so altered by society that allowing gay marriage only superficially changes it.

Oh, I just meant the two people who are “gay married”. I don’t recommend denying communion to those who merely attend a gay wedding or bake the cake for one. Those things might be sinful, but they are not the sort of clear break with Church teaching that the Church needs to discipline.

If two people of the same sex get a civil marriage at the courthouse for legal benefits and never claim to people that they are married does that still qualify?

 

[Prodigal_Son]

If two people of the same sex get a civil marriage at the courthouse for legal benefits and never claim to people that they are married does that still qualify?

Yes. On my view, that would be like telling Caesar you are not Christian, for legal benefits.

If people in such situations are persecuted or denied privileges because of their refusal to marry, we should by all means support them. But we shouldn’t encourage them to engage in a charade marriage.

(I believe the same thing about “Green Card” marriages).

 

[manualman]

Whatever happened to the idea of “covenant marriages” that were proposed in a few states some years back that were exempt from the ‘easy divorce’ laws and had stringent legal requirements for dissolution?

Perhaps that’s worth another look as the civil counterpart for catholics who understand what marriage actually is?