This morning when I woke up, I was thinking about the outcome of SB5 in Texas (did you know they called for a second special session?) and the huge impact the Supreme Court decision on DOMA and Prop 8 could have. When I got online, there were all sorts of things people were saying about DOMA and Prop 8: some people were calling this a historic moment, and others sounded defeated. But in fact, it is not the day for either.
The court basically dismissed Prop 8 (which CA voters voted for twice) and we’ll see what happens with this. The court is now on the books as ignoring the voices of millions of CA voters (7 million, I heard).
The significant decision on DOMA confused a lot of people, myself included. Was gay “marriage” legalized? What are the repercussions? What happened (as far as I’ve read) is that the Supreme Court decided to basically leave it up to the states. They didn’t re-define marriage across the board, contrary to what many people are saying. States that do not recognize same-sex “marriage” are not going to be forced to recognize even the legally accepted unions of other states. The parts of DOMA that were struck down were “limited to only those marriages already recognized in the states that allow same-sex marriage”.
There is much more to learn about what this means for America, and I’m sure more information will become available in the coming days.
These rulings are not a reason to have a pity party or a hernia. While this is not encouraging news, it’s actually not the end of the world. I’ve been thinking about this all day and trying to put my thoughts into words. This is my attempt.
Gay “marriage” is not an issue that is going to be swept under the rug soon, or something that we’ll stop talking about. So I wanted to share more of my own viewpoint on this issue with you so you can see where I’m coming from.
As a Catholic, I don’t ever want to see gay “marriage” recognized as valid. It’s not because I hate gay people, or because I’m afraid of them. It’s because the Church recognizes the universal call to holiness, and urges all people to live a life ordered to our ultimate goal of heaven. This means that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, are called to comply with the demands of a chaste life.
Living a chaste life doesn’t mean you’re a prude. This is what it means:
As the Church says in the Catechism:
“Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.” (2347)
“This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.” (2358)
“[T]radition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.” (2357)
As a Catholic, I have a duty to support and uphold the teachings of the Church.
As someone who views marriage between men and women as a sacred institution, today is not the end, but it is a moment of clarification for me to sit down and really think about this. The movement to support traditional marriage is growing exponentially, and I am proud to support it.
And so, my friends, this is why I don’t want gay “marriage” legalized. I do hope that this opens the door for people to discuss these issues honestly and openly. I welcome any discussion you may be interested in.
A Drop in the Ocean 