Comments on: Marriage: the core of every civilization

By: Sean Bateman

Sean Bateman — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:23:43 +0000

Dear Bishop –
I commend and applaud you for you passionate pleas to keep Marriage as defined within guidelines in line with \Religion\ as you interpret it: but heres a few points to ponder: The Historical facts of marriage between a man and a woman didnt have much to do with Love actually: most were pre-arranged Marriages to maintain financial control of family fortunes: Likewise: Women were considered a mans property and even by Biblical standards the wife – (according to \God’s Law\ in the old testament ) the woman could or should be sold into slavery…if a man neeeds the money : chk Leviticus in the Bible: – the bible states several abominations inlcuding : working on the Sabbath, eating shellfish – and — Adultery…but you never speak of these ? why is that ?? you seem so focused on the issue of whether or not a certain group of adults will get the same civil rights as the rest of NYC.
Think of all the Gay Christians you further isolate and alienate…the exact oppsite of what Jesus taught…
A few questions: for you personally – where is your Outrage over the 50 % divorce rate amongst heterosexuals…?? Teen prgenancy ?? Drug Addiction and drunkenness ?? Why are you not taking your time to educate heterosexuals on how to stay married instead of sitting by and allowing them to get divorced again and again ??
Or why are you not praying or sermoning to bring tolerance and kindness and love to your flock – ??you write how you prayed over the Euchrist and feel the body of Christ – In deep sincerity let me ask you -what would Christ say to you if he were alive today ?? what would Christ do ?? Christ would teach love – heal the sick and adminsiter to the poor – not get involved in politics…

The body of Christ is a body of Love – a heart of unending Love and compassion….
and the Mind of \Divine Intelligence…\ can you tell me you are all those things…
???

Sean Bateamn
manhattan
NYC

By: Jim Canter

Jim Canter — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:42:58 +0000

I read that you were, \…deeply disappointed and troubled.\ about New York’s recent passage of Gay Marriage. You should be deeply disappointed and troubled about your church!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:25:19 +0000

If you deny equality from someone,can you truly love and respect that person at the same time?

And how easy it is to forget the history of your church.It wasn’t until the Counter-Reformation in 1563 that the Council of Trent decided that a Roman Catholic marriage would be recognized only if the marriage ceremony was officiated by a priest with two witnesses.Before then,the prescence of a priest was not thought neccessary.If marriage is as important as you say,why did it take the church so long to recognize this fact?

Also,if a homosexual marriage takes place under the eyes of the state,and not in a church under the eyes of god;what right do you have to complain? The marriage would be civil,not religious would it not? Why force religion into state matters?

Even Jerry Falwell came to understand that civil equality is a right.Saying,”I may not agree with the lifestyle, but that has nothing to do with the civil rights of that part of our constituency…equal access to housing,civil marriage,and employment are basic rights, not special rights…civil rights for all Americans,black,white,red,yellow,the rich, poor,young,old,gay,straight,et cetera,is not a liberal or conservative value.It’s an American value that I would think that we pretty much all agree on.”

By: Krystof Michal

Krystof Michal — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:49:45 +0000

Jesus, as all His true followers, love everybody.
Jesus and His followers hate sin.
Shall we find what Word of Merciful God is?
The Word of God clearly spells out what abomination is?
Jesus, the Word of God did not come to change anything – He came to fulfill…
One can promote through media and justice system any unmoral behavior ;
when big money talks and corrupts, there is a climate for acceptance of sin.
In these difficult times need a moral compass -
archbishop offers it in a very eloquent way.
There is always appropriate time to turn to God’s Mercy.

BTW There are no divorces in One, Holy and Apostolic Church. In that Church, there will not be marriages of people of the same gender, either.

By: John Mattras

John Mattras — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:55:24 +0000

WHY DOES THE CHURCH EXPEND NO RESOURCES TO OUTLAW DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE? I AM A LIFE-LONG CATHOLIC AND NEVER RECALL VISCIOUS ATTACKS BEING WAGED AGAINST MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR DIVORCEES AND ADULTERERS. NOR HAVE I EVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT IS OK TO DENY MARRIAGE TO GAYS BUT NOT DIVORCEES AND ADULTERERS. SO, YES, THE CARDINAL IS APPLYING A DOUBLE STANDARD. IT IS BLATANT HYPOCRICY!

By: Chris Truth

Chris Truth — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:10:15 +0000

I saw a great interview with the Lawyer who represented Gays in the Prop 8 case (the counter was Tony Perkins). Anyway – what this lawyer said was awesome and true.

if you can get someone who is anti-gay marriage on a witness stand, where they can’t just say what they want -but are held to tell the truth, and back up their statements with truth… their case falls apart so fast…

Youtube that… and watch.

By: Chris Truth

Chris Truth — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:04:00 +0000

I’m admittedly a little late to this “party” (post) – but my feelings are the same. Always have been.

If you apply a rule fairly to all, then it is fair. We all are under the rule not to steal. If you apply your rule unfairly – then it’s just wrong.

While I appreciate your believe you ‘welcome gays’… you don’t really do that, sir. You ask those gays to accept they are sinners… That’s not very welcoming.

Today a church in Boston was going to have an “All is Welcome” mass – but the Diocese in Boston shut it down. That’s not very welcoming.

By: Jim Henley

Jim Henley — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:35:39 +0000

Many, MANY commentators are complaining that Apb. Dolan is criticizing homosexuals while giving a free pass to adulterers and divorcees. At least one person stated that the Catholic Church tolerates divorce and remarriage.

Both are not merely false claims, but *laughably* false claims. The Catholic Church in general, and Apb. Dolan in particular, both hold that so-called divorce is as much a debasement of marriage as so-called same-sex unions. Adultery is a mortal sin.

There are good arguments to be made in favor of gay marriage. None of them are being made here.

By: Sam Schmitt

Sam Schmitt — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 06:23:38 +0000

Pat et al,

If nature has nothing to do with marriage, and marriage is simply a human construct, then how can we ever really have any definition of marriage at all? Who says it has to be between only two people? Why not between people who are related (mother / son; two blood brothers, etc)? Why not between a human being and a non-human? Why not – since marriage his not connected with nature, but can be any kind of relationship we want it to be?

But if you think about it a little, marriage isn’t simply about people loving each other or “committed relationships,” it’s about the fact that only two people of the opposite sex can produce a baby. Notice: two people; opposite sex. THAT’S what the good Abp. means when he says it’s rooted in nature. (Even Elton John and partner needed to buy some eggs and then hire a woman to give birth to “their” new baby. How is the child truly the product of a “loving relationship”?) All of which suggests that nature intends a man and a woman in a permanent (life-long) relationship to raise a child. And this, incidentally, is why the state is interested in marriage. It couldn’t care less if two people love each other and want to live together but can’t produce a child. Go ahead and do that. But extending the same legal protection to such relationships has little to do with the interests of the state and a lot to do with normalizing gay relationships in the minds of citizens.

The bottom line is that unless you root your understanding of marriage in nature, there’s no real logical reason not to extend the definition of marriage to any number of “relationships” as a given individual wants to define it. There’s no reason one can make the same arguments many here are making about “love” (like Mr. Joe Chartier) and extend them to the kinds of relationships listed above.

By: Tony Konrath

Tony Konrath — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:08:31 +0000

Watching what people do rather than what they say is important.

The Catholic church SAYS that it is welcoming and caring. What it actually DOES is very different.