Cardinal George Says Same-Sex Marriage Is 'Against The Common Good', Do You Agree?
Cardinal Francis George releases a strongly worded letter as the State Legislature moves closer to a vote on gay marriage.
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As gay marriage moves closer to a vote in the Illinois General Assembly, Cardinal Francis George has released a letter attacking the notion of same- sex marriage itself and urging Catholics to voice their objections.
A full floor vote was delayed Thursday, though an Illinois Senate Executive Committee did approve it, according to the Huffington Post. Despite the delay, proponents say the bill could still ultimately be approved.
Illinois would become the 10th state in the country to allow same-sex marriages.
In his letter, George argued that because same-sex marriages cannot be consummated and are not undertaken for the purpose of conceiving children that government, "has no power to create something that nature itself tells us is impossible."
He qualifies his argument by writing that the Catholic church offers support for the gay community through various ministries. George argues that opposition to the potential law is crucial because of societal acceptance same-sex marriage would gain if it is viewed as legal.
"Human dignity and human rights are then reduced to the whims of political majorities," he writes.
Supporters of same-sex marriage have long argued that legalization is a human rights issue and the restriction of marriage rights to heterosexual couples is its own form of discrimination.
The law would force no religious institutions to perform same-sex marriages.
Gay marriage has been gaining support nationally at a comparatively rapid rate in recent years. Recent polls have consistently indicated that over half of Americans support it. That number spikes to 72 percent of Americans between 18 and 29 years of age, according to a CBS News poll.
Brian
7:42 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
This is such an absurd stance. So many heterosexual couples marry these days with no intent to have children. That is a stance to take only to hide your bigotry behind and nothing else. The clergy has picked this issue as one of the only "awful" things and has worked tirelessly to ensure the Church decides who gets to be defined as married under legal definitions. If it's so wrong to marry those who have "sinned," why was I able to marry my wife as a non believer? Believing that God is a scam would be a pretty big sin as well.
I don't in any way think a church should be forced to marry a same sex couple under their roof if they so choose not to, but to say those couples don't deserve the same rights is asinine. Why instead doesn't the church argue that the legal definition (in terms of state to state recognition, benefits, etc) of marriage be changed to a civil union and marriage will only be a figure of speech? It would certainly make them seem much less spiteful and repressive.
This law would mean nothing other than two people who spend their lives together get the same benefits we do and get to call themselves a married couple to show the love they have. The catholic church doesn't run our country and the Pope isn't the president. Banning people from equal governmental rights is about as unamerican as it gets and is pretty high up on the "hate chart."
Korrina Grom
1:41 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013
Here's a comment we received on the Libertyville Patch Facebook page: "I think he's incredibly obtuse. The state is separate from church, the state has the power to grant marriage to individuals to perform. Hence his opinion doesn't matter. It's a state issue."
Sean G.
6:14 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The essence of marriage will still remain steadfast, as will the essence of homosexual marriage even after man "approves" of it.