Civil marriage

At our annual Leaven Conference on Catholic social justice issues in 2010, Bishop Murphy of Rockville gave the keynote address on the topic of civil recognition for homosexual unions.  The main point that he made was the claim that state recognition of a spousal relationship and formation of a household unit is a privilege granted to some in society, not a right granted to all by virtue of their humanity. Many who are married in the eyes of the state are not wed in the eyes of the Church, and his point seemed to be that the truth we know through the Gospel must be imposed upon the civil society, and that opening permanent legal recognition to homosexual households endangers sacramental unions.

Well, the Christian NORM is chastity, whether one has entered into a marriage or not.  In most cases, that means celibacy.  We used to preach that idea more forcefully and effectively through the example of the Holy Family and devotions to St. Joseph, the chaste spouse of a Virgin Mother.  We used to preach this ideal with the full recognition that most humans cannot attain that ideal without gifts of grace.  Many sins loathsome to Almighty God no longer carry a civil or criminal penalty.  We don't throw kids into prison for experimenting with premarital sex, impose fines or jail time on adulterers, nor do we imprison people for homosexual or heterosexual acts of sodomy.

I believe my Shepherd Frank invited him to deliver this keynote because of the cases before the Florida Supreme Court at the time regarding the statewide ban barring homosexuals from adopting children, which was overturned in September 2010.  In other states and in the District of Columbia, removing the bar to adoption by homosexuals led the bishops of those areas to withdraw from offering adoption services altogether.  Our diocese still refers to the Foundations of Life adoption program through Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg. While our Catholic services may now be ineligible for state funds, I am happy to see that our bishops here reacted with prudence rather than hysteria and that we continue to offer services.



Our Church has rules about who is eligible for the sacramental blessings of matrimony and who is not.  For example, in my own case I sought to marry an unbaptized man and so formally petitioned my bishop for a dispensation to do so.  Those whose marriages have faltered are barred from contracting another union.  The Gospel does not abandon sinners, but gently leads them out of sin and into righteousness.  We are all sinful in one way or another, and the fact that I do not share your particular sin is no cause for me to boast.

If a civil marriage between homosexuals brings those involved closer to God rather than farther away, it is no business of ours.