Pastor's Letter

Friday, May 18, 2012

Dear Parishioners,

   In conjunction with the insert in today’s bulletin, entitled “Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers about Marriage and Same-Sex Unions,” I believe it is important to communicate some important messages— intended by the Church in the big picture view—that the secular media simply ignore or categorically reject.

   First and fundamentally, when we hear of individuals and groups who assert that they have decided to redefine what marriage is, the presumption is that they are in a position to do so, in many cases because they hold a particular office in government.  This infers that the original definition was simply decided by people of past generations.  In other words, what began with humans can be altered by humans.  However— and this is really critical in so many areas of Church teaching— we believe that God has revealed a plan to human beings.  Faith certainly aids us in embracing this plan; however, even in the absence of faith a person using reason is capable of arriving at the same understanding and conviction.

   Additionally, at least the way I am hearing the rhetoric being widely circulated these days, it is asserted that to object to the redefinition of marriage is automatically to commit an act of bigotry and discrimination toward people with same-sex attraction.  Here, I feel compelled to quote from a document issued by the conference of U.S. bishops entitled,   Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Orientation: Guidelines for Pastoral Care:

   All people are created in the image and likeness

   of God and thus possess an innate human dignity

   that must be acknowledged and respected.

   In keeping with this conviction, the Church

   teaches that persons with a homosexual inclina-

   tion ‘must be accepted with respect, compassion

   and sensitivity’.  We recognize that these persons

   have been and often continue to be, objects of

   scorn, hatred, and even violence in some sectors

   of our society…’It is deplorable that homosexual

   persons have been and are the object of violent

   malice in speech or in action.  Such treatment

   deserves condemnation from the Church’s

   pastors wherever it occurs...Those who would

   minister in the name of the Church must in no

   way contribute to such injustice.

  Of course, the distinction between inclination and behavior is a key one, and there are many people who do not accept it.  In any case, I believe that Catholic teaching on the meaning of sexuality and the challenge for ALL PERSONS to practice chaste living will be strengthened by our refusing to participate in derogatory comments toward any brother or sister in Christ, notably that under the guise of humor!  We can easily cheapen the gift of our sexuality, and no one is served well in this.  Please pray for all persons, including our sons and daughters who struggle to integrate their feelings with the call of Christ to live virtuously.     Blessings of the Ascension  to you All,  

Fr. Stephen