Until Death Do Us Part

For over a year now there has been a debate over the issue of Same-Sex Marriage.  Some states have legalized same-sex unions, and there is a move now to redefine the meaning of Marriage.  While the desire to commit ones life to another, for a lifetime, is highly regarded and most worthy, it is not the same as what Christians, or our cultural mores, consider 'marriage.'  There is no question that some of those asking the basic questions here are sincere.  Now there are groups who will argue from a human right perspective and the like, which sort of muddies the water and stifles understanding.

We have to begin with an understanding of our human nature.  Christians belief and understand that we are created in the image and likeness of God.  As such we possess the holiness and sanctity of God.  This is why we teach that all life is sacred.  More over we believe that we share in the love of God and find our unity in communion with God and each other.  We are made as 'males' and 'females' in order to compliment each other.  Our gender and sexuality is not an accident but an essential quality of who we are as a human person.  Men and women have a mission to come to know the love of God, and to share that love as humanity can, as men and women.

God gave us to one another to be 'fruitful and to multiply.'  Our sexuality is a gift freely given to be nurtured and nourished, and returned to the Lord.  Here we have to think beyond genitals.  In our society today this is very difficult.  So men and women, who compliment each other, devote themselves to the other (or to God in the matter of celibacy) and live this loving relationship to and with each other, imitating the love of God.  Such a relationship reveals God's love, and is a witness to the larger community in which men and women live.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, states that "Marriage is a lifelong partnership of mutual and exclusive fidelity between a man and woman ordered by its very nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children."  The Church goes on to teach that the Sacrament of Marriage is a life-long and mutual relationship that is the total gift of self to the other.  Teachings on Marriage and Family life talk about this ongoing self giving which is part of the marital unity as an imitation of divine love.

In all of this, this matter is a bit more complicated that simply changing wording or definition.  Some would accuse the Church of hating a particular group of people or another.  But our Christian understanding of Marriage is that this is a unity, a Sacrament, between a baptized man and woman.  This means for us that this union is a visible sign of the love of God, as revealed to us in the Paschal Mystery.  Marriage has to be an imitation of Christ.

We will continue to argue about this.  The Church's stand is that this understanding is immutable and not negotiable.  We pray that there can be understanding here and the truth of the matter will continue to be known and shared.