Vatican - Considerations regarding ... homosexual persons

Zenit ^ | 07/31/2003 | Vatican - CDF

[lrslattery]

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS

TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION

TO UNIONS

BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

INTRODUCTION

1. In recent years, various questions relating to homosexuality have been addressed with some frequency by Pope John Paul II and by the relevant Dicasteries of the Holy See.(1) Homosexuality is a troubling moral and social phenomenon, even in those countries where it does not present significant legal issues. It gives rise to greater concern in those countries that have granted or intend to grant – legal recognition to homosexual unions, which may include the possibility of adopting children. The present Considerations do not contain new doctrinal elements; they seek rather to reiterate the essential points on this question and provide arguments drawn from reason which could be used by Bishops in preparing more specific interventions, appropriate to the different situations throughout the world, aimed at protecting and promoting the dignity of marriage, the foundation of the family, and the stability of society, of which this institution is a constitutive element. The present Considerations are also intended to give direction to Catholic politicians by indicating the approaches to proposed legislation in this area which would be consistent with Christian conscience.(2) Since this question relates to the natural moral law, the arguments that follow are addressed not only to those who believe in Christ, but to all persons committed to promoting and defending the common good of society.

I. THE NATURE OF MARRIAGE

AND ITS INALIENABLE CHARACTERISTICS

2. The Church's teaching on marriage and on the complementarity of the sexes reiterates a truth that is evident to right reason and recognized as such by all the major cultures of the world. Marriage is not just any relationship between human beings. It was established by the Creator with its own nature, essential properties and purpose.(3) No ideology can erase from the human spirit the certainty that marriage exists solely between a man and a woman, who by mutual personal gift, proper and exclusive to themselves, tend toward the communion of their persons. In this way, they mutually perfect each other, in order to cooperate with God in the procreation and upbringing of new human lives.

3. The natural truth about marriage was confirmed by the Revelation contained in the biblical accounts of creation, an expression also of the original human wisdom, in which the voice of nature itself is heard. There are three fundamental elements of the Creator's plan for marriage, as narrated in the Book of Genesis.

Excerpted....See article at http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=39664

[ThomasMore]

Thanks, Tantumergo!

[Salvation]

**The PCA (Presbyterian Church in America, to which I belong) come to mind as an exception to your assertion.**

This is wonderful. What have they done? Written? Put out for all to read?

[Precisian]

I have to weight in here. What, exactly, is "The Libertarian Wing of the Reformed Faith?"

Clearly, you cannot advocate state sanction of polygamy and bestiality. Why not?

[RnMomof7]

No the general position of many of us is that the government has taken control over things that are Gods.

Precision this is Sodom. For all the efforts of Christian conservatives the morality of this nation continues to run down hill.

I favor rendering to Caesar the things of Caesar not the things of God. This secular Godless society can not substitute for the church.

As you know law or not there is polygamy and bestiality and incest and rape and prostitution in-spite of the laws. Unregenerate man has no interest in keeping the laws of God or the moral law in his conscience or the governmental law in sexual matters.

Laws do not control behavior. Regeneration does

I do not favor a completely lawless society, I think we need laws to protect the young and the old and the weak

Laws to keep order in our society .But if we believe for one moment they will impact the general behavior of men we delude ourselves

So I would generally like the government out of the marriage business. That belongs to God. I would like the government out of the schools , educating the children is the business of the parents and the church.

We have to realize the more laws we pass it seems that the rebellious nature of man becomes more evident.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

I have to weight in here. What, exactly, is "The Libertarian Wing of the Reformed Faith?"

The Libertarian Wing of the Reformed Faith holds that there has been undue interference by the state in matters that are clearly the exclusive domain of the Church. Marriage, for example, is a meaningless term outside of the Church. What role should the State have at all in Marriage? Offspring? If the statistics are to be believed, most are concieved outside of marriage.

Clearly, you cannot advocate state sanction of polygamy and bestiality. Why not?

i am sorry, i cannot respond to this question. You've inadvertantly used a double negative, and i'm not quite certain of your meaning. If you restate i will attempt to answer.

[Diamond]

Thanks for your question, Salvation. I'm sorry to take so long to respond; I was on vacation. I give you a link to the Book of Church Order, which no one in his right mind could read and think that a practicing homosexual should ever be ordained to anything in the Church.

Link

Cordially,

[Salvation]

Thanks. That looks like a combination of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the GIRM.