Cardinal George Issues Letter Urging Catholics to Oppose Gay Marriage Bill

Chicago Tribune ^ | 1/1/13 | Manya A. Brachear

[marshmallow]

Chicago's Cardinal Francis George and his six auxiliary bishops officially entered Illinois' gay marriage fray Tuesday, issuing a letter that urges parishioners to contact state legislators and voice opposition to a legalization bill that could face a vote this week.

"Civil laws that establish 'same-sex marriage' create a legal fiction," George and the bishops wrote in a letter sent to priests Tuesday. "The state has no power to create something that nature itself tells us is impossible."

State Sen. Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago, said she plans to introduce the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act to legalize same-sex marriage after the Senate reconvenes Wednesday. She has said she is confident the legislation would pass the current General Assembly. A new set of lawmakers will be sworn in Jan. 9.

While traditional marriage advocates have cited Scripture as the basis of their objections to civil unions and gay marriage, Roman Catholic leaders have been highlighting their belief that same-sex relationships violate natural law.

According to the tradition of natural law, every human being must seek a fundamental "good" that corresponds to the natural order to flourish. Natural-law proponents say heterosexual intercourse between a married man and a woman serves two intertwined good purposes: to procreate and to express a deep, abiding love. For that reason, they say, homosexual relationships are not equal to heterosexual ones.

Some people of faith, including Catholic politicians, disagree. In an open letter to legislators last month, more than 250 Illinois clergy, mostly Protestant and Jewish, endorsed the gay marriage bill. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, both Catholics, also have endorsed the measure.

In George's letter, he writes that despite the church's objections to gay marriage, priests and parishioners should not alienate members of the gay community, especially relatives. He said.....

[livius]

Roman Catholic leaders have been highlighting their belief that same-sex relationships violate natural law.

Natural law is also the basis for the Constitution. That's one reason Obama hates it.

Aside from that, I thought it was good that Cdl George was firm on this, but obviously was urging people not to treat "gays" in their families or elsewhere as responsible for this. I have actually known gay people who were initially opposed to the idea, but because of political pressure have accepted it. I don't think there was any huge popular demand even among gays for this to happen.

This is a political thing and gays are being manipulated by the progressive agenda so that they will be the opening wedge in destroying the only two things that can stand up to the State: the Church and the family.