OK - where is it a bad thing to say: "“If it’s somebody in my life that I care for, of course I would,”"
Or: "“But again, as I said, I’m a member of the Catholic faith that teaches, for example, that divorce is wrong,” Rubio said. “But if someone gets divorced, I’m not going to stop loving them or having them a part of our lives.”
The man was obviously saying that just because you disagree with someone you care for, you don't stop loving and supporting them because of it. Perhaps some can turn that truism into a bad thing, but they have to do some "holier than thou" twisting to try to make it fly.
It seems that many, who call themselves Christians, see a few key words and then lose the ability to put things into context. Where one may see a beloved family member who comes out of the closet, they will see the naked-ass, tattooed, Mohawk-sporting activist in a homosexual parade. I detest Gayhomosexual marriage, but if my son or daughter happened to be in that status, I would not shun them but love them and try to set a Christian example and espouse morality rather than condemn them. Can't be useful to someone who is "dead" to you.
As usual, will welcome your viewpoints - you are not the target of some of my comments and have never said anything to make me consider you one of those I consider to be the "holier-than-thou" folks. I understand that a big part of your point of view is from your religious beliefs and even though I disagree with some of the canons/tenets, etc., I don't think it precludes civil discussion/debate. The "name calling" was more directed at those who had to go over the edge to make their point - one went so far as to say, "So if Rubio’s close family member decided to marry his daughter or his dog, Rubio would attend so as not to hurt his family member’s feelings. Okay." - which was a deliberate stretch to add the lie to the question.
At any rate, always good to hear what you have to say - I respect the way you have dealt with such as I seem to many who don't like my point of view.
I think there is a bit of cultural misunderstanding going on here.
I have to assume trebb is not Catholic and don-o is.
It is a well understood tenet of the Catholic faith that attending a wedding is showing theological approval of same. Therefore, Catholics are officially forbidden to attend the wedding of another Catholic who has divorced and remarried. That means even close friends and family members.
I’m sure you can understand the friction generated by such a rule, but it is roughly equivalent to inviting an Orthodox Jew to eat pork.
If I attend a "gay marriage" what does my presence signify? And yes, it IS related to my beliefs. If it is simply to celebrate two people who love each other and their wish to share their excitement and joy, well that is one thing. Parties are fun, if well done.
And, if that is all marriage is, one is hard pressed to make a coherent argument against "gay marriage." At least, I am.
But, Christian marriage is more, much more than a party. Regardless of the tradition that Christians may embrace, all must accept that a marriage ceremony is more than a party. And my presence at one or the other ceremony indicates my understanding, approval and support of what is actually going on.
My disapproval of "gay marriage" goes beyond my revulsion of the physical acts the two are telling me they engage in.
From Chapter 5 of Paul's letter the the Ephesians
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Marriage shows us something about the Church. And a man AND a woman are the vital elements of that showing. That simply cannot be done with two men or two women.
Maybe he should have said that he wouldn’t attend the religious ceremony - (do many gay people even have religious ceremonies?) - but he’d attend the reception.
Sort of like the Pizza people, who said that anyone could come into their restaurant and be served, but that they wouldn’t cater a gay wedding....(even though they don’t cater weddings in the first place...)
Jeez. I wouldn’t vote for Rubio for president; but the way people are being forced to jump through these hypothetical hoops is ridiculous, and stupidly distracting.
-JT