Pope urges authorities to stop gay marriages

Toronto Star ^ | February 28, 2004 | None given

[Aliska]

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope John Paul II again stressed his opposition to gay unions today, saying they degrade the true sense of marriage between man and woman. He urged Catholic and non-Catholic authorities alike to stop approving them.

It was the second time in a week that John Paul has raised the issue, which is making headlines in the United States as a national debate arises from a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that prohibiting same-sex marriages violated that state's constitution.

In his comments, John Paul said a family based on marriage between man and woman was a pillar of society that justly had rights and duties specific to it.

He urged all public authorities, but particularly Catholic ones, to stop approving such laws, saying they shouldn't contribute to legislation that is contrary to "the primary and essential norms that regulate moral life."

Authorities must instead protect laws that favour the family ``knowing that they promote a social development that is just, stable and promising."

The Pope made the comments as the new ambassador of Argentina to the Holy See presented his credentials. In 2002, the city of Buenos Aires passed a law extending certain civil rights like health insurance and pension rights to same-sex couples — the first Latin American city to adopt such a measure.

Last year, the Vatican launched a global campaign against gay marriages in a bid to stem the tide of widening legal recognition for same-sex unions in Europe, North America and elsewhere.

The issue has been in the headlines in America in recent weeks as gay couples rush to get marriage licences in cities like San Francisco and New Paltz, N.Y., where there has been a legalization push following the Massachusetts court decision. At the same time, the debate has spilled into the U.S. presidential race with President Bush saying this week that he would back a federal constitutional amendment to bar such marriages.

[Aliska]

Mod may move to religion forum. I posted it on the front page because it is news.

[Aliska]

ping. Could you please ping your people?

[stopem]

What I really dont understand is why it is taking this long to stop these people from marrying.

I guess it is because the justices are very unjust Dim's.
Why are some of the republicans against an amendment?

This is so frustrating to know that this is all against the law yet they are getting away with it and the states justices will allow them to continue.

There must be something that President can do. Short of the amendment and put an immediate stop to this.

[livius]

Well, at least he said something, although I'd like to hear something a little more forceful. And I'd sure like to hear some ringing declarations from our own bishops (but then, they're probably too busy planning their own "weddings").

Also, I'd like to know when health insurance and pension benefits became "civil rights."

[NYer]

The official position of the Catholic Church on Gay Unions is clearly spelled out here:

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[Aliska]

What I really dont understand is why it is taking this long to stop these people from marrying.

I'm afraid I do. It has become a political football and to hell with the rule of law. Besides, the gays and their supporters probably rationalize their civil disobedience which is beginning to tranlate to "you don't have to obey laws you and not the courts deem unjust".

[NYer]

This is so frustrating to know that this is all against the law yet they are getting away with it and the states justices will allow them to continue.

It's called - ANARCHY!

When the law of the land, be it at the local, county, state or federal level is ignored in order to promote a personal agenda, laws become worthless.

[Aliska]

I'd like to hear something a little more forceful.

Long overdue.

[FBD]

[NYer]

Didn't get you on in time. Ping!

[10mm]

Pope urges authorities to stop gay marriages

Enough talk already. Let the excommunications begin!

[Victoria Delsoul]

In his comments, John Paul said a family based on marriage between man and woman was a pillar of society that justly had rights and duties specific to it.

Bump!

[padfoot_lover]

Thanks for the ping! Every time I hear one of these stories lately, ANARCHY has been the first word that pops into my mind.

[Luetzow]

Who in hell is the Bishop of Rome to attempt to dictate policy to American Legislators?..on this, or any other matter!..Not all Americans are of the Roman Persuasion, & regardless of their position on matters of gay rights (which, by the way, are exactly the same under the US Constitution as for any other US Citizen, & should not need special legislation to assure them), some of us non-Papists resent strongly Papal interference in American Legislative Matters..Such Papal Arrogance ignited Bismarck's "Kulturkampf" in the Second German Reich, & may eventually produce a backlash here..Let the Bishop of Rome tend his flock of errant priests, & keep his nose out of American Civil matters!

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping.

I hope Catholics take note, and any that continue to promote "gay" marriage or "gay" activity are not Catholics. Such people should start their own pro-homo organization and quit trying to infiltrate and pollute the Catholic church.

Let me know if anyone wants on or off this ping list.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Now now. He did say especially Roman Catholic people. And the Mayor of San Francisco is....Roman Catholic btw. Mayor Gavin Newsom is RCC.

And he's not listening. He says he's going to keep doing it until the courts say he can't even though Prop. 22 says states marriage is 1 woman and 1 man only. Even though it's not legal, he's going to continue until the courts say he can't.

I fear for our republic.

[Luetzow]

"I fear for our Republic"...Have no fear..we have no Republic..The Republic has been dead since it was killed under Woodrow Wilson!...What we have is in fact "Democracy".The Voice of the People..in short, the Will of the Mob...& that Will is carefully adjusted or inflamed to suit the wishes of the Oligarchs who direct, buy, & own both political parties!