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The Same-sex Marriage Issue  

This agenda keeps getting pushed locally, so it calls for a response.  For our Archdiocese response, get info from the Archdiocese web site.  Go to www.adw.org , then click the marriage category, then click the offerings, including “learn more about the Catholic Church and same sex marriage.”  You should also read the related Catholic Standard newspaper columns that His Excellency Donald Wuerl writes to you as your bishop.

Here are some Scriptures to consider when weighing whether the religious matter of it is of importance:

I.  First, obeying God is a priority in Scripture:  Duet. 8:6 says “Keep the Commandments of the Lord, your God, and walk in His ways, and fear (revere/respect) Him.”  Eccl. 12:13 says “Fear God and keep the Commandments:  this is the whole duty of man.” 

These following OT Scriptures speak against homosexuality is practice:  Gen.19, Judges 19:14, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Deut. 23:17, 1 Kings 12:24, 15:12, 22:46 and 2 Kings 23:7.

II. Applying that obedience to today is important.   A recent Advent reading was from Luke 21:28,31b,33b-35a,36, 12 which proclaims  “…Your redemption is drawing near…the kingdom of God is near… be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap… My words will not pass away (so)… be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man… before all this occurs, they will arrest and persecute you…because of My Name. This will give you opportunity to testify… I will give you words and a wisdom…By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

A pearl of Wisdom—“Before you tear down a fence, find out why it was placed there originally.”   Our ancestors of faith have passed down 6000 years of traditional marriage as a means for marriage/family.

III.  What are some New Covenant teachings?

a/  “(Jesus) Have you not read that The One Who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’?”  Matthew 19:4-5   

 b/  “Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.”   Hebrews 13:4     

c/  “For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by it suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them… though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God… Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth for a lie…For this reason God gave them up to their degrading passions.  Their women exchanged natural inter- course with women…men committed shameful deeds with men… Claiming to be wise, they became fools… Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead to repentance?   Rom. 1:      v18-19, 21a, 26-27, 22.  2:4b.     

d/  “[A warning against false teachers]-- to not occupy oneself with fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else (that) is contrary to sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God…to Christ Jesus our Lord.”   1 Tim 1:2b, 10-12       

e/  “Jesus said:  Has no one condemned you?..  Neither do I condemn you.  Go your way, and from now on do not sin (this way) again.”  John 8:10b-11

These Scriptures are just the introductory level to the matter.  Yet one can see that the Word does have its message on this matter.         No to the sin.  

                                                            No to it being authorized or promoted as a good for society.

                                                            No to a condemning judgment on a person for it.

                                                            No to it being some condition God created in us for favor.

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