Statement of Archbishop Cupich on Supreme Court rulings
I'll try to get a roundup post in the next day or two.
This week the Supreme Court of the United States issued two rulings with particular meaning for the Catholic Church.... It's as if he's commenting on legislation, not court rulings. The archbishop appears to want to distance himself from brother bishops and the USCCB president whom called the ruling “A Tragic Error.” For those Catholics who thought Cardinal George was part of the problem were gravely mistaken. The archbishop seemed to find a need to reprimand Catholic "discrimination" in the wake of the ruling despite the fact the opposite seems to be occurring. The way this is worded, it certainly sounds like Chicago would welcome, say the archdiocesan schools from "accepting" gay couples and promoting acceptance in curriculum. Obviously we are all waiting to see what the federal government gets to shut down because of "discrimination," and of course many more SCOTUS rulings on the matter.... but I guess if I were a Chicago resident, it would be great to hear my archbishop offer a few words of support other than "it's time to roll over and die."
In the first, the Court preserved subsidies for the 6.4 million low-income Americans who depend on them to purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. We have issues with provisions of that legislation and will continue to advocate to preserve our religious freedom. However, we understand that for millions of individuals and families, most of them the working poor, this decision preserves access to health care and the promise it offers of a healthier, longer life.
In the second decision, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that two persons of the same sex have a constitutional right to marry each other. In doing so, the Court has re-defined civil marriage. The proposed reason for the ruling is the protection of equal rights for all citizens, including those who identify themselves as gay. The rapid social changes signaled by the Court ruling call us to mature and serene reflections as we move forward together. In that process, the Catholic Church will stand ready to offer a wisdom rooted in faith and a wide range of human experience.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church has an abiding concern for the dignity of gay persons. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” (n. 2358). This respect must be real, not rhetorical, and ever reflective of the Church’s commitment to accompanying all people. For this reason, the Church must extend support to all families, no matter their circumstances, recognizing that we are all relatives, journeying through life under the careful watch of a loving God.
It is also important to stress that the Supreme Court’s redefinition of civil marriage has no bearing on the Catholic Sacrament of Matrimony, in which the marriage of man and woman is a sign of the union of Christ and the Church. In upholding our traditional concept of marriage, we are called to support those who have entered into this sacred and loving bond with God and each other.
This will be especially important for the members of our own Church as we walk together, respectful not only of the political demands of equality, but above all else, guided by the higher claims of divine revelation. Our aim in all of this will be to hold fast to an authentic understanding of marriage which has been written in the human heart, consolidated in history, and confirmed by the Word of God.
I'll try to get a roundup post in the next day or two.
5 comments:
The "Every sign of unjust discrimination should be avoided " line is going to get played out over and over to the point of expanding the definition. They always ignore, or gloss over this from the Ratzinger CDF Letter to Bishops:
"The movement within the Church, which takes the form of pressure groups of various names and sizes, attempts to give the impression that it represents all homosexual persons who are Catholics. As a matter of fact, its membership is by and large restricted to those who either ignore the teaching of the Church or seek somehow to undermine it. It brings together under the aegis of Catholicism homosexual persons who have no intention of abandoning their homosexual behaviour. One tactic used is to protest that any and all criticism of or reservations about homosexual people, their activity and lifestyle, are simply diverse forms of unjust discrimination."
I repeat: "One tactic used is to protest that any and all criticism of or reservations about homosexual people, their activity and lifestyle, are simply diverse forms of unjust discrimination."
Just watch.
The "Every sign of unjust discrimination should be avoided " line is going to get played out over and over to the point of expanding the definition. They always ignore, or gloss over this from the Ratzinger CDF Letter to Bishops:
"The movement within the Church, which takes the form of pressure groups of various names and sizes, attempts to give the impression that it represents all homosexual persons who are Catholics. As a matter of fact, its membership is by and large restricted to those who either ignore the teaching of the Church or seek somehow to undermine it. It brings together under the aegis of Catholicism homosexual persons who have no intention of abandoning their homosexual behaviour. One tactic used is to protest that any and all criticism of or reservations about homosexual people, their activity and lifestyle, are simply diverse forms of unjust discrimination."
I repeat: "One tactic used is to protest that any and all criticism of or reservations about homosexual people, their activity and lifestyle, are simply diverse forms of unjust discrimination."
Just watch.
One wonders where "the abiding concern" for young Catholic children is? The archbishop doesn't seem to care a fig about them.
The discrimination will be moving the other direction for sure. Sodomites are a protected class now and that also is for sure. They were before. The indoctrination of children at a young age will continue with impunity. The darkness grows but that is what happens to a society at the end of an age. Immorality and totalitarianism prevail. And it ends badly. It has happened many times before. I am mature and have reflected and sodomy is, was, and always will be a sin that cries out to heaven. Those churchmen who support, condone, or refuse to speak the truth are accountable to God for they take many souls with them along that broad road.
Politics often makes strange bedfellows. The odd thing in this new situation is that the allies of Traditionalist Catholics will be American Muslims, black Protestant pastors/congregations, and Fundamentalists.
The one group we can count on to NOT support us is the Catholic bishops.
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