Rorate: The Demonstration in Rome: Burke, the only Pastor among his Sheep
Yesterday [Saturday, January 11, 2014], there was a public demonstration in the Piazza Santi Apostoli led by “Manif pour Tous—Italia”*, in defense of the natural family and against the approval of a law concerning homophobia, now in discussion in the Parliament. The purpose of the demonstration (just like those in the past organized in the whole of Italy) is to safeguard freedom of thought and opinion (Article 21 in the Italian Constitution), and to safeguard the natural family, of which the Constitution speaks in Articles 29, 30 and 32, based on marriage between a man and a woman.
As always, we were present and helped with the organization. The demonstration was marked by a great number of families, a great number of young people, and also priests. But as the jounrnalist, Marco Tosatte, sagely commented on his blog on “La Stampa”, of all Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals that fill the city of Rome, there was only one who was present at the demonstration: the American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke.
Yes, you understood correctly. That Cardinal who has been criticized so much because he is a lover of tradition and of beautiful liturgy, deeply held personal positions that today seem to be seen as something negative, to be thrown out and condemned. Meanwhile, the only one present, the only one to make the support of the Church felt, the only one to give moral support in a battle on principles that are non-negotiable, being fought for by laity who are vigorously leading the battle against oppression of the spirit and of freedom of expression—the only one was Cardinal Burke.
continue at Rorate Caeli
3 comments:
Before praising the good Cardinal and condemning the law, I'd want to see a copy of the law and it's content. How can we possibly opine without that information? Is it really part of an agenda, or is it a law to protect gay individuals (who may be living chastely for all I know) from being fired simply for that inclination. I think it's important to look at these things in their context. The church doesn't promote discrimination even in her defense of natural marriage. Interestingly, this law (when it was a bill) has been condemned by a myriad of gay-rights groups in Italy.
Good point.
No, I don't think it's really much of a point.
++Burke is eminently reliable and trustworthy.
Just laws concerning truly unjust discrimination don't generate large protests in Western countries. It's just as likely that gay groups are condemning it for not going far enough to suit the agenda.
It's actually an error to say discrimination is, per se bad. To discriminate means to differentiate. It can be just or unjust depending on the criteria and situation. The Church teaches no *unjust* discrimination against homosexuals. What most people totally miss is that it implies *just* discrimination is moral. That would occur when a higher good would take precedence over the desired good of a homosexual--such as, for instance, desiring admission to the priesthood, or to a position where they would be role model for children. The children's good takes precedence.
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