2012-01-15

“We're Not Threats”

I checked my twitter timeline earlier and GMA News flashed: “Pope: Gay marriage a threat to humanity's future”. And then later a “married” gay couple answers the pope back, saying “We're not threats”.  Obviously the pope was referring to the phenomenon of gay marriage, but the couple was referring to their persons. There is a difference. Don't be misled by others—the Catechism mentions that homosexuals “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided (CCC 2358).”

The Holy Family
In the Reuters report Gay marriage a threat to humanity's future — Pope, Pope Benedict said that gay marriage was one of several threats to the traditional family that undermined the future of humanity itself. While it is true that there are many assaults on the traditional family, a legalized gay marriage turns the institution itself inutile.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous (Heb 13.4 RSV).”
For some, the family is just a partnership, and it is devoid of responsibility in rearing children, the natural consequence. To initiate a family, legitimate marriage is the prerequisite. “The family unit is fundamental for the educational process and for the development both of individuals and states; hence there is a need for policies which promote the family and aid social cohesion and dialogue (Reuters).”
“The fruitfulness of conjugal love extends to the fruits of the moral, spiritual, and supernatural life that parents hand on to their children by education. Parents are the principal and first educators of their children. In this sense the fundamental task of marriage and family is to be at the service of life (CCC 1653).”
The Pope is the prophet of our time, and unfortunately, no prophet is welcome in his time. He's not there to make life miserable, but to make it better if only everyone heeds.
“Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. That is what some of you used to be; but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6.9-11 NABRE).”
Folks, many of us fail, but there is redemption. It's never too late to change...


Reproductive Health Bill

I started to write something about this several months ago, and it was never finished; blame procrastination. Although I guess it's still in the news on occasion, especially when Sen. Defensor-Santiago delivered those pick-up lines, much better than Boy Pick-up™.

The controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill is labeled as House Bill (HB) No. 4244 (in substitution of HB 96, 101, 513, 1160, 1520 and 3387). It is entitled The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011. Section 1 says "The State recognizes and guarantees the exercise of the universal basic human right to reproductive health by all persons, particularly of parents, couples and women, consistent with their religious convictions, cultural beliefs and the demands of responsible parenthood..."

The way I see it, two issues are at the core of why the Church is against it. While we are the Church, there is a thing called the Magisterium—its teaching authority. The reader has to know that many groups who call themselves Christian teach that artificial contraception is okay. All the "churches" succumbed to the culture of death; only the Catholic Church remains standing. And when the Church teaches, the faithful listen. While the primary target of the pronouncements is the faithful, the message nonetheless is sowed on the entire human race, and it's profitable to heed her call.
  1. The bill incorporates artificial contraception; the Church naturally will oppose it. The church is entirely pro-life, and conception of new life is part of that. If conception gives new life, naturally any means that frustrates it is immoral. I agree, it's a hard doctrine, but it's the doctrine. [Read Humanæ Vitæ]
  2. The bill will use tax-payers' money to pay for the available contraceptives. If the bill passes, those against artificial contraception will, in effect, be buying them. While the church frowns upon the dissemination of contraceptives, it has to accept it because it's private funds that are used, and individuals are free to do things. At least it's not public funds.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1.7 RSV)

No comments: