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Opinion: Why the Catholic church is wrong about gay marriage

September 21, 2012 @ 1:05 pm (Updated: 11:21 am - 9/24/12 )

cedargrove
Archbishop Peter Sartain says the Catholic church is not "against" anything. It is "for marriage, for husbands and wives." (AP image)

Seattle's Catholic Archbishop Peter Sartain has released a video detailing the church's opposition to gay marriage.

Personally, I'm steeped in Catholic tradition, but my family happens to come from the more liberal wing of the church. This liberal wing is not happy with this church's adamant stance against gay marriage.

First off, the Archbishop (of Seattle) talks about how harmful it would be, but I think he fails to demonstrate what the harm really is.

Now he suggests that somehow gay marriage would upset the very foundation of society and this man-woman bond is most fundamental to all of civilization. No, I would argue if anything, it's family that's what's most fundamental. And I know many gay couples who are doing just that: raising families.

And then finally, somehow to suggest that overturning centuries of common law is somehow on the face of it a bad thing? That holds no water for me. We've had centuries of common law that have allowed for slavery, discrimination, racism, and sexism. You know tradition only goes so far for me. I just have to say 'Sorry Archbishop, I dissent.'

Transcribed by Josh Kerns

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Comments (26)


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  • Forrest wrote...
    Good for you Tom
    September 24, 2012 10:47 am
    I have the utmost respect for Christians that don't try to impose their beliefs and will upon others. May God protect you and look after your family.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Forrest, this is an open question.
    September 24, 2012 11:53 am
    As I have said, I'll probably vote for it BUT....

    I really wish those who complain that Christians try to impose their beliefs on them would stop trying to impose their beliefs on Christians. .. Or on Jews or Muslims or even non-believers who happen not to share their views on marriage.

    Free expression and tolerance work only when allowed to work both ways. Tom is relatively respectful of the Archbishop - and I would think of traditional Catholics - but too many are not.

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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    Sorry Ron - no one is trying to 'impose' gay (or other beliefs) on Christians.
    September 24, 2012 12:24 pm
    Sorry Ron, no one is trying to force Christians to not be able to beleive Gay is wrong, or that they cannot believe that God says gay is wrong/gays going to hades, etc. etc. What IS being forced upon Christians is that they must allow others to be / believe / think / worship in whatever manner they wish to. You see, in the past Americans combined conservative Christian values with 'societal rules and values' and excluded or marginalized everything that wasn't fitting with those conservative Christian values. Today, conservative Christians are not getting the special treatment of being allowed to set what 'societal rules and values' are. They are being forced to allow other sets of rules and values within the fabric of what 'America' is. And those who protest that 'others are imposing thier beliefs on Christians' are in truth, suffering not the imposition of other beliefs, but instead are suffering the loss of unquestioned supremecy within American society. that's really what's happening here.
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  • Forrest wrote...
    Excellent post Sarge.
    September 24, 2012 1:18 pm
    .
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Forced Tolerance
    September 24, 2012 1:34 pm
    is Intolerance.....
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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    would gay marriage cut taxes for the wealthy?
    September 24, 2012 11:35 am
    I am concerned about our national debt, and still have some questions before I decide one way or another on this issue. How many gay couples do we expect to get married if the law allows it? Married couples filing their federal income taxes jointly typically get to write off a few thousand dollars more than those filing individually. Also, it is well documented that ON AVERAGE gay couples have higher incomes than heterosexual couples. So if we allow gay marriage would it not shift more tax burden from the wealthier among us to those not as well off?
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  • HLC wrote...
    fakeneverwereamarinesgt
    September 24, 2012 1:04 pm
    What is happening is the homo community is trying to force an immoral act as normal and acceptable on the rest of the people.
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  • ryanh4 wrote...
    Just sad..
    September 24, 2012 1:49 pm
    What is happening to this world that idiots like you have been able to survive for so long? That's the real question. You don't have to accept their actions. You just have to not care since, it has zero impact on you. Go spend your time worrying about something else!
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    HLC - I see you think attacking me is good eh?
    September 24, 2012 1:58 pm
    HLC Wrote: "fakeneverwereamarinesgt". "What is happening is the homo community is trying to force an immoral act as normal and acceptable on the rest of the people." -------- Gee Your attacking me AND using the phrases you are shows just exactly how intolerant you are. I'm glad to see that there are in attendants the very representatives of the intolerance that we speak of. We who support gay rights aren't trying to force you to think any differently, we just want to NOT have to listen to the hate your type of intolerant person spews, that and the right for gays to have the same constitutionally protected rights that us straights have.
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @HLC...
    September 24, 2012 9:10 pm
    Your commment alone is a proof of the hypocracy and bias in the anti-gay community. Name calling and slurs because to YOU it's an immoral act. Well, guess what? Not everyone thinks like you do and in this society where we are governed by the Constitution, YOUR beliefs do not trump or over-rule mine. Constitutionally, you cannot stop me from believing that Gay is immoral only in the eye of the beholder, and that because it's a morals choice, you cannot force YOUR morals to be superior to mine or anyone elses. YOUR morals cannot decide that the law can discriminate just because you think that it's ok to discriminate. IT's that simple. Call me all the names you want, but you can't change the facts.
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  • ryanh4 wrote...
    2nd 'FormerMarineSgt'
    September 24, 2012 1:43 pm
    I just wanted to say I agree with 'FormerMarineSgt' wholeheartedly! I love how this is the new thing I'm hearing from Christians, "I really wish those who complain that Christians try to impose their beliefs on them would stop trying to impose their beliefs on Christians." Essentially, conservative Christians know they are losing the fight against legal gay marriage throughout the whole US so, let's turn the tables around and make it seem like the pro-gay marriage movement people are the real bullies. Give me a break!
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @ryanh4
    September 24, 2012 2:00 pm
    I truly enjoy the small minded types who try to personally attack me with thier attacks on my screen name. I honestly do because it's clear that I've either threatened thier little fantasy world with facts and honesty -or- they can't handle anyone who dares think contrary to them, and it just shows how weak thier position is that they have to resort to attacks that even a 5th grader's already grown out of.
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  • cheech312 wrote...
    Not to judge you, Tom, but...
    September 24, 2012 2:18 pm
    There is no "liberal wing" of the Catholic church. There are, however, cafeteria catholics who believe they can pick and choose the tenets of their faith, as if they were selecting only those tenets that appetize them. The credo of the church is "one, holy, catholic (lower case) and apostolic." The word catholic (from the greek for universal) means that all are welcome to the faith. Archbishop Sartain is not imposing our beliefs by marching in the streets, carrying signs and threatening boycotts. He is speaking from the pulpit talking to Catholics. Tom, ask yourself this, if you don't believe in the church's position on matters of faith and morals, are you truly Catholic?
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  • cheech312 wrote...
    Oh, and by the way, Sarge...
    September 24, 2012 2:41 pm
    apparently you missed the whole "Chick-fil-a attack. How do you reconcile that with your statement that "no one is trying to impose gay beliefs on Christians."
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @cheech312
    September 25, 2012 5:31 am
    Ok, so gay rights supporters can't use thier right to free speech to show thier opinion of Chick-fil-a's tactics? Wow. When did using one's free speech rights to respond to someone else's use of free speech become 'an attack' on or an attempt to 'impose gay beliefs'? No one forced 'gay beliefs' on Chick-fil-a. They haven't become 'gay', nor have they been forced to suddenly like gays. You are confusing people using free speech and thier freedom to associate (or not associate) with people or companies that support things they don't like. There was no 'attack' - there was a country-wide expression of freedom of speech both in support of and against Chick-fil-a's stance on gay marriage.
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Poser Sgt.
    September 24, 2012 2:49 pm
    Ever pass up on the Koolaid? NOPE!

    Christians are not imposing anything upon anyone else. Who is it who is trying to force the issue of so called "Gay Marriage upon the American people? And why? Liberals and the regime simply for the votes.

    I do agree that this should never have been brought up to a vote of the people. Homosexuals are attempting to claim a "Right"! A right that does not exist, never has, nor is covered in our US Constitution. So how can something not even mentioned in our Constitution be considered unconstitutional?

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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @It's me...
    September 24, 2012 9:06 pm
    Geez dude. You cannot possibly believe what you wrote... Christians not trying to impose anything on anyone else? How's about forcing no such thing as abortion??? How's about forcing gays to not be allowed to have rights or marry?? How's about thier constant attempts to force prayer into schools. Oh, and many, many others. And wow. 'how can something not even mentioned in our Constitution be considered unconstitutional?' - That's about the dumbest question I've ever heard. I take it you've never heard of 'equal protection under the law' then. IF two people who are otherwise legally able to marry EXCEPT for the fact that they are of the same sex = NOT equal protection under the law. And you tell me I'm drinking the kool aid? I think you've been drinking it way too long.
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  • Fuego wrote...
    Time to find a new Church...
    September 24, 2012 3:07 pm
    Tom, it doesn't sound like you're too thrilled with the centuries old position of the Catholic Church. I would suggest that you break away from the Catholics and find a new type of church that suits your beliefs. History is filled with examples of people doing just that.
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  • Charlene8 wrote...
    But You Say You Are Not a Catholic
    September 24, 2012 4:18 pm
    Tom: You have said on air several times that you don't attend Mass and don't consider yourself Catholic anymore. Your free will, of course, but then can you really speak as a Catholic on this issue? The truth is you are not a Catholic - you came from a Catholic family. So the title of this piece should be "A Former Catholic Explains Why The Church Is Wrong on Gay Marriage".
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  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Charlene8
    September 24, 2012 4:39 pm
    Good point, but I don't think Tom wrote the headline himself.
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