Pray for Guidance on Wisconsin Marriage Amendment
When I read the document “A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on Defining Marriage in Our State” I felt a strong sense of disappointment in the Catholic leaders who authored this letter. The argument they use that they are ‘defending’ the institution of marriage by supporting an amendment to our state constitution to exclude same gender marriages is one that I have heard over and over. Altering the constitution is a big move and altering it to restrict the rights of individuals is an even bigger move. I would like to hear more people from the Church speak out in defense of the people who would be affected by this amendment. I would hope that our church and its leaders would open this issue up for discussion and realize the importance of being critical of and careful with the message that is sent and the impact it will have. I do not believe that the arguments presented in this letter do any of those things.
In an interview with the Catholic Herald from July 6, 2006 Archbishop Dolan said,
“those who should be on the defensive are those who want to change something [marriage strictly between a man and a woman] that has been at the very core of human understanding for as long as that human understanding has been articulated." What about human kindness, inclusion, and equality--values and ideas that have also always been at the core of human understanding? Restricting a large group of people from expressing their commitment to one another and gaining both the emotional and legal benefits of marriage, not to mention making these couples feel like their love is not as valid as heterosexual love in the eyes of their community, puts those other core human values to the wayside.
To say that a person who advocates for same gender marriages is threatening the sanctity of marriage is frankly a bit absurd to me. The kind of fidelity that marriage symbolizes and that same sex couples are fighting for is actually a very traditional idea. The desire of same sex couples for the chance to participate in such a long-held tradition (and perhaps one day the Church's sacrament of marriage) is a testament to how serious these couples are about upholding the value of the institution of marriage.
In the article “Relationships: Blessed and Blessing,” James B. Nelson of the United Church of Christ suggests that it is time to look at this issue through the lens of the central message of the scripture, which shows "Jesus as setting aside every human barrier, every false tradition that violates the oneness of God and the oneness of God’s human community. It pictures the Jesus who lived out the life-changing reality that God’s oneness cannot be compromised by human prejudice, human fear, or human bigotry.” The bishops' letter to Wisconsin Catholics attempts to soften the blow by saying, “Support for this amendment does not imply or justify animosity towards any individual or group” and, “Even as we ask Catholics to support this amendment, we also urge them to repudiate words and deeds that demean individuals with a homosexual orientation.” I do not believe that denying the privledge and right to marry is a way to model the acceptance, inclusion and respect that they say Catholics should maintain for LGBT persons.
The essential message I want to get across is that this amendment is not merely an issue about homosexuality or heterosexuality. This is a human issue. As our understanding of ourselves and human nature evolves, so should our Church’s traditions evolve. I understand it may be a long, slow process but I want to urge discussion, thought and especially prayer on the issue. The first step is to be critical of our traditions and how they impact people we otherwise claim to embrace. This is a new time, a new judgement call, and before voting yes to the referendum we should pray long and hard to Jesus for His wisdom and guidance.
Kari Hanson
Chair of Justice Education Committee
Saints Peter and Paul Church
In an interview with the Catholic Herald from July 6, 2006 Archbishop Dolan said,
“those who should be on the defensive are those who want to change something [marriage strictly between a man and a woman] that has been at the very core of human understanding for as long as that human understanding has been articulated." What about human kindness, inclusion, and equality--values and ideas that have also always been at the core of human understanding? Restricting a large group of people from expressing their commitment to one another and gaining both the emotional and legal benefits of marriage, not to mention making these couples feel like their love is not as valid as heterosexual love in the eyes of their community, puts those other core human values to the wayside.
To say that a person who advocates for same gender marriages is threatening the sanctity of marriage is frankly a bit absurd to me. The kind of fidelity that marriage symbolizes and that same sex couples are fighting for is actually a very traditional idea. The desire of same sex couples for the chance to participate in such a long-held tradition (and perhaps one day the Church's sacrament of marriage) is a testament to how serious these couples are about upholding the value of the institution of marriage.
In the article “Relationships: Blessed and Blessing,” James B. Nelson of the United Church of Christ suggests that it is time to look at this issue through the lens of the central message of the scripture, which shows "Jesus as setting aside every human barrier, every false tradition that violates the oneness of God and the oneness of God’s human community. It pictures the Jesus who lived out the life-changing reality that God’s oneness cannot be compromised by human prejudice, human fear, or human bigotry.” The bishops' letter to Wisconsin Catholics attempts to soften the blow by saying, “Support for this amendment does not imply or justify animosity towards any individual or group” and, “Even as we ask Catholics to support this amendment, we also urge them to repudiate words and deeds that demean individuals with a homosexual orientation.” I do not believe that denying the privledge and right to marry is a way to model the acceptance, inclusion and respect that they say Catholics should maintain for LGBT persons.
The essential message I want to get across is that this amendment is not merely an issue about homosexuality or heterosexuality. This is a human issue. As our understanding of ourselves and human nature evolves, so should our Church’s traditions evolve. I understand it may be a long, slow process but I want to urge discussion, thought and especially prayer on the issue. The first step is to be critical of our traditions and how they impact people we otherwise claim to embrace. This is a new time, a new judgement call, and before voting yes to the referendum we should pray long and hard to Jesus for His wisdom and guidance.
Kari Hanson
Chair of Justice Education Committee
Saints Peter and Paul Church
posted by Saints Peter and Paul Parish at Wednesday, August 02, 2006
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