Oh sure, I could add another post simply about the biblical definition of marriage is response to this article. But rather than tracing another copy of what I and others have written concerning what the scriptures teach from Genesis to Revelation about this institution of God, I want to zero in on one quote in the article:
“Palacios also said he is not advocating against church dogma—just its political positions on gay issues.”
The priest mentioned in the article suggests that the teaching on marriage is not church dogma, but some unattached thing the church has taken up as a politician position. And while no doubt the news likes to paint the debates over marriage as political, the church must always remind those we speak to that our position is not political first and foremost, but dogmatic and biblical. And not just in the sense of the bible giving a definition of an institution.
We must again remind all that marriage is the most used metaphor (with the possible exception of Father) in the Bible meant to help us understand the salvific relationship between God and man. It speaks to us about how Christ loves the Church all the way to salvation. And for that picture to remain as God crafted it, a difference between the parties involved is neccesary. Christ is different essentially from humanity. And that is ones of the reasons why marriage is always a heterosexual (hetero denoting difference) union.
Homosexual unions of any sort not only are politically and societally problematic, but they also disturb up the prime picture God gives of the way he saves humanity.
Ephesians 5:24-27 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
The church’s position on marriage is not first and foremost political. It is dogmatic, made so by the revelation of God. It is as dogmatic as the relationship between Christ and Church.
Catholics face vocal `mutiny’ over teachings on gay marriage
WASHINGTON (RNS) For 13 years, the Rev. Joseph Palacios lived, prayed, and studied with the Jesuits. But he left the Roman Catholic order in 2005 because he would not profess a vow of obedience to the pope.
Now, the 59-year-old priest and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, the nation’s oldest Catholic university, is again at odds with the church’s hierarchy, this time on one of its signature issues: the definition of marriage.
For example, on Sept. 14, Palacios and other advocates launched Catholics for Equality, a group that aims to persuade believers in the “movable middle†to defy the bishops and support civil rights for gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people.
Palacios also said he is not advocating against church dogma—just its political positions on gay issues.
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