A Pivotal Time for Marriage
Every
poll reveals that Americans are gradually shifting away from an
understanding of marriage as being a lifelong union of one man and one
woman, to one in which marriage is defined only by the whims of its
participants. If we are going to safeguard the future of marriage - as
defined by God and supported by Natural Law - and secure the healthiest
environment for children to grow up, we cannot rely on our political
leaders or the secular media to speak the truth about marriage and its
importance.
On June 19, thousands of Americans from various religions, races and political parties participated in the 2nd annual
March for Marriage in Washington, D.C. Participants and speakers called
upon the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government to
protect traditional marriage. As we reported shortly after the March, the opposition was much lighter this year, which made it a more peaceful event.
The
reason we're even having a conversation that ten years ago everyone
said would not happen is that aggressive political activists are making
the most of the secular relativism that has become the default morality
of most Americans. On this view, religion, even if privately held by
many, simply does not impact public life, or it should not. Hence, the
percentage of Americans supporting same-sex unions has steadily grown from about 30% decade ago to nearly 60% today.
With
the moral influence of religion waning, confusion about the most basic
and important concepts abounds. If marriage is so good, why not extend
it to same-sex couples? If heterosexual couples are allowed to marry the
people they love, then why can't same-sex couples have the same
opportunity? The language of equality, justice and non-discrimination,
divorced from any objective moral standpoint, is now used to stifle
dissenting opinions and shut down conversation.
Contrary
to what supporters of same-sex unions say, the public debate is not
about the supposed denial of a "right" to marry, it is about the
integrity of marriage and its social purpose. Even if you don't hold, as
the Catholic Church and other faith communities do, that marriage is a
natural institution established by God, you should still be able to see
that this is more than a merely private relationship. If it's only
about how two (or more?) people feel about each other, then what is this
whole conversation about? Marriage is not a private institution, but it
is the event that forms the foundation of the first cell of society,
the family. Family is where children learn values and virtues that
enable them to be good citizens. This (formerly) common sense
understanding is why marriage was recognized in law, because it was good
for all that marriage be protected so that the next generation would
have the best chance at contributing to the common good.
The debate hinges on whether or not we should change the definition of the fundamental natural
and social institution. Love and commitment are necessary for marriage,
but they are not sufficient. The union of a same-sex couple can never
naturally bring about children. To make the argument that those opposed
to same-sex unions are attempting to define love is erroneous. They are simply recognizing
the fact that by its nature only one form of a loving relationship, the
conjugal union of husband and wife, constitutes marriage.
We have already seen in court cases and in the news that those who would redefine marriage also intend
to use their upper hand in law to suppress all dissent. In Europe, the
vanguard of so much of the "progressive" agenda, churches are starting
to have to defend themselves in court if they stand by their own moral
teaching and refuse to sanction same sex unions. In America, those who admit
that their movement is not really about "marriage equality" as it is
about destroying marriage itself receive thunderous applause for stating
their true intentions.
This
is a pivotal time for the future of marriage in the United States. It
is up to us to show the world what marriage truly is, why it's important
and why it must be defended for generations to come. The defense of
life and the defense of family are so deeply intertwined that they
cannot truly be separated, even if at times we rightly focus on specific
issues.
Sincerely yours in Christ, 
Father Shenan J. Boquet
President, Human Life International
President, Human Life International
The
Guttmacher Institute, an organization founded as the research arm of
Planned Parenthood and dedicated to the promotion of contraception and
abortion, issued a statement
calling for action to ensure free hormonal contraception, abortion
inducing drugs and sterilization for all women. In this statement, the
Guttmacher Institute declares that in light of the recent Supreme Court
decision that exempts closely held corporations from the HHS mandate,
measures are needed to make sure no woman is excluded from the "myriad
of health benefits" of hormonal contraception.
What are these health benefits that contraception and abortion advocates claim should trump religious liberty? According to the fact sheet cited
by the Guttmacher Institute, the primary benefits are the ease of
spacing births, lighter menstrual periods, less pain with menstrual
periods and the improvement of acne. What the Guttmacher Institute
conveniently fails to mention are the myriad of serious side effects
that accompany hormonal contraceptive use.
From Ocean to Ocean
|
On
June 13th, St. John the Baptist Church welcomed the Pilgrim Icon of Our
Lady of Czestochowa to the railroad town of Marshfield, Wisconsin. With
the assistance of Deacon Jeffrey Austin, Father West celebrated Mass
followed by confessions. During his homily, he explained the
extraordinary history of the Black Madonna and the From Ocean to Ocean
Campaign in Defense of Life.
Read the article in full... and share from the Ocean to Ocean website at HLI.
Read the article in full... and share from the Ocean to Ocean website at HLI.
The journey across North America of the pilgrim icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa (the "Black Madonna") began in August 2013 as a continuation of the From Ocean to Ocean Campaign in Defense of Life. This historic pilgrimage around the world began in Vladivostok, Russia in the summer of 2012. The pilgrimage will continue across North America until November 2014. HLI VP for Missions Father Peter West is traveling with the pilgrim icon. Learn more about this prayer campaign to defend life at www.hli.org/oceantoocean.
