In a video message to supporters, Bishop John Quinn of the Diocese of Winona tells Catholics that its not the church’s fault that it is involved in the anti-gay marriage amendment fight.
Biship Quinn appeared to slip a bit in calling it the “Minnesota for Marriage protection amendment.” Minnesota for Marriage is the coalition of the Catholic Church, the National Organization for Marriage and the Minnesota Family Council that is trying to pass the amendment.
“Some people have condemned the catholic church for being vocal on this issue. and have even gone so far as to say that we initiated this proposed amendment. This simply is not true.
He said “there are powerful political and cultural currents that have been working for years behind he scenes” including a lawsuit in Hennepin County and the legalization of same-sex marriage in Iowa.
He also said that it’s not about religion. “People have accused the Catholic Church of forcing our religious views on other who may not share the christin faith. This also is false. The church’s defense of marriage based on reason and natural law.”
He says that marriage “comes from our existance as bodily persons.” He also cites Jesus to bolster his argument that the it’s not religion, but reason and natural law.
“That is why the Catholic Church asks you to vote yes on the marriage protection amendment.”
Here are the bishop’s full remarks:
this is the usual red-herring offerse of the right. the reason that the church and the right fight reasonable marriage is purely political. Just like the Nazis, the church is working to get as many babies born that will grow up to support their side of the argument. Homosexuality is god's law in 183 animal species. Outlawing same sex marriage only keeps the support of 316 laws from benefiting a few families who are doing better at raising kids than many hetero-families.
He sights Jesus and thinks that is not a religious basis for his arguments? roflol
There is no "reason" or "natural law" argument that Bishop Quinn cites. Here is my full response: http://knightofnothing.blogspot.com/2012/07/catholics-and-gay-marriage.html.
Great read, and I really enjoy your follow up postings, in the reader comments.
Jesus did not raise marriage to be a sacrament. Jesus listed five sacraments; marriage was one of two sacraments added to the list in the year 1215 by the 4th Lateran council. That's not a faith-based thing; they took minutes at the meeting. They're there for anyone to read.
Thanks, Kev!
Thanks for your inciteful article. In the next few weeks I'll be co-leading conversations about the marriage amendment in congregations. It's very helpful to have the perspective you provided in your essay. I'll share it with my fellow forum leaders. Thanks!
Thanks! Good luck with your forum!
Excellent work, young man.
Seperation of Church and State is the law. I promise not to interfere in Church business. Will the Church promise not to get involved in matters of the state.
Here is another response to the arguments against SSM, including a long rebuttal of the "natural law" argument. http://knightofnothing.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-losing-arguments-against-same-sex.html
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