Pope Francis & Civil Marriage for Catholics | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis & Civil Marriage for Catholics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Baptizing any child should never be forbidden - indeed, even non-Catholics should have the option.  It happens in emergencies and should happen in due course.  As to the problem of sin - it is our problem, not God's.  It makes human life more difficult - it is no problem for God.  Anything else is, in my opinion, hubris.  The interesting issue on civil marriage, however, is that marriages are made by th couple, not the priest.  Of course, some civil marriages are better than others and if someone is working for a Catholic employer, the status of their marriage as civil, Catholic or of another religion is not (and should not) be an issue at all.  You can see where I am going with this.  Sexual orientation should also have no bearing.  Civil (and religious) gay marriages must now be considered as equivalent to their hetero counterparts - at least for baptizing children and giving benefits to employees.  I suspect Catholic families will even seek gay sacramental marriages for their children (siblings and parents) - indeed gay marriages are barren in due course, but so are marriages where the female spouse is over 46.  Gay marriages are also made by the couple.  If the Church wishes to deprive itself of the opportunity to witness (and direct) these unions then it is the Church who is poorer for it.