Evangelicals and Catholics (Angry) Together | National Catholic Reporter

Evangelicals and Catholics (Angry) Together | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The most interesting things about this article are that this group started in 1994 (which was stated at the end) and that the issue of gay marriage is essentially settled in favor of gays.  1994 is significant because it was the year the GOP was going full tilt to win back the Congress - in reaction to both health care reform and the passage of tax legislation that had the rich pay more.  Don't ask, don't tell had also been created in reaction to Clinton's promise to allow gays to serve openly and the prospect of gay marriage was just then starting, with Massachusetts making it legal as a right and New York considering and rejecting it.  That Mrs. Clinton is about to run for President and likely win must be noted.



California's partents 3 and 4 must be noted - because it points to the fact that some gay couples have children from ill fated heterosexual marriages.  Indeed, my brother and his husband were the non-custodial parents of his husbands daughter - my neice has two dads and a mom (she is now a 3rd grade teacher and works the hardest of anyone in the family - even her step dad, who is a doctor).  I'm not sure if my brother wrote tuition checks or not - none of my business - just as it is none of ECT's business.



On divorce and non-marriage - the war against poor - and particlulary poor black men - is a big cause of illegitimacy - whether it be harsh prosecution of drug offenders (again, particluraly black ones) or requirements that a man not be in the house to get welfare - the conservatives bear much of the responsibility - removving them from the majority is the solution to that.  The other cause is the culture of divorce among the children of divorce. I found that one out for myself just recently.  I am not sure, however, that there is a political solution to it.  Regardless, one reason for gay marriage is the fact that gays with stuff and kids break up.  Divorce is the orderly way to deal with that.



The sacramentality of marriage is still important - especially on this issue. I was taught in marriage prep and in my high school marraige class that the couple makes the marriage - the priest is simply a witness for the state and community - and is expendable.  Apply that to gay marriage, because it is simply true.  What is false is the Church (Catholic and Evangelical) trying to pretend that this is not the case - which shows why the timing is important.  The members of these Churches are about to start demanding that gay weddings be blessed - not the state.  This is an attempt to head that off.  It won't work.  Indeed, the scripture on marriage says that when a (couple) marry - they leave their families and start a new one, becoming one flesh.  That is as much about legality as sex (and the I get that the Lord cited the Genesis example in opposition ot parents arranging better marriages for their already married children - I know something about parental involvement in divorce as well).



This is an issue that would not have come up save for the Church.  Stories abound of what used to be called long time companions being denied visition and decision writes in particularly religious hospitals while estranged family members are given the authority to ban them and take their custodial rights away.  If the Churches are asking why gay marriage is coming to the fore now, they need to look in the mirror.



Some day very, very soon this question will be moot, mostly because of people in the pews overriding their clergy and ministers and because Hillary will come to office with congressional majorities - and I am so glad - especially if she keeps them.