Ireland's Reality Check - and Ours | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: There is no doubt that Ireland is a victory for the left, both for its affinity for gay couples seeking there rights but also for the defeat of a Church that was particularly prone to throw its weight around on all issues, including prohibiting divorce and abortion as if it were part of the government. To a large extent, the giant has been killed (it has been dead a long time in the US as that kind of force, although in that case the Court killed it). Reality check #1.
I am not sure what happens at hositals in Ireland, but gay marriage has its origins here in the denial of next of kin companions in favor of a family of origin who still does not understand their son's primary relationship. Those problems created a movement in the U.S. and probably everywhere else. There is no scapegoat, but this was not some leap into modernity for its own sake. There are accounts to settle. Letting this happen with some dignity is the first measure to do so. That is the reality check as well.
For the youth, this might have been a movement thing, and the danger to the Church is that it was as much about killing the giant as justice for gays. It also is a shot across the bar on the nature of truth. It does not exist in letters written in Latin. It exists for each generation just a bit differently. The traditional marriage we know was doomed either way, just at the coventure marriages of our parents and grandpartents are gone (although my great grandparents included a feminist, so we got a head start at ending male privilege before its time). One can think that such change is an end to the world. It is not and it never was.
For better or worse, the marriage of Christ and his people will be an equal one, not a hierarchical one. Christ is the friend, not the master. Teach that and your Church will full. Live that and you will be electing the bishops, not sending a list to Rome. In the US, the Church was looking at a bad and dangerous choice by going whole hog agaist marriage equality. We warned them. They did it anyway. Indeed, even if by some miracle the Ohio case goes in their favor, it would be a great defeat for the Body of Christ. The Church in Ireland won too many times. its why the Churches are empty.
As for reality checks, listening sessions sound like an opening for affirming old teaching. That is not where we need to listen (and frankly, the opening frank talk on self-pleasure would so make the clergy present defensive it would ruin the whole thing). Its time to do. First, do admit the error of our ways on a variety of things, from masturbation to supporting the GOP agenda on abortion that actually stopped no abortions nor could it, to actually celebrating gay marriages, which are sacramental with or without the ceremony. The couple performs, not the priest, and performance of a different kind makes the marriage, not fecundity.
Second check, the intrinsically disordered meme has always been stupid. Gays are different, as we now know because of epigenesis as an embryo - which means this disorder is variation - and their God given sexuality can fit that variation. What is more, the whole concept of a natural order must be junked. It is a sophistry to allow the Church to eat from the Tree of Knowledge and claim that sins violate the natural order, because a perfect God cannot be hurt by sin (which is true). Sins hurt individuals, not concepts. They are forgiven or commanded to make restitution to be forgiven, for their own sakes, the sake of society and those damaged. There is no ledger beyond that except as to whether those who have been forgiven also forgive. Also, no more indulgences.
Third check, as I said, hetorsexuals are thaught that they make the marriages, the priest is a witness. Those who read Canon law know that infertility is not an impediment to marraige (meaning not a requirement). Impotence is, but not infertility. Apologize for perjury by making an argument both false and heretical and start scheduling both gay weddings and the renewal of vows. That's the penance, do it or expect a new generation of bishops to do it later. Doing it now will bring the youth back and get some very spiriutal parishoners in the pews. Oh, and ordain women. Just because. Actually, the because is the truth of the future is different than what you see now. Just do it and if you don't get that, take a real epistomology class off of a catholic campus. Its the only way to be ready for the inevitable passage of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment