Knowing right from wrong
I am a catechist who prepares adults for the Sacrament of Confirmation. I tell my students that, as confirmed Catholics, we are all called to defend what is holy; to object to what is wrong. We cannot sit back and watch events unfold; we must take action whenever we are able to do so. Imagine my surprise when I read a commentary in the Oct. 20 Honolulu Star-Advertiser by Maryknoll Sister Joan Chatfield openly supporting gay marriage.
She lists many reasons why she believes that gay couples should not be discriminated against. In her closing statement, she says, “I urge the Hawaii Legislature to not stand in the way of caring and committed couples who wish to commit to spend their lives together in marriage.” Just because one believes that an action is right, doesn’t mean that it is morally right. Proverbs 14:12 states “sometimes a way seems right to a person, but the end of it leads to death.”
I have had students who were homosexually inclined. When discussing this topic, I affirm that God loves ALL of his children. It is not wrong to be homosexually inclined. What is wrong is to engage in homosexual practice. We all have our crosses to bear; they come in many different forms. But we must strive to grow in holiness. We pray for strength to bear our cross, for God to help us to grow in holiness.
Marriage is a sacrament instituted by Jesus. It is a holy vocation; it is sacred. Sister Joan’s naiveté fails to recognize that gay marriage involves gay lovemaking, gay sexual practice, not just companionship. For her to condone and actually promote that lifestyle is unconscionable. Her letter is an insult to our bishop who has spoken out against gay marriage and endeavors to stem the tide of immorality in our state.
Most people agree that the LGBT community should enjoy the same tax benefits as heterosexual couples. But, that community needs to take their fight to Congress and the IRS to change the tax code so that civil unions/domestics partnerships will be recognized by the federal government for tax purposes. If the tax codes changes, there’s no reason for “marriage,” since by their own admission, the reason they want marriage is to enjoy the same economic benefits that heterosexual couples receive.
When they say they should be able to marry whom they love, they are really saying they should be able to engage in gay sexual practice with a person of their own choosing and the rest of society needs to validate and affirm that choice.
We should take a good look at our own position on this issue. Do we support the laws of our church?
Valerie Pedro
Honolulu
Weakening the church’s efforts
A response to “Golden Rule Should Guide Marriage Issue” by Sister Joan Chatfield, published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Oct. 20.
Reading Sister Joan Chatfield’s article was disturbing to say the least. Despite her 81 years and productive service for the church, it seems she has been seduced by the world and its ever-changing views. While Sister Joan has the freedom and right to speak her opinion, she does so at the expense of faithful Catholics and Christians alike. Her public expression weakens the effort of the church to protect marriage, the family unit and ultimately, our children. She has adopted the theory and is professing the idea that “being gay is simply another part of the diversity of life.”
As a child of God and a person who should be rooted in the Word, how can Sister Joan teach children that this “simple sexual diversity” is in God’s plan? It doesn’t produce life. It cannot. Stating this basic fact is not “being discriminatory,” it merely points out the scientific reality of natural law. It takes the “diversity” of a male and female to produce life, and procreating is pleasing to God. Science proves beyond all doubt, that the diversity of male and female are necessary to produce life.
Sister Joan encourages the Hawaii legislature to “not stand in the way of caring and committed couples who wish to commit to spend their lives together in marriage.” I understand where her heart is in making this statement. We all know and love someone who is committed to a same sex partner and we certainly don’t want to hurt their feelings. We also aren’t trying to stop them from being in a committed relationship (defined differently than marriage). We love them very much and encourage them to pursue happiness and joy!
However, because Sister Joan took vows of obedience to the Lord and his Word she has a responsibility to the flock, regardless of her personal opinion. Isn’t she the one standing in the way of the faith by promoting a lifestyle contrary to God’s design and natural law? I ask that she not hinder the way of the faithful who are working to preserve marriage as God-defined while protecting our children from lifestyles that contradict our own values and religion. We must persevere in the face of adversity and trust in God’s promise, plan and design.
I can understand the hopeful thinking that the more we love and accept, the greater the chance others will see that God is good! However, if we easily give up our values to accept those of others, why would anyone think what we believe is worth sacrificing for? Our traditions and beliefs are worthy of keeping. Threats to our religious practices and traditions should be questioned, approached and defended with a level head, devoid of unconstrained emotion. After all, one can be confident and comforted in the truth and faith in God’s promise.
In trying to be more accepting of diversity, many are second-guessing what they’ve learned from God to be true; that marriage is special and sanctified by God. The world says different. Sister Joan agrees with the world — that times are changing and it’s time to accept and love the diversity of same-sex relationships.
The message I would have expected from Sister Joan would have sounded something like this: As children of God, we must persevere! God, faith, values, and especially TRUTH are timeless! The world may change but we do not have to be changed by it. Continue to do what we are asked to do: witness the love of Christ, be loyal, live by and share his Word, and encourage others to welcome Christ into their hearts!
C. M. Jones
Honolulu
