{"id":565,"date":"2015-06-26T14:00:59","date_gmt":"2015-06-26T19:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/margefenelon\/?p=565"},"modified":"2015-06-26T14:00:59","modified_gmt":"2015-06-26T19:00:59","slug":"scotus-decision-who-has-the-final-word-on-gay-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/margefenelon\/2015\/06\/scotus-decision-who-has-the-final-word-on-gay-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"SCOTUS Decision: Who has the final word on gay marriage?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"Rainbow_flag_breeze\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Today in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that gay \u201cmarriage\u201d is legal in all 50 states.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s done is done.<\/p>\n

Albeit a tragic decision, at least for the time-being it\u2019s a reality. In spite of the fact that SCOTUS is not only tampering with states\u2019 rights and God\u2019s design, we\u2019re now left to deal with the fallout of their folly.<\/p>\n

No matter what authority is given the Supreme Court to declare things legal (or not legal, for that matter), it cannot be given the power to change the Truth. God alone holds that power.<\/p>\n

This morning,\u00a0Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued a statement<\/a> in response to the SCOTUS ruling.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless of what a narrow majority of the Supreme Court may declare at this moment in history, the nature of the human person and marriage remains unchanged and unchangeable,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Archbishop Kurtz makes two vital points in that sentence.<\/p>\n

First, we need to keep in mind that is was a \u201cnarrow majority\u201d of justices that vote for legalized gay \u201cmarriage.\u201d Supreme Court decisions can be overturned; many have in the past<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Second, the gay \u201cmarriage\u201d issue is not so much a question of civil law as it is a question of the nature of the human person as God intended it to be. That\u2019s in the realm of divine law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe unique meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is inscribed in our bodies as male and female, \u201d he continued. \u201cThe protection of this meaning is a critical dimension of the \u2018integral ecology\u2019 that Pope Francis has called us to promote.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s decision is a blunder on the part of SCOTUS, but it isn\u2019t cause for despair.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust as Roe v. Wade did not settle the question of abortion over forty years ago, Obergefell v. Hodges does not settle the question of marriage today. Neither decision is rooted in the truth, and as a result, both will eventually fail,\u201d the Archbishop wrote.<\/p>\n

Both Roe v. Wade and Obergefell v. Hodges will eventually fail because they contradict God\u2019s will for his creation.<\/p>\n

Our Lord warned of this himself:<\/p>\n

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Mt 12:30)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

All who do not walk with Jesus and follow his law will not succeed in the long run.<\/p>\n

Either declare\u00a0the tree good and its fruit is good, or declare the tree rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is known by its fruit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indeed, the gay \u201cmarriage\u201d tree will be known by its fruit \u2013 a deterioration of the family structure and the debasement of society.<\/p>\n

SCOTUS has made it\u2019s decision, but that doesn\u2019t mean we must accept with with resignation.<\/p>\n

There is much we can do to start turning the tide.<\/p>\n

I agree wholeheartedly with Archbishop Kurtz:<\/p>\n

I encourage Catholics to move forward with faith, hope, and love: faith in the unchanging truth about marriage, rooted in the immutable nature of the human person and confirmed by divine revelation; hope that these truths will once again prevail in our society, not only by their logic, but by their great beauty and manifest service to the common good; and love for all our neighbors, even those who hate us or would punish us for our faith and moral convictions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That can be a big bite to chew, especially when we consider the magnitude of the task before us. But I\u2019m confident in God\u2019s providence and in his grace to keep us strong as we move forward.<\/p>\n

Let me suggest to you three specific things we can do to start swinging the gay \u201cmarriage\u201d pendulum in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Live godly marriage with joy.<\/strong> Whether you\u2019re married or not, let your appreciation of this sacred institution show in all that you say and do. As Jesus said, \u201cJust so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.\u201d (Mt 5:16)<\/li>\n
  2. Know your stuff.<\/strong> If you haven\u2019t already, you\u2019ll be drawn into discussions about gay \u201cmarriage\u201d vs. conventional marriage. Study what the Church teaches on marriage so that you\u2019ll be able to speak knowledgeably and rationally. You\u2019ll win no hearts the Truth if you don\u2019t know how to effectively express it. I recommend the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1601-1666.<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Fast when you can and pray daily.<\/strong> Heed the words of Pope Francis in The Church of Mercy<\/a>: \u201c<\/em>Situations can change; people can change. Be the first to seek to bring good. Do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it with good.\u201d Fasting and prayer are powerful tools for the conversion of hearts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With these three resolutions, we can do as Archbishop Kurtz, as representative of all the United States Bishops, has ask of us: Proclaim the goodness, truth and beauty of marriage.<\/p>\n

    SCOTUS does not have the final word\u2019 God does.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n

    Image: Wikipedia.org<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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