Reply To: June 2021 “Why is the Catholic Church against gay marriage?”

[Robert Wilson]

Answers from SPSE Catholic Apologetics Facebook page:

Why is the Catholic Church against gay marriage?

Any sex out of the sacrament of marriage is a mortal sin. I would explain that straight single men fight the same temptation of having sex out of marriage. And God can heal them from their temptations. I would talk about friends who are struggling with same sex attraction and the God is healing them through confession the Eucharist and praying the rosary.
Paul L

A conversation like this cannot be had without an understanding of chastity as it is understood by the Church.
If chastity is absent from the conversation, then it becomes about behaviors and “who can do what” – and this makes it impossible to escape accusations of discrimination.
Meanwhile, chastity (which is not the same as abstinence or celibacy) is proposed to all people, regardless of state in life, age, or marital status. It is a proposal for everyone, and it is people who choose to reject the proposal of chastity, not the church rejecting people.
Chastity (and successful integration) need to be looked into.
So to answer the question, I would say: The Church supports that which helps us grow in holiness and the fullness of virtue. However, to understand that more profoundly, we need to have conversations about the meaning of holiness, virtue, sin, and conscience.
Most importantly, we need to have conversations about where we place the authority of the Church when it comes to faith and morals – as in, do we place the authority of the Church above or below our own.
Hudson B

I would say the Catholic Church is for marriage the way God instituted marriage. Any marriage outside of what God instituted is not valid because it’s outside of what God instituted. God makes the rules whether we like it or not, and there are consequences for breaking God’s rules.
Carlos T

Because a life-giving one-flesh union is not possible.
Kathryn T

Something cannot change even if the Church is tempted by the worldly values to change God’s laws which are eternal. What will Christ say about gay marriages? Only God can judge our eternal destiny (heaven or hell) but it’s also our duty to offer fraternal correction for conversion.
Francis K

Marriage is intended by God as the union of wills between a man and a woman to be united by God as one in the Sacrament of Matrimony in order to further the creating power of God by naturally bearing children.
Marriage is not the mere legalization of love, joint ownerships, romance, and sex by law.
God is the principal authority to validate a marriage.
Chito S