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Catholics/Re: Church's teaching on marriage and civil unions

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 9/13/2009


Question
Dear Fr.

I am a catechist and I am  planning my first lesson for the upcoming Confirmation candidates.  We are asked by our parish priest to discuss the concerns of the war on marriage.  I need to explain to my students the church's teaching on marriage and why it is not proper for two women or two men to call their union a marriage.  Can you help me explain why the Catholic Church does not allow marriage between same sex?

Thanks,

Maureen

Answer
Hi, Maureen:
Thanks for the question; but this is a TALL order!
Of course I would recommend that you take a look at the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" for the teaching and general overview of marriage; and look at www.catholic.com
Marriage by definition involves a man and a woman because there is a complmentarity that flows from the difference in gender that is inherint and natural to them as human persons.  It is basically the "way" that men and women are made, and their place in society to enter in upon a community life together that impacts the community of the society as a whole...
Properties flow from the fact of a man/woman marriage union: stability for the whole of life in forming a family through mutual support and procreation, among other things.  We are talking about things that CAN be and ARE when there are no factors such as health or infertility for whatever reason to prevent these factors; but we do not sanction a union that never has and never could have these properties.
One cannot say that the fact people might adopt a child, that this is the regular, ordinary, and self-sustaining manner of things.
In the main, it is only marriage between a man and a woman that can fit-the-bill, especially for procreation.  Only in monogamous heterosexual relationships can family life flourish as it is meant to; only by not separating the unitive and procreative aspects of human heterosexuality can the life purpose and ends be served; and when we do separate them out, then we get into big problems.  This is why even those who promote contraception really ought to take a second look at such a practice... at a certain level it is saying that the sex act really and fundamentally is not about marriage and life-long covenant...

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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