Scottish Catholic Observer

“Particular mention must be made of the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage. The Church’s conscientious effort to resist this pressure calls for a reasoned defence of marriage as a natural institution consisting of a specific communion of persons, essentially rooted in the complementarity of the sexes and oriented to procreation. Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage.”

Pope Benedict XVI, March 9 2012

The Holy Father is clear on why same-sex ‘marriage’ is an oxymoron. Marriage is between a man and a woman to create a family. For Catholics, redefining marriage goes against God and for many others of different faiths, and none, it goes against the natural order of things.

It comes as no surprise then that bids to redefine what constitutes a marriage are proving to be such a divisive issues. As the bishops of England and Wales issue a rallying call ahead of the Coalition Government’s consultation on the issue, what has become blatantly clear is that proposals to redefine marriage are not only causing problems for lay Catholics and Catholic politicians, some of whom appear to be demonstrating cafeteria Catholicism at its worst. In Scotland this issue also threatens to be a major stumbling block for political parties, none more so than the Scottish National Party when it comes to its flagship independence policy.

The Scots polled by Scotland for Marriage shows overwhelming opposition to redefining marriage and 11 per cent of those polled are less likely to vote to end the union if the Scottish Government’s controversial plans on marriage go ahead. It would seem like political suicide then, for the Nationalists to weaken their support based at what is for them such a critical juncture. Political correctness gone mad? And it has to be asked: Out with the corridors of power, where is the grassroots movement of same-sex couples in the UK pushing to be able to legally wed?  No, this bid to redefine marriage is not designed to help individuals, it must be seen for what it is: a direct attack on faith and family values.

The Holy Father denounced the ‘powerful political and cultural currents’ that are working to ‘alter the legal definition of marriage’ when speaking to bishops from the US on the recent ad limina visit to the Vatican. What is on the agenda of lobbyists who seek to redefine marriage is not equality but fundamental societal change. Change is not always for the better. The Catholic Church knows what will be lost should this change to marriage be allowed.

In a joint statement, Archbishops Vincent Nichols and Peter Smith said that changing the law would ‘gradually and inevitably transform society’s understanding of the purpose of marriage.’ We must not stand by and allow this change to be factored in by our apathy.