Friday, April 11, 2008

Fr. Longenecker on "Love and Marriage"

Fr. Longenecker writes:
... The homosexual couple, along with many in our society, assume marriage is a lifelong, loving commitment of a loving monogamous couple, a commitment that involves respect, support and love.

But that is not the essential definition of marriage. Notice that it is largely subjective and sentimental. Marriage requires 'respect, love and support.' Yes indeed, and we do not deny the need for 'respect, love and support', however, these are requirements for a good marriage, they are not the core definition of marriage.

The essential definition of marriage is that it is a contract between one man and one woman for mutual support and procreation of children, and the marriage is sealed and validated by the conjugal act.

Now this definition is not something that is simply my opinion. It is not even something which is my opinion supported by Divine Revelation in Scripture. It is not even my opinion, supported by Scripture and upheld by the magisterium of the Catholic Church. It is actually a definition that is written into the biological realities of the human race. It is something called 'natural law'--that is, it is written into the operating system of the entire cosmos.

As such, this is the definition of marriage upheld not only by a few religious folks in the USA, but by the vast majority of the whole human race at all times and in all places. The details may vary--some cultures allow polygamy. Others allow divorce and remarriage, but all understand that marriage is between a man and a woman for mutual support and procreation.

Marriage therefore cannot be contracted between two men or two women. They might make a legal contract committing themselves to mutual support, friendship, lifelong exclusive love, sharing the same teddy bear, whatever they like, but its not marriage and never can be.


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"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
~Abraham Lincoln

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