www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Same Sex Marriage and a job

Dear Friends,

Same sex marriage will be debated in the legislature today.

What should a person do if his party (for which he works) will officially support it?

In other words, what do I do in this kind of situation?

Alex

When St Thomas More was invited to work in the court of Henry VIII he said that although he did not wish to enter royal service and knew he could not convert the state, he would take the appointment that it might be 'less bad'. More wished many times to resign especially after the Henrican schism looked a certainty and eventually he did. However, it was not until he was condemned that he spoke openly on his disagreement with Henry's actions.

My advice would be to pray the bill fails and to pray and ask St Thomas More for advice on what to do if it does get passed.

Dear Myles,

They've already had a voice vote - there is no doubt the bill will pass, as it will federally.

I don't know what to do!

Alex

Well, Alex, I see this as an issue of justice and equality as well as couples entering into a committment to one another, so I guess we see things very differently. But as in all things, look to your conscience. I respect you immensely even when we differ!!!

Peace,
Brian

Dear Brian,

For me, it is a moral issue.

I'm just in a quandry!

Is this something I should go to another job over?

Alex

Alex, this is a difficult area to deal with. The Tennessee legislature, which previously passed a law restricting marriage to opposite sex couples, is now debating a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage. Also being considered, is a bill to prevent same-sex couples from adopting children. I don't want to condone homosexuality as a morally acceptable lifestyle, but what is the percentage of the public that is homosexual? Some say 10%, but I have heard sociologists say it's closer to somewhere between 4 and 6%. If this is true, I know there won't be huge numbers of same-sex marriages, since the vast majority of marriages will continue to be heterosexual. Of course, if it ever becomes a federal constitutional issue, the courts or the Congress could override state laws. The whole issue is being cast in this state as a battle between basic civil rights on the one hand, and basic morality on the other. It's a no-win situation, it seems, and I am sure I will be condemned by someone for whatever position I take on the issue.

Find your comfort in the examples of the Patriach Joseph and the Prophet Daniel, who served pagan monarchs.

Dont resign Alex. If we abandon the imperial court to Eudoxia then she will have more golden mouthed men dragged to the edges of civilisation for simply speaking the Word of God.

In Sweden recently a Protestant pastor was jailed for preaching that homosexuality was sinful. No doubt the only thing that saves Catholic clergy from similar treatment is the fact that so much of the European electorate is culturally Catholic. High profile Bishops like Cardinal Ratzinger can thank their lucky stars that they dont belong to small Bible fellowships like that Swede or else, the way the EU is going, they'd end up being arrested for 'incitement to hatred'. After all Buttglione wasnt allowed to become EU president because he's Roman Catholic.

Freemasonry is everywhere...

Your very prescence in government is a weapon for God against the secularists. So long as there are Apostolic Christians in positions where they 'could make noise' our Church will not be persecuted for its fidelity. However, if they manage to force us to the corners of society then they will be able to start taking liberties. Sweden is an example. Lutheranism degenerated into liberal Protestantism and cultural Christianity long ago. There is no need for the legislators to fear a backlash from believers.

Right now Spain is moving left, France continues her policy of freemasonry, much of Italy lives in active opposition to the Church and Britain...*shakes head* if not for our inherent toryism, God alone can know where we'd be. Yet, even now a divorced woman is marrying the future King. Can Herodias take her husbands brother even as he yet lives and breathes? Is this not wrong?

It is only the fact that we have enough real believers between us that Orthodox and Catholic clergy dont end up in prison too. Do you really think that if the Pope couldnt attract crowds of hundreds of thousands that he'd be allowed to call Homosexuality an evil that is gravely disorded? Or Abortion? Or Premartial sex? Of course not. Its only his charismatic authority, which flows from his Holiness and the respect people have for the Papal chair that saves him from the fate that is befalling many small time Protestant preachers even now.

Stay where you are Alex and convert your co-workers. Because of the very Catholic population of the West the Visigoths and Franks realised they could not go on pushing their Arianism and Paganism on their subjects for the sake of stability. Likewise, we have to be in the world in the high places where the freemasons dont want us, converting everybody we can so that in the end the governments will have to listen to us as the electorate will eventually all be Catholic.

The only weapons we have against bad laws are prayer, prescence and evangelisation.

So Alex stay where you are, recite the Jesus prayer constantly and through your personal holiness attract your co-workers into the Church. Its the only way we can fight back against the freemasonic tide.

Its the way we will win

"All these world crises are crises of saints"--St Josemaria Escriva

Myles, I realize secularism is winning in many parts of the world, Western Europe, especially. It does a great deal of damage here, as well. The Western Church is so infected with it, I look to the East for a rebirth and spread of Christianity. But regardless of where that rebirth comes from, it will be most welcome. A good prayer intention, I think

Dear Friends,

Oh, all right, I won't resign!

I suppose we really ARE in a battle with secular forces - I've always known that, but, for me, it has really come home now.

Thank you all for your insightful and helpful remarks!

Alex

Alex, you must, of course, do what your own conscience tells you to do. Someone mentioned Thomas More - you are, like him, "the king's good servant, but God's first." If you can continue to serve in good conscience, then do it. Your government is, really, probably much better off for having you there.

When I say the word 'Catholic' I mean everyone who proffesses they believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church be they East or West. From my understanding of past attempts at reunion Councils i.e. Florence there were no formal acts of apology etc. because the participants shared the view that the schism was within and not without the Church. Moreover, since Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athengorias lifted the Anathema's of 1054 in the 60's my belief that this is the case has only grown. In my humble opinion, the Catholic Church is in improper communion with itself but the lungs are not seperate they're simply working in an improper rhythm. With any luck before too long they'll be breathing at the same pace soon enough.

Obviously I wouldnt expect old Alex to go out converting people to the Latin rite, lol

Dear Myles,

The Tridentine Rite, then just maybe . . . just maybe . . .

Alex

You can always count on Alex to provide us with some comedy. But if you really feel that way big guy then why not: http://www.fssp.com/

The Tridentine Rite is very beautiful and inspiring. I am glad it isn't dying out as many predicted it would.