Isn't it insane that you even have to make that statement? It should be self-evident -- but for the relentless, ideologically driven propaganda of celebrity and pop culture in the past decade. Tolerance ... of course. Normalization ... no. Do we love every person, regardless of their passions and sin? Yes, of course. But we do not baptize sin and so nullify the possibility of repentance and transformation through the Holy Spirit. Each of us must repent of our corruption and brokenness.
For many, gay marriage is a matter of equal rights, and people view as bigotted and hateful, not to mention narrow-minded, anyone who is unwilling to grant equal rights to all 'couples'.
So no, in the current climate, which would normalize jsut about everything, it is not insane that we have to keep repeating, homosexuality is an emotional disorder, and a serious one at that, and no, we do not bless emotional disorders.
John, I would have commented at Perry's blog, but Wordpress wanted me to sign up for something just to post a comment.
This whole gay marriage thingy stems from unfair treatment of unmarried adults under America's legal apparatus governing estates and insurance. When someone dies, who gets what? When someone gets sick, whose policy pays for whom? Marital partners and bloodlines have automatic standing. Contractual relationships, such as cohabiting or gay relationships, aren't automatically recognized, and, in some cases, can't be recognized.
This lack of legal status is responsible for gays' demanding marriage or civil unions or some equivalent status that's recognized in law. Coverage under a partner's health insurance policy is especially important.
If we abstract from this legal sideshow, the moral question boils down to this: Is an Orthodox ruler morally permitted to recognize contractual freedom even if the resulting contracts regulate behavior contrary to Church teaching, such as homosexuality or polygamy?
Isn't it insane that you even have to make that statement? It should be self-evident -- but for the relentless, ideologically driven propaganda of celebrity and pop culture in the past decade. Tolerance ... of course. Normalization ... no. Do we love every person, regardless of their passions and sin? Yes, of course. But we do not baptize sin and so nullify the possibility of repentance and transformation through the Holy Spirit. Each of us must repent of our corruption and brokenness.
ReplyDeleteFor many, gay marriage is a matter of equal rights, and people view as bigotted and hateful, not to mention narrow-minded, anyone who is unwilling to grant equal rights to all 'couples'.
ReplyDeleteSo no, in the current climate, which would normalize jsut about everything, it is not insane that we have to keep repeating, homosexuality is an emotional disorder, and a serious one at that, and no, we do not bless emotional disorders.
John, I would have commented at Perry's blog, but Wordpress wanted me to sign up for something just to post a comment.
ReplyDeleteThis whole gay marriage thingy stems from unfair treatment of unmarried adults under America's legal apparatus governing estates and insurance. When someone dies, who gets what? When someone gets sick, whose policy pays for whom? Marital partners and bloodlines have automatic standing. Contractual relationships, such as cohabiting or gay relationships, aren't automatically recognized, and, in some cases, can't be recognized.
This lack of legal status is responsible for gays' demanding marriage or civil unions or some equivalent status that's recognized in law. Coverage under a partner's health insurance policy is especially important.
If we abstract from this legal sideshow, the moral question boils down to this: Is an Orthodox ruler morally permitted to recognize contractual freedom even if the resulting contracts regulate behavior contrary to Church teaching, such as homosexuality or polygamy?
"Where orthodoxy is optional, orthodoxy will sooner or later be proscribed." John Richard Neuhaus
ReplyDeleteLook what just happened in Denmark...