I have been writing this column for the past 13 years or so. In that time I have addressed many subjects; some light-hearted, some not so much so. I have offended some people but, if the feed-back I get is an indication, have generally pleased more.
This is, however, an opinion piece and, on some topics I have very strong opinions. Such is the case in today’s column. If anyone wants to comment, either pro or con, Editor Greg Walsh will be happy to receive your letter.
On Nov. 20 an unusual coalition of more than 140 signers representing Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Protestant Christians released a document titled “Manhattan Declaration.” By 9:45 a.m., Monday, Nov. 23, the number of signers had risen to 32,507 people from all walks of life. The document takes a firm stand against trends and actions at the Federal and state levels across the country: 1. Abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide; 2. Same-sex “marriage” and 3. Assaults on freedom of religion.
Anyone interested in reading the document can find it online at www.ManhattanProject.org.
I have written on abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide before and expressed my opposition to any of these actions; I have only one additional comment. Some people have said, “Oh well, the embryo doesn’t become human until such and such a stage of development.” My guess is - and it‘s only a guess - the moment the sperm enters the ovum, the DNA of the new organism is set and that DNA is unmistakably human.
On to same-sex marriage.
If two guys or two girls want to set up house together and participate in an ersatz “marriage” rite, I consider that to be a personal and private matter and not my concern. What does concern me, though, is that, when governments at various levels legitimize these unions, they are denigrating the very basic societal idea of marriage and family. These are the foundations upon which societies are built and maintained; if the foundation is weakened, the whole structure is in very real danger of collapse.
Some people would deny the natural law, but it is very real and always will be. I cannot think of a single society, from the most primitive to the most sophisticated, that has not been built on the family. If it began to veer from that path, it soon found itself on the downward slippery slope.
If governments want to guarantee to “civil unions” the same benefits as those provided to married couples, so be it. If legislatures want to extend equal protection to folks whose gender identification is different from the main stream, that is, in my opinion, a human right. But to extend to them the full dignity of marriage puts all of society in peril. For some people, it is a matter of morals; for others it is sheer survival.
Let’s turn, finally, to freedom of religion. If you don’t think Christians are facing a coming persecution square in the teeth, consider this:
After TV Evangelist John Hagee had insulted “homosexuals” in one of his sermons, he was sued and the plaintiffs, citing the Fairness Doctrine, demanded equal time to defend themselves from his pulpit. His attorney defended him on Constitutional grounds and won. I am not a fan of Hagee but, if this can happen to one clergyman, it stands to reason it can happen to others.
When Belmont Abbey College, a Benedictine institution in North Carolina, pulled a section from its employee insurance coverage it met with immediate protest. The section, authorizing coverage of abortion and contraceptives, had been erroneously included in new coverage for the college. One person complained to the N. C. Insurance Commission and was supported by the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D. C. Eight others complained to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington. Fortunately, none of the complaints is in the courts at this time. The college has said, however, that it will close rather than provide benefits that violate its tenets of 2,000 years.
A number of speakers, Catholic and Protestant, on national television have noted that, if healthcare reform passes with abortion issues intact, the churches will find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Some have noted the priests and ministers may find themselves in jail.
A group of Catholic bishops has found themselves in conflict with a number of U. S. Representatives because they have spoken out in opposition to the inclusion of abortion in the reform bills. The representatives have called for loss of the diocese’s tax exemptions.
The future does not look bright for those of us who believe.
November 25th 2009 - 9:11AM