SCOTUS and The End of the World?

As a faithful, practicing Catholic I adhere as closely as I can to all the teachings of Holy Mother Church, including those that are unpopular.  This means I am on the 'wrong' side of history in many ways.  I am 'wrong' about abortion.  I am 'wrong' about homosexual marriage.  I am 'wrong' about premarital sex.  I am, in other words, much like those Catholics in the year 40 A.D. - pretty much wrong about everything the world has to offer.  With that in mind, I would like to offer my thoughts on today's Supreme Court Ruling.

I don't care.

I know, I know - I should care.  I should care deeply for the state of our collective souls and for the good of the country and the world.  However, as someone who turned her back years ago on the world and what it holds dear I am content to preach Truth, to teach Truth and to hold to Truth.  I refuse to flip out when Truth is rejected.  I set my eyes on the Prize and for me that Prize is Heaven.  If someone wishes to come along, great.  If not, that is their choice and I grant them the dignity they have by virtue of their very creation to exercise that choice.  I also believe that God is not bound by the Sacraments He instituted; rather, I am.  Therefore, as Holy Mother Church teaches, it is not up to me to decide who gets to spend eternity with Him or not.  It is up to Him.


With that in mind, I find it interesting that today's majority ruling has this written into it:

Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons. In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate. The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex.   (page 32 of the document)

The emphasis added is mine.

See, my fear is not that the world will come to an end because my cousin is married to her girlfriend.  My fear is that those who think they can kill the Church will now mount a new attack.

This attack will be against Her Teachings - Teachings that I and many others regard as Truth.  My fear is that the US government will take on the same role as so many governments have around the world and try to impose sanctions against those institutions that do not prescribe to their particular way of interpreting Holy Scripture.  My fear is that Catholic Schools will be sued, Catholic Churches will be sued and that any other religious groups (such as Hassidic Jews or the Amish) who regard Homosexual behavior as a sin will be hounded mercilessly in an attempt to force us to abandon our beliefs.

What I believe, and I continue to believe, should be as protected as the beliefs of those I find either abhorrent or even mildly distasteful.  I do not believe in white supremacy or that black is better simply by virtue of being black or that men are superior to women or that women are better than men .  However, I know there are people in this country who do believe these things.  As long as they are not calling me or mine names or trying to keep me out of the lunchroom because I am a Catholic white woman, I am fine with them believing whatever they want. 

I do not believe in homosexual marriage.  That does not matter.  My country has granted all people the right to be married and I will accept that with humility and grace.  I will not vilify anyone who seeks a marriage license that I do not think is entering into a that Sacrament. Listen - I don't think civil unions are marriages because I don't believe a government entity can witness a Sacrament.  However, I would no sooner deny the right to be taxed or tracked to an American couple who signed up at the court house than I would stand on my head and spit nickels.

Lastly, and I want this to be perfectly clear, I believe in Love.  I do not think my definition of Love is the one that others use today.  I do not think my believing in Love means I have to accept the definition the rest of the world uses. 

Holy Mother Church teaches:

220 God's love is "everlasting": "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you." Through Jeremiah, God declares to his people, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."


This is my belief.  I hope every American defends my right to hold it, just as I will defend your right to define as you wish, in accordance with the law of the land and the common good.

Now, how about those Giants?