Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
A Jesuit cardinal has become the latest Church leader to speak out forcefully against a government’s push towards same-sex marriage, and has called on his nation’s contemplatives to pray fervently to prevent such laws.
According to an article in tomorrow’s L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina, has said that if a proposed bill giving same-sex couples the opportunity to marry and adopt children should be approved, it will “seriously damage the family.”
He made the statement in a letter addressed to each of the four monasteries in Argentina, asking the contemplatives to pray “fervently” that legislators be strengthened to do the right thing.
He wrote: “In the coming weeks, the Argentine people will face a situation whose outcome can seriously harm the family…At stake is the identity and survival of the family: father, mother and children. At stake are the lives of many children who will be discriminated against in advance, and deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God. At stake is the total rejection of God’s law engraved in our hearts.”
Cardinal Bergoglio continued: “Let us not be naive: this is not simply a political struggle, but it is an attempt to destroy God’s plan. It is not just a bill (a mere instrument) but a ‘move’ of the father of lies who seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.”
The cardinal also noted that “today the country, in this particular situation, needs the special assistance of the Holy Spirit to bring the light of truth on to the darkness of error, it need this advocate to defend us from being enchanted by many fallacies that are tried at all costs to justify this bill and to confuse and deceive the people of good will.”
The cardinal explained why he has called on the nation’s Carmelites for “their prayers and sacrifice, the two invincible weapons of Santa Teresa.”
“I invoke the Lord to send his Spirit on senators who will be voting, that they do not act in error or out of expediency, but according to what the natural law and the law of God shows them,” he said. Addressing the contemplatives, he called on them to pray for the legislators and their families, “that the Lord visit, strengthen and console them. Pray for the senators to do good for their country.”
Cardinal Bergoglio said the bill will be discussed in the Senate after July 13. “We look to Saint Joseph, Mary and the Child Jesus and ask that they fervently defend the family in Argentina at this particular time,” he said. “We remember what God said to his people in a moment of great anguish: ‘This war is not yours, but God’s’: defend us, then, in this war of God.”
Argentina already permits civil unions. Last Wednesday, a senate committee approved a bill which conferred on civil unions the same benefits as those who are married, but prohibited adoption and assisted reproduction.
L’Osservatore Romano says that there is growing opposition to the legislative proposals, and many are opposed to same-sex marriage, not only Catholics. “They also consider the proposed legislation a serious threat to the natural family,” it writes.
President Fernández de Kirchner has stated that she would not block the bill from becoming law if it was approved by the Senate.
Same-sex marriage has been very much in the headlines in Argentina over the past year after a series of marriages were approved and then overturned by local and supreme courts.
Earlier this year, Cardinal Carlo Caffarra of Bologna issued a doctrinal note warning against same-sex marriage, calling it “devastating” to society, and saying it would cause one of the “pillars of our legal system” to collapse.
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Yawn. Fire and brimstone. Why does it never actually happen?
The Catholic Church is nothing more than a group of fear mongers out to get your money.
Paul, can you substantiate those claims?
Paul, I never quite understand those who argue that the Church is just out to get your money. Lets take JP II for an example: do you suggest this charismatic, talented young man forsook the chance to have a wife, family, and successful career and became a poor priest living in fear of violence from the communist regime all so that he could work up the Church ranks and decades later become Pope and get to live in the Vatican? If that was really his devious plan the whole time then props to him for pulling it off, but I wouldn’t really suggest anyone else try it….In this case I especially don’t understand the argument. In what way could Cardinal Bergoglio possibly gain financially by warning that same sex marriage will degrade the strength of the family? Did it ever cross your mind that, even if you don’t agree with them, Church leaders really are speaking out of goodwill and genuine concern.
Thanks God,there is at least the church, who speaks about the truth of man and God.
God saves us from every evil and his plans.
The Catholic church is one of the only institutions out there still trying to uphold the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught about the evils of sexual license and the death it brings upon one, in this life and the one to come.
The ability to do a thing is not freedom, that’s license and it all too often leads to slavery (e.g. alcoholism, pornography, sexual license). The Catholic church yearns that everyone be free, freedom being to choose to do what is morally good. The more often one chooses the morally good path, the happier, joyful, peaceful and free-er one becomes. Cardinal Bergoglio did a very fine job of pointing that out.
Those who believe that eating and mating are the only vocations for humans, no amount of arguments, no scripture, no religion will be of any use. They will have the next step in their progressive path , that is legal and governmental sanction for incest and union with dogs, pigs and so on. Who can stop them. The hidden agenda is murder of morality, Catholic Church and then all religions from the face of the earth.
On what facts does the good Cardinal base his claim that same sex marriage will destroy the family?
I thought we were followers of Christ. Why then did he not prohibit same sex marriage, at least say one word about it?
Why do our worlds religions pick homosexuality to attack? Just read the old testament…. We don’t practice or even consider most of it relevant, except when it comes to homosexuality.
The Church is attacking and persecuting a group of people. Just as the Church was attacked and persecuted in the past. The bible tells us (old testament) “the persecuted will become the persucutors….”
Bro. Luke
http://wbztv.com/local/gay.marriage.unconstitutional.2.1794703.html
Fed Judge: Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional
Now what?
Bro. Luke seems to be a good thinker. I would like to ask him where dis he see Church attacking homosexuals ? The Church teaches that theft is sin, adultery is sin, infidelity is sin, idol worship is sin and so on. But the Church never attack or harass any thief, any adulterer, unfaithful husband/wife or idol worshipper. Dear ” brother”, kindly read discuss and decide.The Catholic Church is not a zoo for saints, but a hospital for sinners. It seems you are confused as to what constitute “sin” If you are sincerely interested, I can help you.
J.M.J.
Let us Pray to The Holy Family and ask for their protection and intersession.
J.M.J.
that should read intercession.
K.C.Thomas, if you really believe that the Church never persecuted anyone, you really do not understand the history of your own faith. How many people died at the hands of the Church for the “crime” of heresy? What would have been Galileo’s fate if he hadn’t recanted? How many indigenous people were put to death for not converting to Christianity? Do you really think Catholicism was spread by prayer and kindness? It has always been by the end of the sword. And what of the Cathars and other sects who wandered off the path and were viewed as rivals and challenges to doctrinal purity? Few organizations on earth can match the Catholic Church for its rich history of cruelty and violence. Even your hero JPII had to apologize for this, a few centuries too late, of course. And he notably left out persecution of gay people in his apology. I guess putting people to death for the “crime” of homosexuality is acceptable and does not warrant an apology. The Catholic Church is not about saving souls or lives. It has always been about gathering and holding on to power. I look forward to the day humanity can be free of the shackles of organized religion.
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