Are there some valid objections from homosexual defenders under this article? Yes, there are; as an orthodox Catholic, I admit it. The claim that some comments and articles may be homophobic probably has some truth to it.
However…
I will tell you that we Catholics (including gay orthodox Catholics) do not appreciate nor respect the backlash and intolerance we receive simply from opposing same-sex marriage. There is loud and significant number of people on the same-sex marriage advocating side that proclaims anyone who opposes same-sex marriage as being guilty of “hatred”, “bigotry”, and “homophobic”. To these “if you don’t agree with me you’re a bigot” people, we know not whether to laugh at the hypocrisy or cry at the sincerity. If you want to know why we believe what we believe, allow me to offer an extremely brief defense:
I could write multiple books about why we don’t accept it, but the first and foremost reason we don’t accept it is because the foundation of marriage is procreation. Procreation and the raising of healthy children is the primary function of marriage, at least that’s how we define marriage. Procreation is not possible between same-sex couples. Furthermore, as data substantiates, children are better off when raised with a mom and dad- especially *their* mom and dad. The mother and father play equally important roles in the raising of a child. If a child is raised by two dads, he is deprived of a mother, which is a grave tragedy. If a child is raised by two mothers, he is deprived of a father, which is a grave tragedy. We believe in purity of heart and innocence, love that is born out of self pleasure, and virginity. Therefore, we consider abstinence the highest expression of love, and since homosexual sex can never produce children, it renders the sex act to nothing but pleasure, and thusly to us cannot be condoned.
The primary argument used in favor of same-sex marriage is the fact that homosexuals are “born” that way, or more accurately, they have no control over their same-sex attraction. You might be surprised to learn then we acknowledge without discrimination that people who suffer from same-sex attraction do in-fact have no choice in it whatsoever. However, people are not “born” gay. Not only has science not proved this, but there’s also a relatively simple proof against it; if someone took one-hundred males from birth and placed them in an environment that had no other males whatsoever, and they proceeded to live their life surrounded by nothing but females, would there be any men in the one-hundred who were attracted to other men? Can they be attracted to something they’ve come into contact with? Something they’ve never even seen besides themself? Not likely.
Ironically, the argument that people have no control over who or what they are attracted actually winds up as an argument against gay marriage. If someone is going argue that gays should be able to marry because they have no control over their sexual desires, then that person should, if they are consistent with their own logic, also conclude that pedophiles- who have no control over their attraction to children- should be able to marry consenting children. Activists who proudly proclaim that they have no control over their homosexuality are turned dead silent when someone claims that he finds himself sexually attracted to horses (which, along with other types of zoophilia, is a real disorder; and to once again disprove the “born that way” claim, one wonders if they would still be attracted to specific animals if they were raised in an environment that didn’t expose them to those animals). If people can’t choose their sexual desires, why are the cries not being made for these people? Why are they not being made for pedophiles?
If you have taken the time to read this and better understand our position, then congratulations! You have earned our respect and appreciation for not just dismissing us as “bigots” without even attempting to hear our side. Most of us do actually care for homosexuals, and a few more of us may even apologize for unjust maltreatment they’ve received. We acknowledge them as equal in dignity before God. But we do not accept gay marriage because the natural law is that the male body is designed for the female body, and procreation- a fundamental component of marriage- is only possible between man and woman, and we profess this to be the best way to raise a healthy child. We also believe in striving for innocence and cleanliness of heart, while not indulging in lust that is unproductive. Homosexuals can be saints, if they follow these guidelines of true love and sacrifice. Some have suggested St. Aelred of Rievaulx was homosexual, and if he was, that makes no difference on his sainthood; if anything, it makes it all the more glorious, as he was a strong teacher of virginity among the unmarried and chastity even among the married.
So perhaps we can attempt to find common understanding of the other, instead of flinging around the terms “bigot” and “homophobe” to describe anyone who does not hold to our opinion.