Marriage Equals...

Have you ever thought about… equal rights for children?

cathcomm — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:33:05 +0000

In conversations about “marriage equality”, we are told that there is no difference between children raised by same-sex parents and opposite-sex parents. Is that accurate? Serveral studies have produced conflicting results on the impact of children, because they use entirely different criteria to measure what it means to “do well” as a child. Let’s break down what we do know…

Fact Sheet – Children

Key Points:

Studies which look at the wellbeing of children raised by same-sex couples often use subjective indicators of child wellbeing.
Many studies have been based on small numbers of self-selected participants, limiting their reliability.
We do not have sufficient data to definitively know the effects of same-sex parenting on children. But children are too important to be experimented with.
What we do know is that when children grow up without a mother or a father, their long-term wellbeing is harmed.

Let’s listen to what the (now adult) children of same-sex couples have to say:

Click here for an interview on Australia’s Lateline with Katy Faust on the impact of same-sex marriage on children. Katy Faust is one of the speakers in this video who was raised by lesbian parents.

Have you ever thought about… religious freedom?

cathcomm — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:26:34 +0000

In conversations about “marriage equality”, we are told religious freedom will be protected. But will it? There is good reason to believe that the legalisation of same-sex marriage will threaten religious freedom.

Fact Sheet – Religious Freedom

Key Points:

The Australian Human Rights Commission recognises religious freedom as a human right that must be protected in Australia.
International experience has shown that religious freedom has not been protected in jurisdictions where the definition of marriage has been changed to include same-sex couples.
The claim that it is possible for faith communities to continue to define religious marriage in whatever way they wish in a society that has changed the legal meaning of marriage is simply not true.
If certain voices and opinions are being silenced, it is a serious concern for all Australians and for future generations.

Download this example: Religious freedom in Australia(PDF)

Have you ever thought about… how much God loves you?

cathcomm — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 00:03:39 +0000

You may have come to this page because you experience same-sex attraction.

We want to reemphasise that God loves you! And we want to tell you that we love you! We want you to know that you are always welcome in the Catholic Church.

You may have come to this page because you have a friend or family member who has same-sex attraction – we want to reemphasise that God loves them!

Many people have interpreted the Catholic teachings on human sexuality to mean that there is no place in the Catholic Church for those who experience same-sex attraction. This is simply not true! The Church wants to encourage all people to have a personal and fruitful relationship with Christ; we want you to experience His love, His mercy and the peace that only He can bring you.

The Church wants you to be a part of the Body of Christ, which is the Church community. We also need saints of this millennium who have struggled with same-sex attraction but continued to say yes to love, purity and chastity.

Although the Church says no to same-sex marriage – it says YES to you! We want to encourage you in your spiritual journey, your prayer life and your walk with Jesus.

Here are a few great links for you if you are same-sex attracted or if you have a friend or family member who is same-sex attracted:

Gay, Catholic, and Doing Fine. Article from Lifeteen.com.
Catholics Care About Gays? The Myth Debunked. Article from Lifeteen.com.
In Pursuit: Confessions of a Gay Catholic Teenager. Book published by Lifeteen.com.

Father Mike Schmitz on same-sex attraction:

Yes to You Fr. Claude (Dusty) Burns aka Fr. Pontifex

Lyrics

Silence is Golden but there’s a time to speak,
And there are those shouting their views, but their arguments are weak
Let me get this out there and make it simple and plain
I never knew of anyone who found freedom from a hate speech in Jesus name
Reckless pastors, who judge, condemn and leave a soul to feel alone
Called to shepherd God’s people, not cast the first stone
And other leaders do no favors by cowardly choosing silence
They fail to speak the truth, and offer no guidance
A culture full of tension over the issue so where does that leave us?
Somewhere between awkward silence and gay bashing in the name of Jesus
And in the middle stands truth, a truth that can set us free
A God that calls us out of darkness to embrace our true identity
In a culture that glorifies sex and puts pleasure before all else
Is God the source of your identity or is it your sexual self?
And how do we identify and not accept a lie
Because sexual desire is just one piece of the pie
Identity is a choice a lifestyle is something you embrace
Same sex Attraction doesn’t define you and can be set in place.
A movement with semantics aimed to change and sway
There needs to be clarification when using the word gay
Does it mean one has attractions or that they choose to act them out?
Truth says there is a difference in the two that must be brought about
God loves you the way you are and the truth can set you free
There is a difference between unchosen sexual attraction and chosen identity
In marriage two become one flesh, open to life for propagation
Two of the same in union can’t reach this fulfillment of God’s creation
Nature or Nurture you didn’t choose this struggle
The Church understands and will walk with you in times of trouble
The same Church that says no when we fail to keep our sexual selves in check
Is the same Church that says no when others try to take your respect
You never are alone and the Church offers you a home as it stand for what is true.
Although the Church says no to gay marriage it still says Yes to you.

Fr. Claude (Dusty) Burns
Aka Pontifex

Desire of the Everlasting Hills

To play the documentary video you need to click on the link below:
https://vimeo.com/101135437

The Third Way: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church. A 40-minute documentary focusing on the Catholic Church’s teachings regarding homosexuality.

You are not defined by who you are attracted to. You are not simply “gay” or a “lesbian.” Your sexuality is part, but not the totality, of who you are. You are a beloved child of God, a Son or Daughter of the Almighty One, you are unrepeatable, precious and of great value. God has a plan for you and your life.

God loves you! Read the “Father’s Love Letter” to find out just how much!

Father’s Love Letter

Have you ever thought… many believe marriage equals one man & one woman?

cathcomm — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 05:40:50 +0000

We hear all the time that there is overwhelming support for “marriage equality” in Australia. We hear that Australia is “lagging behind” the rest of the world, particularly the English speaking world. But is this accurate? Let’s look at the statistics!

Fact Sheet – Statistics

Key Points:

Less than half of Australians surveyed in the Australian Marriage Equality survey “strongly support” the redefinition of marriage.
Only 28% of those who support the redefinition of marriage consider it to be a “very important” issue.
When asking people whether they support the redefinition of marriage, questions about how strong their support is, and the level of importance they attach to it, shows us that the “overwhelming support” is not that overwhelming.
Marriage is too important to be decided by a show of hands.

Did you know that 172 out of the 193-member countries of the United Nations currently define marriage as being between one man and one woman? Australia’s current law accords with laws in the overwhelming majority of countries around the world.

Have you thought about… equal legal rights?

cathcomm — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 04:44:59 +0000

In conversations about “marriage equality”, we are told that same-sex couples lack legal rights. But is that accurate? Same-sex and de-facto couples are now treated equally when it comes to tax law, protection of income, insurance, and even adoption. Same-sex couples have equal access to government entitlements and superannuation benefits as people in heterosexual relationships.

Fact Sheet – Legal Rights

Key Points:

Both State and Federal laws have recognised the rights of individuals in same-sex relationships in Australia.
People in same-sex relationships equal access to government entitlements and superannuation benefits as people in heterosexual relationships.
A redefinition of marriage is not necessary to ensure that same-sex couples are protected by the law.
Treating different things differently is not unjust discrimination.

Have you ever thought about… equality for other relationships?

cathcomm — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 04:26:39 +0000

In conversations about “marriage equality”, we are told that changing the legal definition of marriage will not lead to expanding the definition to other types of relationships. But it will! If the Government recognises a relationship in law, simply because the relationship is based on love, there is no logical reason why other types of relationships should be excluded from the Marriage Act (1961).

Fact Sheet – Other Relationships

Key Points:

Marriage is about love… but so are other types of relationships. Love on its own is not why the Government should recognise a relationship as a “marriage.”
Any principle that would justify the legal recognition of same‐sex relationships would also justify the legal recognition of polyamorous and non‐sexual relationships.
This is not fear mongering, this is already happening in jurisdictions that have changed their local marriage laws to include same-sex couples.
Recognising any type of loving relationship as a “marriage” goes against the reason we have the Marriage Act in the first place.

Let’s have a conversation…

Have you thought about… equal protection of human rights?

cathcomm — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:05:11 +0000

In conversations about “marriage equality”, we are constantly told that marriage is a human right, and it is. However, rights are not absolute, nor do they exist in isolation. They must be considered in light of other rights.

Fact Sheet – Human Rights

Key Points:

The “right to marry” does not exist on its own. It is a right to marry and found a family.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has said that the “right to marry” does not include a right for same sex couples to marry.
Australia has signed UN treaties which say that a child has the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents, and that in all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.
This means that in the case of a conflict of rights (even though no “right” to same-sex marriage exists), the rights of the child prevail.

Let’s have a conversation…