Today’s Gospel states that we must love God more than family, carry our cross, and lose our lives in order to find them. In other words, we must take a stand even when it is counter-cultural. As a priest I must speak out at times. My soul depends on it.
So today I want to speak on controversial issues. However, abortion and pornography I’ve covered in the past. So today I want to talk about issues that are perhaps even more controversial, namely, contraception and gay marriage.
These are issues that a lot of people struggle with for good reasons. Still, I stand by what the Church teaches. Let’s start with contraception. It’s a hard teaching. Many people don’t feel financially ready for children and don’t want to give up a child for adoption. They feel like contraception is the only solution. Well, for one thing, the Church teaches natural family planning is an approved method for not getting pregnant. It’s not a hundred percent full-proof, but that’s because the Church wants us to be open to the possibility of life. Why? It’s not something the Church made up. It is scriptural. In Genesis, God tells men and women to be fruitful and multiply.
Also, there can be bad side effects for many forms of contraception. For example, when using some forms of the pill, for a period of two years or more, miscarriage can result. A lot of folks are unaware of this, but it can happen. Long term side effects can also include cancer, gallbladder disease, heart attack and strokes.
Well, another difficult teaching is gay marriage. First, I want to say that the Church does not teach having a same sex attraction is a sin. In fact, the opposite. Having a same sex attraction is a heavy cross that can make one even more worthy of Heaven. Prejudice is still brutal toward those who have a same sex attraction, particularly in high school. Every soul is beautiful, created by God, and we need to see the light they radiate without hate and prejudice.
Having said that, the Church teaches sex is for procreation, unity and holiness. Though same sex couples may have a sincere love for one another, sexual acts that are not procreative are disordered. Also, the Church teaches that a child has a right to father and mother. A father can do things that a mother can’t and vice versa. We need both role models.
On the other hand, the Church teaches that the psychological genesis of same sex attraction is unknown. However it comes about, and there can be various reasons: being born with it, abuse, psychological factors, outside pressures . . . etc, people don’t generally choose it. It is a difficult burden and cross. Therefore, we must have great compassion and love.