MARRIAGE AS COVENANT BETWEEN
ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN
A PASTORAL
STATEMENT OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS
OF INDIANA
The
dignity of the human person, rooted in his or her creation
in the image and likeness
of God, is a fundamental principle of Catholic social
teaching. The Church upholds
the dignity of every human person,
including persons with same-sex attraction, who “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity” (Catechism
of the Catholic Church, #2358).
At
the same time, the Church upholds the dignity and sanctity of marriage, a natural institution established by God.
By its very nature, marriage
is a permanent partnership between
one man and one woman ordered
to the good of the couple and the
procreation and education
of children. It is the
foundation of the family, where children are raised and nurtured, and learn values
and virtues that help
them to grow in maturity.
It
is not within the power of either
the Church or the State to redefine
marriage since God is its author. Male-female complementarity is essential to marriage.
Marriage is a “unique” communion of persons with the potential
to bring forth human life.
With deep respect for all our brothers and sisters, we affirm the institution of marriage as the
intimate communion of life and love between
one man and one woman. Marriage is an intimate
sharing of conjugal life and love. It involves the total gift of self in a partnership for the whole of life. Only by means
of the complementarity
between a man and a woman can this total gift of self be fully given and received.
We
respect the equal dignity of all persons while upholding
the uniqueness of the covenant
of marriage as established by our Creator. The well-being of children,
of the family, and of society is closely
bound to the healthy state of marriage and respect
for its true nature and purposes.
We
urge the people of Indiana
to respect and defend the dignity and equality of all persons
as well as the truth about marriage, according
to God’s plan and laws,
with charity toward all.
Given at the Catholic Center in Indianapolis on this, the 4th day of December,
2013.
Very nice but why hasn't Glenn Tebbe, the Church lobbyist, taken a position on the marriage amendment?
ReplyDeleteHe lobbies every chance he gets for immigration reform, amnesty, vouchers etc...why not to protect marriage?
Not sure
Delete