J. Peter Sartain says in this video that “human society would be harmed beyond repair,” should Washington state’s marriage equality law not be voted down in November, and suggests that marriage equality will have consequences “until the end of time.” The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seattle adds he wants to make clear that the Church and its position on Referendum 74 (R-74) are “not against anything,” merely for enshrining marriage into law as only one-man, one-woman — which is by definition, discrimination.
WATCH: Gay Marriage Ban ‘Not Intended To Be Hurtful’ Says Archbishop Leading Charge
Calling marriage “a gift” from God that is the “foundation of all human society, and must be protected, nurtured, and held as sacred by us all.” Which, is exactly what legalizing same-sex couples to enter the institution of civil marriage would accomplish. Given the fact that divorce rates and child homelessness are lower in areas where marriage equality is legal, one would think that the Church might embrace expanding the institution.
“Just as God is the creator of man and woman, so is he the author of marriage,” Sartain says. God, Sartain forgets, also — by his logic — created homosexuals, and, it would follow, therefore is the author of same-sex marriage.
“To suddenly change the God-given and time honored understanding of marriage would be a very harmful thing for our state and for the world. Put simply, it is not in the compelling interest of the state to change the definition of marriage. There are many ramifications for such a redefinition. Suffice it to say, should marriage be redefined in our state the very foundational nature of marriage for the good and strength of human society would be harmed beyond repair.”
Claiming “it is not in the compelling interest of the state to change the definition of marriage,” is a lie. Period. Anyone who is in a same-sex relationship and raising children knows this is a lie. Marriage is also about protecting children — which Sartain acknowledges, stating, it is “for the birth and rearing of children,” something same-sex couples do every day.
A few points to ponder: Archbishop Sartin and his Church benefit from generous tax-exempt policies of the United States government. They literally pay practically no taxes whatsoever, so, in essence, you are helping to fund this message through the taxes you pay to make up for those the Archdioceses do not. How much? $71 billion annually.
Second, Sartain ignores the fact that we live in a secular world, and no one is forcing the church to change its definition of marriage or recognize — much less, sanctify — the marriage of anyone they choose not to.
Lastly, Zack Ford at Think Progress notes:
Suffice it to say, claiming that the Church isn’t anti-gay, just pro-straight, is no more convincing than white supremacists claiming they aren’t anti-black, just pro-white.
Via On Top