It was not a proud day for the State of New York when the legal definition of marriage was changed to include same-sex partners. Tragic fruits will result from turning our backs on God and the respect for faith of the forefathers of our country. 

All people, including homosexuals, deserve compassion and love, but Jesus Christ was clear that marriage can only be the lifelong union of one man and one woman. That covenant was ordained by God and the state has no authority to alter this eternal truth. 

It is also disappointing that this bill was an eleventh hour result of special interest politics in Albany. Had more time been taken to thoughtfully consider this issue and listen to each other, a better way could have been found. No matter what slings and arrows may be thrown, people of faith must bear witness to the teachings of Jesus Christ, marriage, and the family as instituted by God. 

We are thankful for courageous men like Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York who is speaking out on this topic. Please also see the book Sex, God & Marriage to discover the beauty and fulfillment of marriage as God intended it, and view the interview on EWTN for a discussion of this topic with Father Benedict Groeschel.

 

---

Your Turn. Tell us what you thought about this article:

Responses

I think it's a day to be proud of! God created people gay, straight, and whatever inbetween. Gay people have enough prejudices to deal with already -- why heap criticism on them when they want to make a formal, binding commitment to love and support another human being? I hope for their marriages the same thing I hope for all marriages: that they will be loving and monogamous and that they will help nurture the communities they live in. Which is better, gay and lesbian people behaving in loving ways, or religious groups criticizing them for doing so?

Sarah
OH, USA

---

When our we, as members of the western Christian culture, going to stop all our PC nonsense and speak out for what used to be called common sense?

Homosexuality, besides being self-defeating, abnormal, and unsustainable behaviour, is totally against nature and good common sense.  How can a society survive if we all became gay?  It couldn't.

Please God, raise up some charismatic person who will dare to challenge the status quo, Hollywood and the media and lead us all back to sanity while there's still time.

It HAS to happen before long.  Our path at the moment is absolutely suicidal.

Derrick Neve
Marçon, France

---

Proud of what???????????? In GOD we Trust on the mighty dollar. Imagine at school teaching children that their MOTHER & FATHER are of the same sex. Not even the animals. What is happening to mankind.
Yes, NEW YORK YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THIS LAW.

Charles

---

Sad.  We are living in the perilous times in accordance with 2 Timothy 3:1-9.

Michael P Gardner
Dayton, Ohio

---

This article is on the mark.  Here in Australia, family and moral values are also being eroded and there is a push by some to legalize gay marriage.  While I do not advocate discrimination, only bad fruit will come from such an impure union. 
May we come to our senses and defend our faith in Jesus. 
God loves us all, but he does not tolerate sin.

John
Melbourne, Australia

---

Frightning, to say the least. Thank you for your encouraging words Mr. Arnold. Where are all the so called Christians of New York? Speak up. It's getting too late.

Benjamin

---

...I don't understand it, .... but I feel sorry for those born gay. It seems like a very challenging life, and I'm not sure why anyone would wish that challenge onto anyone else. I don't think its helpful for us to call them sinners or suggest they are possessed by the devil or something.

The bible "does" say certain things "clearly" and that cannot be disputed. Gay marriage, abortion, homosexuality, ... so many issues of the bible were left intentionally vague.

The "real" issue at hand is the economics involved. Conservatives support big business and big business doesn't want to pay for the health care and the government doesn't want to receive less taxes, which they would if gay marriages were legal. This is easily solved. "Stop" the scam which is rewarding married people with lower taxes and free health care for spouses. Why should "any" company have to pay for the spouse of the person you hire? Same for taxes, ... no more discounts to "get married." And the same goes for kids. If you need the 300.00 a year discount so bad, you shouldn't be having kids anyhow. Once you remove these free "perks" for marriages, this issue will end like a balloon losing air.

This is not a save your soul issue, its money issue. Stop rewarding people to have kids and get pregnant. My gosh, I have to get a license even to own a dog, but anyone can get married, and have children with absolutely no counseling or education on the ramifications of the decision. Its too easy to get married/have kids and its making a mess of our society.
Gkepea

---

You are right that being gay can be difficult. Although I am biracial, I am straight, and I have been shocked to see that my gay friends have experienced much more discrimination and outright persecution than I ever have. Anyone who claims that gay people "choose" to be gay needs only to spend one minute in a gay person's shoes to understand how absurd that is. No one would choose to be treated this way.

I think you are also correct that there are money issues that make some people feel threatened by gay marriage. However, the basic issue is fear of The Other, isn't it? My question is, how is that some Christians (not all) can recognize this fear when it comes to race, social class, developmental or physical handicap, etc. and then be blind to it when it comes to people who were born gay?

All the evidence is that homosexuality begins to be expressed very early, and regardless of the child's environment. It is the exception rather than the rule (otherwise, as has been pointed out, the species would be less likely to survive) but it is not unnatural for those who are born gay. Children whose homosexuality is rejected by their families suffer terribly. Such young people are a significant suicide risk. Would they choose this kind of anguished life?

All who read this, please know that I am a committed Christian. That doesn't mean I park my brain, my reasoning, my intuition or my compassion. Christians, please speak out in favor of monogamous and loving relationships -- gay and straight.

Sarah
OH

---

I am very thankful for this article.  The fact that homosexuality is deemed normal is going to bring disaster to society because it is completely against God, the maker of our world and universe.  He created our earth in such a beautiful, harmonious and organic way.  The arrogance of mankind will be its destruction, I feel.  If we have the audacity to live outside the natural laws of nature by having relationships of homosexuality, something has gone deeply wrong in the soul of mankind.  And to legalize it shows insanity.

I was involved in homo-sexual relationships as a young person because I was searching for someone to love me, because I was full of lust and had no boyfriend, and because I felt unlovable.  I am thankful I did not continue on this way.  Please, if there are any young people out there reading this, please listen—there is a right and a wrong in life.  Doing whatever you feel at the moment may seem like freedom, but take it from a survivor, it is your ticket to bondage and you will not be happy until you look for meaning in life and a purpose.  I found meaning and purpose in Jesus Christ, who forgives and heals sin-sick souls.

Sandie

---

I too am so ashamed that my elected officials and media could align themselves with such a sinful agenda. I have tried to secure the wording of this new "law" and have asked questions at the Governors office and ABC NEWS but got no reply. The LAW that I grew up with not only forbid my Town Clerk from allowing gays to marry , but also fathers and daughters, mothers and sons and even first cousins. Does this new " law " allow TWO BROTHERS, TWO SISTERS, A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER or A FATHER AND SON TO MARRY  as long as they " claim they are gay "? Do we have to find a secular basis to fight this law so they will listen ?
My first thoughts on this whole issue was to pray deep and long about it. I feel like God expects us to take an active role to get this law revoked.

Sincerely, 
Linda 

---

Gay marriage will never succeed.  It is unholy and unnatural.  Try as they might it will always fail because it lacks the critical ingredients for a marriage: the blessings of God and the context for procreation.  It is a sad day that the deviant rights of a very vocal minority are being imposed on the majority all in the name of being politically correct.  But I say this, look back at every civilization that has embraced this unholy practice and see the result.  Lest you think otherwise, this is a time for us to beg and ask forgiveness and not a cause for celebration, for the future of our country is gravely in peril.

Marlon
Guyana