Letter on marriage clarifies opposition to divorce, cohabitation and same sex unions

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Baltimore, Md., Nov 18, 2009 / 02:00 pm (CNA).- On the final day of their annual meeting, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a pastoral letter on marriage titled “Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan,” which restates and clarifies the Church's teachings to empower those seeking to defend marriage against the cultural currents of cohabitation, contraception, divorce and same sex unions.

“Thank goodness this is out there, clearly stated, with ample documentation and very reasonably put forward,” Baltimore's Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien told the Baltimore Sun. “I think it's going to be a very positive document.”

The pastoral letter does not represent any new teaching on the part of the Catholic Church or the USCCB. Instead, it strives to be a definitive source used as a reference for those defending traditional marriage.

Noting that “couples too often reflect a lack of understanding of the purposes of marriage,” the document states that “marriage is a lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive fidelity, by mutual consent between a man and a woman, and ordered towards the good of the and the procreation of offspring.”

“Marriage is not merely a private institution,” the bishops wrote. “It is the foundation for the family, where children learn the values and virtues that will make good Christians as well as good citizens,” which demonstrates the integral nature of marriage in society.

The letter emphasizes that “male-female complementarity is essential to marriage.” This is because “man and woman are two different ways of being a human person.” “They are different as male and female, but the same as human persons who are uniquely suited to be partners or helpmates for each other.”

Also important to the complementarity aspect of marriage is the fact that “marriage does not exist solely for the reproduction of another member of the species, but for the creation of a communion of persons.” Thus, the document asserts, marriage has two ends or purposes. It is both unitive and procreative. This means it is oriented towards the good of the spouses as well as the raising of children. These two goods of marriage cannot be separated.

The pastoral letter also addresses the sanctity of marriage as a vocation and gives encouragement in dealing with the threats of contraception, cohabitation, divorce, and the call for legal recognition of same sex unions.

"People are entering into marriage probably without an adequate appreciation of the beauty of marriage and the gift that it is," Archbishop O'Brien said. "The document is meant to strengthen Christian marriage, to prepare people who are going to be married before they enter that bond to appreciate what the commitment is, and also to open a discussion in our culture as to what the differences are today and to try to reach some common ground."

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Karl
USA 11/20/2009 08:19 AM EST

Long on words, short on action. Not impressive. What was impressive was the end of this article by Mike McManus and the Bishop of Evansville, whom I have some respect for in light of this disclosure. *************************************** Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger of Evansville proposed an amendment noting that in more than 200 cities Catholic priests have joined Protestant clergy in creating Community Marriage Policies to reverse these trends by training couples in healthy marriages to mentor others. He stated, "Bishop John McCarthy initiated a Community Marriage Policy in Austin, TX in 1996 and dropped the divorce rate 50% within 5 years," as did six other cities. He also asserted that in four out of five divorces, "one spouse wishes to remain married, but is legally silenced by No Fault" divorce laws that allow one spouse to unilaterally end a marriage. He proposed a change in state law: "In cases involving minor children, require mutual consent for marital termination, unless a major fault, such as adultery, abandonment or physical abuse, can be proven." (Disclosure: Bishop Gettelfinger asked me to help draft the amendment.) It was rejected and was not debated on the floor. The Letter has 60 pages of eloquence, but few concrete strategies for reform. *************************************** Good job Mr. McManus A Former Catholic

Published by: Alan
St. Augustine, FL 11/19/2009 05:58 PM EST

Francis Xavier T Your examples do not show any contradictions. “For example, on Divorce issue on page 25, the bishops stated they understand the pain of those who are divorced.” Even if you think they are wrong the Bishops still have not gone against anything they have said. “And then the bishops urge the divorcees to make frequent use of Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation ‘but’ they also encourage the divorcees to remarry civilly.” The letter does not state that. Rather it explains, “We also offer encouragement to those who have divorced and remarried civilly. Although the Church cannot recognize such subsequent unions as valid marriages, she hopes that people in this situation will participate in parish life and attend the Sunday Eucharist, even without receiving the Sacrament.” Encouraging a divorcee to remarry is a lot different than offering encouragement to those who have already divorced and remarried. It is the difference between encouraging someone to do wrong and offering encouragement to one who has done wrong, after the transgression has occurred.

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 11/19/2009 05:11 PM EST

Dr. Guy D.: Perhaps you have talked to a few priests who are locked up in prisons like I did then you will believe. You will be shocked like I was. You are right about the divorced and the Holy Eucharist issue--only--in theory. But have you checked how many applications of anulment in a year in America versus the actual approval of anulment? You will have a better chance of winning a lottery jackpot.

Published by: Dr. Guy D.
Chicago, Illinois 11/19/2009 02:16 AM EST

Contrary to the pontification of Francis Xavier the Church does not ban divorcees from receiving the Eucharist. Re-marriage befoe an annulment would be the reason for not receiving the Eurcarist that is not the case just because a person is divorced. Are we really to beleive that clergy in any diocese "confide homosexual tendencies" to FXT - ? Possibly his obsession on this topic tells us more aout him than they!

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 11/18/2009 04:38 PM EST

Francis Xavier T, yes you are correct, I just read the whole letter of Love and Life in the Divine Plan and I stand corrected, in my zeal to give some credit to the USCCB I didn't read the whole letter which I usually do. Yes I know what these people have done to Our Lord's Catholic Church, I know that the seminaries were and probably are still filled with homosexuals, modernists and liberals. They will receive their do punishment. To Ben in Philly PA: How bout those Phillies?!!

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 11/18/2009 04:07 PM EST

Francis. I read the letter of Love and Life in the Divine Plan by the USCCB, a letter written by all the unmarried priests. They got some issues right but some wrong. In fact, they contradict themselves. For example, on Divorce issue on page 25, the bishops stated they understand the pain of those who are divorced. That is a total lie. And then the bishops urge the divorcees to make frequent use of Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation "but" they also encourage the divorcees to remarry civilly, although the Church will not recognize the subsequence marriage and will ban the divorcees from receiving the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. What good does it do to go attending Catholic Mass all the times without being eligible to receive the Holy Communion? Francis. You have no idea how much pain these leaders of the Catholic Church have inflicted on the Catholic Christians, especially their fantasy of abusing little boys sexually. I can attest to you that I personally know some priests who have homosexually tendency. They confide that with me.

Published by: Ben
Philly, PA 11/18/2009 03:27 PM EST

Well I'm sure the Bishops will be thrilled to hear they've earned the approval of Francis on the CNA Comment Board! Sorry to be snarky, but honestly, I can not for the life of me understand the people who think they're more Catholic than the successors of the Apostles & often even the Pope. If you'd like to be a part of a church where YOU get to define Orthodoxy & make your own judgements about right and wrong, there are about 30,000 Protestant options, or you can even found your own! And thats not attacking Protestants; they're honest about what they are and what they believe. However if you want to be Catholic, you are obliged to listen to what the Bishops & the Holy Father teaches! God Bless.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 11/18/2009 02:40 PM EST

This letter is actually pretty good and orthodox. It reaffirms the dogmas of the Catholic Church on Marriage, divorce, homosexuality, and fornication which come from Holy Scripture, tradition and natural law. It's about time something truly Catholic came out of a USCCB meeting. I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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