At the weekend, Cardinal O’Brien, one of the country’s most senior Catholics, made some very outspoken comments about gay marriage. He wishes to retain the definition of marriage as a lifelong commitment solely between a man and a woman. He quotes the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and implies that widening the definition of marriage to include same sex couples would represent “a grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right”.
Sadly, the Cardinal fails to consider another basic human right – the right to freely exist and to love. There are five countries in the world where homosexuality is punishable by death and over 70 others, where being lesbian or gay carries a prison sentence. This of course does not include all the countries where violent homophobia and transphobia is encouraged or tolerated by the state.
I have yet to hear of a heterosexual couple who feel that their love and commitment to each other is lessened because others are allowed to celebrate and cherish love too. However, when people are killed, attacked or imprisoned, simply because of how our God created them and for whom they love, then we are all diminished as human beings.
Let us pray this week for freedom to love and to be fully loved, without fear.
God bless
Cecilia
Sadly, the Cardinal fails to consider another basic human right – the right to freely exist and to love. There are five countries in the world where homosexuality is punishable by death and over 70 others, where being lesbian or gay carries a prison sentence. This of course does not include all the countries where violent homophobia and transphobia is encouraged or tolerated by the state.
I have yet to hear of a heterosexual couple who feel that their love and commitment to each other is lessened because others are allowed to celebrate and cherish love too. However, when people are killed, attacked or imprisoned, simply because of how our God created them and for whom they love, then we are all diminished as human beings.
Let us pray this week for freedom to love and to be fully loved, without fear.
God bless
Cecilia
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