Catholics and Wisconsin's Marriage Amendment

In typical Old Media style, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is campaigning and shilling for liberals.

True to form, the views of a handful of Left-leaning individuals are given far more weight than they deserve.

Why? The views promote the lib agenda.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

After Wisconsin's Catholic bishops weighed in with a letter to support a marriage amendment to the state's constitution, Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan said he was eager to "encourage, educate and exhort" parishioners without actually instructing them how to vote.

It turns out even some priests have publicly joined the debate. In recent weeks, a small number of priests have expressed reservations about the amendment, which would define marriage "as between one man and one woman" and deny "a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals."

"SMALL NUMBER OF PRIESTS."

I repeat, a "SMALL NUMBER OF PRIESTS" have reservations about the amendment.

There are always dissenters. Does this small group warrant front page status?

When large groups of conservatives hold rallies or protests that counter the liberal agenda, the JS manages to ignore them.

Bias? What bias?

One theologian even called for the amendment's rejection last month in a "guest opinion" for the Catholic Herald, where Dolan is not only a columnist but the publisher.

GASP! Dolan allowed a voice of dissension in his newspaper!

That's newsworthy?

The implication is that Dolan is Stalin.

Of course, the "guest opinion" wasn't silenced. That should come as no surpise.

The JS once again demonstrates how clueless it is in terms of the Catholic Church.

Father Bryan Massingale, an associate professor of moral theology at Marquette University, wrote a lengthy essay in which he struggled with the idea that "the amendment, read in its entirety, poses a dilemma for many faithful people."

"The amendment upholds certain beliefs about the uniqueness of marriage," he wrote in the Sept. 21 issue. "But it does so at a cost, namely, potentially damaging impacts upon the welfare of individuals and their children."

He also dealt with the issue of homosexuality.

"Too often, discussions of this issue treat 'those' people - specifically, gays and lesbians - as if they were an alien species," he wrote. "They are not. They are our sons and daughters; our sisters and brothers; our aunts, uncles, and cousins; our friends, neighbors, students and co-workers; our priests, ministers and parishioners. 'They' are us!"

In my personal experience, I have not encountered any fellow Catholics that treat gays and lesbians "as if they were an alien species."

They are our loved ones.

I object to Massingale's disparaging characterization of people in favor of the amendment as being bigoted and lacking compassion.

That is unfair because it's untrue.

Massingale concluded that "voting 'no' on the marriage amendment, in my judgment, is the best way to respect all of our Catholic beliefs and values."

A reprint of Massingale's opinion piece was distributed in bulletins at several local churches.

Since then, Massingale's words have continued to reverberate within the local Catholic community, his essay providing something of a boost to opponents of the amendment while also angering others who support the measure.

"I do not see myself as a person in opposition to the bishops," Massingale said Thursday in a telephone interview. "I think we are in agreement about the importance of marriage. But how do you uphold that value without compromising the human dignity of any of God's people? I think that is the discussion that is currently under way in the church right now."

In other words, The Journal Sentinel thinks Massingale is a saint.

...But Massingale says he will likely steer clear of forums on the marriage amendment. Most such events "focus more on stirring up passions than promoting enlightened insight," he said.

"Archbishop Dolan has said all along that he values respectful discussion in the church," he said. "My essay was not challenging the authority of the bishops in any way. It was looking at our Catholic tradition and trying to deal with a dilemma that many people with good conscience feel when faced with this amendment."

Milwaukee Archdiocese spokeswoman Kathleen Hohl said Massingale is free to speak out on the issues and to share his views at local parishes.

I think Massingale is misrepresenting the amendment.

He acts as if the amendment somehow dooms non-married citizens to discrimination, abuse, and suffering.

That's not true.

What the amendment does is PROTECT a cornerstone of an ordered society -- marriage.

The Wisconsin Bishops write:

Although Wisconsin law already defines marriage in a way consistent with our Catholic tradition, we believe that an amendment to our state constitution is the prudent thing to do in light of judicial and legislative actions in other states.

That's the case for the amendment in a nutshell.

Just this week, it became evident why an amendment is prudent for those believing that MARRIAGE needs to be protected.

Two words: NEW JERSEY

"Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state constitution," the court said in its 4 to 3 ruling.

That's known as legislating from the bench. That's precisely why an amendment has become necessary.

Activist judges routinely overstep their bounds. They create law rather than fulfill their duty to interpret laws. These judges should be interpreting the Constitution, not rewriting it.

Catholics have seen it happen before. Over forty million human lives have been lost through abortion since the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling -- all that death courtesy of activist judges.

The Wisconsin Bishops are NOT calling for a lack of compassion for gays and lesbians. Nothing could be further from the truth.

They write:

Support for this amendment does not imply or justify animosity towards any individual or group. Church teaching regarding the dignity of homosexual persons is clear: "They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in this regard should be avoided." (Catechism of Catholic Church #2358) Even as we ask Catholics to support this amendment, we also urge them to repudiate words and deeds that demean individuals with a homosexual orientation. Our support of this amendment has as its only motive the strengthening and defense of marriage, and should not be interpreted as hostility to any group.

Clearly, there is no intent by the Catholic Bishops to demean anyone.

The Milwaukee Archdiocese Priests Alliance, a grass-roots organization of 140 members, issued a statement this month in which it concurred with Massingale's analysis, although the organization fell short of calling on voters to reject the amendment.

"We share his well-founded fear that the amendment may be construed to deny rights and services, including health care, not only to those in civil unions but many other citizens of Wisconsin as well, irrespective of their marital status," the statement read.

The health care argument is used so frequently and it is so weak.

It's not valid to suggest that an amendment calling for the defense of marriage between one man and one woman demands that some Wisconsin citizens will be denied health care.

Assuring health care for Wisconsinites absolutely does not require that the state recognize gay and lesbian couples as married.

And the gay marriage advocates that claim gay and lesbian couples are banned from hospital rooms when their partners have a medical emergency always seem to fail to mention that any individual can grant any other individual medical power of attorney.

Regarding medical decisions, inheritance, or other matters regulated by the state, an individual can take the necessary legal measures to assure that his or her partner will have control.

A marriage license is not required for that.

Bottom line:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel exaggerates the dissension within the Catholic Church on the Marriage Amendment.

By cherry picking and distorting, it muddies the debate.

I think the libs there are trying to convince Catholics to reject the message of the Bishops as unchristian. Massingale's opinion, as expressed in his essay, is presented as more compassionate and just.

This is an orchestrated effort to sway Catholics to vote "no" on the amendment. That's particularly evident because Massingale wrote his dissenting opinion weeks ago.

So why did The Journal Sentinel wait until now to slap the story on the front page?

Do you think there might be politics involved? Hmmm?

Of course, it's a cheap political stunt. The timing is clearly strategic. Although the story's appearance in Friday's paper was obviously politically purposeful, I doubt it will change any minds.

Let's have an honest discussion of the issue. There is no need to be deceptive.
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It should be noted that if The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wanted to give its readers a thorough, enlightening article examining the debate within the Catholic Church on the Marriage Amendment, then a complete reprint of the letter from the Wisconsin Bishops should have accompanied the piece.

(The online version of the article does offer a link. In other words, to be informed, it's time to cancel your subscription. The hard copy of The Journal Sentinel is incomplete.)

Here is the letter.