MOST REVEREND ANTHONY G. MEAGHER

ARCHBISHOP OF KINGSTON

390 Palace Road Kingston, Ontario K7L 4T-3 · 6131548-4461 Fax 613/548-4744

To be read at all Masses in the Parishes of the Archdiocese of Kingston on August 2 and 3, 2003

1 August 2003

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

As your Archbishop, I wish to share with you these thoughts on the issues facing our society with regard to same-sex unions. The main question is this: Should a society equate a same-sex union with the union of a man and a woman in marriage? My answer is "No".

The role of the politician in this situation is very important. As I see it, a politician is obligated to show leadership and to support issues that bring about the maximum good for the whole of society. A problem arises if the politician perceives a conflict between the demand of society and the moral teachings of his or her faith. In such situations, the politician has the obligation to vote against such legislation. There may, however, be occasions when the politician is faced with the situation of having to vote for something which he or she believes not to be good, but better than the only politically possible alternative.

Guidelines for those in public life have been provided in the document published this week by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, entitled: Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons. As is reiterated in this document, the morality of two people having a sexual relationship outside of marriage is clear-cut in Roman Catholic teaching, and the answer is simply that this is wrong.

Looking at the issue strictly from the point of view of the good of society, it does not make sense to "homogenize" all loving relationships by treating them as equal. Every culture has seen the intrinsic value of stable, "mother and father with children" families. Moreover, societies have encouraged this "family" by giving it unique support, both financially and culturally. If that unique support is removed by some sort of homogenization process, the family - "mother and father with children" - will have its support and importance weakened.

The whole issue of same-sex unions is not as simple as one might think at first glance. It is extremely important that we not resort to name-calling and blind criticism if others do not see things exactly as we do. There is evidence of same-sex unions that are stable, loving, and nurturing in many ways for each partner. As well, situations can arise where same-sex partners who have loved each other in a stable union for years are not allowed to share in some important moments of life. For example, a partner might not be allowed to visit in an intensive care room of a hospital because the partner is not either family or spouse. Similarly, on the death of one partner, there may be legal problems in settling the estate in a fair way, although the partners may have shared a life together. Our society may very well need to make accommodation to deal with such de facto same-sex unions.

Some Catholics may take exception to the fact that I seem to be saying that not everything about a same-sex union is wrong. If one interprets what I have said as being open to commending same-sex partners for stability, faithfulness, kindness, and perseverance when one or other is sick or incapacitated, such an understanding is perfectly correct.

I am convinced that two men or two women who feel a sexual attraction to each other should refrain from the genital expression of their love and should support and nourish each other in other ways. Not only would this be correct on a human level, but, since I believe it to be God's will for us, such a choice would be correct on a spiritual level, as well. A sexual relationship outside marriage is sinful, in that a loving God is neither trusted nor obeyed.

Last weekend, my niece, her husband and their five-year-old son came for a visit to stay with me. It was wonderful to see how each parent patiently and lovingly related to the child. It was also remarkable how different each of those patient, loving relationships was - mother/son and father/son. A child who had two women or two men as "parents" would certainly be deprived of something rich in the experience of either fatherhood or motherhood. One simply cannot legislate that same-sex unions are equal to the marriage of a man and a woman.

Finally, I believe that the Holy Spirit, the Wisdom of God, has guided the Church throughout history and still speaks today. It is my hope that politicians and all Canadians will be open to that same Spirit as they consider and study this important issue.

Sincerely,

+Anthony G. Meagher Archbishop of Kingston