Morelle’s Private Religion
On June 18 the NYS Assembly voted to approve a law that would recognize same sex “marriage” in New York State. Voting yes on this radical proposal was NYS Assemblyman Joe Morelle. Joe Morelle is a self described Catholic. His biographical outline on Project Vote Smart indicates that he is a lector at St. Ambrose Church (link). Joe Morelle is also a supporter of a woman’s right to choose abortion (link) (link). Pope Benedict had this to say about Catholic politicians who try to make their faith a private matter:
- Here it is important to consider what the Synod Fathers described as Eucharistic consistency, a quality which our lives are objectively called to embody. Worship pleasing to God can never be a purely private matter, without consequences for our relationships with others: it demands a public witness to our faith. Evidently, this is true for all the baptized, yet it is especially incumbent upon those who, by virtue of their social or political position, must make decisions regarding fundamental values, such as respect for human life, its defense from conception to natural death, the family built upon marriage between a man and a woman, the freedom to educate one’s children and the promotion of the common good in all its forms (230). These values are not negotiable. Consequently, Catholic politicians and legislators, conscious of their grave responsibility before society, must feel particularly bound, on the basis of a properly formed conscience, to introduce and support laws inspired by values grounded in human nature (231). There is an objective connection here with the Eucharist (cf. 1 Cor 11:27-29). Bishops are bound to reaffirm constantly these values as part of their responsibility to the flock entrusted to them (232). (Sacramentum Caritatis)
The NYS Catholic Conference had this to say about the “marriage” equality legislation:
“The Catholic Church teaches that we treat our homosexual sisters and brothers with dignity and love … However, marriage is not some political term of art that can be re-imagined or redefined according to the whims of popular culture,” said a statement issued by the New York State Catholic Conference, the church’s lobbying arm (link).