And They Become One Flesh

The following is a pastoral letter issued this month by Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto.

Also See: Residential schools settlement reached

Ontarian speaks out on violence in sport

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

From the bottom of my heart I wish to thank you for your vocal and public witness to the true meaning of marriage. Priests preached the Catholic position in our parishes. Organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women's League launched a writing campaign against the same-sex marriage bill as soon as it was proposed. Catholic lay movements organized and participated in public demonstrations. Other Catholic groups published documents arguing for the true meaning of marriage. And thousands of Catholics individually voiced their own position to their Members of Parliament.

I am very pleased with your courageous and public defence of the true and traditional meaning of marriage. I am very thankful to those Members of Parliament who put at risk their political present and future by defending the true nature of marriage. At the same time I cannot help but be saddened and deeply ashamed to see some Catholic Members of Parliament crumble under the pretensions of spurious inclusivity.

Today, new questions emerge for the Church. Where do we go and what are we to do now that the government has mistakenly changed the legal meaning of marriage? I wish to offer three points that the Church will take to safeguard the sanctity of marriage.

We continue to teach the true meaning of marriage

Marriage is the committed union of a man and a woman who are open to co-operation with God in the creation, nurturing, and education of children. Marriage has been a central part of the vast variety of human cultures and societies over the millennia.

Marriage has united men and women long before the existence of states and governments. It will continue to do so when the states of today have themselves passed into history.

For Catholics, marriage is a sacrament, a living out of God's grace for a lifetime. The vision of marriage given to us by God in Christ is not some misty ideal; it is in the heart of our faith. The Bible and the church have always taught us that marriage is meant to be a loving, life-giving and faithful relationship between a man and a woman.

In recent years, there have been calls for the public acceptance of actions and lifestyles which the church cannot condone. One of them is homosexual activity. Let us be clear on the distinction between person and behaviour. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches clearly that homosexual acts, being intrinsically disordered, can never be approved. It affirms at the same time the love of God for every person. Each one must be treated with sensitivity, compassion and justice. "Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2359).

The church continues, and will always continue, to teach and to celebrate marriage as the union of a man and a woman, as a life-long commitment for the mutual love of the spouses and open to the creation and rearing of children. This is our duty as well as our right in accord with our freedom of religion. As responsible citizens we have the duty to make our views known in the service of the common good. It is by no means the first time that the church's voice will be written off, laughed at or even persecuted for proclaiming truth and simple human dignity.

We encourage the laity to hand on the tradition of marriage

Handing on the Catholic vision of marriage is not only the responsibility of bishops and priests. It is the responsibility of all who profess the Catholic faith. It is the responsibility of Catholic teachers and of all who hold administrative positions in Catholic schools. It is the responsibility of all those who are engaged in religious education classes and in other forms of service in parishes. It is the responsibility of voluntary organizations founded on their Catholic identity. Most of all, it is the responsibility, the gift and the privilege of couples who are married in the Catholic Church. Their example of love, fidelity and nurturing of children bears persuasive witness to the beauty of God's love in the world.

We shall continue to call on the government for support

We call upon governments to increase their support for husbands and wives and their children.

Although many marriages are faithful and loving, nevertheless there are today many pressures on married couples and families. Many marriages are under stress from a variety of sources, such as poverty or illness, unrealistic materialism, immaturity or the pressure of an environment which often rewards infidelity and belittles commitment. Some children can thus be deprived of the balanced and healthy environment which insures their growth and development. Some families become isolated because they are obliged to seek work by moving away from friends and family. A minority may respond to stress with violence and abuse. Such situations do not, however, negate the fact that marriage, as lived by the majority, is a life-giving partnership.

We therefore ask governments at all levels to support traditional marriages and all those in need, both married and unmarried. We ask governments to focus on those needs in recognition of each person's human dignity and human rights. We ask for support for all mothers, those who are married and for single mothers. We ask for support also for responsible and loving fathers, whose irreplaceable role is not adequately recognized or valued.

We ask for support for palliative care for the dying so that families and friends may lovingly accompany a person to the natural end of life, and no one need fear that he or she may be cast out of life itself for lack of a hospital bed. We ask for positive support for the employment which brings material support to persons and families. We ask for governments to care for the vulnerable, especially the children.

Allow me to end with a biblical quotation describing the nature of marriage from the very beginning: "A man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24).

Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic
Archbishop of Toronto