California priests decry court ruling; Actually, Daniel Gilbert, happiness is having children (within authentic marriage, of course)!

By Matt C. Abbott

Father Angel Sotelo, of the Fresno, Calif., Catholic diocese, on the May 15 California Supreme Court ruling striking down the state's ban on homosexual "marriage":

'With this ruling of the California Supreme Court, we see another perversion of justice as activist judges invent new rights out of thin air. Instead of interpreting the clear will of the people expressed through their elected legislature or propositions on the ballot, these judges have caved in to the homosexual agenda and the dictatorship of moral relativism.

'Californians in particular and Americans in general have a right to be outraged by this invasion of judicial fiat into the institution of marriage. Our founding fathers saw it as a self-evident truth that all men are created equal; however, they protected this equality before men by enshrining in our laws the precepts of the Natural Law. They sought to know what rightful pursuits are endowed to us by the Creator, and to outlaw those pursuits which were immoral and against nature.

'Looking at the precepts of the Natural Law, American society has traditionally defended the marriage of a man and a woman, and excluded 'gay' unions from the rights of marriage. This was not to attack or discriminate against people with same sex attraction. Rather, heterosexual union alone is the best institution for the procreation and rearing of solid citizens with a patriotic sense of civic duty. A homosexual union does not produce offspring nor can an absent father or absent mother ever be considered as ideal for the rearing of offspring.

'People of faith should know that, in Europe, where the rights of marriage between a man and woman are eroded and no longer defended by law as ideal, fewer and fewer couples choose to marry, fewer and fewer choose to rear children, and therefore the prospects for the passing on of European culture and faith are grim. We cannot allow that to happen here.

'Where possible, activist judges who legislate from the bench need to be recalled, and our legislatures need to see clearly that a constitutional amendment to defend the traditional institution of marriage is urgent. This is a wake up call for people of faith to enter into the public debates and be faithful not only to God, but to the spirit of the founding fathers who used Natural Law as their guide in both the legislative and judicial branches of government.'

Father Richard Perozich, of the San Diego Catholic diocese:

'In California, the judicial usurpation of the people's will and of the divine law is a prime example of the original sin against the law of God written in the heart of each human being: 'I will decide what is right for me.'

'All Catholics who participated in the process of the evolution of this declaration by electing representatives who approved such judges, who voted incrementally for rights to practice homogenital sex, and particularly Catholic politicians and judges who voted in favor of such action need sincere repentance, conversion, and reparation for the damage they have done to the consciences of people with same sex attraction (ssa) and to society.

'For Catholics it is important to understand that the civil law can never render homogenital behavior to be good or normal. Chaste friendships among those with ssa are commendable. People with ssa are still called to accept their sexual identity as male or female with the complementarity of each oriented toward the opposite gender for marriage and begetting and forming children. Homogenital sex is mortally sinful. One cannot be in the state of grace claiming to love God and at the same time sin against the divine order of His creation, His law, His love. Those who practice homogenital sex risk loss of eternal life.

'Tolerance is the aspect of love that keeps us in communion with people when their behavior, attitude, and understanding are defective. With a legal rendering with such profound effect, we move now beyond tolerance to actively fighting for these souls, and to work for the condemnation of the sin and of the behavior of those who promote it.

'Bishops need to organize to guide their priests and faithful to overturn this decision. They need to tell politicians that promotion of such behavior excludes them from communion in the Church and from receiving the Eucharist. Priests need to inform their faithful of the seriousness of the consequences, and provide ways to fight through the political and judicial process this travesty. The faithful need to vote out of office politicians who have betrayed them and impeach judges who have imposed their own will. Parents and teachers need to tell children the evils of homosexuality, and bring them up according to the faith.

'St. Benedict of Nursia taught, 'Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended upon you.'

(See also "Gay Marriage")

On a related note, there was media coverage given to the "findings" of Harvard University psychology professor Daniel Gilbert at a recent conference in Australia. Professor Gilbert says that when couples have children, their happiness declines.

But Wendy Cukierski, a mother of 12 children, disagrees.

"Honestly Matt, thought I'd be 'disgusted' at someone making the remark that happiness is not having children, but I wasn't. I had nothing but sadness and pity for these folks after reading the article."

Continues Mrs. Cukierski:

"As you may have noticed, the story stated that there were 2000 'seekers of happiness.' If someone has to 'seek' happiness, that's kind of sad. It's eluding them for a reason.

"It mentioned that we were 'hardwired' to reproduce, which doesn't make one happy. Really? Says who? Selfish folks? I guess that explains why I have 12 children...not my fault...it's my hardwiring (just kidding).

"Why am I so happy and fulfilled with a dozen children? I guess I must be a moron according to these folks. Would being able to watch television and chat with friends all day make me 'truly happy' as they seem to suggest? Nope. That is not lasting happiness; it is fleeting."

"Anything worth having takes work and effort, including a family, where true happiness is found. Then again, what would they know? They're still 'seeking' happiness in all the wrong places."

© Matt C. Abbott