The Catholic Teaching on same-sex 'marriage'
by Fr. John Trigilio, PhD, ThD.
Clear and concise Catholic Moral guidance on the issue of same-sex 'marriage'
Q. Why does the Catholic Church teach that same-sex (gay and lesbian) 'marriages' are not possible? The US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex 'marriage' is legal, so why does the Catholic Church teach otherwise?
A. Marriage is, was, and always will be the union of one man and one woman in a permanent, faithful and fruitful union. Homosexual unions can never become marriage since they biologically cannot be open to children. There is no fruitfulness in same sex ‘marriages’. No legal decision can change this. Adoption and artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization or surrogate parenthood are not viable means to render a relationship capable of married fecundity.
Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, God is the author of marriage, not man and not society or the government. Marriage is a sign of a covenant between God and his people; between Christ and His bride, the Church. Same sex unions cannot convey this message because they are the same and not different. The different genders (male and female) symbolize the difference between God and humankind. Same gender does not represent that reality. There is no possibility of new life and one of the two ends of marriage is procreation. The other end is married unity. Men and women complement one another, emotionally and anatomically.
Homosexual unions contradict nature. They imitate but they do not complement and that is key. The same sex inclination is objectively disordered (CCC #2358). There may be no culpability if there is no activity but the orientation itself is irregular. That does not mean that persons with a homosexual orientation cannot be outstanding citizens or saintly persons. Every human being regardless of orientation is called to live a life of personal holiness. While the inclination is disordered, only the activity itself is sinful. Homosexual acts as well as heterosexual acts outside and/or before marriage are all sinful and immoral. Only sex between a husband and wife is morally permitted. Deliberate and willful impure thoughts are also wrong as 
they lead the will into an area where the person should stay far away.
The family is the foundation of the church and the state. Civilization is built upon it. Family is also rooted in marriage of one man and one woman, committed to a permanent, faithful and fruitful union. Same sex unions are not marriage and can never replace it, they can only imitate it.
* * * * * * * * *
Practical Application:
In this regard, the ruling of the US Supreme Court is nothing more than a travesty. A court cannot change Natural Law nor can it change God’s Law nor can it change the nature of marriage, no matter how many judges rule in favor of the change.
Making same-sex ‘marriage’ a moral reality by legal decision is the same as deciding that the Law of Gravity is unconstitutional. The words may change and people may fool themselves, but the reality of marriage remains the same, just as the law of gravity exists.
So let us:
- Make sure we do not allow ourselves to be confused and deceived into accepting same-sex unions as marriage.
- Discuss with our children the true nature of marriage and the reasons for it. This will help provide an antidote to the insanity and moral confusion of our age.
- Pray to The Holy Family for our own families.
- Pray for all of those who struggle with same-sex attraction. May God have mercy on them and give them the grace to live pure and holy lives.