Pope: Marriage is Not an Absolute Right
- Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:17pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI told priests Saturday to do a better job counseling would-be spouses to ensure their marriages last and said no one has an absolute right to a wedding.
Benedict made the comments in his annual speech to the Roman Rota, the Vatican tribunal that decides marriage annulments. An annulment is the process by which the church effectively declares that a marriage never took place.
Benedict acknowledged that the problems that would allow for a marriage to be annulled cannot always be identified beforehand. But he said better pre-marriage counseling, which the Catholic Church requires of the faithful, could help avoid a “vicious circle” of invalid marriages.
He said the right to a church wedding requires that the bride and groom intend to celebrate and live the marriage truthfully and authentically.
“No one can make a claim to the right to a nuptial ceremony,” he said.
Benedict has used his annual speech to the Rota to impress on its members the indissolubility of marriage and that they should avoid the temptation of granting annulments on a whim. Last year, he urged the tribunal to work harder to encourage couples to stay together and not confuse “pastoral charity” with the need to uphold church law.
On Saturday, Benedict said priests had an important pastoral job to discern whether would-be spouses are prepared and able to enter into a valid marriage.
“The church and society at large place too much importance on the good of marriage and the family founded on it to not make a profound commitment to it pastorally,” Benedict said.
The Vatican’s concern about marriage annulments is largely directed at the United States, which in 2006 had more annulment cases launched than the rest of the world combined.
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Comments (206)
sbenard
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:13pmMy own church leaders have been dreading, but foreseeing the day when gay marriage will be the law of the land and they will then file lawsuits to try to compel Churches to perform them. When that day comes, they are considering elimination of ALL marriage ceremonies by Churches, including even in our most sacred holy sites.
Report Post »Marriage is a sacrament not only between and man and a woman, but is a three-way covenant between man, woman, and God. Government can not compel God to accept what is, to Him, and abomination. Pope Benedict appears to have the inspiration to know this very well. His insight is enlightening!
Deutscher
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:32pmFirst. This has to do with a problem the church has in marrying couples that later seek annulments, not gays. You are wasting your time and energy dreading being forced to perform gay marriages. It’s not going to happen.
Report Post »Second. Christians have a higher divorce rate than non-Christians. Something with the holy contract between man-woman-god seems to be not so holy. If you want to worry about something, perhaps the divorce rate would be a good place to start.
PlanetXenu
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:09pmcoming soon to all americans!
Report Post »jsDway
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:01pmThere should be no difference of being married in the eyes of a church and being married in the eyes of God. Marriage was instituted by God and for the purpose of unity. A man and a woman unite in marriage & become one – this unit is to multiply and become other units but still be one as a family. When this unit is broken our society is broken, and our society is broken. The family is the nucleus that holds society together and without it we are lost as a family, as a town, as a state or as a country.
Report Post »I believe that what God has joined together – no man should put asunder, not even an annullment panel of a church.
My husbands Father ask for an annullment from his wife (husbands Mother), and my husband said that is wrong – they are my parents and if the marriage didn’t take place or never happened then that will make me a bastard. My husband would not fill out the paper work for the church, something is just wrong with this pracitice – it is not Biblical!
When Christians are divorcing at the same rate as the lost world – then we as Christians are not obeying the Word of God!
I respect the Pope, but he is not GOD!
proliance
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:48pmIf someone told you that you would be an illegitimate child because your parent’s marriage had been annulled then maybe you should find a different church. Because that’s certainly not what the Catholic Church teaches.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 1:36amThen you need to strip justices of the peace from their duties and declare all marriages done by a judge or anyone else that isn’t a man of the cloth null and void. I wonder how that would go over.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 10:46amFoxholeAtheist
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 1:36am
Then you need to strip justices of the peace from their duties and declare all marriages done by a judge or anyone else that isn’t a man of the cloth null and void. I wonder how that would go over.
=====
Wow. I’ll have to assume that you are just super tired, Atheist. There are few other explanations for such drivel and I prefer to give you the benefit of the doubt. You tried.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 2:09pmReally granny? And what would those be?
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:46pmWhen did the pope start determining our rights?
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:54pmYou don’t have a right to a catholic sacrament. I dont like the guy but it is his job to preside over the church. I dont see a problem. It has nothing to do with me.
Report Post »dcenac
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:19pmHe’s not determining anything for you unless you are Catholic clergy….that is who he was addressing. Read the article again….slowly!
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 1:32amHe’s always trying to tell Americans how to live our lives no matter what religion we follow, or don’t follow. Our government tries to bring the pedophiles and they constantly obstruct it. He needs to be brought to justice for aiding and abetting known suspects. He needs to be arrested.
Deutscher
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:45pmHow is this a story? Who is arguing the church should not choose how and to whom they administer sacraments? I see more and more “stories” which seem to have no purpose and are either poorly worded or intended to cause argument.
Report Post »Thunderstorm 316
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:11pmHey I up for a argument with anyone who will change the Bible, but I think you might be on to something here. I think this is going to “get the mask to come off”, in a good debate people dont hold back on how they trully feel and then you know what, and who you are talking to. And as a nation we cant move forward if we dont know how others trully feel, at least that is why I think you might be on to something. It seems that way to me.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:41pmDeutscher, I agree that more and more articles are coming onto this site which lack a real depth of insight on the part of the author — whether it comes from another news source or the reporters here. Is the site now just one of cut-and-paste? Where is the real journalism?
Thunderstorm, healthy debate is one thing. Baiting people for no reason is a whole ‘nuther problem. In the article above, there is nothing newsworthy about it. The Pope was talking to his own men about something he sees as an internal problem.
What’s the point of trying to incite people to bash another group? Unless you have nothing better to do, that is just pulling the whole group down into the gutter. I honestly thought The Blaze was way above that.
Really I did. And something tells me that Glenn Beck would agree. After all, he’s a member of a religious group that sees more than their fair share of bashing. You‘d think The Blaze would be the last place you’d find the baiting of someone’s religion for sport.
Report Post »Ashrak
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:38pmI am already sick to death of this line “No right is absolute”.
Something that is a right is a right because it IS absolute.
Report Post »Randyrocker
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:21pmThe Marry Me Ultimate Love Mousetrap From On High. Bless You, Bless You My Baby Doll Babe.
Report Post »When should you ‘Pope’ the question to her guys?
NormanDeArmond
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:00pmHey everybody, the catholic church is under attack because they speak up politically: lately on our side. The media attacks no one outside its agnda. Think about it. public school pedophilia: an order of magnitude greater. So where is the hoopla in the media about public school teachers. where is the counsel (obvious to me) the lil ones are safer in private Christian and catholic schools. off subject now, sorry. The catholic church opposed the urkle freak in the white house on Obamacare because of abortion. The protestants are cowed by an IRS rule made inert by citizens united. Doesn’t matter, politics has been bred out of the protestant pastoral breed. Only catholics stood in Barry Osamma’s way to instituting Obamacare, abortioncare really, wherein medipros kiss goodbye right of conscience the European union just imposed Europe-wide then Europe went ahead and said Abortion is the purvue of the nation state members. Europe just struck down Roe and Pope Ratzinger is a large part of why and B. Hussein Osama and the media (that has you all worked up against the catholic church) are working against catholicism, right when we need it. I’m no catholic, from Huguenots through Dad’s dad and Central European nonpracticing Jews otherwise. We better figure out how to all get along when we need to. Marriage, abortions, right of conscience these are the issues that matter. You never heard of demographic bomb; decreasing population means neverending depression, you had to watch antiabortion Eternal Word catholic TV to see it. O but the media says hate them amd you all suck up the media. Come on people.
Report Post »Thunderstorm 316
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:20pmOnly the Catholics stood in Obama’s way, what! Let see here, he Tea-parties, Conservitives, Rebulicans, Indepentents, and even pro-life Democrates. But no, it was only the catholics,nice one…..O.K?
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:57pmThunderstorm, just because the word “Eucharist” is not in the Bible does not mean the concept isn’t there. That’s why I used the word “Trinity” in rebuttal. You won’t find that word anywhere in the Bible, yet the concept is fully accepted by Christians worldwide. Tryig to dismiss the Eucharist simply by saying that the word isn‘t in the Bible just doesn’t cut it.
Here‘s the problem I’m having here: Whenever any article gets posted on The Blaze about the Catholic Church — on any topic — the thread becomes saturated with those who believe they have the right to get off topic and try to “teach” Catholics.
Some will toss out the clergy sex abuse scandals as if Catholic priests were the only men who ever touched an innocent child. Others want to point out chapter and verse of their own brand of Christianity as text-proof for something that has absolutely nothing to do with the article. The thread quickly becomes just one more Catholic bashing thread rather than a discussion of the topic at hand.
As I said in another post above, this headline is misleading and the topic is really not very noteworthy, but I guess there wasn’t much other news out there tonight.
I am not here to debate the Eucharist. If you’re truly interested in knowing why the Catholics believe it is the Body and Blood of Christ, there are tons of excellent sources. The Blaze is not one of them.
Report Post »Thunderstorm 316
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:14pmYes and the the articles that came out of trent are even better sources, but thanks for fianly saying that it is a catholic thing and not a Christian thing, the point has been made, the pope is a man, not a bringer of Jesus’s word the bible that we all have is. So weather or not the pope wants a crack down on marriage, dose not make him the fainal word on it, God is the fainal word on it.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:30pmkomponist-ZAH, you say The Blaze is not responsible. Are you saying that they should just reprint every article that comes over the wire? Surely they vet articles for their note-worthiness. In this case, I posit the argument that this article was posted for the ire that it would obviously bring up against the Catholic Church. It worked.
Thunderstorm, you drive home my point perfectly. As I said in my first comment to you, if you don‘t know what you’re talking about, maybe you should just take a back seat and learn rather than just bash Catholics. I know the temptation is great, but we’re all about learning self-control here, aren’t we?
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:40pm@Granny–
Point taken.
As best I can figure, someone (Mr. Seidl, perhaps?) must have thought this was relevant to the gay marriage discussion — which it is, in a way —, although that’s clearly not what His Holiness was talking about. I certainly hope you’re wrong about it being meant to intentionally raise anti-Catholic ire, but….
Report Post »Echad
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:46pmGrannyATL:
Report Post »Let me first say I’m not trying to be a catholic basher and I believe there are good people in all faiths. I would bet you are one of those good people. But I have to ask you a question. I have the new catholic edition of the holy bible and inside the front cover are the Ten Commandments. But for some reason the second commandment (no graven images) has been removed and the tenth has been split into two. But if you go to Exodus 20:4 there’s the commandment not to have graven images. For myself, I could not trust a church that will change the Ten Commandments. Changing the word of god is wrong no matter how you look at it.
GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:18pmECHAD, in all sincerity, you are also driving home my point that every time The Blaze decides to put up an article that has anything to do with the Catholic Church, the discussion quickly diverts to Catholic bashing. You may not see it as such, but why on earth would you decide to bring up the Ten Commandments if not to try and “prove” to everyone here that if the Catholic Church is wrong on this one thing, they must be wrong on everything?
Very well…..you mention graven images. I know you are sincere, but consider this:
Do you have a Nativity set in your home at Christmas? If you have children, did you ever sit them on your lap and show them a picture book about Jesus and stories from the Bible?
Proof text taken out of context is nothing but a pretext.
Report Post »Echad
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:52pmGrannyATL
I thank you for your response! The answer to your question of the nativity or a picture book about Jesus and stories from the Bible is no. I do not use pictures of Jesus or any other biblical person. I faithfully read the scriptures to them and discus any questions they might have. I try with the best of my ability to live by the Commandments given to us by God. I apologize for my wording of the previous question about trusting the church if it offended you. That was not my intention.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 11:06pmEchad, very well….no offense taken. But you must be aware that the vast majority of Christians have copious amounts of pictures of Jesus, the Holy Family and even God. I am a frequent visitor to my local Christian bookstores and they are chock-full of children’s Bibles with pictures of Jesus as well as Bible stories. Heck, their walls are plastered with paintings of Jesus. So, surely, they must also be mistaken in their interpretation of the Bible….no?
And, again, this brings home my original point that any time The Blaze puts up an article that has anything to do with Catholicism, it becomes an open invitation for others to attack on any number of topics totally unrelated to the supposed topic at hand.
Would you say that is a fair statement?
Report Post »Echad
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 11:22pmGrannyATL
Report Post »“topics totally unrelated to the supposed topic at hand. Would you say that is a fair statement?”
Yes I was off topic. I see your point and stand corrected and thank you for setting me strait. I will no longer ask you or anyone else a question that is not on the topic at hand.
I live by a different faith than you but debating those differences should be done at the appropriate time again I apologize.
GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 11:38pmECHAD, you should go on over to Catholic dot com. They welcome questions about the Cathoic faith and are eager to explain them.
Report Post »judeslice
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:32pmGrannyatl,
Report Post »I agree with your assessment of this article, and what the pope is saying, but I have a question for you. First I will tell you I am an equally opportunity basher. The Church or the Body of Christ is in disarray, and what I mean is Catholics, protestants, and you name it all have huge problems within them, all of them. But what is the really problem? Is what the pope say’s, a really solution to the problem with the divorce rate within all of the church’s? The way I look at it is that the really problem is that most of the Church, meaning all the churches do not have a relationship with God. Until this is fixed the marriage thing will not be fixed, no matter how much counseling goes on. If our relationship with God is not right and if we are not committed to it, then how can we have a relationship with a partner that lasts? So the problem is truly not with system, so to speak, it is with the individuals, and the whole body of Christ’s hearts. The divorce rate, sex scandals in all the churches, letting gays be preachers, the gossip and complaining, stealing, making churches into business, and so on and so forth, are direct examples of the fruit of the all the church being on the wrong path. Whether it is Catholic, Baptist, and Methodist and so on, the true problem is that we do not have a personal relationship with Him, and until we go back to Him then it will only get worse. One more question I strongly feel that the trinity is a stumbling block for so many people, and it is not found within the word, you think you can justify it by the teachings of the church fathers, this may be true, but do you have to believe in the trinity to get into heaven? Does it secure your salvation? If you tell me yes then you have issues. I do not like to put God in a box, and anyone can say that any verse means this or that, and just because a big majority believes in it does that make it true. Recall the 12 spies, 10 say no, and 2 say go. So I am just saying this not to question or teach you, or bash your faith. What I am saying is that we should not put God in a box, in any form, and that the trinity causes more problems than it solves, and is not a requirement to be saved. Maybe it does for you, and maybe you would jump off the bridge because everybody else would. And please do not take me the wrong way this is just my opinion and I am not singling you out because you’re a catholic, I would say this to anyone in any faith that holds the trinity in high regard, to me it is not a pillar of my faith.
Christopher
Milkmom
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:35pmGranny – just wanted to toss it out there and thank you for being a good example of what it means to be Catholic – I‘m impressed by your words and your ability to remain calm and ’slow to anger’ in the face of some of these comments:)
I also wanted to add – about the pictures of Jesus, etc. – God gave us all of our senses so that we could use them to worship Him and to praise Him. You mention that you do not have pictures of any biblical characters – my guess is that you want to avoid the possibility of those pictures becoming idols (I could be way off here – sorry if I am! it’s just that I hear this a lot about the Catholic Church), as in you want to reserve your reverence for Him and only Him, and not a picture…
Catholics believe that our senses are a gift from God, and we are to use them in a way to praise Him. Having a picture or image of Jesus in our home does nothing but remind us of Him and His love for us – in the same way a framed photograph of a loved one does – we know that photograph is not the real person, just a reminder of them…
Saying that it is wrong to use our sense of sight to give God praise, to me, would be equivalent to saying that it is wrong to use our sense of hearing to praise God. Yet even Protestants participate in this beautiful way to praise God through music!
Anyway, thanks, ECHAD, for being respectful in your questions. catholic.com is a good resource – you can even go to the ‘ask an apologist’ section and ask a specific question.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:12pmHey, judeslice (Christopher). As your post shows, there are many different ways of interpreting Christianity. There are a bunch of various trigger points espoused right here on this thread. I am not here to debate the legitimacy of any one group’s belief over another, but the article’s headline is misleading and gives the impression that Pope Benedict has said something about marriage that he never said.
You are correct in that the overall problem with Christianity of any stripe is that we have just as bad a track record for marriage as the non-Christians. Overall, there is a disconnect between what we say as Believers and what we do. Are we willing to carry our Crosses or do we just toss them aside when they become difficult?
The Catholic Church does try to guide engaged couples into a more mature examination of their relationship — with each other, with their new extended families and also with God. It is not a one-shot deal, but an all-encompassing overview of the realities of life after the wedding day.
And, again, in the context of this article, the Pope is trying to encourage his prelates to do a better job of preparing couples. As he did say, the Catholic Church is not compelled to give a blessing on each Catholic couple that comes to them. There must be a fitting discernment process which encompasses all the good, bad and ugly that a marriage can bring. Crosses will come. Are they willing to carry them together? Are they open to having children? There is a lot more that goes into it than simply waving a hand over the couple in blessing.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:18pmMilkmom, thanks for the compliment.
I just want to clarify something. It was Echad who said that he/she does not have any photos of Christ or Bible characters — not me. I’ve got them all over my house!
Report Post »ChristianLayman
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 8:55pmThunderstorm 316 – Have you read any early ecclesiastical history, say pre-Constintinian? If not, I’d highly recommend starting with the History of the Church by Eusebius Pamphilius. It goes from Christ to Constantine, pre-Arian heresy. Actually, this is something I’d recommend to all Christians, if nothing else to bulk up church history to have an edge against the heathen-Marxists.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:41pmUH60L13, marriage is actually a civil ceremony. Whether you have your marriage officiated by a member of the clergy is not material to whether or not the state considers you married
And, you’re right…..it’s not a Constitutional right. It’s not a civil right, either. There are circumstances under which the state will not grant a marriage license. Ones that quickly come to mind are siblings or first cousins getting married. I suppose there are others.
Report Post »Thunderstorm 316
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:38pm@ grannyalt but it is not bashing it is the truth,” For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, whoever so believeth in Him should not perish , but have ever lasting life”( Jhon 3:16). Still dont see anything about the Eucharist in the bible, the Lord Jesus comes in spirit and in belivers. 1 Corinththians 12:27-28!
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:55pmHow about “do this in rememberance of me”?
Report Post »gdmar2713
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:06pmThis took about 2 mins via google. It would be awesome if people didn’t always look for info that only confirms THEIR bias ;)
John 6:53-58, So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.
Matthew 26:26-28: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
John 6:51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
John 6:55: For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed.
1 Corinthians 10:16: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 11:27: Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.
Report Post »proliance
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:36pmThunderstorm, I think your Bible is broken.
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:35pmThe bible was written for believers. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. That is why there are so many divorces etc is because most marriages, well, God never joined them together in the first place. There are lots of religeous people like Roman Catholics and Mormons etc etc that are married legally, that on judgment day answer for the sin of adultery because in God’s eyes, they are bastards and not sons. Just because a person marriage in the law of the land is legal, does not mean that God recognizes it. God only claims and knows them that are HIS. What the pope is saying doesn’t matter as it is just a lot of religeous jargon and fodder that God does not receive. He receives only that which is ordained by him and covered in his blood, justified by his crucifiction and are living in him and for him. Those that are his. Only God knows His children.
Report Post »Echad
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:31pmJezreel
Report Post »So you’re saying that everybody before the catholic church existed where born illegitimate?
Jezreel
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:19amAll those who are not sons of God are bastards. The bibles says, “faint not when you are chastened of the Lord for when you are chastened, he is dealing with you as sons. If you are not chastened, then, you are a bastard”. All those who are not His, are sons of the wicked one and are bastards, spiritually.
Report Post »Aiser
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:35pmPope Benedict is absolutely right on this. No one has a right to marriage. That is because marriage is a privilege granted by institutions. As such these institutions declare how this privilege is approached. There is no right to marriage in the bill of rights for good reasons, because then you would have a right to marry anyone/anything and if you don’t then “it’s a violation of humans rights”.
Report Post »UH60L13
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:28pmMarriage is a religious ceremony, not a Constitutional right!!!
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:57pmMarriage is a rite, not a right.
Report Post »goatkid
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:25pm@joanct
Report Post »Jesus founded CHRISTIANITY not the Catholic church! Tthe Bible is the only basis for authority.
proliance
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:32pmWhy is the Bible the only basis for authority? The Catholic Church has 400 years of history before the Bible was compiled. The Church was started when Jesus told St. Peter he was the rock upon which he was going to build his church and told him he was giving him the keys to his kingdom. Are we to believe nothing significant happened between then and when the Bible was created?
Report Post »Chuck U Farley
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 11:25pmYou must be referring to the 20,000 + greek fragments and texts which make up the New Testament? NONE of which is worded the same?
By what authority was the Sabbath Day changed? The RCC follows Paul, not Jesus.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
So, is Jesus a liar then? 99.9% of ALL of Christianity is apostate. Its the same with Judaism, its the same with Islam.
Report Post »First Tank
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 4:25amIn Mathew 16, Jesus states it differently. Mat 16: “18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.19 I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what ever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” It is these words of Jesus that the Catholic Church believes in one church. Though we are all brothers in Christ, it is obvious from the many posts here, we have lost his desire for unity in our faith.
Report Post »proliance
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 8:12amChuck U, the Catholic Church did not change the Sabbath to Sunday. Read Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10. You‘ll see that Christians are to worship on the Lord’s Day, Sunday.
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:22amThe fact that the revelation that Peter had that Jesus Christ is the son of God, Jesus IS THE ROCK. The Rock that followed the children of Israel in the Wilderness was Christ himself. Peter is NOT the rock, Jesus is. The foundation of the doctrine of Christ, the ROCK is, “repentance from dead works, faith towards God, doctrines of baptisms, laying on of hands, ressurection of the dead and eternal judgement”. All other false doctrines not founded on the truth of what the apostles taught is heresy and the Roman Catholic church was founded by Satan himself.
joanct
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:29pmAs mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, the followers of Christ became known early on as “Christians”. However the name Christian was never commonly applied to the Church herself. In the New Testament the Church is simply called “the Church”. There was only one.
The Nicene Creed, approved at the Council of Canstantinople (381), proclaims a belief in “one holy, catholic and apostolic Church”.
What is the authority for “the Bible is the only authority”? It is not in the Bible. Even St. Paul said cling to the traditions we brought you both written and oral.
The Church gave birth to the Bible out of its oral traditions, the experiences of the lives of Christ and his apostles, and the generation of believers who came after them. This was the order in which it happened, not the other way around.
At the last supper Chist prayed for his followers that they may all be one, as you, Father are in me and I in you. He gave us the Church to guide us so we could remain one. Nothing on this earth is perfect because we are fallen creatures. The Catholic Church is not perfect, but there is no perfect substitute either.
It is not about winning arguments or making a point. It is only a search for the truth.
Report Post »Hugie 59 PA
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:42pmI am Catholic and I understand that Our Holy Father is requiring priest to be more aware of the commitment of the Catholics who wish to enter the sacrament of matrimony. The couple must be mature and and aware of their commitment to each other and that the couple be instructed as to what that commitment entails. If a couple wants the Church to sanction their marrige, they inturn must commit to the community of believers and take the vow to love each other to death do they part. Priest must be able to decern if couples are ready to commit. Does either partner have a drug problem, an alcoho problem, or some other impediment that would prevent commitment. Do they agree to try to have children and to raise them in the Faith? Priest and counselors must do a better job in identifying problems that may lead to separation and divorce or annuments.
Report Post »robespierre
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 8:01pmI was raised catholic.I am not anti-catholic. Priests do not marry. (they are married to the church) Our Holy Father requesting priests to counsel would be spouses, is like asking me to coach the New York Jets; Although, I have never played football. How did the words “I love You” get so complicated?
Report Post »ConservativeHippie
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:02pmIf you are married outside the church then you have not been “joined by God” but by man. Catholics are not supposed to marry outside the faith and are supposed to have premarital counseling with the pastor of the church they are to be married in. Why? Because the priest will go over with you things that could come up and cause problems down the road. Alot of folks fail to see that the “romantic love” doesn’t last, and 40-50 years down the road are you gonna still be in love with that person you married. If you are compatible on other levels the answer is probably yes. Why do you think these dating sites promote “compatibility testing”, etc.?
The pope is not a hypocrite, in fact he is a very traditional minded holy man who is doing his best to bring the church back from the hands of the liberal socialist goons who took over in the 60′s and are trying to destroy it. As for the pedophile priests, he is dealing with that. That is just one of the problems brought about by the liberals in the church. And check the facts, there are pervs all over, in schools in protestant churches, your neighborhood. Run a state police report and see how many pervs live nearby. Might be pretty eye opening.
As for Christ instituting the Eucharist. “Do this in remembrance of Me” Ring a bell???
Some people are so clueless about the Catholic faith and will take every chance they can to ridicule it. Try checking out Catholic Answers Forum if you have questions and you might be surprised to learn the truth. Or Real Catholic TV online. Both are very good at answering questions about the faith.
Kind of like the way the liberal media denigrates the Tea Party. Not only do I have to defend my political positions but my faith as well.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:04pmHippy, you’re right. I really never thought I’d have to come on here and defend my faith, but this isn’t the first time. It’s rather disheartening, considering the things being published about the Catholic Church aren’t really newsworthy and appear to be thrown out for sensationalism.
I thought The Blaze was better than that.
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:57pm@ Dashriprock…….You are rocking tonite!
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:47pmWow
so profound
I dont know how much money your parents spent on your education.
But it WAS A WASTE.
Report Post »1776LibertyBell
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:41pmI agree with the Pope on this. I don’t think everyone should get married & even worse have kids. There are a lot of people who should never have kids. Today, it seems like too many people get married for the wrong reasons.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:36pmI want a Pope-mobile
Report Post »Thunderstorm 316
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:35pmMarrige is a holy union ordained by GOD not a man, besides I am still trying to find the Eucharist in the Bible, and no still cannot find it.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:40pmI thought Eucharist
was a fancy word for “Last Super”
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:53pmThe Eucharist is what we Christians call holy communion.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:56pmwell your not going to find the word “antimetamorphosism ” either
Report Post »doesnt mean it doesnt exist
joanct
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:58pmActually the Bible, while divinely inspired, was compiled by the Catholic Church – the Church founded by Christ. It is the Church that he said the gates of hell would not prevail against, but I have to give it to them, they have been giving it their best shot for the last 2000 years.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:59pmThunderstorm, go find the word “Trinity” in the Bible. It’s not there, either.
I really wish the Catholic bashers would just shut their mouths when they don‘t know what they’re talking about.
Report Post »caitlynsdad
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 8:48am“I am still trying to find the Eucharist in the Bible, and still cannot find it.”
Matt. 26:26-28 ; 1 Cor. 10:16; 1 Cor. 11:23-30
Report Post »S G Applebee
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:35pmOf course the Right to marry is an absolute Right. However, it’s up to each particular church to decide who they will marry in their own church. But lets look at annulments for a moment. Isn’t this hilarious: “An annulment is the process by which the church effectively declares that a marriage never took place”. How can ANYONE deny REALITY and say something “never took place” that, by definition, TOOK PLACE? I wonder if the Pope knows who said ” whoever God has joined together, let no man tear apart”?
Report Post »If the so-called head Christian in the world is an out-and-out hypocrite, what does that say about the religion as a whole?
DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:44pmThere is no right to marry.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:45pmand maybe you should study rhetoric better
Report Post »because your arguments suck
S G Applebee
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:15pmDash, my arguments suck so bad you can’t even address them aye?
Report Post »Of course people have the RIGHT to marry. Human beings have celebrated unions LONG BEFORE any modern church or government was ever established.
DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:32pmand besides Mr Beta male panty waste
My second marrige was annuled by the state of Texas
not the church.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:37pm@ DASHRIPROCK
So by insults & personal attacks you think that will make you win an argument ? S G APPLEBEE did not use any insults towards you .
Report Post »Keep on trying anyway .
DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:47pmWhat you didnt read my second staement?
Ill repeat
It was the STATE OF TEXAS that annuled my second marrige not the church.
That pretty much make his argument
Report Post »Ziltcho
zero
nada
non existent
the statement has gone to meet its maker
it is a dead staement
this is and x-statement
emertz8413
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:53pmAnnulment is a big deal, in the Catholic Church if you divorce, you can no longer take Holy Communion. You have effectively “torn apart” what God has joined together. Annulment can be a lengthy process and only certain reasons (I’m not sure what they are) will allow you to get an annulment. Lately however, some priests have been a little lax with the reasons and I think this is what the Pope was talking about.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:54pmThe followers of the Catholic Church consider a marriage a valid contract entered into between a man and a woman and God. The priest oversees the wedding but the marriage is performed by the man and woman to God. In simplest terms, it is necessary that it be marriage that is contracted, that it actually be contracted (i.e., a valid ceremony/contract be performed), and that both parties enter willingly into the contract. If any of these conditions lack, then the marriage is not contracted, Divine sanction is not obtained, and there is in actual (and religious) fact no marriage. An annulment is a finding later that there was no actual marriage contracted in God’s eyes, and therefore no marriage in reality, regardless of civil ordinance or appearance to humans.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:12pmemertz8413, I know you mean well, but the Catholic Church DOES NOT say that a person cannot receive Holy Communion! That is a common misconception.
What the Church teaches is that if you get a civil divorce you cannot date or remarry until you have your marriage annulled. Without an annullment, the Church still sees your marriage as valid. You are totally free to receive Holy Communion so long as you’re not dating or remarried.
Report Post »S G Applebee
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:24pmHello! Dashedbrainsagainstrock,
Report Post »“An annulment is the process by which the church effectively declares that a marriage never took place”
YES or NO? Did the marrage take place?
Hello! Dashedbrainsagainstrock,
Who said “whoever God has joined together, let no man tear apart”?
S G Applebee
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:30pmDashedbrainsagainstrock: “An annulment is a finding later that there was no actual marriage contracted in God’s eyes, and therefore no marriage in reality, regardless of civil ordinance or appearance to humans”.
Report Post »What EGOMANIACS you people are! “in Gods eyes”? As if ANYONE KNOWS WHAT was “in Gods eyes”–idiot!
Thunderstorm 316
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:55pmYour relationship with God and Jesus is between you and thoughs big guy’s, you dont need a pope for that at all. Once God is in your heart your life will change and you will know what he wants of you, and that is all that matters. The best witness that can be at your wedding is God he is the one that will decide what is good and what is bad.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:01pmS G Applebee, calm down. Nobody says you are forced to believe what the Catholic Church teaches. Here’s the easiest way I can think of to explain it:
The Catholic Church believes that marriage is for life — till death. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Until recently, every couple said that as part of their wedding vows.
If that is true, then how can the couple who makes this vow decide later that it’s not valid? The Church then questions whether the marriage was ever joined together by God. The annnullment process is a lengthy one for that reason. Was there any impediment to the marriage that was not known or fully understood when they got married?
If a Catholic was married without the “blessing of the Church,” (IOW, there was no nuptial ceremony), then often the process of an annullment is pretty quick and simple. They were never part of the counseling process that the Church uses to help couples determine their readiness for marriage. If they were married in a nuptial ceremony the process is longer and more involved, as the Catholic Church believes strongly that the only way that a marriage can be dissolved is if there was an impediment at the beginning that prevented it from being blessed by God. Under closer scrutiny, and in hindsight, many people who thought they were ready for marriage weren’t.
It has nothing to do with the legitimacy of their children or any of the other nonsensical things that people toss around.
That‘s the Catholic Church’s position. Nobody says you have to believe it.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:15amYou are correct, S G Applebee. The Catholic Church in this country annuls marriages that lasted for decades and resulted in several children. These are really divorces, in everything but name, but the Church calls them annulments because they don’t believe in divorce. The people seeking these annulments are all getting or have already gotten a civil divorce as well. They usually need an annulment so that they can get remarried in the church. If the Church starts denying annulments they will just get married in civil ceremonies and stop going to church or convert to another denomination that recognizes the necessity of divorce. The Pope may not like this, but as long as people in this country are free to choose any church they want, and every other major Christian denomination is willing to remarry divorced people, there’s really not much he can do about it.
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:25amI’m thinking about having a “BEER SUMMIT” with DashRipRock and SG Applebee ….would probably be a hoot-and–half…. :-)
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:36pmThere is no right to marry but there isn’t (or shouldn’t) be a law preventing it either. So if there’s no law preventing the act of Marriage, then you do have the right to marry. It‘s a de facto right based on the idea that you have the right to pursuit happiness as long as it doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s rights. A gay couple getting married doesn’t infringe on your right thus should not be prevented by anyone within the Government.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:34pmI agree with the Pope.
Report Post »kschmud
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:55amI also agree the statement and can use myself as an example. I am not married yet and although I love kids I know myself well enough to know that I do not wish to have children of my own. As a Catholic, I would never expect that a priest would agree to marry me in the church if I told him that. It would be dishonest to try. There are some Catholics who really do not follow the faith but show up and want the white dress and a pretty church ceremony. They do not have a right to that just b/c they are Catholic.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:33pmSomeone from the Casro ( SF) plz explain the Pope’s words to me
Report Post »;-)
DashRipRock
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:37pmI think he is saying since people dont have a right to get married
Report Post »then gays dont have a right to get married.
chips1
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:44pmIt’s all Greek to me. Probably why so many Catholics went back to the Latin Mass and Church prior to 1967 or 1968. I came back from Nam and when I went to Mass, I didn.t understand a thing they were talking about. They completely left their People behind.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:44pmMarriage = 1 man + 1 woman. Period.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:47pm@ DashRipRock
Imagine how the 9th Circus would have reacted to the Pope’s words if he had said the same thing 3 weeks ago ? There would have rioting in the Castro
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:48pmI’m not Catholic or from SF, but the Pope does stand up for traditional marriage at least.
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:19pmIn the 12th Century the Church outlawed marriage for all followers of the Roman Catholic version of belief. It was believed that the “SIN” of sex was so great that it even fouled the Marriage bed, so to make sure that people did not sin and therefore guarantee heavenly favor they declared Marriage a SIN. Part of this reasoning came from the fact that a Famous Monk went to the Sinai to recreate the “Jesus” fasting experience for 40 days. After he came back the reported that he had some sort of Spiritual experiences and when the Pope of the 12th Century head this he felt that they needed to create a more spiritual experience by banning sex in the Church, which also meant being married. That is part of the reason that Roman Catholic Priest are not allowed to marry and still “minister” as a Priest. They do allow for conversions to Catholicism from other faiths that do allow marriage of their “clergy” but few follow that path.
RepubliCorp
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:33pmGRANNYATL I agree 100% …….. I wish you had written this story.
Report Post »rwing
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:42pmI guess the point the Pope is trying to make is that too many marriages end in divorce when they should be lifelong commitments.
Pre-marriage counseling might help some grasp the concept of what a lifelong commitment means but I don’t believe it will solve the problem. Too many people are not honest with themselves. If a person cannot be faithful to one person they simply shouldn’t marry. Or when you have trouble trusting someone…hmmm??? If you are not a forgiving person, then perhaps marriage isn’t for you either.
Loyalty, trust, and forgiveness are the backbone to strong relationships.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:48pm1TrueOne55, put down the Chick tracts and back away slowly. That one is about as true as the “fact” that Catholics burned the Bible to keep people from reading it.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:56pmRwing, you are completely right, but that still isn’t what the Pope is talking about here. What he is specifically addressing is a “nuptial ceremony,” or a Nuptial Mass. Not a civil ceremony, which any Catholic can still participate in if they so wish.
That’s why this article is so disingenuous. He is addressing a specific body of priests — those who are in charge of annulments in their respective districts. He is not directing this message to the world at large, trying to say that marriages are not a right. (And they actually aren’t a right, but that’s another story.) He is being very specific whereas The Blaze has tried to portray his message as being a general message to the world at large.
It would be the same as the head of the Mormon church giving a pep talk to the leaders of the various wards. Would that become fodder for debate on The Blaze? Mmmm..don’t think so.
Report Post »rwing
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:05pm@ GrannyATL
LOL I was a bit confused by this story since I’m not catholic, thanks for clarifying it for me :))))
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:52pmThe pope is the head of Christ’s church just as Obama was born in Hawaii . . .
dbrink
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:45pmThis has nothing to do with gays? Didn’t you read what it said? There are too many annulments happening. People who didn’t take marriage as a serious commitment, a lifetime promise, through good times and bad. There are too many people who don’t think in advance and he just wants the premarriage counseling to be more aware of the couple to be married and to make sure they are in it for life. Not “oh gee I made a mistake,“ or ”this is too hard”, so lets get our marriage annuled.. I am not talking about things unexpected, like abuse. But obviously if there were that many annulments in 2006 something is wrong! I hope this helps you.
Report Post »Nick84
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:35pmIf marriage isn’t a right for everyone, they need to take away all the legal benefits of it.
Report Post »psst
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:37pmGranny.
Report Post »Thanks for interpreting the story.
My younger son had a nuptial wedding. A High Mass.
Good thing I was wearing knee-pads.
The priest thought the reception, photos and honeymoon was gonna take place in the Church.
I thought this one was gonna be an all-nighter.I thought it set a record.
My older son also had a nuptial wedding. Though it was not a record breaker like the 2nd.
Redistributor
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:42pmTranslation: Make it harder to get married in the Catholic church (it’s not a right). Let’s face it, not everyone who wants to get married should. Also, the Catholic church wants to encourage married couples to stay married and work things out instead of getting a divorce. If married Catholics get a divorce the Church will make it harder for them to get an annulment (a process within the Church that nulls/invalidates the marriage). Without an annulment, Catholics can not remarry in the Church because the Church still recognizes the original marriage even though the couple is divorced legally in the eyes of the law. It will make faithful true Catholics consider weather or not to get married in the first place and if they decide to, then make it a life long commitment.
Report Post »dcenac
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 11:36pmFor NoRoomForSocialismHere
I think you might want to change your name to No Room For Anyone Who Does Not Believe Exactly As I Do……you actually should embrace Socialism or Communism since you want to take individuality out of the equation. Religion bashing is unbelievably unproductive. And quite frankly I wish I knew what religion you were so I could avoid it like the plague……hate filled comes to mind!
Report Post »bluegrandma52
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 11:50pmI don‘t think it’s limited to gays. Traditional couples can also feel they are ‘entitled’ to a church wedding. Benedict is making it clear that the Catholic Church takes marriage very seriously, and that a church marriage is for life. If a couple doesn’t show the priest that they are really committed to each other and willing to work through problems instead of quitting when the going gets rough (as it invariably does), then he can refuse to marry them, with the backing of the Pope.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:58amMarriage = 1 man, 1 woman. Unless, of course, you’re Solomon or Abraham or David. Then it’s 1 man, and 700 wives and 300 concubines.
Report Post »MOVETERAN
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:07amI think what he is saying is that people in the US rush into marriage to quickly. That they aren’t always as ready as there labeato thinks they are. I can’t say that I completely disagree here. It is so easy to divorce someone now days that more people have been divorced than haven’t. If you want values in this country we got to remember that all of the values this country is built on start with the family.
Report Post »Mister President
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:43amEven though this article had nothing to do with gay marriage, something occurred to me and the issue has been raised.
As far as gays getting married goes, they don’t have a RITE to get married in the Catholic church.
However, under the Constitution of the United States of America and our founding principles, they have the RIGHT to get married. “All men are created equal.” Men means people, so all people must have the right to marry other people in order to have been created equal. It goes with the Pursuit of Happiness, which the Constitution is designed to protect.
Why do you care what people do in their bedrooms? Why do you care if two people love each other and want to commit themselves to each other with a legal contract? It’s issues like these that make Republicans lose elections. The polarize the party.
Even if you believe it’s a sin, God will punish them accordingly, so stop trying to protect and control them like some progressive.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:11amActually, “Mister President” and I hate to continue off topic, I think the Supreme Court at some point will NOT find that the Constitution grants anyone the right to get married, but that it does not prohibit them from doing so, thus gays will be allowed to marry simply because the Constitution doesn‘t say they can’t. It’s a slippery slope (bigamy, anyone?) but that‘s how I’d guess it will go.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:31amFOXHOLEATHEIST some guys have all the fun.
Report Post »nomatter732666
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:49amCheese, my translation: The Pope states America needs to take marriage seriously! (The Pope relays the words of Gods intensions) Marriage is sacred! He relays in so many words how we Americans, fall in love (actually, lust and or an escape to repair are ourselves, and many other reasons bro) and we abandon this Sacred practice so easily.
I was Divorced (2) times and should of stayed married to my first Love but I failed too because it was easier to run from it. Divorce is evil. Divorce hurts everyone associated with it! (Destruction of Family)
A valid marriage in the eyes of our creator is with a Man and a Woman, Period. “States” can pass laws to justify anything. Government can pass laws to abort / kill / remove humans from a right to live, but Government is not “God” Government just think they are Gods! That is how the word Ego evolved. Mix 2 parts power, with 1 part law and you can overrule our Creator and re-write His books.
A team triumphs when we play as a team (thru the good and the bad) when we split or abort we have opened the doors to Holy Hell and have to pay the price, or die trying to repay our Maker. And that’s my Whiz for you my brother, God Bless You
Report Post »fangbanger
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:54amwhat it said to me was that priests need to spend more time learning about the couple they are about to bless. its no secret that there is a high divorce rate which is not in tune with the principles of marriage. the pope wants to reinforce these principles and actually “fix” marriage. by beng more descriminate on who they marry they will be doing their part to help reduce divorce.
This does not just mean gays. It is primarily projected toward couples that are getting married for the wrong reasons
Report Post »P C BE DAMNED
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:10pmI’am not catholic but this seems to be the lamest pope in a long long time.
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:29pmUntil you no longer receive benefits for being married, the Government is required to give those same benefits to everyone equally, whether they’re gay or straight. They don’t have to be wed in a church by a clergymen, but they must be allowed to legally commit to eachother and be recognized by the State as a married couple. No religious ties to it.
No one has the specific right to get married, sure, but the Government doesn’t have the right to prevent it either. I think marriage licenses are bullcrap. It’s a legal commitment, whether you confirm that commitment through a priest or a judge, that’s up to the person to decide.
Report Post »Hoosier
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 1:29amListen to me Pope Benedict and everyone else. This generation is paying the price of the failures of the baby boomer generation. They are complete failures and they get the pass while this generation pays for their trangressions. Plain and simple.
Report Post »