Opinions
by Catherine Fata
I recently attended Mass with my parents, a Catholic couple happily married for almost twenty-five years. They held hands as the priest gave his homily. I had known this priest since my childhood, and he had always been known for controversial sermons. During this Mass, however, I listened intently as he crossed the line from controversial to—what I believe—was accusatory.
The Gospel reading was the oft-told one of Jesus Christ turning water to wine at the wedding in Canaan. I had always interpreted the story simply as the beginning of Jesus’ miracles in that city. However, my priest saw more there, as he launched into what seemed to be a tirade on the Church’s rules and regulations concerning marriage.
Most Catholics are vaguely aware that the Church does not recognize divorce or gay marriage. A union between a married couple, Catholic or non-Catholic, is seen as permanent, or as the Catechism states “what God has joined, no man can separate” and this union must be “between a man and a woman.”
Okay, fair enough. However, I watched the expression on the face of a longtime friend and parishioner. This parishioner, a sweet middle-aged mother with two adopted children, was in the process of separating from her husband of twenty years. I also thought of one of my best friends, a good person and good Christian. This friend happens to be gay. I then began to resent the man who I had received the Eucharist from in junior-high. I grew angry towards him for passing judgment on God’s beautiful but perhaps flawed creatures.
These particular topics, divorce and gay marriage, have never been more relevant as they are now. They are confusing and messy issues. I know what the Church states. I know what I believe as a compassionate human being and friend. I also know that a discrepancy exists between these two views.
I believe that no human being, president, performer, priest, or pope has the right to surpass God’s judgment with opinions. Can we think about these things? I say absolutely. Do I have the right to question what I’ve been taught as a student and as Catholic? God gave me a brain for that reason. Could my opinion, no matter how well thought out, be wrong? Absolutely.
I’m going to leave it up to God to decide. And since I trust He loves my friends more than I ever could, I know He’ll take care of them.
