Reflection on February 13, 1980

https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/jp2tb17.htm

The two main things that have been looked at in the context of Christ looking back to the beginning are the unity and indissolubility of marriage. The more I read and dig into this Theology of the Body, the more I see the reasoning and beauty of Catholic teaching on marriage and the sexual act. And yet, even in the Catholic Church there are so many that want the teachings to change.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/pope-opens-critical-week-reform-family-issues - This is a story about a survey sent out to many Catholics and what Catholics in the pews really believe. That, I don’t think, should be a shock to anyone. What was more disheartening was that a Bishop would openly be calling for the Catholic rules on marriage to be done away with. You wonder if he has ever read JPII’s Theology of the Body. (by the way, read up to “they could receive Communion and other sacraments of the church.” This article was in the Pantagraph and that is where they ended the story. They left out the part saying that the teaching has no real chance of changing) And the reason it cannot change is because Christ taught it the way we teach it. We are only on the 18^th lecture of 130 and I can see that Christ meant for marriage to be lifelong. Being Catholic is not meant to be something that is obtained easily, it is something to strive to. We are to become saints, the criteria is going to be difficult. Here is a video by Fr. Barron on the Extreme rules of the Catholic Church. http://youtu.be/R0jpylnK2y8

This perfection that we are called to is beyond us. That relates to the barrier that JPII says keeps us from being able to experience this original innocence. But just we cannot fully experience it does not mean we should not try to reflect on it and learn about it. There is a link between us (historical man) and the man of original innocence. This link is there and connects us to that beginning. Not only will learning about the original man help us better understand ourselves, but better understand the redemption that Christ brings. Christ redemption will allow us to cross that barrier in the fullness of time, bring us back to God, allow us to have life eternal in the New Eden.

I saw a post on facebook about interviews of people asking them when they were attracted to the opposite sex. The idea was to show that who we are attracted to is inherent, not a choice. I have also seen things written about the gay gene. I used to think that wasn’t a plausible thing, but in thinking about when I was attracted to females, I had to stop and think. That made me think about “what if” there is a gay gene and it is something people are born with it. Does that change anything the Catholic Church teaches about homosexuality. In thinking about it, I don’t think it changes anything. We have been looking at original innocence and man before the fall. But the fall brings about a change in man. All sin and evil comes into play with the fall. God allows sin to exist, but He doesn’t force us to choose to act upon our sinful desires. There are those born with genes that are more vulnerable to cancer than others. Some families are more prone to alcoholism or other abuses. Just because you are born with these inherent weaknesses, it doesn’t give you the right to indulge in sinful acts. If skin cancer runs in your family, they tell you to wear sunscreen all the time and stay away from the sun even more than most. If alcoholism is a family issue, you should probably never start drinking. Is that a sacrifice, yes, but does anyone bat an eye if you say it, no. It is for their own good and the good of their family and society as a hole if those that know they might have been born with a gene that could lead them to danger to do what they can to avoid that. That is all Catholic teaching says to those that may be born with a gay gene. Just because you may have it does not mean you get to act out on it. All the ill effects of homosexual activity that the Church has always argued against do not change.