The Truth of our Sexuality - or Not?

Over four consecutive weeks this month, the Sunday gospel takes us through the sixth chapter of John, often referred to as the “bread of life discourse.”   It starts with the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and continues through Jesus’ very direct explanation that He is the bread God sent down from heaven to give life to the world.  He says, unequivocally, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)  And again: “I myself am the living bread, come down from heaven.  If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever; the bread I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)

This chapter of John’s gospel, along with the last supper narratives, form the basis of Catholic belief in the Eucharist, not only because Jesus was so explicit, but because even when people were repulsed at the notion of eating His flesh, He never backed down, but instead was even more explicit:

 “Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you… For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink.  The man who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” (John 6:52-56) 

Jesus repeats this several times and refuses to tone down his rhetoric even when many of His followers depart from Him over His assertion.  Later, during the Last Supper, when Jesus institutes the “new and eternal covenant” on behalf of mankind, He gives us His Body and Blood to eat and drink in the Eucharist.  This was the clear understanding and belief of the Apostles and the early church who followed Jesus’ explicit instructions to continue this practice of consecrating the bread and wine in which Jesus is fully and completely present to us, body, soul, and divinity. 

Jesus gives us His Body and Blood as food for our journey through this life and into the next.  This is the spiritual nourishment we need in order to remain in Him and Him in us, throughout our lives.  This is important because abiding in Jesus gives us access to the “The Way, the Truth and the Life.”  Hours before His death, when Pilot confronted Jesus, He boldly explained the reason why He came into this world: “The reason I was born, the reason why I came into the world, is to testify to the truth.  Anyone committed to the truth hears my voice.”  Pilot, who was undoubtedly a well-educated Roman, scoffed at this because of the common belief that there is no absolute truth.  Two thousand years later, our secular society still believes that truth is whatever each person wants it to be.  Everybody makes up their own truth to rationalize their world view and their behavior.  Those in a position to publish their version of the truth do so at will, even when their version of the truth is biased or intentionally misleading. 

This past Sunday, our pastor published an article in the church bulletin about the importance of truth.  Most of the article consisted of quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and its interpretation of the 8^th commandment.  Among other things, the Catechism says, “False witness contributes to the condemnation of the innocent, exoneration of the guilty, or increased punishment of the accused.  This gravely compromises the exercise of justice and the fairness of judicial decisions.”  (CCC: #2476)   When you consider all the deceit and deception surrounding the abortion debate, it’s easy to see how innocent unborn lives are destroyed by these falsehoods.

Our secular society has bought into many untruths based on false witness and deception, and the consequences are monumental.  For example, several prominent judges who have overturned laws protecting marriage, have done so on the belief that there is no difference between gay couples and heterosexual couples when it comes to raising children.  Iowa Supreme Court justice Mark Cady cited this “no difference“ thesis in his opinion on a case that legalized gay marriage in Iowa.  Likewise, Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S. district court of San Francisco repeatedly cited the “no difference” thesis in his 2010 decision to overturn Prop 8 in California which defined marriage as between one man and one woman.   Judge Walker cited research supporting the conclusion that, “children raised by homosexual parents are as likely to be healthy, successful and well-adjusted” as other children.   And where did he get this information?  From the American Psychological Association who published a brief intended to influence family law in this matter.  The APA indicated that “not a single study has found children of gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual couples.”  The problem here is that it turns out that 80% of the 59 studies they referred to, sampled fewer than 100 people.  One study consisted of only 5 participants, and many others sampled only the children of affluent families.   However, a new study which screened 15,000 Americans and surveyed 3000 participants, reports quite different findings.  With a high degree of statistical confidence, this new study reveals that Americans ages 18-39 who grew up with same sex parents fared much worse on 25 of 40 measures evaluated.  They were three and a half times more likely to be unemployed, four times likelier to be on public assistance, more likely to have been arrested and pled guilty of criminal offenses, to smoke marijuana, and to have thought about suicide during the preceding year.   Perhaps most startling of all, children of gay couples were 11 times more likely to report that they had been touched sexually in an inappropriate way by an adult. 

This new research reveals a different truth from what the “no difference” theory purports.  If judges believed this new data, would they have found differently?  If more people understood this, would they continue to support gay marriage, knowing that many of these gay couples will adopt or otherwise obtain children they will raise according to their value system?

As Christians, we believe that the truth of our sexuality is that it is not just a plaything for our enjoyment and pleasure, but the beautiful expression of fidelity and love in which children are conceived.  By separating our sexuality from the responsibility of permanent, committed love and the possibility of procreation, we do great violence to the truth.   God imprinted this truth in our bodies, creating us male and female, giving us the opportunity to live intimately with our spouses, in permanent committed relationship where we are able to establish a secure and loving environment in which to raise children; children who need both father and mother to flourish.  This means learning and practicing sexual continence and personal responsibility for this great gift of sexuality.  But that’s not the truth our government wants to teach children.  Instead, the Obama administration has given $200 million to Planned Parenthood for the distribution of “comprehensive sex education” which is being implemented in school districts all across the country.  This program promotes the notion that it’s OK to have sex, it’s perfectly normal to do so, as long as it’s safe sex.   The programs are not only graphic, but include the distribution of condoms and offer confidential “health services” for children who need assistance dealing with STDs and unplanned pregnancies.   One Catholic family is fighting back in attempt to have their school modify the program after their 11 year old daughter came home in tears after a sex ed class that graphically explained oral sex.  Despite getting twelve other families to appeal to the school board, they could not even get a hearing to discuss the issue.

Are we hooking our kids on sex before they even complete puberty?  Do we want them to believe that sleeping around and one-night hook-ups are the norm?  Is this the message we want our children to be hearing?   Is it any wonder that pornography is ubiquitous and the entertainment industry is drenched in sex?  Is this the truth of nature as revealed by our bodies, or are we meant for something greater, something more fulfilling and permanent?

Our government wants to dictate our sexual ethics and regulate our actions regarding marriage, family, and sex.  Our president will make gay marriage a plank in the democratic platform this year, asserting that anyone who disagrees will be labeled as intolerant.  Companies who refuse to pay for abortaficient drugs and sterilization will be fined $100 per day, per employee under the new law.  The mayors of New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco have publicly announced that Chik-fil-A is no longer welcome in their cities because the firm’s founder supports traditional marriage and family relationships.  Will these mayors revoke business licenses?  Will they kick out other employers whose owners feel the same way?   Will business license applications now include questions about the owners’ religious convictions?  As crazy as all this sounds, these things are taking place here in America, “land of the free.”  These actions are nothing less than totalitarian in nature.  The federal and local government is now telling people what to believe, with complete disregard for the first amendment which was written to protect people from government interference with their practice of religion.

There’s a new sit-com on TV this fall.  From what I can tell, it’s about a gay couple (guys) who hire a young woman to be their surrogate mom so they can have a child to raise.  I think the name of the program is “The New Normal.”  Is this what our country believes to be normal?  In Europe, scientists have now figured out how to conceive a baby using the DNA from 3 people instead of two.  Will that become the preferred method of conceiving children for gay couples who want both of their DNA passed along?

Now, more than ever, we need to abide in Christ.  He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  As He explains through John’s gospel, the best way to remain in Him is to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood, so that we may have eternal life.  I thank God I am Catholic and I believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  I wish more people did.  If so, maybe our country would see through the false witness and deceit that is taking hold of our national mores.  Pray for our nation.  Pray hard.

We Need America's Patron Saint More Than Ever

This week marks the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church, celebrating the belief that Mary was “assumed,” body and soul, into heaven at the end of her earthly life.  Belief in this doctrine dates back to the third century and is associated with the corollary belief in her Immaculate Conception (her birth and subsequent life without sin).  The scriptural reference to this latter dogma comes from the angel Gabriel’s proclamation and greeting when he addressed Mary as “full of grace.”  This has been interpreted to mean that Mary was born sinless and remained that way throughout her life.  She was the immaculate vessel that held the body of Jesus within her own body, and nourished him with her own blood.  As the mother of Jesus, we believe that she received this amazing gift from Jesus Himself out of love and respect for His earthly mother. 

Early church fathers explained that since death is the result of sin, and because Mary was without sin, her body remained uncorrupted by death and she was taken bodily into heaven at the end of her life on earth, to be with her Son whose body was raised from the dead.  We believe Mary to be a saint, like so many others who are in heaven with Our Lord, but because of her special relationship with her Son, Jesus, she is undoubtedly shares an intimate relationship with Him. 

Many non-Catholic Christians do not belief in these two Catholic doctrines, despite the fact that these beliefs were around for at least 1200 years before the Protestant Reformation.  It occurs to me that over the past several hundred years, and especially in the 20^th century, many non-Catholic Christians have strayed a very long way from the original teachings of Jesus and the early church founded by Peter and the Apostles.  Many Christian denominations determine their beliefs based on the founder of their sect, and most have allowed their beliefs to evolve with the times, as if morality is subjective and able to be determined by societal trends.  Many denominations now embrace gay marriage, most condone birth control, despite its many consequences, and some even accept abortion under some circumstances.   In the last decade or two, we’ve seen Christian leaders distort Christianity in a variety of ways, such as those like Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra who espouse the notion of “God within-us” and thereby ustifying pride, greed, and self-absorption.  Others like Joel Osteen suggest that if we pray hard enough, our financial prospects will improve.  Many Catholics have left the church in search of a God who will do things for them, make them feel better about themselves, or accommodate their need for more freedom.  The Catholic Church would refer to many of these pseudo-Christian beliefs as “heresy” a word that conjures up the notion of an old fashioned, out of touch male-dominated patriarchy.   However, it is the Catholic Church that is holding the line on those truths revealed by God as the basis of morality and fundamental to the common good of society. 

Over the past 50 years, as our mainstream religions got watered down, society has become increasingly secular and atheistic.  We’ve witnessed the sexual revolution which separated sex from responsibility and when pregnancy prevention measures failed, we institutionalized abortion on demand to remedy any inconvenient consequences.  The results have been devastating on a global scale.   In addition to the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, and skyrocketing divorce rates, birth control drugs and abortions have caused a huge increase in breast cancer.  The global decline in birth rates has put the world on the precipice of  a“demographic winter.”  Birth rates are so low that every Western nation faces catastrophic economic failure because of burgeoning elderly populations at the very time the workforce is declining.

We are currently witnessing nothing less than the death of the social welfare state.  Greece has been the first to fall and several other EU nations are not far behind.  It is virtually impossible for socialist governments to fund their welfare programs going forward.  Debts in these social welfare states have overwhelmed the productive capacity of their nations and no amount of taxation can remedy their situations.  We’ve begun to see the same thing in the USA where cities, reeling under deficits have either declared bankruptcy, or passed utterly ridiculous bond issues.  The most recent example is Poway California who received voter approval to sell $125 million in 40 year bonds at 8% with terms that defer payments for 20 years, allowing the debt to amass to over $1 billion before the bonds are repaid by a future generation.  Eighty-five percent of the Poway budget is spent on union salaries, healthcare and retirement benefits and this $125 million only makes them solvent for a year or two. 

America is on a path to imitate the mistakes of these failing EU nations unless we rein in spending on entitlement programs.   Many on the left believe that government has a responsibility to take care of those who for one reason or another cannot or will not care for themselves.  The problem is that this social doctrine has a tendency to erode moral culture by rescuing citizens from the burden of responsibility.  Social welfare programs undermine the family and self-reliance by creating dependencies that discourage formation of the virtues necessary for human flourishing.   Fail to get an education or job training?  No problem- we have a welfare program to compensate for that.  Become drug or alcohol dependent?   No sweat – we have programs to care for you, including long term disability payments.  Fail to save for retirement?   Collect social security payments in excess of your contributions.  Fail to manage your personal health?  You’re entitled to free healthcare. 

The upcoming election will bring to light the clash in ideologies between Democrats who want to continue the march toward becoming a social welfare state, and Republicans who want to restore fiscal responsibility to our nation by spending only what we can afford to spend, even if it means major overhaul to entitlement programs.   Medicare is not merely insolvent; in its current form it will bankrupt our nation within two decades.   Candidate Romney has boldly chosen a running mate with the courage to address these budget problems, despite the political buffoonery it will attract.  Many on the left who refuse to acknowledge the inevitable end of the social welfare state will make outrageous claims that Romney and Ryan will destroy Medicare and Social Security, when in fact, they are the ones willing to assume responsibility for making sure these programs are sustainable without bankrupting our nation.

Mary is the patron saint of the Americas.  We need her prayers more than ever this year as our country faces a momentous decision about our future.  Will we continue down the path of destroying our economic future and undermining family values and the virtues associated with personal responsibility?  Or will we acknowledge the truth of the consequences of declining morality and unsustainable social welfare entitlements, by moving instead toward a “post-welfare” state?   I for one, will be asking our Blessed Mother to pray for our nation, in hope that more people will acknowledge that our current path is not only unsustainable, it is harming people by discouraging the formation of the virtues of personal responsibility, charity and hope.    Perhaps our Lord Jesus will help more people open their ears and eyes to the reality of our declining culture and elect leaders who have the courage to make the changes necessary to put our nation back on track.