Clergy, lay groups march against same-sex marriage

Students and members of different Catholic organizations and clergy join the Solidarity Walk against same sex marriage that started at Fuente Osmena to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Under cloudy skies, members of Cebu’s clergy and Cahtolic lay groups  yesterday staged a solidarity walk to oppose  same-sex marriage as a threat threat against the Filipino family.

The “Solidarity Walk for the Family” began at Fuente Osmeña Circle past 3 p.m. and ended with a mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown Cebu City.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in a letter,  said there is a need to inform the public about the danger of some legislation which goes against Catholic teaching.

“This (solidarity walk) is designated to awaken the consciousness of every Filipino on the importance of the natural family and to stage a united voice against the passage of  same-sex marriage and divorce bills in our country,” he said.

Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, country director of Human Life International, said the church could not  be idle in the face of attempts to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines.

He cited House Bill No. 110 or the  act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity which he said aims at legalizing same-sex marriage.

“As early as now, we have to make a clear stand and oppose same-sex marriage. Let us always uphold the truth and God,” he told CDN.

“We are a predominantly Catholic nation. We must unite and send a message to our lawmakers and Malacanang not to have a repeat of what happened in other Catholic nations,” he added.

Last Friday, the United States’ Supreme Court ruled that  same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in their country.

Bullecer said the Catholic church in the Philippines will do its best to counter same-sex marriage.

“We need consistency in our campaign. I hope other dioceses in the country will also hold activities to fight same-sex marriage,” he said.

Bullecer explained that same-sex marriage is considered immoral by the Catholic church since it goes against the natural law that only man and woman can marry.

“Only a man and a woman has the capability to procreate,” he said.

Bullecer clarified that the church is not against gays and lesbians per se but the acts of homosexual.

In the language of the church, homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex.

Based on the catechism of the Catholic church, “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered” as they are contrary to the natural law, and close the sexual act to the gift of life.

“Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection,” the Church’s catechism read.