Quote:
Originally Posted by kutulu
As much as I believe in safe sex and allowing gay marriage, why does the Catholic Church have to change their doctrine just to make it fit with the times? If they believe that God only wants marriage to be between a man and a woman than we should respect their position. However, it does not mean that US laws should consider the stance of the Catholic Church when deciding if gay marriage shoud be allowed.
Same goes for birth control. If they think it's a sin than why the fuck should they support it?
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In principle, I agree. But my question then becomes: what is the baseline?
A few hundred years ago, it was doctrine to burn people at the stake. If you follow some interpretations of the Bible, it's a sin to eat shellfish and wear mixed textile clothing.
So where is the baseline, mutually agreed upon interpretation of "the word of God"?
It doesn't exist, naturally. Instead of dealing within the inherent nature of Catholic doctrine to change over time it seems there is a rigorous "back-to-basics" philosophy which isn't really a back-to-basics philosophy, but simply a hardline, increase the opposition to
specific "sins" philosophy. The Pope has already come out against the Spanish gay marriage accord - this is the same man who so adamantly favored hiding the Church's sexual abuse scandals.
Is the word of God according to Catholics such that gay marriage is a sin worthy of denunciation while pedophilia is not?
I doubt it. But he is the Pope, so he should know, right?