-Welcome
- Prayer
- Overview
- Discussion
- Break
- Discussion
- Thank Volunteers for food.
- Thank everyone for discussion and coming.
-Copies of E-5 men, NFP, explain. (brochures, etc. ; you can get the e-5 men one at
- Books and tapes for sale or take. Educate self, evangelize.
-Prayer
Overview Chapters 8-9
“Heterosexuality of marriage is intrinsic only if it’s understood to be intrinsically procreative.”
Ontologically, in the very depths of their being, everyone is heterosexual. God created us in his image: nuptial meaning of the body. The body being the revelation of the person.
“OK to be Gay” is like saying “OK to be Alcoholic”
KEY of Book: sex is meant to communicate God’s love which is a free commitment to indissolubility, fidelity, and fruitfulness. Exactly what the marriage vows express. Impossible for gays.
Confronted with problem of our bodies. Some even accept this but then try to change through surgery. However, we can’t get “behind” our sexuality. It is primary. At conception we are created either male or female. This is substantial. Secondary characteristics like hair color, eye color, etc. can be changed and we are still the same. But to imagine yourself as the opposite sex, is not to imagine yourself at all, we would be totally different.
Problem w/ legalizing homosexual acts:
1968Griswold vs. Connecticut – legalized contraception (based on “privacy”)
1973Roe v. Wade - legalized abortion on same basis
2003Lawrence vs. Texas – legalized homosexual acts on same basis
It is the continuing fruit of a shift in mindset that takes the origin of society from God’s establishment of the family and the following natural law available to reason and places it in the consensus of a free people; detaches us from TRUTH and makes it the whim of people.
Currently we have laws against drug abuse, in order to protect people; but how long can that last this is a free adult consenting to destroy themselves by drugs, we should not intervene.
Legalization of homosexual acts degrades the covenantal nature of human sexuality, which breaks down or shifts values away from good of the family.
Values shape laws but Laws shape values.
Church/state relationship is not “separate” but free. Church has duty to shape laws and culture in accordance with the dignity of man.
Why do we force people to wear seatbelts? – to protect themselves. If we see people are hurting themselves we have right as society to enact laws to prevent this.
Chapter 9
Marriage reveals the nuptial character of celibacy, and celibacy reveals that the ultimate purpose of marriage is to prepare us for heaven.
Celibacy is not a sacrament, but the beginning of the reality of marriage in heaven - in this sense it is “higher”
Celibacy is not “essential” to priesthood but Paul VI said “It’s fitting”
Christ was celibate as was St. Paul; image of bridegroom and bride is somewhat skewed without it. Icon is somewhat skewed (not destroyed) in split “fidelity” between his natural family and his bride, Church.
Male priesthood: Bridegroom (Jesus) priest in-persona-Christi giving self to Bride, Church, in the Eucharist. Holy Orders is a sacrament which means it is not only a spiritual reality but also a sign. Females are “incapable” of being the sign of the bridegroom b/c sexuality is primary it is not secondary. Jesus was not male like Jesus had brown hair, you could change his hair color and he would be the same, to change his sexuality would be to effect more than a change, it would not be Jesus anymore. (motor oil for Baptism example of West’s)
Unity is not in sameness but in love man – woman God – man
Discussion Questions – if discussion is slow starting, allow them to bring up any points from the entire book since this is the last meeting.