"Holier than thou."
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I was thinking how some of my acquaintances/friends get upset with me when I say or write things in defense of traditional marriage - that is, union between a man and a woman, not the Extraordinary Form of celebrating matrimony. They take it as if I'm insulting them personally. Aside from my own personal conviction regarding the matter - which happily accords with the teaching of the Church - I also find it necessary - when the issue becomes so public - to voice or express my convictions whenever I am asked, challenged, or confronted with the issue. As the document Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Same Sex Unions makes clear (and will you people please read it!):
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10. If it is true that all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in keeping with their responsibility as politicians. Faced with legislative proposals in favour of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are to take account of the following ethical indications. - CDF
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Thus, I am only doing my duty, it is part of my faith, my witness to express these convictions, which are no mere personal opinion on the subject. Naturally those in favor of gay marriage will and do oppose my position and reject it - and some times they reject me personally. Thus one understands my skepticism as regards authentic friendship and worldly loyalties and honors.
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I'm accustomed to such attitudes however, as well as the limitations such 'conditional' friendships impose. I grew up in a family where it seemed I was the only one who was 'religious' or tried to keep the commandments. Without going into detail repeating all the scandals in my family, let me tell you that it was very difficult trying to remain faithful to the Catholic faith and practice - despite the fact my mother saw to it that we attended Catholic school.
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If I questioned or asked my parents to come to Mass, to stop using God's name in vain, or ask why they drank so much and fought so much, or when I said I couldn't lie for them, I was accused of being a little hypocrite or a 'holier than thou little bastard'. My siblings treated me the same way - on Sundays they would go to the soda fountain at the drugstore after dropping me off at Mass with orders to get 3 bulletins to show our parents on our return home. I had to hide my devotions because I was made fun of for my piety. Believe me I wasn't a saint - but I tried to live as faithfully as possible. (I was so bad in 5th and 6th grade I think I went to confession every Saturday, so my parents were not wrong in calling me a hypocrite.)
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Over the years I've grown accustomed to false friends and fair weather friends. I see through a lot of religious facades many church people erect - liberal or conservative. So-called rejection and persecution for one's religious convictions is something I'm accustomed to - and I'm accustomed to bigotry just as much if not more than some same sex couple campaigning for equal rights/rites, while condemning Catholic teaching.
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The point I really want to make is this: If it was so bad growing up as I did in a traditional family setting - opposite sex parents, legally married, etc. - I assure you a household with two same sex parents is totally insane. My parents should never have had children. I can't even imagine how freaking insane it would be to be raised in a homosexual environment. It makes for a fun sitcom (Modern Family) - but it is far from reality.
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Today's Gospel offers some consolation however: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first." Nice to know - much better to experience.
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Photo: Cast of 'Modern Family'. Very funny show BTW.
