Considering Friday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage throughout the country, it was no surprise that the ruling would be the subject of today's homily. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, Father Tim read from the official response from Michigan's Catholic Bishops rather than add one on his own. This is an issue that I have also danced around ever since the Michigan ban on same-sex marriage came up to vote. I have been afraid that my stance, which is the same as that posted by Michigan's Catholic Bishops, would alienate both family and friends.
You see, I believe that people should be able to visit their loved ones in the hospital, give their inheritance to whom they choose, and receive the same benefits for living and working together as anyway else. I don't, however, believe that same-sex marriage is the same as the sacrament of marriage. While I don't believe that the state has the right to interfere with people's sexual orientations (between consensual, adult humans), that doesn't mean that I agree with, or even condone, people's sexual choices. Which I suppose is fine since I know that not everyone agrees with my choices either. In short, I agree with the Supreme Court in the sense that we should not harass or discriminate against others for any reason short of them being a danger to society, and I also am saddened that the same decision separated people even farther from the true sacrament of marriage.
It might not mean much to other people, but I worry about the corruption (not just change) of our language. When we change the meaning of words, we try to change the Ideas behind them. "Love" has taken quite a beating, tending to mean only its basest form. "Marriage" has expanded past the sacrament to dilute what made it special as well. What's in a name? Words hold power, a magic beyond our full understanding. The sacrament of marriage is more than two people who "love" and live with one another. Supreme Court ruling or no, same-sex marriage can never be truly equal to the sacrament.