Pope Benedict XVI has condemned same-sex unions as fake, and
reportedly deemed them expressions of "anarchic freedom" that, along
with divorce, artificial birth control, trial marriages and
free-style unions, threaten the family. Is he right? Are these
"freedoms" part of what Pope Benedict, just before he was elected,
reportedly called an "anything goes" modern era?
I think Pope Benedict XVI is completely wrong about what threatens
families worldwide. Gay marriage is no threat to traditional
families. A far larger threat is if a gay person enters a
heterosexual marriage for "cover." Remember the film "Far From
Heaven?" It illustrated the tragedy of a man trying to "straighten"
himself in order to conform. A life built on a lie cannot be happy
for anyone concerned.
Many other things are a bigger danger to a happy family: More
children than the adults can adequately care for, lack of affordable
health care, a shrinking middle class due to excessive executive pay
and corporate greed, fewer educational opportunities, a shortage of
affordable housing, and increasing militarism in the world. I wish
the Pope were more outspoken on these issues.
The Pope may have little control over the world economy but he
does control the most hierarchical, authoritarian organization in
existence.
He has the power to stop the widespread pedophilia-fueled child
abuse going on in his church. Priests abusing children is a huge
threat to families. The payout of multi-million-dollar settlements to
victims means that money cannot be used to help poor families cope.
I suspect those who donated to the Catholic Church had a different
idea of where their hard-earned money would go when they gave it. I
fear the recent publicity and the church's lack of candor in dealing
with the problem hasn't stopped the abuse but merely driven it
further underground.
The Pope should clean up his own house before he tries to preach
morality to anyone else.
SHARON WEISMAN
Atheist
Glendale
Marriage is unequivocally a central pillar of society and acts as
a source of strength for most us. It is little wonder then, that it
is one of the most contentious issues in America today.
As is the case with all elements of human life, marriage may
become unhealthy. Judaism and the Bible (Deut. 24:1) therefore
maintain that after all options are exhausted it is better for a
couple to divorce than to remain together in a state of constant
bitterness and strife.
Furthermore, Jewish teachings stress that intimate relations
