I agree with you Jennifer.

Agreed.

Well said!

Very good letter, this should go viral! The IRS should investigate his meddling in politics too.

Others have long scoffed at me for my distrust of this fish-eating sect.

But isn't it odd that they seem to meddle in the affairs of loving and respectable folk who simply want to live fair and loving lives, yet the "Church" refuses to reign in the scads of cowardly pederasts who "man" its sanctuaries (whose behavior is not in any way sexual, but rather predatory and about exerting power over the helpless and innocent).

And yes, why doesn't the gov't investigate its political meddling and revoke its tax exemptions. The church-state division should go both ways, should it not?

Jennifer, perhaps your understanding of the Catholic Church is incomplete. Did you not realize the Church is not a democracy where one can think what they wish? Church doctrine remains despite what society has concluded on their own, for that we have what is called the Protestant church.

I think Jennifer understands that perfectly, she simply disagrees with Church doctrine as expressed by the Cardinal. Accordingly, when will stay away from Mass. That doesn't make the Church a democracy, but it does honor the individual conscience that the Church does teach as part of its doctrine!

I think Jennifer also disagrees, as do I, with the Cardinal's attempt to enshrine his Church's doctrine as the law the land (of Lincoln).

Thank you Jennifer. God bless you.

Thank you for your kind feedback. I just want to make sure I am very clear on a couple of points. 1) please understand I wrote from a place of deep love for my church and deep disappointment in Cardinal George. 2) I fully respect Cardinal George's right to make a statement on a political issue. Had he published this letter as an op Ed piece in the Sun Times or Tribune, we'd be OK. I'd still disagree, but I wouldn't be angry. Mass is a time for worship and reflection, not politics. I am angry at Cardinal George's misuse of his access to a large community to attempt to influence a matter that does not affect his church. 3) I am well aware that Catholicism is not a democracy. My understanding of my faith is incomplete, as that us why we say we are "practicing Catholics" and not "perfect Catholics". 4) I remain a catholic because our traditions, rituals and community speaks to my soul more closely than any other faith. I will not leave my church over a disagreement because I don't believe that change can come from outside. I am confident that change will come, though it will take a long time. 5) the Catholic Church, archdiocese of Chicago and my own home parish do a great deal of good in our world, as do most houses of worship. I do not challenge their tax exempt status at all. I know, from personal experience, that my church helps those in need without question and with a great deal of dignity.

Well said, my daughter. You make me proud to have raised you in a faith-based family where all are welcome and equal.
Susan D.

Neil Steinberg, today's Sun-Times, agrees with you as do I.

It amazes me how those who are pro homo sex constantly riff on Catholicism one of the most giving and forgiving of world religions yet stand by silently as another major world religion promotes, excuses or ignores the abuse, rape and murder of girls, women, gays or anyone who falls into the category of "infidel". Get real ....you take for granted massive freedom under the comfy cloak of the stars and stripes. You have no idea how lucky you are to espouse your views of "tolerance" w/out fear of real harm while ironically showing zero tolerance to those of whom you disagree. How about presenting your views on their own merits? Why the need to assail the religious beliefs of others in an attempt to bolster your views? You feel only select groups are entitled to defend their way of life? Hitler, Mao, Arafat, Saddam and Osama all felt this way. History shows us what that yielded.

Jennifer, you have voiced an opinion that perhaps many hold who are aware of the Cardina's position. As a 72-year old cradle Catholic, I completely agree with you. What amazes me is the lack of similar outrage from Cardinal George (and others) over acts of gun violence, criminal behavior of priests, and President Bush's choice to enter into an unjust war. I don't recall any active support by the Cardinal for Father Pfleger's anti-gun and anti-violence activities, here in the archdiocese. A priest once told me that in the United States, we do not elect officials for their moral position and we do not ask our religious leaders for political advice. Whatever we do, we certainly do not appreciate being told what choices to make.

Joseph Rhodes

Unfortunately, Jennifer, you wrote this piece based on your feelings and not on your intellect. Some of the statements you make about the Cardinal are factually incorrect. Your statements also show a lack of knowledge about the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church, and a lack of knowledge about the subject of Natural Law which is taught and studied in undergraduate and graduate level courses in both secular and religious universities. It also seems that you do not know or understand what responsibilities a Cardinal has to the people of the Church
or what the secular and religious teachings are about the purpose of marriage.
There are at least seven or more types of "love". You treat the subject in your piece as if there is only one all encompassing type and that just isn't so. Eric Fromm's book on the subject is enlightening and an easy read. You owe it to yourself and your family to learn all you can about these subjects. You are not finished with your education, Catholic or otherwise.

In recent years I've wondered, how can my friends, gay or straight, remain members of the Catholic Church? With this egregious behavior, these awful out-of-line comments, coming constantly from their leaders, and particularly Cardinal George. I really appreciate this comment -- "I will not leave my church over a disagreement because I don't believe that change can come from outside." -- and your efforts to take a stand, publicly, on this important issue. Voices like yours, from within, are indeed needed to create change. I wish more of our straight and gay allies would follow your lead!

Isn't it funny when you bring up "separation of church and state," the church has no response? i.e., they feel there is or should be NO separation. I've been following George's hateful anti-gay comments the past few years, and take comfort in the fact that, each new statement published sounds more absurd, hysterical and out-of-time than the last. Good riddance, and soon, Cardinal George.

What a wonderful letter! No one has any 'right' to deny anyone a loving relationship under the guise of religion. Cardinal George, The Pope, any religious leader needs to stay stop preaching hate, intolerance and exclusion of anyone!

Winnetka, 1) I doubt you speak for your whole town. 2) no major religion excuses or encourages rape. None. Certain outlying practitioners of those religions do and sadly those people get the attention. But rape and murder is not condoned by any major world religion. Those that do are misinterpreting their faith.
Terry 1) I never ONCE stated my education was complete. I stated that Cardinal George's statement opposed everything I learned. 2) Any church has the right to deny the sacrament of marriage. TECHNICALLY my mom isn't "married" according to our church because she remarried after divorce in a non denominational chapel. 3) love is love. Breaking it down to 7 different types is unnecessary. 4) I don't need an easy read, thankyouverymuch. 5) if two people love each other, join their finances, hold property, raise a family, commit their lives to each other it is a marriage and deserves all those civil rights and responsibilities. 6) again Cardinal George has a right to an opinion. He should not abuse his ability to share that opinion across every Sunday bulletin (that the archdiocese doesn't pay to have printed) and demand that I call my representatives to parrot his opinion.

Jennifer, thank you for this wonderful post. I completely agree with you except for one thing...that you are not going to be in church. Your reasons for missing Mass are entirely understandable, but the church needs more voices like yours. If we all skipped out on Mass the Cardinal and others of his opinion triumph over the rest of us. Please keep attending and please keep your voice heard. It is a huge challenge that we face, but we must face it or we ultimately lose the battle.
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
God bless, and thank you again for this post.

Jen--This is the same slippery slope argument that was made to justify laws prohibiting interracial marriage. Supporting same sex marriage does not impose anything on you. You are not being forced to marry another woman. My faith has taught me kindness. The Jesus I have learned about hung out with marginalized people and spoke up for those being oppressed. Your discomfort with same sex couples is not enough to deny them their civil rights.

So, Jen, by your math we get one sin and that's it? I don't proclaim to know what's right or wrong and when in doubt I try to err on the side of love. And no doubt I get it wrong a lot. But I trust in God's grace and that He understands my intentions and wants me to wrestle with these issues. But I cannot endorse depriving an entire group of people their civil rights.

Jennifer Wilson - thank you, your letter was greatly worded, strongly agree and it gives me hope for a better future.

Jen - You're crazy, stop looking to ARGUE for argument sake, find peace in your life and be happy, and stop imposing your negativity to others by posting.

Jennifer Wilson, I enjoyed reading your letter; thank you for writing and sharing it. Although not Catholic, I agree that no church has any place in civil matters, and am a proponent of same sex marriage.

I like your thought that "change doesn't happen from the outside," and it's probably the only reason I can find for Catholics staying in a church that is so political and stuck in the past. Specifically, I have wondered why so many followers stay in an organization that has allowed such rampant pedophilia among its ranks. I understand that many Catholics are against same sex marriage, but no one is for child abuse.

I understand that you aren't an expert on this topic, and that you didn't even address this, but would appreciate your opinion. In your experience, what change is being made (from the inside) against the abusive behaviors and the coverup of those behaviors that we've been learning about for some time now?

To me it seems that priests need to be allowed to marry so that they have a healthy outlet for their very human, natural impulses. Women priests would also be a great advancement.

Don't tread on me. If the Catholic Church so strongly opposes gay marriage, then fine, don't perform any marriages in your own churches and leave it at that. Remember Matthew 6:6? Didn't God say not to judge others? That is his job, not ours. This is why the Catholic church is losing more and more believers and will soon just become another cult with a few lingering devotees. As Bob Dylan so finely put it, "Your old road is rapidly agin'. Please get out of the new one If you can't lend your hand."

Jennifer Wilson I'm so glad to know you. Thank you for your letter and stating how you feel about how Cardinal George is dealing with the the Marriage Equality issue. I also want to thank you for supporting my family for who we are. We are a loving, committed couple with 2 beautiful children who want to live the American Dream, just like anyone else. We live in Evanston, are involved in our communities ( both school and civic), send our children to school, have play dates, attend school events and go to church. We both have jobs, pay our taxes and our bills. We are like any other couple except that we can't get married. All we are asking for is equal rights not special rights. Cardinal George can spread all of the " Hate " that he wishes to. That will not surpass the intense gratitude that I feel right now for friends like you who support us in the way that you do. So God Bless you and your family for who you are!

Marriage is between one man and one woman, period. And I mean not disrepect for the gay population. They are loved by God just as the rest of us are and I do not judge them. I simply feel the union they share should be call something other than "marriage". Leave it at civil union, loving unification or whatever.

Well done, Jennifer! As a practicing Catholic, I agree with all you have written & am outraged by the deterioration of our Church. Our Church is in a period of dark times, and like other times in history, as so often seen in institutions, is prone to corruption. While not a democracy, the Church is its people, not merely its hierarchy, something which has been forgotten in the power hungry, hate filled behavior demonstrated by its bishops and cardinals who instead of spreading the word of the Gospel and message of caring for the least of these, use their power, influence and money to attack Catholic nuns, gay civil unions and even attempting to influence the outcome of the election through intimidation & coercion. As if these were the major evils affecting the average family today. With all the real issues at stake affecting our society & its people, a group with this amount of power could accomplish so much good. With their history of covering up years of pederast priests, they have lost all moral authority; instead should be on their knees in sackcloth and ashes, begging forgiveness. However, the "Church" is more than than the wayward hierarchy. I urge you not to deny the Sacraments from yourself or your children. With hold your money and send it to another charity instead. We must be like Catherine of Sienna, who was surrounded by fools in the Church, yet persevered and enacted change within. Blessings.

@ Sara - the names of things do not matter, only what things are. So if it makes you happy then by all means call it what you would like. I believe you are confused. There is no cosmic natural law that states marriage is for a man and woman. Marriage and it's concept is created by man. And man is always changing. However there is a cosmic natural law that states only a female and a male can conceive a new born child. So what are you worried about? It's not like these homosexuals are going to be getting themselves pregnant. Back off, and just let them get married and be happy together. Do you like it when strangers meddle in your affairs?? These Catholics really need to grow up and mature. I'm ashamed to be one.

Bravo Jennifer Wilson. I agree, but: I think that the Cardinal's message does not belong on the Op Ed page. His message really should be delivered from the pulpit where preaching on moral issues to an audience that is his congregation is appropriate. Trying to put morality onto a secular society in a secular forum makes his just one man's opinion.

Go to Mass tomorrow. You have put together a solid lists of "You don not get to's", but the one you need to add is "You do not get to push me out of my Church". If you let a bully restrict you, who wins? As a lifelong practicing Catholic, with 16 years of Catholic schooling, I have come to understand that conscientious Catholics take the guidance of the Church's teaching, but ultimately their decisions impact the relationship between themselves and God.

BTW: The 'Wedding Song' does say that, but the original is found in Matthew's Gospel and in most translations ends "...there I am in their midst."

well done mom

Jen--So far, you've compared a gay person to a pedophile, an animal abuser, a person who engages in incest, a rapist, a white supremecist, and a nazi. Yeah, I can tell you "love the sinner." I hope your heart softens and opens some day and I wish you better than what you're giving right now.

I will ask again, can anyone define what the Church teaches about the morality of sex? What are the requirements that need to be fulfilled for sex to be considered moral? Nancy, you have a point. At one point she used the word logic. In order for something to be true there cannot be any contradictions. Major premise, minor premise, conclusion....

Matt, the Catholic Church teaches that the primary function of sex is procreation, hence also the prohibition of artificial birth control. However, the catholic teaching on the function of sex is moot when applying that standard to ALL people of ALL faiths in this state. If the state of marriage was strictly a religious signification Cardinal George would have a very valid argument. But it's NOT just a spiritual issue. Upon marriage, I get a better tax deal. I have immediate rights to inheritance. My spouse is automatically my next of kin. My husband can make revisions for me if I am not able to without question. Should we divorce, we are subject to community property laws, alimony and child support. Currently my gay friends, whose relationships are very similar to mine, enjoy no such protection under the law. Their partners will have to pay inheritance taxes on property they paid for through their combined finances. They have to have elaborate paperwork naming their partners as their power of attorney, which a family member could challenge, despite their wishes. We use marriage as a legal status in this country and religion should not affect that legal status.

MD I generally try not to touch the child abuse issue with a ten foot pole, but here goes. The church is trying to correct an UN-correctable wrong. There is no thing that can ever make it right to the victims. What is working in our favor now is that we have increased awareness of child abuse, the priesthood is no longer used as much as a place to hide as it was a generation ago and that we are now smart enough to know that children need and deserve justice. Not too long ago, it was thought that pressing charges of abuse would further traumatize a child, which is why so many abusers were allowed to simply move on, and not just in the priesthood. We know better and now we can do better.

Beth, thank you. I truly believe it's families like yours that will create the most change, simply by being. And to paraphrase Patrick Swayze, no one is going to put our babies in a corner.

Everyone else, thank you so much for your feedback. I am still skipping mass tomorrow, because my heart isn't there and I can't promise to be a grown up and not stomp out during the homily. I refuse to interrupt someone else's quiet time with God. Pleas know that the Big Guy and I are square with each other and feel this is what is correct for me this week.
To those whose views are clearly homophobic, obviously you've never watched someone you care about desperately try to be "normal". You've clearly never seen that person find the love of their life. You've never felt the sting that I do when I see their love compared to bestiality, incest, abuse, or other hateful things. You will be in my prayers.

And Bill Payer, I know The Wedding Song is a paraphrase of the gospel, but it is also often sung at Catholic weddings, including my own. And it's a favorite.

Thanks Jen. I know the answer. I am an ex seminarian who majored in theology and philosophy. I know the answer. I am uncomfortable in talking about things I do not know the answer too. There seem to be many people who are making blanket statements on things they do not know of. All we need to do is pick up the Catechism written in the 90's. I am also a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest and have my own issues with the Church. However, the Church has taught the same things for 2013 years. Things have evolved but the Truth has always been the same. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Sacraments that are all Biblical. And the structure of the Church. The mention of ones conscience being of the utmost importance in ones faith is flat out wrong. That is not what they meant in Vatican II. I would love to see more priests talking about the truth of some touchy issues. I am tired of hearing how we are all awful people. We are Loved by God all the time, no matter what. Gay, straight, or otherwise. We do need to atone for our sins, but that never changes His Love for us. That does not mean though that we ever change the definition of marriage. Legal union is OK with me. But NEVER a redefining of marriage. Also, separation of Church and State is also greatly misunderstood. If we are going to have a discussion we need to be able to logically back up our statements.

Matt, then you know that the Church doesn't consider a city hall wedding as marriage. The Church redefined marriage by only counting it if it is blessed by the church. The state allows us to skip a step by recognizing a church wedding as a legal one. Should the state allow same sex couples the right to city hall marriage it in no way affects the church. Had I gotten married at city hall, my church would not consider me as having received the sacrament of marriage until I came to church for that blessing. So, fine, my gay friends won't go to my church for the blessing. But they should not be denied the civil rights afforded to me simply for having been created heterosexual.

Jen, Jennifer has been presenting some well thought out arguments. Besides picking and choosing what is OK to believe in is not what I agree with, she has been very logical. You are right though. Many people will not answer a direct question and are insulting of ones thoughts, ideas or even the Church and our faith. THAT is nor OK. The question I asked about what makes sex ordered was rhetorical as there are so many people talking as fact about things they do not know about. I try not to talk about things that I have no knowledge of. But the Catholicism is something I can talk about as well as politics.

God bless you, Matt.

Thanks Jen God bless you as well. He really has blessed me. I just do not see how anyone can live without faith. No matter how bad things have been, it is always been a blessing as he was teaching me something. Always a lesson there. I have 5 beautiful children and a wonderful wife. Peter Kreeft, a philosopher and theologian from Boston College wrote a book about making moral choices in a tough world in 1990. It is even more important today. We take God out of our institutions and look what kind of world we live in. If I leave a mirror, my reflection also is no longer there. It is the same way with God, however one defines Him. If we take Him out of our institutions, including marriage and family, even Church and schools and government, His reflection leaves and look what we are left with. Evil running rampant. I grew up on the Southside, my family still lives there, one brother is a cop, the other a fireman. I cannot imagine what they see on a daily basis. Yet, they do not even know if their pensions are going to be there when they retire as they are fighting evil and ducking bullets everyday because we no longer value the human soul. The emphasis is placed on what people do, or what they have or make or contribute. Not there souls, not the greater good. But what is good for ME. Well, that is what we get when we are lukewarm cafeteria Catholics...God Bless you Jen..

Jen, if I have to spend eternity in heaven with the likes of you or in hell with all my "gays", I'll take the latter. You are a bigot. I've done my level best to keep my counsel, but you are a bigot. There is no other word.
Matt, you are confusing religious belief with legal rights. The second Cardinal George urged Catholics to contact their state representatives, his letter went from a reminding of the traditional catholic teaching to campaigning. No other group has that kind of access to free campaigning. Separate but equal doesnt exist legally. It's just separate. Additionally, as you pointed out, catholic dogma is (roughly) 2013 years old. The world changes. It changed at the hand of God. Shouldn't we take His lead and accept that those changes mean we need to rethink our man made doctrine? We look at the lack of priests and tell women, who feel called to serve in that capacity, that they cannot do so. Hello? Does God have to hand you a neon billboard? That which doesn't grow and change dies. Our religion is threatened with extinction because of our refusal to accept change.

And Matt, I'm a very passionate and proud cafeteria catholic. I appreciate all that God has offered me and use the amazing gift I was given to think for myself and use it. I don't see how a church that has taught me so very much about social justice can turn around and publicly deny another basic human rights.

"What a sad era when it is easier to smash an atom than a prejudice " Albert Einstein.
Jen, I have been as respectful as possible to you, who continue to say hateful, hurtful things. I am not, in fact, dumb, either in my intellect or ability to speak. You, however, are still a bigot hiding behind religion and using a movie quote to make an inappropriate remark. Be woman enough to publish your full name and photo with your statements.

I'm not as eloquent as my sister ! I agree with her completely .religion does not excuse bigotry or an idiot trolling a page cause you think your beliefs out way others .A church that has covered up sins of molestation then preaches against homosexuality is a ruling of hypocrisy .Jesus said love one another not love everyone but the gays .Zealots exist in every religion ,religion is a choice Faith is universal .If you truly believe we are all gods children than what organization that has become greed inspired and pushes outdated doctrine that wasn't Jesus words but roman societal regulations is wrong .My god loves all his children loves all of us to give us choice .the churches leaders have become wolves leading lambs to a belief when Christ himself would flip their money grubbing tables .Jesus said love others as i have loved you to see the world like children and see we are all equal and the same "Jen " is it dont use Religion as an excuse for ignorance and bigotry

Jen, with that comma I think you just called God dumb.

You guys are funny. There is no god. There is no hell. There is only the Circle of Life and natural selection. Stop wasting your energy.

Mike, Nobody is sure of what Jesus words were. We have an idea based on the books of the bible chosen by the Catholic Bishops at the council of Nicea. Unfortunately, I do not disagree with anything you said...Very well spoken. Having a few beers with you would be fun...While I agree with everything you said, I do disagree with your conclusion. Also, can someone please show me what Jen said that makes her a bigot, I know I am sick and on Benadryl, but I still have not seen where she is a bigot. Or a zealot, just a believer. Lets continue the logial discussion without the personal judgments...

Remember kiddo's hydration. You guys are great.
I love you so much. I love you in the morning, in the noon day, midnight hour, for always. I love you. Love you Jesus.
John P Kee
Gospel Singer

Matt. Jen has compared loving, committed gay relationships to bestiality, incest, rape, membership in the KKK. She has equated me, for believing in legal equality, with Bin Laden, Hitler, etc. She has done so fairly anonymously. Her statements fall under bigotry masquerading as religion. I feel terrible that my friends, who have shared this link with their friends have to see that hate she is spewing and pretending its holy.

OHHHH, I do not usually post of blogs. But this one caught my eye for some reason. I cant find that post for some reason, maybe I need to let the coffee catch up to this Benadryl. Could it be taken out of context? Jen seems to me to be a Catholic Beleiver. Not someone who would say that evil poop!!! I think that most of us can agree, that all gay men and women should be able to have the same legal rights as my wife and I. But we just cannot redefine marriage, even in the General Assembly. They should be working on crafting a new budget that ensures school teachers have their pensions. That my brothers who both put thier lives on the line everday for the people of Chicago have a retirement, among many other things. They should not be crafting legislation to redefine marriage in the eyes of the law. It is a matter of symantics. Same legal rights, but not marriage. I will look for that post of Jens.

I saw the post you guys are referring too about Jen. I did not see that as her being like a nazi or bigoted. I can see how people could have taken it out of context. I saw that post and the one at 9:15 as someone who is ferverent in her faith and sees it as her moral obligation to defend it. Jen too has made good points in taking about moral relativism and such. I think she went a bit over board in making a point. If one of my kids were gay, I would not be thrilled. But like God, I will always love them and support them. I would not agree with their choice, but I would love them and pray for al the happiness and joy. I really do not understand why we are even discussing this. Whether a person thinks being gay is perverted, or thinks it is ok, I think we can all agree that love is never evil. The Church has the obligation to stand up for their teachings. And like any other religious organization, they have the right to lobby the law makers. If there was not a Jewish lobby, who knows if we would have the Country of Israel. I am sure their is a muslim lobby. The Cardinal is standing up for and fighting for what the Church teaches. I see nothing wrong with that, no matter what my personal views are. Come on Jennifer, god to Mass today. Maybe today is the day that Christ is going to touch your heart in a deeper way?? Just dont put anything into the baskket if you want to protest. But remember, we go to Mass for the scraments, not for the clergy. For Christ in the Eucharist.

Maybe I'll be drunk again, should I? Should I? Maybe ill get drunk again to feel love. All by myself, I'm here again all by self. You know I'll never change. I'm just drink again, I'll be drunk again to feel a little love
Artist
' Ed Sherran

The Church is the best friend of homosexuals, both because she tells them they are made in God's image and have intrinsic dignity and rights and are called to be saints, and because she is the only social force left that insists on moral absolutes—so when they sin against themselves she says NO, just as she does to heterosexuals who sin against themselves sexually, but when others sin against them she says NO also.

No one else dares to say NO. She speaks up for everyone, including homosexuals
Peter Kreeft, Philosopher and Theologian and Author at Boston College

Hey Matt I have an idea, lets just get rid of marriage all together. We can call it civil unions that way you and your wife have all the same civil rights as gay people. If you want to get "married" then it should be treated as any other sacrement like communion or holy orders.

Clearly melanie Lewis has multiple screws loose. The rest of you religious folk are not that far behind the pathetic melanie. The fact that we are in the 21st century and you speak of god as if one truly existed is absolutely unbelievable! I am sure the religious establishment ( any one of them) takes a great deal of pride in having so thoroughly hypnotized the followers of their cult(s). Grow up...or should I say WAKE UP you manipulated sheep. There is no god. There is a fairy tale that a large organized business wants you to subscribe to. It keeps their coffers fat and you under control. It is nothing but amazing how much grief and turmoil that business has created and continues to create on this planet and yet it's followers ( cult members) do not question it's authority...let alone its reason for existence!!! The only difference between all of you and melanie Lewis is...melanie has no filter in exposing herself as a mental deficient and the rest of you mindless sheep think you are "normal" by manufactured cultural and societal standards. Like is suggest...and it will not be heeded...WAKE UP !

Our family is in total agreement with Jen's marvelous letter. She eloquently states the truth when she points out that God is love-pure and simple. God does not "slice-and-dice" the ways we should love, or whom we should love. And as Jen points out, it is the essence of God to join in holy and loving matrimony with the person whom you love. The Bean family, Joyce, Kyle, and Lauren

Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning.

Gee, JUST SAYIN, for your sake I hope you are right lest a nast and embarrassing surprise might await you. Like I said, I bet you think that aTV set or some other gadget implies intelligent design but the universe just happened. Good thinking.

Jennifer Wilson...if I was not an already happily married heterosexual woman, I think I would have fallen in love with you! Thank you, you took the words right out of my mouth with your initial letter and with each and every response!! With your permission, I would like to add my name to the "by" line and send this letter to my parish!

Jennifer,

You are wrong on the separation of church and state. The government is prying into religious affairs, not the other way around. Cardinal George is educating you and the flock and defending the moral and proper position society. The Catholic Church is not Voltarian debating society. People do not leave the Catholic Church because it is easy to follow, rather because it is too hard.

There are plenty of other "religions" out there that will suit your whims and desires. Please don't try to change ours.

Dear Lord,

I pray that Jennifer sees the error of her ways, that You correct her and all of us on earth who stray from Your teaching. Please correct her and the rest of us in the same way You have corrected Your people as described in the bible for thousands of years. Amen.

Well said Charlie.

Jennifer Wilson, thank you. I'm sad that you'll stay away from eucharist and community because of the Cardinal's letter. You and your family are most welcome to come to St. Nicholas in south Evanston. We encourage one another to question, discuss, and explore how best our Catholic faith applies to the lives we lead. Apparently some of our sisters and brothers in the faith--as evidenced by their doctrinaire and even arrogant responses to your post here--want a "leaner, meaner" church, a church where people like you, like me, are kicked out, leave or simply drift away. I have been tempted! But I am Catholic because God calls me to be part of this mystical body, wounds (mine, ours) and all. These sisters and brothers do not get to decide whether you or I are in or out. They can snarl about how we are not really Catholics, but that doesn't make it so. They can suggest with a snark that we go elsewhere, but why let them keep us away? Members of our parish have met with the Cardinal recently to discuss another issue; perhaps some will want to speak with him about this one. You could even help organize that! Know that you need not deprive yourself of the body and blood of Christ, nor need you deprive the body of Christ of a most precious member of it--you. We are located at 806 Ridge Ave, just south of Main St. Masses in English are at 4:30 PM (Sat), 9 and 11, and in Spanish at 1. Bilingual religious ed is on Sat at 9 and English religious ed on Sun after the 9.

From the "Catechism of the Catholic Church"
"2395 chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.
2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices."
All of article 6 in the Catechism ( about 16 pages in my edition), part of the section called "Life in Christ" is freely available online, as is the rest of the catechism, for those who, in good faith, want to know what the Church teaches and why. Persons who call themselves Catholic and yet who deny that homosexual, sexual practices ( as well as sexual practices between unmarried, heterosexual couples) are gravely sinful as they are a perversion of the great gift of sexuality, are, to say the least, confused. To end their confusion, they should study the consistent Church teaching on these issues and pray for the grace to put their own large egos and puny intellects aside in favor of God's divine revelation and Wisdom. Many of the posters on this site who can barely contain their ugly hatred for Christ and his church need to stop and think, read, pray and be ready to change their minds and hearts, or rue the consequences. . .not just in the here and now, but for eternity.

Jen - No one outside of your church cares about that gobbledy gook. It is meaningless to us. I have no interest at all in the teaching of the Catholic Church.
As the Chicago Tribune so eloquently stated, "Much of the opposition (to same-sex marrigage) stems from religious concerns, such as those cited by Cardinal Francis George, who has urged a "no" vote. We fully understand and respect the cardinal's view that same-sex marriage violates natural law. But nothing in this bill affects the church's authority to define what is right for Catholics. It recognizes the difference between religious rites and civil institutions."

The Catholic church, after all, bars remarriage by divorcees, but Illinois grants marriage licenses to them. Allowing same-sex marriage does not limit the freedom of religious believers to reject it; it merely allows those who differ to practice what they believe.

The bill stipulates that "any religious denomination" will remain "free to choose which marriages it will solemnize." About 250 Illinois clergy recently signed a statement affirming, "There can be no justification for the law treating people differently on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity."

Hey, I want to jump into the can of worms David opened up about the Eucharist...This is a great topic, for Catholics IMHO...LOL...Your out...(tounge and cheek).....Really though. I would like your views on it David, Jennifer, Jen, all the Catholics on here.

No you are right. I see what you mean. I am divorced and remarried before I got my annulment and had a Priest that was on the tribunal in another Diocese that told me to receive the Eucharist when I needed it. I do not consider myself a cafeteria Catholic, but I do have my issues with the Church. There are nuances to so many different teachings that are sometimes hard to understand unless we are truly informed as it seems you are. So I thought maybe you were starting a conversation around receiving the Eucharist. For example the Bishops denying Communion to politicians who are anti life, yet a divorced man who is technically excommunicated till you go through the formality of the annulment. Sorry, misunderstood..

Charlie, I agree with you as well on the issue of Cardnial George having the obligation to have written that letter and having it read at Masses. I wish we had more of our Sheparhds taking a real stand for our faith. I am also a true believe in Moral absolutes, but there are nuances in some of the teachings that are in the gray area. Annulments are a good example. I have never heard of one being rejected, ever. I have a great deal of respect for Cardinal George, but I also believe many Bishops are criminals for obstructing justice in the pedophile scandal by reassigning priests from parish to parish so they could continue preying on young kids. Another example, the priest who molested me and many other kids in my old neighborhood to Wheeling, also ministered to my Ma when my brother was murdered to the point that he kept to her alive and she had a real conversion in her life. Thoughts anyone?

Matt, the cardinal may have had a responsibility to remind CATHOLICS that our CHURCH doesn't recognize gay marriage, be he had no right to use the Sunday bulletin, that his office does not pay to print, to campaign against it as a state law. As soon as he urged us to contact state representatives he crossed from teaching to campaigning.

Charlie, you have absolutely no standing to be judging the state of any one's soul than your own. (Unless you're a bishop? The pope? But even then there's due process of canon law.) You--thank God--do not get to decide who is and who is not a Catholic--"cafeteria" or otherwise, who can or cannot come to communion. Your inability to distinguish between the truths of the faith and prudential judgments on public policy issues, your inability to distinguish a hierarchy of truths in Catholic teaching and the difference between their meaning and how they are articulated in any given time, your poor grasp of the Catholic tradition of faith seeking understanding all sadden me. Worse, they embarrass in this public forum the very church you think you are championing. I have read the catechism, studied some canon law, and have a master's degree in Catholic theology. I am in good canonical standing, and will continue to receive communion. Why don't you write to Cardinal George and ask him what he thinks of you as a Catholic lay person, proclaiming in a public forum who is and who isn't a Catholic, who is and who is not in a state of grace, who is and who is not able to receive communion? Ask him what he thinks of you telling other Catholics to join other faiths. Be sure to publish his reply so that we can all learn from it.

Charlie & Jen, doctrine can, and does change. Bought an indulgence lately? Heard Mass in Latin facing the back or the church? Held any heretics in house arrest for discovering that the earth moves around the sun? Saw a woman bobby pinning a Kleenex on her hair because she forgot her head covering? Talked about Limbo or Purgatory lately? Yeah. Me neither.

David, very well spoken, I too have studies the cathecism, I was a Seminarian when it was written. I stopped just short of being ordained a tranistional Deacon. I also studied some Canon law. We judge all the time everyday. As you said, when we are told not too judge others, it is exactly what you stated above. We do not have the right to judge ones soul, or the state ones soul may or may not be in. However, Jennifer, I have baptized my 3 youngest children in the old Latin Rite at St. John Cantious. There actually is a rather popular movement in the Church to bring the Latin Mass back. I could not attend Latin Mass every week however. I also enjoy Charasmatic Catholic Mass as well as Charasmatic Catholic prayer groups, but could not go there every week. I love both, the pagentry of the High Latin Mass, as well as the incredible movement that I experience in both the Charasmatic and Latin right. In our faith they are both available. Also, Purgatory is definatly something the Church does still teach. And there are indulgences, for different things. Not something I ever completly understood. But they do exist. Purgatory though is an important aspect of our faith. Limbo obviously went to, well, limbo.

David, I really enjoy your posts. I am rereading a book by Peter Kreeft written in 1990, I read it in pre-theology, maybe 92-93. It is interesting the notes I took then and what I underlined then as compared to now, 20 years and a WHOLE lot of life later... The book is about makeing Moral Choices in a world of grays and subjective truths.

Jennifer!!!
Fantastic Letter! Thank you! Interesting how Francis George is now turning to "Natural Law" as defense of his bigoted position. The Germans used that term in their heinous Paragraph 175, as justification to persecute homosexuals. Interesting company for Francis George, a self-proclaimed man of God, no?

Charlie you are a ignorent person please never say that about someones child ever again if all life is sacred then even a child born of unconvential ways is a gift from what ever is up there takeing care of us

Jennifer Wilson... You go Girl!!! Well said! Charlie, i pity and pray for you.

Jennifer Wilson,
I have read through the comments and have quite a bit of sympathy for you. You and many others have been poorly catechized. You have been given free will to change that, or not.
1. The Catholic Church is the largest religious institution in the world. It has more than 1 Billion members and is growing more rapidly than any other organized religion.
2. The Catholic Church in Europe is in severe decline and the USA is following. They have accepted their government as a new form of religion. We are doing the same here.
3. The Church is growing by leaps and bounds in Africa and South America. The people there hunger for the Truth that the Catholic Church teaches. The Church does not need us, we need it.

4. A lot of what you are preaching to others on this blog is heresy. Of course we want you as part of the Catholic Church. But if your position is to dilute the Catholic Church into something that suits your desires then it is best that you find another “church” that meets your lifestyle. After Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church, over 40,000 variations of Christianity have formed. I’m certain you will find one that better agrees with your agenda.
5. Much to your dismay, it is the Cardinal’s job to warn his flock about wrongs in government. In Canada, it is considered a hate crime to preach that the homosexual act is a sin. The same will happen here if this gay “marriage” law is passed and our leaders do not inform us of these issues..
6. The Catholic Church will be in existence long after the USA and other countries crumble. You may be interested to read Michener’s book The Covenant. Through the thousands of years that pass in this book only Judaism, Christianity and Islam persist. Governments come and go.

Scott R . the quotes i used my sister used where directly the words of Jesus .Im not as eloquent as my sister However nothing nothing in this world will last forever hopefully not ignorance and hate will be first to go .Second who are you to say we are heretics ,my sister certainly isn't .Now for me ,I'm a not perfect i'm of the belief of better an honest sinner than a false saint .If the cardinals and this pope were so worried for the betterment of the church and moral safety of the people ,Then why did they hide for years still pay house and support priests who have sexually molested people very few have found justice they should have ,but the sin of being consensually in love with someone of the same sex and seeking marriage in a state that is seperate from church law and doctrine is hell fire sin ,Where was their outcry when they were paying off victims no its not concern for the flock of blinded sheep who now follow the wolf cause they follow regardless its advertiseing getting the church in news cause other wise the only news is of their sins that they have tried to cover .I may well be heretic but i know evil from good quite well .Not all religious men are godly and sadly not all godly men are religious ,church has no place in politics when they pay no heed to the laws of the land pay no taxes and cover up crime

Mike, Scritpure can be used and twisted to pretty much fit anything we want it to on a subjective basis. What David said was directly from Church teaching. My brother was murdered when I was 14. The priest who ministered to my Ma and Grandma really kept them alive, he opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come in and transform their lives. While at the same time he was abusing me and a hanful of other kids in my southside neighborhood, then was transferred out to Wheeling only to repeat the same evil. I think, that many of the Priests and Bishops are criminals for obstructin justice and should be prosectued. However,there are two points, that ex Priest is a good example of them. What Scott said above about the teachings of the Church and growth are fact. The objective Truth of the Church is true for all at all times. We cant choose what we belive in, no matter the wrongs done and evil done at the hands of Her Priests, Bishops, Nuns, Brothers. The enemy has been trying to destroy Christ's Church for 2013 years. He has not been successful, nor will he ever be. The Church will always survive. I hope I expressed the two ideas well enough. Years later, I was an adult. I saw the expriest working at a gas station in Glencoe. Who would have thought a southside kid was living in Glenco,I came back a week later and let him know I will never forget what he did too me, nor will I forget the good he did for my family. He is back in the joint for a VERY long time. But the TRUTH lives on.

I tried to make illustrate those two thoughts very concisly. God and evil cannot exist in the same place at the same time. Where God is satan cannot be. The Church will always be as it is the Church established at the Last Supper with the first Pope being Peter. It has always been lead by sinful, human men and women. The sins of the Church does not deminish Her teaching, nor does it give us a right to choose what we believe. As I said before, I have my own problems with the Church. Yet, I believe in Her teachings. No matter what evil, or sin committed by those leading her, the teachings of the Church are not deminished. We live in a cloudy world, we have belong to a Church that believes in objective, absolute truths in a subjective humanistic world. That is why I asked a few times what the requirements are for sex to be moral according to the Church. If we do not know that answer then this whole blog is pointless. Jen wrote it above. We cannot have a discussion about that which we do not know. I spent a few years in Seminary, studied moral theology, philosophy, and some canon law. Oh man, there were some real nuts in the Sem with us, but also some of the BEST MEN I have ever met. Ironically two of the BEST Priests I know are gay. Not open, but were before they realized that if there lives were bearing fruit they needed to be celibate and Priests. Because they know who they are, they are the best preachers and teachers I have ever ever seen.

You people are 100% nuts. And Matt...I really hate to be the one to burst your delusional bubble but the church will not always survive. When the earth gets sucked into the nearest black hole...which,by the way, is a astronomical reality... not one church will survive. So...there you go...wrong about that...and everything religiously related.

s just saying militant atheism is just as ridiculous as militant Catholicism,Muslims ,Judaism, and Hindi .your arguing over lack of belief on a page states that your not truly sure of your own theories .Im not saying anyone's beliefs is wrong my sister isn't either but religion and politics should never mix when it does you get Israel and Palestine murdering each other for land ,Iran ,multiple dictatorships ,and lest we forget the crusades .The teachings of all sorts of leaders and prophets will never go away they will be studied and learned from and we may add to it what will change I hope is intolerance and hatred will leave us .Matt I'm not saying all the church is bad I disagree with current leaders .I knew our previous cardinal i went on a trip to world youth day to see the pope ,john paul the 2nd ,ive read the bible in multiple formats ,Ive also discussed with other religions faith in more than us is universal science hasnt explained everything and it may never like love its not a choice its not an option who we pick but why is it politics because few who think pushing their veiw believes we all dont deserve equal rights not a sacrement but the rights as citizens that's what at stake religion should never have been brought in but they wanted attention he could've posted note without going to the new

Just Sayin, Mike Wilson is right. You are on the wrong blog thread. Arguing the existence of God, or the existence of the Unmoved Mover gets nowhere. If you are as firm in your beliefs that there are no beliefs, then you could be in front of Aquinas and not change your mind. We are all on a search for the Truth. In every action we take. So I truly hope and pray you find what is True. I really feel bad for people who believe that this is all there is.....

There is something called theology of the body. Pope John Paul II wrote a lot about it. This is just a short thought on what I have learned over the years, but bears expression at this point. Do those with same-sex attraction love one another? They can absolutely love one another. But there's love for all, and then there's the genital expression of love meant for man and woman as part of God's plan for bringing LIFE into the world. Is homosexual love in this sense even possible? No. The very act itself is an act that biologically doesn't work. No word, no agenda, no person can change that or should try to. Does this mean that people with homosexual inclinations are evil and are going to Hell? Hell... no.

The vast body of evidence since the early days of social science shows prejudice and legal discrimination cause harm in a wide variety of ways. Laws, social policies, social support systems that deny equality contribute to the social climate that results in harm. The resulting dehumanization and demonization is used to justify their behavior by those who bully, beat, torture, and kill. It also results in self destruction, both fast and slow. The same prejudice used to dehumanize us here is also used around the world to justify imprisonment, torture, and death. The only way to end prejudice is to expose it and the harm it causes, anywhere and everywhere it surfaces. Prejudice is a deadly disease that can only be cured through education and understanding. Let's remember Jesus told us the most important thing we need to know is; we should love God and love others the same. All other religions agree with that one idea. Now is the time to put it into practice.

While there are various explanations of natural law, one of the tenets that appears throughout the various versions, is the ethic of reciprocity and equality. That "no man require to reserve to himself any right, which he is not content should be reserved to every one of the rest".

Equal treatment of "all persons" under the law is also a promise of our founding doucments as well as a requirement of our constitution. There is no valid legal justification for refusing to treat others as you would yourself under the law.

You are right Dan about what Jesus said about love. If we sum up the Gospel in one word it is love. The Church does not discriminate against homosexuals. We addressed those issues in posts above. The issue being debated is whether or not the Cardinal has the right and or obligation to ask the faithful to contact their legislators to voice the Church's opposition to redefining marriage. There has been some debate about the theology of the body. Something common within the Catholic Church is that so many of us are not properly educated in the teachings of the Church which leads too all kinds of misunderstandings of Truth. Objective versus subjective truth, etc. I am not a sociologist so I cannot speak with any knowledge of the human aspect of sociology. However, I do know something about moral theology, theology of the body, as well as a bit of canon law. I also know that the Church does not dehumanize homosexuals, anymore then She dehumanizes hetero's having premarital sex. Homosexual sex and premarital sex are wrong for the very same reason.

So why doesn't the Cardinal write a letter to his followers encouraging them to contact their elected officials demanding laws against pre-marital sex? Did I miss that memo?

No one is trying to redefine marriage within the Church. Why do you keep skipping over that point? The Church does not make civil law in this country. That is called a theocracy, you know, like they have in Iran.

Right, which is why I am for equality under the law. I am for my cousin having the same legal right with his lover as I have with my wife. But not if it depends on redefining marriage under the law. Legal unions are not the same as redefining the meaning of marriage.

One comforting aspect of our current declining culture is that reality will manifest itself regardless of what laws or rules are put into place. Human nature will not change soon. "marriage" was licensed first just after THe Civil War when mixed racial unions were thought to be matters to require licensing. Before that it was all common law sometimes blessed by a church sometimes not. When "marriage" is redefined in whatever way becomes undesirable or somewhat of a social downer, people will define "marriage" in thier own way maybe as "committed union with legal implications with or without religious sanction" or perhaps as a "social and financial partnership" or some other way which will satisfy the participants. When "marriage" is no longer defines as a union between a man and a woman, then a union between a man and a woman will be called somrthing else. People will adjust to changes in ways which are not entirely predicable, sometimes good sometimes not so good.

Thank you Jennifer. I live in the Pacific Northwest now and write blogs for enumclaw.patch.com. I grew up in Skokie and attended St. Peter's Catholic Elementary School. Since then I graduated from the University of Notre Dame and eventually became a doctor. I now have a private medical practice in our small town. As you know, Washington state just easily passed their same-sex marriage bill. I was in 100% support of the initiative and felt like many that it was "about time." Here in Washington, we hope to be a model for the rest of the country of respecting people's right to be who they are. Your article is well written and comes from the heart. It is not disrespectful twoards Cardinal George in any way. Keep writing, you have a lot to say and you have a lot of people who want to listen!

Joan Kilpatrick, PhD I certainly did not intend to be disrespectful or condescending (certainly no more than one who trots out her degrees and lofty ambitions in a conversation they have no bearing on). Nor do I feel my tone was "aggressive". I was assertive. I said not one thing I wouldn't personally say to Cardinal George if given the opportunity. I stand behind my statements. If you are looking for disrespect, I point you to the "good Catholics" who called me dumb, a heretic, a sinner and invited me to leave my faith.

Refusing to treat others as you would yourself under the law, causes harm in a wide variety of ways. You can find bible verses to support genocide, slavery, apartheid, segregation, crusades, inquisitions, and many other atrocities. They are currently being used to dehumanize and demonize gay people, even though there is no rational, reasonable, or scientific reason to treat gay people differently than you would want to be treated.

The only excuse for prejudice and discrimination remains in a few questionable religious texts, which have been misinterpreted and mistranslated over time, and which are contradicted by other verses including the most important one according to Jesus, namely that you love God and love others the same. Accepting alternate interpretations of those few verses that seem to condemn same sex love does not require abandoning your religious beliefs, only expanding them to include the idea that God created all things, including gay people, and He wants you to love them as you love Him, not judge and harm them.

Jennifer, I have too say, I NEVER saw anything that was condescending or aggressive in tone. Even though we dissagree on whether or not the Cardinal has the right and obligation to ask the faithful to contact our legislatures, I have not seen anything from you that would be considered arrogant or aggressive. Most of us had a very good discussion. There have been some people who have been aggressive. I enjoy our discussion. Even though we have agrued over some of the issues we have gone over, and probably will continue, I have to stick up for you here. You have not been a bully in anyway. You have not been aggressive, or condescending. I think His Emminence, Cardinal George would agree and even have welcomed this conversation and agruments on this blog. So lets keep going...

Jenifer, I am south of you in Illinois but your words reflected how I feel. Thank you for having the courage and words to state what other Catholics feel. I hope you do not mind but I shared this on fb.

Thank you Jennifer, for expressing so well what so many of us believe.