Dear St. John Parishioners and Friends,
Peace be with you! As we celebrate our independence and freedoms this weekend, perhaps there is a bitter-sweet feeling in our hearts. On one hand we are deeply grateful to live in a nation where we can live and practice our faith without severe persecution or in the face of death. On the other hand, we see before our very eyes the destruction of those very religious foundations on which this country was built.
Just over a week ago, the definition of marriage between one man and one woman was compromised and "redefined" in America. This came as a shock to many. To others, there was no surprise as they had eyes to see what was happening in our country. To some this was a great triumph over what they deemed oppression of those who have same sex attraction.
While I was deeply disappointed in the re-writing of the definition of marriage, I was not surprised. After all, when man decides to alter what God has created and ordained as beauty, goodness and truth, all is fair game. Over 50 years ago, man began to take the reins from God (He gave us free will) on the gift of family and fruitful multiplication of children. Contraception led to break down of the family and openness to God. Contraception made men less accountable and free to live passions of the body rather than be sacrificial and virtuous. Contraception formed an attitude of relativism (rampant in our culture today), rather than a culture which sought higher ways of living in and through God and His created beauty stamped in our very bodies.
Eventually, we began to see the breakdown of family, authentic manhood and womanhood, marriage and faith. Contraception was a slippery slope that has led to legalized abortion and the slaughter of our nation's children (approximately one-fourth of our sisters and brothers) since 1973! This contraceptive mentality has since led to many compromises including redefining marriage. Please read Humanae Vitae, an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI on human life to all people of good will on the regulation of birth. This is an excellent guide for all Catholics concerning life and love designed by God for us as His children.
The good news is that Love, God, does win in the end. The Church stands firm and true to our Lord and His Word in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. The Church stands true to God's definition of marriage. Please read Archbishop Tobin's letter which can be found on our website here:http://www.stjohnsindy.org/st-john-blog/archbishop-tobin-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-ruling I would also encourage those who struggle with the Church's teaching of marriage to dig deeper and read more about why we believe that God ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman. Some great resources include:
Let us thank God for all of our freedoms this Independence Day, especially the freedom of religion!
In the Spirit of St. John the Evangelist,
Father Rick Nagel
Peace be with you! As we celebrate our independence and freedoms this weekend, perhaps there is a bitter-sweet feeling in our hearts. On one hand we are deeply grateful to live in a nation where we can live and practice our faith without severe persecution or in the face of death. On the other hand, we see before our very eyes the destruction of those very religious foundations on which this country was built.
Just over a week ago, the definition of marriage between one man and one woman was compromised and "redefined" in America. This came as a shock to many. To others, there was no surprise as they had eyes to see what was happening in our country. To some this was a great triumph over what they deemed oppression of those who have same sex attraction.
While I was deeply disappointed in the re-writing of the definition of marriage, I was not surprised. After all, when man decides to alter what God has created and ordained as beauty, goodness and truth, all is fair game. Over 50 years ago, man began to take the reins from God (He gave us free will) on the gift of family and fruitful multiplication of children. Contraception led to break down of the family and openness to God. Contraception made men less accountable and free to live passions of the body rather than be sacrificial and virtuous. Contraception formed an attitude of relativism (rampant in our culture today), rather than a culture which sought higher ways of living in and through God and His created beauty stamped in our very bodies.
Eventually, we began to see the breakdown of family, authentic manhood and womanhood, marriage and faith. Contraception was a slippery slope that has led to legalized abortion and the slaughter of our nation's children (approximately one-fourth of our sisters and brothers) since 1973! This contraceptive mentality has since led to many compromises including redefining marriage. Please read Humanae Vitae, an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI on human life to all people of good will on the regulation of birth. This is an excellent guide for all Catholics concerning life and love designed by God for us as His children.
The good news is that Love, God, does win in the end. The Church stands firm and true to our Lord and His Word in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. The Church stands true to God's definition of marriage. Please read Archbishop Tobin's letter which can be found on our website here:http://www.stjohnsindy.org/st-john-blog/archbishop-tobin-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-ruling I would also encourage those who struggle with the Church's teaching of marriage to dig deeper and read more about why we believe that God ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman. Some great resources include:
- www.usccb.org (Marriage)
- From Love, For Love, By Love (Podcast by Father Mike Schmitz)http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/from-love-by-love-for-love
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sacrament of Marriage)
- Adult Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sacrament of Marriage)
- www.foryourmarriage.org (Various authentic Catholic Resources on Marriage)
- Absolute Relativism - The New Dictatorship (By Chris Stefanick)
Let us thank God for all of our freedoms this Independence Day, especially the freedom of religion!
In the Spirit of St. John the Evangelist,
Father Rick Nagel
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