Cardinal George: "Neither the Church Nor the State" Has Right to Change Marriage

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 13, 2011 7:48PM

We have to hand it to Cardinal Francis George. He's a man of his convictions, especially when it comes to his stance on gay marriage. Even though his late hour plea to the General Assembly to vote down recognition of civil unions was for naught, George still feels he's right. Because, naturally, he has God on his side.

Cardinal George visited Boston College recently at the invitation of the university's School of Theology and Ministry as well as the Church in the 21st Century Center. Cardinal George was to discuss themes from his recently published book, The Difference God Makes: A Catholic Vision of Faith, Communion, and Culture, when a doctoral student named John Falcone pressed him on his opposition to gay marriage.
George responded to Falcone's query by saying his "argument was not with Mother Church but with Mother Nature," and that advocates of same-sex unions "ha(ve) lost touch with the common understanding of the human race."

"While it is one thing 'creating laws so that people don't feel persecuted,' the cardinal explained, 'don't create a law that says apples are oranges.' For a lawmaker to do so, George added, he "betrays his vocation to pass good law," especially problematic for a 'Catholic lawmaker.'"

George also used the "I have gay friends/family members" argument, noting that his oldest nephew is gay, and "a fine man."