America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
To the Editor:
In “Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Has Broad Implications, Church Officials Say” (CNY, July 9), Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, states, “The Church has to think about how to share its teaching and announce the good news, as creatively as possible in current cultural context.” This is in response to the unabated effort by the secular media and homosexual lobby that seeks to impose its radical agenda on the American people. Bishop Flores goes on to say, “We have to be prepared for the kind of (inflammatory) rhetoric and respond with charitable, but persuasive explanations of the Church’s rationale and what the word marriage means.”
With all due respect to Bishop Flores and the USCCB, being charitable, creative and announcing the good news is fine, but a strong stand and a firm hand, and perhaps some tough love will, I believe, also go a long way in a morally declining culture. The Church must impose its own agenda, that of virtue in all its derivatives, especially that of courage, perseverance, and fortitude, and do so with the “armour of God,” as spoken in the New Testament, Ephesians 13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.” And Benjamin Franklin who wrote, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”
Bob Pascarella
Bronx
