By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, Oct 17, 2023: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) on October 17 welcomed the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages.
The apex court’s “decision reaffirms the institution of traditional marriage, rooted in the sacred teachings and values held by the Catholic Church and many other faiths,” the conference says in a press statement.
Earlier in the day, the apex court ruled that there cannot be legal recognition for same-sex marriages, doing so by a 3-2 majority. As many as four judgments were delivered and a slew of observations made by the apex court.
On May 11, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud reserved its verdict on the pleas after a marathon hearing of 10 days.
During the marathon hearings, petitioners through their lawyers stressed the equality rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and pushed to acknowledge such a union which would ensure LGBTQIA lead a “dignified” life like heterosexuals.
On the other hand, the federal government had argued that the legislative policy of India has consciously validated a union only between a biological man and a biological woman. On May 3, the government told the top court it would constitute a committee headed by the cabinet secretary to examine administrative steps that could be taken to address “genuine concerns” of same-sex couples without going into the issue of legalising their marriage.
The CBCI press statement asserts that marriage is a union exclusively between a man and a woman, who, through the mutual self-gift, are dedicated to the procreation and upbringing of new human lives. “This understanding of marriage views Christian marriage as a sacrament and a symbol of the covenant between Christ and the Church,” it adds.
The bishops’ conference also clarified that the Church believes and holds that homosexual unions are fundamentally different from the divine plan for marriage. “Homosexual acts are deemed contrary to the natural moral law, and sacred scriptures condemn them,” the bishops point out.
At the same time the Church stressed the need to treat individuals with same-sex attractions with respect, compassion, and sensitivity, rejecting any unjust discrimination. Such individuals are encouraged, like all Christians, to live the virtue of chastity, the statement explains.
“The CBCI remains committed to promoting respect, compassion, and understanding among all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or beliefs. We continue to stand by our teachings that emphasize the sanctity of marriage and family life.”
It’s a very good decision by India’s Apex Court. India is beset with a plethora of pressing problems (education, health, housing and employment generation) and certainly official stamp on unnatural unions, including the right to adopt children (who cannot have father & mother parents), would have dealt a big blow to the sacred institution of marriage and family in India.
Rig-Veda 6-64-6 says, at the time of marriage the woman should preferably choose a man who likes her most and is delighted to see her. Parents should give freedom to the young girl to choose her life partner through the institution of Swayamvara, which literally means self choosing of a husband (R.V 5-47-6 and 1-71-8).
The Bible clearly says that marriage is a union of a male and a female. The first mention of marriage, Genesis 2:24, describes it as a man leaving his parents and being united to his wife. In passages that contain instructions regarding marriage, such as 1 Corinthians 7:2–16 and Ephesians 5:23–33, the Bible clearly identifies marriage as being between a man and a woman, primarily for the purpose of building a family and providing a stable environment for that family.
India cannot be dictated by the Western ideology of same-sex marriage which is primarily geared towards Western / multi-national pharmaceutical companies to push their products by legislating unnatural sex / same sex marriage.
What the CBCI has stated is in sync with the official teaching of the Catholic Church as found in its Catechism.
CConcernfor the other legal rights and social respect for non-heterosexual couples also needs to be treated with sensitivity.