Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Galatians 2:1-2.7-14; Luke 11:1-4)
Cardinal George Pell has recently criticized other bishops
for their capitulation to contemporary mores.
He says that Scripture is very clear that sexual activity outside
marriage is wrong. Yet many German and
Belgian bishops have taken positions in support of “homosexual marriages.” Their way of thinking would defend a radically
different sexual morality than the one the Church has consistently taught. Cardinal Pell sounds something like St. Paul
in today’s first reading.
Paul gives some deference to St. Peter as one of the leaders
of the Church. Although saying that he
is a reputed pillar has a touch of irony, it does acknowledge authority within
the Church. But Paul does not hesitate
to criticize the first among the apostles when his practice contradicts
established doctrine. He does so not
because he wishes to undermine Peter’s position but because the salvation of
the Gentiles is at stake. Paul says that
influencing non-Jews in the Church to practice Jewish customs contradicts “the
truth of the gospel.”
It is hard for parents of children who cohabitate to
criticize them either directly or publicly.
The issue is important because it affects profoundly the future family
of the sexual partner. Parents of the
partner must be both firm and caring. No,
they probably should not disinherit their child because of it. But neither should they allow him or her to stay
with the other partner in their homes.
