To the people of the Church in Philadelphia:
Nearly everyone trying to understand the current government turmoil in Washington is either (a) pre-committed to one or the other political party’s version of events; or (b) thoroughly confused. Most of us fall more or less in the second group. And that means a great many citizens end up feeling powerless, then disgusted, then angry. If, as Scripture says, the truth makes us free, the lack of it makes us frustrated and locked in a state of uncertainty.
To put it another way: Confusion is bad. It’s bad for the individual soul, and it’s bad for the health of a society. It inevitably breeds division and conflict.
Confusion can have different causes. Some of them are quite innocent. A person may hear or interpret information incorrectly. Or a person may express himself or herself unclearly. Or factors beyond anyone’s control — for example, the prejudice or sloppiness of a news organization — may interfere with, or dramatically color, how a message is communicated and received.
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These things happen as a natural part of life. This is why leaders have a special duty to be clear, honest and prudent in what they do and say. They need to “speak the truth with love,” in the words of St. Paul. To rashly, or deliberately, cause confusion about a significant matter is a serious failure for any person in authority. So it is in public life. And so it is in the life of the Church.
There is no love — no charity — without truth, just as there is no real mercy separated from a framework of justice informed and guided by truth. At the same time, truth used as a weapon to humiliate others, truth that lacks patience and love, is a particularly ugly form of violence.
So what’s the point of these thoughts?
Over the past few weeks, a number of senior voices in the leadership of the Church in Germany have suggested (or strongly implied) support for the institution of a Catholic blessing rite for same-sex couples who are civilly married or seeking civil marriage.
On the surface, the idea may sound generous and reasonable. But the imprudence of such public statements is — and should be — the cause of serious concern. It requires a response because what happens in one local reality of the global Church inevitably resonates elsewhere — including eventually here.
In the case at hand, any such “blessing rite” would cooperate in a morally forbidden act, no matter how sincere the persons seeking the blessing. Such a rite would undermine the Catholic witness on the nature of marriage and the family. It would confuse and mislead the faithful. And it would wound the unity of our Church, because it could not be ignored or met with silence.
Why would a seemingly merciful act pose such a problem? Blessing persons in their particular form of life effectively encourages them in that state — in this case, same-sex sexual unions. Throughout Christian history, a simple and wise fact applies: lex orandi, lex credendi, i.e., how we worship shapes what and how we believe. Establishing a new rite teaches and advances a new doctrine by its lived effect, i.e., by practice.
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There are two principles we need to remember. First, we need to treat all people with the respect and pastoral concern they deserve as children of God with inherent dignity. This emphatically includes persons with same-sex attraction. Second, there is no truth, no real mercy, and no authentic compassion, in blessing a course of action that leads persons away from God. This in no way is a rejection of the persons seeking such a blessing, but rather a refusal to ignore what we know to be true about the nature of marriage, the family, and the dignity of human sexuality.
Again: All of us as human beings, whatever our strengths or weaknesses, have a right to be treated with the respect that our God-given dignity demands. We also have a right to hear the truth, whether it pleases us or not — even if it unhappily seems to complicate the unity of the Church herself. To borrow from Aquinas: The good of ecclesiastical unity, to which schism is opposed, is less than the good of Divine truth, to which unbelief is opposed (see STh II-II, q. 39, a.2).
Jesus said the truth will make us free. Nowhere did he suggest it will make us comfortable. We still need to hear the truth clearly — and share it, clearly, always with love. Creating confusion around important truths of our faith, no matter how positive the intention, only makes a difficult task more difficult.
Your brother in Jesus Christ,
+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia
What is wrong with germany?Most of the the libertine, and the pseudo-progresive moral demoting of catholic teachings have come from that country. By the way, nice apology bishop.
Thank you from faithful catholics in Norway.
Thank you Archbishop Chaput for clarifying this confusion. As you stated:
“Jesus said that the truth shall set you free. But he never mentioned that the truth will make you comfortable.”
Sadly in this age we prefer to be comfortable rather than strive for the truth.
Archbishop Chaput bravely speaks the TRUTH with LOVE.
Thank you!
I’m always impressed by your contributions, Your Grace, and look forward to your continued great contributions to the Church and to the world.
The Archbishop needs a refresher course in Primacy of Conscience. LGBTQ Roman Catholics must follow God’s call to be true to God’s call. God did not create LGBTQ humans by mistake.
Yes, God bless you for revealing that truth.
Thx 4 teaching the FAITH!
We need the pope to speak ex cathedra on this matter and clarify Chapter 8 of Amoris Laettitia. Otherwise there will be schism.
I had wished for your placement here in Chicago when you left Denver, but Philly was given the good fortune. The faithful of Philly should give thanks daily they have you to lead them.
Dear Archbishop Chaput: Thank you for advocating the Catholic position on this complicated and sensitive subject without resorting to demonization of the other side or advocating for laws intended to criminalize those that choose to follow another way. If only as Catholics we could address other issues on which we disagree with the same gentle sensitivity. Perhaps then the Church could be more of a force for unity and healing in our society instead of, as so often seems to be the case, an agent of divisiveness and turmoil. Cc: Fr. Frank Pavone.
Thank you very, Archbishop Chaput. I read your messages because I feel that I need your shepherding. You speak clearly and represent Jesus’ voice telling me what I need to hear. It is so refreshing to come away from the often brash messages of the world to read and listen to messages that are clear, without deception and make sense to guide us through the muddle. I am consoled.
Thank you Your Grace for your clarity and courage. I pray for your brother bishops to follow your example, and the example of the bishops of Kazakhstan, and witness to the constant teaching and truths of the Bride of Christ.
Thank you so much Archbishop Chaput! I so appreciate your message. Thank you for leading us well!
Thank you Bishop!
Thank you for sharing this. In these times of great moral and political confusion, the Church needs to stand as a beacon of hope and a light in the darkness – holding onto the truth in love and compassion.
Your Excellency, you’re absolutely right! While I appreciate people’s compassion, to abandon Holy Church’s teachings, and Biblical truths for the sake of feel -good convenience is nothing less than greasing the downward-sloping road directly into hell.
I can say these things, because at the very beginning of the Gay Liberation movement, my (I don’t know what to call a relationship anymore) “partner” and I were the first family of gay lib.
At age 49, the Blessed Virgin Mary and her son Jesus afforded me a most profoundly dramatic Conversion, and which I discovered there was no safe place in this world for a person who bears the cross of homosexual orientation, except in the arms of the Catholic Church.
I have never – not once – been rejected for what I am. But I have been, and I have myself, rejected all activities associated with this (dis)orientation.
Excellency, please continue to proclaim the truth as it is. I keep you in my daily prayers!
Thank you Archbishop Chaput. Thank you for defending the Faith.
Thank you for the clarity.
Thank you.