Today my state of Illinois became the 16th state to legalize same sex marriage. Below is the homily given by my bishop. Read it! He forcefully and charitably (yes, those adjectives can go together) explains the Church's teaching on the matter, and offers prayers for those who support this evil. Trust me, it is an absolutely phenomenal homily! Keep prayers going up for all our bishops, standing up for the truth is hard.
Homily for
Prayers of Supplication and Exorcism in Reparation for the Sin of Same-Sex
Marriage
Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception
† Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki
Bishop of
Springfield in Illinois
My
dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We are gathered here today in the Cathedral of
the Immaculate Conception for a special Holy Hour before the Real Presence of
Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to participate in “Prayers of Supplication
and Exorcism in Reparation for the Sin of Same-Sex Marriage.” I wish to preface
my reflections by saying that I am conducting this prayer service and am
speaking to you now with great reluctance. I did not seek to enter any
controversy and I don’t relish being part of one. But I have given this matter
a great deal of thought and prayer, which has led me to the conviction that God
is calling me to speak out and conduct these prayers.
In our prayers, we must be open
to hear where God is leading us and to embrace the path that He offers. That is
a much different starting point than beginning with our own wants, desires, and
conclusions. That is why we pray every day, “Lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil.”
Our prayers at this time are prompted by the fact that
the Governor of Illinois today is signing into Illinois law the redefinition of
civil marriage, introducing not only an unprecedented novelty into our state
law, but also institutionalizing an objectively sinful reality.
It is not hateful to say that an immoral
action is sinful. On the contrary, the most compassionate thing we can do is
help people to turn away from sin. To ignore another person’s wrongful actions
is a sign of apathy or indifference, while fraternal correction is motivated by
love for that person’s well-being, as can be seen by the fact that our Lord
Jesus himself urged such correction.1 Indeed, the call to repentance
is at the heart of the Gospel, as Jesus proclaimed, “The Kingdom of God is at
hand. Repent and believe the Good News”(Mark 1:15).
The Good News is that God’s mercy and
forgiveness extend to those who repent. Mercy does not mean approving of
something that is sinful, but does absolve the wrongdoer after a change of
heart takes place in the sinner through the gift of God’s grace. It is not the
Church that must change to conform its teachings to the views of the world, but
it is each individual who is called to be configured to Christ.
As we heard in the Gospel passage
that was just read, Jesus tells His disciples, “Go into the whole world and
proclaim the Good News to all creation. . . . Signs like these will accompany
those who have professed their faith: they will use my name to expel demons”
(Mark 16:15-17). Thus it is through the power of Jesus that evil is displaced
from our hearts and is replaced by divine love. This change of heart involves a
spiritual battle that is not easily won, but in which we receive the assistance
of angels, under the leadership of Saint Michael the Archangel (cf. Daniel
12:1-3). We need not fear this battle, for Christ has conquered sin and death,
and in Christ rests our hope of final victory.
As such, I do not stand here before you as a
self-righteous saint who has achieved spiritual perfection, but as a sinner who
has received Jesus into his heart as his Lord and Savior. To acknowledge one’s
sinfulness is indeed the starting point of what it means to be a Christian.
However, our Christian identity does not end with this admission of sin, but
finds its salvation in accepting the saving grace of our Most Holy Redeemer,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross to forgive our sins and
rose from the dead to lead us to the reward of eternal life in His Kingdom. Our
second reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians affirms this: “It is
in Christ and through His blood that we have been redeemed and our sins
forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us” (Ephesians 1:7).
Pope Francis expressed this essential message in his recent
interview published in various Jesuits publications in these words: “The most
important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the
ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all. The confessor,
for example, is always in danger of being either too much of a rigorist or too
lax. Neither is merciful, because neither of them really takes responsibility
for the person. The rigorist washes his hands so that he leaves it to the
commandment. The loose minister washes his hands by simply saying, ‘This is not
a sin’ or something like that. In pastoral ministry we must accompany people,
and we must heal their wounds.”2
This is a key point which the
secularists are missing: they think that stressing God’s mercy means that sins
are no longer sins. On the contrary, God’s mercy is a great gift of grace
precisely because sins are sins and
they call for repentance and forgiveness.
Note from the interview, when he was asked to describe
himself, Pope Francis said simply, “I am a sinner.” After a brief pause, he
amplifies this self-identity in the understanding of a Christian who has been
saved by Christ, saying, “I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon.”3
This is not the first time that I
have offered prayers of repentance here in our Cathedral. On December 12, 2011,
I offered a service of “Repentance and
Prayer for those Harmed in the Church,” at which I said, “I express repentance
for the sins of the members of the Church who have harmed others. Sometimes
these harms were evil in themselves, such as the sins of racism and the sexual
abuse of minors, as well as other forms of unchastity. At other times, the
harms may have been done in the context of actions that were in themselves not
sinful and may even have been necessary for pastoral or economic reasons, such
as the closing of a church or school, but nevertheless were done in a way that
was insensitive to the feelings of those who would be affected. Therefore we
pray for all those who have been harmed.” This prayer service was modeled along
the lines of Pope John Paul II's “Day of Pardon” held on the First Sunday of
Lent, March 12, 2000,
as part of the observation of the Great Jubilee of the new millennium, in which
Pope John Paul II said that the Church “should kneel before God and implore
forgiveness for the past and present sins of her sons and daughters.”
While prayers of supplication in
reparation for sin may be easily understood as our pleas and entreaties to God
for forgiveness of sins and deliverance from temptation, the meaning of the
term “exorcism” in the title of this prayer service is not so readily apparent
and requires some explanation. Indeed, some have ridiculed our Church’s use of
this ancient religious practice.4 We must remember the encouragement
of Pope Saint Leo the Great, who said over 1,500 years ago, “The Church is not
diminished by persecutions, but rather increased.”5 It should also
be noted that the bill that the Governor is signing today is called the
“Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” which
purportedly provides that “the Act does not interfere with any religious beliefs
about marriage.”6
Perhaps a large part of the
negative reaction is because most people don’t know what the Church teaches
about exorcism, since they get their misleading information and sensational
ideas on this mainly from Hollywood. The
fact is that a “minor exorcism” takes place in every Baptism and Confirmation
ceremony when we renounce Satan and all his works and empty promises. This
prayer service will be along those lines. I’m not saying that anyone involved
in the redefinition of marriage is possessed by the devil, which, if that were
the case, would require the remedy of a “Major Exorcism,” but all of us are
certainly subject to the devil’s evil influences and in need of protection and
deliverance from evil.
Our prayer
service today and my words are not meant to demonize anyone, but are
intended to call attention to the diabolical influences of the devil that have
penetrated our culture, both in the state and in the Church. These demonic
influences are not readily apparent to the undiscerning eye, which is why they
are so deceptive. A helpful resource in this regard is a recent book by Father
Louis J. Cameli, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, called The Devil You Don’t Know: Recognizing and
Resisting Evil in Everyday Life. While the popular tendency may be to
identify the devil only with his extraordinary activity, which is diabolical
possession, Father Cameli writes about the ordinary work of the devil:
deception, division, diversion and discouragement.7
The deception of the Devil in same-sex marriage may be
understood by recalling the words of Pope Francis when he faced a similar
situation as Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 2010. Regarding the proposed
redefinition of civil marriage in Argentina, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario
Bergoglio wrote on June 22, 2010, “The Argentine people must face, in the next
few weeks, a situation whose result may gravely harm the family. It is the bill
on matrimony of persons of the same sex. The identity of the family, and its
survival, are in jeopardy here: father, mother, and children. The life of so
many children who will be discriminated beforehand due to the lack of human
maturity that God willed them to have with a father and a mother is in
jeopardy. A clear rejection of the law of God, engraved in our hearts, is in
jeopardy. . . . Let us not be naive: it is not a simple political struggle; it
is an intention [which is] destructive of the plan of God. It is not a mere
legislative project (this is a mere instrument), but rather a ‘move’ of the
father of lies who wishes to confuse and deceive the children of God.”8
The Pope’s reference
to the “father of lies” comes from the Gospel of John (8:44),
where Jesus refers to the devil as “a liar and the father of lies.” So Pope
Francis is saying that same-sex “marriage” comes from the devil and should be
condemned as such.
Another major deception or
distortion of marriage is the view that it is not ultimately about generating
life, but rather is mainly about a romantic relationship designed for
individual (not even mutual) fulfillment. That distorted understanding cuts across
opposite-sex marriage and same-sex marriage proponents in our culture. We are
all summoned to reflect more deeply on the truth of marriage.
It is also a deception to say that there will be no adverse
effects on children being brought up in the household of a same-sex couple.9
The division brought about by the
Devil due to same-sex marriage may be seen in the way our society, our families
and our friendships have become so divided and polarized over this issue.
The diversion of the Devil in
same-sex marriage may be seen in the fact that so much of our time, energy and
resources are being spent in addressing this issue, when there are more
pressing needs facing our state and our Church.
The work of discouragement by the
Devil in same-sex marriage is apparent in the message being conveyed to
defenders of traditional marriage that the universal redefinition of marriage
is unstoppable, so we might as well just stop trying. But the legalization of
abortion on demand forty years ago did not silence those who believe that
abortion is contrary to God’s law. On the contrary, Roe v. Wade only heightened the need for more concerted efforts to
protect all human life from conception to natural death. So, too, the legal
redefinition of civil marriage does not put an end to the need for discourse
and action to defend natural marriage in accord with God’s plan, but only
serves to heighten the need for greater efforts in this regard.
The Prayers for “Supplication and
Exorcism Which May Be Used in Particular Circumstances of the Church” are taken
from the Appendices to the 2004 Latin edition of the Rite of Exorcism, the
introduction to which explains, “The presence of the Devil and other demons
appears and exists not only in the tempting or tormenting of persons, but also
in the penetration of things and places in a certain manner by their activity,
and in various forms of opposition to and persecution of the Church. If the
Diocesan Bishop, in particular situations, judges it appropriate to announce
gatherings of the faithful for prayer, under the leadership and direction of a
Priest, elements for arranging a rite of supplication may be taken from [the
texts provided in these appendices].”
Same-sex marriage is contrary to the plan of God, as
described in the Bible, when Jesus cites the Book of Genesis in asking the
Pharisees, “Have you not read that at the beginning the Creator made them male
and female and declared, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and
mother and cling to his wife, and the two shall become as one?’ Thus they are
no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, let no man separate what God has
joined.”10
Since the legal redefinition of
marriage is contrary to God’s plan, those who contract civil same-sex marriage
are culpable of serious sin. Politicians responsible for enacting civil
same-sex marriage legislation are morally complicit as co-operators in
facilitating this grave sin. We must pray for forgiveness of these sins and
deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our Church. The Church
stands ready to extend God’s mercy to those who confess their sins with true
repentance and a firm purpose of amendment in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.11
We must also affirm the teaching
of the Catholic Church that homosexual persons “must be accepted with respect,
compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their
regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in
their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the
Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.”12
The Church loves homosexual persons and looks upon them with compassion,
offering assistance through support groups such as the Courage Apostolate to
live in accord with the virtue of chastity.13 Indeed, all people all
called to chastity, which for a man and woman united in matrimony means for the
husband and wife to be faithful to each other.
In conclusion, I quote from a homily given in the second
century: “Let me say also that when we are given a warning and corrected for
doing something wrong, we should not be so foolish as to take offense and be
angry. There are times when we are unconscious of the sins we commit because
our hearts are fickle, lacking in faith. Futile desires becloud our minds. We
need to pull ourselves up, therefore, because our very salvation is at stake.
Those who keep God’s commandments will have reason to rejoice. For a short time
in this world they may have to suffer, but they will rise again and their
reward will endure for ever. No one who holds God in reverence should grieve
over the hardships of this present time, for a time of blessedness awaits him.
He will live again in heaven in the company of all those who have gone before
him; for all eternity he will rejoice, never to know sorrow again.”14
May God give us this grace.
Amen.
1
Gospel of St. Matthew 18:15: “If your brother sins against
you, go and tell him his fault.”
2
http://www.americamagazine.org/pope-interview.
3
http://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20130919_1.htm.
4 http://voices.suntimes.com/early-and-often/politics/calling-calvin-kleinwhat-to-wear-to-an-exorcism/.
5 From a sermon by
Saint Leo the Great, Pope, Liturgy of the
Hours, Office of
Readings
for the Memorial of the Dedication of the Baslicas of Saints Peter and Paul.
6 http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=178&GAID=10&Doc
TypeID=HB&LegId=40195&SessionID=76.
7
Father Louis J. Cameli, The Devil You Don’t Know: Recognizing and Resisting Evil in Everyday
Life (Notre Dame, Indiana: Ave Maria Press, 2011.
8
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2013/03/letter-of-cardinal-bergoglio-to.html.
9
See the New Family Structures Study of the University
of Texas, 2011, http://www.familystructurestudies.com/.
10
Matthew 19:4-6, citing Genesis 1:27 and 2:24; cf. Mark
10:6-9.
11
Pope John Paul II, “Confession must be Humble,
Complete, and Accompanied by a Firm Purpose of Amendment,” letter to Cardinal
William W. Baum, Major Penitentiary, dated March 22, 1996, published in L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in
English, April 10 1996, available online at:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP960322.HTM.
12
Catechism
of the Catholic Church, #2358.
13
http://www.couragerc.net/.
14
From a homily written in the second century, Liturgy of the Hours, Office of
Readings, Saturday of the Thirty-Second
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So, what do all these points have in common? All these "things" - the presence of evil, God, and the Eucharist - are mysteries, they are beyond our limited understanding, but, in all of them, God wants to enter that mystery and drive away all that lacks His presence. 
What about the unknowns that we have about God? He becomes man to bring us to that Truth, to Himself. Why? Because we are made in the image of God, we are meant to become more like Him. Our categories, our rational ways of explaining the Trinity, our analogies, aren't so much us getting closer to the truth regarding God - every analogy, falls hopefully short of the true grandure and awesomeness of God - but these thoughts aren't pointless. Our drawing closer to God leads to our own fulfillment, our intellectual working towards the Trinity does get us to a closer idea of what we are supposed to be. God shows Himself, as Father, Son, and Spirit, as perfect love in mutual, completely generous, relationships. We are supposed to be that way too! Augustine in his De Trinitate ("On the Trinity") looks inside of ourselves to catch of the glimpse of the Trinity, as it is in Itself. He moves from (but retains) the "economic" idea of the Trinity that we find evident in the Scriptures (of the Father as creator, the Son as redeemer, and the Spirit as sanctifier), to a more metaphysical [read: essential] understanding of God. He shows that just as our mind has memory, intellect, and will, and goes in that order: we remember something, think about it, and then decide to act in some way regarding it, so the Trinity has Father, Son, and Spirit. Both sets of 3 work in an order (the Father eternally begets the Son, and from both of them the Holy Spirit proceeds), but the first "part" doesn't exist without the other; as soon as we remember something we think about it and act on it, as "soon" (eternally) as the Father exists, so does the Son and the Spirit. So, this exercise does reveal something about God because He has revealed that we are images of Him, but our mental capacity is still limited, so we'll never understand the Trinity completely. (We are always stuck, so to speak, looking at God from one "direction", either we see Him as one, perfect unity, or three, in the three persons, we can't quite wrap our head around the mystery completely). End of story? No! Where God sees a lack of goodness (in this case, knowledge of Him), He wants to fill that lack with Himself, with His truth, with His love. We are imperfect images of God, so, Christ comes as our savior and redeemer, to save and redeem us. To reform us back into more perfect images of Him (and the entire Trinity). Jesus not only directly reveals to us the truths of God, He also tells us to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). This isn't just a moral commandment, this is a map to our true end, God Himself. In Jesus' loving death for us, He redeems us, and in His calling us to the same sacrificial-love, He pulls us closer to God. Recap: In our weakness itself, in our lack of imaging God, God wants to forgive us and make us again in His image. In our lack of knowledge, Jesus comes to reveal more about God!
