Bishop Henry - Pastoral Letter: Released January 15th 2005

I post below a letter, from Bishop Henry (after useful commentary from Lifesite News)

Arriving at a crucial time in history when the State is seeking to alter the Constitution to fatally undermine Marriage through the legitimisation of same-sex marriages and unlicensed procreation, it is a timely reminder that the rights of the Family, as recognised in the Irish Constitution, are Natural Rights and are not man-made but owe their existence to a greater authority.

The Bishop correctly states that the Family - based on Marriage - is a more fundamental social institution than the state, and the strength of this Family is vital for the well being of our whole society.

From this it follows that "The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to same-sex couples is not discrimination. It is not something opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires such an opposition."

This important letter should be sent out to every home in Ireland so that Christians and right-thinking citizens can feel supported in their wish to follow their own common sense position but can now do it secure in the knowledge that the church fully supports them and in fact that the Church demands them to pursue this truth with vigour.

Roger Eldridge,


LifeSiteNews.com is privileged to make available this MUST READ pastoral letter at http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jan/050113a.html

Introduction by LifeSiteNews.com

The Canadian Bishop: The State Must Curtail Homosexuality for the Common Good

CALGARY, January 13, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In what is likely to be the most effective, and strongest letter ever issued by a Canadian Bishop in defence of traditional marriage, Calgary's Bishop Fred Henry is to release a pastoral letter this weekend, which cuts to the heart of the debate.

Bishop Henry, who recently courageously stood up to threats by Revenue Canada agents over his pre-election comments about the Prime Minister's moral incoherence on abortion and same-sex unions, writes: "Since homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography undermine the foundations of the family, the basis of society, then the State must use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail them in the interests of the common good."

The pastoral letter begins by emphasizing that the fight to preserve marriage in Canada is far from over. The bishop points out that Canada's Supreme Court justices did not say that Parliament "must redefine marriage to include same-sex couples." However, Bishop Henry also castigates the Court justices and all others who use the Constitution's Charter of Rights and Freedoms as their authority to justify the imposition of radical social changes on the nation.

Rather than shy away from the issue of homosexuality,(as have most other Christian leaders in the country), which is central to the debate, Bishop Henry confronts it without fear.

He teaches, with the authority of a Catholic shepherd, "Simply stated, a same sex union is not marriage. The idea that homosexuals can create same sex 'marriage' through their individual choice is false. All the packaging in the world doesn't alter substance".

The Calgary Bishop frankly explains that gay activists are using the marriage redefinition law to force acceptance of homosexuality on Canadian society. "Contrary to what is normally alleged," he writes, "the primary goals in seeking legalization of same-sex 'marriage' are not the financial or health or inheritance or pension benefits associated with marriage", not "stability and exclusivity", not even "equality rights". Concluding, "The goal is to acquire a powerful psychological weapon to change society's rejection of homosexual activity and lifestyle into gradual, even if reluctant, acceptance."

Proving his point he notes that "18 months after same-sex 'marriage' arrived in Canada, more than 95% of adult Canadian gays have chosen to ignore their new legal right."

Bishop Henry emphasizes, "It is the right and the responsibility of all citizens who are troubled by the proposal to reinvent the institution of marriage" to act on the issue. He states, "The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to same-sex couples is not discrimination. It is not something opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires such an opposition."

He concludes the letter by encouraging Canadians to contact their members of parliament with a view to "registering your objection to the proposal to reinvent the institution of marriage."

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Bishop Henry - Pastoral Letter


My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Many assume that we are powerless, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been invoked and the Supreme Court has spoken and settled the same-sex issue. However, such an assumption is erroneous. The Supreme Court has said that Parliament may redefine marriage; it has not said that it must redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. The Supreme Court Justices talk about reading the Constitution, “expansively,” and that it is like a “living tree, which by way of progressive interpretation, accommodates and addresses the realities of modern life.”

Nevertheless, I would suggest that there are more roots to the tree than simply the Charter of Rights and Freedom. There are also historical, cultural, philosophical, moral, and anthropological roots. The failure to attend to the health of all the roots runs the risk of killing the tree and destroying the public good.

Contrary to what is normally alleged, the primary goals in seeking legalization of same-sex ‘marriage’ are not the financial or health or inheritance or pension benefits associated with marriage. The search for stability and exclusivity in a homosexual relationship is not the driving force. The principal objective in seeking same-sex ‘marriage’ is not really even about equality rights. The goal is to acquire a powerful psychological weapon to change society¹s rejection of homosexual activity and lifestyle into gradual, even if reluctant, acceptance.

It is significant to note that 18 months after same-sex ³marriage² arrived in Canada (principally as a result of court decisions in Ontario and British Columbia), more than 95% of adult Canadian gays have chosen to ignore their new legal right.

The Supreme Court also refused to answer whether the Charter requires that marriage be redefined.

As Catholics we hold marriage to be a sacrament, a sacred covenant in which husband and wife express their mutual love, and join with God in the creation of a new human person, destined for eternal life.

However, without recourse to the sacramental reality and without reliance on a multitude of quotes from Scared Scripture, we find ourselves sharing basic common ground with the majority of Canadians who understand marriage to be the union of a man and a woman, faithful in love and open to the gift of life. Marriage and the family are the foundations of society, through which children are brought into this world and nurtured as they grow to adulthood. As such, the family is a more fundamental social institution than the state, and the strength of the family is vital for the well being of our whole society.

Since homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography undermine the foundations of the family, the basis of society, then the State must use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail them in the interests of the common good.

It is sometimes argued that what we do in the privacy of our home is nobody’s business. While the privacy of the home is undoubtedly sacred, it is not absolute. Furthermore, an evil act remains an evil act whether it is performed in public or in private.

Personal choice is exercised both in opting for the marital state and in the choice of one¹s spouse. However, the future spouses are not free to alter marriage¹s essential purpose or properties. These do not depend on the will or the sexual orientation of the contracting parties. They are rooted in natural law and do not change.

The committed union of two people of the same sex is not the same human reality as the committed union of one man and one woman. A same-sex union is not a physical union that transmits human life, producing children. A same-sex union is not the joining of two complementary natures that complete each other. Simply stated, a same sex union is not marriage. The idea that homosexuals can create same sex ‘marriage’ through their individual choice is false. All the packaging in the world doesn’t alter substance.

Some would allege that opposing same-sex ‘marriage’ is pure prejudice. This contention is also false. There are human rights laws, which say: men and women must be paid the same wage for the same work; an employer may not refuse to hire someone because of the skin colour; landlords may not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. These decisions uphold the rights of the individual and, at the same time, strengthen Canadian society. They encourage us to recognize the humanity of the other person.  Furthermore, a man and a woman wanting to marry may be completely different in their characteristics such as: colour, ethnicity, in wealth and social status, physical attributes, and educational background. None of these differences are insurmountable obstacles to marriage. The two individuals are still a man and a woman, and the requirements of nature are respected. Two individual of the same sex, regardless of their race, wealth, stature, erudition or fame, will never be able to marry because of an insurmountable biological impossibility.

The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to same-sex couples is not discrimination. It is not something opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires such an opposition.

It is the right and the responsibility of all citizens who are troubled by the proposal to reinvent the institution of marriage, to enter into the debate and, with clarity and charity, to make their voices heard by their fellow citizens and our political leaders.

Please take the time to write, email and/or fax government leaders and your local member of parliament registering your objection to the proposal to reinvent the institution of marriage.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

F. B. Henry Bishop of Calgary.