Thoughts in a Haystack: Peeping Toms

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Peeping Toms

Well, isn't this special?

From the the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act ["ENDA"]:

Why is the absence of a distinction between same-sex sexual conduct and same-sex attraction in ENDA problematic?

While the Church is opposed to unjust discrimination on any grounds, including those related to same-sex attraction, she teaches that all sexual acts outside of the marriage of one man and one woman are morally wrong and do not serve the good of the person or society. Same-sex sexual conduct, moreover, is categorically closed to the transmission of life and does not reflect or respect the sexual difference and complementarity of man and woman. Therefore, opposition to same-sex sexual conduct by the Church (and others) is not unjust discrimination and should not be treated as such by the law. In contrast to sexual conduct between a man and woman in marriage, sexual conduct outside of marriage, including same-sex sexual conduct, has no claim to any special protection by the state. Therefore, although ENDA may forbid some unjust discrimination, it would also forbid as discrimination what is legitimate, moral disapproval of same-sex conduct.

So, basically, the bishops think it is fine for all employers to discriminate against anyone who has sex outside of marriage?

Maybe I'd take this better if the bishops and the Vatican had shown any indication that they took pedophile priests having sex outside of marriage more seriously.

Link - Posted by John Pieret @ 10:08 PM

Comments:

Notice the quick slide from "discrimination" to mere "disapproval".

Disapproval is a private matter. No law could conceivably prevent or punish it. Discrimination is a public matter.

These are not difficult concepts.

# posted by

David Evans : 7:24 AM

Their justification for discrimination also extends to (married) couples who use contraception. Of course that's harder to detect. Unless you're buying your Pill or IUD on your employee health plan. Which as we've seen, good Christian employers totally shouldn't have to allow.

If Pope Frank wants to make good on his tentative liberal-sounding hints, he could start by telling the USCCB to STFU and stop trying to impose Catholic teaching on public policy.

# posted by

Eamon Knight : 9:36 AM

I should also point out that the church does not recognize all civilly legal marriages. For example, if you get a divorce and remarry, but couldn't get the first marriage annulled the Church won't recognize the 2nd marriage. So, as far as the Church goes this situation would seem to be no different than same sex marriage, a union recognized by the law but not the Church. Presumably according to this doctrine you are able to be discriminated on that basis in either case. Just like the argument against requiring health insurance to cover contraception, I presume they also want to be able to fire you from a Catholic hospital or charity for living in sin if you remarry.

# posted by

paulpfish : 10:17 AM

I think the Catholic Church does take the issue of pedophile priests seriously now but only because it's being given much greater coverage in the press. Human nature hasn't changed. I doubt the prevalence of pedophilia has changed between now and when Richard Dawkins was a young boy. Then the Church could quietly ignore it or sweep it hastily under the carpet on the very rare occasions it did come to light. I suspect it still would if it could. Hypocrisy thy name is religious vanity.

# posted by

Unknown : 7:58 PM