Blogging Around: Cool Cardinal-Elect, Gay Weddings and Cakes, and "Aid in Living" for Terminal Patients

Pakistan's Cardinal-Elect Overwhelmed by Reaction Over His Elevation
It is all positive and coming from all segments of society.

“The reaction here is overwhelming. There has been a steady stream of visitors since the announcement came,” Archbishop Coutts told the Register May 30 from his office over the telephone.

Apart from enthusiastic Christians, Archbishop Coutts said, the well-wishers included the Muslim mayor of Karachi; government ministers; leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, a leading Muslim organization; and leaders of Hindus and other segments of society.

National Catholic Register

I myself was interested to see all the countries with new cardinals and to read more about the situation that Cardinal Coutts faces. I was even more arrested by his photo. Are we sure they are not simply reacting to the fact that the new cardinal is the coolest looking Church official I've ever seen? It's the sunglasses. He should always wear them.


Could a Catholic Bake a Cake for a Gay Wedding?
Jen Fitz starts us off with looking at what Catholics believe about marriage and then takes us through how that affects our actions.

Now here’s where it gets sticky. Because we believe all these things about marriage we also affirm that a wedding ceremony is a public, formal statement of one’s beliefs about marriage. In other words, whether anyone likes it or not, for a Catholic, a wedding is a statement of faith (or no faith as the case may be). Furthermore, every guest at a wedding is technically a witness to that wedding, and if a witness then someone who affirms the statement of faith that is being made.

When you go to a gay wedding therefore, you are not only affirming gay sex. You are also affirming their belief about marriage (which contradicts the Catholic beliefs about marriage) and therefore openly, publicly and formally denying your Catholic faith.

Therefore, a Catholic could not possibly attend a same sex wedding. That doesn’t mean that one has to be nasty about it. One can be civil and wish the homosexuals happiness and send them best wishes, but explain why you can’t attend the wedding. People decline invitations to weddings all the time, and once one’s beliefs are explained, any tolerant person will agree to disagree, and if they have any kind of humanity, and if they love you, they will respect you for holding to your beliefs in a tolerant manner.

But could the Catholic provide a cake or flowers for the wedding?

For the answer to that question, read it all!


Life Is a Gift, Even With a Terminal Illness

Stephanie Packer’s lungs are hardening, but she has not lost her voice.

The 37-year-old Catholic mother of four living in Orange County, California, has outlived her prognosis of terminal scleroderma by five years. She has just outlived California’s assisted-suicide law, and her health insurer’s subsequent offer to end her life with a $1.20 copay, by three years. ...

The Catholic woman wants people to know assisted suicide devalues the lives of people who are approaching the end of life. She said what people with terminal illnesses and their caregivers need are society’s compassion and loving holistic support. They do not need “aid in dying,” but “aid in living,” and they can teach important lessons to those who accompany them to the end.

Stephanie Packer's message is a vital one for our society and her testimony is inspirational. For one thing, she is so obviously joyful, even through her pain. Her efforts on behalf of the terminally ill, the legal case, and a question and answer session are all included in the article.