Out of the Blue: same-sex unions in Iowa

Here is some coverage of the recent events:

From the Chicago Trib:
Iowa judge OKs gay marriages
Ruling, limited to 1 county, soon delayed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/
nationworld/chi-gaymarriage_websep01,0,3460116.
story?coll=chi-technologylocal-hed

KCCI Chanel 8 - Des Moines:
http://www.kcci.com/family/14020652/detail.html

Des Moines Register:
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20070830/NEWS/70830044/
1001&lead=1

Discussion on Catholic Answers Forum:
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=180474

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The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the subject of marriage:
[text in bold is my empshasis]

337. What is the plan of God regarding man and woman?
see CCC 1601-1605

God who is love and who created man and woman for love has called them to love. By creating man and woman he called them to an intimate communion of life and of love in marriage: “So that they are no longer two, but one flesh” (Matthew 19:6). God said to them in blessing “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28).


338. For what ends has God instituted Matrimony?
see 1659-1660

The marital union of man and woman, which is founded and endowed with its own proper laws by the Creator, is by its very nature ordered to the communion and good of the couple and to the generation and education of children. According to the original divine plan this conjugal union is indissoluble, as Jesus Christ affirmed: “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Mark 10:9).

344. What is matrimonial consent?
See 1625-16321662-1663

Matrimonial consent is given when a man and a woman manifest the will to give themselves to each other irrevocably in order to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love. ...

The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Chastity and Homosexuality:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.


2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They 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.


2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.