Cardinal Caffarra recounts from history what happens to civil society when it legalizes homosexuality.
Across the globe, gay marriage is being “legalized” by countries, as recently occurred in Ireland by referendum and in the United States by a decision of the Supreme Court last Friday.
There was also the June 9th resolution of the European Parliament which recommends the recognition “of unions and marriages between people of the same sex” with an emphasis on instituting the teaching of gender ideology in schools.
To protest similar policies being promoted in Italy, a “March of the Family” was organized at Rome on June 20th in front of the Basilica of St. John Lateran’s, attended by hundreds of thousands (some estimate even a million) people from throughout Europe.
On the eve of the March to defend the sanctity of marriage and the family, Cardinal Carlo Caffarra (Archbishop of Bologna) gave an interview to Il Tempo and expressed his concerns for the future of today’s society, especially considering the recent “glorification of homosexuality”.
We offer some extracts from this interview (note the introductory subheadings are the editor’s).
“Europe is at the end”
Many thoughts have crossed my mind since the motion was voted by the European parliament [on June 9, 2015]. The first was this: We are at the end. Europe is dying. And perhaps, it doesn’t even want to live, because no civilization has ever survived the glorification of homosexuality.
I am not speaking of the practice of homosexuality. I am speaking of the glorification of homosexuality. For various ancient peoples, homosexuality was a sacred act. The word used in Leviticus to condemn this glorification of homosexuality clothed with a sacred character in the temples and pagan rites was “abominable”.
The only two civilizations which have resisted homosexuality for thousands of years are the same that have opposed homosexuality: the Jews and Christians. Where are today’s Assyrians? Where are today’s Babylonians? And yet the Jews were merely a tribe, a “nobody” in comparison to the other political-religious societies. But the laws concerning sexual acts as we find within the book of Leviticus became the highest form of civilization [Christianity]. Hence my first thought: we are at the end.
A “diabolical work”
My second reflection is purely of Faith. Before such facts as these, I always ask myself: how is it possible that the mind of man be so blind to such fundamental evidence [that glorifying homosexuality leads to the destruction of society]? And I came to the conclusion: all this is literally a diabolical work. This is the last defiance which the Devil is throwing at God the Creator, by telling Him:
I am going to show You how I build an alternative creation to Yours, and You will see how men will say: it’s better this way! You promise them liberty, I offer them to become judges. You give them love, but I offer their emotions. You want justice, and I perfect equality which suppresses all difference."
I am opening a parenthesis. Why am I speaking of “alternative creation”? Because if we return, as Jesus requested, to the beginning, the original plan, to the way God thought of creation, we find that this great edifice of creation built upon two columns: the relationship of man-woman (the couple) and human work. We are presently speaking of the first column, but the second too is being destroyed… We are, therefore, faced with the Devil’s intention of building another creation that defies God with the intention of seeing man thinking that one is better in this alternative creation…
Laws are multiplied when states are corrupt
… I have heard what Heraclitus used to say: “It is necessary that the people fight for the law as they do for the walls of the city.” As I advanced in age, I discovered the importance of legislation in man’s life.
Today, it seems as if the State has abdicated its legislative task and its dignity, by simply abdicating to the wishes of individuals, and the result is the creation of a society of opposite egoisms or of frail convergence of contrary interests. Tacitus said: “Corruptissima re publica, plurimae leges.” When the State is corrupt, the laws are multiplied. This is the present situation.
“We cannot remain silent”
I have no hesitation to say that this is a positive manifestation, because as I said, we cannot remain silent. Woe to us if the Lord was to use the words of the prophets against us: “Dogs which have not barked!” We know, in democratic systems, the political deliberation is based on the majority system. And this seems good to me because, it is better that the heads be counted rather than cut off! But facing things like this, there is no majority which allows me to keep silent. Otherwise, I would be a non-barking dog…
Hence, the Roman [March] initiative is something absolutely necessary. Tomorrow, perhaps, the Parliament will vote a law which recognizes the union between same sex persons. If it does it, it must be told that this is profoundly unjust. And this is what we must say this afternoon in Rome...
…If we were to be silent before such a thing, we would be cooperating in a grave injustice committed against the children. From subject of the law, as any human person is, they would be turned into objects of the pleasure of adults. We have returned to paganism, where the child had no right and was only an object “at the disposal of.” And so, I repeat, in my opinion this is an initiative which we must support. We cannot keep quiet.
Our commentary
Nearly 35 years ago, Archbishop Lefebvre raised the alarm about the dissolution of Christendom and called for a crusade based upon the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the family. May today’s prelates as they open their eyes to the moral destruction in society, use the light of the Faith and the graces that flow from Our Lord's Sacrifice to restore Christendom as embodied in Catholic Tradition.
Footnote
1 Quotes are from Il Tempo of June 19, 2015 article of "Famiglia. Caffarra: 'Bisogna che il popolo combatta per la legge come per le mura della citta'". The English translation is from SSPX.ORG.
