Margaret A. Farley (The Tablet, 27 Sept), in her article in support to homosexual marriage, writes: "Today the meanings of gender have become sufficiently problematised that gender difference cannot simply be assumed as central to marriage in the same way as it has been in the past."
She goes on later on to say: “For many marriage is understood as between two persons, two equal persons. For each person the gender of the other matters. But for the institution and sacrament of marriage it need not matter”, engaging in themes of love and commitment.
We all agree that every human union is called to love one another and the rest of humanity, as she writes. This is certainly something a homosexual couple (as indeed any group of friends or family) can indeed do and is called do.
But the heterosexual exchange is fertile in its sexuality. This and only this merits the differentiation between this union and any other.
Because this union in commitment provide for an intimate exchange that is open to a new life (being this what no other union has), to a child that is born in the best possible environment, that of his or her mother and father. This outcome is moreover possible in every single intimate encounter, making the nature of the relationship, by nature, open to life, to a life that engages their love, that is thus beneficial to society.
Moreover the woman, in the "real gender inequality" scenario has a physical and psychological engagement in the possibility of pregnancy, this not being the case of a homosexual one.
No matter how much we insist on "gender-assigned roles" (to quote the authoress), the nature of the heterosexual union will always have a special impact in the woman.
To deny this is to deny reality. This denial is done nowadays in the name of progress, modernity or liberalism and with the "help" of contraception (and, regretfully, abortion).
Thus her argumentation in support of homosexuality is the simple one of "gender equality" that any teenager can give (and many do give).
Her article thus exposes the need to go to the basics of sexuality and "gender differences" in order to engage in the topic of marriage.
There is a call, for the Church and for the world, in order to deepen the understanding of marriage, for a revisiting of Humanae Vitae and the so-called original sin, as associated with sexuality, by taking into account modern insights from science and psychology, so as to gain a fuller understanding of sexual unions and chastity and their significance in marriage. This is certainly a must for the upcoming Synod.
Conchita Legorburo Serra, London W1
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