Once the Christmas celebrations have passed, both at a liturgical and religious level and socially, I want to bring up a television broadcast that, once again, provoked deep sadness in me, because I decided one day that it wasn’t worth getting indignant, due to the stubbornness, at a moment of its rather tired insistence on realities or aspects very much in accordance with Canon Law, but, according to my experience of the Gospel, very far from its merciful and liberating message.
It was Sunday, December 28th, the feast of the Holy Innocents, but in this case, as far as liturgical celebration is concerned, the feast of the Holy Family. As I often do on some Sundays, this day too I sat in front of the television with the intention of tuning in, as much as possible, spiritually with the parish or community of faithful who were celebrating the Sunday Eucharist broadcast at that moment by channel 2 of Spanish television. The place, in this case, was the parish of San Pedro Advincula, in Las Ventas de Retamosa, in the province of Toledo.
Putting aside certain aspects of the celebration with which I totally disagree, perhaps due to my liturgical ignorance or my lack of faith in the “Sacred Mysteries,” but which I will not comment on now, I do want to express the deep rejection that one of the petitions of the Prayer of the Faithful produced in me, which I transcribe literally below: “For the rulers and those responsible for public life: so that they diligently promote the formation and development of authentic families, a man and a woman, whose love bears fruit in numerous children“. A prayer, in this case, fully in line and totally adhering to what says the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church), in number 1601.
The prayer, which I do not doubt was entirely sincere, is, by no means, neutral in terms of the intentionality it contains. Indeed, it doesn’t take a very astute person or someone trying to delve deeply to realize, instantly, that it gives a sovereign tug on the ears to politicians, rulers, and, by extension, to those who vote for them, who support and approve laws favoring “marriage equality.” And, so that there was not the slightest room for doubt, the prayer recognizes as “the authentic family as the one formed by a man and a woman.” The rest is nonsense, as the other would say. “Whose love bears fruit in numerous children,” it concludes.
Having reached this point, I would like to clarify, emphasize, or warn about the missed opportunity, firstly, to put love and not gender as the essential foundation of marriage. Therefore, if love alone is the true foundation of marriage, and therefore of the family, can we conclude that it can only exist between people of different sexes, a man and a woman, but not between people of the same sex, that is, between two men or two women? Or is it then a question of being endowed with “attributes” different from each other for two people to truly love each other and create fertility?
Secondly, while it is true that “filial” fertility is essential in marriage, I believe it is necessary to recognize and truly value “other fertilities” that, for not being translated into children, do not mean they should not be considered as such.
What a missed opportunity to have spoken about marriage and fertility in a different way! A way that is nothing other than that of sincere and generous love.
Because only love, not gender, unites people, transforms them, and makes their lives new. Now, I personally take the liberty of saying “everything else is nonsense,” “canonical rights” or “catechisms.” Let each one call it as they wish.
**Juan Zapatero Ballesteros**
English version translated with AI