A while back one of my best friends sent me a link to a poster that lists 24 logical fallacies (www.yourlogicalfallacyis.com). It is an interesting poster that states, "A logical fallacy is often what has happened when someone is wrong about something. It's a flaw in reasoning. Strong arguments are void of logical fallacies, whilst arguments that are weak tend to use logical fallacies to appear stronger than they are."
One of these logical fallacies is ad hominem attacks. This comes to mind whenever I hear or read all the claims of hatred, bigotry, and made-up phobias directed towards people who, because of their faith, disapprove of same sex marriages or unions. Disapproval or disagreeing do not equal hate, at least, I believe that is the case for most people.
To further this point recall God handed down His 10 Commandments. Our Father disapproves of our violating these Commandments. Yet, as the ultimate demonstration of disapproval not equaling hate we know, "God so loved the world he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (Jn 3:16-17)
One of these logical fallacies is ad hominem attacks. This comes to mind whenever I hear or read all the claims of hatred, bigotry, and made-up phobias directed towards people who, because of their faith, disapprove of same sex marriages or unions. Disapproval or disagreeing do not equal hate, at least, I believe that is the case for most people.
To further this point recall God handed down His 10 Commandments. Our Father disapproves of our violating these Commandments. Yet, as the ultimate demonstration of disapproval not equaling hate we know, "God so loved the world he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (Jn 3:16-17)
God did not water down his instructions to us so that we would not be separated from him because of our sins. Rather, He sent his only Son to die for us, that through our belief in him, we could be forgiven of our sins. Likewise, the Church does not waver on the truth when it teaches homosexual acts, "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." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357, p. 566).
Reflecting the love God showed all mankind through the sacrifice of his only Son, the Church tells us with regard to men and women who have these tendencies that, "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." (CCC, 2358, p. 566)
I will continue to disapprove of the sin, but will continue to love the sinner. While this is not a popular position in our ever-secular society, and one that garners ad hominem attacks, I will take strength in the words of our Savior, "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me." (Mt 5:11)
Peace,
Reflecting the love God showed all mankind through the sacrifice of his only Son, the Church tells us with regard to men and women who have these tendencies that, "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." (CCC, 2358, p. 566)
I will continue to disapprove of the sin, but will continue to love the sinner. While this is not a popular position in our ever-secular society, and one that garners ad hominem attacks, I will take strength in the words of our Savior, "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me." (Mt 5:11)
Peace,
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