As the island nation of Taiwan in southeast Asia continues its debate of marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples, one Catholic opinion leader has entered the debate encouraging Catholic bishops to withhold their opposition to the measure.
Fr. Michael Kelly, SJ, executive editor of UCAnews.com, an Asian Catholic news service, penned an essay in the international Catholic publication La Croix, entitled “Civil law has nothing to do with Catholic sacraments.” While he does not endorse marriage equality, he makes a strong case that the Catholic hierarchy’s opposition to legalizing the relationships of lesbian and gay couples does nothing to dissuade people and only helps to assure marriage equality from being enacted.
Fr. Michael Kelly, SJ
Kelly begins by declaring his amazement that Catholic bishops get involved with marriage equality debates in civil society. He explains the reason for his amazement:
