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CBC Newsworld's Diane Buckner interview with Msgr. Peter Schonenbach of the CCCB

July 31, 2003

Host – Good afternoon, Msgr.

Msgr – Good afternoon

Host – Now the Vatican’s instructions have been widely released and publicized

Msgr - It’s interesting, by the way, before you say, we hear them as the title is Considerations. They are actually ideas that have been produced by the congregation for the doctrine of faith who help bishops not only in Canada but throughout the world to deal with an issue that is very important, an issue that has to be properly debated and properly looked at.

Host – So you’re saying that these are not instructions or directives, but just ideas or guidelines that are more flexible?

Msgr – The Church knows that legislators have a big job. They have to exercise prudential judgment in many, many situations. And here we are again providing good information. Catholics believe that it is a formed conscience that will truly bring about good works and we feel that these Considerations are very rich. It’s a very deep document. It can’t be just skimmed over. It has to be properly looked at and I think it will add to the debate that is now going on.

Host – Now you’ve probably saw the comments that were quoted from Bishop Henry in Calgary that PM Chretien is risking eternal damnation for his stance, saying that he does put his responsibility to the public ahead of his responsibility as a Catholic. Would you agree with Bishop H?

Msgr – Many people like Bishop Henry because he always expresses himself with colour and passion and I don’t think that necessarily that the conference would simply echo those words. It is serious and I think that the passion being shown indicates to us that it is something that cannot be just sloughed over. We are really making a monumental change by moving to another definition of marriage. Marriage as it is known between man and woman for the procreation of children and therefore for the building of families, the fundamental cell of society is something that has been with us from time immoriam. And now we are making a change and that change, if it is to be done has to be done after much, much, much debate.

Host - So your view is that marriage is very important and this is a very significant issue to be talking about. But as far as your association is concerned, it’s okay if Catholics support same-sex marriage…Is that right?

Msgr – No, no, no, no…it’s not okay. We’re saying that this is….A catholic is supposed to try to conform as much as he can to the official teaching. It’s not a matter of being a robot. These teachings have to be internalized.

Host - But it seems like the Vatican’s instructions are very clear – that politicians should be opposing this legislation.

Msgr - If it says that the definition of marriage is changed, it should be opposed. But we’re saying keep this definition of marriage. You might have to make other rules to help various relationships…there are many relationships in society that the state could perhaps look into…but we feel on this issue we should not blur the old definitions and change what has served society so well in years past.

Host -Well what is your next step from here, may I ask? Are you moving to act more directly?

Msgr - Most of our bishops are moving to get their people to talk to their MPs. We are also moving to be an intervener at the Supreme Court in the case that the federal government has brought forward…the reference case. This will be another opportunity for the views to be brought forward.

Host - Do you think more people will be saying the same things as Bishop Henry - that Catholics who don’t support this edict will be risking damnation?

Msgr – The way that the church has been talking since the second Vatican council is not a question of bringing damnation into everything. The matter is that we are in society faced ith a major problem and we have to use a lot of wisdom and creativity to solve that problem.

Host – Thank you for your time today.

Msgr – And thank you for inviting me.

Listen to the interview in REAL Audio at
http://www.cbc.ca/clips/ram-newsworld/buckner_schonenbach030731.ram

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