Chris Broussard, a basketball analyst on ESPN, was asked this week to comment on Jason Collins’ announcement that he is gay. His reply: “I’m a Christian. I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and woman is.” He later added, “I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA.” Nonetheless, his network immediately apologized for his statement and he was widely branded “homophobic.”
Does it seem to you that the “train” on accepting homosexuality and gay marriage has left the station? Where does this trend leave those who believe the Bible on this issue? San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone recently gave a fascinating interview to USA Today; I commend it to you in its entirety. It closes with his response to the question, “Are you worried about the recent trend in courts and states going against you?”
Here is his thoughtful and encouraging response in full: “The natural law has a power written on the human heart that doesn’t go away. Notice how there is no controversy in this country now over the evil of Jim Crow laws. Shortly after the Civil Rights Act the cultural change was complete. This is because it was the right thing to do. The truth cannot be suppressed indefinitely.
“Draw a contrast here with the pro-life movement: After the Roe decision, it was commonly thought that our society would soon easily accept the legitimacy of abortion. But what has happened? The pro-life movement is stronger now, 40 years later, than it has ever been. This is because of the truth: Abortion is the killing of an innocent human life. That is not a matter of opinion or religious belief; it is a simple fact that cannot be denied.
“The same principle applies with marriage: It is simply a natural fact that you need a man and a woman to make a marriage and that a child’s heart longs for the love of both his or her mother and father. Even if the Supreme Court rules against this truth, the controversy will not die out, as it hasn’t on the abortion issue.
“The problem is, the longer a society operates in denial of the truth, the greater is the harm that will be done. The examples of the racist policies and practices of the past in our own country make this clear, as does all the harm that abortion has done to women and all those in her network of relationships.
“With marriage, we have to consider the harm that will be caused by enshrining in the law the principle that children do not need a mother and a father. The circumstances of our struggles change but the truth does not.”
Jesus agreed: “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
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