ANTI

By: Jemina Q. Solangon

Same-sex marriage is defined as the union of two individuals of the same sex in a marital
relationship with full legal rights and responsibilities given to this contract in a specific
jurisdiction. It is the subject of debate and controversy of numerous experts as of today. The
practice of homosexual marriage is not a recent event as it has been around during the Greek and
Roman periods. This type of marriage is only limited to a minority of jurisdictions in a few
countries in which it is available. Countries in which same-sex marriage is allowed include
Norway, South Africa, France, England, and the most recent countries are Ireland and the United
States of America. Now there is the issue of whether the Philippines should also legalize same-
sex marriage. Same-sex marriage should be prohibited in the Philippines as is it contradicts its
culture, especially as the country is dominated by the Catholic religion and its teachings.

It is a common view for society to see the marriage between heterosexual couples, others
would want to argue. Equality of rights is usually the argument of same- sex marriage
supporters. They believe that homosexual and lesbian couples should have the same rights of
marriage as those of heterosexual couples. Supporters of the LGBT community have argued that
giving them the right to marry promotes equality as the government has finally recognized their
rights, and thus dissolves discrimination.

The Philippines, however, is a Catholic country. Legalizing same-sex marriage here

clearly contradicts the teachings and doctrine of the Church. Rev. Fr. Jose Glicerio Geremia
defines marriage as the union of man and woman. God Himself instituted marriage by stating
that man is made for woman and woman is made for man. In Genesis 2:18-25, there are lines in
which support it. “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a
companion for him who corresponds to him.’” And there is also the line, “Then the man said,
‘This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one would be called woman,
for she was taken out of man.’”

So, when a man is married to a man or woman married to a woman, this violates the
Church’s doctrine. It will weaken the respect and value of marriage, since marriage is considered
sacred and almost every society views marriage as a union between men and women only.
Whereas same-sex- marriage promotes partnership, it is not, however, the normal type of
partnership.

Fr. Geremia mentions that the main purpose of the said union or the marriage is for men
and women to reproduce offspring. Therefore, in this sense, same-sex marriage is not beneficial
as homosexual and lesbian couples are incapable of reproduction and cannot be considered as a
full-fledged family. Even with the choice of adoption, or having surrogate mothers or sperm
donors, it is still not the same case.

First, promoting same sex marriage has always been answered by the fact that is illegal
and unconstitutional mainly because it is against the family Code which provides for the
definition of marriage which “is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a
woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It
is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences,
and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements
may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by the Code.”
Allowing the same sex marriage invalidates the definition provided by the law as it accepts only
those between a man and a woman.

The Constitution considers marriage as an inviolable social institution and foundation of

family life. Article II, Section 12 of the Constitution provides that “The State recognizes the
sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social
institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from
conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic
efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.”

Marriage in this country is an institution in which the community is deeply interested.

The state has surrounded it with safeguards to maintain its purity, continuity and permanence.
The security and stability of the state are largely dependent upon it. It is the interest and duty of
each and every member of the community to prevent the bringing about of a condition that
would shake its foundation and ultimately lead to its destruction.