Great Confusion

The Catholic Church does not and has never accepted the idea, the rule of law concerning same-sex marriage. This idea has been rejected over and over by Rome. If leaders in a nation who are bishops speak as if the Church accepts this idea, and if lay people state such, both are wrong.

The passage of such a bill in Illinois last year led the good bishop of Springfield to hold an exorcism. See many links on that. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-21/news/ct-gay-marriage-excorcism-illinois-1121-20131121_1_marriage-law-exorcism-civil-marriage

Those laity and clergy who "push" for civil unions simply do not know the Church's teaching, or understand the danger of accepting rights and privileges given to same-sex couples. Sin has no rights.

The CCC is clear that all acts of homosexuality are "depraved". Therefore, civil unions cannot be considered,  as the Church would then be cooperating with evil. And, this evil is an objective evil, one judged by natural law and the laws of God.

It is of the utmost importance for the laity to form right reason on this matter. Formation of conscience is a duty for each lay Catholic.

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,¹⁴¹ tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."¹⁴² They 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.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection