David Blankenhorn hasn’t changed his mind about marriage, but he has changed his stance. The best that one can say of the New York Times op-ed in which he shifts his footing is that it is clearly heartfelt.
But it raises many questions, not least being how Blankenhorn can think—-in the midst of the attack on the Catholic Church via the abortifacient and contraceptive mandate—-that the socially accepted definition of marriage will not be forced on the churches and other religious communities? As soon as we stop contending for the natural truth of marriage in the public square, certain people will try to strip us of the right to proclaim it anywhere.
Progressives will not be chastened by “bending the knee,” as Blankenhorn tellingly describes his acquiescence. Only by refusing to deny the truth of marriage—-which we are obliged to do not just as Christian or Jews witnessing to the truth, but also as citizens concerned with the common good—-is there hope.
Finally, if Blankenhorn is so concerned with the opinion of youth, I wish he’d spent some time talking to the young people I know. They are not going away . And they give me (and should give you) one reason for optimism, even as faith gives us reason for hope.
