In the present context of a possible plebiscite on changing the Marriage Act, increasingly we are being confronted with the proposition that to express disagreement with, or offer criticism of, certain positions on human sexuality is to be hateful. Those who dare simply to state that marriage is a relationship of lifelong sexual fidelity between a man and a woman, and no more, are labelled as haters.
This mentality involves a deeply flawed logic.
To say that a particular behaviour or action is not good for society or is morally wrong is not to promote hatred towards those who engage in such behaviour.
In philosophy, and indeed in law, there is an absolutely crucial distinction between people and their actions, or people and beliefs. We can fundamentally respect people, and the dignity of all human beings, while being critical of their actions or beliefs. To say that stealing is morally wrong does not inescapably mean that you are inciting hatred towards all thieves. To say that lying is morally wrong does not mean that you are inciting hatred towards all those who lie.
To incite hatred towards a person or group is to intentionally seek to demean a person or group by claiming they are worth less than other human beings or deserve less respect because of an attribute they have.
To hate, one needs to genuinely intend to demean the worth of others. This involves criticising who the person is instead of simply criticising what they do. The Catholic Church, and indeed all Christians, absolutely reject any behaviour, speech or actions that incite hatred. Criticism of particular actions or behaviour does not constitute incitement of hatred towards the person. Being critical of actions or beliefs is not in itself being critical of the person. This understanding is a fundamental presupposition of democratic government. Democracy requires disagreement in order to flourish; it requires that a range of views can be put forward in a respectful way that are critical of the beliefs or actions of others.
If expressing criticism of others’ beliefs or actions in itself is claimed to be inciting hatred then democracy would no longer be possible.
Christianity has always understood this distinction in its own approach when it speaks of condemning the sin while loving the sinner. Criticising particular types of actions, no matter how many times a person performs them, does not mean in any way that you are condemning the person.
Christianity first made the revolutionary claim that all human beings were equal in dignity, because they were made in the image and likeness of God, and that they retained this dignity despite how they acted. Of course, by acting rightly, they more closely embody this dignity. This was a radical claim in the ancient world that had not been made previously. No matter whether they were slave or free, woman or man, rich or poor, all were equal in dignity in the sight of God.
Those who accuse others of being haters simply for expressing criticism of a particular view of human sexuality are in reality promoting hate themselves. They are expressing hatred of anything that is critical of their point of view. They readily use tags and labels to accuse people of attitudes that they do not in fact have. They are unwilling to allow anyone who disagrees with them the opportunity to express their beliefs.
Christianity, on the other hand, is about presenting the truth in love. Love has been and always will be the way of Christianity. No one who authentically follows the teaching of Christ can hate. This is fundamentally incompatible with the way of love.
Love is not about an emotional feeling that simply accepts whatever actions people choose — it concerns seeking the good of the other in relation to the truth of the human person.
One cannot therefore love without proclaiming the truth and encouraging others to live according to the truth regardless of whether it will prove uncomfortable or inconvenient for some.
The Christian simply seeks to present what they believe is the truth in love. They do this for the good of the individual and society as a whole. It is crucial for democracy that we reject the notion that disagreement with or criticism of beliefs or actions constitutes hate.
Julian Porteous is the Catholic Archbishop of Hobart.
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