While several Seattle Catholic parishes have oped out of the anti-same-sex marriage campaign, a Kirkland pastor said Sunday that marriage was “created and defined by God” and that Gay marriage “is simply not possible.”

The Rev. Kurt Nagel, pastor of Holy Family Parish, said he would “honor” Archbishop J. Peter Sartain’s letter saying parishes can be used to gather signatures on Referendum 74, which would force a vote on the state’s new marriage quality law.

“It is very rare that the Catholic Church allows such political activity on her property (you may remember a similar process some years ago regarding an initiative on abortion),” Nagel said in a homily. “It only happens when the political issue touches upon a clear and important teaching of the church.”

Nagel said those who oppose legal civil marriage for same-sex couples “are being called ‘bigots’ by some.” But he argued that there are “two completely different ways of looking at the issue.”

“The Catholic Church does not believe that people with same sex attraction are inferior,” he argued. “It is sometimes said to support the charge of bigotry that the Catholic Church teaches that homosexual persons are ‘disordered’. That is not true.”

“It is true that the sexual DESIRES for persons of the same sex are disordered. That is, such desires are not ORDERED, or aimed, at the right end or goal. But we all have disordered desires — in terms of sex, food, power, money, etc. That is because, although made in the image and likeness of God, we are also fallen creatures.”

Nagel argued that “homosexual persons” already have “the legal benefits of marriage” — thanks to the Domestic Partnership law enacted when Washington voters approved Referendum 71 in 2009.

“So our opposition to redefining marriage is not now a matter of denying anyone legal rights,” Nagel told parishoners.

He acknowledged that the Washington State Catholic Conference opposed the 2009 Domestic Partnership law, as “obviously” a step toward legalizing marriage and “in part because we don’t believe such sexual relationships encourage the best lives and greatest happiness for homosexual persons.”

“The Catholic Church believes that creating this new legal and social institution of domestic partnerships is, on balance, not wise,” Nagel said. “But it is doable. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, believes that Gay MARRIAGE is simply not possible.”

“Like the Resurrected Body of Jesus, so the definition of marriage as necessarily between a man and a woman, is an objective fact: part of the reality of the universe, whether we believe it or not.”

“Marriage is not a man-made institution, as domestic partnerships are. Marriage was created and defined by God. It’s not changeable in this way, even if human law says that it is.”

Nagel acknowledged that same-sex marriage is “probably the most emotionally charged issue that has arisen for the Church in the law few years.” And, he said, members of Holy Family are “both opposing and supporting this position passionately.”

Several large Seattle parishes have opted out of the Referendum 74 signature drive.

Using his parish to gather signatures would “bring great pain” among those “so often marginalized in our church,” Rev. John Whitney, S.J., pastor of St. Joseph Church, wrote to parishoners. The signature drive would “prove hurtful and divisive in our community,” said Fr. Michael Ryan, pastor of St. James Cathedral.

Four Catholic governors have championed same-sex marriage as an issue of civil and human rights — Jerry Brown (an ex-seminarian) in California, Andrew Cuomo in New York, Martin O’Malley in Maryland and Chris Gregoire in Washington. Cuomo, O’Malley and Gregoire have signed marriage equality legislation into law.









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' });









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' });









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' });





window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-17', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 17', target_type: 'mix' });

























Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Image 2 of 18 Ex-Sen. Rick Santorum came to the fore as critique of 2003 Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Texas’ anti-sodomy statute, and continues to equate gay marriage with polygamy and bigamy as 2012 presidential candidate. On Monday he railed against gay adoption as “robbing children of something they need, they deserve, they have a right to.” less Ex-Sen. Rick Santorum came to the fore as critique of 2003 Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Texas’ anti-sodomy statute, and continues to equate gay marriage with polygamy and bigamy as 2012 presidential ... more Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick / Getty Images Image 3 of 18 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia warned darkly that the Supremes were enacting the “homosexual agenda” in the Texas ruling, and argues that the Constitution cannot be used to justify rights for sexual minorities. less U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia warned darkly that the Supremes were enacting the “homosexual agenda” in the Texas ruling, and argues that the Constitution cannot be used to justify ... more Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP/Getty Images Image 4 of 18 Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, the key 25th Senate vote for same-sex marriage. Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, the key 25th Senate vote for same-sex marriage. Photo: Meryl Schenker Image 5 of 18 Image 6 of 18 President Barack Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. President Barack Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 7 of 18 Dan Savage writes a sex advice column for The Stranger, appears on liberal Cable TV shows, lectures at colleges around the country, is renowned for his foul mouth and has seen his critiques of monogamy used as basis for a New York Times Magazine piece. He has mercilessly baited anti-gay politicians, from religious-right presidential candidate Gary Bauer more than a decade ago to ex-Sen. Rick Santorum in 2012. less Dan Savage writes a sex advice column for The Stranger, appears on liberal Cable TV shows, lectures at colleges around the country, is renowned for his foul mouth and has seen his critiques of monogamy used as ... more Photo: Jamie McCarthy / 2011 Getty Images Image 8 of 18 "As I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but in partnership with loved ones,” Retired Gen. Colin Powell told CNN. “And they are as stable a family as my family is. And they raise children. And so I don’t see any reason not to say they should be able to get married.” less "As I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but in partnership with loved ones,” Retired Gen. Colin Powell told CNN. “And they are as stable a family as my ... more Photo: AFP/Getty Images Image 9 of 18 Vice President Joe Biden says he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex and heterosexual married couples both having "the same exact rights." Vice President Joe Biden says he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex and heterosexual married couples both having "the same exact rights." Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images Image 10 of 18 Image 11 of 18 Gov. Chris Gregoire went through “my own personal journey” in coming to support same-sex marriage. The journey has reinvigorated a two-term governor who confessed last fall to being tired and disheartened. “I feel better than I have in seven years,” she says. less Gov. Chris Gregoire went through “my own personal journey” in coming to support same-sex marriage. The journey has reinvigorated a two-term governor who confessed last fall to being tired and ... more Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images Image 12 of 18 Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, like Gregoire a practicing Catholic, pushed legalization same-sex marriage through the Empire State’s fractious Legislature last spring. It became signature issue for the newly elected governor, a top Democratic presidential prospect for 2016 (and Al Pacino lookalike). less Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, like Gregoire a practicing Catholic, pushed legalization same-sex marriage through the Empire State’s fractious Legislature last spring. It became signature issue for the ... more Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images Image 13 of 18 Ex-U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson was lead counsel for George W. Bush in 2000 election fight, the conservatives’ “go-to” lawyer in Washington, D.C., and is now co-counsel in legal fight to overturn California’s Prop. 8 – the measure that outlawed same-sex marriage. The other co-counsel – David Boies, chief lawyer for Al Gore in Bush v. Gore. less Ex-U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson was lead counsel for George W. Bush in 2000 election fight, the conservatives’ “go-to” lawyer in Washington, D.C., and is now co-counsel in legal fight to overturn ... more Photo: Jason Kempin / Getty Images Image 14 of 18 Retired Lt. Col. Grethe Cammermeyer is a best-selling, Whidbey-based author (“Serving in Silence”) who fought 20-year battle against exclusion of gays and lesbians from the military. She is tall, regal, a community leader and canny organizer who helped turn out big crowd who urged State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano, to support marriage equality. less Retired Lt. Col. Grethe Cammermeyer is a best-selling, Whidbey-based author (“Serving in Silence”) who fought 20-year battle against exclusion of gays and lesbians from the military. She is tall, regal, ... more Photo: Associated Press Image 15 of 18 Image 16 of 18 Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney, front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, tried to run to the left of Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994, arguing he could be a more effective defender/advocate of gay rights, but now declares opposition to marriage equality. “I oppose same-sex marriage and that has been my view,” he said the other day in New Hampshire. less Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney, front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, tried to run to the left of Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994, arguing he could be a more effective defender/advocate of gay rights, but now ... more Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Image 17 of 18 Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church, an ex-NFLer, has opposed everything-but-marriage statutes passed by the Washington Legislature, and carried on a long-running feud with The Stranger. Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church, an ex-NFLer, has opposed everything-but-marriage statutes passed by the Washington Legislature, and carried on a long-running feud with The Stranger. Photo: SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER Image 18 of 18 Gay marriage "simply can't happen" -- Catholic pastor 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Nagel took a different tone on Sunday, saying that it is “literally and objectively impossible” for legislatures and governors and courts to “re-define” marriage. For the Catholic Church, he argued “gay marriage is not evil. It simply can’t happen at all.”

Nagel added that the dogmas of the Church “describe reality” and must be, literally, accepted and believed.

“Among Christians today there is a tendency for us to turn Christianity into our own, individual religion,” he said. “We do this when we take the dogmas of the faith (that can seem to some modern minds impossible to take literally) and turn them into symbols or psychological insights to use to explain our experiences rather than a description of objective reality.

“The problem is that this obscures the fact that dogmas describe how the universe really, objectively IS.”