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Church vows to fight gay marriage: Catholics pressure pols
Boston Herald ^ | November 29, 2003 | Eric Convey

Posted on 11/29/2003 4:52:34 PM PST by NYer

Gay marriage foes vow to push for ban

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Church vows to fight gay marriage: Catholics pressure pols
By Eric Convey
Saturday, November 29, 2003
The state's Roman Catholic bishops will issue a call to political arms over gay marriage this weekend - asking the faithful to push for an extension of a court-imposed May deadline for same-sex civil weddings.
     ``The time frame is a sure formula for chaos,'' the bishops of the state's four dioceses argue in a letter to be read during this weekend's Masses.
     ``We ask everyone to contact the governor and their state legislators to urge them to find a way to give our citizens more time to deal with this issue . . . this is a serious challenge that confronts us,'' the bishops write.
     The letter, published in this week's edition of the archdiocesan ``Pilot'' newspaper, provides a glimpse of the legal and political strategy the Catholic church will employ to fight the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
     Leaders of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the church's lobbying arm, had already said they would push for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as a heterosexual union. But that could not happen until at least 2006 and they had not been so explicit about their desire to see the SJC's 180-day mandate extended in the meantime.
     Massachusetts Catholic Conference Associate Director for Policy and Research Daniel Avila, in a separate ``Pilot'' piece published yesterday, complains about the 180-day time frame.
     But he also says it provides an opportunity for the public to weigh in and ``keep up the pressure'' on lawmakers.
     The bishops promise in their letter to mount an all-out campaign to rally support for an extension of the 180-day limit. They say they'll employ diocesan weeklies, the Internet and church bulletins.
     Marianne Duddy, a board member of the Boston chapter of the gay Catholic organization Dignity, characterized the church leaders' action as ``desperate.''
     ``They think that they can pressure the Legislature to overrule a direct court order. That's incredibly arrogant on the part of church officials,'' she said in an interview last night.
     The bishops also complain that the Supreme Judicial Court's 4-3 decision ``served to promote divisions in society by villianizing as bigotry the legitimate defense of thousands of years of traditions.''
     ``It is not the intention of the Catholic community to infringe on the civil rights of homosexuals or anyone else,'' the bishops write. ``Our opposition to a redefinition of marriage is to safeguard the institution of marriage for future generations.''
     They call marriage a ``gift from God.''
     Duddy scoffed at the suggestion that gay marriage proponents were doing the villianizing.
     ``Having sat in public hearings in which church officials compared me and my loving relationship to people who have sex with dogs, there's just no grounds for church officials to say they've been vilified,'' she said.
     Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley and bishops Daniel P. Reilly of Worcester, George W. Coleman of Fall River and Thomas L. Dupre of Springfrield begin the letter by calling the SJC decision ``a national tragedy.''
     While opponents of gay marriage are planning a counterattack, Duddy said many gay couples ``don't have time to waste on going negative at this point.''
     ``We're preparing for weddings that will actually have the force of law and trying to take in what it means to be full citizens of our commonwealth for the first time ever,'' she said.
     



TOPICS: General Discusssion
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1 posted on 11/29/2003 4:52:36 PM PST by NYer
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To: american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; Polycarp; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
 Marianne Duddy, a board member of the Boston chapter of the gay Catholic organization Dignity, characterized the church leaders' action as ``desperate.''

Solemn Warning! The following organizations are those who claim to be Catholic but dissent from the Truth as handed down from Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Divine Word, to His Apostles and their successors, the Pope and the Magisterium. These organizations are truly following in the footsteps of JUDAS - Just Undermine Doctrine And Spirituality. While they claim to be Catholic, they promote a man-made religion of unfettered pro-sin "choice" by the individual answerable to no one but himself (herself for the feminist reader), while promoting the spirituality of pagans. We all know what the serpent said to Eve; "you shall be as Gods" (Genesis 3:5).

At the same time, their mission statements and goals are disguised in shrewd words, usually in terms of "rights," "equality" and "social justice." But the Bible warns us of such a state of affairs; "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves [clergy] will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert" (Acts 20:29-31). "And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds" (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit" (Matthew 7:15-18).

Due to the potential damage to the Faith, links to these sites are not provided. However, the names of these dissident organizations are offered for your education and awareness - to be alert as the Bible tells us. This list will be updated as more is learned about the various organizations. Following this list is material which contains more in-depth analysis of some of these dissident organizations. See also the Dissenting Author and Speakers page for the names of individuals commonly associated with the dissident organizations. Read also on how does an organization get placed on this list.

Dignity USA
Advocate of homosexual "rights," including "marriage" within the Church. They form local chapters to provide "spiritual" support for practicing homosexuals who want to pursue full sacramental participation and ministerial duties. Vehemently opposed to COURAGE, the homosexual support organization promoting abstinence. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 11/29/2003 5:00:16 PM PST by NYer (Keep CHRIST in Christmas!)
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To: scripter
Ping!
3 posted on 11/29/2003 5:05:14 PM PST by NYer (Keep CHRIST in Christmas!)
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To: NYer
The worst mistake we could make in fighting the legalization of gay marriage is to depend on the officials of the Catholic Church in Massachuetts.This is by far the weakest link in the Catholic Church in the U.S.Just look at their so-called 'Catholic' politicians.
4 posted on 11/29/2003 5:07:12 PM PST by ardara
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To: ardara
The worst mistake we could make in fighting the legalization of gay marriage is to depend on the officials of the Catholic Church in Massachuetts.

The Catholic church didn't get to exercsed over abortion and the Catholic politicians who supported it.

The concern here may be priests marrying priests legally. How is the church going to deal with that? They didn't excommunicate the abortion champions . -Tom

5 posted on 11/29/2003 6:01:16 PM PST by Capt. Tom (Anything done in moderation shows a lack of interest. - Capt. Tom)
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To: NYer
**Catholics pressure pols**

Praying that this will happen!
6 posted on 11/29/2003 8:53:58 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: NYer
The Deadly Dozen

Canadian Prime Minister Taunts Church: "I Am A Catholic And For Abortion"

Catholic Church asks Tom Daschle to stop calling himself a Catholic

On Catholic Politicians and Faith

Vatican Urges Catholic Politicians to Vote Along Church Lines

Senator Santorum on Being Catholic and a Politician

William E. Simon, Sr. and Jr. Devout Catholics, Philanthropists and Politicians

Deadly Dozen senator taken to task over claims of Catholicism

THE BISHOP AND THE SENATOR [author links to FR thread regarding Daschle in her online column]

Blood On Their Hands: Exposing Pro-abortion Catholic Politicians

MI Gov Granholm Proclaims June "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month"

Colorado Governor To Media:'WE LOVE OUR CHURCH' [Gov. Bill Owens

U.S. Senator Brownback and Commentator Dick Morris Join Catholic Church

PRIEST REFUSES COMMUNION TO KNEELING PRO-LIFE POLITICIAN [Richard Black, Virginia]

Kerry [Catholic} says he'll filibuster Supreme Court nominees who do not support abortion rights

Pope to MPs: Stop gay marriage

Vatican - Considerations regarding ... homosexual persons

CONFUSIONS ABOUT POLITICAL JUDGMENT AND THE MORAL LAW

Prelate says politicians who back abortion shouldn't go to Communion

Bishop draws fire for targeting Chrétien

Kennedy likens Vatican stance on gay unions to 'bigotry' (oh, go get a job, you little creep)

Ignorance or Malicious Intent? "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to..."

George Weigel on Authentic Catholic Citizenship, and the Duty of Catholic Politicians to Behave as Catholics

Conservative Catholics urge Church to challenge "dissenters"

[Robert F., Jr.] Kennedy to speak at Festival of Faiths (Environmentalism as religion)

Faithful Catholic Politicians

Catholic Bishops Eye Possible Crackdown of Pro-Abortion Pols

PETITION TO EX-COMMUNICATE PRO-ABORTION CATHOLIC ELECTED OFFICIALS

It is Time to Excommunicate the Politicians

Church vows to fight gay marriage: Catholics pressure pols

7 posted on 11/29/2003 8:56:40 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: NYer
Like I've said elsewhere...Isn't this what everyone was concerned about with Kennedy. That he would take his direction from the Vatican?
8 posted on 11/29/2003 8:58:40 PM PST by BikerNYC
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To: NYer
** Marianne Duddy, a board member of the Boston chapter of the gay Catholic organization Dignity, characterized the church leaders' action as ``desperate.'' **

Maybe it's the Dignity dissenting organization that is desperate!!
9 posted on 11/29/2003 8:58:46 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: NYer
I gotta tell you this one... each parish in the archdiocese of Boston is supposed to read, at this weekend's Masses, this short and concise letter addressing the concerns of the Church regarding the possible/probable legalization of homosexual marriage by the Mass legislature. We were encouraged to call the gov and our reps... the letter hit all the right notes and still sounded pastoral "we don't want to infringe on the civil rights of homosexuals or anyone else" "marriage is between a man and a woman" "thousands of years" "for the good of society" "the building block of society" etc., etc. The priest painfully read the letter and paused at the end to add "Bishop O'Malley is not your conscience"!!!!

Coupled with the priest having the offerings brought to the altar and placed directly in front of it, but not before he held the basket over his head with arms extended upward (the Host should be so high!) and the mandated standing immediately at Communion (instead of kneeling until it is your pews turn to stand and process to receive) and you must remain standing until the very last person receives (no kneeling when you return to your pew after receiving), I think this Mass may be my final one at that parish. I can't take it anymore.

10 posted on 11/29/2003 9:30:45 PM PST by american colleen
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To: NYer; dansangel
Thanksfor the ping..
11 posted on 11/30/2003 1:15:45 AM PST by .45MAN (Posted Disclaimer on first page.)
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To: american colleen
If my priest pulled such a stunt with such a comment it WOULD be the last straw for me. Also, I thought that according to GIRM, posture post communion could not be mandated. It is the choice of each worshiper whether to sit, stand, or kneel. Our bishop has given us the choice and stated that no parish may mandate posture after receiving. I feel for you american colleen and hope you can find a good faithful Catholic parish with a faithful priest.
12 posted on 11/30/2003 12:24:57 PM PST by k omalley
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To: american colleen
Do write him a letter of "resignation," explaining why you no longer will accept his services, and of course, CC the archbishop. O' Malley needs ot know who he can depend on.
13 posted on 11/30/2003 9:44:35 PM PST by RobbyS (XP)
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To: american colleen
"Bishop O'Malley is not your conscience"!!!!

Wowee! Yeah, the bishop needs to know about this priest's little post-script to his letter. It says alot.

14 posted on 11/30/2003 9:54:41 PM PST by St.Chuck
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To: St.Chuck
Wonder how many other Robinson-Episcopalian priests have been mascarading all these years as Roman Catholics? I think this is the real problem in the Church.
15 posted on 12/01/2003 8:56:12 AM PST by RobbyS (XP)
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