Free Republic

Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre has publicly confronted Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi after the latter announced his support of homosexual marriage in a New York Times opinion piece. Mr. Suozzi “certainly admits that he knows he is contradicting some basic moral teachings of his own faith,” Bishop Murphy writes. “This is not the first time he has done this. He has already placed himself publicly in the category of ‘pro choice’ on abortion. While homosexual orientation is a neutral reality on a moral level, homosexual acts are not morally neutral. They are wrong and they are sinful. Abortion...

This is a breaking story - check back for updates. Thank God for our bishops. They have just released a press release on the USCCB website: Legal Protection for Unborn, Support for Mothers Both Needed, Say Cardinal Rigali and Bishop MurphyWASHINGTON—"Our faith requires us to oppose abortion on demand and to provide help to mothers facing challenging pregnancies," Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., said in an October 21 statement. The bishops urged Catholics to study the teaching of the Church, rather than rely on statements and materials from outside groups and...

A Jesuit retreat house in Manhasset is hosting a workshop about gay Catholics and the church that had been barred from diocesan property last year by Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The workshop on building bridges to gay people comes just as the Vatican is about to release a document restating its prohibition barring gay men from the priesthood. Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, the organization leading the workshop, said yesterday that the program does not challenge church orthodoxy. "Our mission is simply to try to help Catholic institutions learn more about the...

Calls for fewer abortions and admits conflicting feelings on issue as bishop praises his ‘political leadership' Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi Tuesday drew ardent praise and fierce criticism for calling on "intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate and religious people" on both sides of the abortion debate to work together to reduce the practice. In a rare show of support from a high-ranking church official for a Catholic politician who backs abortion rights, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre Tuesday lauded Suozzi's "courageous and positive" step."I support all those in public life who will join Mr. Suozzi in the good programs helping pregnant...