Catholics Return Check From Lawmaker Over Gay Marriage Vote
Catholics Return Check From Lawmaker Over Gay Marriage Vote
By Jack Jenkins
Religion News Service
(RNS) A New York lawmaker has found himself at odds with the Roman Catholic Church after a parish school refused a $50 donation because of his vote in favor of same-sex marriage.
Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, a Democrat, sent a $50 check to honor a student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood only to have it returned uncashed.
The rejected check was attached to a letter from Monsignor Joseph Calise, the church's priest, who said Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio "requested that all gifts received from politicians supporting same-sex marriage legislation be refused."
The snub left Lentol flummoxed, he said, especially after the parish asked him to continue his 25 years of donations.
"I was very surprised and kind of puzzled," Lentol said. "I didn't know how (the bishop's statement) applied to me. ... It was something they asked for, not something I chose to honor any student with."
DiMarzio strongly criticized the New York legislature for passing legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, accusing lawmakers who voted in favor of having "curried favor with wealthy donors ... in order to advance their own careers and futures."
As a result, DiMarzio directed all Catholic schools "to refuse any distinction or honors bestowed upon them this year by the governor or any member of the legislature who voted to support this legislation," and said lawmakers who voted for the bill should not "speak or be present at any parish or school celebration."
Sad... So sad... *shakes head* More messages about hatred from a church based on the Man who taught about nothing but love...
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan Writes On Blog That After Gay Marriage, Polygamy's Next Battle
NEW YORK -- New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan says he's worried that the next step in the marriage debate will be another redefinition to allow polygamy and infidelity.
Dolan wrote on his blog Thursday, "Recall how the Church resisted the 'contraceptive mentality,' fearing it would rupture the sacred bond between love and the procreation of children. Then, remember how the Church sounded the alarm over rising rates of promiscuity, adultery, pre-marital sex, and cohabitation prior to or instead of marriage. And now we ring the steeple bell again at this latest dilution of the authentic understanding of marriage, worried that the next step will be another redefinition to justify multiple partners and infidelity."
He thanked the "courageous millions who valiantly fought this unfortunate project of social engineering," telling his followers, "Sanely, civilly, thoughtfully, vigorously . . . you did not cave-in. The forces on the other side were a Goliath indeed -- with tons of money, "glitterati" from entertainment circles, political powerbrokers, and the media -- but you proved a worthy David."
Dolan also lamented the anti-Catholic venom that surfaced in the gay marriage battle, saying he's worried that "believers will soon be harassed, threatened, and hauled into court" for their convictions.
He apologized to those in the gay community who may have been offended by the church's stance, saying he's honored that so many gays are at home in the Catholic Church and that his goal from the start was "pro-marriage, never anti-gay."
New York became the sixth and largest state to legalize gay marriage on June 24.
And it is a bad thing if someone wants to be married to more than one person? I know of many, many triads and quads, many who have been together for years and years, some into their third decade. Two were allowed to marry, but the third or fourth partners are not protected by law. So it is a bad thing that multiple partner marriage might be coming?
And does this guy really think that's right around the corner? Look how long same-sex marriage is taking.
*sigh*
*shakes head*
By Jack Jenkins
Religion News Service
(RNS) A New York lawmaker has found himself at odds with the Roman Catholic Church after a parish school refused a $50 donation because of his vote in favor of same-sex marriage.
Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, a Democrat, sent a $50 check to honor a student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood only to have it returned uncashed.
The rejected check was attached to a letter from Monsignor Joseph Calise, the church's priest, who said Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio "requested that all gifts received from politicians supporting same-sex marriage legislation be refused."
The snub left Lentol flummoxed, he said, especially after the parish asked him to continue his 25 years of donations.
"I was very surprised and kind of puzzled," Lentol said. "I didn't know how (the bishop's statement) applied to me. ... It was something they asked for, not something I chose to honor any student with."
DiMarzio strongly criticized the New York legislature for passing legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, accusing lawmakers who voted in favor of having "curried favor with wealthy donors ... in order to advance their own careers and futures."
As a result, DiMarzio directed all Catholic schools "to refuse any distinction or honors bestowed upon them this year by the governor or any member of the legislature who voted to support this legislation," and said lawmakers who voted for the bill should not "speak or be present at any parish or school celebration."
Sad... So sad... *shakes head* More messages about hatred from a church based on the Man who taught about nothing but love...
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan Writes On Blog That After Gay Marriage, Polygamy's Next Battle
NEW YORK -- New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan says he's worried that the next step in the marriage debate will be another redefinition to allow polygamy and infidelity.
Dolan wrote on his blog Thursday, "Recall how the Church resisted the 'contraceptive mentality,' fearing it would rupture the sacred bond between love and the procreation of children. Then, remember how the Church sounded the alarm over rising rates of promiscuity, adultery, pre-marital sex, and cohabitation prior to or instead of marriage. And now we ring the steeple bell again at this latest dilution of the authentic understanding of marriage, worried that the next step will be another redefinition to justify multiple partners and infidelity."
He thanked the "courageous millions who valiantly fought this unfortunate project of social engineering," telling his followers, "Sanely, civilly, thoughtfully, vigorously . . . you did not cave-in. The forces on the other side were a Goliath indeed -- with tons of money, "glitterati" from entertainment circles, political powerbrokers, and the media -- but you proved a worthy David."
Dolan also lamented the anti-Catholic venom that surfaced in the gay marriage battle, saying he's worried that "believers will soon be harassed, threatened, and hauled into court" for their convictions.
He apologized to those in the gay community who may have been offended by the church's stance, saying he's honored that so many gays are at home in the Catholic Church and that his goal from the start was "pro-marriage, never anti-gay."
New York became the sixth and largest state to legalize gay marriage on June 24.
And it is a bad thing if someone wants to be married to more than one person? I know of many, many triads and quads, many who have been together for years and years, some into their third decade. Two were allowed to marry, but the third or fourth partners are not protected by law. So it is a bad thing that multiple partner marriage might be coming?
And does this guy really think that's right around the corner? Look how long same-sex marriage is taking.
*sigh*
*shakes head*